Travel dreams??

Searching the music library on the Ipod, came across an album of Robin Laing's whisky songs. Reminded me those distilleries that I've visited - either because of their location such as Bruichladdich, Talisker,  and Bunnahabhain or the tastings - Glengoyne with Alex, Auchentoshan with Peter.
Started a new list of those I want to visit once the restrictions are lifted and we get back home to Scotland - not sure I'll get to them all this year but it'll be fun to try and there'll probably be some great hiking around them.

5 days down - 16 to go

We survived the weekend despite the redefinition of the rules, which mean that we are restricted to our home - no more walks along the Golf course buggy paths!

Our braai on Saturday was fine - great pork ribs - but it would have been better with some additional company. Started with a Fairview Quartz  Rose, followed by  De Morgenzon Pinot Noir  which was a present from Ali and Neil. Both were excellent.

We're definitely the only people in the block at the moment - second from the right - so we have the gardens to ourselves - if you don't count the Aninga, Coots, Little Grebes, Guinea fowl, Spurfowl
 and even a grey Heron which passes by on a daily basis.

Red-knobbed Coot

We'd completed the first 2 workouts on Friday and Saturday,  but had a day off on Sunday so we are running behind now. We got back on schedule on Monday and even managed an afternoon yoga class.

We also had a visit from a rather curious grey Squirrel.

Meanwhile, we discovered that the internet problems were caused by a break in a cable on the West African Cable system so that it is a country wide problem. Turns out that the break is on a section of cable in the English Channel and that it should be repaired in the next 3-4 days. As a result we have switched from Firestick back to Cable TV. Although it actually means more Montalbano than TV.

Lockdown Day One

Since we didn't need to check on any new developments from the High Commission or British Airways overnight, we had our first long lie in a while. This was followed by the Fitlife workout of the day.  Not sure we'll manage all 21 of these but lets see how it goes. Coach John, Liandi, Brendan and Eddie have done a great job and posted our first 4 workouts to get us through to Monday

The lockdown guidelines here say that, unless you are working in an essential service, you should remain in your home property for the entire period. You are allowed to leave between 0400 and 0900 and again from 1600 to 2000 for essential shopping  - only food stores and pharmacies are open - . Otherwise, STAY HOME!  I think we'll be able to stick with this - subject to the delivery services continuing.

Since we are in a block of 6 town houses - and we are the only current residents - we have decided that we can count the communal gardens and car park as part of our property so at least we have a bit of space. We also have a couple of balconies and a lake in front of the house so it's not really such a hardship - particularly for a cynical old misanthrope like me.

Cape Poker - Kniphofia Uvaria

Cape Sugar Bird (male) - Promerops Cafer

Bird of Paradise flower - Strelitzia Reginae

It does mean that we can sit and watch the wildlife for most of the day - a genuine displacement activity - instead of tackling the list of jobs we have prepared - plenty of time next week!

After our meal with Ally and Sue last night, I'm afraid Linda had to settle for a Moroccan sweet potato and chickpea stew tonight - even managed some homemade Ras al hanout - but at least there was a glass or two of the Spier Pinotage to wash it down. Have promised her Pork ribs on the Braai tomorrow night.

Disappointed to find that our fibre internet is a bit challenged by the number of people who are staying home - the  Firestick gave up when the download dropped below 1.5mbps. So back to Montalbano and the Sonos.

Still, that's us through day one - only twenty more to go.

Just as I was about to post this message, I got an automated email from British Airways to tell me that our flight for tomorrow night (24 hours away) is available for checkin - even though it was cancelled yesterday. Ain't technology wonderful!

No chance

We got our clarification this afternoon when BA cancelled all flights to and from SA until 19th April. So we are here for the duration of the lockdown - however long that may be. Personally, I think 3 weeks could become 5 or 6 quite easily, but if it helps to flatten the infection curve so that it stays within the capacity of the local health service then it will be worth it.

We also learned that the immigration department are going to be understanding in the case of visitors who overstayed their visas because of the virus which removed one of our major concerns.

Before this news was confirmed, we'd decided to be prepared, so, having started the morning with an online Yoga class with Carelene from Yoga House in Paarl, we headed for the  Paarl Mall for a few essentials. The queue at Woolies was discouraging and we decided to try a different branch - after a quick stop at the bottle shop to top up the beer supplies. While not overrun with customers, they had a steady stream of people buying up to the limits they had imposed.

The Woolies at Laborie had a shorter queue and we managed to get everything on the list and be back home by 11.00 am.

Strange, but quite pleasant, to think that we may not be back there for three weeks - if the Estate Delivery company live up to their fruit and veg delivery promises. Like my good friend Bernie - in the depths of Devon - I don't have a problem with three weeks of lockdown - now I'm prepared. We have an Amazon Fire Stick - thanks to Neil - which means we have more movies, TV and music than we will ever need. We also have kindle libraries which will probably last us for three years, let alone three weeks, and enough food and wine to last us.

Our gym at The Yard have also published a series of online daily workouts, and these, with the yoga classes, and the occasional glass of wine should get us through the lockdown 

Afternoon cycle round the estate - bright sunshine and 24C - let us see some of the streets that we haven't visited before and stop by the pool at the clubhouse which went into Lockdown a day early.

 then home to prepare for our 'Lockdown' supper with Ally, Sue and Cam.

Originally planned as a farewell supper - when we thought we were leaving on Saturday - it seemed appropriate to celebrate all those things we will miss because of the Lockdown including Easter and Sue's Birthday. Used a variety of essential supplies preparing the Beef Curry and accompaniements but we had a great evening - with the obligatory glass or two of Cuvee de Vie MCC and a very drinkable Spiers Pinotage.

Have started re-reading Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano novels and I'm enjoying Steven Sartarelli's translation even more than the first time. I'm transported to places in Sicily that I've never seen with descriptions of food that I can almost taste -  finished the first book today - another 15 or 16 to go

PS - I challenged Linda to give me a photo for each day of the lockdown and today we have a Helmeted Guineafowl

Keep that Bike away from me!

There is no plan C

After a day which started with a tough gym session with coach John at The Yard this morning, followed by a relaxed afternoon, we had a two hour power outage just before dinner time followed by some heavy rain and then learned this evening that the SA Department of Transport has announced that there will be no international flights during the three week lockdown which starts at midnight on Thursday.

Looks extremely unlikely that we will be leaving on Saturday, unless there are any further announcements. The UK High Commissioner and British Airways are still seeking clarification but I reckon the chances are slim to none.

So.... guess we are stuck here for the duration. As I said before, there are worse places to be marooned and we have food and wine to keep us going. However, the Police Minister has just announced that it will be a 'dry' lockdown and the sale and transport of alcohol will be prohibited for three weeks.  If you think there was panic buying of toilet roll last week, wait till the punters start on the bottle shops tomorrow!

Anyway, we were originally planning to be here till May, so we'll be able keep you updated on life in the SA lockdown. Might even find a few photos to back it up

Plan B

Well - two very similar announcements from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Boris Johnson:-

In South Africa, we have a 21 day lockdown from midnight on 26th with only essential services and a list of basic activities allowed; while in the UK it's an immediate 3 week lockdown with very similar restrictions.

Having thought about the consequences, and the risk of being stuck here for a lot longer, we decided that we should try to get back to Edinburgh if possible.

Unfortunately, there were no seats available before the lockdown starts here but we managed to get booked on a BA flight to Edinburgh via Heathrow on Saturday 28th. Bit of a comedy of errors as we tried to book the flights when both Bank of Scotland and Lloyds refused to authorise the payment despite clearing all the security checks. Not sure what caused the problem but thankfully the third attempt - M&S of course - went through without further problems.

Currently trying to get confirmation that the flight will actually go and that we will be allowed to make the journey to the airport. For the first time in my entire travelling life, I have been in touch with a British Consular officer to deal with a travel issue. Like BA, they are all waiting for clarification from the SA Government but hope that we'll have an answer soon and be able to get home on Sunday.

Meanwhile, we have sunshine and 31C here this afternoon and an hour or so at the poolside made everything feel better. Even managed to find the Kindle that Linda had left behind last Friday -  thanks to Kusta, the pool attendant. Think Kusta had the biggest smile when he saw his reward even though Linda was happy to get the kindle back, and I avoided the cost of ordering a replacement.

So for the time being, we'll be heading to the airport on Saturday - unless something changes.

Keep safe and well.

Still here

Hope you and your loved ones are all safe and well.

So the fires passed us by and here we are at the end of our first month, waiting to hear what new emergency Covid-19 measures will be introduced in SA this week and what new restrictions will be announced in the UK under the emergency legislation being debated in Parliament.

Thankfully, we're both fit and well and recovering from the great time we had during Ali and Neil's visit over the last week or so. Now they have headed home, we are having to think about what we are going to do. Initially it seemed attractive to sit out the pandemic here - where the sun is shining and we are surrounded by open space. However this may change if there are new restrictions imposed on movement and visas etc. We could also end up being stuck here beyond our planned dates with no way to get back to Edinburgh if airports are closed, or further travel restrictions are introduced.

First World problems of course, and nothing like the problems encountered by so many of the local population who are unable to go to work and local businesses which are challenged by the ban on foreign visitors and by the operating restrictions already imposed.

While there have been 400 cases confirmed here in the last 3 weeks, most of these are people who had returned to SA from one of the 'high-risk' countries. There have only been a few cases of local transmission so far but this will certainly change as time passes.

Meanwhile, we have enough food and wine to see us through the next week or two. Our gym classes are continuing - outside in the sunshine - which was a bit warm this morning, and although Yoga has been cancelled, all the classes are available online

We had a great hike at Mont Rochelle on Saturday followed by a braai with Ally and Sue and then lunch at La Paris yesterday - although without wine since we were past the 13.00 curfew - not sure Jimmy C would have been too happy. I'm also not sure if these options will be available much longer.

So, watch this space and we'll see what happens next.

More of the same

Sunday lunch at Delheim - our favourite winery - with Jane & David. Started with a tasting and then a table in the garden with views towards Table Mountain and some excellent food. 

Loaded up the car to restock the wine fridge and the rack before we headed home to find that the wind had got up again and the fire had spread along the ridge above the estate.

Update from the local authority to let us know that the volunteer firefighters are back on the job, so hopefully they'll get it back under control before it gets too close.

Might be getting a bag ready again. 

Where to start?

Hard to believe it's 10 days since we arrived - not sure what happened to the time. It was great to arrive to our second home and find that everything was as we left it and having our new furniture delivered on the first morning certainly helped.

The social round started almost as soon as we had unpacked - a braai with Ally and Sue, Jim, Simon, Nick and Helen and a Polo brunch at  Val de Vie meant that there wasn't much cooking required over the weekend. Good to catch up with these guys - its 6 or 7 years since we saw Jim and Simon but they were both in good form.

We'd been watching the loadshedding schedules before we arrived - 2 x 2hr power cuts each day - but luckily it was suspended a couple of days after we arrived and is still suspended - although there's always the threat that it could return any day. As a precaution, we are replacing the electric hob with a new Gas hob tomorrow.

We're back into our gym and yoga routine and had a yoga session in a brewery yesterday - followed of course by burger and beer (surprisingly, the vegan burgers were probably a better choice than the beef!).

Still a bit more shopping to do to prepare for our first guests - Ali and Neil - in a couple of weeks time but nothing too strenuous - biggest issue is getting the Braai chimney swept to remove the pigeons nest from the spring time. Thankfully the pigeons have moved on but they didnt take their nest with them,

Just when we were relaxing with a glass of wine on Friday evening and feeling quite pleased with our progress, we got a message to advise that the brush fire at DuToits Kloof Pass which had burned over 6000 hectares since Tuesday was being fanned by the very strong winds and heading over the mountain ridge in our direction. No immediate danger but ....

If we'd looked out the back windows we would have been able to see for ourselves......

Emergency bag packed with all those essential things and settle back to wait for news. Thankfully the fire moved away from us and was eventually brought under control around daylight with no loss of life or property - amazing job by the firefighting teams particularly when the helicopters were grounded by the strong winds.

Fire is still burning and we can see and smell the smoke but apparently they have it under control as long as the strong winds don't return.