What a difference a day makes!
I told you last week about our BnB Pandemic Blues following the presidential Covid19 update about the new regulations following a rampant second wave of the Coronavirus here in South Africa, and how bookings came to a dead halt just before the Christmas school holidays!
Cancellations looming
Many of my fellow guesthouses started getting cancellations with the threat of possible beach closures, as happened in some provinces where Covid figures are high.
It was all doom and gloom at a time that usually is an exciting and frantically busy period.
Clivia aka African Bush Lilies are giving us much pleasure at the moment as new buds open up each day.
Pandemic creeps closer to home
My nephew who is an emergency room specialist confirmed news reports about shortage of hospital beds.
A close friend's sister with Covid, had to be taken to a rural hospital, placed on a ventilator and all kinds of complications starting setting in.
Thankfully it looks like the tide is turning as she can come off the ventilator and will be moved to what they call a Field Hospital.
I had not heard of this but apparently it's temporary structures outside the hospitals for Covid cases that are not too serious.
My brother who only had a sore throat about two weeks ago went for a Covid antibody test out of curiosity with his son, the doctor, who has been in contact with staff members who had Covid.
To cut a long story short, my brother then had to go for a proper Covid test and it turns out he had the virus two weeks ago, but was asymptomatic and now has immunity.
Wild Ginger Torch Flower that's really doing well at the moment after all the rain we've experienced lately.
Applauding the father of our nation...for a change
Then the president appeared on television on Monday night with better news; although the pandemic figures are rising, it appears the Coronavirus Command Council realised that another hard lockdown would be the final nail in the coffin for many in the travel and leisure industry, which of course will have a knock-on effect on government coffers!
He advised that our hospitals are now ready to tackle this Virus, yet we're hearing of seriously ill patients being flown or driven by ambulance to rural hospitals!
Beaches in our province will only be closed on public holidays and the period before and after New Year celebrations, which makes a whole lot more sense as that is when the masses flock to Durban beaches!
Natural rock pool at Umdloti beach
Busy-ness and Business spikes
Telephone calls, emails and online booking requests suddenly started flooding in again and I woke up to the fact that guests are now seeking smaller establishments because interaction with other guests is minimal or non-existent!
One young couple who booked a week's stay said how worried they were about the 20 room hotel they had initially booked at and were so happy to find us!
Surprise find in the vegetable garden; the monkeys who destroyed all our beans and peas obviously do not like peppers!
Marketing adapted to Covid conditions
This Coronavirus is certainly keeping me on my toes with all its unpredictability as my marketing focus had to be changed yet again now that we're well into the holiday season, plus having to plan forward to the next busy season during the April holidays.
We have a Quality Assurance & Tourism Ready Certificate stating that Covid 19 Health & Safety Protocols have been achieved according to TBCSA Protocols, plus can now boast about the fact that we are small and our units are set well apart from each other!
LILY'S COTTAGE truly is a Safe Haven!
A Second Strain of Coronavirus Hits South Africa
What did I say earlier?
What a Difference a Day Makes!
Some panic-stricken guests started enquiring about our late cancellation policy and their safety in Durban that's said to have a high number of cases of a new strain of the Coronavirus that's affecting many younger people!
Not that I blame them, but stats show that the most likely place one can contract the virus is at your local supermarket as people handle food items all the time!
Further, being out in the open air on the beach with safe distancing really is much safer than going to a busy shopping mall!
No one has cancelled yet, so we're holding thumbs!
Tomato plants looking healthy!
Sunday visit to Umdloti Beach
We took a drive up the North Coast and stopped at the little seaside village of Umdloti; it was lovely walking along the promenade hearing the ocean and breathing in the fresh salty sea air!
Mom Lily sat on a bench watching beach-life; Kite Surfers, Bathers and listening to the ocean while we picked up the best burgers on the North Coast at a little take-away called The Beach Shack that has good Covid safety standards in place.
Disaster Relief Project put on hold
Remember I told you about the project hubby was working on whereby people living in an informal settlement were offered aid by government following storm damage to their dwellings, some so pathetically put together with whatever material they could find!
The abject poverty that these people are living in, really touched hubby's heart.
The mixed construction house below belongs to a little old lady with a big heart and a strong faith; notice the tiny little white cross on her door!
Not going into much detail, but hubby pulled out of the project just before it was announced that they are halting it due to the second Coronavirus wave!
Sadly it appears that the people managing the project are going to be the only beneficiaries in this disaster relief funding project.
Will the people ever get the relief meant for them?
Bacon & Cheese Baked Pasta
As always, cooking plays a big part in my life, so I'll show you a pictorial step by step method on how to make a quick and filling dish for the family.
Layer small Shell noodles, tomato & onion gravy & cheese sauce in oven dish.
Top with grated Cheddar Cheese, diced Bacon & place under grill to warm through and crisp the Bacon.
Served with nutritious Pumpkin tips, Butternut & Potato mash.
Really a satisfying and delicious meal!
So that was just a glimpse into the week just gone by; our youngest son had a birthday plus I had some other troubling issues which kept me away from blogging MUCH to my frustration!
I know the next two weeks are going to become crazy, but I should have more time for blogging now most of the bookings are sorted; as long as I don't have to say this again:
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