Never met a stranger

As promised, our Prime Minister outlined what Level Three would probably look like and while there are significant and positive developments for many in the business sector, not much will change for others. We're encouraged to remain in our bubbles although we can allow a few people close to us to enter, and we can go up the road to drive-through McDonalds. Maybe my sushi won't be too far away now!

It was all good news but the PM would not give anything away until Monday when we will know if we can have a few more freedoms, or we will stay longer in our solitude. All I know is, I wouldn't want to be making that decision.

So yesterday Pam and I gave all of this a thorough going over during our walk and we came to the conclusion that for us, personally, not a whole lot would change for quite some time. So what will I miss the most? Going out to a pub, going for a long drive someplace to visit someone or stay overnight, being able to fly down to the South Island to visit my sister (no non-essential travel allowed even under Level Three, apart from going to work or kids to school) ... things like that.

As we were walking, we passed by a house on the beach front and an older lady was coming out eating an apple.  

'May I walk with you?' she asked,  joining us anyway and of course we did not mind. The three of us took up the whole road, two on the curb sides and one in the middle, and we strode along looking very purposeful indeed. The photo is of Pam in the middle and our new friend on the lawn.

Our new walking companion had heard the news too and noted that hair salons were not going to make the 'essential services' cut on Level Three, along with many other businesses, cafes and restaurants/pubs in particular.

'I am desperate for a hair cut,' she said, fluffing at her curly hair and I agreed that I was too, tugging at my shaggy locks that are looking pretty scruffy now.

'I'll just have to do it myself,' she said.

Braver than me, I thought, but said with such practicality and self assurance that I am sure she'll manage. 

The rain drizzled down so we all sheltered under some dense trees along a walking path in the reserve. Another lady came by with an umbrella low over her face and we gave her a hell of a fright.

'What are you doing lurking in the bushes?' she asked.

She joined us for a while too, all of us keeping our respective social distances, scattered about amidst the rain-dripping trees. The rain stopped and we walked on, depositing our apple-eating walker at her drive with a 'join us again if you like'.

'Who was that lady?' Pam asked as we walked on home.

'I've no idea,' I said.

'Well, these days, we never meet a stranger,' she said.

How true that is. And mighty fine it is too.

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