Lockdown… again…
How do I feel about it?
Tuff one.
Thanks to some crackhead idiot from interstate, this was a shock as it was a snap Lockdown. Covid positive, the creep escaped from quarantine after allegedly entering the state illegally, then roamed freely in the community for 18 hours. Currently we await testing for all those unfortunate enough to have been in the sod’s ambit. That’s why to be safe, our Premier and health officials have shut the southern half of the state of Tasmania down – we only have 130-ish ICU beds in the whole state and a less than well-funded medical system (our government would rather fund football and basketball teams).
But enough politicising…
Our personal coastal area has reverted to the 1950’s-60’s. No folk, no itinerates, no shackies, grockles, thrip – call them what you will.
We went bush for our legal exercise today, and saw no one as we edged the road, apart from a rogue leech that attached to my ankle.
The snap Lockdown has only spoiled one thing though.
Today was supposed to be a family bash for my 70th birthday, something my husband had gone to enormous and touching lengths to organise – food, balloons, cake and of course our immediate family.
We have the food, balloons, cake … but cannot have the family with us.
I woke this morning to howling gales and rain and wondered if I could just shut my eyes and open them again in a few weeks when all was better, and I felt quite bereft.
But I hate lying around and doing nothing, so in the spirit of the special day, slapped on some makeup, pulled on a sweater (blue is the colour de jour), even put on relatively new jeans and a pair of navy ballet flats. My mood lightened with each layer of artifice.
Thus, he and I ‘celebrate’ in the peace of seclusion, our gates shut, only venturing out with mask in hand for the legal two hours of exercise (we divide it into daytime/evening) with Dog. I’ve had a Zoom session with my family, including my grandson. I’ve opened wonderful presents from family and friends, with my husband being generous beyond words.
So you see?
It’s all okay really. The rain has stopped, the sun is shining and in as much as it is possible to be, all’s right with my world. I could celebrate again when we can all get together but to me it’d be redundant and besides, Life moves on. Better to get together ‘just because’ and not for septuagenarian reasons.
Cheers…
Happy Birthday! Hope you managed to have a good day despite the lockdown. Your blue sweater is a mood lifter and the cake looks magnificent
Blue is my favourite colour, Barbara and yes, it was definitely a mood-booster!
That cake! Can’t wait to taste after we’ve been for a walk.
Happy Birthday Prue! That cake looks yummy … Take care
Thank you, Fred. I can’t wait to taste it. Hopefully I can get back to SoS soon too. Life’s been busy… Hope you are well!
You look gorgeous in your photo, and cake looks yummy Happy birthday again xxx much love ?❤???
Maybe Lockdown suits me. 😉 Thank you for the compliment anyway. We’ve just had a piece of the cake and it is one I think Mum would approve. Maybe even Mary Berry as well! It’s 3 layers of the lightest coffee sponge and the coffee creme between each layer was so subtle as was the nude icing. We had a tiny macaron each and also one of the tiny meringues. I thought I’d feel so ill after all that but truly, it was so feathery that it didn’t stuff me full. We froze what was left (a lot!) and that, as they say, is that. All over and tomorrow’s another day.
Happy Birthday, Prue – you look just fabulous in your blue and your husband did an amazing job with everything for you. We were still in lockdown for my 65th last May so I know how you must feel missing family coming to celebrate and eat cake. All of your photos are lovely as usual and that cake looks to die for. My favourite cake is Mocha Torte which sounds close to what yours is. Please enjoy a tiny bite for me. Cheers to 70 and I hope that I look as good in 5 years!!
Hugs (virtual),
Judy in Canada
Thanks so much, Number One Reader!
Yes, Covid has much to answer for – and the fellow who brought it into the state needs a massive penalty. He’s still refusing to cooperate with police so there’s something really dodgy in his background that’s for sure. Read what you like into that.
The cake was simply beautiful – feather light sponge layers joined with sublime coffee cream and nude coffee icing. The little meringues and coffee macarons were a delight on their own. We froze what was left of the cake (a lot) and put the little meringues and macarons in an airtight box in the fridge to eat over Lockdown. When the family next gets together for a BBQ, we’ll demolish the cake, hopefully with our own berries from the garden. PS: I don’t ‘feel’ 70 very often – I hope that mentality continues.
Happy Birthday! How sad that Covid shut down your birthday plans. But that cake looks marvelous. I hope you can have a good day in spite of it all.
Thanks Anne. It was actually a super day – filled with messages, Zoom calls and a plethora of LOVELY gifts. My husband was amazing – he was determined it should be a happy milestone no matter what and he succeeded.