Lock-down Day 39

No trouble sleeping last night. Yet I woke up only quarter to seven? Ah, well ... no problem. Mippies went out, and now Mewthos is mewling for ME to go out ... no, he doesn't want me to pick him up inside, I must go outside. It's cold! Mewl, mewl, mewl ... grrrr ... milkies? Milkies! He's quiet now ...

Mini is under my feet whenever I least expect it. I expect it, when I make myself coffee and when I go to the toilet ... but she'll show up out of nowhere, always under my feet, little minx! And every time I go to the toilet, she looks at me expectantly, begging I put on her favourite show: flushing the toilet! Ha Ha! She always stands on tip-toe, head as far into the bowl as can be, watching every last drop of water move ... just like Mewthos used to!

I've been writing the past couple of days how I haven't been productive. Well, although that is technically true - I've maintained, but not produced - it's not the same as not having achieved anything. And what I HAVE achieved is: I've stuck to my smoking plan. I have not had a single cigarette beyond my strict allowance. Oh, I've 'fudged' things a bit - like, when I took a nap in the afternoon, and missed a turn, I'd have that in the evening, while I'm waiting for mippies - but on the whole, I've stuck to my allowance.

It's NOT like quitting drinking. It is not the same, believe. The biggest difference is, of course, that I never drank every day and definitely not all day every day. Another major difference is, of course, that it is not merely a matter of craving nicotine, but also, after 30 years of smoking, it has become a habit to light a cigarette whenever I feel like it. After accomplishing a task, when I feel stressed, after a meal - it's become part of my like, just as eating and drinking has.

One of the internal battles I'm fighting is, of course, trying to convince myself that the rationing is MY choice - knowing full well, that it is forced upon me. Not for medical reasons, not by a health professional, but by the government. And THAT does not sit well with me - nor anybody else. Nor should it. After all, sugar is still legal.

Anyway, I'm reducing my daily rations again, today. My 'normal' rate is to smoke every half hour (approximately). I've cut that in half, allowing myself only one cigarette per hour. Today, I'm cutting that to only one every 90 minutes. I tried using the Targuard filters, but since I'm already smoking the lightest possible cigarettes (1 mg tar - 0.1 mg nicotine) it left nothing to smoke, so I packed them away again.

My vaper is helping a great deal to bridge the gap between cigarettes. I have enough oil to keep that going for longer than my cigarettes will last ... even at this rate. I also have spare atomiser heads and a spare coil. So I should be okay. Fortunately, I packed all that with my 'important' stuff, and it's unpacked.

Just took a peek at Facebook ... and I can't believe what I'm reading. A member of one of the groups has been arrested for:

I have been arrested because I ran after my daughter after she ran onto the beach. I am in a van. My partner is currently on the way to the muizenberg police station in a car without a car seat. She was pushed into the car while breastfeeding

This is not fake, I'm on his facebook page now, he's still able to update what's happening:

We are all here. The police are going through files to try find an appropriate charge

WTF? Trying to find an appropriate charge? How TF can they arrest an entire family when they don't know what law the family actually broke?

3 Hours later, they are okay, but only because someone came to their aid! I'm waiting to see what explanation they were given, what happened at the police station. Interestingly, his status update has been shared over 750 times ... 

On another note, yesterday afternoon the Ministers FINALLY announced the regulations companies must follow to open business again. I listened to the actual announcement ... and two things bothered me throughout:

1) the strongest message was: report employers! Report on the hand that feeds you! We will send inspectors and shut them down!

Why do I call this the strongest message? Because it was repeated over and over, and it was the only time the relevant minister showed any emotion, any interest in what was being said.

Report the hand that feeds you! Remember when children were 'schooled' to report their parents?

2) If you have such detailed regulations, why can't ALL business open?

Golf clubs asked the same question.

More arrests happening.

I haven't found verification - not sure whether this is real or fake.

This seems real. My only question is: why is Cambridge Police Station issuing
this Notice? Since the 'incident' took place in Nahoon, wouldn't it fall under the
jurisdiction of Beacon Bay Police Station?

Based on the current Google map, there is no Police Station in Beaconhurst anymore, so Cambridge would be correct. Which supports the above being true, and not fake.

This feels more and more like a prelude to war ... civil war. I really hope that I am wrong! But remember: the entire Police Force AND Army have been mobilized! I have a very strong suspicion that the ANC is pulling out all stops toward Communism.

I'm not the only one who fears this ... others feel quite happy to be led by the nose. There's a current 'joke' going around the local facebook groups:

Thank you for the 1 month free trial of Communism. I'd like to cancel my subscription, please.

Some think this is funny, some think like me, and then there are these:

Did you read the letter from the President today? This is not communist, this is to protect life.

Civilians are being murdered by police and army. The investigation into these murders is superficial, unprofessional and biased.

I see our president has made yet another announcement. Now 'saving face' regarding the U-turn on the cigarette issue.

More and more groups are launching legal action, the key issue being the complete lack of transparency, regulations are made without reason nor justification. The crux of everybody's complaint is very simple: We are treated like children. We must 'do what we're told' and not ask questions. We have no right to know WHY.

What is happening in South Africa under the guise of the global pandemic is unacceptable and frightening.

Anyway, it's now half past one, time for the 5th cigarette of the day. For fun, I created a poll asking which pandemic we're currently experiencing: Coronavirus or Moronavirus. So far 0 C : 15 Moronavirus!

I'm just wondering, with so many people forced to quit smoking ... how many will keep that up? I'm going to try to stick to my current rations - at least until I've been able to re-build my hoard. I really regret working on my 'bad' habit of hoarding ... I started reducing my hoard at exactly the wrong time! Fortunately, I hadn't got very far - although cigarettes & cat food had been reduced ... both of which I regret now. 

Well, I got off my rear and washed the dishes. And at ten past five, I broke my plan and smoked my 6 o'clock cigarette. I hadn't taken out anything for dinner, so I took a Schnitzel - which is thin and will defrost quickly. I also only logged into my game after 1 this afternoon ... a bit of catching up to do there ...

Announcement from the DA: Tomorrow on CoronaCast we will be addressing the growing civil unrest and hunger in South Africa

THAT should be interesting!

I was going to bake bread and muffins today, but I'm not in the mood. Not even a little. I've decided to sacrifice one of my bars of chocolate to satisfy my sweet tooth today.

Leon asked me when I'd start working again - he was certain my boss had let me know ... yeah ... right. I just checked my phone, just in case, but all I got was a message from the compost guys that they're open from tomorrow. But: NO mask, NO entry!

Some really bad news: Ai mense, dis hartsverskeurend. Ons sal moet begin intree met die hulp van bo af.

[5/3, 4:26 PM] Die polisie het gister 200 kospakkies gevat van ons kerk voor die wit plakkers kamp. Hulle het gesê geen kos sal by wit mense afgelaai word nie. Hulle het hulle nie eers laat omdraai met die kos nie, alles gevat en die kerk weggewys.
[5/3, 4:26 PM]: Dit was lewende Lig wat kos by Bonaccord blanke plakkerskamp wou afgee.
Kan ons asb bid dat God sal ingryp, sodat arm blankes ook gehelp kan word

They wanted to deliver 200 food parcels, put together by a church, to a white people who are starving and the police took all the food saying: No food will be given to whites. The Police not only refused, but stole the food parcels! This is from the facebook page of the person trying to make the delivery - not fake. And there are comments recommending legal action.

What I had been dreading has just happened: As I was waiting for Ziva, our worker approached hoping to buy a packet of cigarettes off me. I'm running low as well now, and I fear what will happen, when I run out! Fortunately he knows where to buy cigarettes, so tomorrow, when I go get my milk, he'll come with. I'll give him money to buy himself a packet. I can spare the money easier than the cigarettes ... mine are so light, I won't be able to buy anything like them.

Well, all mippies happily ran inside when I came to get the bag of butts, I keep for our worker. I took full advantage and shut them in! I apologised for that, when I gave them their sachets later ...

I fried my Schnitzel, which I was allowed to enjoy all by myself - all mippies turned their nose up at it, even Mini!

As I was writing this, Ziva demanded that I scratch her ears! It is so uncomfortable leaning into the shelf, so I grabbed her and shoved her under the duvet = her cuddle cave. Then I sat on the bed and scratched her ears ... then Mini came to investigate and Ziva started growling! Mini is not deterred, she stuck her nose under the duvet, used her paws to try and open up to see whats under the duvet - Ziva growling all the while! Eventually Mini crawled between me and Ziva and Ziva ran off in disgust. And the naughty little Mini actually went after her, chasing her into the bathroom!

Another lawsuit filed against our government. And another letter to Government.

Some people believe this pandemic is a hoax, that it's all about micro-chipping the whole world under the disguise of vaccination. I have a question: Why would anyone NEED to micro-chip anyone? Everyone already carries around their own micro chip, aka smartphone! Which provides far, far more details of every individual than a subcutaneous micro chip ever could!

And now Mewthos wants to play his game of 'catch'! Sigh ... 

I lured him into the bathroom, where I can catch him. Picked him up a couple of times, just held him in my arms, let him down, follow him, pick him up again. I ran my bath and enjoyed a hot bath with Mewthos on the mat again.

Now he REALLY needs some lovies ... not sure why, but I won't argue. I picked him up, put him on the bed, and he meandered around, restless, like he's looking for something, purring, walking ... searching. Mini is spreadeagled on her back, tummy in the air, inviting tickles, which I give while I try to figure out what Mewthos wants. I take of my sweater ... nope ... so I fetch his twirly ... he sniffs, purrs, meanders off, comes back and starts to twirl! He hasn't done that in a long, long time! I stayed with him, picking him up from time to time, holding him, letting him twirl away, tickling Mini tummy ... He's happy now. He's curled up next to Mini, washing himself while she is washing herself, too.

DA update on the numbers: 257547 tested, 7220 confirmed, 2746 recovered, 138 deaths.

And I just found an article detailing just what we are allowed to buy - in store and online. The only difference between the two is that we're allowed to buy hot cooked food for delivery, but not in store:

EVERYTHING YOU CAN BUY DURING LEVEL 4 OF LOCKDOWN

1. All food products, non-alcoholic beverages and pet food.
2. The ‘hot cooked food’ issue has been solved, in a fashion. You cannot purchase it in-store, but you can place an order for these products during your online shop. The delivery of takeaway food is also permitted.
3. Toilet paper, sanitary pads, tampons, condoms and all toiletries linked to personal health/hygiene.
4. Haircare, beauty products, manicure and pedicure tools, deodorants, dental care products, body and facial items/treatments. These are considered ‘cosmetic toiletries’.
5. Medicine, personal protective equipment (PPE), and all first aid / medical supplies remain available for purchase.
6. Petrol, diesel, paraffin, oil, other forms of gasoline, coal and wood: Anything that falls under ‘combustible’ items.
7. Airtime and electricity top-ups can be purchased, post office services – and related items – are permitted.
8. Newspapers, magazines and topical printed publications.
9. All components and parts linked to hardware, vehicle repair, and academic stationery are now on sale.
10. Computers, mobile and cellular phones, plus any supplies linked to home office / IT business make the list.
11. Winter clothing, footwear, children’s clothes, bedding, heaters, and blankets have been added to the list of essentials.
12. Specific textiles, chemicals and packaging materials needed to produce our essential items can be store-bought.
13. E-commerce remains limited. But South Africans can still purchase online subscriptions, membership fees and all types of downloadable content.

I've continued to break my smoking plan this evening, having a cigarette every hour since five. I know I'll regret this when I run out ... and there is not the least indication how the Levels are decided or by whom.

Hopefully, we'll be moving to Level 3 soon and also hopefully, we'll be allowed to buy cigarettes in Level 3 - though the article states that 'late May or early June' is an optimistic forecast. This is depressing.

It's nearly ten now and I'm debating having one last cigarette for the day ... or not ... I'm weak.