BS: COVID & Music: drawing circles on a map

Subject: BS: COVID & Music: drawing circles on a map
From: Helen
Date: 14 Dec 21 - 05:13 PM

The last two years of COVID has had it's challenges, but for me the biggest challenge was trying to coordinate the activities of our music session group within the constantly changing and confusing landscape of COVID lockdowns and restrictions here in NSW, Oz.

In lockdowns it was fairly simple because we couldn't get together at all to play music, and we thought about using Zoom but playing together simultaneously would not have worked with the time delay. It would work if we each played or sang a piece, one at a time, which isn't what we do in our sessions.

Then after the lockdowns, there were some freedoms with some restrictions in place but those restrictions kept changing, so I had to constantly keep on top of the current government advice. At one stage, one of those restrictions which offered the biggest challenge for me was the government-mandated instruction that you could go anywhere within your own local government area (LGA), but if you left your LGA you could only go within 5 kms/3 miles of your own home. Given that our session group members come from at least two different LGA's which are fairly large geographic areas, this lead to me poring over street maps, drawing circles of 5 km radius from different people's homes and trying to work out a location for our session which fitted the restrictions. Some of our group members just couldn't meet with others due to where they lived. We could only gather outdoors in groups of five as well, whatever the weather (luckily we are in a temperate climate, but there are still issues sometimes) so my other common activity was poring over weather forecasts, especially the ones showing a specific date and time of day.

The limitations on distance from home and LGA restrictions were finally scrapped and the number limits on outdoor gatherings increased from October this year, but the weather issues still needed to be examined and an outdoor location found which provided shelter depending on what the weather was going to throw at us: wind, rain, heat, cold, or combinations thereof. Thank the gods of music for rotundas!

We managed to get together as often as we could and we survived the whole situation. We're gathering more often currently to make up for the weeks that we could not. Playing music together again, for me, provided a soothing, healing balm for the anxieties of the whole roller-coaster ride of COVID.

But now, I think that those anxieties being in the past - or are they with Omicron variant rearing it's ugly head? - I think I might have hit the wall. Like that physical collapse after an adrenaline rush, I think it is hitting me now in the calmer times because during the high stress periods I had to focus on getting through everything day to day.

My blood pressure is up, I've been getting visual migraines again, and I wake up in the wee hours stressing about all sorts of things, most of which are out of my control and often can't get back to sleep.

I know everything will sort itself out in the world one way or another but this particular stage is very confusing and conflicting and I find my anxiety levels are higher than my logical brain tells me they should be.

How have you coped through the last two years of COVID and how have music and musical friends helped you through it all?

Subject: RE: BS: COVID & Music: drawing circles on a map
From: Helen
Date: 15 Dec 21 - 12:23 PM

COVID is hitting close to home here:

"A COVID-19 cluster linked to a Newcastle nightclub continues to drive infections.

"So far, more than 200 people who attended The Argyle Club late on Wednesday night and early on Thursday morning last week have tested positive for the virus.

"NSW Health believes there were between 650 and 680 people at the venue."

The article starts with this prediction:

NSW is bracing to have 25,000 COVID-19 cases per day next month, according to the state's Health Minister, as new infections surged to their highest levels since September.

"Brad Hazzard warned modelling from the University of NSW predicted a rapid increase in virus transmission between now and the end of January."

So as the health experts keep saying, we are not out of the woods yet. The restrictions were lifted yesterday in NSW (for political and economic reasons) but the health experts' warnings are falling on deaf ears because the politicians are in pre-election mode.

My circle drawings on maps might not be over yet.

Subject: RE: BS: COVID & Music: drawing circles on a map
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Dec 21 - 09:38 AM

While we should now redouble our protective procedures, we as a species have covid fatigue and are tempted to be cavalier imo.
Everyone will react differently like on an airplane making a dreadful sound, the old man will be more calm than the thirty something.
If I started drawing circles too I might create anxiety rather than tamp down needless fears. In this moment of increased risk I focus on avoiding the risk as much as reasonably possible. Double masking in public seems reasonable in our pursuit of happiness this season.
I use a more breathable mask under a cheap N 95. Its been 6 months since my booster so the best I can do is wing it.
But what do I know? maybe your drawings will become valuable data or publishable one day? Whatever makes you, if not happy, content.
I keep a $39 Mitchell baritone steel string ukelele on the bed and practice making a smooth but ultra dynamic tone with a ringing sustain. Its not easy but the callouses are now thick and the spirit is still willing.

Subject: RE: BS: COVID & Music: drawing circles on a map
From: Donuel
Date: 16 Dec 21 - 09:58 AM

There is a common anger thats hard to put into words but is practically pandemic. Keeping it endemic is a good thing. It too is like a cold but it runs its course and gets better.

Subject: RE: BS: COVID & Music: drawing circles on a map
From: Helen
Date: 16 Dec 21 - 02:14 PM

Thanks Donuel.

With the political and economic decision to ease restrictions in NSW yesterday, even in the face of the worst outbreak we have had here, I noticed that most people I saw at the local shopping centre and supermarket were still wearing masks despite now only being required to wear masks in a few specific situations like on public transport, at hospitals, aged care homes etc.

As our Lord Mayor (she's a woman but the title is Lord Mayor - go figure) said on a TV interview yesterday, there is a very strong community spirit here in Newcastle so it won't be surprising if we continue to wear masks until the danger has passed from the current outbreak.

I don't think my circles on maps will be archived for historical value, but I could incorporate it in one of my artworks.

It's odd, but pre-COVID I was doing my paintings as often as I could, but when COVID hit - which was during the prolonged, severe drought and then the period of extreme bushfires - I stopped. Like the grandfather's clock, never to go again. But I think I'll be motivated to start again, maybe. I hope.

Although bushfire scenes are dramatic and would be considered good painting subjects they are scary and sad so I would prefer the scenes of bright regrowth on the blackened trees.