As of today we are officially out of lockdown in New South Wales, so hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel - maybe!
Our previous New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who resigned a couple of weeks ago under a bit of a cloud, had a plan to ease out of lockdown gradually.
Although she was a bit of a dill on occasion I was optimistic that her plan would work and she did seem to have a sensible approach to easing us out of lockdown. Her replacement Premier Dominic Perrottet, however, has changed the plan and has a bit of a bull in a china shop attitude, turning reopening into a bit of a free-for-all and confusing for a lot of people. I can't help feeling that things over the next couple of months will be a bit of a shambles and Covid cases are going to rise drastically again under his leadership. I do hope I am wrong but I can't help feeling it is going to end in tears.
I took this photo of a stack of guttering at our recycle centre back in July and liked the sunlight creeping through the guttering.
The recycle centre has been closed since July and reopens on the 25 October, which is good because while we have been in lockdown I have had a bit of a clear out and I have lots of thing to take along and hopefully they will be re-sold at the centre.
@dide The changes Dominic Perrottet is planning for schools to reopen here is turning into a bit of a shambles too. Teaches aren't ready and not all teachers will be fully vaxxed by the early date he has stated. As I said all going to end in tears.
I actually think we are going to see an increase in cases no matter how fast or slow we open up. I’m in favour of everything opening to help all the businesses that have been closed. Now if only we could get people to be sensible, that would lessen the problem.
@kjarn I am with you on your comment. The problem will be getting some people to be sensible. Since Covid I have discovered that there are far too many stupid people in the world.
We all have to live with Covid sooner or later. I am glad NSW is leading the way. I feel sorry for tourism in WA & QLD as they are suffering very badly even though they are keeping the people safe, but at what cost.
I have no love for Gladys due to her attitude to the environment, but I respected the way she worked with Kerry Chant. I notice now that NSW are barely getting a mention, I think we are going to reap more than we imagine.
Great image for today Babs. I do hope that people take a sensible approach to their new freedom, but I'm concerned about what will happen over there. I fear that Covid will soon make its way here too.
love your light at the end of the tunnel. The United States is a mess but I keep hoping that light stays lite. Our covid numbers rise and fall, rise and fall.
I love the title and hope the future is bright for you and you stay safe. It certainly is chaotic here. I just wear my KN95 mask whenever I leave the house. Our county number for Covid exceeds your entire country’s number every day.
It’s a very fine balance isn’t it Babs? Horrible to see businesses collapsing after all the hard work put in. Let’s hope people we at their masks & still social distance while trying to live reasonably normally. I’m sure like every country it will be one step forward,two steps back but eventually we will all be able to live with it….that is happening in the UK to a certain extent….most people vaccinated & it’s a much milder disease when you’ve had your jabs!
Very apt illustration.
@merrelyn I am sure Covid will come over to your side of the country eventually, but hopefully most people will be vaccinated by the time that happens. You have done so well so far to keep it out so far with low numbers.
@onewing Every country is the same. There always "Covidiots" and people who think it's all stupid and unnecessary, who socialise without restrictions as fast as possible. We currently have around 40,000 new cases a day mostly among school children, particularly senior schools, and the 30s-40s, who are assumed to be mostly parents of children catching it at school. But we have no formal restrictions now at all, except some forms of transport say you should wear a mask and most people avoid using one. I still go out early, when it is quiet, and I always wear a mask. I don't think I will stop before next Spring now. We are finding people who catch colds get them really really badly because of the lack of mixing and meeting them for the past 20 months. I don't want one of those either! All the best xxx
Your image is so apt! However, it does seem to have been a bit rushed in NSW - the Gov doesn't even have a foolproof way for people to show they are double vaccinated. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you and hope for the best. :)
@casablanca Wow that is a lot of new cases every day. No wonder you are nervous. The same thing will happen here I imagine once the whole country opens up again and International travel resumes. I go out early to do my shopping too and I will be wearing a mask for quite a while. As we are both in our 70s we can't take any chances especially as we both have health issues.
I like "Covidiots" I will use that one.
@robz I know, its a worry isn't it. The rules changed in NSW once Dominic Perrottet took over. I know Gladys was a bit of a dill on occasion but she seemed to be easing out of lockdown slowly and I was hopeful things would run smoothly, but now I'm not so sure.
Take care. I'm in Qld where we have managed to avoid any big outbreaks so far, so I can't see Anastasia opening the borders too quickly. We do feel though that it is just a matter of time before it happens here. We are still wearing masks in supermarkets and anywhere crowded, but otherwise there are few restrictions. On the other hand I should have gone to a ukulele festival last weekend, but thought about all those people singing in a tent so stayed at home instead - just in case. Hopefully all goes well for you in NSW (my home state) and life gets back to normal before too long.
Very apt illustration.
@edorreandresen @julzmaioro @ludwigsdiana @terryliv @leestevo @koalagardens @joansmor @wakelys @kimka @sianharrison @pcoulson @beryl @casablanca @pusspup @lesip @jamibann @mittens @ladymagpie @busylady @haskar @gijsje @happypat @pattyblue @carole_sandford @ryan161 @jgpittenger @julie I am sure everything will be fine eventually, but unfortunately as we open up again there are a few people who don't abide by the rules and just go a bit silly. As long as most people can be sensible it will be okay.
The end to lockdown began at midnight on Sunday and just after midnight some pubs opened in Sydney so people could celebrate with a beer at the pub. I mean for Gods sake was that necessary. See what I mean about stupidity.
@merrelyn I am sure Covid will come over to your side of the country eventually, but hopefully most people will be vaccinated by the time that happens. You have done so well so far to keep it out so far with low numbers.
I like "Covidiots" I will use that one.