I love eating out, but not any time soon

Two of my favourite shows are Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and Burgers, Brew & ’Que.

Watching Guy Fieri and Michael Symon traverse across the United States, checking out the best food joints, makes my mouth water every time I watch the shows.

I love seeing the diners’ reaction when the food arrives and miss the days when we could eat in restaurants.

Although the government has allowed dine-ins in the Klang Valley since yesterday, I don’t plan to visit any eatery any time soon. Not while the number of new Covid-19 cases each day is still in the five-figures.

I understand the need to open up the economy, and sympathise with business owners, especially those in the food and beverage industry. They have gone through a tough time since March 2020, and I try to support my favourite outlets by ordering takeaways.

I’m just fearful as the virus has affected many friends and relatives, several of whom have lost their loved ones.

Even Health director-general Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah thinks it is too early to open up the economy.

A reminder to all, many places are opening because of economy & not because it is safe. Please keep that in mind; please wear a mask, double masks if possible, practice physical distancing & frequent hand washing. Avoid crowded & confined spaces. Stay safe & get vaccinated asap.

— Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) August 19, 2021

I’m so paranoid that I only left the house once this week to buy some groceries and cat food.

I did venture out twice more to go jogging within the compound of my apartment. Even then, I wore a face mask and a face shield.

When the Coway technician came yesterday, we used a sanitiser spray gun before allowing him into the apartment.

Since it is a food-grade sanitiser, we spray our groceries before bringing them inside. We also have a dispenser outside the front door to sanitise our hands before we touch the doorknob.

Crazy, I know, but what’s even crazier is that we aren’t any safer 522 days since the start of the original Movement Control Order.

RECORD HIGH CASES REPORTED YESTERDAY

Yesterday was not a great day as there was a record 23,564 new Covid-19 cases. In the past week, we had 148,341 infections, bringing the total to 1,513,024.

There were also 1,785 fatalities in the past seven days, taking the cumulative total to 13,713 deaths.

The good news was that there were 131,366 recoveries, the most, over seven days. That means 1,241,894, or 82.08 per cent of patients, have beaten the coronavirus.

Worldwide, there are 211 million cases and 4.4 million fatalities.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT

I received this from friends describing the political scenario in the country.

WALKING ETIQUETTE

As mentioned earlier, I jog outdoors twice as part of my 30-day, 5km challenge. I have since upped my target to complete at least 10km a day – 5-6km during the exercise time, and the balance, the rest of the day. The only problem is, I’m constantly hungry … which is nothing new!

I usually walk indoors while watching the television – top tip, try doing so while a football game is on. I managed to complete 7km during Liverpool’s match against Norwich last week.

I wonder if I can break the record when the Reds play Burnley later today.

There were moments when the home minister and I felt uncomfortable exercising outdoors, as some were just ‘lepaking’ and talking without their masks on, while others didn’t think twice about jogging past another person.

One uncle was even smoking! We passed him several times, and he always had a cigarette in one hand. Hopefully, he had a bag to dispose of the butts.

NEW NORMS FOR ENTRY?

P. Kuganeson, a member of our walking group, shared this photo he snapped.

STAND PIE ME

Jeff Miranda, another member of the walking group, introduced Stand Pie Me to us yesterday evening.

I am planning to order soon. Do lend your support as it is a ‘social enterprise providing training, employment and mentorship for young adults with special needs in food production’.

And what, a brilliant name.

REACHING OUT TO THE REST

This seems like a great idea.