Written 6 August, 2020
Startling news: New Zealand, held up as an example to the world for eliminating the virus for 102 days, has suddenly discovered 4 cases, all in one Auckland family. Who? Why? One theory is that it came in with freight from germy Australia or China. Another theory, also worrying, is that it’s been circulating in the country all the time they thought it gone. The prime minister, Jennifer Ahern, loved by her people for NZ’s success, will announce a stage 3 lockdown soon.
Today, the tree-loppers. The leader, the very brave Chad, and I leaned over the rail to discuss which trees were blocking our sun. Everyone assumes we’re so virus-free here, I had to remind him to socially distance. Sorry he said and moved away. He really knows his trees. My lilly pilly was in the wrong spot but he’ll try to save it. He named its Latin name, and knows its crimson fruit.
All the trees are on the neighbours’ block. I have their permission, and a little of their money. The trees and huge and gorgeous, but we need sun: so we can have solar power – at last. It’s a sad fact we’ve learned, that solar panels simply don’t work if they’re shaded, even by trees of great beauty. And the batteries,if running at half mast constantly because of the shade, die way before their time.