We started the month on a high note. We were allowed to have sit-down meals at restaurants and socialise within Covid-related limitations. It felt like freedom.
The first event we attended was a wine tasting called Wine vs Wine Terroir at Gerakaris Family Winery in Craighall Park, Johannesburg, founded in 2009 by wine maker Kath Gerakaris. This boutique winery in the heart of Craighall Park, Jozi, produces wines from grapes sourced from a single farm in the Swartland, Western Cape. At this event Kath’s wines were compared to boutique wines of similar cultivars from different terroirs. The event was organised by Toasted Barrels, a marketing company founded in 2020 by Michael Khoza and Clive Hlabathi. Their aim is to showcase a diversity of unique, boutique-style South African wines in order to give exposure to small producers. It was an interesting, fun-filled evening.
Roger’s mom had her first COVID vaccination at the Discovery HQ in Sandton on the 8th of June. When they got there the queue of cars was so long that Roger decided to park in the street. He had mom climb out and told her to wait on the pavement while he found parking. When he got back she had been given a wheelchair, and thanks to her age they went straight to the front of the queue, she got her jab and they were out of there in record time. A well organised, smooth operation.
Our friend Liz passed away from COVID on the same day. The whole family contracted the disease. Andries and Melanie recovered but Liz had other health challenges and succumbed. In fact, according to Andries she had been talking of being weary of the struggle and had probably welcomed the escape from this life. Very sad. May she rest in peace…
In the meantime, little Jan-Louis is growing at a rapid rate. He absolutely loves animals.
This brought back a memory of a pig(let) we had on the plot, many years ago.
We were visiting friends on their farm when my then husband decided to buy a piglet from them. For the kids, you know.
Both boys were still in nursery school, and very excited about this new addition to the family. They immediately named him Otterjasie after the character in their favourite radio story Siembamba (we had no TV in those days). Back at the plot they made a home for him, and they soon settled into the daily care routine; cleaning the sty, feeding Otterjasie and observing his development.
Their nursery school had a ‘nature table’ every week. This allowed the youngsters to experience animals and plants first-hand. So, we were asked if Otterjasie could be brought in to be an exhibit for the nature table. The plot was in the Bronkhorstspruit district and the nursery school was in Pretoria where we both worked. Otterjasie thus travelled to school and back in the car with us for a week. Being a pet he had free reign with the boys’ on the back seat. He found the drive very interesting, standing with his hind feet on the back seat and his front feet on the back of the front seats while looking around him. As folk passed us they mostly did a take-two when they realised there was a pig in the car, acting like a dog.
And so Otterjasie grew big, and bigger still, until he reached his full size as a cross between a Large White and a Landrace.
One fine day I got a call from Louis. He would be fetching me early. We had to go home to slaughter the pig, as he had collapsed; his legs could no longer support him. The vet said the meat could not be consumed once the animal was medicated, so it was better to slaughter him without delay.
As luck would have it that was also the day that I had already arranged to stay late because I would be receiving an award at a special function after work. I was very upset and selfishly asked if the pig couldn’t wait until the next day. No, he couldn’t, he was in pain. I lost the argument and also missed my special event.
A few evenings later we had our first meal of the most delicious pork chops with potato mash and veggies. I was still upset about missing my award evening, so I waited until everyone had eaten about half of their meal when I piped up with with a big sigh and dramatically sad voice:
“Ag siestog, arme Otterjasie” (shame, poor Otterjasie).
The family looked up at me in shock.
“Did you really have to do that now?”
None of them finished their meal…
I went for a wonderful 5 km walk around our suburb on the 20th of June, the first long walk since my foot operation in December. It was challenging but good. Walking always has been and always will be my favourite activity.
The Getaway
We decided to drive down to Cape Town in Ufudu for Kevin and Lucy’s wedding. The plan was to leave a week prior to the 3rd of July and get there in time to meet Lucy’s father and settle in before the big day. Roger had a number of projects on the go and timing was tight. In the meantime, COVID figures were escalating out of control and there were rumours of Gauteng being locked down. This prompted Francois to bring some wine and whiskey for us to take down for them, just in case alcohol sales were prohibited again.
Late on Sunday morning I suggested to Roger that we rather stay another night and leave at first light on Monday. Fearful of being locked down, he would have none of it. We certainly did not want to miss the wedding. We left Rosebank at 2 pm on Sunday and reached Reynecke Caravan Park in Bloemfontein after dark, from where we listened to the President’s address over the radio. Since Level 3 restrictions had failed to curb infections we were going back to Level 4. Gauteng was locked down with immediate effect and the sale of alcohol was once again prohibited! Gatherings of any description were also prohibited. It was six days before the wedding. The wedding which had been planned since October last year could no longer go ahead!
We called Kevin after the address. They were very disappointed yet determined that they were still getting married on the 3rd. The honeymoon was booked and paid for, besides the fact that he was due back at sea ten days after the wedding. They decided to have an intimate affair in Lucy’s parents’ garden, then have a rerun and the reception sometime next year.
We went to bed exhausted. Disappointment and impotent anger vying for dominance in our minds. At least we were out of Gauteng. The wedding wine was already bought and delivered in Cape Town. The rest could be dealt with in the morning…