Here we are at 6 months of lockdown. Six very l-o-n-g months! And now, on Level 2 and soon Level 1, life has picked up and it feels like I’m going at full steam again.

On one hand it’s exhilarating to be so busy and have so much to do. But I am actually missing the long days with nothing planned and nowhere to go. It was such a time of retrospection, introspection and calmness (if you stayed away from politics) and now even a single event seems enormous and feels quite tiring! Getting out and about for a full day is exhausting! I suppose I’m just out of practice so need to get back in training.

One of my favourite outings here is in South Africa is going to the Shongweni Farmers Market which opened for the first time in 5 months. As I crested the hill leading down to the venue, I was thrilled to see that the parking lot was full. And it was still early! In the past, it would have been, “Oh s**t, it’s so busy and I wonder if I can find somewhere to park?” But this time it was, “Wow, wonderful! It’s busy!” My concern was that people would be afraid to go, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. As everything is outdoors, the social distancing isn’t as critical, but everyone was wearing masks and trying to keep a semblance of distancing. And there was such a wonderful vibe going, with everyone, especially the stallholders, happy to be there.

Sunday, I literally took as a day of rest and Monday I met up with Susy (stuck here from Italy) and we did the Durban Point Walk.

The Point was considered a “no go” area when I was young. It was all the rough ship and dock workers and the “ladies” who serviced them. Shipping warehouses lined the roads and blocks of hostels housed the workers. Smugglers Inn (Smuggies) was a hot spot and notorious. We were, of course, forbidden to go there. (I only went once, just to say I had been there. Mother was not supposed to know.) But there’s nothing left of it now, just an empty lot ringed with a chain link fence. Many of the hostels and warehouses have fallen into disrepair or completely fallen down. Very sad but very photogenic!

But Durban has always been a busy shipping port and vibrant city, and now the warehouses and housing are seeing gentrification creeping in, and not so slowly. The canals that have been built wind through the now-residential area and I saw some gorgeous old Victorian townhouses that have been restored but are quite expensive! If I were to remain here in this country, this is where I would try to buy. It feels really good, safe too, and the long expanse of Durban beaches and (relatively) warm Indian Ocean are just across the road. It would be ideal. I can dream….

Alongside the gentrification are gorgeous old classic buildings that are falling apart. You can still see the Art Deco influence. Some have single walls held up with metal beams. Bricks and rubble tumble out of doorways and pretty much all the windows are shattered.

But what is so interesting that alongside these decaying buildings, renovated structures hold surfboard shops, cafes, art galleries and a long row of restored and currently-in-use, original warehouses stretches a whole block. There is even a distillery going in, right on the shipping channel.

It’s a fascinating area and one I will go back to, often.

Wednesday was a workshop at the AIDS Centre. We learned (or I attempted to learn) how to make a bodice pattern. It was very discombobulating for me and I had a hard time getting my head around it. But in the end, I got it but didn’t finish the pattern. I’m hoping to complete it next week.

And then I added something new. Not too many details as yet, but I’ll be working with a video production crew doing research for an upcoming documentary series. Pretty exciting! I’ll keep you posted.

Friday, I visited a new distillery close to me. I love doing those stories, the people who become distillers are so interesting and always so enthusiastic about what they are doing. To me, it’s inspirational and of course, it doesn’t hurt that I love gin!

So as you can see, my life is speeding up and I may have to throttle back a bit at times. But hell, you only live once, right?