Yes please! Level 2 has been declared!
But what does that really mean for me? Nothing as yet. I have decided that I will not be rushing out with the lemmings, but will wait quietly in the wings to see what madness ensues now that travel, cigarettes and alcohol have been ‘unbanned’. Lodges are either opening ASAP or will be doing so in the next few days, but I am uncertain if I want to be part of the first wave of guests that check in…even if it is a small, private one. I have been in lockdown so long that I believe that I will need to acclimatize to being in a public space again and to interact with people without getting pissed off if they decide to break laws etc. But I do hope that my new, branded, Veldskoen Shoes will be able to head out sooner than later.
This quote has been reinforced during the past week when I received feedback regarding my “In conversation with” Zoom series. And from unexpected sources. An email from the USA put me in touch with a friend that I have not spoken to in at least 3 years…he had seen on of the chats…as had a fellow and his wife in New Zealand who knew my late uncle here in Johannesburg. It is a strange world, full of contacts and contradictions. But one of the most affirming was a voice note from the CEO of a company that I had interviewed, just to say thank you and to tell me how much she and her staff had enjoyed watching the conversation. As a creative, I, like other creatives. often get no feedback and many of us, therefore, suffer from some sort of self-esteem issues. The feedback that I have received on many fronts this past week has reaffirmed, for me, that this path is the correct one and I just need to keep honing my skill sets.
‘And the leaves that were green turn to brown’…or in some cases, back to green already. Now that we are in Level 2, it seems that spaces like the Emmarentia Dam are open to the public again. That is the positive aspect…the negative is the fact that criminals and thugs also frequent these spaces, looking for easy targets. The bottom line is “Be Aware”.No sooner had I finished typing this paragraph, than this popped up on my Facebook page…
FYI: “For those that love breathing in the air and the beauty of Emmarentia dam and gardens as much as we do…take care, be aware, don’t carry any valuables, and stay safe. My husband and I were mugged at gunpoint early this morning. Try to ensure you don’t go to the more secluded tracks unless there are people around. Let’s continue to use these beautiful facilities and look out for each other. Thanks to the cyclists who helped us.“
One way to travel. Time to ride the rails again? There are upmarket trains that run between a variety of destinations within South Africa and to promote internal travel, this might be something that locals can look into. Being on a train is almost like being on a cruise ship as that your accommodation and your transport are the same. As a youngster, I got to do a lot of train journeys and some of my favourite memories stem from arriving in a small town in the middle of the night and hearing people on the platform saying a tearful farewell to family and friends. And then the door of the compartment being flung open allowing the new passenger/s access. Back then the compartments slept 6 people and the did not all have to be family! Sometimes made for interesting travelling companions.
Let me take a moment to remember my friends that have been taken by COVID-19 or other illnesses during the lockdown. All of their deaths have been unexpected and some hit me particularly hard. Especially when certain of those deaths I only saw on social media. For those of you who have also lost family and friends, I offer you my condolences.
Dance like no one is watching! This crow was having an interesting time on a beach in Goa, India. Perhaps it was waiting for the fishermen to return with a catch that he could plunder. This week has seen doors start to open for me, perhaps only a slither, but they are opening. This hopefully bodes well not only for the rest of the year but for 2021 as well. The week has shown me is that persistence does pay…eventually. And hopefully, the light at the end of the tunnel is NOT a train hurtling headlong towards me.
Halfway through AUGUST and closer to Spring Day (01/10) which many are seeing as THE magical date! This week’s exciting instalment of “My Fellow South Africans“, has led to, amongst other things, travel inter-provincially being allowed. This month sees the celebration of Women’s Month and Women’s Day was celebrated earlier in the month. The anti-maskers are still very much in evidence, bleating that their Constitutional Rights are being infringed. I wonder if those who complain the most obey any of the other laws that are in place to save lives, like wearing seatbelts. If YOU are one of those, then I would rather NOT be in your company as I do not wish to place either myself or those that I love in danger. And I ask that I be respected for my decisions.
Until next week, stay safe, stay healthy and be aware.
South African Depression and Anxiety Group.
011 234 4837
LifeLine Connect number.
011 728 1347
