Monday 12 April 2021, Day 43 of Level 1. 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for one of the best Mondays in a long time, a day of leisure and dining indulgence; for getting my writing completed in time; for the treat of the company of Gary Peterson for 5 1/2 hours at the new Grand Pavilion Restaurant on Beach Road in Sea Point, and for getting such a fabulous table nearest the pavement, with the view onto the palm tree-lined Beach Road Boulevard; for a guided tour of Harry’s Bar by owner Michael Townsend; for meeting FaceBook Friend Johnny Snyman who was there too; for chatting to Brian Van Hansen who cycled past our table and came to chat; for lovely food, especially Gary’s rack of lamb and my Chocolate Torte dessert; for being spoilt with a cocktail/mocktail with the compliments of Michael; for just indulging in the lovely lounge seating area; for fabulous service from Charlene Shapiro of CNC Products, who dropped off an order of mixed nuts and cake mix at the restaurant, knowing that I was there; for a walk with Vivian Warby almost immediately after coming home, indulging in the most amazing sunset at Bakoven, sitting on the steps of a bungalow of a most kind owner; and for being happy and healthy. 🙏💙

My Blogpost was about the SA Butler Academy website being out of action, possibly due to a hack attack, something they did to me four years ago. Karma is a proverbial …..!

SA Butler Academy gets a Karma klap, Website not accessible! Marketing dishonesty continues!

Gary and I could have just stayed on and on at Grand Pavilion, divided into two sections, a more casual white and bamboo beach feel, with its own bar, and Harry’s Bar, behind a Theatre Curtain, making it completely soundproof when their DJ plays there. I’ll be trying him out on Thursday. 💃

It was wonderful to see Restaurant Maestro Michael proudly yet humbly enjoying the success of his restaurant, but sad that his late brother David did not get to see the end result of his design work for Grand Pavilion, a victim of Covid in January. I see a changed Michael since I last saw him over a year ago. Excitedly he is planning new restaurants to open, having had his restraint of trade lifted. 👏👏👏

Grand Pavilion is a must-try restaurant, fully booked every night, so one must book ahead via the Whats App number on their website. We chose Monday lunch, expecting it to be the least heavily booked, but it was almost full.

DJ René is said to have resigned his contract with La Parada today, bringing to an end wonderful years of dancing since 2016 at Constantia Nek and Bree Street. #thankyou for the music DJ. 👏👏👏💃💃💃

Vivian and I both could only do a shorter walk tonight, the Bakoven route of 2000 steps being perfect in length. She made the great suggestion that we walk on the Beach to enjoy the last of the sunset, a real wow. #thankyou Viv ❤️

SA Corona Status: 1 559 113 cases 289787 vaccinations 53356 deaths 😷🥲

FitBit 7500 steps 5 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