Thinking Allowed: The opening

Lock down ended in Canberra last week after 9 week of stay at home orders. We are a compliant city and in the nine weeks we managed to achieve one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. Currently, first dose vaccination rates are likely over 100% (population has grown since the last census.) This statistic has confused so many that our city state has decided it was less confusing to report at 95%. A humble choice. We wouldn't want to seem too keen or make others feel bad when they don't manage to vaccinate more people than they have. I do feel an odd sense of pride for the ease and grace and good cheer with which the city has taken on lockdown. Except, the end of lockdown was also a big let down. No one could go back to work, schools were to remain shut, the number of people allowed in another persons house is less than our family size. Really no big change in our lives. We can now go in non-essentials shops (didnt miss this one bit) and restaurants (don't do this anyhow). The climbing gym can now open, but, with a capacity of 25 people bookings are competitive. So it all felt much the same. Then overnight it was decided that Canberrans had now earned the right to leave the state borders (its an awfully small state) and go to a few select locations. And all of a sudden our excitement about new freedoms went up and we jumped at the chance to leave town. Our reunion with the ocean was full of wet kisses and cool embraces. We basked in the sand and splashed in the water and felt the tingle of freedom. A reporter hypothesized that Canberrans all flocked to get vaccinated partly because they are good at following rules but mostly because what Canberrans love more than Canberra is- leaving Canberra. It struck a chord.

Speaking of chords here is the song Tova wrote about the upcoming move back to normal school. It has a very catchy tune which unfortunately you cant see here.

No more online school for me

Ill play with my friends and jump in the grass

Its victorious, Its marvellous

Its wonderful

No more screens in my way

Now let me play

It is wonderful.