Lockdown Day 65 - Saturday 30 May

Neil was saving this beer for a sunny day at the braai.

The most exciting news is that from Monday hiking and day trips in National Parks are allowed as long as you don't cross provincial borders to get there. I knew there was a reason to be in Limpopo! We're off to Kruger. We were one of the last cars to leave Kruger on Wednesday 25 March when they closed.

Also a few pics of previous trips.

Today was a cooking day.

On the braai and in the kitchen. Wors, Beef fillet, Pap, Arepa, Tomato Gravy, Chicken Soup, Chicken Stock, Green Beans, Salad, Banana Bread and Chocolate Cake. We can eat for a week.

Neil tried Mopane Worms! Well, a Mopane worm! They're a favourite source of protein for people from Limpopo Province.

While I'm cooking in the kitchen, we watch TV programs on the laptop. Today we finished a BBC series, "The History of Food." The last episode is about the future of food. And insects featured as a cheap, environmentally friendly source of protein!

Lockdown Day 64 - Friday 29 May

So happy to be where I am today. Grateful for everthing I have. Thinking of those who are really struggling during this time. 

Almost every day I get a song stuck in my head. Today it's "Letting the days go by" by Talking Heads...

"And you may find yourself

Living in a Corona lockdown

And you may find yourself

In a special part of the world

And you may find yourself

Having a great time

And you may find yourself in a beautiful place

With a beautiful life

And you may ask yourself, well

How did I get here?"

Letting the days go by...

Lockdown Day 63 - Thursday 28 May

Today we were supposed to be at Chobe Lodge in Botswana at the end of our Namibia Safari. So I'll add a photo from our stay in 2019 instead.

Today is also my parents' 60th wedding anniversary. We were supposed to celebrate with them at Zebula this coming week.

Instead, I arranged a  restaurant delivery lunch for them at home. We'll have to have a celebration when all this social distancing is over.

We were visited by a big family of Banded Mongoose for the first time. We didn't get a very good photo, though.

Ronel and Johan have a rescued feral cat and you would think she was born into royalty not in the wild, the way she swans around. She is very bushwise to survive here though.

Lockdown Day 62 - Wednesday 27 May

On my walk at Ximongwe what did I see?

5 Giraffe gliding

4 Zebra grazing

3 Waterbuck...

2 Crocs sunbathing

And a Vervet in a fig tree...

Despite so much to see as I walk on a designated route around the "garden", ( 6 laps is 4 kms ) I find exercising for the sake of it so tedious. I don't wear headphones because walking in a big 5 area means having to stay alert. Usually it's a time alone to reflect but we've got so much time to do that already and quite frankly I think razor sharp self awareness is a bit over rated. 

Neil had me concoct a "Dutch" cheese and bacon sandwich he remembers from childhood for brunch and I made chilli corn fritters to have with our beef fajitas for dinner. The local avos are so good but they tend to ripen at the same time so we have to have some with every meal.

Lockdown Day 61 - Tuesday 26 May

We are enjoying the Lowveld "winter" weather..a high of 31°C and 24°C in the evening around the braai. When we finally settle down one day, the Bushveld will have to be our wintering spot.

The monkeys are envious of my brunch, watching every bite.

Neil went over to the Ximongwe Safari Camp for a few hours.

I found a boarding pass from our last flight and I couldn't bring myself to throw it away.

We had a braai - camembert and fig preserve for starter and Tomahawk ( bone in-ribeye ) steak and salad.

The black flecks on the steak are black salt flakes.

Lockdown Day 60 - Monday 25 May

Things are good here in the bush. There's no rush. We can't make plans; everything happens on a day by day basis now. I put our Zoom calls in my calendar just so there's something to schedule.

I got some good warthog portraits. They are very tame now. Don't you like the dreads a few of them have from sleeping in a bush of burrs?

I baked the three ingredient scones- flour, cream and Sprite but I think a conventional recipe gives a fluffier result.

I made a pretty good Italian tomato sauce from scratch and spag bol for dinner again.

Lockdown Day 59 - Sunday 24 May

Another lazy Sunday,reading the papers on the deck in the sunshine. Neil with all his favourite things. Even burgers and sweet potato wedges for lunch.

Animals visiting. Neil spotted 12 different butterflies.

I made delicious One-of-Everything soup for dinner.

Stage 3 lockdown announced for 1 June. Schools going back in stages. All businesses opening up. Limited alcohol sales allowed. Provincial borders still closed. All tourism still closed. So we will be at Ximongwe for June too. Apart from not being able to see family and friends we are fine. Are you missing us as much as we are missing you?

Lockdown Day 58 - Saturday 23 May

Our first misty morning..winter is coming.

The midday highs are still in the upper twenties; the days are glorious. The sun is setting early, just after 5pm, with minimum temperatures around 14°C.

Neil has been watching a Crested Barbet at his nest in the Fig tree but we think it's too late in the season for babies.

 As the saying goes, if life gives you lemons...make lemon cordial, lemon curd, lemon zest and candied peel! And I made a delicious gin and tonic trifle. All afternoon in the kitchen and I still have lots of lemons!