Posted on

I Object!

I object (as previously stated), to the New Zealand government’s refusal to allow families separated by the border to reunite. They have chosen instead to allocate Managed Isolation places to sports teams, film people, yachties, and the Wiggles.

Not that I have anything against cricketers and the Wiggles, but it seems to me that “children have not seen parent in person in over a year” is a much more serious issue to address than “children have not seen Wiggles in person in over a year”.

Mom and Child at Airport

So this Tuesday, the 6th of April, I will be trundling off to Parliament to make my objections plain by joining the Reunite Families NZ Peaceful Protest. If you’re in the Wellington region and you agree that the government seriously needs to sort out their priorities, meet at the corner of Bowen St and the Terrace at midday.

Continue & Comment
Posted on

Of Hamsters, Lavender, and Immigration

I freely confess that I had not realized how much the general “What Even Is This” of the last year had affected me until I came to start actually writing this new novel. It turns out that I now have the attention span of a hamster who has slurped down three large mochaccinos. A rather stressed and easily overheated hamster, moreover, with a long to do list.

hamster looking nervous

However.

I have been trying to get into the garden lately as a way of reducing stress, and it has been teaching me some lessons. (#1: There are Always More Weeds.)

Continue & Comment
Posted on

Real-Life Masquerade

As many of you know, I live in New Zealand, which is one of the countries doing pretty well pandemic-wise. But we are nonetheless encouraged to have masks on hand (actually, on face) when at close quarters with strangers at Level 2 or above, just as we are encouraged to have emergency supplies stashed about the place in case a big earthquake takes out all our infrastructure.

Now, there are, it turns out, some people who get huffy when asked to wear a mask. I am not one of them. I am always happy to don a mask and slip anonymously through the streets of the city. (Or at least, what would be anonymously if there was anyone else round here who dressed like me.) I mean, come on! This is your chance to let your inner superhero out for an airing at last, without people casting doubt on your adulthood. Masks are awesome.

Moslema in style (8093611310)
Continue & Comment