Coronavirus Update #8 - Finding Enjoyment Despite Adversity

Not such a bad day, self isolating.

It's actually been a pretty enjoyable couple of days.

Like I said, it looks like BC, at least, is having some effect on flattening the curve. That makes me feel good about things and solidifies my resolve to continue social distancing and staying at home.

The numbers aren't spectacular, however. Canada has close to 6000 cases and BC has 884 but it seems that things are starting to slow. Time will tell.

We did have a really nice time last night, though...

Many of the restaurants in Kelowna (and, I am sure, in most other places) are offering great delivery deals so they can stay in business. We have been exploring these and last night, we really found a winner.

Home Block restaurant, at Cedar Creek winery, is offering a few dishes for delivery as well as Take and Bake dishes and meals for two. We opted for the latter - a meal for two with lamb tagine, lamb kofke (sausages), yogurt, cilantro, and pita. We warmed up the lamb in the oven for 45 minutes and it was absolutely amazing. One of the best meals I have had in a few weeks.

It was a great deal for $55 all in. However, it was even a better deal because we had enough left over for dinner tonight. Delicious!

To accompany dinner last night, I delved into the cellar and came up with a 2013 Checkmate Silent Bishop Merlot that I bought a few years ago for, I think, about $65. I decanted it for about an hour and then tasted this wine. It was spectacular - great flavours of black currant, plum, blueberry, leather, mushroom and vanilla. The fruitiness was perfectly balanced with the characteristics from ageing. This wine is at the peak of its age, in my opinion. I have another Checkmate wine from that vintage that I will have to find an excuse to drink over the next year!

Today, we had another great time, despite the social distancing, when we walked from our condo to downtown Kelowna. It was mostly sunny and warm enough for shorts. There were a fair number of other people but everyone was very courteous about giving lots of space.

Found this not-so-secret tunnel on our walk.

We even found a tunnel which went under the Bennet Bridge and avoided the highway and brought us right to the beach at City Park.

Back at home, we busied ourselves with household tasks including rearranging the terrace furniture. It is kinda of nice to have the time to do these things because there's not much else to do!

The teary moment of the day, however, was at 7pm. We had finished our dinner and were sipping wine outside on the terrace, and then we heard the clanking of pots, cheering, and applauding for health workers. Of course we joined in!

I am finding that this crisis can be bearable with a positive attitude, steady resolve, and a commitment to keep busy. We can get through this!

Keep healthy.