Clean Shave

Today I decided to shave off what little I had already, until it stops growing out patchy I will continue to shave what comes out. I try now to look good for future job interviews or when I have to start working, but now the question comes to what I must do with my hair. I like to grow my hair sort of as an expression of myself, as well as sort of a reminder of my mother whos hair I would always play with. So the question of whether I should cut it short or not is a difficult one to answer.

Day 70 - Matt Minks

 

Lockdown Day 70 - Level 3 Day 4 - So life goes on. Lynda is back at work. The Corona virus is sure getting closer to home. Our suburb had only 3 cases until the end of May but now since Level 3 has jumped up 10 new cases, eish. We have many retirement villages, and one of them went into strict lockdown as it has 1 case in their high care ward, no one going in or out in that village. Lynda's 85 year old dad is in hospital in Cape Town. He is very frail but test results have come back negative. 

Minky and Matt are sure becoming best of friends as can be seen in today's photo.

Day 67 - Monday Chaotic

 

Lockdown Day 67 - Oh dear must people start going back to work today as be enter Level 3, well most except hair dressers, hospitality staff, restaurants staff, and of course me, as I have become a victim of someone scuttling the boat to save himself.

Anyhoo! Today is chaotic as bottle stores open and I found that the queues for alcohol were way longer than the food queues. Go figure.

But for me and my family life goes on. Here is Matthew and Minky becoming best of friends. Minky has always been a peoples cat, always loving people but not other cats.

Day 53 - Online Test

 

Lockdown Day 53 - With rock music blaring, I bring Matthew another cup of java as he writes an online test during these trying times. It is Matthew's 3rd year doing a Bachelors of Computers at the Belgium Campus in Pretoria where he is specialising in Software Development. Normally he would be writing tests at the university but now it is done online while sitting in his room.

Day 45 - Lockdown Mother

 

Lockdown Day 45 - It is Mother's Day and my mother is safely tucked away in Sabie away from the maddening crowds whereas Lynda is enjoying Mother's Day with 2 of your boys. I decided to do roast chicken and potatoes for a Sunday lunch. 

Happy Mother's Day Lynda.

From left to right is Nica, Dael, Lynda, Bradley, and Matthew, with me behind the camera.

Day 12 - Hair Day

 

Lockdown Day 12 - I am still recovering from the shock yesterday. I am now looking into my options going forward now that loyalty is out of the window with the dog eat dog world and everyone for himself that I find myself thrown into. I am not that type of horrible and despicable person.

Matthew showed me a photo that I posted in December 2018 that he was in "Need of a Haircut". He didn't listen to me and now look how long he's hair is. I really think it is time for him to cut his hair. Lucky for him it's lockdown.

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 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.

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.

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?

The Eldredge Knot

 

Okay I an old age Windsor knot person when I wear a neck tie, that was until Matthew sported an Eldredge knot at the opening ceremony of the Belgium Uni at his start of his 3rd year. He sure made an style statement, with another friend also sporting this stylish knot which apparently Matthew tied for him. Can we bid adieu to the Windsor?

Timeless Board Games

 

It has literary been a year since Matthew and I went to spend a day at Timeless playing board games till the sun went down. Anika and Gary met us at Edenvale and just the 4 of us had some fun playing board games and catching up.

Looking Good

 

Okay now, Matthew's new glasses were ready, so I picked them up on my way home. Looking good isn't he? Yip my boy is all grown up  and ready for his 3rd year at uni.

Seeing the Old Year Out

2019 was not a good year for me but I feel that it is the turning point. God and me have grown together in leaps and bounds. I know that we are much closer than ever before after this year. 

Anyhow to end off this year, we joined some friends to watch Peter Pan on Ice this evening, starting from the left to right is Matthew, Sean, Tina, Lynda, me, and of course Paulo. 

So here is to a better 2020...

Not Looking So Good

On the way home from church, we stopped at a clothing shop because Lynda had seen that they were having an after Christmas Sale on. So why Lynda was shopping for a bargin, Matthew and I popped in next door at an optometrist as Matthew was in desperate need of new glasses, well that was until I found these round frames. And now we did not choose them in the end, as he did not look so good in them.  

Pool Vacuuming

Matthew has stepped up to the plate and help me get our swimming pool back to swimming condition after the big storm on Saturday. It was hard going with so much debris in the pool. First we had to clear all the floating big pieces of leaves and branches, then vacuum up the bottom and clear the weir every hour as it got too full rather quickly.  

Weekend Party's Over

 

It was good spending time with Matthew on his birthday and sharing him with his friends and family but now Matthew must go and be the adult God wants him to be.  

Happy 21st Matt

 

Although your official birthday was a few days back, and this is your 2nd birthday party in a week, I hope this is a good send off into the world of adulting. Happy 21st birthday Matthew. You have grown up to an awesome young man and may your adulting years be just as awesome.

 I can't remember all your friends names

 

Dael, Ryan, Dakotah, Danielle

Jaen

 

Matthew, Danielle, Hans, and oh course Minky

 

 Lynda

Lets Start the Party

 

Matthew is turning 21 on Monday, and as usual his birthday falls in critical exam times, so to start the celebrations off we had a family get together had my sister's place in Pretoria. 

But first we had to drop off Bradley and Dael at the local sports pub so that they can watch the World Cup Rugby 2019 final with South Africa playing against England. So while the Boer War III was on the go, Lynda and I drove north to be with Matthew and family.

Good news is that the Springboks won, and that we had a good time with family celebrating Matthew. 

Visiting Rene

 

It is that time again, for our bi-annual visit to Aunt Rene, my father's sister. Matthew had to go back to Pretoria today as his holidays are over and it is back to university. My aunt lives in Pretoria so it was a perfect detour.