OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.
George Hallett, the remarkable South African photographer, passed away yesterday after a long illness – his family shared the news on social media. I met him a few times at exhibitions and literary events. I remember his warm smile. His photographs have been telling stories for decades. I treasure the book I have of his: Portraits of African Writers. He was an excellent observer; his portraits capture people’s souls.
I made two Furrytjies deeply unhappy when I got up to have my coffee this morning. It was a day for staying in bed. I did leave the house for a refreshing walk, but in general it was a dull-grey day that has felt heavy from the start. 
It was straight back to bed the moment I could leave my desktop computer and continue my work on the laptop.
I finished work earlier than usual; eventually my head just wasn’t in it.
Saw today that these two books have been published and I had no idea they were coming. Ordered both immediately from The Book Lounge.
Can’t wait to get my literary fingers on these two, although I suspect Brodie’s will be a very rough read.
All kinds of confusing news today. The peak is not the peak after all. Our mortality rate in the Western Cape is worryingly high. It is possible that we are not registering all the Covid-19-related deaths. The new infection numbers are scarier with every passing day. Over eight thousand countrywide yesterday. Theoretically, the number of undetected, asymptomatic infections could be up to ten times higher than registered … for our area it could mean up to 600 000 infected people. And there are still covidiots out there NOT wearing masks and believing that all of this is just a hoax. Sigh.
What to do when one is feeling low: sushi and pink wine, me thinks. FYN Restaurant delivers the former. Yay! I might eat it in bed…
Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Stay at home.
“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”
— NICD
Karina Magdalena 