SA's 4th wave of Covid-19 / Lockdown Day 619

Finally sitting down to type a blog post. I am an inconsistent blogger.

Again, I can’t believe we’re at this point in the year! I’ve been at home for three full months. So many lessons learnt, in that time.

One of the main lessons for me has been that distractions are a given, so if I want to achieve anything at all, I have to give that action/task a specific time slot; if I plan each day, scheduling both my activities and hobbies, I get through a lot and feel a huge sense of contentment. Essentially, I’m doing only what I love – including my part-time research job. Without a PLAN, though – I’m likely to be sucked right into the belly of the Procrastination Beast.  I need to be mindful of that every single day.

I’ve exercised consistently for the past 6 weeks, but this week I had to stay away from classes afer Monday and work out at home, because…… my daughter tested Covid positive again, so we’re both isolating. Because the tests are so expensive, my medical aid is used up for the year and the cheaper tests have a higher rate of inaccuracy, I’ve been vacillating about getting tested. However,  I’m off to have a test first thing tomorrow morning.  

South Africa’s Covid stats have risen dramatically over the past week, reaching over 16,000 new cases per day. However, considering how expensive the tests are and the level of economic hardship across our country, the actual figure could easily be 5 times the reported one. Interestingly, the daily Covid death rate hasn’t been as high as in previous waves. We have officially entered our 4^th Covid-19 wave, this time dominated by the newly-identified Omicron variant. Highly infectious, but not really causing severe symptoms. My family is vaccinated, so we’re less concerned about the severity, should we be infected. Still, no-one likes to be sick and NO-ONE likes to ISOLATE, so it basically sucks.

Speaking of sucking, right now we’re having LOADSHEDDING. I am so sick of some of the things we’re going through in this country!!! A few days ago, we had yet another fuel price increase, bringing our total increase for 2021 to 40%! Had we had a safe, reliable public transport system, I would’ve got rid of my car. Seriously, I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I was without a car for just over two years, until I got this one in Feb 2016. In that time, I used what I’d previously spent on petrol on taxis. Right now, I’m spending four times my monthly petrol amount on my car instalment and insurance. Medical aid is unbelievably expensive, too.  When you’re in a job earning a monthly salary, you take these things in your stride. But I consciously stepped out of that comfort zone, and it’s a very different reality.

Despite all of that, I have no regrets about my 2021 choices.  I love my part-time job, I’m learning a lot, and it might lead to something else. I would love to be more musically active, as well, earning money from performing. Covid’s resurgence, with the inevitable result of people staying away from events, means putting that on hold. Again. I think I should find someone to help me with online sound, so that I can do online performances with good quality sound. Yes, I think I’ll do that. Performing with just my p.a. system and my laptop – not reliable, good quality sound at all.    

Two weeks ago, I did my first live gig since March 2020! A duo gig with guitarist Rudy Burns, it was at the Arabella Hotel, in Kleinmond, just over an hour out of Cape Town. We thought we were playing from 6 – 9pm, but ended up playing till 10. Needless to say, we loved it. When you’ve been playing for three hours, you’re so warmed up, that adding another hour is a pleasure. The place was gorgeous (I love experiencing new venues) and the gig fee decent, so all in all, it was a very good experience. Having said as much, if I were to play there again at night, I’d prefer to sleep over and not travel back so late.  It’s a beautiful drive, which I’d prefer to enjoy by day in both directions.

My daughter got her driving license about a month ago, so we’re sharing my car. Another new reality. 😊 She’s just finished her four years at college, so once she’s settled in a job, she can work towards getting her own wheels. 

Once again, I have to reiterate the cliché: The only constant in life is change.

There’s another exciting thing happening in our family, this month, but I’ll write about that in my next post.

And life - with all its hills and valleys – goes on. Despite some challenges, I am still extremely lucky and blessed.

                                  The beautiful Arabella Hotel, in Kleinmond (Google Images)

So much has changed / Written 05 Nov '21 / Lockdown Day 589

I’m always surprised when I see how long ago I last posted a blog, because I think about blogging all the time. I journal every single day, but it’s different from blogging. A lot more personal.

Wow – SO much has changed since I last wrote!

I left my job at the end of August, taking a voluntary severance package, without lining up a new job. At the time, I’d taken on some part-time online marking, which was a first for me. It proved to be a very interesting and enlightening experience. I was lucky enough to be kept busy with marking right until this week. I am grateful for the income. 

Looking at today’s date, I can’t believe it’s already been two full months that I’ve been at home.

The entire experience has been completely different to any other time of my life. Firstly, Old Trudy would never have left a job without having secured another. Had she done so, Old Trudy would have been super stressed, accepting the first offer that came her way, out of fear of not getting any others.

As it turns out, I am New Trudy, who does life differently. It was less of a plan than an evolution. Everything in my life up to now has moulded me and brought me to where I am, today. It sounds so obvious, but it’s extremely profound. In my case, it comes with an immense sense of acceptance of who I am, and peace – so much more peace than I thought possible, given the adversity I’ve dealt with, right up to this year.

Anyway… back to the job front. After extensive chats with someone I knew and trusted, I was offered an opportunity to co-write a funding proposal. Phase 1 was accepted, so I am currently engaged in research – also a new area for me, but absolutely fascinating. Beyond the research process, there might be another role for me. Time will tell.

So this is the New Trudy. Having turned 60 two months ago, I can’t help thinking about what it means to the world out there. To me, it’s an exciting and wonderful time of my life. Firstly, within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am grateful to be alive, but even more so to be in good health, both physically and mentally. Having a mom afflicted with Alzheimer’s, I appreciate every day of my life that I wake up with all my mental faculties intact. Or, as my mother would say, having all your “varkies” (piglets). 😊

In terms of job prospects, I feel I have so much to offer and that the right situation for me will turn up. Old Trudy would have focussed on what she lacked, or the negatives about being 60.

I’ve managed to keep up my fitness regimen, and have recently started making healthier food choices, with a view to losing weight. I set a weekly goal to do three workouts and sometimes other arrangements get in the way, which frustrates me. Later today I’ll do a one-hour fitness class, which will bring my weekly total to three. On Sunday, I’m doing my first ever Sleekgeek event, a 5km walk. I can’t wait. It will be about 100 people, walking as part of a health and fitness movement, right next to the sea! I’m so excited! I joined this group in late 2017, I think, and have never been to any of their events. I’ve put the word out in our fitness group, so others in our group are also walking on Sunday.

I would love to build up my running, to do a 5km run sometime. I was hoping I could achieve it by the end of this year, but I think the end of January might be more realistic. There are 9 and 12 week programmes I’ve seen, which allegedly get you “from couch to 5km”. I’ll see. There are some things for which I set deadlines and others that I allow to flow more organically. I love the unhurriedness of most things in my life, now.

On the music front, I was delighted to have been offered a duo gig at a hotel. It’s in two weeks’ time, and I’ve been practising. This will be my first live gig since March 2020, before lockdown. It’s in a beautiful venue, overlooking the sea, and I’ll be playing with one of my favourite musicians, Rudy Burns. I cannot wait!!!   

                                  7 Nov 2021 -  Sleekgeek 5km walk - Sea Point Promenade