Lockdown Day 1: Not much change in the valley

Well, here we are. COVID-19 level 4, NZ in lockdown. As an Essential Service (we're a NZ Post contractor) we are still responsible for delivering the mail on our rural delivery route up the Rangitata Valley.

It's interesting having a chat (at appropriate social distancing requirements no less) with some of the farmers; to these guys things haven't really changed. They're still working the land, as usual, and staying on their own farms, doing their own thing. I guess they'll enjoy less traffic on the road for sure, but apart from that it's difficult to see much change.

The sheep still have to be drafted of course, and these merino lambs in the yards at Ben McLeod Station were visible proof that life goes on despite the virus shutting down much of the outside world.

What's nice for us is that we still get to stay in touch with our community at a testing time. And take photographs of it too.