Life in Lockdown: My 2021 experience

Outside is closed again.

This blog post was published on day 6. It will be updated daily until the lockdown is called off.

Sassy Engineer

On Tuesday, 17 August 2021, New Zealand went into a snap lockdown. The Covid-19 alert level 4 was activated after one community case (Case A) of the delta variant, the most vicious of them all, was detected. Hence, lockdown the whole country. Lock it down NOW!!!

Auckland and Coromandel were to stay on level 4 for a week while the rest of us will be on for 3 days.

On Friday, 20 August 2021, the breaking news that the country will remain in lockdown till Tuesday, 24 August 2021, was announced at 3 pm.

Since the beginning of this global pandemic in 2020, New Zealand has had numerous Covid-19 alert level adjustments, with level 4 being a complete lockdown, excluding essential services. The country has experienced two level-4 lockdowns, the most recent occurring just this month, August 2021. 

The first level 4 alert came into effect at 11:59 pm on 25 March 2020. Four days later, we recorded our first death, and five weeks later (27 April 2020), we moved to level 3, which I fondly call “Level 4 with KFC”. Auckland is the city with the most alert level changes, partly due to population density and partly because it is the main port for international arrivals. More about the Covid-19 alert system here.

I was swimming my worries away when the announcement was made, so I only got the info after my swimming class. I was both excited and sad on reading the news. Excited because I get to stay at home and sad because “what’s the future of travel restrictions in NZ?” I miss my mummy!!!

Barely a week ago, we heard the news of the government’s intention to ease border restrictions next year, 2022. Now, delta variant in the community, Hmmm. What to do? 

I decided to document my daily activities and post them online because the internet never forgets. Technically, it forgets by way of what in English is called “selective memory”. An argument for another day.

Here’s my chronicle of the events that followed after the PM announced the lockdown.

Day 0

6:10 pm – Swimming class ends. 

I stayed back to practice my backstroke and freestyle arms, then showered and decided to grab a crate of eggs from the supermarket before the shopping frenzy begins. I was a little too late because I couldn’t find any parking when I arrived at the supermarket.

“I’ll come back later when the supermarket is about to close”, I thought to myself. The crowd will definitely lessen by then.” On that note, I went to church for the evening bible class, arrived about 7 pm, then left the class for the supermarket at approx 8 pm.

The parking lot was still very, VERY busy, though I was fortunate to find parking. I met two ladies who were just leaving, so I got their cart. On getting in, AAHHHHHH, WHAT in the WORLD!!!

A long queue, disorganised but organised simultaneously, of shoppers spanning through ALL the aisles in the supermarket. Fortunately, it wasn’t as hysterical as last year’s. Though people were stockpiling food and TOILET ROLLS. Y’all!!! Could someone please tell me the link between toilet paper and lockdown or covid-19? I still don’t get it.

I legit had to park my trolley then walk to the aisle to access what I needed. Then, off to self-checkout, LAWDY LAWD!! The line long die but, I stayed strong and persisted!!

It took me over 30 minutes to self-checkout my eggs +4 other items, something that should have taken 10 minutes max but, PANDEMIC!! I finally got home and called it a day. Calls: Mumsy, Alicia, Chainvestment.

18 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 1

6:45 am – Woken by the alarm. Prayed. Replied to msgs on phone. Drank water because my throat felt dry.

The day started as usual, with me attending to my daily tasks. We had a team meeting to check everyone’s mental health (PS: my teammates are very resilient people, I’ll say). Then I felt like having a snack. However, I had intentionally left that out of my shopping list the day before. The cookie monster must be satisfied, so I set out to make my cookies.

My oven is ancient

First time, self-drawn laali

Choc chip, cinnamon cookies

19 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 2

6:45 am – Alarm rings. Of course, I snoozed it. After three snoozes, I decided to get up and be active. Meanwhile, my throat felt dry, like an early stage of a cough. More intense than the day before that, all I could think of was, “Rona, is that you?!

Drank water, showered, made and drank tea for the dry throat (chamomile, ACV, honey and lemon).

8:02 am – Alicia called, and we chatted away while WFH. I got this brilliant idea in the form of a question, “what does a covid test feel like?” Peeps say it’s crazy, but she said hers wasn’t bad. “Alright, I’m going to get tested”, I said.

We got the address of the testing station. Opening times said 9 am – 4 pm. Vroom vroom, I left for my test.

9:00 am – Arrived at the testing station, and what did I find? The queue was already 750 m long, spanning to the road adjacent to the testing station. I don’t have photo evidence because I was more focused on getting in line before it grew any longer.

Tired much

Covid testing station

Highlights of Day 2

• Breakfast: 4 slices of toast with spreadable butter and peanut butter (laughs in calories)
• Covid test: I spent 3 hours in the queue before getting swabbed by a nurse. The experience was brief but impactful. I coughed and teared up a little. It smelt like my nasal cavity was bleeding as if I pricked my nose while nose picking, but I wasn’t bleeding.
• Lunch: Rice and salad. Then I had my cookies because I wasn’t satisfied. Later drank lots of water to fill up.
• NO baking today
• Got covid-19 test result
• Went for a run (2.45 km). Wo!! I’m so unfit.
• Dinner: Vegetable and beef peppersoup with zobo and wine, and lots of fluids
• I watched Trial by Fire. It’s a very touching movie showing how the justice system has failed and killed many people. It shows that the justice system is no stranger to such things, especially when the perpetrators are people in power.
• I attempted to write this blog post but failed woefully.
• Bedtime of 10:30 pm delayed till 11 pm
• Calls – Alicia only

20 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 3

3:41 am: Woke up for toilet run. If I’d delayed any longer, the golden toilet would have appeared. The dry throat feeling was still there but not as intense. Corona, is that you? Stay away!

I adjusted my bonnet, went and emptied my waste liquid, back to bed, hydrated by drinking water, re-adjusted bonnet and waited for sleep to come. While waiting, my mind drifted again to the throat, “wild, wild thoughts”.

I recalled stories of people testing negative only to test positive days later. Or is it people who got the virus and were still infectious even after getting the vaccine? My mind started spiralling, but as it’s become of me, the little small voice whispered, “Dah! What’s gonna be, is gonna be. Sleep now” 

So, I prayed and drifted to sleep.

6:45 am: Awaken by the alarm. Dry throat was gone. I snoozed the alarm but only once this time.

Just like day 2, I drank water, showered, made and drank tea, only this time I skipped the lemon cos I’d run out. Nothing exciting happened today besides the wee hour’s mental drama and lockdown extension. 

My theory for the dry throat is that the air in the room was dry, such that it affected my throat. The air is usually arid during winter. 

21 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 4

4:41 am – Toilet runs and back to my dream world.

8:02 am – I woke up, prayed and began my Saturday morning house cleaning routine.

I was doing the dishes when I legit caught my neighbour peeping into my house through the window. The first time, I ignored ‘cos I didn’t see the action happen. The second time, I approached her and asked what the problem is? How can I help? What do you want? So I know the reason. All she said was, “Lovely weather, enjoy the sunshine, goodbye” Shuu!!

A few minutes later, she came knocking with a note saying I banged the door etc. I’ll stop here to say that my neighbour is special needs. She’s done nice stuff for me, like taking in my bin without me asking, greets me randomly and all that. But her peeping behaviour pisses me off. It’s not the first time I’ve caught her.

I been wan write my note give am too since she wanna see crazy. But on second thought, after speaking with some friends, if yawa come gas na me dem go blame, so I free am. I go still table this matter. (I wrote a note with intentions to deliver to her door since she wants to be petty. But, I changed my mind after speaking with some friends because if an issue arises, they’ll blame me. I’m still going to take up the case with her).

No long talk today. Let’s get into the highs.

Spring’s around the corner

Bus walk track

22 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 5

8:02 am – It’s a beautiful morning. The sun is out and warming us up. I can feel the lazy feeling taking over. It’s Sunday, after all. I just want to lay in bed. Cue The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars

23 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 6

6:45 am – It’s the alarm.

Welp!!! It’s Monday again. Day 6 is the day we get to know if we’ll be out of lockdown. Work from home #WFH mode was activated last Wednesday.

Today is also the first day of workplace vaccination at my end. In the bid to encourage people to get vaccinated, New Zealand had approved some companies trial vaccination at the workplace. This news came in way before the delta variant outbreak. I had volunteered to assist with the vaccination, so I drove myself to the venue after lunch. I must say, the whole process is well organised.

Great news too! I GOT MY FIRST DOSE OF THE PFIZER VACCINE TODAY. Although I have the vaccine, I’ll still be cautious because there’s still a chance of getting infected based on current cases. I had a shot glass full of salty caramel whiskey later that evening. I’m not entirely sure if alcohol consumption after taking a vaccine is ideal. Oh well.

We finished at 4 pm and had a brief rundown on lessons learnt and improving for the next two days.

While we were doing that, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the cabinet’s decision that Auckland will remain in lockdown until 11:59 pm 31 August 2021. The rest of the country will stay in level 4 for four additional days till 11:59 pm 27 August 2021.

This decision will be reviewed on Friday for everyone except Auckland.

Cumulus with sunset

Fluffy

Fortified

Cumulus

24 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 7

6:45 am – It’s the alarm again

The temperature had significantly dropped that frost had built up on my windscreen. This will be the first time I have to wipe frost off my car. Exciting times.

I had a full day of volunteering work at the vaccination clinic. Since the queue was not as long as expected, I had enough time to observe the beauty around me. I was lucky to watch a bee at work on the flowers. Spring will be beautiful.

By the way, I felt pain at the injection site all day. The instruction says, “Do not rub or massage the injection site” however, there were several instances where I almost did. I did some pushups, let’s see if that helps.

25 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 8

6:45 am – Hello World.

It’s the last day of onsite vaccination. The pushups worked, yippee!! The pain at the injection site is gone.

I am out of food today. So the plan was to survive on four pieces of biscuits for breakfast and lunch while dinner will be cooked after I go grocery shopping. I had the free mandarin and biscuits at the vaccination site. I also shelved the grocery shopping because I actually had food at home. It just needed to be cooked. #lazymood ‘cos I didn’t cook.

Today went by pretty fast, although the morning was somewhat slow. The weather has been extra lovely for some days to date, but today’s weather was windier.

Switching in positions

Body balance

26 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 9

I woke up before my alarm today. Iyammi!!

I’d dreamt that for reasons I can’t remember, I’d put my plant babies in a cupboard, and their green leaves were all yellow and dying. What a nightmare?!

Then later thoughts of learning and unlearning habits, lifestyles, believes and so on was on my mind for a better part of the day. The numerous feedbacks I have been given about my life (work, love, study et al.). One feedback that stood out today was “You’re teachable”, which is absolutely correct since I am always happy to learn new things. It doesn’t mean I’ll let go of my values anyway. Values are values, and that’s on mary had a little lamb.

I finally cooked the beans and rice today. Delicioso. Akoti adunenem ukpa?! I overate. 🤦‍♀️ Later in the day, my friend drop-off some goodies for me which served as dinner, contactless delivery ofcourse.

Say you in your dreams

Edesi ye akoti

My plant babies

Angel’s wings

Kunu and puff puff

Za square

27 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 10

Had made plans to go for a walk but the rain had other plans. As such, all my day was spent indoors. Exciting times!!! I ate so much mehn. Thankfully my watch party plan went as planned. Part 2 of King of Boys: Return of the King was released as limited series today. One of the best Nollywood movies, if you ask me.

We found out today that the rest of the country will remain in level 4 till day 14 after which they’ll move to level 3. The PM said the Auckland may potentially remain in level 4 for another two weeks but we’ll know that on day 13 (30/08/21).

Yayy, Level 3 with take-aways.

28 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 11

The morning was beautiful; grey clouds looming and giving the chill and relaxed feeling. To rain or not to rain?

I couldn’t go for my walk the previous day and I’d also eaten so so much. So, I challenged myself for a run. The goal was a 3-km run, on a new route, without stopping. Got up from the bed, dressed, and off I was.

The only issue was that being a route I haven’t used neither by car or leg, I had no clue where it’ll take me. My thinking was it’ll be like the other routes, which takes from one main street to the other. Well, adventure right?

I ended up running for 6.22 km; it took me ~45 min. I even had to stop briefly to get direction on my phone. My body wasn’t happy at all so I had to reward it for the “effort”.

29 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 12

Sunday, Fun Day. My mood this day was unusually optimistic to the extent that I decided to do makeup, dress up like I was going out. Face beat on fleek.

In the afternoon, I made my first attempt at roasting tamarind seeds. Tamarinds are very tasty, healthy fruits.

The delta outbreak cases are not adding up. They number was less by one on day 10; now day 12, it is also less than one. Is it just me or do they have issues with counting? I’ll have to read the news to find out why one getting uncounted. Something fishy going down.

30 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 13

Yet another Monday in lockdown. I’m still sane, still very optimistic, happy and cheerful. I’m killing it here.

Decision was announced that Auckland will remain in Level 4 for two more weeks, while the rest of us will move to level 3 as planned. Northland is to only move to level 3, if wastewater test result returns negative.

I ate a lot today, I won’t even attempt to cover-up.

31 Aug 2021
Lockdown Day 14

The last day of level 4 lockdown for the country well except Auckland. Auckland is the hotspot for the outbreak and we want to see a plateau and hopefully a drop in community cases. Hence, the extended lockdown for them. My heart goes out to my friends in there.

01 Sep 2021

Yoo-hoo!! We are now in Level 3 which brings us to the end of the chronicles of my life in lockdown 2021. Thank you for going on this journey with me.

My only wish now is for the delta outbreak to be contained so that easing border restrictions can be considered. We is long overdue for a family holiday.

THE END

Photos of Palmerston North City Centre taken by the young Sassy Engineer who is nurturing great photography skills.