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.

St George's Day

It's also Shakespeare's birthday and the anniversary of the death of Daniel Defoe but as usual, there is no mention of the Saint's Day on the BBC English news. Has always struck me as odd given the coverage of St Patrick and St Andrew when their days arrive.

Day 28 of the SA lockdown with one more week to go - subject to an address from President Ramaphosa this evening. The pundits are all predicting a relaxation in the rules which will allow some industries to start operating again but I'm not sure there will be much change in the rules affecting those who are not working in these industries. The mobilisation of another 70,000 troops to support the Police would suggest that the lockdown for individuals is going to continue - still, we'll know more tonight.

It's also 37 years since I joined Stewarts and nearly 19 years since I left for my early retirement. My friend Bernie, who left at the same time, commented recently - in relation to an article about Coronavirus - 'I’ve come to appreciate that Idleness, enforced or otherwise, is more an innate talent afforded to we fortunate few, rather than a skill that can be learned by the many.'

As usual, he puts it much better than I could! On reflection,  I reckon I've taken full advantage of my own innate talent for idleness. Lets hope Cyril has some good news for us tonight.

Neighbours

The lemon tree in front of our ground floor balcony is laden with fruit. We've had a couple of usable lemons so far but hoping for many more. In the meantime, the flowers have attracted a colourful visitor.

The Citrus Swallowtail is probably one of the biggest and most impressive butterflies we are likely to see here with a span of about 4 inches

Citrus Swallowtail
By Charles J Sharp - from Sharp Photography

We took an essential shopping trip to Babylonstoren today - normally a busy place with wine tasting, restaurant, cafe, hotel, gardens and shops. However, its only 10 minutes away along a red dirt road and the farm shop is one of the few local places that are open during the lockdown. Its a great source of fresh vegetable from their gardens, home grown meat, dairy produce and bakery goods. Normally, the produce is earmarked for the restaurant and cafe but they are now offering it all for sale.

Loaded up with farm butter, eggs, fresh bread, pastries, a selection of veg that we wouldn't normally see in the supermarkets and a few extra treats - of course. Planning to return for their steaks next week.

On the way home we drove through the wine estate and saw how the vines are changing with the season. Like the Maple and Beech trees around the golf course, the vines are definitely showing off their autumn colours.

Home to good news - for a change - Avis have reduced the car hire rate to ZAR 50 per day for the duration of the lockdown - which is just over £2.00 at today's rate. Now if the wineries were open I could head off and spend some of the savings......

Autumn

The seasons have definitely changed, our days are getting shorter and the mornings are definitely cooler but still bright and sunny. From our bedroom balcony we look over the lake towards the members driving range and the clubhouse beyond.

Today was another bright sunny day wth clear skies and a high of around 26C and we managed a walk around part of the golf course when no one was looking. 

Sunset was at about 18.15 but we lose the sun a little earlier as it disappears behind the houses and trees opposite.

We have now spent more time here in our SA home than we have  in the new Edinburgh flat and I'd guess that we'll be here for another month or so before we get back there.

Travelling home

Having registered with the High Commission at the onset of the lockdown, we were eventually offered seats on one of the repatriation flights earlier in the week. In the end, we decided to decline the offer and make the seats available for others on the waiting list.

To be honest I didn't fancy a cutprice Virgin charter, for the 'subsidised' price of £1000 each, with 250 other punters which required us to leave home at 5.00am for a flight which would arrive in Heathrow just before midnight and then have to find a hotel for the night and still make our own way to Edinburgh the following day 

We figured that it was almost guaranteed to put us in contact with someone who was infected. So we're here until the rules are relaxed. Hope to leave before winter sets in but...

I've spent quite a lot of time listening to the Flower Duet from Lakme while trying to get through to BA to get refunds for the flights they had cancelled. Finally got lucky yesterday and managed to speak to someone in 'Customer Services' who assured me that everything was in hand and that the refunds would show up in the next 14 days - with an apology that this was a bit longer than usual due to the heavy demand. 

Yesssss!  Success!!! until I received an email less than 20 minutes later asking me to call them back to discuss an outstanding issue on one of the bookings. Wouldn't mind so much - what else am I doing now anyway - but when its such a pain to actually get through to them ...  Anyway, one more successful phone call this morning and its all done and dusted.

Then, we received a further message from them this afternoon to tell us that our original return flights for May have now been cancelled, asking us to call them about the refund. GRRRRR.

21 days in

We've completed the first 21 day lockdown - should be cause for celebration - but we have another 14 days (at least) to go. Still, we have a routine, the shops all have stock when we need to go and many of our local artisan businesses have obtained their essential services permits so they are offering a wide selection of products.

We took a stroll over to the Backs Deli on the estate today - its a 45 minute walk each way but obviously essential shopping. Came home with their own olive oil, cheese, sausages, bread and eggs. Couldn't resist a quiche for lunch and a couple of brownies for coffee time. Not quite as good as a visit to Leith Market but not a bad substitute. Just a pity they can't sell their own wine!

On the way there, we took the perimeter road and had time to watch some more of our local wildlife. Our star today was a Bokmakerie  - a bushshrike with a great whistling call - which sat up and posed for Linda's camera.

We had a look at the lilies on the biggest of the lakes and noticed that Autumn has definitely arrived as we strolled through the carpark.

Friday night treat of pizza from Pappa Grappa - the restaurant is closed and they are not allowed to sell takeaways but they prepared the pizzas so we could take them home and 'cook' them ourselves. Excellent pizza and an easy supper tonight. Think we might be back next week.