New Zealand on the counter-attack, so to speak

I really believed New Zealand could be the first country/place to have the Delta variant of covid-19/covid-19 in the community and then kick it out and resume life like it was before it got in, which is pretty much living like it was pre-pandemic.

I believe this not because of Jacinda's 'slogans' of "team of five million", "do the right thing", "get vaccinated" etc., but the consequences of the decisions. Now I don't know if it's the consequences of decisions but the concrete actions are a rise in infected covid-19 cases and not just in Auckland.

Yes, I just said I believe in 'actions', but you can hear it in their voices now - the need to stop covid spreading is more serious than before.

I don't know if it is false and blind belief, but I believe they can kick Delta out and keep it out, but the possibility is slimming fast.

I think putting level 2 NZ into level 3 is not out of the question, nor is removing the level 3 changes that apply to Auckland or just putting them back into level 4. But the latter will be hard in terms of not getting people in Auckland to breach the restrictions. It's not just the restrictions, it's trust in Jacinda, Ashley Bloomfield and to a lower extent, Chris Hipkins.

I said it will get worse before getting better.

Take Delta head on New Zealand, and kia kaha.

- A.M.

Roasted chestnuts

The smell is unmistakable and always makes me pay attention. All you need to do is follow your nose and then you can be holding a bag of roasted chestnuts in your hand.

It always takes me back. Before now and here, the last time I had some was in Geneva. It was the first time I had been there, yet my memory and my sense of smell knew what it was before I could even think it. Des châtaignes grillées. I was so excited and happy and almost couldn't believe it.

A specific time in my life. A specific time of the year. A specific place. Even the specific setup where the chestnuts were cooked, out in the open on the street.

From the paper bag to my mouth, the de-shelling and sometimes separating of the chestnuts between my fingers is all part of the experience. Roasted chestnuts have a certain texture and they're filling. Yet I can't stop eating them once I've started. They're warm and easy to de-shell, the only waste you have is the shell and nothing else. It's a pretty effortless and 'lazy' cleanup once you've finished eating.

Delicious.

- A.M.

Billie Eilish in NZ in 2022

As the expression goes: You go Girl.

It is in September 2022, and I understand about needing to plan including to confirm the one date at Spark Arena, but there is the covid-19 pandemic. 

Not to mention how there are many 'normal' New Zealanders wanting to come into the country right now. I am not saying MIQ, because if home isolation is up and running by the time she needs to come into the country and she is eligible and opts for that, then there won't be as much heated discussion. Or if for whatever reason, Billie and her team (she of course won't be on her own) make use of MIQ, then there will most likely be heated discussion.

Financial profit does not seem to be as relevant as taking spaces Kiwis wanting to come in is or will be, but if it is or will be, then it will inevitably fall on the side of the Kiwis.

And if she is anything like Adele, which I went to and commemorated in 'Adele commemoration', https://holandt.blogspot.com/2021/04/adele-commemoration.html, she may need to add more dates because of demand.

As RNZ states, "Tickets to the general public will go on sale Friday 15 October.", the date before the release of Adele's latest album, which I think is interesting to note.

Also noteworthy, on the heels of Jacinda's announcement of the 'vaccine certificate'.

Oh and of course, how many tickets will be bought in the ever-changing times? And it's not just about tickets, it's the threads that go along with attending a concert, and for Billie and her team, organizing it.

- A.M.

Source:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/453070/billie-eilish-announces-2022-new-zealand-concert