So how are you all doing? Surviving the 'rona? Me too!

Week two of the containment period seemed like it would be harder, but it wasn't. Was that because it coincided with Easter? I would like to think so...I did stay home for the entirety of the first week. And I must admit, there were days when I could not tell if it was a weekday or a weekend. Confusion caused by containment...there was actually one morning when I woke up feeling a bit confused and disoriented, and I couldn't tell why. And then it hit me: I was bored! When you begin to look forward to doing your laundry...

I finally stepped out of the confines of my home after one week of containment. I drove to a place ten minutes away from home. I met one policeman checking cars. As he got to me he waved me on. I still don't know why. Then I saw a couple more barriers, but they were not manned. I still don't know why. I must admit I was somewhat disappointed that the streets did not seem more deserted. Throughout my ten minute drive the atmosphere seemed like a rather light weekday morning. Too many people, some in groups...but not that many cars, truth be spoken. I did enjoy driving without traffic though. That was so cool!

I heard a story about one shop that made me laugh. The owner shut his entrance, turned off the light, and stuck a Closed sign in the door. But...he left his security door open! And someone I know walked in just to see, and he was served! The owner said he was just 'trying to see if I will get any customers'. At least the owner was alone in there.

One morning I heard some radio preacher practically threatening his listeners about sending in their tithes and offerings. For the entire ten minutes that I listened to that was all, he did, asking for money, and mentioning mobile money numbers, bank account numbers, and asking for more money. Not one word about spiritual upliftment at this time. I couldn't listen any more after ten minutes, so I never discovered his name or that of his church. Pity. I would have told you who he was and encouraged you to use your money in a better way. Idiot!

I mentioned some physical attributes when I was starting on my containment journey. Well, I need a haircut Now, my stubble is no longer stubble (or sexy), my weight seems fairly stable (still heavy), and there are no white hairs in my eyebrows. Oh, and I haven't succumbed to snacking yet! But containment has just confirmed what I have recently discovered: I have lost the ability to sleep late or to even dawdle in bed in the morning. It's so annoying, not having anywhere to go, and yet waking up as per normal, between 5:30 and 6 am. Old age?? But I've actually teased up a bit of exercise this second week. Yayyyy!

Oh again, we had electricity right through the first week in my area, which is not exactly immune to dumsor. So I entered the second week confidently, at least where electricity was concerned. And then on the 9th day of containment ECG spoilt it all. Let me tell you in detail what happened on 7th April, starting from around 11:07am. Off for 38 minutes, on for 2 minutes, off for 1 minute, on for a few seconds, off for 1 hour 33 minutes, on for 5 minutes, off for 42 mins, on for 7 minutes, off for 2 hours 30 minutes, and then finally on. You get my drift....And when I was foolish enough to call the ECG Help Line I heard a message saying that they were operating at reduced capacity. Please why? Isn't electricity essential during a containment period? My call was never answered.

How are your children coping? Especially those in nursery and primary school. I spoke to a lady one mid-morning, and the noise I heard through the phone convinced me that she had opened a new creche! When I asked her where the noise was from, she said they were supposed to be 'in school', at home, and "people are singing"! I laughed harder than I should have....because mine are past that stage.

I did hear about a couple of visits instigated by children. One family stayed in their car and the other stood behind their gate. Interesting. In another case the family drove into the front yard, but stayed in their care, and the lady they were visiting stood on her porch. Distancing ampa!

One guy I know 'survives' his children throughout the day under containment, and then go for a run around 5:30 pm in his neighbourhood. I suspect he would be a basket case by now if not for that run.

Speaking of family, we've been having breakfast around 12:30 pm, if you can still call it breakfast. And dinner around 6 pm. How on earth are we ever going back to a more conventional structure for meals?!? By the by, a full moon looks even more awesome as viewed from our front yard in the silence of containment.

Our door bell still rings, strangely enough, sometimes with no one present when we get to the gate. Obviously neighbourhood children are still at large. Once it was our rubbish collectors coming to collect payment. I was nice enough to pay.

A lot of not pleasant stories concerning moving around and the attendant consequences thereof. I am in no position to comment on videos and stories that may or may not be true, so I won't. Suffice it to say that I pray more restraint is exercised all round, by the security services and ordinary citizens.

One excuse I heard was truly classic: "Where are you going?" "Please the calendar in my office is still on March, and I want to go and change it to April."

By the by, I think masks are a good idea, health-wise. But for another reason as well. When I meet someone wearing a mask, and they speak to me, it's kind of fun trying to imagine the face you can't see that goes with the voice you can hear. I suspect my imagination has run just a little wild. I mean, I don't think Glen Warren or Fathia Nkrumah are walking around wearing masks....are they??

It is slowly dawning on me that once this containment period is over I might have to learn how to socialise all over again oh. Seriously, the whole distancing thing, hand shakes, coughing and sneezing (innocently) in public. Scary. Will we ever hug again? Or body bump?

Do you know that during this period Glo suddenly began working? Truly, Glo has improved tremendously. Please continue, wai. By the by, Surfline and Vodafone have hardly covered themselves in glory during this period.

Also by the by, pay close attention to the way your church, school, financial, insurance, and MORTGAGE, institution, treats you during this time of containment. You may want to re-think your relationship with them when this is all over. Remember the support you got, or did not.

I reintroduced myself to playing Solitaire during this containment period....with real playing cards, not some online sometin'! The first time I tried the most complicated version of Solitaire I know....it worked, and completely confused me. I couldn't play again afterwards. It's NOT supposed to work so easily, and then you can keep trying! Well, I suppose it's better than my friend who played Scrabble against herself....and it was a draw.

The best thing I have done during this period: I recorded a reading session for the children of Booksie Reading Club. At home. Alone. In front of my very critical mobile phone. And I believe they have placed it on Instagram today, 11th April, for Autism Awareness Day. I'm a star!!