The Lockdown Log | Interview with Louise

Last updated on 20 June 2020

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Welcome to The Lockdown Log!

In this new series, The Lockdown Log, I’m going to be interviewing some of my friends from New Zealand, to hear a little about what their experience was like during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Lockdown that our country went through in April (and continues, in some degree until we’re told otherwise). For some of my friends, life has radically changed, for others, it’s only a little different. But whatever has happened in the last few months, whatever their situation has been or will continue to be, they have a story, and one that I believe is worth sharing, if not for now, then for the future.

In this instalment of The Lockdown Log, I chat with my friend Louise who is a nurse in Auckland.

Hey, Louise! Firstly, thanks for chatting with me today! Secondly, Level 2! We’ve made it out of essentially 7 weeks of Lockdown here in New Zealand. Before Lockdown, what would a usual week look like for you, as a Nurse?

Hello! A usual week of work is different each week for me as I do shift work, so either days or nights or a combination of the two. I do 12-hour shifts so I don’t do much else on those workdays.

Those are long days! When you do get time off, what do you like to do?

On my off days, I try to get in some exercise. I like to see my friends for coffee and brunches and do love a trip to plant shops for some flowers or indoor plants. I also love a good lazy day at home either catching up on sleep, watching Netflix, cooking and general pottering. Recently I’ve been trying to learn Tagalog as well!

Oh woah, that’s amazing that you’re learning a language! Being an essential worker, how did work change for you when we went into Lockdown?

My wedding was actually planned for the end of March (which we had to postpone), so I ended up having a month of annual leave which was really nice. When that month was over I obviously had to go back to work at the hospital as I can’t work from home. The first week back was quite overwhelming with lots of new policy changes and new processes of doing things. We were actually quieter than usual which is not really expected for my area. We had to go over a lot of emergency scenarios incorporating PPE and reducing risk and exposure as much as possible. It is, however, a lot easier in theory than in reality. I think I am just grateful that New Zealand hasn’t experienced Covid-19 the way that other countries around the world have. Going back to work in the hospital definitely felt like my bubble was majorly popped after a strict month at home, as it’s impossible to nurse with a 2m distance.

Yes, you had to postpone your wedding! That must have been so rough, and I’m so sorry you had to do that! It is good that you were able to take that time off, though. Thank you for going back to work and looking after our country; you guys are incredible!

What did you find the hardest about Lockdown, in the month that you were at home?

Definitely the hardest thing has been having our wedding and honeymoon cancelled. And not being able to get married, even in a small ceremony. Obviously our wedding and beginning that next chapter in our lives together was something that we had looked forward to for a long time, and it’s disappointing that it has turned out this way. In a way, it’s been a bit of a grieving process for expectations that have been let down and getting over all the disappointment and uncertainty of what it may look like in the future. Also, not seeing family and friends from overseas and not spending the family time together has been a disappointment in itself.

It’s amazing to think that back in, say, January, the thought of your wedding being put on hold because of a pandemic … it wouldn’t have even crossed your mind! It must have been really hard to come to the realisation that the big celebration wasn’t going to happen this year.

Despite that, was anything you were grateful for during the lockdown time?

Definitely the internet! Can’t imagine being at home without it. The ability to FaceTime my family and my friends and has been something I am very very grateful for. As well as using it for Netflix, Facebook and keeping up with the world’s events. And I’m also so grateful for having good health for myself as well as my friends and family. Not everyone is as lucky as us around the world, so we have to count our blessings.

Also grateful for [my fiancé] Arjay’s Nespresso machine, which is a new addition. I’m no barrister but the coffees have been keeping me going!

I was also really grateful for having some annual leave at home, it’s nice to just enjoy your own space and spend quality time with my bubble buddy haha.

Haha! So good! It was good that, even though you couldn’t have your wedding, you were able to spend that time off and with each other. Was there anything you actually enjoyed about lockdown?

I’ve enjoyed the extra time around the house to do things that are usually put off or just not prioritized. We’ve rearranged furniture, thoroughly cleaned the oven, tidied through drawers, hung up pictures and cleaned some windows. All things that are usually forgotten haha.

I’ve enjoyed being able to binge-watch TV series and play board games for hours without having to be wary of the time. It feels like I’m back in the school holidays. Staying up late, sleeping in, eating at odd times of the day haha.

Yes! I was hoping to clean out the garage and sort through a bunch of stuff … but that didn’t quite happen. I had good intentions though!

Did you pick up any hobbies or any habits that you might actually continue past COVID-19 restrictions?

I haven’t really taken up any news hobbies or anything, but have changed my mindset in certain ways that I would like to carry forward as the year/life goes on. I think it’s been a good reminder of prioritising and setting aside time for myself as well as resting time.

Rest has been really good, hasn’t it? I was definitely hesitant to just go out and see people when Level 2 was put in place, not because I didn’t want to see them or to get out of the house, but I knew that once I did, that would be it. Life would start happening again, and it would suddenly snowball and I would be back to out most nights, to being full-on, and tired. I don’t want to be tired all the time. Prioritising and actually saying no, and remembering to just rest (and rest at home, especially) is going to be my goal for the rest of the year, for sure.

For those around the world still in a lockdown-type of situation, do you have any tips for surviving isolation?

Keeping in contact with the outside world. It’s very easy to sink into yourself and become quite glum, so I think maintaining relationships with friends and family is very important. I think also reminding yourself that it is just for a certain time period helps, knowing that it’s temporary and not forever. Having a list of things you plan to do afterwards gives some incentive.

Great advice. And last, but certainly not least, in fact possibly the most asked question about Lockdown … did you do anything drastic to your hair?

Nope! Nothing new in the hair department! I don’t usually have very frequent haircuts anyway, so it made no difference to me. I did, however, cut Arjay’s hair. And he loved it! Hahaha, he wants me to do it again.

Mental note: Louise can cut hair and people don’t complain about it. Good to know!

Thanks, Lou, for chatting with me today. It’s been really great hearing your thoughts and about your experiences throughout Lockdown here in New Zealand. I’m really sorry about your wedding, but I cannot wait to celebrate next year with you. It’s going to be a stunning day.

Stay tuned for another edition of The Lockdown Log coming soon!

To learn more about New Zealand’s alert level system, check out the COVID-19 website.