Alex Hallatt 4/15/20 Alex Hallatt 4/15/20

Living in New Zealand: Exercise and Social Distancing Around Lyttelton

Normally I walk a lot around the local hills (it helps me come up with ideas), but now that people are in lockdown at home and only allowed out for essential trips or to excercise, there are many more people in the hills. And the walking tracks are very narrow sometimes, so it’s hard to keep two metres apart.

I wish I could get to Quail Island but no stand up paddle boarding is allowed

Click to see options for using the image

Some parts of Godley Head are out-of-bounds because of Covid-19, but you can bike up to Evans Pass with views out over Sumner and then cycle along to see the quiet surf of Taylors Mistake and the not-too-busy trails beyond. I think the campervans in the photos below have probably been moved on by now.

We are three weeks into lockdown. I hope that a week from now we are at the end of it.

ttfn

Alex Hallatt 4/10/20 Alex Hallatt 4/10/20

Living in New Zealand: Lockdown is Easier When You Have a Garden and New Compost Bays

I received a text message yesterday - the Swiss Army made it back to Zurich and their flat. It is a shame they had to cut their New Zealand trip short and I hope they will be back.

Maybe when we have a kitchen and bathroom.

It is nice to be in the middle of harvest as we are minimising our trips to the supermarket during lockdown.

Over half way to the end of lockdown. I hope.

Alex Hallatt 4/6/20 Alex Hallatt 4/6/20

Living in New Zealand: Covid-19 Lockdown in Lyttelton

Things have changed a lot in two weeks, though the port is still working. With far fewer ships coming in of any type. Click to see options for using the image

We have now spent just over aa week of a minimum of four weeks of lockdown in New Zealand. That means we don’t travel unless we need essentials like food. I have been to the Supervalue little supermarket once since we returned from kayaking (Duncan misses shopping more than I do and has made a couple of trips through the tunnel). It was too busy, with people struggling to maintain their two metres apart. Luckily, we don’t know of any virus here yet, but I was extra careful and wiped everything I bought down with detergent and bleach before I brought it into our house.

And the house. All construction work had to stop on lockdown, which means that we have no proper kitchen or bathroom.

So we have a camp kitchen.

And a loo on the lawn.

And we are sharing this interesting situation with two Swiss tourists who had nowhere else to go.

Thank goodness I have my studio to work in.

Alex Hallatt 3/19/20 Alex Hallatt 3/19/20

Newsletter Extract: Coronavirus and Covid-19

What a difference a month makes. At the beginning of March a friend of mine visited from New York for a few days. By the time she left, her company had cancelled the European leg of the trip and she was fortunate to be able to get home before borders were tightened all over the world. Whilst she was here, we visited Akaroa where a cruise ship was in the harbour. Locals were mildly concerned, but I am sure they were more worried this week when a passenger had to be tested for coronavirus (they tested negative, to our relief, as the ship had been in Lyttelton the day before).

It seems that all that anyone can talk about now is the novel coronavirus. And as a biochemist who worked seven years in the pharmaceutical industry, I do find the virus and the associated disease fascinating. But like everyone else, I worry about the older and more vulnerable members of my family and our community. Tom Hanks may be able to Instagram his way out of it, but this virus will take its toll on those with impaired lung function or weakened immune systems.

My parents are in their 70s. They still live where I grew up in Dorset in the UK. Dad has stopped going to lawn bowls and choir and Mum has stocked up her already well-stocked pantry. This is a good thing as the UK government has said Britons over 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to stay at home for "a very long time". Thank goodness…

This is an extract of my Illustrated Epistle, which goes out in the middle of the month. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a cartoonist (specifically, mine). I'd love it if you signed up at the bottom of this page, or here:

http://eepurl.com/cCOOeD

Or head to the archive to read more here.