Livin' La Vida Lockdown Day 38

Another day another two-week extension delivered at 8 pm last night. So from an end date of 28th April it is now May 12th.

For those around the world that are doing the same as me ( no not you Australia ) you well know that there is nothing quite like seeing the finishing line in sight and then they move it back another 10 000m - repeatedly. It is a mindbender. ( I am trying not to swear - my mum is reading this post).

I can say this though, there is clear, fairly transparent communication from the government and I am grateful they break it down into two week lots - rather than having to wrap your head around months of this. There is little uncertainty about what lies ahead, I think they are up to the 5th stimulus package, a calm assurance from the powers that be and a lack of complaints/ whinging from the population makes it less painful. Everyone is in it together - everyone knows what to expect and what is at stake here, this helps. The target is 16 500 tests a day - they are almost on target.

People don't have the luxury or given the time to complain about whether the beach is open or if they can jog after 5pm or heaven forbid their take away coffee rights are taken from them - it is one rule for all - that is it - and you just get on with the task at hand. It makes things clear and fair. And just like everywhere else in the world there is also an app to trace movements from region to region - it broke down on its first day.

We currently sit at 98% - 100% compliance in Penang, which means we keep having zero days now on the regular, we may gain some regional liberties eventually - only time will tell. We are also entering the holy month...Ramadan Kareem to all by the way. Of course - just like Easter was different for the Christians - Ramadan is not the same this year either. No prayers at mosque - no exodus to visit family - no gatherings - no night market. So with this in mind I truly doubt this MCO will be lifted before June. Which is understandable. With Singapore on one side and Indonesia on the other we are bookended by some serious rona action.

Indonesia has just stopped all air/ sea domestic and international travel until June 1st. So no one is able to visit family in their kampungs/ villages or leave the country even if they wanted to. With that many islands in the archipelago and all the other reasons which I have been quite vocal about - they were left little choice.

A month or so ago Singapore gave out masks to everyone - except the thousands of foreign workers - oops - they also spent weeks congratulating themselves on having it 'under control' while still letting the economy tick along, keeping more than the essential shops open, people still allowed outdoors for exercise, masks were not mandatory, everyone was practising 'social distancing' (emphasis on 'practising') and the kids went to school (sound familiar). Now they have had anything between 1500 - 1000 cases a day since last week. Just saying.

Don't get me wrong, I half expected this extension because my life is no longer my own it seems and I am just resigned to the fact I have no control over this is at all. As I do not plan anything anymore, now that time is fluid and an illusion etc it really makes no difference. My life's trajectory temporarily derailed due to this event and other circumstances and it is temporary - I never forget that. Of course I do look forward to things - like walking around freely, having a swim, going to the gym, sitting outside under a tree...living large and going to more than one shop - maybe even taking it next level and grabbing a beer or a coffee - or even OMG getting on a plane.

But all this is elusive for now - what was meant for me at this time is this. For whatever reason. I am not thrilled about it and when the dust settles things are going to be very different in my life but right now the only option is to surrender to it.

It's just one glitch in the time-space continuum...