JULY 2020

New cases reported in Bendigo – probably courtesy of the visitor influx previously noted from Melbourne. The selfishness and stupidity of some people continued to be in evidence, witness Melburnites who headed off to Torquay to surf, claiming they didn’t know they had to quarantine whilst waiting for the results of their Covid tests. Or maybe there really are people that dumb.

My views on humankind were not being enhanced by this pandemic!

The school holidays were extended by a week.

I ventured out of the house, early in the month, for the first time in a few months. The occasion was for my first haircut since Feb. Looking very shaggy, I was, and it felt great to be trim again. The business had adapted to these times and was only allowing in one customer at a time, suitably masked.

Meanwhile, John was back to old habits – in the form of trips to Bunnings. He just can’t stay away.

Path cleared of annual leaf drop litter

The Bus work was done – finally! Daughter drove John to Melbourne to collect it, depositing him at the mechanic’s on her way elsewhere. Then, last minute, yet another problem was found that would require more time to fix. All concerned were feeling pretty annoyed at this stage. John stayed the night with friend M and she drove him back to Bendigo, staying for a few days before deciding that she had best leave for home in Melbourne – otherwise she might not get back at all.

The situation in Melbourne and areas around it was deteriorating quickly. Daily new case numbers were now being measured in the hundreds – and climbing. Initially, lockdowns were selectively declared for certain postcodes only, then more were added, then large inner city housing towers were locked down. That caused quite an outcry, as residents were initially not allowed outside at all.

The border between Victoria and NSW was closed. Victoria was becoming a pariah state! All of the greater Melbourne area went into full lockdown, with the Premier declaring a “ring of steel” around it.

Then an outbreak began in Sydney – carried there by a transport worker from Melbourne – whoops.

Bus was now fixed – again. But caught in the lockdown. John arranged for M’s friend to store it – again. This was becoming horribly repetitive. Maybe we should have just kept Bus?

Term 3 commenced, in person for regional school like the grandsons’, with compulsory wearing of face masks.

In amongst these rapidly unfolding events, I went to bed as usual one night, and woke up in the morning semi-crippled. Seems that somehow, in my sleep, had managed to do some damage to sciatic nerve. I tried to battle on, thinking time, wishful thinking and Panadol might fix the problem. Spent a couple of days just sitting, trying to move as little as possible. After some sleepless nights, also spent sitting up as lying prone was too painful, decided doctor needed to be involved, if only for some stronger painkillers that worked. But medical services in this time of plague were changed: my resulting consults with doctor were by phone. Local pharmacy delivered prescriptions. Eventually, would need physiotherapy – how would that work by phone?

Initial solutions didn’t work, and reluctantly I began taking Lyrica. Had previous experience with this drug, some years ago, for nerve pain from leg ulcer. It was effective then, but I didn’t like its side effects, had ceased taking it after a few months when my vision went blurry. That fixed itself once I was off the drug. Misgivings aside, it was bliss to get a decent night’s sleep again.

John drove me to a local shop that sold disability aids and we bought a wheeled “walker” to help me get about the house. It had a handy tray on the front so I could “carry” drinks, meals, whatever. But, suddenly, I felt old! You know you are bored when the highlights of a month are the air ambulance landing on the oval nearby to pick up an accident victim, and a black-faced sheep in the paddock across the road having a lamb…

By month’s end, we were back to helping grandson with his remote learning, but only 3 days a week as his mum was now working from home. We set him work to do at his home on his days off from us.