Alphabet 2020: M is for Melbourne

I have lived in Melbourne now for around 19 years. It's a place I love, and I can't really imagine living anywhere else. The city regularly tops the polls for the best place to live in the world for good reason. If you want sport, there is normally plenty on. If you want theatre, then there is a vibrant theatre and music scent. Culture? We've got it. We often say that if you can't find something good to eat in Melbourne then you aren't really trying hard enough.

My husband has lived here for about 10 years, and I remember one of our early conversations where we were talking about why we liked living here and he described it as a living city, and I really like that description. The reality is that there is something for everyone really, whatever you are interested in.

This week, though, has been a tough one for us Melburnians.  As of yesterday we have gone back into lockdown as a result of a second wave of COVID 19.  For us, lockdown means that we can only leave the house for four approved reasons: to work if you can't work from home, for medical treatment, for physical fitness reasons and essential shopping

I know that in comparison to many places around the world, our numbers are miniscule, but by Australian standards our infection numbers have skyrocketed and therefore drastic measures have had to be taken. At the moment we have around 800 active cases, but some of the daily numbers of cases identified are higher than they were at any time during the virus, which is why everyone is concerned.

So what does that mean for us. We have now been working from home for nearly 4 months, and so that will continue now for quite some time. Given that we hadn't gone back into the office after the last lockdown even though that finished a month ago, I can't see us getting back into the building until maybe the end of October but I am thinking later. It is a bit demoralising to be going backwards after we were able to start to go back to normal. I am grateful that we took the opportunity to do some normal things like having brunch and going for a drive in the country while we could  - always following the rules around social distancing and washing our hands.

When we realised that we were going to end up working from home, I wasn't really looking forward to it at all, but it turns out that I have quite enjoyed it. I like not having to do the 90 minute commute each way every day on public transport. I like being able to get up later and I like seeing my husband all day, or at least being able to hear him as we aren't always in the same room.

One of the things that I would never have imagined is the fact that the state borders have closed between the states. Right now, my state is basically isolated with all our adjoining state borders closed to Victorians. Apparently this is the first time that the borders between New South Wales and Victoria has been closed for around 100 years.

One of the interesting things about the way that Australia is dealing with the crisis is that there are no instructions at all to advise us that we should be wearing masks. I know that will shock a lot of people who have very strong opinions about the wearing of masks, but even the medical professionals in my organisation said that it wasn't necessary. I do think it will come soon, but for now, there are very few people wearing masks as we go about our business, when we can.

It is going to be tough over the next six weeks for the people in this city, but hopefully this further period of lockdown will have the necessary effect, and we can get back to enjoying life in this wonderful city!