Saturday 20 March 2021, Day 20 of Level 1, Day 360 of Lockdown 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a very relaxed day; for Minsky galavanter coming back safely this morning 😻; for cooler weather and the South Easter starting to blow, keeping the beachfront pretty empty; for a slow start to the day; for a power walk on my new Bakoven path, with very good Cardio, and hence earning 300 Discovery points; for getting to the Gardens Centre easily with little traffic, popping in at Hartlief and Tomes Chocolates, and then picking up balloons; for getting to Utopia on time to meet my Huguenot High Wellington Matric 1970 English classmates, to celebrate our 50th reunion with a late lunch/early dinner, a wonderful 4 hours spent together; for getting home safely; and for being happy and healthy.🙏💙

It was a four month back and forth to organise the Matric Reunion, thanks to Lockdown regulations and travelling schedules of our class mates. But today it all came together, sadly Jeanette Duckitt of our class not feeling well so she did not attend. But Clive Human, Neil Ellis, Jenny Stephens, Bev Pywell Bestbier, Elaine Wegelin and I were the remaining six of our class attending. Elaine’s hisband Conrad and Neil’s wife Stephanie attended too. We chose Utopia as the venue, ordering their Tasting Menus. Neil spoilt us with his Neil Ellis Amica Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (1,5 liter bottles) and a 3-liter 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon. I brought balloons, Elaine and Bev gifted us memorial wooden platters with our school emblem on them, and dear friend George Sax compiled a Sixties hits mix, mainly with Beatles songs…. oh what danceable music.

Utopia restaurant filled up, and was full when we left. There were birthday celebrations, an engagement, and a Hen Party. When I left with our ‘50’ balloons, I was congratulated on my 50th birthday 😂❤️. Tonight Anatoli Restaurant was fully booked as well, happy for both my clients. 👏👏👏

The service from the Party shop in Gardens was very disappointing. 😱

We are looking forward to our next reunion. 💙💙💙. So amazing that the girls in our Matric group all started school together in Wellington 62 years ago. ❤️❤️❤️

SA Corona Status 1 536 801 cases 62082 deaths 😷🥲 182983 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