Friday 26 March 2021, Day 26 of Level 1, Day 365 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a day that turned out to be completely different to planned, making it even better; for a cold windy start to the day ending with clear skies, even though rain is forecast for tonight; for getting all my writing done very early this morning, having to be at a meeting in town at 9h30, with two other meetings back to back planned thereafter; for an interesting client meeting discussing an Interior refurb as well as a website overall, exciting to be part of the transformation; for a fabulous meeting with Emily O’Ryan, an impressive 23 year old working on her second book, for which she interviewed me; for being late for the next meeting, so I went to Hertex to look for wallpaper samples for the restaurant refurb, and having a bite of lunch there; for a pop in at Lazari looking for their fabulous mini chicken, leek and mushroom pies, not available but I took home some other treats; for a wonderful afternoon snooze; for a wonderful walk with Vivian Warby through Bakoven, spending lovely time on Beta Beach, each expressing our gratitudes of the day; for seeing the almost-Full Moon coming over the side of Table Mountain; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙

The Sweet Service Award went to Wagyu Direct and the Sour Service Award went to King Cake Party City Gardens.

Sweet Service Award goes to Wagyu Direct; Sour Service Award goes to King Cake Party City Gardens!

It was such a sweet touch that my client stocked up on Earl Grey tea, and served it at the meeting. 🙏

Emily was a breath of fresh air, connected to each other by Elize Skriker #thankyou. The interview was to cover THE career error, and what I learnt from it. Well all my career hopping seemed one error after the other, turning into what turned out to be marvellous ‘mistakes’ with new opportunities. On the eve of our first Lockdown anniversary it was wonderful to summarise and share my 7 careers to date. Emma’s first book was written in conjunction with Professor Jonathan Jansen 😱. Other persons she is interviewing for her new book include Prof Tim Noakes… wow. Another lovely pot of Earl Grey tea. 🙏💙

The Lazari lady recognized me from my visit with Gary Peterson a few weeks ago, where I first tasted her mini pies. She can make them on order, so will do that in future. I still took home some of their lovely treats.

Hertex was slow and unimpressive in service, the assistant paging through books and books of wallpaper samples to suit my brief. The 1987 Eatery was even less impressive, no manager. Lovely outside courtyard but too cold to sit there today. None of the Hertex staff wore their masks properly, all under the nose! 😷 The restaurant does not match the quality of the wallpapers and fabrics. Very disappointing experience.

SA Corona Status 1 543 079 cases 52602 deaths 😷🥲 231002 vaccinations

FitBit 8000 steps 6 km 👣

Lovemylife❤️

The Corona Virus Lockdown (Level 5), announced by our President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier to commence on 27 March and to continue until 16 April, subsequently extended to 30 April, lowered to Level 4 from 1 May, lowered to Level 3 from 1 June, lowered to Level 2 from 18 August, lowered to Level 1 from 21 September, and moved back to Adjusted Level 3 from 29 December,  extended to 15 February on 11 January, extended but relaxed on 1 February, and relaxed back to Level 1 on 1 March 2021, is an unprecedented event in my lifetime. I am posting my daily Facebook post to journal this Corona Lockdown Journey, perhaps to serve as material for a future Book.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com 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