Looking back, looking forward

Hi Azi and Zaria

I know you will read this one day on your blog and think … 'Did that happen, OH I remember, that was weird …' … So I thought I would write it down so you can hear it from my perspective.

In the middle of January 2020 we went to London for Sage's Barmi. We met up with Granny and Bern and had a really nice time. One day we went walking through the theatre district in search of an Asian restaurant, there were many Asian people walking around with Masks and we said, 'Why are they wearing masks?', then we had a small chat about how this thing Corona was in China but we don't have to worry.

We flew back from London, knowing that we would see Granny and Bern PG in August - just around the corner. (Luckily our flight home was 3 hours, there's was 24 hours).

2 days later I flew to Finland with my friends, a trip of a lifetime! WOW! … My biggest concern was Zaria hurting her ankle and how she was going to manage with the crazy amount off Matilda rehearsals daily! … In the airport in Finland and Turkey (no direct flights) there was some chatter about masks and Corona … but it was all happening in China, not here.


I got home early Monday morning and fetched zaria from school, took her to the hospital for an x-ray. There was a father there with his toddler. He was worried that she had Corona, I remember saying, don't worry, it's just the flu. Don't worry.

A month passed, Malta had it 'February mid-term break' - loads of people from Malta went to Northern Italy etc for skiing. We stayed here, relaxed, Zaz had rehearsals. Then the e-mails started coming, 'If you have been to this or this region, you need to stay at home from school' … First day back at school, everybody was questioned where they had been, same on second day.

2 'chilled' weeks of school and rehearsals. I went for a full day 21km hike in Gozo on Saturday 7 March with my friend who had returned from Shanghai in January. She was telling us about the stringent measures and testing and surveillance Shanghai was doing. My other friend on the walk, a GP, said 'its only flu' … we passed a group of Italians and laughed 'don't go near them' … we heard on the walk that the first person had tested positive for Corona in Malta, a young girl who had holidayed in Italy and thankfully had not been to school.

Returned from Gozo on the boat - no worries.

That Wednesday, Zaria woke up not feeling great. But she wanted to go to school because of her science exam. She went to school, I picked her up at 12 and took her to the Cranio-sacral therapist … we chatted about Corona and fear etc. after the session Zaria really didn't feel well, so she missed rehearsals, soaring temperature … the next 3 days Zaria was in bed. GP came twice to the house to examine her, couldn't see anything else … we asked if it could be Corona - at that stages you could not get tested if you did not travel out of Malta … anyway, we still don't think it was Corona (but an good antibody test in the future will tell us)

Well, she missed her Matilda Thursday night rehearsal … Friday, Matilda said they will resume rehearsals in a few days later …

That was Friday 13 March! We will not forget that day … the start of the never ending 'homeschool' and Corona on Malta

Well, later never happened, we had a week of school holidays (I think it was the Easter / Pesach holiday) … then online schooling began - originally they said for 3 weeks … but soon after they said no school until September (with the 2,5 Summer holiday in-between)

Well, the first week or so - I was in 'denial' - I walked every morning on Promenade, kids and I went out daily, Then the number of cases started rising, so we started staying in more. Then online dance classes started (TG) .. so that was afternoons. Weekends we did one outside activity - either a walk or swim or ride … but most of there days indoors.

INDOORS - means living room! Our living room that has phil's electric bike parked there, the cross trainer, the piano, the dining room table / azi's work desk, the kitchen … that is where the cardio classes take place / the ballet classes/ tv time … thankfully zzz has a big computer screen in her room and is locked in there from 9-2:30 - only emerging for food!

We have been unfortunate to have no outdoor space (well, a dusty patio which faces construction) that nobody is keen to be at. But we have been fortunate with Netfix and Prime TV … thanks to the cross trainer and chilled nights, I have watched Fauda, Caliphate, working Moms, The. Morning show, Little fires everywhere .. and read 'Goldfinch' and some other not so memorable books. Listened to 'American Dirt' 'The giver of stars' and 'The Dutch House' … very thankful for my new morning walk / run route in Pembroke … when the army isn't doing the target practice ..

It must have been one Saturday in April that I said … 'we need to move, we can't do 6 months off Summer indoors in this living room'. Murphys law, the ONE person I met on FB before coming to Malta and the one who advised me which schools etc, and the one person whose house we went to in our first week of arriving here. (Background, every year in October we look for a new place and don't. Move) … well, I contacted Catherine on that Saturday morning, she said there is one unit in their complex that a guy had just moved out of, we contacted the owner, met him at the townhouse 2 hours later and by Sunday we said - we will take it. The swimming pool is the highlight!

Because of giving notice here (the longest Phil and I have stayed in a rental in 20 years) and them renovating and furnishing the new place … the kids started the 50 day count down …

Azi can't wait for the swimming pool! (And she lets use know every morning at 6am)
Zaz can't wait for the swimming pool, and the basement to do her dancing and the upstairs study (and in her mind the possibility off getting a dog - her current obsession)
Phil can't wait for the swimming pool, braai, and no construction
I can't wait for the Garage - to put all our kak (bicycles etc), the basement cupboards to put all our kak (games, books, the OUTDOOR area …

How we arrived in Malta 4,5 years ago with 4 suitcases and Thermie … and are now having to move everything over … oh my! WHEN we leave Malta, its with 4 suitcases and Thermie (and 3 bicycles … and )

So here's to moving forward! Bring on JUNE!!!!