Day 5 - Fruit and Vegatables Galore

 

Lockdown Day 5 and already people are getting frustrated. There are long queues for pension, as the more vulnerable older people of our communities queue for their meager government payout. Surely in our digital age, that the government would have a better system. FAIL.

Second FAIL is that many of the poorer communities only got paid today and there was a rush in the township malls for provisions while the rich have already horded all they can and are safely behind huge walls. Last night we had our first death in Gauteng which happen in Krugersdorp which is next door to us although the word in the street is that the epicenter in Gauteng is a cluster in Bedfordview which is some ways away from us, but that has not been confirmed by government so has to taken with a pinch of salt.

Taking about provisions, I ventured out to a local store, and there was fruit and vegetables galore but they were rationing the meat, pastas, and other staple foods. But fruit and vegetables, plenty. Matthew continued on his baking skills by whipping up a banana loaf for us. Yummy.

 

Day 4 - Bread of Life

 

Lockdown Day 4 - I had no deliveries for today and rain is seen to be on its way. I am still making sure everything is ready. Yesterday I made my first attempt at making home made bread using my mom's recipe. It was a huge success, so today I got Matthew to try his hand at making bread, you know for life experience. And this is his results.

Here is my mom's recipe...

6 cups of cake flour (12 cups of flour for more bread)

1,5 teaspoons of salt

1,5 teaspoons of sugar

10g of yeast (20g for doubling)

2 tablespoons of oil (4 tablespoons for doubling)

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl

Add warm water. Not sure how much but enough to make a stiff dough

Knead dough for a while getting air into the dough. The more air the lighter the bread

Place bowl in warm place and cover with blanket for an hour.

It should have doubled in size. Knead some more.

Cover again in warm place until doubled again

Preheat oven to 200°C
Place dough in bread trays and bake for about 30mins until nice and brown on outside.

Enjoy

Day 3 - Knitting at Church

 

We are in a new space, getting out of bed and going to church in the lounge. I made breakfast, got coffee on the go, and Lynda got out her knitting, put her feet up and enjoyed church. With lockdown in full swing, the extroverts don't know what to do with themselves while us introverts actually enjoy this time, knitting and all.

I did my second run down the hill for deliveries. Slight less cars about, being a Sunday, and way more JMPD vehicles about. Still no checkpoints and roadblocks.

Day 2 - Venus and Moon

 

No deliveries today. It was a hectic week past, and when we finally got to lockdown it was such a relief that we could just collapse. Yesterday was a stressful wondering what to do along with the fact that we were now in an unknown space, today was much better that we spent most of the day in bed just recovering. Although outside was loud with birds.

This evening we were blessed with the moon and Venus, low in an unpolluted sky.

Day 1 - Lockdown Begins

 

With all my paperwork in check, I prepare my Vespa with the words "Medical Supplies" stuck on both sides. I hope that the Baroness wouldn't protests too loudly, knowing that she would get getting out regularly. I was a bit concerned though about any checkpoints or roadblocks, and that my papers would be up to scratch as this situation is unprecedented.

So I did one delivery down the hill. A few cars about on artery roads, some SAP and JMPD vehicles about but they weren't stopping anybody for random checks. No roadblocks or checkpoints. Maybe they still to come. Got home safely without any fuss.

Stocking Up

 

The day before the lockdown begins, and here I am joining multiple others stocking up, getting my prescription medicine for next month, delivering face masks, and obtaining permission from CIPC to operate during lockdown.

 What a rush of a day! Good news we have been certified to manufacture and deliver face masks during lockdown. Let the new world begin!

Community Project

 

With so many large order requests coming in, we partnered with a community project run on the property of one of Sibanye Stilwater goldmines. For us this was the perfect way to let the money from the face masks flow back into the community that would be hard hit when the Corona Virus becomes epidemic in South Africa. We thought that we only had a few weeks window to get masks out onto the faces of the people.

 

The community factory had about 40 sewing machines and could theatrically produce up to 400,000 face masks in a week. But Sibanye said no! "All community programmes" on their property "particularly infrastructure and skills development programmes will be stopped until further notice. Only agriculture projects that have been exempted will continue within the guidelines of the lock down."

 

We tried to appeal Sibanye's decision as this community factory is making essential items and is needed to the upcoming battle to reduce the spread of the pandemic. Nothing, not a word from Sibanye. It looks like we have to go on our own until after lockdown.

Katfud

 

So here I am, mix emotions, don't know what to do after my boss at Websense informed me that he doesn't think that he will be able to pay me next month due to the coming lockdown. I am gobsmacked! What do I do now?

This puts a whole new spin on that I am expendable, oh well breathe Jerome, breathe. It seems that the ship is sinking and it is now every one for himself. Sorry Minky, I promise that I would do my best to keep your kat fud coming.

Short, Back and Sides

 

Well this evening, our president announced that from Friday our country is going into lockdown. Yes the world is about to change forever. No one is quite sure of the future. One can only hope and trust.

The person on the block, Byron started work this morning with short, back, and sides style haircut. You would think he is about to be called up for service.

Doing Church

 

Things have changed since the Corona Virus started from Wuwan in China. It has now become a pandemic, and here we are doing church from home. Introverts Unite!

Chilling

 

With the university closed due to the Corona Virus, Matthew is home with us, relaxing. He is not happy that his studies have been delayed. He has been eager to get his degree and start working as some hot shot software developer. But now Paddy and Matthew have to chill.

Ready for the Bank

 

Well, here is me face, ready for a visit to the bank which I am sure will go down well. I wasn't expecting to be making masks but here I are am, a week and a half into this entrepreneur thingy.

Little Butternut

 

With all my attention on producing Face Masks, I seem to have neglected our garden a bit with our vegitable garden been the hardest hit. Oh my, the little butternut is so small. We'll have to do something about it, won't we.

In your Face

 

Big ending to the day, I am so glad that Matthew is home safely. I had to drive all the way to Pretoria to fetch now that the university has closed due to the Corona Virus. And we launched our Camo Face Masks this evening. Now is this in your face or what?

Unicorn

 

Not sure if this is one of the Little Ponies or just a unicorn, but who cares as long as the client is happy with her face mask and she was. Random fact, did you know that the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland. The reason why the unicorn was chosen as the national animal of Scotland was because it was believed that they could kill lions very easily and the lion was the spirit animal of the Scottish biggest foe, the English. There you go little pony

Louise Masks Up

 

Be like Louise, who can see the CoVid-19 Tsunami about to break onto our shores and became an early adopter of our washable and reusable face masks. Louise works at my old company National Positions. It has been a long time, about 5 years ago, wow.

Velile Masked Up

 

I had to go meet with a factory manager which Velile had organized to meet with the potential Chinese request of a million face masks in the next 2 weeks. This CMT factory was built by a gold mine for the miner's wives and daughters. Crunching the numbers this factory can produce for us about 400,000 face masks in a week.

Saturday Sleep In

 

Saturday, Saturday, weekend sleep in here we come. Minky our lovable cat, joins us in our Saturday sleep in.

Orders are streaming In

 

I am floored. Today we got an inquiry for a huge amount of face masks to fill an order from China but the catch is that they need to be certified. The company requesting then asked for samples  to be sent for SABS testing. So there goes my weekend.

Bioscrub

Here at Websense we are gearing up the hygiene of our offices with Graham scoring the interwebs for Sanitizing products. Wash your hands is first port of call with this Bioscrub. I am following it up with the manufacturing of washable and reusable face masks.

Drum Nation

 

After a lot of research, I posted our new face mask on Facebook yesterday to gauge the response from family and friends. And this is the result, Warren the owner of Drum Nation, who teaches the world how to beat the drums became our first customer. Thanks Warren, may your drums be heard everywhere.

Proactive vs Reactive Egghead

 

With the SARS-CoV-2 spreading like wildfire throughout the world as medical specialists try to contain the virus with little success as the buy in of the people hasn't happened. We need to be proactive rather reactive. Our medical authorities have announced that we have 7 cases. "Nothing to worry about", they warn but we the public are not stupid. 

I had to go to the doctors today, to pick up a script and go to the pharmacy. I must say that my doctors rooms were proactive. They were channeling everyone through to these 2 nurses who where screening everyone. NICE.

 

Okay remember I mentioned towards the end of last week, to watch this space. Well here it is. This weekend a friend and I developed a 3 layer fabric face mask in light of all the mask shortages. This is our second version and already we are getting inquires. With just a few shares on Facebook, WhatsApp, and word of mouth, I got a phone call from China of all places inquiring about our masks. On top of that I do look like an egghead in this photo.

Yes I know that wearing masks are not the best but they do slow down the pandemic. Proactive!

Byron

 

Ah so finally we get Taleesha's replacement, Byron. I was told that he was starting last week already but no one arrived that was until today, Byron showed up. Welcome Byron, I hope that this will be a productive tenure for you. You are the first Byron to be featured in my blog, you welcome. Not sure if you a geek, but may the Force be with you.

Passage of Light

 

I think I've overslept. No, I know that I have over slept as I stumbled up the passage to the kitchen to make some awesome morning coffee. Yip, I need my java to start the day. As I walked up the passage with my eyes in slits, I could not help but notice the bright white light streaming in from the overhead windows. Ahh I needed a photo of this moment...

Tiger at Play

 

I have the house to myself today. Lynda is babysitting, and the boys are all at work. Ahhh peace and quiet. "Tiger shut up! Go play outside! Can't you see your daddy is resting?"

How not to put on a mask?

 

Okay with a run on surgical and FFP2/N95 face masks, I somehow manged to get a pack of 50 surgical masks a few weeks back for R45. Eish that is 90c each. Still way too expensive for disposable masks. Now I here that the same pack is going for R75, that is R1.50 each, that is if you can find them on the shelves. Even worse, a friend's daughter overheard the neighbour's boyfriend bragging that he has a supply of 3000 masks and is selling them for R90 each, ouch. Oh and then there is someone on Take a Lot who is selling my same pack of 50 for R2000. That is R40 each.

What is this world coming to?

Okay I have a plan, watch this space...

For now let me show you how not to put on a surgical mask. These paper masks are 3 ply and are rated being able to capture 86% of 0.65-1.1 micron particles. Not as good as the FFP2/N95 face masks which are rated at 98%. Anyhow any mask is better than no mask. 

So these surgical masks have 2 colours, a white side for inside, and a blue or green side for outside. The inside part helps absorb the moisture from your mouth whereas the blue/green layer filters out any incoming particles. Then there is a thin wire or something similar at the top of the mask to help form the mask around the bridge of your nose. 

So what you see in my photo is how not to put a mask on. Although the wire is on the top, the green side is on the inside, WRONG!

China Flu

 

The calm before the storm, as South Africa gets its first positive case of the China Flu. Call it what you want, CoVid-19 which is cased by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was made in China, and now it has become a pandemic across the the entire world. ,

Here deep south in Africa, we waited with bated breath, excuse the pun, for the China Flu to arrive and here it is. A Chartered Accountant from Hilton who traveled on a ski holiday to northern Italy with his family and friends, is now known as patient zero but was only diagnosed on his 3rd day back. They say the the incubation period is 3-4 days from infection which makes more likely he got the China Flu virus either at the airport or on the flight back to South Africa. Lets hope that e have contained it in time.

So here I sit, hardly any wind coming down the gorge. Is this the calm before the storm?

Arriving At Work

 

The weather is improving, with rain holding out as I ride to work on my Vespa with the early morning sun still low in the sky. Using the Baroness to get to work is great unless it is raining. Firstly I fly through the traffic and secondly it uses a fraction of the fuel I would use if using my pickup.

But here I am early at work and I have time to reflect on my life. Things are tough at the moment, and my favourite song is playing through my head, "Even Me" by Mercy Me. I know it is one of the few things holding me together.

They say it only takes a little faith to move a mountain. Well good thing, a little faith is all I have, right now.

Empty Desk Syndrome

 

No wonder it poured yesterday, Taleesha resigned and is no more in the office. I am not sure what happened but when I arrived at work sopping wet from my ride in the torrential downpour, I found a very upset looking Snowflake. And next thing she had packed up her stuff and left.

Oh dear, now I have this empty desk syndrome today.

Swimming to Work

 

What a Monday ride to work. When I set out for work this morning, it was misty with a light drizzle but not even half way and the heavens opened up. Thank goodness I was wearing my rain suit yet that did not stop vehicles riding next to me from spraying up tons of water. My boots wear soaked and I had to wear wet socks all day.

First thing I did when I got home was strip and jump into the shower. Shower therapy is simply the best.

Warm and Snug

 

The cats know how to keep warm in cold wet days like today. Warm and snug, all huddled together in the living room while we too try keep warm on the couch in front of the TV. Ahhh these lazy weekends.