Saturday 29 May 2021, Day 90 of Level 1 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for good night and morning rain, inspiring me to buy plants; for the sun coming back by lunchtime; for friendly service at Lazari, picking up an order; for being invited to attend the Wake of Martin Koch at Kelvin Grove today, not having been there in many years, sadly where Martin died of a heart attack almost 2 weeks ago whilst playing squash; for buying pansies, as well as parsley, lettuce, spinach, and coriander for the vegetable garden outside my door; for a short snooze with the cats, Minsky sleeping on my side of the bed; for a refreshing walk to the Tidal Pool, finishing off some litter cleaning, and blessed with a beautiful sunset; for lovely dance music on Kfm Blokparty; and for being happy, healthy, and free. 🙏💙

I met Martin on the Tourist Guiding course last year, and thereafter he and I did a First Aid course together. A service was held for the family at Bishop’s Brook Chapel, while the rest of us watched it via livestream at Kelvin Grove, and others from their homes around the world. Very moving dedications from his son Nick and brother Simon Koch. The family members joined us at Kelvin Grove for drinks and snacks, Martin’s closest friends sharing their mostly hilarious stories about the things Martin would get up to, a true legend. A very moving experience. The overall message: tell everyone in your life that you love them as often as you can. Martin was going through a dreadful divorce, but met the love of his life Sonia three years ago, and they gave each other a rose of love each day. 🌹🌹🌹

I remembered today that Martin came to visit soon after Minsky had finished her month long lockdown after she first came to live here a year ago. He encouraged me to let her go outside, and he picked her up, chatted to her, and then let her free. It wasn’t long before she came back to us. 😻😻

S A Corona Status: 1 645 551 cases 56293 deaths 898955 vaccinations 

FitBit 8000 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