Lockdown has become the “new
normal” since 26 March, not only for most South Africans but for millions of
people the world over. This is unchartered territory for most people, who react
to lockdown in different ways.
Some seem to take it in
their stride, while others are nervous and anxious because many of them do not
know where their next meal is coming from. Then there are those who are bored
stiff, while others find innovative ways to keep themselves and their families
busy and entertained. The Gazette spoke to two prominent figures in the
Overberg arts world, Carol Mangiagalli and Coenie Visser, about their own
experiencthese of lockdown and what they have been doing to keep themselves occupied.
Mangiagalli, a well-known
Caledon artist, says she has not found the lockdown particularly difficult.
“Artists need to be alone to work,” she pointed out, “and I am fortunate to be
able to continue working towards an exhibition which, hopefully, if all goes
well, will be held in Cape Town in November. What has been difficult for me is
the reality of my son Dmitri and his wife Laura and her family living and working
in Barcelona, Spain at this time. They have been on lockdown since 14 March,
and are working from home. In September 2019 I attended their wedding, and
spent a wonderful month with them in Spain. Thanks to social media, which has
been a real blessing at this time, we are able to stay in regular contact with
each other.”
When Mangiagalli is not
painting she keeps herself busy with knitting, needlework or just enjoying her
garden. Because she cannot go on her regular walks she recently started a daily exercise programme,
which includes climbing her many, rather steep steps down to her back garden.
“But I do miss my visits and chats over a cup of tea with my friends,” she
says.
Coenie Visser, organiser of
the popular Greyton and Genadendal Classics for All music festival, certainly
needs no introduction to most of Gazette’s readers. In mid-January, days before his return to Bangkok, the newspaper
had the privilege to talk to Visser about the upcoming music festival as well
as his exciting new job as head of an international language school teaching
English to business executives, and his
life in Bangkok, where he has lived and worked for the past five years.
Shortly after his arrival,
Visser posted a photo on social media of him wearing a mask. Visser explained he
wore one mainly when taking the train, where many people are together in a confined
space, and is also a protection against the heavy air pollution that Bangkok experiences.
And almost in the blink of
an eye all that changed. At a time when most South Africans were only vaguely
aware of the coronavirus it became a very definite reality in Asia. Less than a
month later it was a grim reality in
South Africa as well, and in line with most major local events being cancelled
Visser called off the music festival.
The Gazette has
stayed in contact with Visser through regular whatsApp conversations, and in a
recent conversation he mentioned that about three weeks before he had had a
narrow, and indeed very lucky, escape. A day after he was transferred to head
office, a new lecturer started working at his previous teaching location. Three
days later she tested positive for the virus. Needless to say, that department
was closed down immediately and everybody working there went into quarantine.
Visser went into self-isolation as a precaution. The head office has also since
closed, and Thailand is in lockdown as well.
Whenever Visser is in South
Africa he stays on a farm just outside Greyton. “Here I am living in a 32 m²
apartment on the 24th floor,” he said. “I literally only go out to buy food at
a shop that is about 20 steps away from the building. I am, by now, definitely
starting to get cabin fever. I miss talking to people and especially miss my
daily runs, going for a walk in the nearby park or even just sitting quietly at
one of the many temples. I try and keep fit by doing exercises in the
apartment. All lessons are now conducted via Skype, which keeps me busy, as
well as an online course I am doing. I also stay in regular contact with family
and friends via social media, and that helps a lot at this time.”
Because Visser doesn’t know
when flight restrictions in both Thailand aand South Africa will be lifted, he
cancelled the leave he would have taken in May. “I try and stay positive, but I
do have moments when I wonder if all this will end, and when I will be able to visit again.”
Visser urges readers to
adhere to the lockdown regulations laid
down by the government. “Stay home. Stay safe.”
