Yesterday was epic! It felt like a load had been lifted as President Biden and VP Harris were inaugurated and there was no disruption by the insurrectionist and yahoos itching to do damage. It actually felt like life could possibly, at some stage, maybe go back to somewhat normal!

They have monumental challenges ahead. But i have faith in them as I know they already have, and are assembling experienced people around them as advisors. There will be logic, science and reason behind decisions, not TV ratings!

Most of my friends and people I know believe and think along the same lines as I do re:politics. I’ve never really been interested and only the last president and his rude, crude and cruel ways got me more involved. But I did discover some who are pro the ex. (I can’t even bring myself to say his name.) One, who shall also remain unnamed, sent one of the memes saying thank you to the asshole and I answered with, Thank goodness he’s gone. And she came back with how I have no idea what is going on over there (hello communications, livestream etc) and that Biden is a communist! Whaaaattt…

It was so hard to comprehend that someone who is supposedly intelligent and successful thinks that way - and believes it! But Ryan sent me screenshots of the QAnon comments during the inauguration that showed how much these people believe the lies and conspiracy theories. And how brainwashed they are: how they couldn’t believe that the signings went on without disruption and their asshole “leader” had flown off to Florida with a “have a good life” farewell. Reading the comments would have been comical if I hadn’t known they were deadly serious!

I sat glued to the livestream (several channel choices on my iPad as I don’t bother with TV) like millions of other Americans, even though I am thousands of miles away, on a different continent and living a completely different life. Once again, I marvel at electronics and our communications systems and how far we have come in such a short time.

Communications

Which leads right to an issue I did have with communications. Or lack thereof!. Up until recently, my US phone number was current but as I had no idea when I would be back and the deposit I left to keep it active must have run out, causing it to die! So last week, I had a mission to accomplish which entailed having a working phone number there! For the first time, I had difficulties communicating, and this with a government entity. Fortunately, and after sitting online in a digital queue for 8 hours over 3 days, getting bumped off and having to go to the back of the line, I finally managed a workaround and accomplished what I needed without actually speaking to anyone! What a mission!

And it was soooo stressful as there was a time limit on my communication. I felt like I had been run over by a truck by the end of it. But I prevailed!

South Africa continues to struggle and so far, no vaccines. Heaven knows when they will be available here. The only good thing is being in the first tranche who will get the jab. But I am concerned as some countries aren’t allowing people in without being vaccinated which could be an issue when I want to go back in the summer and South Africa is still not doing it.

The infection/death rates here seem to be coming down slowly, very slowly. At least they aren’t currently rising.

In the meantime, I keep a very low profile, with very few activities. But I did go for coffee and a walk along the beachfront. How’s this for logic? You are not allowed on the beach but can swim in the sea. Makes absolutely no sense. So Susy and I walked along the promenade without getting our feet sandy and it was wonderful to feel and smell the ocean air. There were so few people around, we almost had it to ourselves.

There’s a huge storm heading our way this weekend, which will probably be quite a bit further north but expecting a LOT of rain and winds, so the walk I had hoped to do on Sunday will most likely be postponed, sadly. Fortunately, I have a lot of books from the “library” which is actually the used book store at Woza Moya. And will download some movies in case the power goes out - again!