The misery of returning to lockdown was relieved in a surprising way for three Keith Park Retirement Village residents who can now boast a lifelong friendship as a result.
Beverley Patchett, Adrienne Brewer and Maureen Lyon all live alone at one of Ryman’s newest villages, Keith Park, in Hobsonville Point.
When lockdown was announced in August, Village Manager Kim Dawson suggested they ‘bubble up’ for company, so they wouldn’t go through lockdown alone.
“It turned out really well. I wasn’t too worried at the time, but it has just been so good. Much better than I thought! I didn’t think I needed it but turns out I did,” says Beverley.
“The bubble is lovely; we all get on and we have different interests but we all like what each other does. It’s a lovely group,” says Adrienne.
The ladies meet for a coffee a few times a week, and ‘bubble up’ to watch zoom webinars featuring speakers selected by Ryman, or some Netflix accompanied by a wine or two.
“Restrictions mean that our families can’t come and visit, so it’s nice to have the company inside the village, says Maureen.
“We have formed a family in our bubble.” The first residents at Keith Park only began moving in at the end of June, making it one of Ryman’s newest retirement villages.
The three ladies had only been there for a few weeks before the nation went into lockdown on 18 August.
“When you come into a new place and meet all these people that you don’t know it can be daunting,” says Adrienne.
“But this lockdown has given us all the chance to get to know each other so well!”
As restrictions enter their 11th week in Auckland, Beverley, Adrienne and Maureen see no reason to change things after they are finally lifted, and plan to continue with their regular catchups.
While they didn’t really know each other well beforehand, they certainly do now!