Since May 1st, SA’s lockdown is moved down to Level 4. To celebrate, and also to run an important errand, Angie and I walked outside for the first time in nearly seven weeks. So did everybody else. Exercise is allowed between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., and although you couldn’t say the street was actually crowded, every dog owner, jogger, etc. was taking full advantage. Only around half had the mandatory facemasks, and not all were actually wearing them -- many were slung around necks, presumably to be put on properly when in a crowd; social distancing was rather hit-and-miss as well. We often had to step well out into the road to keep the recommended two metres from people chatting on the pavement, and Angie was almost bumped into by a couple who were simply ignoring everybody else. Our errand, mentioned above, was in fact to deliver a batch of home-made facemasks to our daughter’s household; one each, in the fabrics chosen by each member. All had two layers of fabric, and adult ones had a non-woven interlining. We found out -- on the way up the hill -- just how efficient such masks could be, for it seemed to take about twice the normal effort to breathe while wearing them. Still, that’s a good thing, right? We were all the more glad of them when we called in at the local mini-supermarket on the way back, as the aisles there make a complete nonsense of social distancing. Nor were they restricting the number in the shop at any one time; maybe they didn’t want to risk the anger of the local householders. However, all the assistants had masks and gloves, and the cashiers were protected by perspex screens, suspended from the ceiling, just allowing shopping items to be scanned and cards, change and receipts to be exchanged. It was almost uncanny, not only to be outside in the open street, but to see people face to face (even if partially!) and, most of all, to be able to browse and choose items ourselves in a shop -- not just order from a picture what was available online. We are supposed to limit shopping excursions to the essential minimum, and I’m sure we shall do our best to comply; but how remarkable to find a simple everyday act so remarkable, when we take it utterly for granted in normal times. Gratitude need not be limited to the exceptional.

Endlich angekommen!