We are in transition. Today the notice came that our compound is moving from Controlled Area to Precautionary Area, yet we still are in advisory lockdown, no one can leave the compound. 6:00 am Time to take Toby (头哔, Little Beep) for a quick walk; A conflict between two middle aged men draws a crowd, […]

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The rude awakening, is that when one fosters a pet dog, you have to get up early in the morning to walk it. The sun is dancing in a cloudless sky, I walk to the corner of the compound, there’s a mirror near the road; The north garden is a place for children to play […]

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The new normal exerts itself:  We have deliveries at the gate; Local convenience store’s shelves are almost empty; eggs… I have eggs; Kids play; People walk their children; ‘And their pets; Today I received a rescue dog – he needed a place to stay.

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We are now in a Controlled Quarantine. The compulsory, “Stay At Home” orders are being relaxed and the various, “concierge” services, (“direct to, and from, your door…”) are being wound down. The last rubbish collection from the entry door, we now have to, separate and sort, our own garbage and dispose of it ourselves; “Everybody Out!” […]

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There is a shift in our Lockdown Status, a glimmer of light on the horizon. We are now a designated, “Controlled” Area. This means, “highly recommended,” home isolation with daily self-health assessment. Some statistics from the last 52 days: March 8-15 Compound Lockdown (8 Days) March 16 Community access restored (1 day) March 17-27 Compound […]

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This morning I get up late, there is not no noise. I look out the window, there is nothing to see, just the planter box and bars;  From the kitchen; I see some volunteers walking in the laneway; A little bit later some old ladies are standing outside… curious that they are able to there […]

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Bleary eyed I arise, dress, and stagger downstairs to join the line, I feel like a shadow of my former self; There are volunteers everywhere, one volunteer checks his phone; Another hold a bottle to sterilize the air; Still more move and control the head of the line; And… eventually wave me forward, when it’s […]

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Can I even call it, “Lockdown” anymore? Other compounds in our community have moved into lesser restrictions but we just can’t seem to take a trick.  It is said that the darkest hour is always that, just before the light of dawn. Let’s hope that, “dawn” is not still days and weeks away. A volunteer […]

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April 25th is, for some, a day of celebration, and for others, one of remembrance: I was awoken this morning by the urgent calls of a loud hailer; People line up building block by building block- the people are nervous, why are we testing again? A sugar glider is an unusual pet, it accompanies its […]

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This morning the cart comes… we have another delivery, what is it this time? The bag on my door fell to the floor, the adhesive hook is lost, inside the bag is a box of 10 tests; This new series of tests includes QR codes; A surprise inclusion in the test kit is a little […]

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