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

— @HaggardHawks

I spent the morning driving around Cape Town, making deliveries and picking up stuff. First stop: the post office, where I finally figured out what all the people I had seen queueing the last three times I had been to the post office wanted: recreational fishing permits! Really? Wow. I also don’t entirely get the beach bans, especially because they are inconsistent in their logic, but I keep wondering how much better off we would be if all the energy that is being wasted in debating and contravening and fighting the bans went into actually keeping us all safe from the pandemic. I also love the beach, but I think I can survive without it for a few weeks. And I really want to survive the pandemic …

There is a US doctor I have been following on social media since the early stages of the pandemic: compassionate, wise, fearless in his public commentary. Today, I read a very moving piece about his life and how it influenced his stance throughout the last few months.

A ‘duty to warn’: An ER doctor, shaped by war and hardship, chronicles the searing realities of Covid-19

Let’s not worry how to get to the beach. Let’s rather worry how to stay out of the ER.

Unconvinced? Perhaps this Cape Town doctor will help:

Covid-19: A doctor’s open letter to Cape Town

We expect miracles of others while we can’t perform the simplest things to protect ourselves.

On my errands run today, I briefly spoke to three people who all decided to cancel or drastically reduce their family gatherings during the festive season. They all have one purpose: protect loved ones. It was heartening to hear.

In the last few days, I have been thinking of how to get into a more festive mood. One of the ideas was to get some festive goodies from The Hoghouse Bakery. My love and I started feasting this evening when he cooked for us and I brought out the festive box for dessert.

My love makes the best risotto. I had never been an enthusiast until he introduced me properly to this delicious dish.

We did not see the planets align last night. The spectacle was not visible from either of our homes and I must say that I was too afraid to explore all viewing points in my garden as it is not a very safe place to be on one’s own at night. But I enjoyed the pictures others took around the world and I felt the magic of the moment anyway.

The planets have aligned for Karavan Press’s Death and the After Parties by Joanne Hichens. I saw the above image taken at the Book Lounge on social media today. Outselling Obama and Ferrante! How cool is that!? I am not certain when it was, but for one day that was the reality for this special book. May it soar.

At the end of 2020, Karavan Press is officially ten titles strong. I honestly don’t know how we got through this year, but here we are. Thank you to all who have been part of this incredible journey. Together, we made it!

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local.

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

— NICD