"Normality" is restored

The Covid restrictions in Victoria have returned to the levels they were at around Christmas. From my perspective that means very few restrictions at all. We would be unlikely to want to have more than 30 visitors in our house and garden. Most of the things I want to do are available to me. It is true that I can't hop on a plane and head to Japan or the UK but I'm sure that will come eventually.  We *could* head interstate but are a bit reluctant to do that while state border restrictions come into place in a seemingly random and haphazard manner. I have organised a week away for us both on the Gippsland coast in July.  I quite like small coastal villages in the winter and Gippsland is in Victoria so, unless there is another Victorian outbreak, that should be unproblematic.

I wouldn't have worn a face mask pre-Covid but am more than happy to wear one now, and will probably continue to wear one under some circumstances even after Covid has become less virulent. It seems to be an easy way of reducing the incidence of most airborne illnesses. As of this weekend, mask wearing in Victoria is only compulsory in high density settings such as supermarkets, shopping complexes and department stores, on public transport and in ride sharing vehicles. No great hardship.

Lindsey was busy yesterday and so was unavailable for our usual Saturday morning activities. So I headed out on my own. First stop, the market at Zoo Drive by the lake.  The lake was insanely busy. Busier than it has been for almost a year.  There was a rowing regatta, and something was happening at the yacht club. The market was on. There were preparations for an event that is happening today. Plus there were people out jogging, cycling, walking their dogs. There were coaches parked on the roadside plus an astonishing number of cars. People were in the cafes and restaurants. It was good to see people out and about and engaging in lots of activities - even if I was beginning to think I was going to have to park on the other side of the lake and walk to the market! Fortunately I found a spot not too far away.

There were loads of stalls selling food, flowers, plants, craft things, fruit, veg, small goods, wine, beer - all sorts of things. And there were loads of people wandering around and looking and buying and eating and drinking. It had a good buzz.

There were loads of people at the mushroom farm too. They have expanded their range to include fruit and vegetables, cakes and sweet treats, plus tasty bread offerings. They already had sourdough from a local baker but they now also have cheese twists and savoury and sweet scrolls and bread rolls and other yummy things. Plus, of course, they still have the things they already stocked as well as their mushrooms. It was good to see them busy as well.

I didn't go out to Elaine. The farmgate shop is open every day so Lindsey and I will probably go today. The mushroom farm is closed on Sundays so no point heading there today.

And so we come to the end of February and thus the end of summer as calculated by the government and the meteorologists. I think this summer in our corner of the world is best described as "very English". A number of warm days, a small number of hot days, no very hot days, lots of fairly cool days, quite a bit of rain (although February has been on the dry side) and lots of cloud. This morning is looking promising. It's only early but the sun is shining and the trees around us have a gentle, golden tinge. It is definitely not hot though. Our garden thermometer says that it is 9d. I think it's supposed to get warmer than that as the day progresses.

A beautiful morning
but I think I should sweep the patio!