Lockdown Day 146 - Wednesday 19 August

It's an admin day and a cooking day. The Sanparks website has crashed again and it looks like the Kruger Park is 100% fully booked until the end of 2020. People really want to get away after five months at home. We have a few trips planned but we are going to spend some time here at Ximongwe too because we are getting visitors. Some of you are already out and about.

A friend posted on Facebook, "For every situation there's a suitable line from a song!"

Try.."We're all going on a summer holiday!" or " Don't fence me in!" and "We've gotta get out of this place!" 

Then there's a random photo highlighting Neil's sense of humour.

Luckily twelve years of full time travelling together makes five months of lockdown togehther a doddle.

Lockdown Day 145 - Tuesday 18 August

After a slow start we went into town to collect our wine order. We are following government advice and ensuring we have a three month supply just in case. During Lockdown we have only been drinking the good stuff and I don't think we can return to drinking plonk ever again.

As things open up all over the world and people start meeting up for an outdoor meal, a braai or a walk, I have noticed that Zoom chats have largely disappeared. This week's online phenomenon seems to be creating avatars. Last week it was Jerusalema dance sequences.

And I am so excited that a few friends are coming to stay at Ximongwe. It's really safe here in the bush with warm weather for lots of outdoor living and no crowds. Thus far Hoedspruit and surrounds has had very few Covid cases.

Lockdown Day 144 - Monday 17 August

So it's getting difficult to come up with something new and exciting to write about every day. Our garden is still full of animals and the kitchen is still full of culinary delights like today's wonderful pita breads. 

Neil has been compiling a new wine order for Safari Wines and we'll pick it up in town tomorrow. We are very excited that some friends from Gauteng are booking to come and visit us here at Ximongwe after our five months in exile.

We've been listening to a new band called Mt. Joy on Spotify. Neil says their lyrics are surrealistic.

"Angels smoking cigarettes on rooftops in fishnets

In the morning with the moon still glowing

And here comes Jesus in an Astrovan Rolling down the  strip again

Life ain't ever what it seems

These dreams are more than paper things

I don't want to see those tears again

Jesus drives an Astrovan."

Ximongwe Greater Kruger : Lockdown Day 143 - Sunday 16 August

The lions have moved off the carcass and the vultures have finished it off. I have so many photos from the last few days that I'm going to post a few more. 

At about midnight one large male was on our lawn again. I took the photo from our balcony with my phone in one hand; spotlight in the other. 

Today I spent lots of time making plans and bookings now that we can travel interprovincially again. We've decided not to rush to Gauteng but wait a few weeks to see how things pan out in Lockdown Stage 2. The Sanparks website crashed because so many people are trying to book holidays. Now I realise how special it was too be able to visit Kruger on day visits with hardly any other tourists. Let's all support the tourism and hospitality industries as much as we can until the international tourists return.