Marica, Auckland

I just messaged him, ‘Can you chew any louder? Not all of us are wearing noise-cancelling headphones.’

I’m Marica, I’m on the cusp of 30 and I’m a lawyer turned web application founder, director, marketer, graphic designer, accountant, sales rep, customer service rep … a.k.a a start-up business owner. I recently launched a digital wedding planner that allows couples to manage the entire wedding planning process from one online space.

I live in Grey Lynn, Auckland with my fiancé Kerry and our new puppy, Rupert Carlos. The three of us are living in an apartment on Great North Road, just down from McDonalds. We can’t really take Rupert Carlos anywhere at the moment as he still needs one more vaccination, plus obviously we’re in isolation, so it’s either the balcony or the side of the road. We’re walking him around the same bit of block, over and over, which feels a bit like Groundhog Day. I imagine a lot of people are feeling this way.

Kerry’s an accountant for Lion Breweries. He’s working from the apartment and is actually really busy because they work closely with the bars, liquor stores and supermarkets. He’s just started a keto diet. I haven’t, which means I’m now eating a very high fat diet, plus a normal diet. This morning I had bacon, eggs and blue cheese for breakfast. No toast. But then I also had a choc mint muesli bar, so … Right now, Kerry’s sitting at his desk. I can hear him chewing. He’s doing it with his mouth open. I just messaged him, ‘Can you chew any louder? Not all of us are wearing noise-cancelling headphones.’

Before this, he’d usually get up at 5am to go to work. He actually went through a phase of waking up at 3am to go to work, he got into this weird pattern. He’s out of that now, thank god. I’d get up at about 7.30am and go between my laptop and the fridge for the rest of the day. I guess it’s not that different to what I’m doing now?

Cashflow has stopped for so many businesses in the wedding industry. I’ve been talking to a lot of the vendors on my site to see how they’re going. It’s been really sad. One has had 11 weddings postponed or cancelled. All the money they’d expected to make over the next two months has dried up. Just like that.

Couples are still using the website, which is positive. When this all began, I got lots of messages like, ‘Our wedding’s in May, should we still go ahead?’ Another girl got in touch because her wedding dress was stuck overseas and she was trying to buy one last minute in NZ, and a lot of other people asked whether they should continue planning towards specific dates. Unfortunately at that time, I didn’t have all the answers. I still don’t. I’ve got no idea what to do about my own wedding either.

We’ve currently got a bit of a puppy situation. I’m exhausted to be honest. I imagine it’s like having a baby. I’m sure many people out there would disagree with me, but I really am so tired. He woke up at 2am and just cried and cried and barked. Then he woke up again at 5am and Kerry got him up for a while. Then by 8am he was a ball of energy. Hectic. Cute though. I made a coffee and took him for a walk around the block with coffee, poo and treat bags in hand. Kerry went to the supermarket about two hours ago. Who knows if he’s coming back. There’s only so much I can do to keep this puppy entertained. When they’re this little, you’re only meant to walk them for ten minutes at a time. I googled it. We’ve been walking him for at least 40 minutes a day. He seems to enjoy it though.

Socially, we’d have coffees and drinks and meals with friends. I loved the weekend markets too. We used to go down to Wanaka quite a bit – I mean it’s only been two weeks, but it already feels like a ‘used to’ – to see my family. Most weeks I’d have meetings with our web developers or various wedding vendors. I also booked and cancelled a lot of gym classes. It’s nice not having to feel guilty about that for a while. I wish I sounded busier and cooler. The concept of not being able to go beyond the apartment or the block we live in is a confronting one. Even the other day, I walked from Grey Lynn to Ponsonby Road and felt guilty for being so far away. Such an odd feeling.

I wrote goals, like do yoga three times a week and run up and down the internal staircase every day. I’m yet to actually do any of these things, which is alarming. I panic bought a yoga mat and tried one online yoga session, but Rupert started chewing the plastic it was wrapped in so I only lasted about three minutes. My expectations of what I would achieve are dwindling by the day. It’s daunting, the thought of this being for two months. How are we going to get back to normal ever again? How long will it take? I started a journal to document the lockdown. Maybe give it to my grandkids or a museum. Reading over my first entry actually reinforced how lucky we are compared to so many others in the world.

I feel a lot of pressure to be creative, because I’m in a job where I can be. I read something the other day about all the different companies created during the last recession, like Airbnb and Uber. I could be on the cusp of creating something. No idea what though, I can’t even do one yoga session.

Rupert Carlos.

Rupert Carlos, all tuckered out.

If you would like to share your story, please get in touch.

Or, if you know of anyone who might want to share their experience, or would like a friendly voice to talk to, please feel free to reach out.

Our aim is to help people connect during this difficult time, by offering tiny glimpses into the everyday lives of others.

Everyone has a story. Help me bring them to life.