WORN OUT

Well isn't this a hoot? More fear, bedlam and uncertainty just as we hoped we might yet ditch this awful epoch for a healthy life in the New Year. Viral pandemics are more determined than we credit. Still they seek the weak spots, the assumptions.

I've multiple mates infected right now. Workplaces closed as Omicron obliterates half the staff. How this progresses for people or businesses from here is anyone's guess. The scale of the challenge for our health workers alone is immense. How long can they go on like this?

Meanwhile SloMo is being characteristically absent from the emergency. It was the ABC (and Norman Swan, as ever) that instead alerted us to the fact that even double-vaxxed people who'd had the sole initially-available Astra-Zeneca vaccine in fact had 0% protection against the new strain of the virus only 15 weeks later. Only boosters restore 70%+.

This will rip through Australia as our Pfizer allocation (which at least offers 30+% protection at that interval) was belated, whilst many were still urged or compelled to get the AZ for so long.
There are just two upsides to the current situation: low hospitalisations (as yet) and the absolute certainty that the COALition will be binned by the populace at the election due by May next year. There will be no collective-amnesia coming to the rescue of these corrupt grafters in this environment.


Friday December the 17th ~

So where is (more) safe? Anywhere outside. After being a casual contact and spending two hours in a sweltering Central Coast queue for a test (that miraculously arrived back negative only 24 hours later) I'm endeavouring to avoid attending anywhere indoors where folks gather in numbers, unless it is a task intrinsic to my income.

I'm fortunate that much of my summer work just happens to be situated in the fresh Sydney air and my only gig this week is no exception. Join us between 3 and 6 to celebrate survival and at least some progress (scientific if not yet political), not to mention the birthday of my inestimably excellent partner. I'll be mixing up a joyous set of defiance, love and hope for free in the Backyard at The Alex.


Saturday December the 18th ~

Then I'm off. Only for a few days but I cannot tell you how much I need this little break. It's a karmic contra consequence of some mixes I made for the customers and community around a dear friend's Hunter Valley winery at the outset of the first lockdown - namesake cottage, surrounded by roses, that I've visited off and on for decades.
So that I can make tracks as early as possible my beautiful soulmate in sound, Jonny Seymour (of Club Kooky, Stereogamous et al) is kindly bringing his healing positivity to the FBi airwaves between 3 and 5 as the steward of Jack Off. Jettison whatever is holding you down or back, tune in - and float on.