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Hercules to the rescue
Jonathan Schwass, High Commissioner of NZ in Vanuatu, worked hard to get VSA volunteers Natasha Thanewalla (right) and Helena Ireland on a flight back to Auckland. See story page 6. Photo supplied
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2 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
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SPOILING THE ELDERLY DURING LOCKDOWN A free box of essentials, hallway bingo, happy hour in a bag, assistance with buying medication, the Zoom app uploaded on all devices and an incremental wage rise for staff are just some of the things that Ryman Healthcare has introduced for all their retirement villages throughout New Zealand during the pandemic lockdown.
A box of staples for all residents at Bruce McLaren Retirement Village.
BY FARIDA MASTER While most people speak of doom and gloom when it comes to the elderly caught in a Covid-19 lockdown, residents of Ryman Retirement Villages seem to be happy campers. One of the residents couldn’t stop talking about the kind of care and pampering they have been getting during a dark time that had given people plenty to grapple with. “We’ve been spoilt silly,” she said. The 72-year-old said life was good with the village going the extra mile as they provided all residents and employees with a box of staples and a lot more that would last a month. Who wouldn’t be happy with their favourite tipple and nibbles waiting at their doorstep? It makes up for the weekly happy hour they are missing out on. While visiting the village cafe may not be an option, there are packets of tea and coffee delivered to all
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apartments, along with a regular supply of bread, milk and biscuits. Interestingly, the gift hampers were given to residents as well as all employees across Ryman Healthcare’s 32 villages in New Zealand and two in Victoria. Recognising the critical work that staff have been putting in during this difficult period, there has been an increase in wages for the duration of level 4 lockdown. Staff also get free meals at work. The villages, which are home to more than 3000 care residents and more than 8000 independent residents, has rolled out Zoom on 3800 devices and are providing additional devices so families can keep in touch remotely. A Triple A Fitness class in the hallway with social distancing in place is gets everyone moving their arms around. They’ve also introduced ‘intentional rounding’ which means the staff go out of their way to give residents personal
However, when it comes to safeguarding the high-risk category residents they house, no one apart from essential service personnel and staff are allowed to enter the village David King, manager corporate affairs Ryman Healthcare, says, “Basically, we shut our villages on March 16 to all nonessential visitors with the aim of creating safe havens for residents. The staff have been conducting welfare check calls and arranging counselling for anyone struggling. The idea is to supply, arrange or deliver anything our residents need during the confinement period.” The Bruce McLaren Village at Chapel Rd has also arranged for a two grocery deliveries a week from Bidfood. Arrangements have been made to deliver any groceries and essentials from the families of the older adults directly to them by the security team at the front gate.
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TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK – 3
Puzzle Page Cryptic Puzzle ACROSS
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NO. 7952
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1. At the party, went ahead and dished it out (5). 2. Italian band that’s had a lot of hits (5). 3. Managing the firm: Chinese (6). 4. What the gulls are doing that fly under me (6). 5. Knock off the jars, turning (4). 6. Losing one’s temper totally and destroying it (7,2). 12. Furious about the map inaccuracy, is creating a scene. (9). 13. The said woman is a man (4). 5. Covers to a degree on the way back (4). 17. Name the child as a warning (6). 18. Proposed, for Doctor Edward, to stand in (6). 20. Would give everything to go back (5). 21. Be contemptuous of the second with the hackneyed material (5). 23. Act up, too (4).
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Quick Puzzle 1. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 14. 16. 19. 22. 24. 25. 26. 27.
Sudoku
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1. I’d returned myself with very little money (4). 7. Anticipate and have the van stop (9). 8. In a store, does it give the weary shopper a fillip? (4). 9. If she doubles back (4). 10. It’s hock, little man (4). 11. Do foxhounds find it a bore? (4). 14. Fight the ring is for? (10). 16. A ceiling on rates (5,5). 19. They’re the back-springs, twits! (4). 22. It’s antique silver, man! (4). 24. Tell the police you are the buyer (4). 25. Are dressmakers without exception, we’re told, too (4). 26. Runs on ahead of the animals (9). 27. Mad to retire, which does dumbfound you (4).
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Bag (4) Spider (9) False god (4) Yield (4) Cat (4) Minus (4) Charlatan (10) Competitor (10) Paradise (4) Submissive (4) Peruse (4) Repair (4) Fivefold (9) Lazy (4)
NO. 7952
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 12. 13. 15. 17. 18. 20. 21. 23.
Motionless (5) Angry (5) Cake (6) Concealed (6) Cease (4) Remove (9) Mistaken (9) Soot (4) Nip (4) Grow (6) Fertile (6) Fear (5) Poke (5) Charitable (4)
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4 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
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21
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE NEEDS COMMUNITY’S HELP Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) New Zealand has been recognised as an essential social service by the Ministry of Social Development and partnering District Health Boards (DHB) amid the Covid-19 outbreak, meaning they are able to continue to provide accommodation for families with children receiving treatment in hospital away from home. But like other organisations, they have had to dramatically change the way they deliver their services at this time. Ensuring families have a safe place to stay with close proximity to hospitals but with reduced social contact is critical. Due to self-isolation requirements, families whose children who are undergoing emergency medical treatment, are neonatal, or who are receiving ongoing treatment at the National Children’s hospital are to be housed off-site in self-contained accommodation. The cost of this accommodation will be covered solely by RMHC New Zealand. The majority of those already checked in to RMHC Houses are able to remain there for as long as their medical journey requires, however, there are restrictions on access to shared spaces including kitchens, dining spaces, laundry and learning facilities. Chief executive officer of RMHC New Zealand Wayne Howett says, “As an essential social service, now more than ever we need to keep families together during these troubling times, but we need to do it in a different way. There have been substantial changes in the operations of the Houses for everyone’s
ABOUT RMHC NZ RMHC New Zealand is a charity that supports families when their child is in a hospital away from home. The Ronald McDonald House® and Ronald McDonald Family Room® programmes take care of the practical things in life so families can focus on their child staying in a hospital away from home. Each year they offer more than 4,600 families across New Zealand accommodation and support free of charge. This helps to relieve stresses like paying for a place to sleep near the hospital, organising family meals and needing a friendly ear to listen on tough days.
safety, from the exclusion of nonessential volunteers, to no community cooking. Instead, RMHC New Zealand has funded all offsite accommodation, food and delivery requirements over the past two weeks.” Last year, RMHC New Zealand provided over 44,000 nights of accommodation to more than 4,600 families of unwell children nationwide. This saved families over $11 million in accommodation, meals and parking costs. They also provide families with ancillary services such as schooling. Delivering to this level in 2020 is becoming harder and harder. Fundraising events and the majority of volunteer work has been halted to ensure safety remains a top priority. Despite a big increase in additional costs driven from external suppliers of accommodation, and individualised food funding and delivery, RMHC New Zealand is not receiving any additional government funding allocated to NGOs due to Covid-19 at this time. “Health and safety of our families is
the number one priority, but it comes at a cost,” says Howett. “With all our fundraising events cancelled for the foreseeable future we have a significant financial deficit in RMHC New Zealand’s annual budget. Yet as an essential social service, we still have a great deal of families to support. We have launched an emergency campaign to help cover the costs aligned with continuing to support our families during the Covid-19 outbreak.” “A gift of just $25 can provide a family with essential cleaning supplies to ensure their space is kept safe and sanitised, a donation of $50 provides a family with nutritious meals. We ask Kiwis to donate today to help us continue to provide the $11 million of accommodation and support to families when they need it most,” continues Howett. You can donate and help keep families together through these unprecedented times at https://rmhc.org.nz/support/ donate/. $25 provides a family with cleaning products, a crucial supply during these times. Additionally, a gift of $50 can ensure that no family goes without nutritious meals during this period, while a special emergency gift of $140 can help give a family one night of free accommodation near the hospital.
: E U C S E R E H T O T S E L U C R E H
NATASHA MAKES IT HOME By Farida Master
“We were all in shock,” says Highland Park resident Natasha Thanewalla, when they were informed on Friday they would be airlifted home. The very next day they were returning home to Auckland on a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules, a military cargo aircraft carrying vital supplies including satellite phones and chainsaw kits for cyclone-ravaged Vanuatu and a helicopter. Having been told a number of times that they would soon be put on a flight back home from Vanuatu, the volunteers stranded in the Pacific Island country couldn’t believe they would be boarding a Hercules, since all commercial flights were cancelled. “We weren’t sure until we boarded the flight at 7pm, Vanuatu time. There were around 50 of us including tourists and aircraft engineers who had flown in from New Zealand to assemble a privatelyowned Robinson R66 helicopter (to be used for relief medical work) in 5-6 hours. “The engineers had earlier deconstructed the helicopter in Blenheim, South Island, and fitted it in the Hercules. But none of the crew were allowed to step out of the airport into the capital city.” Natasha says that though the military aircraft “didn’t have proper seats and it was quite loud, it was a very comfortable flight and they fed us a lot of food”.
Natasha Thanewalla 6 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
Like every 21-year-old looking for a bit of adventure, when the former Pakuranga College student - who had won an award for community service - registered for Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) she
Highland Park resident Natasha Thanewalla has loved her short time in Vanuatu with VSA and hopes to get back there. never imaging they would be struck by natural disasters starting with an earthquake followed by a devastating cyclone, topped by the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak. It was more adventurous than Natasha had ever hoped for.
Tourists, VSA volunteers and aircraft engineers aboard on the C-130 Hercules as they take off from Vanuatu. Photos supplied
Last week when the Times first contacted Natasha in Vanuatu, she was both anxious and grateful that the programme manager of VSA had safely moved them to the capital Port Vila just before category 5 monster Cyclone Harold hit Santos, the island where she was working at the health clinic.
advance, the locals would be safe. And it worked very well for them. As of today there is not a single case of Covid-19 there. In February itself they had banned entry from four Asian countries into Vanuatu.
Out of the 23 volunteers who had arrived in February, Natasha was the last of the few stranded on the island. “The volunteers who were more vulnerable were given high priority to fly out of the country,” she says. Natasha and six other volunteers who were left behind were in for disappointed when the flight to Auckland that they were to meant to board on March 26 was cancelled. “It was an emotional moment since I had told Mum and Dad I was arriving home and then I had to call them and break the news that I had no idea when I’d return. My parents were very worried,” she says. “The government of Vanuatu was making sure that by sealing their borders well in
“Being the youngest volunteer, I was very fortunate that Jonathan Schwass, High Commissioner of New Zealand in Vanuatu, and his wife Ann offered both Helena Ireland (a 22-year-old volunteer) and me shelter in their home. “We felt very safe and secure staying with them as they worked day and night to find flights for us back home. We know how hard they worked as they relentlessly negotiated to ensure that we would all reach home safely.” However, despite all the efforts the diplomat and the programme manager put in, after a while, the girls realised it was no use getting their hopes up since things didn’t always go to plan “We were told that it could be anything from 6 to 16 months before the government of Vanuatu opened up its borders. They couldn’t risk it as they just
don’t have the kind of healthcare system to look after the locals.” Last night a much-relieved Natasha spoke to the Times from the Ibis Hotel where she is now in quarantine for the next two weeks, before she finally heads home. She says it’s been a big roller-coaster ride. “I have mixed feelings,” she admits. “While I am really glad that we arrived safely back home in a military cargo aircraft, I am sad that my volunteering service which was meant to be 10 months was cut short. The programme was withdrawn as VSA wanted all the volunteers to return home. “I’m sorry that we had barely finished our cultural orientation and just as we were beginning to enjoy our work there, it all came to a sudden halt! But she is determined to go back to volunteer in Vanuatu some day. “Maybe, sometime next year,” she says as she describes it as “undoubtedly the best experience of my life”.
TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK – 7
19 NEW CASES OF COVID-19;
1 ADDITIONAL DEATH From Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Dr Ashley Bloomfield, DirectorGeneral of Health Today (Monday, April 13) the Ministry can report 19 new cases of Covid-19, made up of 15 new confirmed cases and four new probable cases. There are now 546 reported cases of Covid-19 infection which we can confirm have recovered – an increase of 75 on yesterday. We continue to report more people recovered than new cases. The new combined total of confirmed and probable cases in New Zealand is 1349. Today there are 15 people in hospital, an increase of one from yesterday. The total includes four people in ICU – one each in Wellington, Middlemore, Dunedin and North Shore hospitals. One of these ICU patients – in Dunedin – remains in a critical condition. A total of 1660 tests were processed yesterday, with a rolling seven-day average of 3230 and total tests to date of 62,827. We anticipated a drop-off in testing over the Easter holiday period. Partly this is due to the effect of public holidays, and also with the measures in place around Alert Level 4, we would expect fewer people to be presenting with respiratory issues. We will be increasing testing again this week and we’re well placed to do more testing across the country.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
As at Monday, April 13, 2020
residential care cluster. Of those cases, 17 are confirmed and 16 probable cases. The three people who have died were confirmed cases. We are also aware that 13 of the 33 cases are residents of the facility and 18 are staff, with two connected through close contact or family transmission. With the 18 staff cases, seven are confirmed positive and 11 probable.
ROSEWOOD CLUSTER SUMMARY We are saddened to report a fifth death linked to Covid-19, the third associated with the Rosewood Rest Home aged residential cluster. The death is that of a man in his 80s, one of the Rosewood residents being cared for at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch. His family are in our thoughts and we offer New Zealand’s sympathy to them. Because of the underlying vulnerabilities of the group, we will continue to prepare for further serious illness and possible deaths. The group was transferred from a high level psychogeriatric (or dementia) unit. The care they are receiving is consistent with the high level of psychogeriatric care they would have been provided at the facility and includes, where appropriate, end of life/palliative. Overall, there are now 33 Covid-19 cases associated with the Rosewood aged
8 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
We are aware that one of the staff members confirmed with Covid-19 is from Burwood. Canterbury DHB is investigating the route of transmission and will carry out further testing.
CLUSTERS The Ministry continues to have a considerable focus on clusters and recognises significant public interest in management of them. Today we can report 15 clusters of 10 or more cases, an increase on two from yesterday. The additional clusters are existing clusters where the numbers have risen (by 1 each) to reach 10. They are a workplace in Christchurch linked to overseas travel and an aged residential care facility in Auckland where the mode of transmission continues under investigation The largest clusters continue to be Matamata (71 cases), Bluff (86 cases) and Marist College (85 cases).
DUMPED VEHICLE: POLICE SWARM BOTANY By JIM BIRCHALL Several police units swarmed the area around Botany Town Centre last Wednesday, many with lights and sirens on, and an Eagle helicopter hovered around the town centre. According to a police spokesperson, “A police unit observed a vehicle being driven at excess speed on the Southern Motorway near Drury just after midday. “The vehicle was not pursued but was instead monitored and was later observed by the police Eagle helicopter near Highbrook.
“It has exited the motorway and continued to be monitored from above. Eagle has continued to coordinate with ground units on the vehicle’s location.” The vehicle was later abandoned in
an underground car park at The Hub commercial complex in Botany. Police combed the area making inquiries to locate the driver assisted by Eagle helicopter.
HELLOFRESH COMES TO THE RESCUE OF A FOOD CHARITY New Zealanders in need during the Covid-19 lockdown are set to further benefit from a food charity’s distribution programme. KiwiHarvest, a national food rescue charity which collects food from retailers before it goes to waste and distributes it to those in need, will now be able to meet more of the rapidly growing demand for food parcels. The charity’s supply chain was impacted during the current lockdown which has seen the closure of thousands of restaurants and cafes around the country. The organisation saw a surge in donations from small businesses forced to close at short notice but logistical constraints impacted on their ability to collect and distribute the food. Similarly, a shortage of staff at supermarkets has restricted the flow of donations of fast moving comsumer good from this channel. Now, a new source of funding from meal-kit provider HelloFresh will see a cash injection of $35,000 to support the service along with the surplus food provided – particularly in low income areas such as South Auckland.
A new source of funding from meal-kit provider HelloFresh will see a cash injection of $35,000 to support the service along with the surplus food provided. Photo supplied KiwiHarvest Ceo Gavin Findlay says during these difficult and uncertain times demand for food has continued to grow.
Rutledge says his company was happy to be able to meet the immediate need of the charity.
“Many people have had to take time off work, have experienced pay cuts or have been made redundant.
“This is an unprecedented time and one difficult for us all to navigate. We can only imagine the impact this environment is having on those already struggling in our communities.
As a result Kiwi families and communities are struggling financially and need support more now than ever. “This donation from HelloFresh will help us make sure those people, who need food the most, get the support they need,” says Findlay. HelloFresh New Zealand Ceo, Tom
“We hope the donation from HelloFresh will not only help KiwiHarvest deliver meals to those in need but act as a reminder for New Zealand individuals and companies to be conscious of the current needs of those less fortunate in our community by donating or sharing a message of hope,” he says.
TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK – 9
: O C C O R O M IN MAROONED CLE TRIP
RCY O T O M S L L A T S 9 1 ID COV
In March 2019 Farm Cove couple Paul and Tracey Brown left New Zealand for a two-year adventure riding a motorcycle around Europe. Twelve months down the track and the couple, formerly of New Plymouth, have found themselves stuck in Morocco.
In their mid-50s, Paul and Tracey Brown told the Times they have no option but to wait it out. However even if they could find a way to return to New Zealand, they’re not sure that they would as they believe lockdown isn’t being taken seriously here. “We’re not keen on going back to Spain once the borders do open (by ferry),” Paul said. “Then there’s the question of what we would do with our motorbike if we did leave so at this stage we will just stay here although legally we can only stay for three months and watch developments with the hope that we can get up to Croatia and into eastern Europe. “Realistically we are looking to be locked in Morocco for the next three months with the borders to Spain with their high virus numbers not likely to open in the meantime but we are very comfortable and safe here in Morocco.” Paul said the supermarkets have plenty of food. And apart from a couple of instances of locals crossing the road to avoid the ‘infected foreigners’ or shouting Corona at them, they feel “very safe”. “We honestly believe that we could be locked in far worse places (Morocco is a lovely country and the people, in the main, are so friendly and helpful and given the quick and full lock-down imposed by the government, we feel
completely safe here,” he said. “The limited healthcare in what is essentially a Third World country is of concern if something did go wrong but even if we could have left Morocco prior to the borders closing we still would have stayed. Their options for egress have been severely limited in Europe especially where Covid-19 has been particularly lethal as in Spain, France and Italy. And there was the matter of what to do with their motorbike. “The hugely increased risk of contracting the virus if we had flown home and our belief still that NZ - both the government and people in general - is still not serious or going far enough to lock-down and prevent the spread to the virus (made our decision easier to make),” Paul said. “By way of comparison, Morocco has a population of around 36 million, closed its borders on March 15, went into lockdown on March 19, and has 617 confirmed cases and 36 deaths (as at publication on Friday afternoon, April 3 this has changed – 676 cases and 40 deaths).” “New Zealand has a population of 5m, 708 cases and one death (at publication time today it was 797 with one death) with a lock-down that’s not really a lock-down with this ‘bubble’ mentality
10 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
and teddy hunts still being actively encouraged.” New Zealand should have looked to other territories for a better model to combat Covid-19. “Our daughter and her husband live in Singapore in what we see as the poster child as to how to control the spread of the virus and protect the economy,” Paul said. “So while our travels have taken a dramatic change and we really don’t know where, how or if we can continue our travels in Europe from here, we just take each day at a time, treat this as just one of life’s experiences and all part of our travels.” Travelling the world this past year has meant infrequent news updates. After buying their motorcycle in Germany, their nomadic travels took them around Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, France, Andora, Spain arriving in Portugal in February. “Travelling meant we caught up with world news rather spasmodically and whilst we were aware of the coronavirus, our intermittent news updates meant we believed it was mainly centered in China but also a bit of an over-reaction in many countries,” he said. “Our original loose plan was to ride to Croatia from Portugal then down
, Paul and Tracey Brown, from Farm Cove pe Euro ugh thro trip were on a motorcycle . and are now in lock-down in Morocco
to Greece and into eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania etc) but we decided instead to head over to Morocco arriving by ferry on March 1. “Being in Morocco, our news updates became even more limited and we arrived back from the Sahara Desert to find Morocco’s borders (including all airports and sea ferry ports) closed. “Interestingly, one thing we did do before we left New Zealand was to register with NZ Safe Travel (a government site) and we received an automated email quoting (NZ Foreign Minister) Winston Peter’s as recommending all New Zealanders should return home.
businesses with an impending complete lock-down in the coming days likely. “We decided to leave the city we were in and look to hunker down in a smaller place to minimise our risk. Luckily we were able to find a lovely apartment in the city of Essauoira (population 78k) on the Atlantic coast about two hours from Casablanca where we are still situated under complete lockdown.”
“Unfortunately not much help to us given Morroco’s borders had already closed.”
“Our apartment is in a complex which has a deck overlooking the pool and, apart from only being allowed out to visit the supermarket or pharmacy (only one person per household has a police permit to be on the streets), we are essentially house-bound for at least a month which is actively policed by the army and police – at this time until the April 20,” said Paul.
Days later when out for a walk they noticed all the shops, cafes, restaurants and the like closing and managed to find out that the Moroccan government had ordered the closure of all non-essential
“Our days consist of catching up with the news each morning, an exercise programme then a mix of Netflix, YouTube, podcasts and NZ radio via the web which has been a real saviour in a non-English speaking country.”
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS QUICK PUZZLE NO. 7952 - SOLUTIONS Across - 1, Sack. 7, Tarantula. 8, Idol. 9, Cede. 10, Puma. 11, Less. 14, Mountebank. 16, Contestant. 19, Eden. 22, Meek. 24, Read. 25, Mend. 26, Quintuple. 27, Idle. Down - 1, Still. 2, Cross. 3, Gateau. 4, Latent. 5, Stop. 6, Eliminate. 12, Erroneous. 13, Smut. 15, Bite. 17, Sprout. 18, Arable. 20, Dread. 21, Nudge. 23, Kind. CRYPTIC PUZZLE NO. 7952 - SOLUTIONS Across - 1, D’I-me. 7, Fore-stall. 8, Lift. 9, Fi-fi (rev.). 10, Pawn. 11, Drag. 14, Engagement. 16, Speed limit. 19, Saps (rev.). 22, Ag-Ed. 24, Shop. 25, Also (all sew). 26, Ante-lopes. 27, Stun (rev.). Down - 1, Do-led. 2, Mafia. 3, Co-Ping. 4, Me-wing. 5, Stop (rev.). 6, Blowing up. 12, R-amp-aging. 13, Gene (Jean). 15, MA-tS. 17, Les-son. 18, Mo-ot-Ed. 20, All-ot. 21, S-corn. 23, Deed (rev.).
COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK – 11
LOCKDOWN IN PICTURES Award-winning Times photographer Wayne Martin has been capturing images in our area during lockdown, now into its fourth week. Keep safe. Hopefully we’ll emerge from Alert Level 4 next week.
Top left, Millar Ellison (below) and brother Liam with their Easter creations displayed on Beach Rd in Howick; top centre, an Easter bear/rabbit seen perched on a fence in Howick; top right, Artist Ela Purnell getting into the spirit of Easter displaying her creations.
Above, budding artists Neve (left) and India Steele got busy over Easter creating this great display on their front fence; right, the Cameron family; below, Anna Brice with daughters Leni & Frankie getting into the spirit of Easter.; bottom right, no queues to be seen on Easter Sunday under the newly installed sun shades at Pak N Save on Ormiston Rd, Flat Bush.
12 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
Howick’s Picton St, a ghost town on day 18 of Covid 19 lockdown in New Zealand..
Parnell, quiet on day 18 of Covid 19 lockdown in New Zealand.
Above, day 16 of Covid 19 lockdown in New Zealand and people still aren’t listening to the rules, a sign stating the basketball courts at Barry Curtis Park are closed is clearly visible on the orange backboard; left, plenty of people are out exercising and walking dogs judging by the car parks at Barry Curtis Park.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is being carelessly discarded on the streets and in carparks; right, while some relax, others are exercising. TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK – 13
BUBBLE AND SQUEAK Teen tricks for the kitchen
BUBBLE AND SQU EAK WITH POACHED E GG
Kids in the kitchen can be a heaven or hell but set your teenagers the task of making this recipe for bubble and squeak and they’re sure to vote it – and you – as ‘‘heaven-sent’.
Divide mixture and shape potato patties using saucer-sized metal rings. Fill until they are ¾ full (almost 2cm high). Weigh mixture to ensure consistent quantity.
A lightly pan-fried patty of crushed potato, laced with finely chopped cabbage, onion and peas, then topped with Tuscan-style tomato relish and a poached egg is much more than a flash in the pan for leftovers.
Dust with a little flour and fry in remaining butter for approximately five minutes on each side, or until golden.
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
• • • • •
Wash, peel and cook potatoes. Mash, but not too smooth – they should be lumpy.
• • • • • • •
1 onion, sliced 1 clove garlic 100g peas A handful of watercress 200g chunky mashed potato (no butter or cream) 100g finely sliced cabbage, steamed A little flour, for dusting Salt and freshly ground black pepper Chutney 50g butter 2 eggs 1tbsp white vinegar
Thinly slice and steam cabbage. Remove from heat and set aside. Fry sliced onions in half the butter until soft, but not coloured. Leave to cool. Combine onion with potatoes, peas, cabbage and garlic and season well. Add one lightly beaten egg, if the mixture is too crumbly and does not hold.
14 –TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
Carefully break the second egg into a pan of simmering water with one tablespoon white vinegar and simmer for one minute. Remove from heat and allow egg to sit in the hot water for a further 10 seconds. Remove the egg with a draining spoon and place on paper towels to absorb excess water. Plate the potato patty and top with the poached egg. Serve with chutney or relish or your choice and a garnish of washed and trimmed watercress.
BUBBLE Boredom Beaters PUT YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE While kids card games abound and many households have them as commercial packs – snap, go fish, old maid, cheat, memory, fish, happy families, switch, last card, 21 or rummy, perhaps now is the time learn more advanced card games.
There are many more card games to keep young minds thinking and if you don’t know enough to teach younger family members go online – instructions for most card games abound.
ANIMAL CRACKERS?
Why not take up casino (sometimes spelt cassino) a great game for two players, teach your young ones various forms of patience (some are more exacting than others) or what about learning 500, euchre, pinochle (a trick-taking game for four players). Then there is cribbage (crib) or even that popular 50’s game, canasta, it’s rummy-style using two decks and is best as a two-player partnership.
If your kiddies are pet mad or animal crazy have them pick out an animal they know little about and then start creating their own animal dictionary – one animal a day. Encourage them to write down things they already know about their chosen animal then follow up with information they didn’t know by researching online and in household books.
ARTISTIC TIMES
Add new facts to the initial list and paste in pictures cut from old magazines or printed from online. They might even attempt drawing their special animal.
Why not challenge the artistic side of older school children; adults in the house could have a go too. Set up an easel outdoors with either paints or a sketch pad and try recreating a scene from your yard, garden or the street outside. If you have a view, take that into account too or encourage budding artists to focus on one thing only – a tree, a flower, the garden shed. Once done with painting/sketching, set
If they keep up the practice they can create their own A to Z of animals and, in this way, they will better learn and remember.
everyone a poetry task – perhaps start with rhymed poetry, then encourage them to try blank verse and free verse. It’s easy enough to google poetry guidelines and even to explore more forms of poetry, but these three should be challenge enough to begin with and could open eyes to a form of literature not explored nearly enough in this modern age.
TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK – 15
Dancing is a great way to keep active and burn calories while in lockdown. But, what about sex? Well, if you thought a little slap-and-tickle might keep you fit and burn those calories too, think again!
LOCKDOWN:
BURNING CALORIES,
BURNING QUESTION? stay active With thousands of people in lockdown all over the world many are trying to and treats. and burn off extra calories accumulated through indulging in additional snacks But what exercise is the most effective. LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk used Yazio. com’s calorie-burning calculator to see which homebound activities helped burn the most calories per 30 minutes. Times Media applauds the research and highlights some interesting points. Televised exercise programmes have seen hundreds (possibly thousands) of Kiwis doing their stretches and press-ups in front of the TV but if its calorie-burning you have in mind then dancing is one of the best ways to burn those calories and stay active while at home. According to Yazio’s calculator, dancing video games are a fun way to burn heaps of calories – 209 for women and 240 for men in 30 minutes.
In fact, dancing is the best thing you can do to keep active while in lockdown. Cumbia (a popular Colombian folk dance) burns approximately 217 (men) and 189 (women) calories; jazzercise, 200 (men) 175 (women); ballet, modern and jazz, 167 (men) 145 (women) and salsa, flamenco and swing 150 (men) 131 (women).
Home exercise burns up a few calories too – 127 (men) and 111 (women) and cleaning/household tasks, 110 (men and 96 (women).
While it’s known that gardening can provide mental health benefits, keen gardeners (and rural landowners) will also be happy to hear that felling trees burns 177 calories (men) and 154 for women per 30 minutes while chopping wood can do its bit too – 150 (men), 131 (women). However, light yard work only burns about 100 calories for men and 87 for women per the same time.
Men can expect to burn 60 or so calories in 30 minutes while women will do away with about 53. This is about the same amount of calories expended when washing the car although we concede that car washing is not nearly as much fun.
16 – TIMES MEDIA COVID-19 LOCKDOWN FLIPBOOK
But, now, the burning question – what about sex! Well, if you thought a little namby-pamby might keep you fit while in lockdown, think again!
For more visit www.liverugbytickets. co.uk who commissioned this data.
KOMBUCHA? YOU BETCHA! The way to our hearts may be through our stomachs so, it really is true to say that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Kombucha has become a popular beverage over recent years due to its taste and also the range of health benefits it offers.
BEST T E K R A M R E SUP BUYS Yes, the country’s in lockdown but with supermarkets open, there’s no need to go without skin nourishing essentials. Here are just three easily obtained products which can be purchased at most supermarkets to help keep hands, face and body in tip top condition.
HANDS: NIVEA 3-IN-1 REPAIR CARE HAND CREAM (RRP $6.99) Excessive hand-washing can leave hands dry and cracked – something we’re all familiar with at the moment. NIVEA 3-in-1 Repair Care Hand Cream provides a fast-absorbing formula with added vitamin C to protect hands from dryness and works to repair signs of damage. It replenishes skin’s moisture levels, protecting against sun damage with SPF15. For best results, squeeze a pea-sized amount onto clean, dry hands and rub in evenly.
FACE: NIVEA DAILY ESSENTIALS NOURISHING DAY CREAM SPF15 (RRP $10.99) From one of NIVEA’s newest ranges, this is an efficient workfrom-home moisturiser, Enriched with natural almond oil and natural magnolia extract, the formula, featuring NIVEA’s moisture care complex, deeply moisturises skin for up to 24 hours. With SPF 15 it offers protection against sunlight.
BODY: NIVEA Q10 FIRMING BODY LOTION + VITAMIN C ($10.99) A celebrity and cult favourite product - what more could you want? This fast absorbing lotion offers an improved formula which includes powerful antioxidants, Q10 and vitamin C. It is designed to noticeably firm and improve skin elasticity within 10 days, and intensively moisturises the skin for 48 hours.
However, sometimes a quick dose of Kombucha is much more convenient, which is where GO Healthy’s GO Kombucha Probiotic Plus (RRP $39.99) comes into its own. Packed with supercharged goodness, these 500mg VegeCaps feature probiotics, amino acids and enzymes to aid in breaking down food for better nutrient absorption. What’s more, with pharmacies open for business, they are accessible right now and could be just the boost needed. Proudly made by Go Healthy in New Zealand from select imported ingredients. Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional. Exclusively available at pharmacies and health stores.
MAKE MINE
MELORA MANUKA HONEY & OIL! Here’s a sweet addition to personal beauty counters! Melora Double Action Manuka Honey & Oil is a home-grown range of products made from sustainably sourced New Zealand manuka, harvested by beekeepers on the untamed East Coast. We’re told each product can be traced back to the very hive from which its manuka originated. From hand wash to mouthwash, moisturiser to haircare and more, the range is ideal for guys and girls who are after something simple, no fuss and safe for sensitive skin. Because Melora can be delivered straight from its Whakatane factory to front doors via melora.co.nz and is available in selected pharmacies, it’s accessible throughout the Covid-19 lockdown. Importantly, Melora Double Action Manuka Honey & Oil products are free from parabens, artificial perfumes, synthetic colours and mineral oil.
HOW HAVE KIWIS’ HOBBIES CHANGED DUE TO
ISOLATION Covid-19 has forced the majority New Zealanders to stay at home. The lockdown of points of interest - our workplaces, schools, and universities - has made a colossal difference in our daily lives. Analysts at international e-commerce company Picodi.com investigated Google search queries and created a ranking of the activities which gained the most in popularity in these times of pandemic.
TRAPPED AT HOME Picodi took a closer look at the most popular hobbies and activities, such as cinema, books, games and many others. Their analysts checked the frequency of search queries connected to these activities in March 2020 and compared them with March of the previous year. Some aren’t so surprising but others provided an interesting insight into what locked-down communities are doing. After evaluating statistics, it turned out that all activities that require leaving home have become less popular: cinema dropped by 61 per cent, concerts 79 per cent, theatre 78 per cent. Makes sense. The biggest increase of interest was noted in PC games (400 per cent), board games (355 per cent) and online games (223 per cent). Online courses, such as Udemy, increased by 133 per cent. Picodi says there is a
Analysis shines the spotlight on what we’re doing during lockdown. possibility that the uncertain situation in the labour market has made internet users seek opportunities to gain additional qualifications. Workout placed fifth with a 72 per cent increase, which shows people are looking for alternatives to gyms and fitness clubs to fill the void. Various creative activities and crafts, like crocheting (48 per cent) or DIY (24 per cent) have also gained popularity.
Graphic picodi.com
Among activities which increased by a relatively small margin are gardening and foreign languages (4 and 2 per cent respectively).
Win!
HERE’S A TREAT FROM EASTLIFE To enter the draw for any of these competitions visit www.eastlife.co.nz and To enter the draw for any of these EastLife competitions visit www.eastlife.co.nz enter this month’s code ELMAY5471. One entry per email address / person; and enter this month’s code ELMAY5471. One entry per email address / person; entries close May 31, 2020. Winners notified by phone or email. entries close May 31, 2020. Winners notified by phone or email.
WIN! A STERLING SILVER AND DIAMOND NECKL ACE FROM KENT MORGAN JEWELLERY Designed to compliment everyday outfits, Kent Morgan’s Essentials jewellery range features hand-crafted pieces designed to be worn whatever the occasion. Thanks to Brendan Kent, we have a stunning sterling silver and diamond necklace to give away. Our lucky winner will need to contact Kent Morgan Jewellery in Howick once notified to arrange collection. For contact details and more, see kentmorgan.co.nz.
WIN! FEED ME, FEED ME Featuring a menu made by Mazza, this mouth-watering cookbook is jam-packed with recipes for delicious cafe fare. Along with her husband, Aaron Carson, Fran Mazza is the creative force behind a number of popular Auckland cafes – including Winona Forever, Fang in Parnell, Major Tom and Just Like Martha. With more than 100 recipes, this book reveals why this a half-Italian pastry chef has proved so successful in the cafe game. Fran Mazza: Feed Me, Feed Me | RRP $39.99 | Random House NZ
WIN! A REMINGTON ULTIMATE SERIES F9 SHAVER Sick of unkind cuts? Remington’s Ultimate Series F9 shaver delivers a smooth, close shave without cutting too close for comfort. Featuring a ‘pivot and flex’ system, the F9’s head can adjust to the contours of the face – especially useful around the chin, jaw and neck. Fitted with four blades it’s ideal whether a clean shave is required or just a quick trim. In addition, this shaver is waterproof (so it can be used in the shower) and, thanks to its 60 minute run time, it can be used all week without the need to recharge. EastLife has one of these handy shavers (RRP $299.99) to give away.
WIN! NEW NIVEA Q10 ANTI-AGEING CREAMS Is it time to say goodbye to dry, tired skin and age-related wrinkles? If the answer is, yes, check out this month’s beauty prize containing new NIVEA Q10 POWER Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Regenerating Night Cream and Q10 POWER Anti-Wrinkle + Pore Minimising Day Cream (each valued at $21.99). Providing a big boost to skin care regimes both products contain natural Q10 and creatine to assist the skin’s firming fibre and stimulate collagen production. www.eastlife.co.nz
eastlife | april/may 2020 |
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