Annielyn Images

Vynka is a friend of ours as well as a fellow business owner. When the lockdowns started happening we both lost big event jobs and it was devastating. Vynka relies on markets and events so this was a big blow to her and her little family. Lucky she still can post items. Earlier in the year we did some photos of her and her business Chase and Hide so I will share them throughout the blog.

• 

How has COVID-19 affected your family?
I am a sole parent with a small business, very early as the events were unfolding, I felt a lot of impending financial pressure, we had a few bad days as a family as I took onboard the situation, not knowing what was going to happen or how I should be reacting and planning both from a business point of view but also making the health and educational decisions for my children alone.

What is one thing that has surprised you about this event?
I was surprised at the start of the virus arriving in Australia; that the people I spoke to were all on such different pages. Some were not worried and very dismissive, others more like myself felt like we were in a holding pattern waiting for everything to fall apart… others were buying toilet paper.

What is one thing you will always remember about this time?
I think the press releases at the start. The roller coaster of emotions and the guilt for not being able to help family and friends because of the risk of being a carrier.

• 

What do you think is really important right now?
It seems right now where we live that we are all feeling much safer. I think its important to get back to work and school. While I was one who pulled their children out early end of first term, I am seeing my friends relationships and business suffer. As well as my children getting further and further behind as I am unable to send them to school, and just don’t have the time to sit down daily. A lot of people who are in similar owner operated business with younger children who are trying to work from home have had to employ a nanny or tutor on top of the normal school fees. My children are beginning to become anxious about not learning and being behind their classmates when they return and I think its important to get them back in routine as soon as is safe.

What have you done to stay in touch with others?
Fence visits, Zooms and phone calls… lots of phone calls

What is one thing that you miss right now?
My children being educated by someone other than me, a coffee with my friends and a hug from my family who live away.

What have you been doing to keep yourself and your family busy?
I am working from home so always something to be done. Keeping positive is more of an issue as my whole work calendar cleared with the first announcements of shut downs – no events (no markets or functions).

• 

• 

• 

As a family we have gone on more bike rides and walks as the boys are really missing their sports, but also as we aren’t running around town for sporting commitments we have had alot more time to spend together as a family. My children have been surprised to see how much happens at home while they are at school during the day.

What is one good thing that you hope will happen after this is all over?
I hope when this is all over people will remember how quickly life can change and I hope we all just slow down a bit.

What is the first thing you are going to do when it is all over?
I really don’t know, buy our teachers a bottle of wine and a good luck card?
I definitely need to take the children to visit their great grandparents in Rockhampton….
Kinda annoying because we usually have school and sporting commitments. Now they are missing chunks of their education… maybe a little reminder about what is important in life.

• 

School kids – Harper aged 7 – Year 3
How have you maintained your friendships? I have been chatting on kids messenger app.
What’s your thoughts on home schooling? Terrible, 100% terrible and 100 % boring because we don’t get to see our friends.
What do you think about the Corona Virus? Its really bad, I miss playing with my friends.
What is one thing you miss doing right now? I miss riding my bike to school and going to the bike jumps which are closed.
What is one thing you are enjoying about this time? I got an Ipad (for schoolwork) and dancing in the kitchen with mum.

School kids – Archer 8 years old. Grade 4
How have you maintained your friendships? We used face time and now kids messenger app, we have done fence visits and I’ve also been writing letters to my great grandparents who live in Rockhampton as they can’t leave the house now.
What’s your thoughts on home schooling? Its really hard because its all on computer and boring because you don’t get to see your friends.
What do you think about the Corona Virus? Its terrible it kills everyone.
What is one thing you miss doing right now? Seeing my friends, going to swimming and playing footy.
What is one thing you are enjoying about this time? Spending more time with my family.

Many many years ago I photographed Sara, it was the coolest shoot. I remember it so vividly as she was wearing a pink and white polka dot dress and I had her standing next to a green wall. Just as I was about to take the photo a gust of wind blew her skirt, just like Marilyn Monroe. She caught it and I captured the shot!!! One of my all time favourite captures.

So I was so excited to hear from her to do some family photos. It was so great to catch up with her and meet her little family.
We chatted about how she was finding being a mum during this crisis, and if I’m honest I thought it would be quite good being in your own little bubble, but Sara opened my eyes to the challenges she has faced. Here is her story:)

• 

How would you describe what is happening right now – COVID19?
Its like a movie! I’ve never watched more news or talked about one topic in my whole life.

How has this affected your family?
I already knew that this year was going to be quite different for my family. The first time I heard about COVID-19 was lying in a hospital bed after giving birth to my first baby. Never did i think that my maternity leave would be this weird. Its been a whole new kind of strange trying to navigate the world as a new parent in a pandemic. During this time I think each family households have been very wary of visiting. We haven’t had many people visit us. I can visit my Parents but my Nanna lives in a retirement home on the Gold Coast and we can not visit her.

How has this affected your work?
I am employed as a Flight Attendant with Virgin Australia and had planned to take a year off with my maternity leave and then I return back to part time. Unfortunately Virgin has gone into Voluntary Administration and that has meant my Job is very unstable. As a side note this is the second time I have been with a company that has gone into Administration in my flying career. When I heard about it on the nightly news I was home alone with my baby and really didn’t want to be alone. At that time the news had reported incorrectly. While I am positive Virgin will continue flying we will not be sure at what capacity. The reality is only 3% of people that want to be a flight attendant actually end up achieving their wings. Its a job like no other! I would be devastated if I couldn’t go back.

What is one thing that has surprised you about this event, positively or negatively?
How much toilet paper people think they need for one week! Also our community made a really beautiful gesture celebrating ANZAC day and as a defence wife it has made me very humble to see our neighbours coming together to celebrate all those Men, Women and Animals that have served.

What is one thing you will always remember about this time?
As a new mum its weird because you are told to make sure that you get out to help you with postnatal depression but in this situation you are told the exact opposite. It made a great conversation with my midwife trying to come up with ways to feel less lonely. As a bonus I’ve had a lot more time with my husband and he has had more time with our son.

What do you think is really important right now?
I really want things to go back to the way it was. Everyday I look at the numbers and it looks promising. We are so lucky that our actions are having a huge impact and we aren’t seeing the same death rate as other countries.

What have you done to stay in touch with others?
Mainly by phone (sorry I’m a bit of a hermit)

• 

What is one thing that you miss right now?
One month before the restrictions were put in place we had started baby swimming lessons and I was having the best time plus my baby was so tired after the lesson.

What have you been doing to keep yourself and your family busy?
I’ve taken this time to set up a really good routine with a baby. The thought of going out after restrictions have been lifted does slightly give me anxiety, I’m not really sure how my baby or I will go trying to navigate the world with our little routine.

Does this scare you?
It did at the start but its funny how quickly you adapt to your new ‘normal’.

What is one good thing that you hope will happen after this is all over? That people will use hand sanitiser everywhere they go. The public are filthy and now everyone knows it! Seriously, I hope people will understand what a lucky country we live in. If you were born here its like winning the country lottery.

What is the first thing you are going to do when it is all over?
I was planning on taking baby P on his first flight so that will be my first outing I think.