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

— @HaggardHawks

A good end to the working week: almost everything accomplished on the to-do lists and three lovely social gatherings. Yesterday, my love and I hosted a dinner for friends, and because I knew that they were all doubly vaccinated after having had COVID-19, they felt like the safest people to have around a dinner table. And they are always great company. So, we had an evening of wonderful relaxation and indulgence, and I went to bed with a heavy head but a happy heart and woke up with an even heavier head, but still a very happy heart. No regrets.

Today in the afternoon, I had coffee with my beautiful friend Debbie and we discussed, among other things, the drafts for her artworks that I would like to feature on a future Karavan Press book cover. She brought a lovely pink wine for us to enjoy, but after last night’s extravaganza, I had to say no. Next time :)

And tonight, my love and I went to see book publicist Jean-Marie Korff perform at the Alma Café in her other role as one of the band members of Die Melktert Kommissie. Another great evening of live music.

• 

• 

Mint tea on a Friday night. My poor liver is no longer twenty, that’s for sure.

More socialising is planned for this weekend, but also quite a lot of work. I am bracing myself.

On Monday, we will have Salieri’s latest blood test results. She hasn’t lost any more weight and the vet said that she looked good. She has good and bad days, but she is very dapper and loving, and I hope the vet will give us good news.

But first, sleep.

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local. Get vaccinated, please.

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

— NICD

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

— @HaggardHawks

What else is there to say on a day of pure literary joy like this?

DAMON GALGUT WON THE BOOKER!

I am thrilled for him. This is the recognition that his talent, vision, dedication and brilliance deserve. Wow! Finally.

I have just looked at the list of all his novels and realised that I’d read them all. I have been a fan for a very long time. When accepting the prize, Damon mentioned that he is working on a short story collection and I wonder whether the one he wrote for Touch: Stories of Contact will be included. It is one of the most exquisite pieces of writing I have ever read.

How absolutely wonderful that this has happened to him. The Booker. And now, Damon’s engaging and enriching work will be read and celebrated across the world like never before. This makes me happy.

A few years ago, at the FLF: with Fanie Naudé, Damon and Ivan Vladislavić – one of the most exhilarating festival events I ever had the honour of chairing.

(And the news that, as of tonight, we sold out all the available tickets for the Karavan Press Literary Festival is also really great! :))

Good night.

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local. Get vaccinated, please.

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

— NICD

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

— @HaggardHawks

I am usually good at following instructions, but when these are not clear and no one is around to assist you, things can become very frustrating, especially when you are trying to juggle a million other tasks at the same time. Needless to say, I really failed – again – at something, and by the time I discovered how to solve the problem, it was perhaps too late. Let’s see. The good thing is that when I was running around this morning like a headless chicken, I found another lucky coin which cheered me up. Rainbows, lucky coins, signs. In all this chaos, one has to hang on to something.

Did you see the petrol price increase!? It made me reconsider my attitude towards bicycles. There was a time in my life (between the ages of fourteen and nineteen), when I cycled and trained every day and participated in two road races almost every weekend (I was hopeless at it, but I finished every single race I entered). Then, I let go. And since coming to live in Cape Town, I haven’t cycled apart from rare occasions when I visit my family in Austria again. Looking at the petrol price, I wish cycling was as safe and effortless as it is in Austria. Luckily, I am still a walker and I often walk to my destinations. Topolino will have to stay at home in the garage more often from tomorrow onwards …

Loadshedding. No surprise there, but oh, what a nuisance! Navigating most days without loadshedding is a challenge. With loadshedding, I just want to sit in a corner and give up.

Following the election results, I cannot help but wonder how people denied the vote for decades do not actually exercise their right when it is finally possible, especially in a country where things are not exactly going in a great direction. I was heartened to see that many of my friends exhibited their inky thumbs throughout yesterday and today, but still … It’s like vaccinating – if not enough people do it, the results are good for some, but not the majority of people.

My last task for today was a lovely book delivery (reading copies for the festival). I got home by about five and was relieved that the only thing remaining to be done was cooking dinner. And now, I am just going to have an early night. I am a walking zombie.

585 days since the beginning of our lockdown.

Good night.

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local. Get vaccinated, please.

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

— NICD

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

— @HaggardHawks

I met with three lovely authors this afternoon at the Vineyard to discuss and celebrate different projects – one of the authors was Melissa A. Volker, and I was able to introduce her to The Pool Guy in all his glorious bookish flesh. Melissa’s first novelette will be available in bookshops later this month and we hope to launch it properly early in December. Details to follow.

The other two authors also brought smiles to my lips and I went home a happy woman. Then, I saw this rainbow on the way and made a wish and was simply in a good mood.

In the evening, I made a fire and braaied a monster steak for my love and myself. Glinka insisted on having a bite, and Salieri, out of frustration that she was not allowed to have any (because of her strict iodine-free diet), went out into the garden and caught herself a frog. Fortunately, I rescued the poor thing in time before his legs became Salieri’s dinner. No kisses of gratitude, though.

The Karavan Press Literary Festival is nearly booked out. I am thrilled.

I wish I could have voted, but I am not allowed.

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local. Get vaccinated, please.

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

— NICD