What a right merry (not) pickle the world is in!

Holiday sunset at Mt Maunganui in February.

As a "not working, not retired" person I have plenty of time that to many may be considered as spare time, this does not mean that my days have not filled to the brim with useful pursuits, however, since the Covid 19 outbreak I have started spending far too much time reading news and following social media, much of which is fake news and rumours.  

This leads to worry about the state of mankind in reactions to each other in these times. 

It seems beyond belief to find a Trade Me (N.Z.'s equivalent to EBay) listing among Textiles and Linens (I get new listings emailed to me each day) for four rolls of toilet paper, budget brand, photographed with a bottle of Corona, start/reserve price $50.  It seems there have been many exorbitant listings for such items.  

We are constantly told there is no interruption to the supermarket supplies, we even have two manufacturers of toilet paper in N.Z. but still the trip to the supermarket for the usual supplies we would buy finds the shelves empty of many many items. Toilet paper, flour, yeast, baking powder, rice, pasta, canned products, even pharmacy type products like toothpaste.  I did wonder if the supply trucks were concentrating on food products not toothpaste and deodorant:-)  One can only wonder about people's mindset.

The resultant economy downturn is of concern, and when you have family members working in hospitality etc it is concerning with people staying home and not able to socialise, and of course we have no idea how long this will last for.   Some of these businesses will manage to change their menus to allow UberEats or the like to service clients.

Then there are the family members who work in the health sector to worry about.  Their high level of training and resources implemented to keep them safe should be sufficient, however, the public need to play their part and follow instructions. Stories of people barging into medical facilities demanding to be tested or turning up at a pharmacy and abusing staff because they cannot be vaccinated, because not all vaccine providers have  received their supply of flu vaccine for upcoming influenza season. Priority is being given to the over 65s, those with chronic illnesses, etc, to be vaccinated earlier than usual.  Patience is a virtue!

As the Prime Minister and others were reported saying yesterday "Be kind."  The world is dealing with a pandemic, this is the new "normal," and we all need to think of others and prepare for any eventually, not easy, but stockpiling toilet paper is not the solution, after all we have the Kapiti Observer delivered free each week😉

A baby cot quilt completed in January.

As seen in  the  excellent quilt store in Mt Maunganui

Time to plant my usual veges ready for winter greens before the promised rain arrives.