Level 3 (again!): Solo Vacation

I finish my big project at work, we've been at Level 1 for quite some time (since June 8th and 102 days since last community spread). One or two days notice and I book the place I was going to go for my birthday. My brain is exhausted and I need the break.  Jacqueline can't come along because of the timing but my brain just isn't working and I really need a break. I also tell my friend Chris he could come stay for a day and we could do a day silent retreat, but he has other plans in Auckland. So- on August 11th I put on my big girl pants and drive myself up a half an hour north of Auckland (3+ hour drive). I get in around 3pm and decide to take the afternoon easy and just hang out there even though I'm less than a mile from a couple of wineries and I haven't made it to one yet since being here. I could go the next day.

I'm tired but staying up late because someone at work offered a class on self worth and I signed up for it.  My old life a class at 11pm would be fine.  So- I'm hanging out, staying awake at 9pm and I get a message from Jacqueline that there are new community cases in New Zealand, in Auckland, and by the morning Auckland is moving to level 3 and I'm within the radius of that.  I message my airbnb hosts, talk about whether I should leave in the morning or stay out my time.  The place I'm staying is very remote.  I can easily stay there and see no one and relax there.  So- I decide to stay.  No wineries for me, but peace and quiet.  And, of course, I brought wine and my hosts had left a bottle for me.  I stay up until 11 pm but can't log in and miss the class.  I didn't bring my work laptop and thought I'd be able to join in from my phone.  And did I learn?  No.  I tried again the next day just thinking I was too tired to try properly the first day.

The place has lovely lily pond, a tea house, outdoor bathtubs.  My first solo vacation.  And what do I do?  Not shower and wear pajamas all day one day, practice crazy makeup and get dressed up another.  

Daily outdoor baths, one phone call with a friend from the bathtub, firepit one day.  Also yoga.

 

There's also watching the hosts on their boats chase after the neighbors ducks that have decided to hang out at their pond and be bullies to their 5 black ducks.  I don't think they caught the neighbors ducks but they tried for a couple of days!

And I start my Beetlejuice journal that has a lot of significance for me.  It was a gift and I treasure it so much that it was one of the few items that made the cut for me to bring to New Zealand.  I had been telling myself for a long time that I'm halfway through my life and have been asking myself how I'm going to spend the second half.  And this gigantic journal is the time to write about that.  Jacqueline had remembered that, in the movie, the husband read the title as "Handbook for the recently diseased" before his wife corrects him with "deceased".  "Recently diseased" is perfect for covid times.  Have I already mentioned that when I moved in with Jacqueline's family nearly 30 years ago I absolutely loved it because our little sister, Sheree, watched Beetlejuice every single morning for weeks?  Beetlejuice is one of my favorite movies.

Of course I decide to take my walk on my makeup day.  The sheep run up to see me and are so excited.

One day of latte, yogurt and journaling in the tea house overlooking the lily pond.  In my bear suit.

 

Alas, my respite can't last forever.  As I'm driving home, I take a page from the book of Jacqueline and I pay attention to signs that say there's a place to take a hike.  I had put sandwiches in bags and it'll be nice to stop and eat lunch.  So- I drive up, park and find a lovely place to take a walk.  In my high heel boots.  There are baby lambs around, bleating.

And then drive back home.  It is level 2 back home, even though, now there are 2 cases of covid in Tokoroa, where I'm living.  We wonder for a few days why Tokoroa is only at level 2 if there are cases in Auckland, and if there would be a burst in the numbers in Tokoroa (so far there haven't), but I get us masks to wear and make one as well.

After a week or so we take a trip to Rotoroa to go op shopping, buy paint and I get dropped off at the local fancy cat cafe.  :)

I fall in love with this kitty but he's not that impressed with me.  That's ok, though.  And I'm the only one in there for quite a time.  Then I meet a lovely British woman and her daughter who adores cats and we discuss which are our favorites.  I tell them I'd like to get a Singapura one day.  The kitty I fall in love with isn't a Singapura, but reminds me of one.  The woman tells me that this breed of cat is extremely athletic and needs tons of attention and will ruin your house if it doesn't get enough.

They have odd gelato flavors like Butter Chicken. and Durian.  Which of course I try.  The Butter Chicken.  Not the Durian.  And it is gross.  I had no doubt Durian would be gross.  I can still taste the Butter Chicken as I'm eating my lovely panna cotta and kinda weird orange.  There was also tomato and all sorts of interesting flavors.  They only had about 10 flavors at the time as they had only recently reopened.

Back at home, more projects, more journaling, more meditation with my muse, more tea.  Jacqueline's friend finds this fabulous robot sweater for me in an "op shop" (opportunity shoppe aka second hand store).  I'm almost getting bored of drinking wine.  Almost.  And yet- still haven't made it to a winery!

Remember the one rule in the house?  Instead of "processing" we say "princessing".  Here's Jeremy proudly princessing away.  He makes it look good, doesn't he?

Next episode: disco toilet, more furniture re-dos, home-made mask, etc...