LIFE IN A BUBBLE: Alex Fraser
Arrowtown in lockdown from one of the tracks near Alex Fraser’s bubble
Lockdown life is hugely different for bar manager Alex Fraser - the friendly, welcoming face with the beard at the Fork and Tap in Arrowtown.
Where is your bubble and who is in it?
We are locked down not far from The Hills golf course in Arrowtown, and our bubble consists of myself and my girlfriend Liz, our awesome British flatmate Kieran, and our new flatmates Paddy and Ashlee (and Cobber the German Shepherd pup) who moved in the day before lockdown. Great place and a great way to get to meet new flatties ha-ha.
What does an average lockdown day look like for you?
Waking up to the body clock, (no alarms!) whenever feels right, quick scroll through the memes and "news", then get the jug on for coffee number one.
Making breakfast great again has been awesome for me this lockdown - working hospo hours, it was nearly non-existent. Personal new favourite is shakshuka - Mediterranean eggs poached in tomato goodness. Morning usually rounds out with a walk, some guitar, reading books/comics, or PS4. Some nights we have been doing themed dinners and games, so the prep usually starts mid-afternoon for dinner at seven or eight-ish. No reason to rush, right? Evenings vary between card and board games, having a few beverages, watching a movie, or gaming, some nights even the full combination! Also, going to bed before midnight is kind of weirdly all right. I could get used to this …
Are you still working in any way?
Not working currently, just awaiting the announcement to see what kind of direction and timeframes we are going to be working within. It has actually been quite a nice break after summer, reminds me of school holidays. Those were the days.
What are you doing for exercise and general wellbeing?
We are lucky enough to have access to some amazing walking tracks in our local area. Also, living on the edge of town, we don't usually encounter too much traffic, so walking out along the road feels like you're in the middle of some surreal post-apocalyptic film as the sole character remaining … or maybe I've been watching too many films.
What's happening in the store cupboards?
Store cupboards are pretty stocked to be honest. Big shout out to Four Square Arrowtown for keeping us all sorted, they've been doing so well looking after Arrowtown residents, doing free deliveries, and DJ Dino with the tunes every time! Love it! Ka pai team, you're doing an excellent job. Buying habits haven’t change much, save for the volume of what I'm purchasing, and of course the total costs!
What have you been cooking?
I've really enjoyed having the time to cook, so have been cooking breakfasts nearly every day and lots of big share dishes like stew, lasagne, stir fry and chilli, it's been great fun. Share meals are great for the flat, plus excess can easily be frozen for another time.
What are you reading/watching/listening to?
Currently reading some Stephen King - Dark Half, and some Batman comics - The New 52. Been watching a few docu-series and documentaries - mostly music - check out The Wrecking Crew, as well as some of the more popular shows (Carole did it!) and a mix of classic films - Monty Python is, and will always be, hilarious. And those random shows you get sucked into on Netflix for no particular reason, then end up binge watching. My guilty pleasure of lockdown has been Nailed it! It's pretty cringy in places, but somehow my baking has improved ha-ha.
What is the luxury of time giving you?
Peace of mind! The opportunity to take a deep breath and have some time and space for myself has been well needed. Being able to not rush for anything has been a welcome change. A change of pace of life and a change of focus have helped remind me of what we have already and how lucky we really are, considering.
What are you missing the most?
I miss being slightly more social. I'm totally comfortable in our bubble, but I am lucky enough to have incredible friends in this town and the fact that I'm not allowed to go see them is one of the only things I really miss. I miss all the locals down at the Tap too, hope to see you guys soon! And I miss the changing flavours of beer at the Tap quite a lot, though lockdown has certainly reignited my love for the 24 packs. I'll go back to quality over quantity when availability comes back.
What are you not missing?
Not missing being in a rush, alarms, long shifts, or cramming chores into one day. Love having time really.
What is worrying you most at this time?
What are the next six months to a year going to look like and who close to me will be affected? Will there be jobs for some people to go back to? What are we going to do with no tourism? When will the Coronavirus pandemic truly be over? Did I put the bins out already?
Are you learning anything about yourself during this time?
I'm not an essential service.
What would you like to take with you into post-Corona Central Otago life?
Post-lockdown I want a real sense of supporting local businesses, looking after our communities together, and checking on your mates! It's for sure going to be interesting times ahead, so this is definitely the time to stick our heads together and get some good ideas going locally for post-lockdown. Use your mates, collaborate! All the best to everyone, pop in and see me for a pint in a few weeks. Stay safe, sanitised and home till lockdown's over.