HEIDELBERG NEWS - He's preparing to reopen his business.
This ideal of Michael Amos, owner of a restaurant along the N2, keeps him from going crazy during the Covid-19 lockdown. Like other businesses who are not delivering an essential service, he had to close down his restaurant at midnight on Thursday 26 March.
"I doubt if we will reopen in two weeks, but when we do, I want to be ready. When we closed I had thousands of rands' worth of fresh produce which I gave to the staff. When we reopen, I will have to buy afresh."
That will take a lot of money, and while he has no income at present, he continues to have expenses, such as taxes. "I have been talking to the bank for funding for when we reopen."
But he is not sitting back waiting for the bank to call - he is making videos to keep reminding his faithful (and new) clients of his restaurant and delicious food.
"My love of food came to the rescue: I am making food videos to remind people of us so that, once lockdown is over, they will rush back to their favourite restaurant," he said.
He daily makes videos with his cellphone, which he posts on Facebook. Sometimes he just chats to his Facebook friends, but more often he illustrates how to prepare food. One video is about making chilly paste - with a lekker mampoerskop - and another of making sourdough bread. "Quite a few people showed interest in making this kind of bread, so I decided to draw on my knowledge as a chef and show them how."
In the evenings he braais on his own, but with the WhatsApp company of friends. "A group of about eight of us held a virtual braai. We all braaied at our own homes, but were talking to and watching each other on WhatApp video call."
He believes the most important thing is not just to flop down in front of the television and stay there all day long. "Get up, get dressed and do something. So far I haven't had much time to watch television, I'm too busy."
He lauds those who are providing essential services. "It's Friday and normally we would have a weekend ahead of us. As it is, we have just had a whole week of weekends! We have the easy job: We just have to stay at home. There are many people out there who are working to keep us safe."
'We bring you the latest Heidelberg, Hessequa news'
