Dark Times in Bentleigh East

  Blog Day 428 - Monday 31 May 2021 - Day Four Lockdown Version Four Cold again this morning, 2.7 degrees here at 8.00am in the morning but once again turning into a coolish but nice day. Today is the first day where the local streets and shopping strip have the appearance of the city in lockdown.  Very few people around and little traffic although a few of the thirty somethings wandering around without face masks. Centre Road 10.00am 31/05/2021 And a photo from last week's camping trip. Looming storm clouds - fishing Lake Eildon The big concern at the moment is what happens on Thursday, the general feeling is that if the numbers continues at the current level the lockdown will be extended in some form or another. Depending on the source today's figures for Victoria are a bit contradictory.  The declared figure for the last 24 hours was 5 new local infections however since the cut off time a further 6 local infections have been discovered bringing the total for the last 2...

Blog Day 427 - Sunday 30 May 2021 - Day Three Lockdown Version Four This morning was the coldest May morning since 1949, but it is turning into a beautiful Melbourne autumn day with blue skies and a maximum temperature of about 16 degrees.  Great weather for getting out and about and doing things........bugger, I forgot, we can't get out and about and doing things. Major disaster on my walk this morning, the elastic band on my facemask broke and in trying to repair it it broke off entirely.  There I was at the halfway point of my walk and no wearable face mask.  And this was after glaring at dozen people for not wearing theirs. So I headed for the backstreets and scuttled home like a fugitive in the night, although it was morning and not dark, desperately hoping that nobody would glare at me and that I wouldn't get caught by the mask police. Now when I go for my walk I will have to wear a mask and carry a spare. Back to virus and lockdown stuff.  The Victorian govern...

Blog Day 426 - Saturday 29 May 2021 - Day Two Lockdown Version Four My word I had forgotten what a pain in the backside walking with a mask on is. Amazing how all of a sudden people have a driving desire to walk carrying a take away coffee cup and no mask, and they all seem to be thirtysomethings wearing exercise wear and black Kathmandu puffer jackets.  There is a thesis in there somewhere. I think that I have previously mentioned that a friend of mine and regular reader and contributor to the blog is doing some fairly extensive family history research.  With six days of virus lockdown looming ahead Jo has found some long gone family members who need a bit of research into their military history.  Two of these long lost rellies were nurses in TGW, an area that I haven't delved into before, so this should be interesting and keep me occupied during lockdown, thanks Jo. Day two of our seven day lockdown and the state health minister is refusing to be drawn on whether the lo...

Blog Day 425 - Friday 28 May 2021 - Day One Lockdown Version 4 Just when we thought that we had beaten the curse of the blog.  I take a few days away from the blog and the state goes to hell in a handbasket again. Anyway, I enjoyed my few days camping on the banks of Lake Eildon with some mates.  I must admit at times it was a bit cold and more than a bit wet and that some of said mates whinged a bit but as I explained to them it was character building.   On the Wednesday night when the night sky was a bit clearer and not raining as much we were able to watch most of the lunar eclipse which was a real experience watching it out in the bush sitting around the camp fire with warming drink in hand.  There were a few kangaroos around and I had a small deer run across in front of the car on the drive out.  Due to the rain and mud the drive out was a bit hairy, but skilful driving and the Subaru's sure footedness saw us safely through.  Although there is pro...