Just One More Sleep

Pan Pacific Hotel, Rm 1214 (Melbourne)

Sunday 10 May 2020

Looking back on my last full day in captivity, (and let me say Happy Mother’s Day to all relevant parties), it’s hard to pin down exactly what I’ve been doing.  There was online church at 10:00am, followed by a smaller gathering of half-a-dozen or so, for an online “coffee & chat”.  Then there was “Family Lunch”, with Linda at home in Ringwood North, Matt and Cathy at Mooroolbark and Eva and James in Canberra.

It was fun to catch up with everyone and to hear all the news – and of course to see everyone.

In recognition of Mother’s Day, I received a gift with today’s lunch bag.  It was contained in one of those cute little folded noodle boxes and included some spotty socks, a ball of olive oil soap in a small eco-friendly paper bag, and a blank gift card I can keep to use at a future time of my choosing. 

There was also a Mother’s Day card from the Victorian Government which is, “…to thank mothers everywhere … whether you are a mother, have a mother or know a mother [kind of captures everyone really doesn’t it] we hope you enjoy this gift as a celebration of Mother’s Day”   Just glad it didn’t also say … “identifies as a mother” … otherwise I’d be considering handing back my Seniors Card

So that was very nice and unexpected.  Something to remember my 14 day stay as a guest of the Government. And to all you tax-payers out there … a big cheerio and thank-you for picking up the tab!! 

Rest assured it does NOT include the mini bar.  In fact, it’s a particular point of honour that I have NOT bought anything from “Room Service”, over the past 13 days – not even one lousy beer.  There was only the small supermarket online order in the first few days and tonight I’m going to eat my very last Tim Tam

Not that I can recommend mandatory detention and isolation as a way to save on the household budget – there are downsides of a non-financial kind.

It gave me great joy to mark off “Day 13” on my wall-chart earlier today and so I’m expecting a phone call sometime tomorrow morning to finalise the exact time of my release.  As you can see from the text in the photo, under Section 2 (2) Place and time of Detention, it confirms “You will be detained until Midnight on 11 May 2020”, with the exact details to follow … as in, Terms and Conditions apply, see store for details …

Like most game-show contestants, I won’t be going home empty handed.  I did a quick stock-take of my food packaging booty earlier today, and ignoring what I get tomorrow, I currently have 42 (almost new) brown paper bags, 49 plastic takeaway tubs (with lids) and 89 pieces of plastic-esque cutlery.   Not sure any of it will be going to the poolroom when I get home, but I’m sure Linda and I will find a re-cycled use for it all some time in the years ahead.

As I prepare to exit-stage-left from the Pan Pacific Hotel, I’m reminded of the comedian Bob Newhart (from quite a few decades ago) and the many monologue-routines he did over the years.  Typically, they were make-believe addresses to a range of audiences … such as … the captain of a submarine to his crew after two years without surfacing … or the office accountant on his retirement … or the captain of a low-frills airline to the passengers … you get the idea. 

For those who may not be old enough to remember Bob Newhart, (who turned 90 last year) you may recall him from his appearances as Professor Proton in the popular TV series, The Big Bang Theory

Anyway, I’m sure there’s scope for a suitable speech to be written that refects on the previous two weeks of detention and isolation … the highs … the lows … the regrets … the friendships forged …

It might need a bit of “workshopping”, but I reckon I’ve got most of the required first-hand material and experiences to fill up a 6-minute address.  In the meantime, I’ll share some of the Bob Newhart presentations for your enjoyment.  The last one, is the most famous of them all, The Driving Instructor.

USS Codfish

Retirement Party

The Grace L. Ferguson Airline (And Storm Door Co.)

Bob Newhart The Driving Instructor

This afternoon, I had a chance to catch up on news that wasn’t related to the coronavirus global pandemic … apparently this is some out there … and the thing that stood out for me, was the 75^th Anniversary of the end of World War 2, in Europe; VE Day.  

Watching video clips of wreath-laying in various places, the Queen’s address and an amazing ‘concert’  by Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins before an empty Royal Albert Hall, was extremely moving. 

None of us need reminding that this was a war that kill 70-85 million people, (hard to imagine such a massive estimated margin for error of 15 million, from low to high) and consumed the globe for nearly six years. 

It’s rather poignant that the VE-Day 75 celebrations might be overshadowed at this time by another, quite different ‘war’ that is currently consuming the globe.

Gee, the Queen holds up well, and some of her words really nailed it … “Never give up, never despair … they fought so that we could live in peace at home and abroad   They died so that we could live as free people, in a world of free nations.  They risked all, so that our families and neighbourhoods could be safe”

Check out the following links …

We’ll Meet Again for VE Day 75, with Katherine Jenkins

Dame Vera Lynn, At 103 gives message of hope

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Address to the nation to mark 75^th Anniversary of VE Day

VE Day:  European leaders mark 75 years since defeat of Nazi German

There’s something about “freedom”, in all its forms, that you appreciate most acutely when it’s taken away … or you face the prospect of it being taken away.   

Again, I’ve got to say thank-you to everyone for your encouragement and kind words regarding this blog.  Believe it or not, this is my 90^th Post over the past – almost – 4 months, and I’m estimating that’s around 157,000 words, based on each blog being around 1,500-2,000 words long.  Add to this the fact that a “picture paints a thousand words” … and I’m well and truly into the millions of words.   

I was looking at the website statistics and it was fascinating to see that since 25 January, when we sailed out of Western Port, the website has had 7,740 Views, 1,390 Visitors, 13 Likes and 108 Comments.  There have been visitors to the blog from a total of 25 countries … mostly Australia and New Zealand of course, but a steady following in Spain, Germany, USA, Canada, Malaysia and the Netherlands. 

No doubt, some of these more “unlikely” audiences came about because I was clicking through so many find-a-crew-social-media and sailing websites while I was in New Zealand; while doing nearly 5 weeks of isolation. 

And quite a few of the “foreign” visitors registering just “1 View” on the site – of which Qatar and Bolivia are probably the most surprising – may well have been “accidental” visits from click-happy web-surfers dreaming of escape…

I was just about to sign off for the night and there was some excitement in my room …

Now, bear in mind, we’re coming off a low base here, when I talk of excitement … but the poking of a piece of paper under the door was exciting to me. And as you can see below, the piece of paper was headed:

END OF DETENTION NOTICE, Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic) Section 200

As you can guess, the notice explains all the things that are expected of me upon release, and that I must remain in my room until the designated day of 11 May … however, the exact time has been left blank. Unlike the original Direction and Detention Notice that stated 12 midnight tomorrow. No doubt that’ll be sorted out tomorrow, although one of the paragraphs says that I will be given approximately one hour’s notice of when I will be “collected”. I’ll start packing my bags after breakfast tomorrow!

Smooth seas, fair breeze and just one more sleep

Rob Latimer

IN BREAKING NEWS …