Winter is coming, writes Danny Oosthuizen

IGUESS it’s safe to say winter is slowly creeping up on us. Cape Town to me is a very romantic place during winter for all the little cozy coffee shops and restaurants one can find. It also has the perfect weather to stay in bed and do nothing while mother nature puts up a performance in the form of storms and wind blowing at mind-boggling speed.

Talking about storms: JP Smith, from safety and security, will inform me in the next few days about their winter readiness programme for the homeless.

I must say I was quite impressed at how fast he replied. Most of the time, some people take forever, but he was like a bullet.

I would like to thank all the people who have supported the homeless by providing a hot meal, blankets, time, and engaged with us. We are living in such unsure times.

Yet there are those who still find the time and resources to make our life a bit warmer. I want to zoom in on The South African Zakah Fund who recently fed homeless people on the parade.

Volunteers interacted with the homeless and it was enjoyed by all. I can see the start of a beautiful connection. And the food! Could have been from an expensive restaurant, that’s how tasty it was!

Over to your health: The TB/HIV Care Association has rolled out a project whereby one can be part of a study regarding hepatitis. Testing, hospital referrals when needed and vaccinations can be done.

I have a request and I hope my readers can help: We urgently need shoes. Any shoe will do! One often finds homeless people barefoot in town. The elderly are hit the hardest. If you can assist, please mail me.

Things are looking so much better this winter.

Plans to support the homeless are more structured and well planned. It’s now up to us to make use of the support, help and referrals we get. There are those of us with a sense of entitlement and it can cause friction.

I applaud the security guard from the CCID who handled a “performing” homeless guy very diplomatically.

If it was me, I think I would have smacked him one! We are sometimes like little spoilt brats.

We really need to respect boundaries. Yes, if need be and you need the loo (there are none after hours) do it out of public sight.

Respect and you will be respected. I am stressing this about the wet conditions. We are going to create some animosity as we will need to hang our blankets out to dry… in public. But we will be considerate and be as discreet about it as we possibly can be.

This week: Be mindful. Be gentle… with yourself. Be kind and forgiving towards yourself. You are enough. Enjoy the little things in life.

I would so love to hear from my readers! Mail me: masekind321@gmail.com