Writing to you from a comfy bed in my daughters spare room in Norway.
After the spring lockdown at home in Rome followed by an intensely local summer we took the first edgy opportunity to jet up to the north to visit our children.
Six of them altogether.
Two being grandchildren, two offspring and two partners. So here we are together after a year of separation.
In Norway there has been no strict lockdowns as people are respectful of social distancing. No mask wearing in the shops or restaurants until now. The Covid infection rate is low and tracing efficient. When we arrived at the airport we took a free test which came back negative. Ten days later we came out of quarantine with relief and congratulations from the neighbours.
Three weeks later – Today we would be heading home but we’ve run into another quarantine. News of some children at the banehage “kindergarten” having been tested positive for COVID-19. Classrooms closed and now the working parents are battling through their days teleworking at home with toddlers demanding undivided attention. You should see the mass pushchair patrolling in this neighbourhood.
In the meantime we’re making meal plans and getting into a rhythm which may well become a semi-permanent stay. I’m enjoying the 3 generation family life and learning to cook again. Each of us has a work station in the house, even the tiniest cutie and they know what quarantine means, so they keep away from neighbour friends.
The news from Italy looks scary, thousands of new infections every day! We are going into a dark winter this year. The bright and beautiful light in that bleakness is being together with family this time. Although we’re missing our Australians and South Africans, knowing they’re in the southern summer sunshine is a small comfort.
To all of you on the same planet with Covid lurking nearby, take extreme care of yourselves, max each minute, and keep smiling.
