Alex Hallatt 4/22/20 Alex Hallatt 4/22/20

Illustrated Epistle Extract: Lucky to be in Lyttelton for Lockdown

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I knew Lyttelton was a special place when I arrived here in 2004. Now I thank my lucky stars to be in lockdown in Whakaraupo (Lyttelton Harbour), Aotearoa.

My brother lives in an apartment in Valencia with his wife and young son. They have been in Covid-19 lockdown since mid-March and he has only been allowed out to walk the dog within 200 m of his home. He was super excited to tell us that from the 27th April the Spanish government will allow him out to walk with his son. Up until now, young children have been forced to remain at home all the time.

One of my sisters lives in London with her young family. The spread of the novel coronavirus has been far more extensive in the UK than in New Zealand and she worries that it may be months until it is safe to visit our parents (both in their seventies) in Dorset. And though the village of Briantspuddle is idyllic, Mum and Dad will go batty if they aren't allowed to leave it for much longer. Though I think Mum should try doing yoga classes on Zoom (a bit harder for Dad with lawn bowls).

My other sister lives in a flat in Auckland. Even there it is difficult, as she has to time when she goes out to exercise because of the crowds of people who are in the parks and at beaches.

So I know how lucky I am to be living in Lyttelton. I write this even though the back of our house is missing because lockdown started two weeks into renovations. This means we are cooking in a camp kitchen and our shower is in a toilet on the lawn. But I’m still glad to be here because we have so many more degrees of freedom than if we lived in other places during this pandemic. At Level Four, I could walk in the hills, cycle around the bays, or play dodgy tennis in my bubble. But I am relieved to hear that building work can restart on our renovation as we go to Level Three. And that, if the good weather lasts, I can go back out on my paddle board.

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.

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

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.