Hello dear Blogger friends. It's Sunday afternoon, winter in the Southern Hemisphere and I'm still sitting in my outdoor office and able to watch the garden birds flit in and out of the shrubs while the sun warms the lawn around my little cottage.
On Friday I was sitting here working on my Weigh-Less menus and admin, when I heard the ride-on mower idling at my gate. I jumped up and opened the gate and let the driver in.
Normally John, my 75 year-old neighbor, mows my lawn, but today it was the garden lady, Nurse. Resplendent in skinny jeans, gumboots and wearing her face mask.
Nurse enters the garden riding the mower
Doing a splendid job of mowing my lawn
Watching Nurse on the mower, took me back to the days we lived on the mines in Africa. Grant used to tell me that women operators were far more reliable than men. They were never late; they never booked off sick; they treated the machine with great respect and kept it in immaculate condition.
We're still in Lockdown although we've moved from Level 5 (complete house arrest) to Lockdown 4 where we are able to shop for clothing and have your vehicle serviced among a few privileges. We are not permitted to visit others and to gather at all. We have to practice social distancing and wear our face masks when out in public. So far many South Africans are abiding by the law although there are several who think this VYRASS is a white-man's disease which makes them invincible.
The sale of cigarettes and alcohol is still strictly prohibited which has created the sometimes dangerous brewing of your own liquor. There are illicit alcohol and cigarette sales at exorbitant prices. There is an ongoing argument against this law but only time will tell when it will be lifted.
When we entered Lockdown level 4, Thandiwe asked if she could return to work. I told her that she isn't permitted by law to work indoors so she cleans my veranda, hangs the washing and irons on the veranda table. Once again, she has her midday meal here and takes fruit, vegetables and cat pellets home. She also has more time to care for the garden which was a bit neglected when she had household chores.
Last week s Joyce, Ron's house lady, and also working in the garden, helped Thandiwe to dig beds for vegetables. The next day John took them to the river where they cut intungas (branchlike poles) and brought them back to my garden. On Friday, Thandiwe cut these down to size and made a fence to keep Skabby out!
Ambrose on the garbage bin. Thandiwe can be seen in the background
building the protective fence with the poles lying on the lawn
While walking along the farm road with Skabby, I stopped and took a photo of a thistle. It's a dreaded invasive weed, but made a beautiful subject. Back home here I decided to play with the functions on Word.
Original
Burlesque
Sauna
Zeke
The last image is my favorite; do you have one?
Here's wishing you all a great new week. Be safe and keep well.
