It's exactly one week into February, and my hopeful start to this year is getting slightly frayed around the edges. Perhaps there was just enough of the Unknown around in January to keep all that optimism going!
At the start of the pandemic, the sudden demise of our tourism sector at the very beginning of the busy season was a gigantic shock. In a tourism based region, we are all economically interconnected, so the effects are felt by all. The thousands of confirmed international bookings started to go through a process: firstly postponement by a few months, then as reality set in - postponement till 2021, and so on. The latest part of the process seems to have now arrived: Cancellations. Now it's down to mostly domestic tourism and the few very determined international travellers!
We are into our third alcohol ban, and also a night curfew. Both of these have just been extended for a further month - another blow for the restaurants and hospitality businesses that have been trying to stay open and get by. We have now started to notice permanent closures of a few
businesses around town. Others are completely mothballed until
international tourism revives. In a small town and community we are all trying to
support each other's businesses where we can, and to keep our own ones
going as creatively as possible!
As per New Normal life, we have been through a variety of restrictions with differing degrees of severity since this all began. The balancing act between public health and economy goes on, and so we just hang in and keep waiting for better times or signs of improvement and change! On 1 February the Covid deaths were sitting at 168 - we are a sparsely populated nation, yet we do not have a highly developed health system that would cope with an exponential increase in serious cases, so our government is being strict and cautious. Businesses have had some help from the government with wage subsidies and various other interventions, which is something to be very grateful for, but the outlook is still rather bleak. Sometimes I wonder what happens if this is how it's going to be for a long time to come? However, we have somehow survived thus far, and need to just keep up the momentum and the positive attitude.
We are also very fortunate that we can escape to beautiful, peaceful places very close to home for a dose of sanity and attitude resetting! After our spectacular rainy season this year, our wild places are looking incredible. Forests, rivers, floodplains and wildlife are good for the soul!
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| Wild Flame Lilies hiding in dense foliage |
Wishing anybody reading this, a positive and peaceful week!
3 comments:
It really is devastating for the tourism industry and fingers crossed things open up again soon! I feel your pain....Lx
We have had almost continual lockdown here for the past 12 months and also now a 6pm to 6am curfew. I am heartily sick of the house 24/7, thank goodness we have a garden. At one stage I was not allowed to walk any further than a 1 km radius from the house which drove me nuts, but that thankfully has been lifted. We have not had a meal anywhere other than in our house now for 12 months, restaurants are still closed. I have had the first vaccination with the second one lined up in 3 weeks time. My husband thought is under 75 so not sure when he will ever get on the list.
Take care, Diane
You are alive and well and not overwhelming your health facilities or unknowingly infecting others. This is hard but patience and hope as well as gratitude are all important. Money is not important if you are not alive and healthy to earn it.
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