Cape Town was fast, fun, delicious and beautiful. It was a family affair, but I managed to see my lovely friend, Tash, and meet her awesome husband, Graeme, as well as do a bit of wine tasting with my and mine and Andrew’s matchmaker, Megan. Â It was too short (as always). I feel like I need at least three weeks in Cape Town to do and see everything. Even that would probably not be enough. Oh well, one day when we’re gazillionaires… But for now, a little weekend here and there will have to do.
We’re back home after a busy few days in Cape Town, straight into working a wedding weekend and opening the new bar at the restaurant. Cape Town was delightfully crazy as always, and we managed to fit in a lot of good family time, which is quite a remarkable achievement these days, what with siblings and cousins scattered all over the place. More on our trip and what we got up to for another post. Next week I move to part time work to spend more time on my blog and writing, which I’m quite looking forward to. I have to learn to discipline myself at home, because on a farm there are always distractions – but I have already set up some meetings for next week and so organisation is going to be key in keeping myself on track. I wish we could make office pods in the sky for freelancers. Clever genius inventor people are you listening? I just gave you a free idea. DO IT. I’ll be your first customer.
There really is not much other news from my side, it’s been one of those weeks. Last week I was spewing out posts left, right and centre. This week – downtime. Funny how things, including inspiration, come in cycles. From next week it’s back to the 5am club, yoga and running. Also, my mom brought me the groot meneer of juicers a couple of weeks ago, and I swear it would juice a new born child in five seconds flat. It is that good. Looking forward to getting on the health track for summer which is coming around at a rate of knots.
Have a great weekend everyone – if you’re in the Midlands be sure to pop into Sapore on Saturday for the opening of the new bar. Red Light Stereo are playing sets from 3pm until late, so it should be rip-roarer.
This is Andrew and I in Kalk Bay before he went to the fancy shmancy Scar to have his hair cut. (How does this happen that my husband gets to have his hair done at the best hair joint in Cape Town? I am still a little jealous.) Andrew was delighted to tell me that his stylist thought his choice of hair cut very “refreshing” in the sea of mainstream hipster hairstyles she has to do every day – you know the one she’s talking about – short sides, long front? I wonder who’s going to be the brave one to bring back the middle-path step, ala Backstreet Boys circa 1998. THAT would be so retro!
Have a good one lovelies xxx
Lately I have been feeling a little stifled in our small village. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Midlands (obviously) and I have lived here all my life, bar university and three years in the working world. It is my home and it’s where I have planted my roots and where I rest my weary soul, but man… sometimes I feel a little… confined. I miss having an entire city to explore, with lots of nooks and crannies to discover containing a million hidden gems. I miss the anonymity of walking into a grocery store where no one knows your name or where you work or who you’re married to or who your parents are. I miss the open-mindedness. I miss the freedom. I miss the space between people, the respect for others and the choice to get lost. In particular, I have been missing the mother city a lot lately and this is probably because the large majority of the blogs I read are by Cape Town bloggers. I would probably never move back there (unless I became uber rich and could afford a second (summer) house there – ha ha ha. Chances), but it doesn’t mean I don’t miss living there.
Cape Town, this is what I miss about you most:
Runs and walks on the promenade. When my friend, Bryony and I used to pound the pavement back in 2009, we’d always see dolphins or whales on our walks – it was magical.
The Olde Biscuit Mill. Always the best cocktails and wine and beer and nom-noms. Always new and original stuff. Markets in KZN must be run by extremists, because there is NEVER booze sold there. What’s the point of a lunchtime market without some vino and haybales to lounge on? There is no point.
My petrol bill. I used to fill up my tank once a month in Cape Town, two at a push. Here it’s once a week. ka-Ching.
Kloof Street. Bree Street. Long Street. LOTS of little cafes, boutiques, bars, vintage shops and restaurants in one place.
The burgers at Royale.
The beaches being so close. I used to work from home a lot in Cape Town – it was the best. I’d wake up early, do all my work by lunchtime and then hit the beach every afternoon. It was literally five minutes away. Sigh.
My tan. (see above)
Wine farms. ‘Nuff said.
The people. The creatives and the loonies. No small-town bitchiness and rumour millage. People just living their own lives, keeping their noses out of others’ beeswax.
Kirstenbosch picnics and open-air concerts. The feeling of being part of a crowd, but being your own person at the same time.
Hikes up Lion’s Head.
All You Can Eat Sushi and Half-Price Cocktails.
COUNTRY ROAD.
Taking the train to Kalk Bay.
Kalk Bay.
Hout Bay.
Camps Bay.
Crazy people who wear what they want, say what they feel and just generally don’t give a shit.
The colourful houses at Bo Kaap.
All the flaming gays. There are NO gays here.
Restaurants that actively strive to provide you with healthy, yummy food. Usually organic and grown in the backgarden.
My little brother, Jonathan. Haven’t heard from him in a while – anyone know if he is still alive?
And that’s about it for now. I know I probably sound ungrateful and should be appreciative of what I have and where I live – which is why I will write a post tomorrow on what I love about living in the Midlands. But for now, let me revel in my Cape Town missingness.
These are all my pics except the Bo Kaap one which I got here. 
 
I don’t know if I have mentioned this yet, but we’re going on honeymoon in May – in 40 days and 40 nights time! Since we were married back in February, I have found myself in what I like to call: “honeymoom limbo”. This means that I sit around, daydreaming of our forthcoming holiday which will include London, Big Ben, Picadilly, Nottingham (I know, it rhymes. I totally planned it)…oh, and the CARIBBEAN. While I am super excited for sun, beach and cocktails I am REALLY keen to explore a bit of London again. Last time we were there it was December 2010 (remember when they shut down all the airports beacuse of heavy snow – yep, of course we were there then) and it was cold, grey and miserable:
I was still SO excited (note the Big Ben Picture) to be there despite the fact that my extremeties almost froze off and I pretty much lived in three layers of clothing for the whole two weeks we were there. We are in London in May this year so I am hoping it will be slightly warmer… but you never know – either way I’m so looking forward to exploring and touring and eating and catching up with family and friends before hitting the islands. In the meantime, I will keep pinning/pining over pics of London like these:
Ooooooo ek kan nie wag nie!!!!
Images: source
Went down to Durban for the weekend to watch South Africa play England at King’s Park. Here are some snaphots of the warmest (and increasingly, pretty) city in South Africa.
The city of Durban reflected in the glass walls of The Hilton. Yes, I leant out of the window of my room on the 13th floor to get this photograph. Super brave am I.
Sunrise over the sea. Just spectacular.
View from the Rooftop bar.
The most beautiful stadium in the world: Moses Mabhida
Reflections: me, gown, city, sea, sun.
Cruising along Umhlangha Ridge.
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