it feels like home!

The repatriation flight from Cape Town to London was one of those experiences which are best forgotten. Our Heathrow accommodation was equally forgettable while the 400 mile drive home was as good as could be expected.

Thankfully our builders had left the place in pretty good condition although they had not quite finished the job.

After a few days of getting everything sorted, we celebrated the relaxation of the lockdown rules by strolling along the Union Canal to Craiglockhart to have an appropriately social distanced drink with Ali and Neil in their garden. 

As we were a bit later than intended, we stopped for a fish supper at Fountain Park where I bumped into Gavin Hastings in the chippy queue.

Now I know I'm home - lets hope the summer lasts beyond this weekend.

PS the fish supper was excellent, washed down with a glass of Hollyrood Pale Ale 

I'm never going to finish the jigsaw now!

According to the FCO information page, places on the repatriation flights would be allocated with preference given to those who were sick, vulnerable elderly, stuck in hotel rooms etc.....

While I'm not sure how we were allocated seats on the first flight out, I'm not going to argue with them. Barring any problems, we'll arrive in Heathrow late on Saturday, overnight in a hotel at the airport and pick up a hire car for the drive to Edinburgh on Sunday since BA only flies to Edinburgh on weekdays.

Anyway, we should be home for the start of the week - just in time for the easing of the Scottish Lockdown which is expected on 28th May.

I've already placed my Majestic order

Repatriation flights

Cyril's last address told us that we could be moving to Level 3 of lockdown by the end of May, and there has been lots of press speculation about how and when, and whether the major infection hotspots - Cape Town, Joburg and Durban - would be excluded from the relaxed rules. Today we learned that the rules may be relaxed in some areas even sooner but still no details.

However, we also heard from the British High Commission this morning that they have arranged another package of repatriation flights - 7 from Capetown and 3 from Joburg - between May 23rd and June 4th.

With international commercial flights banned until Level 1 - which could be into next year - we decided to sign up for a flight home this time and now we wait to hear whether we have got seats and when we will fly.  No other details at the moment but it looks like we should be home in Edinburgh some time in the next couple of weeks.

That's the good news. The bad news is that I've just started a 2000 piece jigsaw and I'm not sure there'll be time to finish it!






   

A post-lockdown challenge

This is Simonsberg - the mountain which we see from our balcony everyday. It gleams in the morning as the sun clears the mountains behind us, glows red in the sunset and forms the backdrop to most of our time at home.

Like many other features in the Western Cape, it was named after Simon van der Stel - the first Governor of the Dutch Cape Colony at the end of the 17th C. It rises about 1400m above sea level but is only around 1000m climb to the top. Not sure when the lockdown will allow us, but I am planning a hike to the top as soon as we can.

However, it's more than just a mountain to hike because the slopes of Simonsberg are home to the wineries that produce most of our favourite SA wines and many of our favourite restaurants. From Delheim to Babylonstoren - including Noble Hill, Boschendal, Tokara, Thelema, Delaire Graff, Neil Ellis, Glenelly, Kanonkop, Neil Joubert, Simonsig and Glen Carlou to name just a few.

And, of course, there are quite a few others that we haven't even tried yet.

A Glass of Fizz in the BA Lounge at Cape Town International!

Our original flight home to Edinburgh - via Heathrow - should have been departing from CTI at 19.30 this evening, so we would probably have been in the lounge by now with a glass of MCC.

As it is, we've almost completed our seventh week of lockdown here in SA. We've been at Level 4 for the last two weeks although the only difference has been the freedom to go outside to exercise between sunrise (7.28am this morning) and 9.00am. Otherwise it's essentially the same as the previous 5 weeks.

Aside from clarifying the change in the rules from level 5 to level 4, we have had no other meaningful announcements from the government - although there was a cabinet meeting today and we've just heard that Cyril will address the nation later this evening.

That means that we'll either get an encouragement to abide by the Level 4 rules for a while longer, or a date for the move to level 3. Fingers crossed it's the latter - despite finding a few extra bottles, we are definitely into the final reserves now - although there's still a glass of MCC to cheer the evening

- along with a platter of sushi from the Clubhouse restaurant - which opened for takeaways this week.

Rough old life, I know. Particularly when we consider those people who are relying on the food parcels that Linda and her fellow volunteers were preparing today - and those who fall through the cracks and miss out on even this limited support.

It may be inconvenient to be stuck here longer than we intended; I may be bored with the routine and the limitations on leaving the house; I may have to resort to drinking some excellent wines which were intended for special occasions; and days may be getting shorter; but ......

Anyway, I hope to report on some good news of Cyril's speech later this evening.

Relaxing the rules

As we come to the end of our 5th week of level 5 lockdown, there has been much speculation about how the rules will be relaxed as we move to level 4 on Friday.

With the announcement, originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, delayed until this evening, we have now learned that, aside from the changes which allow more commercial and industrial businesses to restart operations, there will be very little change as far as individuals are concerned.

We will now have to wear cloth face masks whenever we leave the house and are still only allowed to go out for essential shopping and medical needs. In addition, they have imposed a curfew from 20.00 to 0500 every night.

As far as exercising outside, they have conceded that we can go out to run or cycle within 5 km of our home between 06.00 and 09.00 every morning - which will be challenging for many since sunrise tomorrow morning will be at 07.18. I guess there'll be lots of runners and cyclists on the road when it gets light!

We already knew that we would have to wait till we reach level 3 before we could replenish the wine and beer stocks, but they have now changed their minds and continued the cigarette ban as well.

So, the bottom line is that the change in lockdown is purely an economic measure which will make almost no change to our daily lives.... Ho, Hum....

On the positive side, the lockdown has certainly flattened the infection curve - there have only been 93 deaths across the country out of a population of 57 million -  and the community screening programme has now screened nearly 7 million people with around 200, 000 having been tested. 

Cyril has spoken.

In his address this evening, President Ramaphosa spelled out the 5 stage process that South Africa has adopted to exit the current lockdown. We have been on level 5 for 4 weeks and have one more week to go.

On 1st May we will move to level 4 which sees an increase in permitted economic activity under strict guidelines and an increase in the range of items which can be sold by the supermarkets.

Unfortunately this means that while the sale of cigarettes and tobaco products will be allowed, I'll still have to wait until we move to stage 3 before I can buy a bottle of wine. Wonder if they sell Davidoff's - might have to start smoking cigars again.

And as far as flights home are concerned, we'll be waiting until we reach stage 1.

On a day when his government's response to the pandemic had received praise from the WHO, Cyril's address was clear and concise and truly in the manner of the statesman that he appears to be.

Unfortunately his attempt to finish off by donning a facemask as an example to his fellow South Africans did not go well and appeared as a meme on Facebook and Youtube within a minute or so of the end of his speech.