Yawn, a very early start for me. I roll out of bed at 4.15am. I drop mum’s car off to a park and fly and arrive at the airport after 5am. I double check the weight of my bags prior to checking in, both under the limit. After check in I head straight for security, I would rather wait on the otherside. I get through with a full body scan and a pat on the bum. The lady says it is probably my cardigan. I get to a coffee shop order a flat white and sit down, I have heaps of time nearly 3 hours before take off. So I chill and fill in the last few days of blogs, however I don’t send them as I want to check Rowan is okay with them. I don’t want information out there he doesn’t want to share. I get hungry and wonder if they feed you on the plane, may as well eat now. I just eat a small amount just enough to remove my hunger. Finally I go the boarding gate and get on to my flight. Latam makes everyone wear masks and I am very happy that they do, I was going to wear mine anyway. I am in the middle seat and wish I could snooze but didn’t. They did feed us an inedible meal but lucky they had a mothers earth oat bar that was good. By the end of the flight I was getting restless. It took nearly 45min to get my bag the delay was insane.

Joanne said Rowan was out getting family members and to wait at the coffee shop. “Haere mai” I hear from the tane behind the counter,”kia ora” I reply instantly. He tells me he has been here 8 years, we have a quick chat. I wait a bit longer and Joanne says Rowan will be over an hour and to get in a taxi but to wait 45min because she can’t let me up into the apartment as she is isolating. I tell her I am coming now and I would rather sit in the park and wait then be exposed at the airport any longer than necessary. Annoyingly I have broken my only Aussie money on a coffee I get to a cab and he tells me $55. I tell him I have $40 and some change, and I ask for a bank transfer? He reluctantly says yes after I explain why. While chatting I end up giving him $40aud and $20nzd hoping the exchange rate is about that. I arrive at the apartment entrance and we pull up behind Rowan, Garry (family friend) and two other family members. Garry comes over to pay for my taxi and I tell him I sorted it. Rowan is helping an elderly man Patrick is Bette’s brother out of the car. Part of the requirements for Patrick being allowed out into a group gathering is we all must where masks, so I leave mine on. I get into the apartment with everyone and open the door to a big hug from someone I have never met, she then introduces herself to the next person and I realise it is Aunty Christine (Grahame’s wife). I say Hi to Joanne through her door, then a cousin called Lisa and to Bette and everyone is rather pleasant and cheery. The afternoon carries on with lots of stories being told. I finally get a chance to talk to Rowan about his negative test and find out he hasn’t tested himself, no one else has. I say a lot of words I won’t repeat in here and tell him to take a test now. So he jumps into action and takes his test which comes back as a faint positive. I am surprised by the iresposibleness of it all. I take the family back in the car with Garry and I play navman. When we get back I make sure everyone has been tested. Garry & Christine come back negative. I do Bette’s test for her and tell her congratulations you’re pregnant, what a medical miracle. We now have 3 positives and 3 negatives. I go underground literally and stay in the garage that night. It is actually rather comfortable, Joanne has set up rugs and a table. she uses it like a second room.

The following day Rowan says we should still go to the airbnb in Dungog and we can isolate there. He has another test and is only faintly reading positive. If I stay in Sydney I won’t be able to avoid it, where if we get out I may be fine. He said in hindsight he may have been sick a long time. Unfortunately with so much grief in the room I don’t think anyone has realised they are actually sick. So we both keep N95s on and all the windows down for the journey. Everyone in Australia is so relaxed about covid, no one really wears a mask or seems to care about getting it. We arrive in Dungog and I go to the IGA to get some supplies and more tests. They seem to be a lot more expensive here. We meet up with Heather and sit outside on her deck with masks on (her choice). Katie stays inside with Huntah and Ben. It has been at least 4 years since we have seen them. They were last in NZ to get engaged.

We get to the airbnb and it is a fantastic spot, there is birds and wildlife everywhere. Rowan tells me to be careful but says the grass is short enough you shouldn’t need to worry about snakes. We spend the late afternoon watching the birds and a good 5m distance from one another. I get my camera out and enjoy taking lots of photos. I wish Joanne was here as she could tell me what each one is. I cook dinner which I am happy to do, but is definitely a blue job. As I would prefer to be covid free I don’t complain too much. After dinner I jump in the spa bath. It isn’t as big as my old bath but it is the biggest I have come across since. By 7pm I am yawning, but I keep myself up for another hour. Rowan is isolating in his room happy to have his mask off.