Tuesday 15 March 2022, Day 166 of Level 1 😷

Corona Lockdown Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for getting home safely, after 12 hours on the road from Plett to Cape Town; for a last breakfast at The Grand, granola with fruit and yoghurt, and scrambled egg and Avo; for filling up the car and testing tyres and oil at Shell Plett; for the morning drive until Swellendam going smoothly with little traffic, and roadworks only just before the town; for a much better lunch at Grace & Merci in Swellendam today compared to the one at Old Gaol five days ago, closed as we drove past today, I suspecting that ‘In die Sop’ may be doing an image and menu overhaul for the restaurant; for our drive being slower thereafter, with roadworks through Sir Lowry’s Pass and on the N2 highway near Cape Town airport, running out of time and therefore not making a visit to the Cheetah Outreach in Somerset West, meant to end our Safari Tour; for collecting the clients’ suitcases which were safely kept for us by Jeanette Loring of 185 on Beach in Gordon’s Bay 💙; for saying farewell to my clients at a Gordon’s Bay apartment they have rented for their last few days 💙; for meeting Petra Grimm at WCafé at Woolies Waterstone, having seen my Blog and suggesting that we meet 💙; for my babies being so happy to see me again, and I happy too 😻😻; and for being happy, healthy and free. 🙏💙

I have stayed at the Grand in Plett pre and post having a guest house there since 2006, and have seen it slide slowly on each trip. The only constant is Sybil, who has moved up from housekeeper to Manager, but sadly cannot accept feedback. When I told her that it took forever for the shower water to get hot, she told me that I am the first person to mention it, and sulked thereafter. The day before I complained about late night and early noise above our rooms, and she promised to investigate. I received no feedback. Life & Brand Manager Gerald in charge of the Grand accommodation as well as their two restaurants at the beach was the most ineffective, introverted, and weak I’ve had to deal with in a long time, making no effort to proactively interact with customers in the restaurant section, from where he works in the mornings. 😡

The waitress’ service at Waterstone Woolworths’ WCafé was good while that of Felicity at the store till was arrogant and rude. I have loved shopping there, but two years after last being there it seemed so big and impersonal. 😱

We had a busy five day Safari Tour. We saw the Big 5 except leopards, which are more likely to be seen at night. My clients are happy, this tour being the focus of their holiday. We were served huuuge portions wherever we ate on the trip. We ate too much, despite cutting out lunches except on our drives there and back. Everyone still uses rocket in their dishes. 😱 We had good accommodation, but what a problem to book each one! All the beds were large and very comfortable 💙. Restaurant waiters were far better than accommodation managers, the latter poor at receiving and accepting feedback 😱. We do live in a beautiful country ❤️. Everyone on the Garden Route called us ‘guys’ collectively…… come on guys 😂😡😡😡😡

SA Corona Status: 3,696,823 cases 99727 deaths 32,722,417 vaccinations

FitBit 6000 steps 5 km 👣

LovemylifeandloveGaryslife 💙❤️

 

The Corona Virus Lockdown (Level 5), announced by our President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier to commence on 27 March 2020 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 2021, extended but relaxed on 1 February, and relaxed back to Level 1 on 1 March 2021, moved back to Adjusted Level 2 on 31 May, moved back to level 3 on 16 June, and moved back to Adjusted Level 4 on 28 June, extended by two weeks on 11 July,  returned to Level 3 on 26 July, returned to Level 2 on 13 September, returned to Level 1 on 1 October,  and the Curfew Curfew lifted on 30 December 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