OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.
We had an alarm activation in the night, just after three. Maybe someone thought that the house would be empty for the long weekend. It is always frightening when this happens, but also very comforting to know that the alarm system does work and does protect us. ADT reacted immediately and, because I could not go back to sleep for quite a while after the security guard’s inspection of the property and his ‘all clear’, I heard that he only drove away from in front of my house about half an hour later. Even if I realised that he was there only afterwards, it was still extremely reassuring. I had chamomile tea and listened to the gentle rain on my roof and eventually fell asleep again for a little while. In the morning, The Cats did their magic of spreading their purring love. The polar bear suit from my Mom helped, too.
An easy morning with coffee and books in bed and then a lovely meeting with dear Sindiwe Magona. She kindly signed a copy of her latest book for me.
It is a real beauty and I look forward to reading it! Sindiwe is such a great storyteller and she cares so deeply …
Returning home, I kept hearing my cellphone ring in my handbag and got worried when I saw who it was. Back at home, I returned the missed calls, knowing that the news would not be good, but I could never have guessed or anticipated what I would hear. Someone very close to me went through the most horrific ordeal, and, thank universe and all the gods and goddesses, survived, but just thinking about what happened makes my mind freeze in horror.
After the call, I was shocked and eventually asked Krystian whether I could chat with him on Skype. I told him that after EVERYTHING that had happened in the last while, I am going to be watching out for the nearest volcano to erupt, because surely that will be the next thing on the list of possible catastrophes to touch my life. He said: ‘Don’t even dare think about it. It’s enough that you’ve got Koeberg basically on your doorstep.’
Yes, let’s rather not go there!
The rest of the afternoon was admin for the Trust and New Contrast and an attempt to stop my Rosebank Glasspecker from driving me insane with his pecking on my window. I hired two owls to scare him off … He was gone for about an hour, and then …
Yeah, you guessed it …
I have one more idea how to stop this mad bird. Pray for me.
27 April – Freedom Day! I know exactly what I was doing on this day in 1994: celebrating my best friend’s – Isabella’s – birthday with her in Austria. Back then, all I knew about South Africa was who Nelson Mandela was and that apartheid had ended. Ten years later I fell in love with this country, and today it is my home. But I am not a citizen, so I can’t vote.
In the evening, Mozart and I braaied for my love and now I am ready for an early night in front of the TV. I hope that I can have one uninterrupted night of sleep again. I am tired.
My great inspiration, Mary Wollstonecraft, was born on this day in 1759, 262 years ago. Happy Birthday, Isi and Mary!
Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local.
“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”
— NICD
Karina Magdalena 