Level 4 Lockdown is only marginally better than Level 5.  We have not missed a day of going out for a morning walk even though it’s quite cold between 6 am and 9am. In other provinces of South Africa, the sun rises earlier. In the Western Cape, however, it is still dark during the first hour of the exercise time. On Friday, the first day of our liberation the weather was glorious and everybody took full advantage of the privilege of being allowed out to play.   But since then the mornings have become cooler each day and fewer people are out.   Those who normally cycle and jog are certainly not missing the opportunity and nor are those who have kids in their care, but the rest are staying snugly in bed!  We are hoping that our premier, Alan Winde,  is going to get t an afternoon slot added to our exercise time.  He was interviewed while cycling on the Sea Point promenade and this is what he had to say:

Wise words from our esteemed premier!

The beach this morning

On Saturday we ventured to our nearest big town, Bredasdorp, which is 30 km away.  Just driving there was a treat!   Lollz and I wanted to do some clothes shopping and we thought we would do our grocery shopping at the big Checkers supermarket too.  But we soon changed our minds about that!  In Struisbaai there are no queues to get into the supermarket.   After standing in queues to get into Clicks and Total Sport we changed our minds and decided that our home store would be a better option!  In spite of the waiting, we enjoyed our shopping while the Earl went to Agri where he also had to wait in a queue.   We got make-up, health foods and vitamins from Clicks.   Lollz got a pair of tackies from Total Sport and I managed to get into Pick ‘n Pay clothing without queueing.  They were not allowing patrons to try on clothes nor would you be able to return as they did not have the required spray to sanitize the unwanted items.  I bought three pairs of jeggings that I was confident would fit – and they did – so I’m set for winter!

South Africans are quite fed up with the rules of Lockdown!  I fear there might be a backlash if the government does not loosen up a bit.  The sale of tobacco and alcoholic products are forbidden!   Take away a South Africans dop and ciggies and you’re asking for trouble!   People are making their own brews and getting cigarettes on the black market – This is not a good thing!   It also doesn’t make sense that some items in shops are off-limits.   You cannot buy toys or games.  Some stores are not selling underwear while others are.  If things don’t make sense to the citizens they are going to rebel.  So please Mr President, work with us here so that we can get this virus thing sorted sooner rather than later!  In the beginning, most of the general public were behind the government but now there is a stirring and it is very worrying.

We don’t smoke but we like a sundowner and glass of wine with dinner.  These are small pleasures and we’re running out of supplies!   We won’t die without but it will make Lockdown less bearable if we have to give up too much!   We don’t know anybody selling alcoholic beverages on the Black Market!  Not that we would dream of going that route if we did -LOL!

Yesterday, I made brownies with the mix I got from Clicks.  It’s a low carb version and was quite good.   I sprinkled Flake over the top. Flake is not Low Carb, but a little bit won’t hurt!

Chocolate Brownies

We saw the owl that visited our garden a few weeks ago.  This time he chose a house down the road from us.   We invited him to come back but he hasn’t turned up yet!

Here is my contribution to this week’s Black and White Challenge from Cee

This week s topic is Heads or Facial Features.  Post heads or facial features of people or animals or even things like look like facial features.  

Why so serious, Mr Tree?

Crowned Lapwing

Have you hugged a warthog today?

What lovely lips you have

A really jolly chap

Today is Workers’ Day which I think, is celebrated in many countries in the world.  South Africans have been looking forward to this day for another reason too.  It marks the first day of Level 4 in the Lockdown series!   The big thing we were all looking forward to was the chance to get outdoors for exercise.  However, in their wisdom, our government decided that there would be a three-hour window of time in which everybody would be allowed out and that would be between six and nine in the morning!  It was a beautiful morning and after five weeks of not having had this privilege, it was not surprising to see so many people out and about.

Everybody and his dog out for a walk

Usually, at this time of the year when I’m out for my daily walk, I seldom see a soul.  But today was different.   It was great, it was fun but was it healthy?  Surely it would be better to stagger the times allowed out so that there would be more social distancing?

These twins were masked but delighted to be liberated at last!

The earl was the first to head off from our house just after 8 am and of course, his destination was the harbour!   What a disappointment then, to be stopped at the entrance and told, “Sorry, you may not enter.”   The crowds were furious but they were told that the area was too small to allow the public in.

No Entry!

I followed soon after and met my beloved as he staggered home.  I told him to continue a little further with me but he said his muscles were too sore – he’d had enough exercise for one day!

Very disappointed that the harbour was out of bounds

I continued on my own and was delighted to see friends and have a chat from a safe distance.  I headed to the beach hoping it would be open.  It was!  There were scores of people walking and jogging and a few were even in the sea for a swim! Those were the young and brave – it’s too cold at this time of the year to be in the water!

My first glimpse of our lovely beach

We all had the same idea!

The brave took to the waters

Lollz took a different route but we both made it back home just on the deadline of 9 am! It is amazing how just this little change to our freedom made a huge difference to our morale.   We are also now allowed to buy clothes and as winter is approaching, Lollz felt the need to get some new warm clothes so she went off to Bredasdorp to shop.  I decided not to go with her.  I have given my aching back a rest for a few days but today was the day I needed give the house a good clean instead.  So now all the laundry is done and the house is sparkling!

After a wonderfully happy start at Level 4, we had bad news this evening.  The first case of Covid-19 has hit our area.   A local policeman has tested positive for the virus as has one in Bredasdorp!   The two police stations were closed and the staff moved to temporary premises while the buildings were sanitised.  They will be closed for two days.

For the first time in five weeks, we can now order in!    Yesterday I put in an order for sushi from Agulhas Seafoods and they were supposed to deliver at 6pm this evening but it was after 7 when our order arrived!   Everybody is taking advantage of these new privileges and so it took a while to get to us all!   I am sure they will get better at it as the lockdown proceeds!

Day 35 (Wednesday 29 April 2020)

I don’t often bake but after reading Thistles and Kiwis’s blog post this morning I was inspired to make something. She made a pear and almond loaf but I decided to do a banana one instead as I had all the required ingredients and didn’t need to go shopping.

It didn’t turn out too badly and after one slice I couldn’t resist a second!

This morning my son-in-law rang to ask me to find some photographs of my granddaughter. (Granny is the main photographer of the family) He wanted photos of her on her own from her primary school days. It sounded easy enough but of course, most of my photos are of the kids together. The search kept me occupied for a few hours and got me all nostalgic about their fast disappearing childhood! After a bit of cropping, I managed to get a few reasonable ones to him.

Shan on Christmas Day 2012

Day 35 (Thursday 30 April 2020)

It is the last day of Level 5 Lockdown. We have been looking forward to the end of this phase but will it be that different?

We know that we have to stay at home, keep social distancing, wear masks etc, but we will be able to buy more products, get takeaway food and get out for exercise. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma addressed the nation regarding all Level 4 rules last night. Regarding exercise, it seems that we may only exercise outdoors between 6:00 am and 9:00 am. Hello! I am still in bed between six and nine. And if I’m not that’s when I slowly start getting my mouth into focus and my back out of spasm! Why on earth would there be a time frame for exercise? If we gave a wider range there would be fewer people on the streets, at the beach, in the park etc! This is a dumb rule which I hope is not going to be adhered to in my neck of the woods.

The minister presenting her address

It was originally thought that tobacco products would be on sale but this has been retracted. The reason was explained thus by the esteemed minister.

“Even those who do zol. Sometimes when they zol they put saliva on the paper and then zol and then share that zol and it means if one of them has the virus, they are moving saliva from one to the other.”

For those of my readers who do not understand the term ‘zol’, it usually refers to a hand-rolled marijuana joint but can also refer to hand-rolled cigarettes. Zol can also be a verb – if you zol, you smoke a hand-rolled joint or cigarette.

Zol

It is a glorious day again today. I had banana bread for breakfast while my housemates indulged in the last two croissants the shop had left. Croissants are my favourite but I am a non-carb kinda girl so only indulge is such treats very occasionally – more during lockdown I must admit! Anyway, the banana bread has fewer carbs and is pretty delicious so I made the sacrifice.

Our tame commercial fisherman dropped off a fresh fish yesterday so we had it for a late lunch today. We don’t usually deep fry anything as that type of food makes me sick but Lollz loves the Earl’s battered fish so he decided to indulge her. Of course I just ate the inside – just as delectable I assure you.

Beer battered and ready to fry

Sizzling in the pan

Golden and delicious

Served with a side of salad

Today the wind is blowing but the sun is still shining and although a bit cooler outdoors it is still quite warm inside.   Windy weather is of course always great to get the washing dry so one must look on the bright side!

Isn’t it amazing how the tiniest thing can bring you joy in these times?   The doorbell rang and it was the courier delivering treasures from afar.  A week ago Lollz put in an order from Clicks.  Of course, she was only able to order essential items – so no make-up, perfume or frivolous items.  But it was lovely to unpack three boxes of goodies that will come in useful in the coming weeks!  Vitamins that we were struggling to find locally, the right brand of fabric softener and other useful items were included.   All the items cost less than we would have paid for in the shop here too.  Hooray for online shopping!

My Lockdown challenge today is from Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge and the prompt is the sense of touching.

A soft puppy

Affectionate Warthogs

Necking Giraffe

A mother’s touch

Today in South Africa we are celebrating Freedom Day.   Between 26 and 28 April 1994, the first free and fair elections took place in South Africa.  Since then 27 April has become a public holiday to commemorate the new, free, Rainbow Nation.   Unfortunately this year South Africans are in lockdown and so no gatherings may take place.  It is ironic that on Freedom Day we are all under house arrest and on Workers’ Day we will be released.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation with an inspiring Freedom Day Speech.  He reminded us of all those that had fought to end apartheid and of how far we have come as a new democracy.  The fight to ensure that all citizens are treated fairly continues.  Unfortunately, corruption in government has set us back somewhat but our current president is doing his best to put things right.  He thanked all stakeholders for their solidarity during the pandemic.

When the president addressed the nation about the new levels of lockdown on Thursday night, he ended by trying to put on a face mask.  The nation was in stitches when he got it wrong.  The following day he was a good sport about it.  “For those who were laughing at me yesterday, let me tell you something, I am going to open a TV channel, where I am going to teach people how to put on the mask,” he said, laughing.

The president struggling to put on his mask!

Currently, the Western Cape has the most COVID-19 infections in the country but the Agulhas District still stands at zero.  The number of new infections per day has dropped.

My Lockdown challenge today is to answer the Share Your World questions from Sparks.

Do guns protect people or kill people?  Or both?

Guns definitely kill people.  They kill good people and they kill bad people.  I am sorry to confess that when I hear that a baddie has been killed with a gun, I am not sorry.  The thing is we live in an imperfect world so there are many who insist that they need a gun to protect themselves and just maybe they do.

Do guns protect people?   In some cases, yes.  It is of course important to get training in how to use such a weapon and to use it responsibly.  If the police cannot keep control of the crime in certain areas then it’s up to citizens to take care of themselves and their families.  Who can blame people at risk for keeping a gun for protection.

Is it more important to be respected or liked?

It is more important to be respected.   It’s okay if you don’t like me but you need to respect me as a person.   We all need to respect each other even if we don’t like each other.   Being liked and respected is first prize.

Is having a big ego a negative or positive trait?  (yeah I know.  Duh. But there ought to be one “gimme’ in the pile)

Ego is one’s sense of self-esteem or self-importance. If one’s ego is too big then obviously it would be a bad thing.  Thinking too much of yourself would block you from trying to improve yourself.

Depending on your point of view, is death a new beginning? 

I honestly believe that, yes, death is a new beginning.

It’s tough right now to count the blessings we have.   Being grateful for being confined to our homes and having reality skewed out of kilter for some is depressing.   So if there is something positive or uplifting or something you’re grateful for that you’d like to share (pictures, memes, images, thoughts) please!  Do share!  Thanks!   🙂

Even though we are going through the strangest thing imaginable there is always something to be grateful for.   I have to admit that I am feeling annoyed that I can’t go out, can’t travel and have all my usual privileges taken from me.  However, I am hugely grateful that all three of my daughters are still employed, we have our health and at a time in our lives where we don’t need to rely on our careers to earn a living.   I am grateful too that I am locked down in a place where we don’t have too many shortages and we have all the essentials we need.   We also don’t have to queue outsides the supermarket before being allowed in a few at a time! 

Here at the southern tip of Africa, we are still in summer clothes.  Easter usually heralds the end of summer and the weather cools down considerably but right now the sun continues to shine brightly.   It does become cooler when the sun goes down but we have not yet felt the need to light the fire.   We are just hoping that it will still be glorious on Friday when we will be allowed to walk outside of our homes!  I am so looking forward to a lovely long walk on the beach!

For today’s Lockdown challenge I am participating in A Guy Called Bloke’s Topical Tropical Trinity

Topical Tropical Trinity questions are about your interests, your passions, your hobbies and activities and about living your life in general.

Each weekly game will have a fixed ‘subject’ and ask you two basic questions – and one three fold question.

Today’s Questions for Topical Tropical Trinity are based on ..

“Lockdown Limbo”

Q.1	How long have you personally been in lockdown – when was the last times you were out and about and will you automatically return to your life post-lockdown? Before Lockdown we seldom stayed at home.   Our last excursion was to Kruger National Park for a nine-day, birding trip.   We then spent three days in Cape Town and a week in Plettenberg Bay before the announcement that Lockdown would begin chased us home.  So we have now been in isolation for a full month – most unusual for us. We miss our caravan! We go out to shop for groceries every other day – taking it in turns as we have our youngest daughter staying with us.I am not sure when we will be able to return to normal but we are already fantasizing about our next trip!  It will start with a trip up the west coast of South Africa, cross the border into Namibia, to Ai Ais, then to Swakopmund, on to Etosha National Park. Then return via The Waterberg Plateaux, Windhoek and Keetmanshoop.  Our final leg will take us through Kgalagadi National Park then home to Struisbaai!   That’s it in a nutshell – it should take us two or three months!  Who knows when this will become possible! I miss my caravan!
Q.2	Are you happy with your progress so far and your ability to stay sane? [Alternative question – When did you pass Go on the Insane journey – how is that going for you?] Yes – I am remaining sane.   Routine helps.  Exercise is essential.  Having my daughter to work out with makes a huge difference.  We encourage each other.  My husband is hyper-active but he has also managed to remain sane – he gets stuck into all sorts of projects to keep himself busy and thank heaven for social media!
Q.3	Have you started a new hobby?	No.  I blog, read and learn Italian. Message from the duolingo bird   I also listen to audiobooks and podcasts while doing the chores.   When was the last time you talked to the toilet? [No to the toilet not in the toilet] I don’t speak to inanimate objects but I do talk to myself – a lot. If you share the house with others – either animal or human – how is the extended home time coming along with loved ones? For many years we were an extended family of six including two daughters and two grandsons.   We learned to make allowances for each other so Lockdown together is not a problem.  Since 2015 when I retired I have become used to being with my husband 24/7 and we manage pretty well.  We have learned to be tolerant of each other and are used to each other’s idiosyncracies.  Our youngest daughter has lived alone for about four years now but is in Lockdown with us and working online from here.  Since extended family days, we have become set in our new ways. It’s lovely to have our daughter and things are going very well but she might just be a little less tolerant of us than we are of her!   Oldies can be a bit irritating.  I think, too, that she is missing her life. But she is staying positive.  She works online all week and also has Zoom sessions with friends.  It’s not the same but she’s dealing with it well.  We are also grateful that she’s got us into Zoom so we can have our sessions with family and friends too. Our blended, extended family on a video chat

My Lockdown challenge  Stream of Consciousness Saturday from Linda G Hill, and the prompt is ‘val’

Being in Lockdown has been a big readjustment for everybody in the world.  It has caused us all to look at our values and consider the things that are most important to us in life.   It is strange how really big issues in the world were not really taken that seriously.  We all talked about global warming, pollution, climate change etc. but we still allowed things go from bad to worse.  Will this pandemic cause us to adjust the way we live forever?  I am convinced that there have been huge changes in the environment even during this short time.  Will industries and businesses reevaluate how they run their enterprises?  Will there be fewer business trips to foreign shores and will there be more online conferencing?   There are so many solutions to the global problem of climate change and planet destruction that we have all been reluctant to recognise.  But a tiny, invisible virus has brought the world to its knees and made us all sit up an take note of what is really important.

Human Nature being what it is I fear that once this scare is over people will just revert to their old ways.  Will we forget the new values we have learned?  Or will the changes we are forced to make now stick?  Will families continue to spend more time together.  Will parents continue to value the teachers in their children’s lives?   Will we continue to cook together and eat together instead of going to restaurants or getting take-out.

Of course we miss the things we can’t have now but at the same time we have learned some valuable lessons.  We have come to appreciate what we can do for ourselves.  We have made sure that we’ve kept in touch with friends and family in spite of not being able to have the physical contact.   There is always a silver lining and this too will end but when it does let us not forget the new values we have learned.

Our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed the nation again last night.   Yesterday we had the highest increase in new infections in one day at 318.

It looks like we are peaking now but overall Lockdown is working.   The president explained that there are five levels of Lockdown, level 5 being the strictest.  From 1 May the country will be at Level 4 but the premier of each province will make decisions if lesser affected areas can be given different levels.  As there are 0 infections in Cape Agulhas we are hoping that we might be given a Level 3 quite soon.

There are slight reductions in movement with Level 4.  Sectors of the economy with a low rate of transmission and high economic or social value will be allowed to operate again. We will be able to buy books, stationery and office supplies and Alcohol and cigarettes will once more be on sale. Restaurants and fast-food outlets may open for delivery only!

No public gatherings may take place.   Borders between provinces will be closed.  There will be a curfew in place from 7pm to 5am but we will be allowed out to jog, walk or cycle.  People may use public transport to get to and from work but they will be required to sanitize and wear masks.   Only a limited amount of people will be allowed in each vehicle.

The rules become more relaxed with each level but it will be a long while before we have complete freedom again!

Today my back is very much better thanks to the Voltaren and Cortizone injection from yesterday!   I did some yoga and a walk @ home video with no ill effects.

This morning we were surprised with a ring at the doorbell!   And there we found the semi-homeless man we often give odd jobs to.   He had a dressing under his eyes, the result of a fight he had been in and was accompanied by his desperate looking mother.   He always speaks to us in Afrikaans and loosely translated this is what he said, “We don’t have any food at all.  Please can I do a job for you, sir”

“No,” replied the Earl. “I will get into trouble if I let you in.   But tell me what happened to you”

At first, he told the story of how another chap had punched him in a fight.  I piped in – “And what does the other fellow look like?”  He burst out laughing and in detail described how the other guy had thrown sand at him so he threw some back and then the fists went flying.  “Yes, Ma’m,” he laughed.  “He looks worse than me!”

And this is social distancing!

“Aren’t you getting food parcels?”  I asked.

“No,  just soup from the soup kitchen,” they told us.

We have been assured that food parcels are being delivered but I think if you have no fixed abode it is a little difficult to get those parcels to you.  He and his parents, I think, live in an informal shack.

I packed up the left-over leg of lamb, rice and gravy that we would have had for lunch today and Earl gave them some cash to go shopping.   They were ever so grateful. It certainly made us count our blessings.

I have such a soft spot for this young man.  He is an addict and very unreliable, but when he does turn up at our door he is always willing to work for his money.   He is not a smart worker but he is a very hard worker.  He is small and thin but you would not believe how strong, fast and efficient he is.

It is just so sad that this young man is enslaved to drugs.   I have such a soft spot for him. He has a wonderful sense of humour, is always polite but of course we have to watch him very carefully when he works here as he just cannot be trusted. We have been warned by neighbours not to employ him but I feel if we don’t who will?  And if he can’t earn money, he is going to steal it.

Our hardworking odd-job man (always smiling) with the Earl

Twenty-eight days and counting. Officially we have another week to go but I have a strong feeling that tonight Cyril will tell us that we have to hang in there a little longer. If the rest of the world is anything to go by then certainly we won’t be let off lightly. I am just grateful that the spread of Covid19 here is slow. Our latest stats for the Western Cape show that our of 20268 people tested have 1079 confirmed cases. 216 have recovered and 24 have died. Thankfully there are 0 cases in the Cape Agulhas district.

For the past few days, I have been suffering from back-ache. I thought I could work it out with exercise but then after Tuesday’s thorough cleaning of the house, it got worse. I refrained from doing anything yesterday and took some pain killers. These enabled me to sleep better last night but this morning I woke up in agony.

The Earl insisted I take the problem to the doctor and miraculously I got an appointment at 9:00 am – 15 minutes after my call. Usually, we have to wait until the next day! I guess that with isolation comes less illness! The waiting room was quiet with only one other patient being present. We were both wearing masks as were the staff. After a thorough examination, my doctor gave me an injection and as I write I am feeling much better. Dr Annalie knows that I walk a lot – we sometimes bump into each other on the beach. She asked how I was coping and I told her about my online programme walking and yoga programmes of which she thoroughly approves. She told me it was definitely the house cleaning that caused the problem but it was okay to continue with my controlled exercises. I probably didn’t engage my core properly when cleaning the shower!

Too old to do this – must get someone else to do it!

Today I have heard from several people that they are not sleeping, are anxious and feel guilty about it. Up until now I think we have all just got on with it with the belief that it will all be over soon. But now the reality is setting in and many are having a bit of a wobble; some being affected more than others. It’s not easy. We should not feel guilty about our reactions. We should allow ourselves to indulge in a bit of a weep. We should express how we feel. Not sleeping well seems to be a big complaint at present. What to do! Lavender oil, meditation, yoga, relaxing bubble bath in scented, candlelit bathroom or whatever is calming for you should be indulged in. We will get through this but it will take time.

My Lockdown Challenge for today comes from Cee. The prompt for he black and white photo challenge is Outdoor Ways to move Up or Down

Go down the slide – Forever Resort, Gariep Dam, Free State, South Africa

Ancient Steps – Petra

Alley Steps – Salerno, Italy

Hot Air Balloon flying over the winelands