An expertly-made coffee from Misa at Mo’s in Hāwea is missing from many lockdown lives but she’s still, quite literally, going the distance and is on the tools for the people in her bubble.

Where is your bubble and who is in it?
I live in a two-bedroom flat with no garden, so when the lockdown was announced I decided to move in with friends in Wanaka to make it more pleasant. I’m staying with Penny, Batch and their son Toby who flew down from Auckland the day before lockdown.

What does an average lockdown day look like for you?
We get up around seven, have breakfast and by eight we march up Mt Iron (haven’t missed a day yet!) Then we have coffee, (luckily Rob still delivers his delicious See Crow Fly beans, which keep us very happy), then I either run or go out bike riding for few hours. A couple of times a week I add in a strength session in the garage - we managed to gather some gym gear and actually have quite a good set up. Then it’s time to have a glass of something while we cook dinner and the day is finished up with movie.

Are you still working in any way?
There isn’t much I can do for Mo’s during the lockdown, but I also work as endurance coach and I have couple of athletes who remain on a training program which gives me few hours work a week.

Mo’s in Hāwea before lockdown — Mo’s in *Hāwea before lockdown*

What are you doing for exercise and general wellbeing?
The walking, strength sessions, running and biking and a bit of yoga for stretching. Helping Penny and Batch gardening, which feels the hardest of all.

What's happening in the store cupboards?
Penny and Batch have some long-hidden treasure in their cupboards and we slowly chewing through them. We go to New World once a week and shop for the entire week. After many years shopping for just myself, shopping for four very active people has been interesting – the big trolley is not big enough! We also buy wine and beer which I hardly ever buy.

Who is in the kitchen and what are they cooking?
We share the cooking duties which means that each of us cooks only once or twice a week, which is nice.We’ve been eating very well. Toby is vegan and Penny vegetarian so lots of veggies on our plates! Batch and I sneak in some meat every now and then.

What are you reading/watching/listening to?
I’m not a big reader but I love jigsaw puzzles so I do them if I’m not outside. We’ve watched the evolution of James Bond from the first movie to the last – we had to skip some that weren’t that exciting. Let’s just say JB came a long way to what it is now.

What is the luxury of time giving you?
I don’t have to rush through the day. When you’re not working and seeing friends you have all day to get the chores done.

What are you missing the most?
Catching up with my friends and being able to go up into the hills for long hikes.

What are you not missing?
How busy Wanaka has become.

What is worrying you most at this time?
Not being able to travel – if something were to happen with my family back home in the Czech Republic and I’m not able to go there.

Are you learning anything about yourself?
Yes, I think so, but I’m not ready to share this one 😊

What would you like to take with you into post-Corona Central Otago life
I feel like I have seen lot of happy people riding their bikes/walking on the trails with their kids and friends. It would be nice to keep seeing more of this instead of people working long hours and not spending quality time with those closest to them. And the quiet roads!

LIFE IN A BUBBLE: Misa Klaskova