Friday 25 December 2020, Christmas Day, Day 96 of Level 1, Day 275 of Lockdown. 😷🎄⭐️

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#Grateful for a lovely relaxed day; for it not being too hot, yet a bit humid; for a refreshing walk through Camps Bay this morning, wishing everyone for Christmas as I walked past them; for a fruit shop at Pick n Pay, not busy at that time; for a lovely deep sleep this afternoon; for a Camps Bay clean up this afternoon with Imtiaz, who seemed drained after working alone for two days, having good conversations with him; for Cape Town being the city featured in ‘Das Traumschiff’ on German ZDF TV today; for my Christmas collage created by Brian Van Hansen being included in my Canadian Tour Operator’s Christmas greeting collage with those of the other Committee members, mine at the top left; and for being happy and healthy.

I felt like a PR person for Camps Bay, greeting everyone I walked past, but soon I changed into the Mask Marshall, requesting people to put on their masks. Reactions ranged from it not being necessary as they are outside, to apologies for forgetting to put it on. Then I was the Camps Bay Cop, when we found a little Braai stand with burning coals, hidden behind bushes where we clean, unattended while its owners were having a swim. I called Law Enforcement and they arrived immediately. The Officer said that the fine is R5000. The ladies responsible for the fire were very angry. Then I got a mouthful from a chap who asked if I had reported his cold drink and chips stand on the Beach lawns to Law Enforcement. I photograph and report what I see that doesn’t look right to our Councillor Nicola Jowell, and she takes the relevant action. I received a racist barrage from him, and a threat that as a result they would come to slaughter a sheep on Camps Bay Beach just like they had done a year ago on Clifton beach! Wow! 😡

My surprise Christmas message was from ex-fiancé Ali, now back in Pakistan. 😱

I’ve watched a little of the ‘Kapstadt’ episode of Das Traumschiff, my favorite German series. It should be excellent PR for so many Germans wishing to travel here but not being able to due to the flight bans and Lockdowns. I was horrified that almost right at the start there is reference in the storyline to a container of vaccines that needed to be transported on the cruise liner, as a virus has just broken out in our Townships! Oi vey 😷😡. The episode was filmed a year ago, just before the start of the Corona Virus and Lockdown. Not the PR that we need! 😱

SA Corona Status 983359 cases 26276 deaths 😷😥

FitBit 12000 steps 8,5 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, and lowered to Level 1 from 21 September, 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.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

About Chris von Ulmenstein