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

— @HaggardHawks

We visited two friends in their garden yesterday. Apart from an emergency run to the vet, they haven’t left their property since March. Because of a serious medical condition, they cannot afford to get infected with the coronavirus, so they stay inside their home and garden and get everything delivered to them. Occasionally, they invite two people to join them for a meal or drinks in their garden, where the guests sit at a safe distance and follow a strict safety protocol. We spent the entire afternoon and evening with them and had the most amazing feast and drank/tasted Burgundy wines. I was the designated driver and the person who knows the least about her wines, so I just tasted, and only the reds – they were all delicious. A wonderful visit all together. I got home just before the curfew and fell into bed without writing my Oysterhood post.

I was so impressed with the strict lockdown measures these two extraordinary people have taken to protect their health and lives. He used to travel around the world for half the year and had to reinvent how to do business without leaving the house. She lost most of her work for about half a year before it gradually started returning and she continued from home. Together, they organised highly successful campaigns to help other companies survive the lockdown. They swim, read tons of books, keep in touch with friends and work on their relationship as it faces new challenges under these extreme circumstances. Despite everything, they radiate a positivity about life that is inspiring. I loved what they said: ‘It is actually nothing to live like this for one or two years of the hopefully eighty or so years of your life, at least you get to live it all.’ They are waiting for the vaccine rollout and hope that it will liberate them. They can’t wait to see the rest of the world again.

I forgot to take a photo of the lovely wine bottles we tasted, so above is a random Burgundy (I hope!) wine label.

The last news I saw before falling asleep was about the impeachment. I can’t say that it surprised me, but I can’t stop shaking my head whenever I think of it.

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local.

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

— NICD