Lockdown!

     A year ago the virus menacing everyone seemed to be nothing more than a joke. I remember coming back from a trip to New Zealand and there being a lot of scuttlebutt on the internet about people going crazy buying up toilet paper because of this corona virus. 

     It got more serious when it was discovered that certain people in New South Wales were buying up all sorts of medical supplies and sending them off to China. After that the corona virus became very real as news reports came in about people overseas dying from it. 

     The death toll among Australians, so far has been low compared to the numbers in the USA and the UK. In New Zealand the numbers of casualties has been even lower. Even so, the greater part of New South Wales is in lockdown and likely to remain so for some time. It is hoped by September the numbers of infected will be low enough for everyone to go back to what was once normal. In the meantime, we wear our masks to go shopping for food and sit tight, looking for the day we can socialize more.

     Two plays I have written are now on hold because we cannot risk bums on seats and so we don 't have an audience. Not much in the way of television  shows and movies are being produced right now anywhere. Businesses are looking to governments for more handouts so they can stay in business. 

                  The Birds of the Illawarra  

     It is fortunate I do live in a part of New South Wales abundant with birdlife even in winter. Going out walking and looking for wildlife can keep one sane. You just have to keep an eye out for crazy bike riders. Some think they own the footpaths and trails to our beaches and lagoons.

     Kookaburras sing to us of an early morning and late afternoon. The other day I saw three singing away together on the outskirts of Corrimal. 

     We are not short on cockatoos of an afternoon. Lots of them about. 

   Some good sales of late when it comes to my Dragon Queen which is a science fiction novel set in a possible future where mutations known as dragons exist. It is available on Amazon. 

Second-Hand Creeps, in which I have a story, is also selling well. 

 With the way Doctor Who is going right now, I wonder if Wollongong will ever have another Dalek Christmas where we get to exterminate all the  bad boys and girls. All in fun, of course!