Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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#LockdownSouthAfrica

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2 Mins Read

Slow clap for that country

How do I tell kids under 4 that mommy is too scared to go out because what’s out there could kill you – and it came from a country where human rights aren’t as important? How do I explain to 2 toddlers that someone ate a bat/other exotic animal, that there are disgusting markets and that the government of that country let the virus escape – infecting more than a million worldwide?

I’ve told the 3-year-old that there are sick people while showing her how to wear her mom-made facemask. I’ve shown the 1-year-old how cute she looks in her mask, but she tried to stick the food right through it.

How do I tell my kids’ pre-primary school that I still work fulltime and that paying for school, having no help (and still paying her as well) and getting a barrage of DIY school your children from home in my confined home with no garden is just too much? I’m thinking it would be better in jail than to be cooped up because some country couldn’t keep it clean. Like seriously, I sent the kids to school so I could work. I long to make a break from my third floor balcony, jump a fence and go hide in the trees just 50m from my home. I want to get the ^&&^& out of my house without fearing for my life! I want to hear South Africans talk – in all the languages we have. I want to see humans interacting, sharing a meal, having a moment with each other.

Mentally I’m fine. Dealing with 2 kids that are fed-up with staying indoors and trying to maintain my workload is going to make me jog through north Africa, swim an ocean and go kick that country’s ass. I am red hot angry.

While we are prisoners in our homes they are profiting from the pandemic. They are sending care parcels to Africa – but what will it cost us?

Maybe we should all go back to this…

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3 Mins Read

Thava Restaurant cooks for hundreds of hungry – and appeals for help

Thava Indian Restaurant is responding to the desperate need for food in disadvantaged communities during the COVID-19 Lockdown with hundreds of hearty, hot and nutritious meals on a daily basis.

Thava (which has branches in Norwood and Montecasino) joined forces with Chef Philippe Frydman and NGO Nosh Food Rescue (which distributes food to the needy) and converted the Norwood restaurant into a community kitchen to prepare the first batch of 300 meals delivered to hungry children on 6 April, and another 400 meals of vegetable biryani and chicken korma which were delivered to Zandspruit on 7 April. Thava is donating time, resources, facilities, and staff to the initiative.

Mathew Abrahams, Thava Restaurant owner, explained, “We felt we must do something to alleviate the hardships experienced by so many during the pandemic. Our staff were quick to volunteer their services and we joined forces with Chef Philippe and Nosh. It almost immediately became clear that we can do so much more – and feed so many more people.”

Now the Thava and Nosh team is appealing to corporates, small business, farmers, and the public, to add their support so that we can grow the reach of the initiative:

  • Farmers, producers, traders, businesses or people with an oversupply of stock are asked to donate. Specific items include meat, grain, lentils, vegetables, oil, fruit, bread, milk, packing material. “All donations will be accepted, and we will do our best to use them in our daily meal preparations.”
  • No cash donations will be accepted. Thava has a list of suppliers and specific needs; donors can select from the list and phone through and order items directly from suppliers for delivery to Thava, according to their budget. Invoices are being created by the suppliers and delivery is confirmed with the donor, once received.
  • To grow and be successful in this feeding initiative, the Thava and Nosh team needs an efficient distribution system which is run by volunteers who use their own vehicles to collect goods, deliver them to Thava, and then deliver prepared meals to the needy. Fuel costs need to be covered to ensure continuation of the project and funds can be paid directly into the local service station account – Engen Garage on the corner of Grant Avenue and Ivy Road in Norwood – and payment confirmation sent to Thava.

Frydman, who has been involved with Thava since 2010, adds his personal appeal: “To all the chefs of South Africa, please open your kitchens to provide meals for those people who need them. You will be doing what you are meant to be doing – and that is, feeding the people.”

Abrahams notes that the number of hungry is growing – the homeless, children who depended on school feeding schemes, daily workers who are now unemployed, and many others – and nourishing meals during lockdown will make a difference to their lives. He adds his thanks to all individuals, businesses, and farmers who are contributing to the massive undertaking.

To join the Thava and Nosh team in their efforts to feed those in real need during the pandemic, please contact the restaurant from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm on 011 728 2826 or info@thava.co.za or Hanneke at Nosh Food Rescue on 082 338 4538.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/ThavaCuisine

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3 Mins Read

Coronavirus Lockdown South Africa: Day 4

My car hasn’t left its parking bay since Friday (13 March). I miss picking up the kids from school and popping into the local Pick n Pay for yogurt or buying a pizza from Checkers. I miss standing in front of a shop shelf with rows and rows of chips (crisps) to choose from.

Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.

Pablo Picasso

I think of my clients that have client or customer facing businesses and I wish I could reassure them. I worry about the small businesses that cannot survive a month (or more) of not being able to go to markets. I worry about the economy.

I don’t want to go out. I don’t want to accept deliveries. I don’t want to order takeaways or sit down for a meal. I don’t want to go to the spa or have a haircut. I don’t want people to be near or around me. I simply just don’t want to risk catching the coronavirus.

If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Unwilling participant in home-schooling experiment…

Day 1 I was optimistic and ready to home-school the kids – we painted, played with clay and had story time. Day 2 I only read them stories. Day 3 we had story time and played with balls. Day 4 we had a picnic and got exercise.

Alternative activities to school lessons:

Yes, my kids both have Barbie sunglasses and balls… and , and, and… Barbie is our favourite colour.
  • If you have an old digital camera or old phone with a nice-ish camera go on a walk and let your kid/s take photos. Teach them about focus, looking at different angles and light settings.
  • At-home workouts to keep the whole family fit – Your Family
  • Do yoga, stretch exercises, standing on tippy toes and one leg…
  • Go for a walk with a picnic at the end. They’ll love carrying the baskets and look forward to whatever treats you may have for them.
  • Pick flowers together, flat dry them in books and whip them out for a craft activity. Keep one flower out to show how it dries without being between pages of a book.
  • Do a craft a day with your kids. Pinterest is obviously the best resource on the planet, but you can also check out www.yourfamily.co.za/crafttypes/kids-craft.
  • Create a safari experience at home. Use all their animal soft toys and plastic toys and line them up. For an extra element, put boxes down to use as cars. You can even draw on headlights, doors and more…
  • Bake together!
  • Pitch a tent in the Livingroom and pretend you are on a camping trip.
  • Lots and lots of story time. Your read and they make up stories to tell you about what’s happening in the pictures.
  • Whip out a map and teach them about other countries, travel and maybe throw in a dish that goes with a country you are discussing.

Ok, that is it for day 4. I am off to bed soon and will start my day again at 10pm tonight. These Lockdown articles won’t be daily as I’ll bore you to tears.

The best thinking has been done in solitude.

Thomas A. Edison
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Coronavirus Lockdown South Africa: Day 1

My paranoia about the virus started the day I saw how it spread within China and then exploded in Europe/UK. I knew it was just a matter of time before it would reach Africa. Then the first Coronavirus patient was announced; The very next day hand sanitizers were sold out at multiple stores; Then more confirmed cases until today at 62.

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, only put measures in place with his speech last night at confirmed case number 61. We are now barred from a long list of countries. Our economy is going to feel a long-lasting pinch from the #socialdistance and loss of tourists.

gatherings of more than 100 people are now prohibited in SA, and borders are partially closed

I survived Day 1 of #socialdistance

We took the decision Friday already to be prepared for isolation, taking the kids out of school and letting the nanny stay at home with her own family. I don’t think I was prepared…

I planned water painting, clay play and even air dry clay activities, story time and even some outside play time with bubbles.

The kids are hooligans. One on one they behave, but add them around 1 table with paint and all hell breaks loose. Baby terrorised her sister by getting on the table, grabbing projects she was busy with and generally just being a mini a*hole. I don’t think I was made to be a home school mom.

Then they got tired… I finally had my first break at around 11:30 but it didn’t last long. Just after 12 both were asleep. I was exhausted, my clients were contacting me non-stop and I worked as much as I could. Finally I sat at my desk to answer a few emails.  Just before 1 I could barely keep my eyes open as I had worked from 3 in the morning to 6:20 and then husband left for work.

Tonight I’ll be working more. I’ll probably only get to bed at midnight just to be up by 3 again. Then take care of the kids until 1:30.

Wherever you are, with whomever you are, stay safe.

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