OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.

— @HaggardHawks

A morning of reading exciting poetry proofs. It made me think of two poetry collections which have stayed with me after reading. The first is Stranger by Sihle Ntuli, who is about to publish a second collection, Rumblin’. The other is Zikr by Saaleha Idrees Bamjee, who has just won the Ingrid Jonker Award. It is inspiring to see authors spread their wings and fly. Karavan Press will publish a poetry collection later this year, a first for the fledgling publishing house I am also eager to see soar high in the sky. May the winds under our wings be kind.

I didn’t take a single photograph today, which is unusual, but the day was just full of work, my attention needed on all possible fronts, so once again I am simply exhausted, but in the best possible ways. I don’t mind hard work when it involves projects and people I believe in.

It was time to shop for fresh milk, veggies and meat, and I had to fill up the car again. My favourite attendant, Elliot, was on duty at my local Shell garage. I asked him how he was doing. ‘It’s not easy,’ he said. We smiled at each other with our eyes. He has always been so kind to me, through loss, grief, road accident, new car acquisition and all our exchanges about work, family and the everyday. A hard-working man who always has a good word and smile to share – I admire that so much. It was so good to see him again.

I cooked a rack of lamb today. And there was chocolate pudding. I thought that after a tin of soup for lunch and no breakfast, it was only right to have a proper, delicious dinner. Two members of my family also enjoyed the lamb :)

Time for bed. I am sleeping, and it makes all the difference when there is so much work to be done.

Be kind. Stay at home. Wear a mask everywhere else.

“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”

— NICD