LIFE IN A BUBBLE: Kelly Brown

Home school lessons with Nana Rose and Poppa Slick

Kelly Brown is co-founder of Incommon and a company director of MLAB.

Where is your bubble and who is in it?
At home in Hāwea. Just our wee nuclear family – my wonderful working-around-the-clock-but-trying-to-smell-the-roses husband (Brownie), plus boy of nine and girl of seven who alternate between best buds and mortal enemies.

What does an average lockdown day look like for you?
Morning run. Eating. So much eating. Walks to different corners of the garden to check out the view. Bike riding, cooking, crafting, obstacle course making. FaceTime home-school lessons with the grandparents - Anatomy with ex-radiographer Nana Rose, The History of the Automobile with petrolhead Poppa Slick and Art with crafty Nana Lala.

Are you still working?
Yep still working a few hours each day. Mostly during the kids’ screen time, then as/ when I can throughout the day if they’re happily occupied.

What are you doing for exercise and general wellbeing?
Morning run BY MYSELF - ticking both boxes right thur ;-).
Being open with the kids when I need some space - fifteen minutes alone with a good book/playlist/shit TV show does wonders.

What's happening in the store cupboards?
Plenty in the cupboards for sure. Getting supplies from the super as per usual. We tried not buying any booze for the first two weeks but caved yesterday and enjoying a tasty beersie as I write this.

Who's in the kitchen and what are they cooking?
We’re cooking a lot of crowd favourites at the mo’ to keep spirits high. Plenty of pumpkin soup, ramen, sushi and karaage cauliflower. Brownie does all the baking - he’s the favourite ;-)

What are you reading/watching/listening to?
Reading: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Watching: Westworld season 1 (WTF?)
Listening: OCDJ’s March mix

What is the luxury of time giving you?
I actually feel like I have less time at the moment with the kids home and Mr Brown working full time. School holidays on steroids! I’m working hard to create downtime for myself.

What are you missing?
We live down a right of way and, being a bit of a hermit, I used to love not seeing other humans. These days, not catching up with friends or going into the office, I actually miss humans! I’ve become that annoying runner who says hello to everyone.

What are you not missing?
Having to be somewhere at a particular time.

Are you learning anything about yourself during this time?
Apparently, I’m not as much of a hermit as I thought I was.

What would you like to take with you into post-Corona Central Otago life?
Renewed optimism for our collective future. We’re doing pretty great at being kind to each other and the planet during lockdown. I reckon we can keep it up.