Written Thursday 28th May
My last blog post was written 4 weeks ago, gosh how time flies when one lives under lockdown! Only joking of course, time goes by rather more slowly than before Covid-19 I feel.
Today is Day 51 since Singapore's Circuit Breaker began and the many restrictions came into force. However as we started home self isolation after our return from India for Papa T and I it's our 69th day of staying at home, working from home, not being able to meet up with friends or family or make any definite plans when we might see them.
It's been a roller coaster of emotions and keeping busy, active, motivated and happy sometimes gets harder as time goes on. But life hasn't been all bad and here are some of the highlights .
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Over the last few weeks food has continued to be a very important topic and with more time at home we've had time to not only make a second batch of marmalade; this time a very zesty lime and lemon marmalade, but we have had a couple of attempts of making bread-
First a traditional cottage loaf and then a sunflower seeded loaf, both were delicious, so much so that they didn't last long!
We recently treated ourselves to a take away meal. Currently restaurants, cafes and food courts are not allowed to offer a dine-in service so many of them have turned to providing meals for home dining. After hearing several friends singing the praises of the take outs that they had enjoyed we decided to have one. Weekends are particularly dull at present so to cheer ourselves up we ordered Saturday brunch for 2 from the St Regis Hotel and it was fantastic. Asparagus & smoked salmon, some sushi, a charcuterie platter, half a lobster, a crab salad, burrata and rocket for starters then steak and roasted salmon for main courses, a plate of mini desserts, fresh fruit platter and some cheese and biscuits. There was enough food for lunch, that night's supper and even some for the following day, a veritable feast and it really did cheer us up.
One of the bonuses of this Covid-19 time has been how quite Singapore has become with practically empty streets. We are allowed out to exercise each day, generally we stay close to home but now and again the desire to see some different scenery becomes too strong to ignore.
For a change I cycled to the Marina Bay area and loved seeing it without the usual crowds of people and busy roads. With no tourists and no pleasure boats touring the bay even the water was as still as a mill pond
This yet to be completed round structure; a floating orb, is rumoured to be Apple's new flagship store, as all construction has been suspended across the whole of Singapore this too was eerily quiet
I have never see this area so still and peaceful, it was the perfect opportunity to take a photo of the Merlion with hardly anyone there
Many people around the world have commented on the clearer skies since lockdown and Singapore's skies, which are often overcast or cloudy have certainly seemed more blue than usual. I was delighted to see this family of Oriental Pied Hornbills fly over and look at that beautiful sky
So those are the highlights from the lats few weeks. Sadly the number of cases with Covid-19 has continued to increase particularly amongst the workers living in the Foreign Worker Dormitories.
Numbers for Thursday 28th May in Singapore compared with Thursday 23rd April
Total cases - 33,249 10,141
Total cases- 373 1,016
Hospitalised - 510 with 7 in ICU 4,234 with 24 in ICU
In Community Facilities - 14,422 4,999
Deaths - 23 12
Recovered - 18,294 896
But a glimmer of light has appeared!
The government announced the reopening plan last week (with the caveat that the plan is not a return to life before Covid-19 and the phases could be 'rolled back' if the outbreak flares up again).
On Monday 1st June Singapore's Circuit Breaker comes to an end and the following day we will enter Phase 1, of 3 phases, of the easing of restriction.
Phase 1, named " Safe Reopening" includes measures such as more people will return to work, although those who are currently working from home, like Papa T will have to continue WFH. Preschools and schools will gradually reopen, and parents and grandparents can be visited by their family members.
For Papa T and I there won't be any change as we don't have school aged children, or parents in Singapore. Phase 1 is expected to last for several weeks and of course even longer if the numbers rise.
However when phase 2, called "Safe Transition", commences life for us will become a lot more interesting. Shops will reopen and F&B dine-in may be allowed, swimming pools will reopen and most excitingly small social gatherings may resume! The thought of being able to meet up with 1 or 2 friends is wonderful, although we have kept in touch virtually we have so missed actually seeing people in person, even if we have to maintain a safe distance it will be fantastic.
The government has stated Phase 2 could last for several months before Phase 3, "Safe Nation" starts and Singapore moves to a "new normal" until a vaccine is found. During this time social, cultural, religious and business gatherings will resume although limits on numbers will be in place.
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The possibility of meeting with friends, going for a walk together or maybe eating out, or having a cup of coffee and a chat in a few weeks time has given a huge boost to my and many of my friends spirits. We haven't dared arrange anything yet, that would seem like tempting fate, but the hope is there and fingers crossed the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and closer each day
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