Category Archives: entertainment

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 140 of Level 1, 17 February 2022

 

Thursday 17 February 2022, Day 140 of Level 1 😷

Corona Lockdown Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for a mainly organized day; for it being warm at 31C without wind, after last night’s hefty storm; for preparing for my client meeting this afternoon; for our garage door getting the day wrong, refusing to close today, usually playing up on Saturdays; for ‘fortunately’ forgetting my cellphone at home, having to return from Gardens to fetch it, to find out that Henry was unable to get the garage door to close, so Ms Organizer Chris jumped onto my phone, found the garage door guy recommended by Nicholas Fjord via Gary Peterson, giving us amazing service to get the garage door Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 119 of Level 1, 27 January 2022

 

Thursday 27 January 2022, Day 119 of Level 1 😷

Corona Lockdown Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for a busy and successful day; for posting for my clients this morning and preparing for two Status meetings; for Alex finally getting hold of BA via Twitter, all other phone call attempts failing, and costing R300 in holding on and on and on, or the calls unanswered, with the sad news that they cannot delay their flight by one day, so it’s back to the UK tomorrow 🥲; for getting my restrung pearls delivered to my home by Timeless Pearls ❤️; for collecting my post at Vlaeberg Post Office Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 72 of Level 1, 11 December 2021

 

Saturday 11 December 2021, Day 72 of Level 1 😷

Corona Lockdown Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for a day that started off slowly and increased in energy level, catching up on work and posting for my clients; for some Vit D therapy on my terrace; for a long catch-up call from Chef Richard Carstens, not having seen or spoken in at least 2 years, with a promise to visit him in Franschhoek soon 💙; for meeting Gary Peterson in town, arriving early for the Baroque Christmas concert in the Evangelical Lutheran Church on Strand Street, the oldest church in Cape Town and SA, completed in 1780, 231 years old, which has plush new red velvet cushions, having had the most Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 11 of Level 3 Adjusted, 8 January 2021.

 

Friday 8 January 2021, Day 11 of Level 3 Adjusted, Day 289 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a warm 27C day, for the wind blowing gently almost day; for a morning Camps Bay walk, taking my cleaning team to a new area for us, the Little Glen, in which I haven’t been since Alex finished Primary School in Camps Bay, and went to Scouts in the Hall nearby, happy that there was so little litter, a good uphill energetic walk giving me 200 Miles; for a good working morning thereafter; for a peaceful afternoon at home, having almost reached my step goal; for enjoying my terrace; and for being happy and healthy.🙏💙 Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 55 of Level 1, 14 November 2020

 

Saturday 14 November 2020, Day 55 of Level 1, Day 233 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a cool day, at 18C, with a little rain at midday, making it nice and cozy in bed all morning, going on a Social Media posting spree; for a walk to Camps Bay, Rose Klein and Hans-Werner Klein driving past and stopping for a chat, making a date for next Saturday; for a lovely sunset this evening; for popping in at Utopia, to hear SiAnne Wilkens sing, and to photograph some of their dishes; and for being happy and healthy 🙏💙 Continue reading →

Secret Supper Club at Homespun by Matt is unique Magic Music Food Wine Theatre at its best in South Africa!

 

It has taken three days for me to get back down to earth after experiencing the Secret Supper Club at Homespun by Matt in Bloubergstrand on Monday evening, a unique Magic Music Food Wine Theatre experience which places this restaurant amongst the best in our country. Sadly it has never been recognised by Eat Out in any of its awards, and I too had never previously visited Homespun. Continue reading →

President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that SA moves to Level 1 from 20 September at midnight, with easing of international travel and other restrictions!

 

President Ramaphosa announced the news that all South Africans have been waiting for, namely the easing of the country to Alert Level 1 from Sunday 20 September at midnight.  Excellent news is that international borders will be reopened, with strict conditions, as will local restrictions for gatherings and entertainment be eased, to 50% of its capacity. The Curfew hours will change to midnight until 4h00. Continue reading →

Two MasterChicks tackle a Chick…en Ballotine, live-streamed with Chef Jenny Morris, iCook, and Live-Cook Channel!

 

Cooking shows have become even more popular during Lockdown. Earlier on in Lockdown I was invited to participate in a Cooking Show, which was guided by Chef Luke Dale Roberts, with Chef Pete Goffe-Wood as the MC, in which we prepared Beef Wellington. I invited my dear friend Jenny Stephens to join me in preparing it, especially as we both grew up in Wellington, and because she has learnt so much from the many  MasterChef Australia episodes she has watched during Lockdown. It was a great evening, and we were very proud of our cooking capabilities, especially as both of us Singles cook infrequently.

Last Thursday I invited MasterChick Jenny again, to assist me in preparing Chicken Ballotine, guided via Livestream on Live-Cook Channel by Yumcious Restaurant owner and Chef Jenny Morris. I had been invited to participate by Kim Crowie, Editor of Film & Event Media. My good friend Stuart Bailey joined us for moral support, and poured the wine during our dinner. Continue reading →

Regulations for Lockdown Alert Level 2 gazetted: No mention of lifting cigarette ban in regulations!

 

I was fortunate to receive a copy of the gazetted Lockdown Level 2 regulations prior to the presentation by Minister Dlamini-Zuma at a Media Livestream just after lunch time today.

 

The Regulations are as follows:

1. The Curfew remains in place, from 22h00 – 4h00

2. A mask must be worn at all times when leaving one’s home, including in public transport

3. No more than 50 persons may attend a funeral

4.  No evictions from own accommodation is allowed.

5.  Any disputes regarding rented accommodation must be heard by the Rental Housing Tribunal

6.  Gatherings are not allowed except for a funeral, a religious gathering, the workplace, conferences and meetings, cinemas (maximum of 50 persons), theatres, concerts, and live performances of up to 50 persons. casinos, auctions, sporting activities, weddings (limited to 50 persons), social events at one’s home with a maximum of 10 persons, fitness centres and gyms (maximum of 50 persons), sports fields, swimming pools (maximum of 50 persons), beaches, public parks, museums, galleries, libraries, Personal Care services, restaurants, bars (maximum of 50 persons), Taverns (maximum of 50 persons), Shebeens (maximum of 50 persons), tour operators, and all accommodation establishments including AirBnB (maximum of 50% of floor space).

7.  Night clubs are not allowed to open.

8.  The country’s borders remain closed except for ports (but cruise ship stops are still banned), and for approved flights for persons requiring international medical care, and for incoming and outgoing repatriation travel.

9.  Transport regulations: buses and taxis may not carry more than 70% for long distance travel, and 100% for any other travel; all passengers must wear a mask.

10.  Licensed on-consumption establishments may sell alcohol (no timing restrictions) , while licensed off-consumption outlets may sell alcohol on Mondays – Thursdays, from 9h00 – 17h00.

A shock is that the ban on cigarette sales, which the President announced would be lifted, is not mentioned in the gazetted Level 2 regulations at all. A news report by News24 states: ‘Level two has no provisions on tobacco, which means no restrictions or limits in the sale of cigarettes, vaping liquid, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, or anything associated with these products’.  In her speech, the Minister mentioned that cigarettes should be smoked responsibly, and should not be shared!

 

About Chris von Ulmenstein

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide

 

President Ramaphosa announces Restaurants to reopen for Sit-Down Service, looks after women by allowing Personal Care industry to reopen and lambasts men for gender-based violence, non-contact sports allowed!

 

In an interesting Address by President Ramaphosa this evening, almost as much time was spent lambasting men about the violence and crime perpetrated against women and children, as was curbing the spread of the Corona Virus addressed, with new industries which are to reopen announced.

Restaurants may reopen for a Sit-Down Service, Personal Care services such as hairdressers and beauty salons may reopen, ‘licensed’ accommodation excluding Air BnB may reopen, public gathering restrictions will be loosened, theatres and cinemas will reopen, casinos will reopen, conference facilities will reopen, and non-contact sports such as cricket, tennis, and golf may be played. However, no date was announced nor were the specific regulations per type of business addressed. Cigarette sales were not mentioned.  Continue reading →