Lockdown Journal: Day 30 (How Much Longer?)

If you’re new to this blog series and don’t know what’s happening with South Africa’s 21-day (now 35-day) lockdown, my first post has all the details. Or read all my lockdown posts.

It’s Lockdown Day 30. Day Thirty. The big 3-0.

I realize I’ve asked this question previously. (There is very little new to say.) But: How many more days should I continue this journal?

Our current 35-day lockdown “ends” on Thursday but actually it doesn’t. I still won’t be allowed to go anywhere and I have no idea when that will change.

I will, however, be allowed to order hot food from restaurants and have it delivered to my house. This is very exciting! But strangely I’m only excited because I know this will help some restaurants avoid going out of business. I’ve gotten so used to eating all my own food over the past month – I don’t even feel like ordering takeout anymore.

Anyway, on the one hand I kind of want to end the Lockdown Journal at Day 35. On the other hand, I don’t have much else to do. (Except rake the leaves but really I don’t want to do that.)

Also I have nothing else to blog about.

A couple of friends pointed out to me that journals like this will provide a record for posterity. Future generations will google “coronavirus South Africa 2020”, and find my blog and learn about what we went through during this extraordinary time.

I must confess, I like the idea of providing a record for posterity.

Also this lockdown journal has become my only purpose in life. Who am I kidding? Of course I’ll continue.

But I’m going to start actively thinking about and planning more interesting lockdown content. I’m even boring myself with this post.

Today’s Worth Cause

Here I will hand the reigns over to my friend Ryan, who lives in Brixton (one suburb over from Melville). Ryan and other members of the Brixton Community Forum have started a great initiative to help their neighbors.

The paragraphs below are from Ryan, who is also a writer. (In fact, please read this story Ryan wrote about people around the world who are adopting and fostering pets during the pandemic. It’s a wonderful, feel-good story and there’s a video with cute puppies in it.)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Brixton is a historic, mixed-income suburb near the Johannesburg city center that is home to a really diverse mix of people – from migrants to students and professors at the nearby universities to artists, architects, and journalists, to many people who do the work that keeps our city going : domestic workers, gardeners, small traders, construction workers, and so on. Since the COVID19 pandemic began, many working class people in Brixton have completely lost their incomes. The Brixton Community Forum is supporting them with money to buy basic supplies like food, electricity, diapers, and toiletries. We are currently assisting about 25 families, with more coming to us nearly every day. We also support two daily soup kitchens in our area providing hot meals to the poor and homeless.

We’re asking for support in the form of cash donations so that our recipients can make their own choices about what they need most, whether that’s fresh produce, gas for their stoves, soap and tampons, or other needs that we might not think of or be able to supply in a food parcel.

Every donation goes a long way and is really appreciated by our community. You can donate in either of the following ways :

In South Africa, by EFT to the following account :
Account Holder: Ryan Lenora Brown
Bank: FNB
Account Number: 62490065648
Branch code: 250655
Phone: 073-021-6396
Reference : BRIXTON FOOD

Outside South Africa, by PayPal to the following account: Ryan.brown@fulbrightmail.org (NB: There is only one L in fulbright.)

Good night.