Spring surprise

The orchids that just keep on giving.

This little guy and his co-spikes have a history which you can read here.  Last year they produced amazing spikes and I'm thrilled to find more blooms this year, not that this snap does it justice.

Fence rails are up.  Palings tomorrow.

A quick trip to the supermarket late this afternoon had me wondering whether they'd gone back into major restrictions to shopping - there was a huge queue out the door and along the front of the shop.  Turns out a lot of locals had left their extra-special must-be-won-$50 million Lotto ticket purchasing to the last minute!  

In COVID news, there were 7 more new cases of community transmission today.  With no recoveries the active total has again surged up to 56.  The last time we had a figure this high was exactly 3 months ago, on May 15th.  What a range of very mixed feelings have emerged over this time.  

The PM's announcement yesterday, that Auckland (where the cluster is centred) will remain in Level 3 restrictions for another 12 days has been greeted, not surprisingly, with mixed views.  Whilst the rest of us are thankful not to be too restricted (in Level 2), we're also incredibly aware of the distress this decision makes to their lives, and are thankful for the efforts and sacrifices they are making.  The 'team of 5 million' has 1.5 million out there doing the hard yards whilst the other 3.5 million are cheering them on from the subs bench (and very much hoping they don't get the call-up to go out onto the field.)