Lock-down Day 15

Or should I say: Back to Day 1 of 21? Some are calling it Day 1 of 21, Season 2. Since I don't believe it will end on 30th April, I'd better go with Day 15.

Predictably, I had trouble going to sleep - so much wanting to buzz through my mind. How will I cope without an income? No means of buying groceries at my usual stores, which means that I'll be paying more than usual. Same goes for cat food. And what about rent?

On the whole, though, I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised by our president's speech. When his first act as president, way back in 2018, was to increase VAT as a means to re-fill the leaking tax coffers - increasing the tax rather than fixing the leak - that scared me! Yet his speech last night, it was undeniable that he wasn't just reading someone else's notes - but that he fully understood the full implications of the decisions made! The focus of his efforts is on those who need help the most, like supplying water to communities which have no running water. I was impressed when he announced that he and his entire cabinet are taking a 33% salary-cut and donating that to help those in need! For the first time, I actually felt proud to be South African. And I feel our country is in competent hands during this crisis.

You can read his entire speech here.

Basically, our government is extending lock-down to buy time during which they can prepare as adequately as possible. Ensure hospitals are stocked and staffed to help ALL in need. Ensure testing is possible and accessible to all. And work on a plan to resuscitate our economy. And plan the gradual release of lock-down restrictions.

One more thing: someone recently pointed out that our opposition parties don't have their own plan, policy, manifesto - all they do is oppose the current government. Today, I see the opposition denounce the decision to put saving lives above saving our economy ... I think THAT will loose them a lot of voters.

And on a lighter note, one image that is spreading around Facebook is the shocked expression of the sign language interpreter when the 2-week extension was announced.

Okay, back to my little life :) Strangely enough, I feel quite positive.

I logged into my online game, which kept me busy for quite some time, then I saw all mippies inside, so I went off to get milk. I was a bit worried, as I had ordered 5 liter, but still have quite a bit left over from last time, and I also don't have empty bottles to take for next time. Funny how things work out: when I arrived, he hadn't got enough milk to fill my order as he had just finished filling another order, so I got only 2 liter! Which gives me another 3 liter, already paid, to get on Tuesday, when I can take empties and place my next order! Worked out very well for me!

I washed the dishes and then set to work on the watermelon. Finally! Ha Ha! Oh, and if you ever see me cheerfully writing about 'watermelon on special' again - PLEASE STOP ME! Remind me just how much space I'll need in the freezer, in my bokashi bin, how much work it is and how much I dislike doing it! My Bokashi bin is bulging full now! And I have no room in the freezer, so I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with all that watermelon, now ... 

Well, I've taken the large meat out of the freezer and put that into my cooler bag, then filled the watermelon into my plastic cups and put them into the now-empty top drawer. Fortunately, the weather is playing along: it's overcast and quite cold, so nothing should defrost. Tomorrow, I'll be facing the challenge of where I'll KEEP then watermelon ice! Ha Ha Ha!

On a serious note, the numbers have gone up, again. 73k tested, 2003 confirmed cases, 410 recoveries (the only good news!), and sadly a total of 24 deaths.

Facebook has been strangely quiet ... well, so am I.

Ziva was today's truant, letting me wait for quite a long time. They always wait until I'm getting worried, then let me worry for a bit before coming home! Nah, it's me - I worry too much! Ziva has also chosen a new self-isolation spot: she now sleeps atop my teddy collection! She blends in so well, first time she curled up there, I couldn't find her! They sure do sleep around, ha ha!

Anyway, I've had a lovely hot bath, then played a while, now off to bed ...