by Surene Esterhuizen
Friday, 27 March 2020, was day one of South Africa’s 21-day lockdown. I started my day by checking my work emails to see if there was anything that needed my urgent attention and that I continued to do through the course of the day, but it seems very few people are able to work from home. I think this lockdown will cause for a lot of tech upgrades even for the smaller businesses. I then started with my first committed craft project – the joining of squares for a comfort blanket. While joining the blocks I binge watched one of my favorite Afrikaans series, Fynskrif, on Showmax.
The guys were so bored with themselves they washed the bakkie and tied Fudge, our Golden Retriever to the bakkie, so that he can run freely in our front yard, which is not fenced yet. Poor Fudge does not understand why he cannot go on his daily walks. He is such a bundle of energy, and I don’t know how we are going to cope until the end of lockdown.
And I cooked beef stroganoff.
Saturday, 28 March 2020. Day two – I woke up around 11:55am. I suffered from so much pain in my left arm after a whole day of crocheting and I had no painkillers in the house, but took an anti-inflammatory and a sleeping tablet just before midnight, which I can’t remember when I got that from the doctor. Hence me sleeping until midday. I woke up to some video challenges on Rosies WhatsApp group. The Rosies are sisters, daughters and cousins – ladies of various age groups, but the one crazier than the other. I’ll share some photos, but not our videos – that is for our eyes only! 😊 Each had a challenge to complete, and with my sleepy mind I was the lucky one to read a poem and I chose the read one in the dialect / tongue of the Boland colored’s. If you are not familiar with South Africa’s varied ethnicity, which includes colour and language, but also the areas most reside – you won’t get this one.
No, we will definitely NOT share the videos!
In between everything I started to watch Banshee … thought there was only one season, but seems there is another three seasons. Not so sure if I want to watch the rest of it … not my cup of tea.
Shucks, I can’t remember what supper was. 😉
Sunday, 29 March 2020. Day three – I had a variety of church services to choose from on YouTube and it was great to watch more than one. I continued to crochet the edge of the comfort blanket and completed it. I started to cut the pattern sheet for the pants I would like to make for myself.
I also watched a movie or three and slipped out to the shop. Just to find the shelves are not yet stocked up since the rest of South Africa did some panic buying last week. ☹
Sunday the guys had to cook and they made fishcakes, potatoes and salad, while I whipped up a microwave chocolate pudding in a mug. It is really easy: 4 table spoons of flour (I used self-raising), 4 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cocao, 1 egg, 3 table spoons of milk, 3 tablespoons of cooking oil, a few drops of vanilla essence and one large mug to cook it in. You combine all the dry ingredients first and mix it well, then add the egg and continue to mix. Then you add the milk and oil, mix well and lastly add the vanilla essence. Pour the mixture in the mug and cook on high (1000 watts) for three minutes. If you remember that a tablespoon is 15ml and not 25ml, yours will not boil over like mine did! Enjoy!
PS: I discovered online Scrabble – very addictive! So far, I played 5 games and only lost 1. Still contemplating if I want to invite some friends to join me.
Monday, 30 March 2020. Day four – and I wish either the rest of the household would sleep late or can go to work or something. I spend the day working and I had quite a bit to do. I also cut the fabric for the pants. Now I need to decide when to start sewing. I have some reading to catch up with as well, but am happy that the first four days wasn’t completely wasted.
While the guys are busy with our BBQ (South African braai), I will be planning the rest of the week. And hope that they will find something to do as well …
So long, South Africa, be safe. Pray for our friends who are in lockdown alone. While some of us are praying for some alone time, they are praying for someone to be with them … even if only to irritate them.
Lockdown greetings,
Surene