Welcome to Lockdown Alert Level 1

We are nearly there, ladies and gentlemen.  One more level to go.

Our major enemy now, apart from the Covid-19 pandemic itself, is complacency.

When I go walking or running on the river trail, the majority of people I see aren't wearing masks.  Or they are wearing them –around their knees.  They get oddly annoyed when one points out that (a) the law still says that you are required to wear a mask in public, and (b) it should cover the nose and mouth.

At least the malls seem to be enforcing mask-wearing, where I live, anyway.

Has anybody had a nightmare yet about going out without a mask?  It had to happen.

Odd Jobs

With Covid-19, hospitals have got very strict about visitors: Now, even mothers require special permission to be present at the birth.

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Morning Glen Mica in Morning Glen Mall is moving from Shop 22 to Shop 39 at the opposite end of the Lower Level, under Food Lovers' Market, on 1 October – All essential hardware, helpful advice and great service.
• Optomise moved from Suite 6 in Atholl Square to 4th Floor, 20 Melrose Piazza, Melrose Arch, 14 Whiteley Rd, Melrose, Johannesburg – an approved venture capital company offering tax compliant solutions to maximise your tax incentive through investment into certified Section 12J companies in South Africa.
• Bakos Real Estate moved from Sunninghill Village to 47 Savannahs, Muller St South, Buccleuch, near The Bridge Shopping Centre – "We pride ourselves in being instrumental in both the sales and rental industries, We always go the extra mile securing credible buyers and tenants."
• Bagel Street, Lower Level in Morning Glen Mall – The original New York Bagel. Lifestyle food with bagels: Breakfast, lunch or supper, the iconic Jewish treat, certified Halaal. Eat In, Takeaway or Delivery.
• Agua e Vida, Lower Level in Morning Glen Mall – Sellers of alkaline mineral water, which they claim is good for you. Water dispensers and bottles.
• Cell City, Ground in Atholl Square – Cell phone store where you can fix your phones and tablets. Repairs done while you wait.
• SMS2Bet Betting Services in Atholl Square – Rolls out, invests in and operates a number of integrated lottery, sports betting and gaming solutions using mobile phones to buy tickets and place bets.
• Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen in Sandhurst Centre – Cajun Chicken Restaurant.

Funny Language, English...

As the language is put to new and unexpected uses, it had to happen.  There is a bulletin about cat health and cat behaviour called (of course) the "Mewsletter"...

Bit the Big One  Back to top

• Pick n Pay Clothing, Shop 26 in Morning Glen Mall – Clothes and fashion for the whole family: shoes, tops, dresses, trousers, shirts, hats, swimming costumes etc. Complimented the range found at the main Pick n Pay.
• Broll Property Management & Black Sheep Design (Suite 4) in Atholl Square – Professionals specialising in architecture, interiors, project management and construction. Was First Floor.
• Mainspring (Suite 3) in Atholl Square – innovative marketing of mobile content and applications. They source and develop unique content specifically for emerging markets. Was First Floor.
• Breathe in Atholl Square – Relax and rejuvenate your body and spirit at this eco spa. Massages, facials, waxing, lash extensions. Venus Concept. Was Ground level.

Thought for the Day:

Cats are unreliable as paperweights. --Rick Raubenheimer

CD & DVD Sale: 50% Off

Bookdealers of Melville is holding a CD & DVD Sale.  For three days only, 2–4 October, you get all CDs and DVDs in store at half price.  Bookdealers is at 12, 7th Street, Melville.  Telephone 011 726 4054. Trading hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00-17:00; Sunday 09:00-16:00,  email Bookdealers

At Bookdealers website, you get a 20% discount on online orders over R200 for the duration of lockdown. Simply use the code STAYHOME during checkout.

Secular Sobriety

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.  AA is not allied with any sect or religion.  Nevertheless, the famous "twelve steps" contain many references to "God".  This can be discouraging and annoying, if not downright offensive, to those who regard all gods as imaginary.

Now there is a  group of AA that has a tradition of free expression.  They conduct a meeting where alcoholics are free to express any doubts or dis-beliefs they may have, and to share their own personal form of spiritual experience, their search for it, or their rejection of it. "We do not endorse or oppose any form of religion or atheism. Our only wish is to assure suffering alcoholics that they can find sobriety in A.A. without having to accept anyone else's beliefs or having to deny their own."  This group is "We Agnostics Johannesburg".

The meeting runs every Wednesday 19:30–20:30 on Zoom.  Face-to-Face meetings will resume again when practical, and they will most likely continue the online meeting as a hybrid.

If you would like the Zoom link to We Agnostics AA, or more information, send this e-mail.

Overheard at the Checkout

"Did you know that Jane goes running in the early morning in the nude?"

"Naked?  I don't believe it for a moment!"

"She told me.  She said she runs in the buff.  I was surprised."

"Really?  Wait a minute... did she say 'in the buff' or 'in A buff'?"

"What's the difference?"

"A 'buff' is  a tube of stretchy cloth that can be used as a facemask."

"Oh."