The Hillaids staff and Jerusalema Challenge
Last night on Day 144 of the lockdown in South Africa, we were given a reprieve of sorts. Level 2 is getting us back to something like normality, with safeguards - and no international flights in or out of the country.
However, we can travel interprovincially, drink wine in a restaurant, buy booze and cigarettes (if you so choose) and hotels, b&bs are opening. Which means some trips on the horizon, I hope.
The lockdown has been absolutely devastating for this country. The economy, which was in dire trouble before the pandemic, has been shredded and we wonder how it can ever come back, even to the level it was in March.
But opening up will allow most people to go back to work, with farms and factories, stores and service industries gearing up to open. If they have managed to survive, which a huge number have not. So how this all plays out is anyone’s guess.
For me, being able to travel a bit is a huge factor. With the game reserves opening, I’m looking at at least a few short trips up the coast, and possibly a trip south along the Garden Route to Cape Town to see Biff and Julie.
Meanwhile…
Since moving to my little place, I’ve been able to go to the AIDS Centre on a couple of occasions. Paula and her crew have (so far) managed to keep things going, but it’s always a struggle to raise funds to help support the women and families that rely on work from Woza Moya. I went to the opening of a wild and wonderful fashion display by Karen Monk-Klijnstra who also ran the mask making workshop a few days later. Sue Walford, one of my friends from school, came with me and it was a blast! When we got there, the tables were all set out and loaded with ribbons and beads and all sorts of stuff for decorating. We gathered stuff and went to our socially-distanced table and Karen gave us instructions! We were to “channel our inner mask maker”! I looked at what I had gathered and thought, “My inner mask maker is completely discombobulated!” Sue looked at her collection and we both returned to the tables and rethought our masks!
I’m looking forward to the 6 more workshops planned.
And the day before yesterday, when I went to the Centre to look for sewing patterns at the second hand haberdashery store, one of the young men I’ve worked with in their media department, Mongezi, accosted me, asking if I had my camera with me. “No, but I have my phone.” Qin, who is usually the photographer, wasn’t expected back in time for the impromptu Jerusalema Challenge planned for noon. Luckily Qin arrived in time, and with two cameras going, we filmed what was almost everyone from the Aids Centre and Woza Moya dancing! I’ve posted a rough of one of the clips and Qin is editing and creating the final version! What a hoot!
As I mentioned above, I was looking for sewing patterns, as I have borrowed a Bernina from our dearest old family friend, Sue Green. The machine had been sitting for a lot of years, but drawing on my old Bernina experience, I serviced it and now it runs like a champ. There are some of the most gorgeous fabrics around, some really wild designs that may be a bit much for me unless I break out my inner South African.
Back in the States, Ryan was able to go to Montana to see Cody, Mel and the boys and I was so envious! Although he was only there a few days, at least he got to see them and spend time with them. It’s a year since I was there and the way things are going, with no international flights, I have absolutely no idea when I will be out of here, let alone be able to get to Montana.
So I am planning to make the most of the time I’m here, now that we are “allowed” to be out and about.
P.S. This is not the post I thought I was going to write. I started a whole different one and realized that it was probably too politically incorrect and could possibly upset people so decided on something much safer.