I’m going to say it’s not often I get to ride down Memorial Avenue, no hands, on the mountain bike.

But I did exactly that Wednesday, on a glorious sunny Christchurch winters afternoon. 

Memorial Ave is the main road between the city and the airport.

We live exactly half way between both. 

(And Maggie May – don’t panic – you mother figure you, I did stay within the 5km radius, and yes I did place both hands on the handlebars upon impending traffic. I am not quite ready to leave this Godforsaken Covid planet just yet.)

Right now I can ride down Memorial Ave, hands free because New Zealand is, as of midnight Tuesday night, in lockdown.

Level 4.

The most serious lockdown we have.

On Monday we had our first case of community covid in about 169 days.

Subsequently confirmed to be the Delta variant which of course was no surprise, 100% of covid in quarantine is that particular nasty strain.

Internationally I think Jacinda may have got a few odd ‘looks’ for locking down at one case.

Of course both the cases and locations of interest are rising numbers each day as expected.

We know what has happened in NSW so it does seem New Zealanders on the whole are ok with the snap lockdown. 

And, we were warned it would happen if even one appeared. 

It seems Kiwis are being mainly compliant. 

Mind you, MoD and I wandered to the supermarket, (no not to get toilet paper), and noted three gooses walking in together, no masks, no checking in.

It’s a one-from-the-bubble situation when shopping here.

We both feel quite strongly about this so while he shopped and I took the pooch for a walk I must admit to having some concerns about what I would find when I got back.

Would there be a police car out the front due to a brawl in the supermarket?

Would MoD be in trouble for saying his piece?

Fortunately he didn’t see them again when he did our shop.

I’m sort of glad I didn’t go in, my past history is that I may have chased them.

It may have been me in trouble. 

I remember a road rage incident I witnessed where I ran towards a car to stop some idiot holding a guy, through the window, while he punched him in the face.

Not sure what I would do when I got there but I was intent on stopping it.

Fortunately for me, he jumped back in his car and ran, well drove off, leaving a very bloody stunned man behind wondering what the hell was going on and why he would have warranted such anger.

And it seems there is a lot of anger about lockdown around the world, it pains me to see what’s gone on in Melbourne and Sydney. 

My response to that would be a recent and very powerful story I saw from an essential worker.

Definitely worth a read.

Of course in NZ, once lockdown was announced we did have 20 protestors in Nelson and 4 in Tauranga. 

Even though we are a smart and usually compliant team of 5 million, there is always one or two idjits out there. 

Hopefully I won’t see them.

Can’t trust myself. 

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