I doubt whether Fish Hoek has ever had so much excitement going on. It seems as though the South Peninsula is the place to be. First there was the practice run with the helicopters landing on the sportsfields, then the endless speculation about when they would arrive and where they were going. For me, the biggest excitement was the helicopters. I still go outside to look at any plane that goes past, even Boeings (and Airbuses, Linden).
Although it's pretty sleepy down this neck of the woods, quite a few people turned out to see them arrive and wave at the side of the road. Not me, I was up a ladder painting window frames. There aren't many people I would line the side of the road to see. Hmm...nope, can't think of any offhand. I prefer to observe celebrity from the comfort of my couch. I think its because I dislike the hype that robs them of their privacy and by leaving them to their own devices, let them try and lead a normal life.
I was fascinated to hear from various friends along the way who observed the cavalcade from their homes on the hillsides, that Michelle and the girls went to see the penguins while poor Dad had to do the official duties. Mind you, having smelled the penguins, I think he may have got the better end of the deal.
It's great that the weather was good, as we Capetonians love to show off our city, and I sincerely hope that their memories of the Mother City will only be good ones. They didn't come to my house for tea, but c'est la vie!
Sunday 30 June 2013
Testing social networking media
Sorry to use this for self-promotion, but that's what social networking is about, isn't it? Denied mainstream advertising by traditional publishing, the ordinary folk of this world (and sometimes not so ordinary) have discovered that their voices can be heard through modern technology which obviates the need for chopping down trees to make paper and enables you to be read on hand-held devices. Science can be marvellous!
To keep all you dear people who read this blog informed of an achievement of which I am really proud, I have published my first (non-fiction, niche market) book on Amazon through their amazingly (or is that Amazonly?) user-friendly service of publishing straight onto Kindle. You don't have to have a Kindle to buy the books, the software is freely available to download to phone or computer as I have done. An author page which is like a mini website is also provided and is another example of Amazon's fast and efficient service.
The book is called An Invitation to Think, and is just that. That is all I want you to do.
To keep all you dear people who read this blog informed of an achievement of which I am really proud, I have published my first (non-fiction, niche market) book on Amazon through their amazingly (or is that Amazonly?) user-friendly service of publishing straight onto Kindle. You don't have to have a Kindle to buy the books, the software is freely available to download to phone or computer as I have done. An author page which is like a mini website is also provided and is another example of Amazon's fast and efficient service.
The book is called An Invitation to Think, and is just that. That is all I want you to do.
Saturday 29 June 2013
Budget meals
Sorting through the bookshelves today, I came across some stories I wrote back in the early 80s. One in particular caught my fancy and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
The neighbour put out the pets' polony to thaw for their supper later that day. When she went to slice it some hours later, she couldn't find it anywhere. She asked her two teenage daughters, who had been in the kitchen making an afternoon snack after school, whether they had seen the polony, and they said, yes, they had eaten it all because it was so delicious. It had not occurred to them that it was pet food, as that wasn't their department in the household! She laughed till she cried, but they were less than amused, particularly when they found out that the main ingredient was pig's gullet!
Moral of the story (and it still applies today in particular): read the label of everything before you eat it!
And while we are discussing 'budget' meals, the other night I gave He Who Can Fix Anything baked beans on toast for supper. If you know him, you will realise that this is unheard of. I have always produced meat and 4 veg for dinner and a pudding - cold in summer and hot in winter, for the last 34 years, because that is what he likes. I can only say he must have mellowed in his old age, because he pronounced himself perfectly happy with the meal, and had milo for dessert. Looks like I'm being let out early for good behaviour! You can see from the picture that steam is rising from the beans, so it's not as if I didn't cook!
The neighbour put out the pets' polony to thaw for their supper later that day. When she went to slice it some hours later, she couldn't find it anywhere. She asked her two teenage daughters, who had been in the kitchen making an afternoon snack after school, whether they had seen the polony, and they said, yes, they had eaten it all because it was so delicious. It had not occurred to them that it was pet food, as that wasn't their department in the household! She laughed till she cried, but they were less than amused, particularly when they found out that the main ingredient was pig's gullet!
Moral of the story (and it still applies today in particular): read the label of everything before you eat it!
And while we are discussing 'budget' meals, the other night I gave He Who Can Fix Anything baked beans on toast for supper. If you know him, you will realise that this is unheard of. I have always produced meat and 4 veg for dinner and a pudding - cold in summer and hot in winter, for the last 34 years, because that is what he likes. I can only say he must have mellowed in his old age, because he pronounced himself perfectly happy with the meal, and had milo for dessert. Looks like I'm being let out early for good behaviour! You can see from the picture that steam is rising from the beans, so it's not as if I didn't cook!
Friday 28 June 2013
Dithering Daniel
The gardener came to work yesterday. He seemed to be in good shape, so I let him in and gave him his breakfast to get him off to a good start. The weather was perfect and sunny so I told him to cut the lawns and rake up the leaves on the bricks, but to leave the flower beds as I wanted the mulch to gather again. An hour later I went outside to see what he was up to and he was again on his knees in the flowerbed, scraping out the leaves. "Daniel, what are you doing?" "I'm picking up the leaves, but they keep falling off the tree!" We eventually established that that is what trees do and he should abandon that task as he shouldn't have been doing it in the first place. I think his short-term memory has gone!
I had to go out for a few hours and when I returned, I went to look for him - he had dug a massive hole against the back wall - I thought he was digging a grave for a horse - and had dumped all the leaves that he had raked up into this hole. "Daniel, what are you doing?" "I couldn't find any bags for the leaves, so I'm burying them!" I couldn't even begin to think what to say about that. Anyway, by the end of the day, the lawn was mown and all looked spic and span, so something had been achieved.
I then told him I didn't have his full wage, but he could come back the next day for the balance. That was fine, he said, then he wouldn't spend it all at once (at the off-sales). Today he was back to collect his money. Nothing wrong with his short-term memory today!
I had to go out for a few hours and when I returned, I went to look for him - he had dug a massive hole against the back wall - I thought he was digging a grave for a horse - and had dumped all the leaves that he had raked up into this hole. "Daniel, what are you doing?" "I couldn't find any bags for the leaves, so I'm burying them!" I couldn't even begin to think what to say about that. Anyway, by the end of the day, the lawn was mown and all looked spic and span, so something had been achieved.
I then told him I didn't have his full wage, but he could come back the next day for the balance. That was fine, he said, then he wouldn't spend it all at once (at the off-sales). Today he was back to collect his money. Nothing wrong with his short-term memory today!
Thursday 27 June 2013
Wimbledon woes
It's a sunny winter's day in Cape Town and now a rainy summer's day in London for Wimbledon. Not an unusual situation! We almost feel embarrassed by good weather down here, but it changes so quickly we never get to put away the summer clothes in winter or the winter clothes in summer. It snowed on top of Table Mountain one Christmas Day many years ago and people still talk about it!
Wimbledon has already become a damp squib for me, with the departure of Nadal. There is no one else I really enjoy watching (you may have noticed!) but the worst part is that Darcis is already out with an injury, so that was all for nothing. Sharapova is gone, and Federer and doubtless a few other top seeds in an event that must have the organisers scratching their heads on how to rearrange all the matches. Certainly nothing going the way they expected, I would imagine!
Here's a beautiful sunset from yesterday to cheer us all up!
Wimbledon has already become a damp squib for me, with the departure of Nadal. There is no one else I really enjoy watching (you may have noticed!) but the worst part is that Darcis is already out with an injury, so that was all for nothing. Sharapova is gone, and Federer and doubtless a few other top seeds in an event that must have the organisers scratching their heads on how to rearrange all the matches. Certainly nothing going the way they expected, I would imagine!
Here's a beautiful sunset from yesterday to cheer us all up!
Wednesday 26 June 2013
Toasters and tomatoes
My toaster popped its last piece of toast the other day, and despite He Who Can Fix Anything's most valiant efforts, it was declared beyond salvation, particularly as a new one only costs R129. I scratched around in the pot drawer, where I knew we had one of those toasters you use on the gas, and we used that for a few days, but the time it took and the amount of gas used made the exercise fairly pointless.
So I hied me off to Clicks and bought a lovely new toaster, which came with a 3-page manual on how to use it - admittedly most of it was the usual warnings on not to use it in the bath or pull the plug out by the cord, but please, can there really be anybody in the world who needs instructions on a toaster? I can only imagine this is to cover themselves again lawsuits from the relatives of people who have electrocuted themselves.
While I was at the mall, I decided to have an early lunch of scrambled egg and rye, which came with cherry tomatoes. You will be familiar with the difficulty involved in piercing the skin of a tomato with anything less than a surgeon's scalpel, and I stabbed ineffectually at one with the prongs of a fork. Of course, the pressure caused the slightly cooked tomato to explode and send a projectile of juice and seeds a considerable distance. I managed to mop up the mess on the bench seat next to me, but couldn't bring myself to lean over and wipe the sleeve of the old lady at the table next door. I was barely able to control my laughter as she mopped at the splatter on the table in front of her, seemingly unaware of what it was or where it came from. The reason she seemed a bit out of it was because her companion, a woman somewhat younger than her, had not stopped talking since they sat down, and it was all about tigers. She had read somewhere that a man had kept a tiger in his flat for 5 years without anyone knowing and she said: "Now tell me that nobody heard the tiger roar?" Have you ever heard a tiger roar? I was already sniggering into my scrambled eggs, so the tomato juice story just made everything worse. By then I had had enough of the tiger saga and her droning, so I paid the bill and scuttled off before anything else untoward happened.
I'm pleased to say I successfully made 3 slices of toast without any incident!
So I hied me off to Clicks and bought a lovely new toaster, which came with a 3-page manual on how to use it - admittedly most of it was the usual warnings on not to use it in the bath or pull the plug out by the cord, but please, can there really be anybody in the world who needs instructions on a toaster? I can only imagine this is to cover themselves again lawsuits from the relatives of people who have electrocuted themselves.
While I was at the mall, I decided to have an early lunch of scrambled egg and rye, which came with cherry tomatoes. You will be familiar with the difficulty involved in piercing the skin of a tomato with anything less than a surgeon's scalpel, and I stabbed ineffectually at one with the prongs of a fork. Of course, the pressure caused the slightly cooked tomato to explode and send a projectile of juice and seeds a considerable distance. I managed to mop up the mess on the bench seat next to me, but couldn't bring myself to lean over and wipe the sleeve of the old lady at the table next door. I was barely able to control my laughter as she mopped at the splatter on the table in front of her, seemingly unaware of what it was or where it came from. The reason she seemed a bit out of it was because her companion, a woman somewhat younger than her, had not stopped talking since they sat down, and it was all about tigers. She had read somewhere that a man had kept a tiger in his flat for 5 years without anyone knowing and she said: "Now tell me that nobody heard the tiger roar?" Have you ever heard a tiger roar? I was already sniggering into my scrambled eggs, so the tomato juice story just made everything worse. By then I had had enough of the tiger saga and her droning, so I paid the bill and scuttled off before anything else untoward happened.
I'm pleased to say I successfully made 3 slices of toast without any incident!
 |
| A camping toaster |
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Eating out again!?
Another sublime Kerula Prawn Curry at the Pickled Fish at Imhoff Farm. A friend who shares my passion for this particular dish is leaving on a cycling holiday in the Netherlands tomorrow and didn't feel like cooking tonight, so had the bright idea to go out for dinner on a sometimes wet and windy evening. Despite two extremely short (perhaps 30 seconds) and very heavy rain showers on the way, the evening air was surprisingly mild and some stars and a couple of planets shone down on us as we strolled through the farm courtyard. We weren't the only patrons who had the prawn curry - apparently a very popular dish.
As usual, I left my bag (open - I never zip it up) on the floor next to me, and some time during the evening I looked down and saw one of the biggest cats I have ever seen neatly curled up inside the bag. Not quite the cat in the hat! It looked so happy there I didn't bother to turf it out, and when I eventually dug both hands in underneath it, it kind of rolled like a large bean bag onto the cold concrete floor, glared at me and immediately dived back into the bag!
I suspect it was hoping for a spare prawn, but I'm afraid the dining was too sumptuous to share with a cat - we almost licked the plates!
For dessert, which we really didn't need, we shared the Cape Brandy Pudding. It was a pleasingly modest-sized portion of moist sponge which may have been steamed (it had such a good texture) with generous dates and nuts added in the traditional manner. Well worth the extra exercise that will be needed.
Don't hold back if you are looking for a really excellent dining experience - this is the place to go!
As usual, I left my bag (open - I never zip it up) on the floor next to me, and some time during the evening I looked down and saw one of the biggest cats I have ever seen neatly curled up inside the bag. Not quite the cat in the hat! It looked so happy there I didn't bother to turf it out, and when I eventually dug both hands in underneath it, it kind of rolled like a large bean bag onto the cold concrete floor, glared at me and immediately dived back into the bag!
For dessert, which we really didn't need, we shared the Cape Brandy Pudding. It was a pleasingly modest-sized portion of moist sponge which may have been steamed (it had such a good texture) with generous dates and nuts added in the traditional manner. Well worth the extra exercise that will be needed.
Don't hold back if you are looking for a really excellent dining experience - this is the place to go!
Monday 24 June 2013
Breaking the ice
What a start to the day! This morning at 8.30 I was due to give my Icebreaker speech at Toastmasters Breakfast Club which has already been put off once due to flu. I got up early so that I would have at least 40 minutes to get to Fish Hoek, which is the required amount of time due to traffic congestion in the mornings. As I drive up my road, the car just cruised to a halt and wouldn't restart. As my small amount of luck would have it, He Who Can Fix Anything was still at home and so I phoned him in a panic about the lack of transport and the time factor, but as usual, there was no answer. I phoned K and again, no answer - probably had her headphones on - so there I sat 50m down the road with rain pending! Bah!
I stomped back home in my high heels (you have to dress up for Toastmasters) only to find I had left the gate remote in the car and had to shout to draw some attention to myself. This is what happens when you don't have a bell at the gate - useful sometimes but not when you are on the wrong side. Suffice to say, within a few minutes the jumper pack (a very handy portable battery with leads) had sorted out the problem, but I still had to stop and put in petrol in case I cruised to a halt in a rather less salubrious area later on.
What luck! No one else at the garage! R50 later (so it wouldn't take too long - it's not quite up to the standards of an F1 pitstop) I was on my way with 25 minutes to spare. And more luck - school holidays, so no traffic! Hmmm - that rather points to the congestion culprits, methinks.
As I drove to Fish Hoek, I said my speech out loud by way of practice. I was still composing the final details as I lay awake in the early hours. I was first up, and it wasn't long before I realised that the story I was telling was quite different to the one I had practised in the car, and that it was so much better than the original idea. I went on way past the red light (we are timed) despite my worries that I wouldn't find enough to say.
I am thrilled to say that what I thought was going to turn out to be a nerve-wracking disaster was a great experience and the positive feedback made all the effort totally worth it. I'm almost ready for the next one!
I stomped back home in my high heels (you have to dress up for Toastmasters) only to find I had left the gate remote in the car and had to shout to draw some attention to myself. This is what happens when you don't have a bell at the gate - useful sometimes but not when you are on the wrong side. Suffice to say, within a few minutes the jumper pack (a very handy portable battery with leads) had sorted out the problem, but I still had to stop and put in petrol in case I cruised to a halt in a rather less salubrious area later on.
What luck! No one else at the garage! R50 later (so it wouldn't take too long - it's not quite up to the standards of an F1 pitstop) I was on my way with 25 minutes to spare. And more luck - school holidays, so no traffic! Hmmm - that rather points to the congestion culprits, methinks.
As I drove to Fish Hoek, I said my speech out loud by way of practice. I was still composing the final details as I lay awake in the early hours. I was first up, and it wasn't long before I realised that the story I was telling was quite different to the one I had practised in the car, and that it was so much better than the original idea. I went on way past the red light (we are timed) despite my worries that I wouldn't find enough to say.
I am thrilled to say that what I thought was going to turn out to be a nerve-wracking disaster was a great experience and the positive feedback made all the effort totally worth it. I'm almost ready for the next one!
Sunday 23 June 2013
Sunny Sunday
The clouds were undecided today. Should they come or should they go? As the sun sets off Kommetjie, they have mostly dissipated, leaving the mountains on this side of the Peninsula bathed in a gentle golden light. As the sun sets, the moon (full at some time last night/today) will rise over False Bay, treating those who face East to a spectacular sight and doubtless there will be many photographs of the silvery reflection across the bay - the north-west wind always flattens the surface, making moonlight shots so special.
The angle of the sun is such that it is reflecting off the windows of the cableway on top of Table Mountain - the only few days of the years this happens at sunset. Always my favourite view.
We took the dogs down to Scarborough this afternoon in the Mini and I took a photo of the car before walking down the mountainside with the dogs on their leads. In the melee, I unfortunately pocket-dialled (I think that's the polite term!) my son in London and it was only when I held the phone up to take another picture that I could see I was connected to him! "Hullo? Hullo? Did you phone me?" Oh dear! "Have a nice day - can't afford this call!" was all I had to say. I didn't feel bad because he can phone me for very little, but I think that minute and a half in my pocket cost me about R30! Just my luck to pocket-dial an international number.
Of course, he thought it was funny!
The angle of the sun is such that it is reflecting off the windows of the cableway on top of Table Mountain - the only few days of the years this happens at sunset. Always my favourite view.
We took the dogs down to Scarborough this afternoon in the Mini and I took a photo of the car before walking down the mountainside with the dogs on their leads. In the melee, I unfortunately pocket-dialled (I think that's the polite term!) my son in London and it was only when I held the phone up to take another picture that I could see I was connected to him! "Hullo? Hullo? Did you phone me?" Oh dear! "Have a nice day - can't afford this call!" was all I had to say. I didn't feel bad because he can phone me for very little, but I think that minute and a half in my pocket cost me about R30! Just my luck to pocket-dial an international number.
Of course, he thought it was funny!
Saturday 22 June 2013
The decor is done!
At last! The bedroom renovation is complete and K is once again safely ensconced at her end of the house, leaving the lounge bed-free and the couches once more accessible. What a transformation - after 12 years of dark blue walls and ceiling and blinds, the room is now a symphony of savannah colours and soft drapery. He Who Can Fix Anything now wants to move back into that wing, but he's got no chance. The only place he's moving to would be downstairs into his garage.
I am very comfortably set up with my writing space, art studio and balcony for viewing the stars right outside my bedroom, and with a view of the sea and Table Mountain. I will definitely not be relocating any time soon. The redecoration has inspired some much-needed maintenance and HWCFA now spends weekends climbing up and down a ladder removing and re-installing windows. On the inside, I am kept busy cleaning up the copious dust that he is creating with the sanding machine - of course none of it blows out of the windows! We have five big windows left to do so this job should be finished by Spring. Then the walls have to be woodguarded, which is no joke for a double storey. I'm beginning to think there are plenty of advantages to not owning property!
There was time when I longed to live on board a yacht in a harbour, but the years have flown by and the attraction has waned somewhat - and I have no ambition to go sailing on anything rougher than a pond. A more realistic scenario would be a nice big mobile home like the Winnebago or perhaps those massive vehicles that racing drivers and rock stars tour in. The only problem is trying to park at Pick n Pay. Apart from that, I think it would be the ultimate way of life, particularly for travelling the world.
Maybe it's not too late!
I am very comfortably set up with my writing space, art studio and balcony for viewing the stars right outside my bedroom, and with a view of the sea and Table Mountain. I will definitely not be relocating any time soon. The redecoration has inspired some much-needed maintenance and HWCFA now spends weekends climbing up and down a ladder removing and re-installing windows. On the inside, I am kept busy cleaning up the copious dust that he is creating with the sanding machine - of course none of it blows out of the windows! We have five big windows left to do so this job should be finished by Spring. Then the walls have to be woodguarded, which is no joke for a double storey. I'm beginning to think there are plenty of advantages to not owning property!
There was time when I longed to live on board a yacht in a harbour, but the years have flown by and the attraction has waned somewhat - and I have no ambition to go sailing on anything rougher than a pond. A more realistic scenario would be a nice big mobile home like the Winnebago or perhaps those massive vehicles that racing drivers and rock stars tour in. The only problem is trying to park at Pick n Pay. Apart from that, I think it would be the ultimate way of life, particularly for travelling the world.
Maybe it's not too late!
Friday 21 June 2013
Solstitial soliloquy or suchlike
It's the solstice, the change from a temperate season to an extreme season. In the northern hemisphere they are hoping for summer, while down here at the tip of Africa we know it's winter. And yet our winter is not extreme, as there is no further landmass between us and the Antarctic for us to live on. If you look at a map of the world you will notice that Africa, despite being the 2nd largest continent (no, it's not a country although the rest of the world seems to think so), it is packed fairly compactly into the temperate zones of the planet. Perhaps this is why desertification is so rife as we go through another cycle of global warming - after all, it has all happened before, although no one seems to have been here to record it or even perhaps survive it.
Our situation at the foot of Africa means we don't experience the terribly short, dark days of a winter in the lower-numbered latitudes such as Europe and Patagonia, but we lose out on those wonderful warm, late nights of summer in those regions, where outdoor activities carry on till 9pm or later. I just loved experiencing the long evenings in Paris last year.
Life is made up of contrasts - hot/cold, windy/still, dry/wet - and without these opposites, we wouldn't appreciate either. I wonder if those who live on the Equator ever long for a shorter night or day and a greater variation in temperature - talking about sea level here! I know that by the end of summer I am looking forward to autumn and winter always turns my thoughts to never far off spring.
I reckon the long days of summer are sent as a reward for the bleak winters of Europe, and that the British Empire was a long-term plan to get away from that soggy little island!
Our situation at the foot of Africa means we don't experience the terribly short, dark days of a winter in the lower-numbered latitudes such as Europe and Patagonia, but we lose out on those wonderful warm, late nights of summer in those regions, where outdoor activities carry on till 9pm or later. I just loved experiencing the long evenings in Paris last year.
Life is made up of contrasts - hot/cold, windy/still, dry/wet - and without these opposites, we wouldn't appreciate either. I wonder if those who live on the Equator ever long for a shorter night or day and a greater variation in temperature - talking about sea level here! I know that by the end of summer I am looking forward to autumn and winter always turns my thoughts to never far off spring.
I reckon the long days of summer are sent as a reward for the bleak winters of Europe, and that the British Empire was a long-term plan to get away from that soggy little island!
Thursday 20 June 2013
Big seas off Kommetjie
A day of varied weather! Started off with mountainous seas and a bit of wind. Took the dogs for a briskish walk along the sea front towards the lighthouse and enjoy the blustery conditions. I always get completely carried away by the power and size of the breakers - it seems as if I will never get tired of watching stormy seas, sunrises and sunsets. I take hundreds of photos, but somehow they do not translate into a replication of the real thing. It probably has something to do with only using my cellphone to take pictures and long distance landscapes don't always come out as desired.
Although these pictures are deceptive, this sea was really big, especially considering it was still low tide, but the bottom picture shows what the weather was about 6 hours later - makes choosing your clothing somewhat difficult.
I'm sure that if it weren't for digital photography, we would hardly click a shutter and spend hours composing the picture, due to the cost of developing the film. But digital allows for almost constant clicking, with the result that spontaneity and freshness along with an element of surprise are evident in a lot of photos, particularly in action shots, and this has opened up a whole new world of creativity for thousands of people who might never have known they had it in them. The only thing is, it requires self-discipline to keep on deleting the photos you don't need - otherwise it becomes like that drawer that everyone seems to have, the one with the photos that have never made it into an album!
My enthusiasm for the sea has resulted in a huge collection of pretty much the same shots, from the same path in Kommetjie, year after year, and one of my projects will be to make an album of that scene over time, a documentary of the ever-changing face of nature's most powerful element.
I'm sure that if it weren't for digital photography, we would hardly click a shutter and spend hours composing the picture, due to the cost of developing the film. But digital allows for almost constant clicking, with the result that spontaneity and freshness along with an element of surprise are evident in a lot of photos, particularly in action shots, and this has opened up a whole new world of creativity for thousands of people who might never have known they had it in them. The only thing is, it requires self-discipline to keep on deleting the photos you don't need - otherwise it becomes like that drawer that everyone seems to have, the one with the photos that have never made it into an album!
My enthusiasm for the sea has resulted in a huge collection of pretty much the same shots, from the same path in Kommetjie, year after year, and one of my projects will be to make an album of that scene over time, a documentary of the ever-changing face of nature's most powerful element.
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Nocturnal and diurnal wanderers
The front garden is taking quite a beating from the local wildlife! Not only do we have the porcupines to contend with as they dig shallow holes everywhere in the grass, rooting out the onion weeds and pockmarking the surface enough to turn your ankle, but now the throwing mole or mole rat has returned after an absence of many years. These destructive and, I understand, verminous diggers can throw enough soil out with their volcano-like mounds to completely remove what you thought was under the grass, and you can put your foot down their burrows with no difficulty. The last one was chased off by putting some kind of silver ball down the hole and stuffing newspaper in before the fumes start to spread. So far there are four mounds, and time will tell which direction they are going in - hopefully down the road and not closer to the house.
The guineafowl and francolins also wreak havoc as they scratch among the plants and create dust bowls faster than a drought can kill the grass. I try to contain the damage by putting down mixed grain in the middle of the gravel driveway, but on a hot day they just love a dust bath.
Without wanting to speak too soon and court disaster, it seems that putting out a bowl of water for the porcupines has solved the problem of them digging under the fence to bite through the irrigation system, and the new neighbour has plugged the tunnels that were dug to gain access to my place, which has also helped. They have also taken a fancy to the bird seed in the driveway which might make a good study for someone's thesis!
We haven't seen a baboon for months, largely due, I would suspect, to the seemingly unstoppable culling by the so-called baboon managers. If killing them is managing them, I can think of better candidates for the chop rather than ridding us of the raiders who really keep us on our toes with regard to security in the home. If it's baboon-proof, it's probably burglar-proof.
I still miss my tortoises, which escaped during the great porcupine raids of last year, but I never really liked to restrict them to a life in captivity. I only hope they have not ended up in someone else's garden after their dash for freedom!
The guineafowl and francolins also wreak havoc as they scratch among the plants and create dust bowls faster than a drought can kill the grass. I try to contain the damage by putting down mixed grain in the middle of the gravel driveway, but on a hot day they just love a dust bath.
Without wanting to speak too soon and court disaster, it seems that putting out a bowl of water for the porcupines has solved the problem of them digging under the fence to bite through the irrigation system, and the new neighbour has plugged the tunnels that were dug to gain access to my place, which has also helped. They have also taken a fancy to the bird seed in the driveway which might make a good study for someone's thesis!
We haven't seen a baboon for months, largely due, I would suspect, to the seemingly unstoppable culling by the so-called baboon managers. If killing them is managing them, I can think of better candidates for the chop rather than ridding us of the raiders who really keep us on our toes with regard to security in the home. If it's baboon-proof, it's probably burglar-proof.
I still miss my tortoises, which escaped during the great porcupine raids of last year, but I never really liked to restrict them to a life in captivity. I only hope they have not ended up in someone else's garden after their dash for freedom!
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Out for dinner again!
Out to dinner two nights in a row! Talk about living the high life! Six months or more can go by without anything exciting happening and now all together. Last night was a family birthday where I consumed nothing that formed part of my favoured diet and consequently lay awake the whole night (3 hours' sleep). That'll teach me to eat chocolate cake.
Tonight it is Thai chicken curry and rice, my ideal choice, and live theatre, so plenty to look forward to. Different crowd, so am wearing the same outfit after a quick though unnecessary launder - no wild partying, dancing on tables or wine-throwing last night. Came home as clean as I went. Hopefully tonight will be more of the same - it's my first Toastmasters dinner, so how they let their hair down will be revealed soon.
After a blustery start to the day with temperatures in the upper twenties, it has suddenly become very cool and cloudy, and will no doubt rain as we step out of the car in the carpark.
Otherwise I have spent the day gainfully employed for a change, hard at it at the computer, and have even advanced my novel by 700 words, so I feel I have earned an evening's fun. Will let you know.
Tonight it is Thai chicken curry and rice, my ideal choice, and live theatre, so plenty to look forward to. Different crowd, so am wearing the same outfit after a quick though unnecessary launder - no wild partying, dancing on tables or wine-throwing last night. Came home as clean as I went. Hopefully tonight will be more of the same - it's my first Toastmasters dinner, so how they let their hair down will be revealed soon.
After a blustery start to the day with temperatures in the upper twenties, it has suddenly become very cool and cloudy, and will no doubt rain as we step out of the car in the carpark.
Otherwise I have spent the day gainfully employed for a change, hard at it at the computer, and have even advanced my novel by 700 words, so I feel I have earned an evening's fun. Will let you know.
Monday 17 June 2013
Blue Water Cafe, Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie
On a day such as today, when the weather in Cape Town is unparalleled, there can be no better place to enjoy brunch than from the balcony of the Blue Water Cafe. The sweeping panorama from the Sentinel in Hout Bay across the valley to the Fish Hoek mountains is still a scene of rural splendour, despite Man's best efforts to desecrate the valley with overdevelopment and inappropriate settlements. It is still possible to visualise what it must have been like in centuries past, when the valley was used for farming to provision the ships that called in at the Cape en route to and from the East, and Simon's Town in particular.
I ordered the Eggs Benedict - you may by now know that this is my favourite eating-out breakfast. It lived up to the high standards set by chef patron, Graham Isaacson, whose expert touch is evident in all the dishes served at the restaurants at this welcoming venue. The bacon was crispy and the rosti well-textured and tasty, the Hollandaise light and delicate. A garnish of fresh baby leaves from the herb garden and a drizzle of flavoursome oil provided the perfect finishing touch to lift this dish above the ordinary, and creating a taste sensation. Although I would have preferred softer eggs, this is in no way a criticism, as it is a personal preference and not one shared by many.
I wasn't the only one savouring the Eggs Benedict, judging by the plates passing by, and I will definitely be back, as I'm sure you will too!
I ordered the Eggs Benedict - you may by now know that this is my favourite eating-out breakfast. It lived up to the high standards set by chef patron, Graham Isaacson, whose expert touch is evident in all the dishes served at the restaurants at this welcoming venue. The bacon was crispy and the rosti well-textured and tasty, the Hollandaise light and delicate. A garnish of fresh baby leaves from the herb garden and a drizzle of flavoursome oil provided the perfect finishing touch to lift this dish above the ordinary, and creating a taste sensation. Although I would have preferred softer eggs, this is in no way a criticism, as it is a personal preference and not one shared by many.
I wasn't the only one savouring the Eggs Benedict, judging by the plates passing by, and I will definitely be back, as I'm sure you will too!
Sunday 16 June 2013
Birds in the bush
A pair of double-collared sunbirds have been busy nest-building outside my window for the past week. They are creating a veritable palace, securely attached in a fork of the branch and sheltered from rain and wind by a curtain of thick greenery. They are lining the nest with the softest downy pigeon feathers and bits of fluff from our doggies, so the minute little bird that hatches in that nest will be in nestling heaven. I have no idea why they are nesting before winter and hope that all their plans will come to fruition.
The main concern is whether Felix le Chat will raid the nest, as she must surely have noticed the activity. She uses the tree next to the nest as a ladder up to the balcony, from where she leaps up onto the roof of the house to ensure that no pigeons breed successfully up there. Very handy in that respect, but would hate her to catch a little sunbird. Perhaps it would be too small to be of any interest.
There was mayhem in the myrtle yesterday as a flock of grey-headed sparrows vied with Cape bulbuls, a couple of sunbirds and a lone bou-bou shrike for the berries from the same branch. At first I thought they might be attacking a snake in the hedge, but it turned out to be jostling for position.
Outside the kitchen window, the black-headed heron is once again stalking in its own peculiar way, swaying on its stick-like legs while stretching its long neck forward. I have once seen it swallowing a small snake, which I found most revolting. So pleased not to be a heron.
Last night the porcupines were in the driveway after midnight, not digging up bulbs or eating the vegetable scraps I put out, but eating the bird seed and grains that I put out for the pigeons. Seems like their is no end to their voracious appetites and they will eat just about anything. I fear they may go the same way as the baboons eventually, with humans pushing them out of their natural habitat.
The main concern is whether Felix le Chat will raid the nest, as she must surely have noticed the activity. She uses the tree next to the nest as a ladder up to the balcony, from where she leaps up onto the roof of the house to ensure that no pigeons breed successfully up there. Very handy in that respect, but would hate her to catch a little sunbird. Perhaps it would be too small to be of any interest.
There was mayhem in the myrtle yesterday as a flock of grey-headed sparrows vied with Cape bulbuls, a couple of sunbirds and a lone bou-bou shrike for the berries from the same branch. At first I thought they might be attacking a snake in the hedge, but it turned out to be jostling for position.
Outside the kitchen window, the black-headed heron is once again stalking in its own peculiar way, swaying on its stick-like legs while stretching its long neck forward. I have once seen it swallowing a small snake, which I found most revolting. So pleased not to be a heron.
Last night the porcupines were in the driveway after midnight, not digging up bulbs or eating the vegetable scraps I put out, but eating the bird seed and grains that I put out for the pigeons. Seems like their is no end to their voracious appetites and they will eat just about anything. I fear they may go the same way as the baboons eventually, with humans pushing them out of their natural habitat.
Saturday 15 June 2013
Sending things out into the universe
Warmer weather has set in for a while, so spent the afternoon on a sunny balcony tidying up my little manuscript - sent it off to a publisher for comment, so can expect to hear in three months' time. No matter what the outcome, it will be published before the end of the year in whatever format I decide, but obviously first prize is having someone else do it for me! Time will tell and it's been thrown out into the universe for a decision.
Now I can concentrate on finishing the big one - time for some self-discipline and alone time. Perhaps a few weeks away from home...? In some far distant clime...? Ah, well, no harm in dreaming.
Venus and Mercury were pretty in the sky just after sunset as they do a celestial dance every evening. This evening was the first clear view in days, and after the moon has set around midnight will be a good time for those of you who want to don a woolly cap and large jacket to observe the spectaculousness (!) of the southern skies at this time of the year. Binoculars will be handy if you want to spot satellites and if you see three in formation, you're being spied on. However, I'm sure that our small little lives will be of no interest to the CIA or FBI or whatever Big Brother is seeking to control, and you can moon them with impunity! (Pun intended.)
Every day, astronomers and other scientists are discovering more and more about the universe beyond our solar system and each new discovery is showing how little we really do know. Remember that anything is possible and that every atom that makes up the universe, every wave and particle, dark matter or light matter and things that have still to be discovered and named, both visible and invisible, hold the same importance in the greater scheme of things.
Now I can concentrate on finishing the big one - time for some self-discipline and alone time. Perhaps a few weeks away from home...? In some far distant clime...? Ah, well, no harm in dreaming.
Venus and Mercury were pretty in the sky just after sunset as they do a celestial dance every evening. This evening was the first clear view in days, and after the moon has set around midnight will be a good time for those of you who want to don a woolly cap and large jacket to observe the spectaculousness (!) of the southern skies at this time of the year. Binoculars will be handy if you want to spot satellites and if you see three in formation, you're being spied on. However, I'm sure that our small little lives will be of no interest to the CIA or FBI or whatever Big Brother is seeking to control, and you can moon them with impunity! (Pun intended.)
Every day, astronomers and other scientists are discovering more and more about the universe beyond our solar system and each new discovery is showing how little we really do know. Remember that anything is possible and that every atom that makes up the universe, every wave and particle, dark matter or light matter and things that have still to be discovered and named, both visible and invisible, hold the same importance in the greater scheme of things.
Friday 14 June 2013
Flamingos were almost flamingone!
For a few days, the flamingos had flamingone! However, some have trickled back and I believe the rest are enjoying a bit of R and R down at the vlei in the middle of Long Beach just beyond the wreck of the Kakapo. So they're not too far off and hopefully will come back when the weather is less inclement.
He Who Can Fix Anything has come down with a much nastier dose of the flu than I have had, which is fortunate as you know men need to be cosseted when ill. Imagine if I was bedridden as well. So he is getting a steady supply of food and liquids, with medicine both homeopathic and conventional in alternate doses. Unfortunately the only real cure is bed rest, so that is what he will be doing for the long weekend.
The best description for the sea off Kommetjie would be 'lumpy'. The swells are gigantic, but lumpy, as the surface seems to be heaving up and down rather than being blown in a particular direction. Heavy rain is once again interspersed with bright sunshine, but don't be fooled - there is no warmth in this sun. I went off to get myself a woolly hat after all these years of earache when walking along the beachfront. You might have thought it would have occurred to me before! It is a kind of beret that can be adjusted to hang in any direction, so still trying out the most fetching aspect. How vain - lol!
He Who Can Fix Anything has come down with a much nastier dose of the flu than I have had, which is fortunate as you know men need to be cosseted when ill. Imagine if I was bedridden as well. So he is getting a steady supply of food and liquids, with medicine both homeopathic and conventional in alternate doses. Unfortunately the only real cure is bed rest, so that is what he will be doing for the long weekend.
The best description for the sea off Kommetjie would be 'lumpy'. The swells are gigantic, but lumpy, as the surface seems to be heaving up and down rather than being blown in a particular direction. Heavy rain is once again interspersed with bright sunshine, but don't be fooled - there is no warmth in this sun. I went off to get myself a woolly hat after all these years of earache when walking along the beachfront. You might have thought it would have occurred to me before! It is a kind of beret that can be adjusted to hang in any direction, so still trying out the most fetching aspect. How vain - lol!
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| View towards Hout Bay - Table Mountain between two palms blowing in the wind |
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| Looking severe in the icy wind! |
Extremely grateful to be living in a warm little house with hot running water and a fridge of food and a stove to cook it on! Even more grateful for being capable of providing it.
Thursday 13 June 2013
Astronomical outburst
It seems that the City Council is hell-bent on replacing every streetlight in Kommetjie with those invasive sodium lights that cast a vast pool of orange glow in every direction. I now have one in the street in front of the house and another down the side that shines onto my balcony. This is where I use my 8" astronomical telescope for galaxy spotting, but the new light is fatal for night vision. The neighbour has just chopped down all the trees that previously blocked out the white light from the pole, taking away an almost perfect viewing platform. It looks as though my stargazing days (or nights) are numbered.
It used to be very dark on the balcony, with no neighbours leaving on outside lights, but that has also changed with the advent of new neighbours on two sides (my viewing sides) and there are two halogen spotlights that light up the back yard all night from a cottage at the rear.
The last thing that would enter people's heads, it appears, is that anyone would actually like a bit of darkness at night. For amateur astronomers like myself, the decisions made unilaterally by persons unknown who sit behind desks and wield unjustified power over the general populace are another thing the world could do without.
The paranoia that exists over crime is the cause of all this extra illumination, but I feel sure that a survey on whether an outside light serves as a deterrent to burglars would yield interesting results. My feeling is that we are making it easier for them to spot the way in and any hazards that might be encountered on the way. If we made less use of light and employed trip-wires and other booby-trap devices and infrared beams, they might prove better deterrents.
So until further notice, I won't be out there in the early hours of the morning, searching the skies for satellites, space stations or spy planes. I will be knocking together a portable observatory, something along the lines of a large portaloo I would imagine, with a lid that pops off for the telescope to peep through. Come to think of it, the portaloo would come in handy after a long night of drinking coffee!
It used to be very dark on the balcony, with no neighbours leaving on outside lights, but that has also changed with the advent of new neighbours on two sides (my viewing sides) and there are two halogen spotlights that light up the back yard all night from a cottage at the rear.
The last thing that would enter people's heads, it appears, is that anyone would actually like a bit of darkness at night. For amateur astronomers like myself, the decisions made unilaterally by persons unknown who sit behind desks and wield unjustified power over the general populace are another thing the world could do without.
The paranoia that exists over crime is the cause of all this extra illumination, but I feel sure that a survey on whether an outside light serves as a deterrent to burglars would yield interesting results. My feeling is that we are making it easier for them to spot the way in and any hazards that might be encountered on the way. If we made less use of light and employed trip-wires and other booby-trap devices and infrared beams, they might prove better deterrents.
So until further notice, I won't be out there in the early hours of the morning, searching the skies for satellites, space stations or spy planes. I will be knocking together a portable observatory, something along the lines of a large portaloo I would imagine, with a lid that pops off for the telescope to peep through. Come to think of it, the portaloo would come in handy after a long night of drinking coffee!
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Domestic issues
Made vegetable soup for supper. Filled the pot too full and went off to do something else, as usual. When I returned to the kitchen, it looked as though someone had vomited all over the stove after eating finely diced vegetables - I'm sure you get the picture. Anyway, after all that was cleaned up, the soup level had reduced enough to continue cooking and I then blitzed it and it became a much smoother version. Did the taste test and as usual it tasted like nothing, despite having a few pieces of shin in it and copious amounts of a variety of seasonings. What is it about vegetable soup that is so boring? Anyway, K dollied it up and it then became acceptable enough. But I will rather stick to pea soup in future, because that always comes out fantastically for some reason.
The painting is nearly complete and curtains and new bedding have been acquired. K will be living in a transformed space of light and tasteful decor, while I continue to make do with an odd assortment of Sheet Street specials. It's a case of either living in style without animals or getting your knickers in a knot. I have always gone the route of making sure that anything that gets destroyed won't be worth getting upset over! K thinks I am mad, and that is quite possibly so, but I always thought that everyone, including the animals, would eventually grow up and leave home and I could then do everything my way, but that hasn't happened.
Perhaps it's me who will have to grow up and leave home? Now there's a thought...
The painting is nearly complete and curtains and new bedding have been acquired. K will be living in a transformed space of light and tasteful decor, while I continue to make do with an odd assortment of Sheet Street specials. It's a case of either living in style without animals or getting your knickers in a knot. I have always gone the route of making sure that anything that gets destroyed won't be worth getting upset over! K thinks I am mad, and that is quite possibly so, but I always thought that everyone, including the animals, would eventually grow up and leave home and I could then do everything my way, but that hasn't happened.
Perhaps it's me who will have to grow up and leave home? Now there's a thought...
Tuesday 11 June 2013
A bit of this and a bit of that...
After a couple of typical sunny, windless June days, the weather is turning again in Cape Town. A sheet of cloud is moving in from the south-west, looking like the melting ice-floes of the Arctic - very pretty and no chance of a polar bear falling out of the sky.
Today we woke up and the flamingos had gone. Hopefully it is only temporary and they will return to bring cheer to our daily lives - not that we don't have plenty already, but they are such entertaining and attractive birds.
Went poking around a new 'antique' shop in Fish Hoek today, not looking for anything for myself, but on a Persian carpet hunt with my sister. I have to say that there wasn't the usual assortment of cast off rubbish that you sometimes find in these shops and can never imagine who in their right mind would take it home. We took home two silk/wool runners and a revolving hat stand after enjoying a cup of coffee as part of the deal, served in delicate porcelain cups. The entire place is laid out as a home and is well worth a browse if you are looking to add to an already eclectic decor. It is rather better quality than the proliferation of such shops in nearby Kalk Bay.
Back at my sister's house, we laid out the loot for final decisions and then had a light lunch on the balcony overlooking the beach and False Bay, encompassing the mountains from Stellenbosch almost to Hangklip. Fishing boats chugged their way back into the safety of the harbour at Kalk Bay and earlier in the day a pod of dusky dolphins had frolicked in the shallows.
All in all, a restful day which nonetheless did include a few hours' real work by me on the computer when I got home. The painting of the room has now reached its final stages and I have abdicated all responsibilities in that area. I prefer to be the chief cook and bottlewasher. Supper is ready and I'm starving - chicken and rice - now there's a surprise!
Today we woke up and the flamingos had gone. Hopefully it is only temporary and they will return to bring cheer to our daily lives - not that we don't have plenty already, but they are such entertaining and attractive birds.
Went poking around a new 'antique' shop in Fish Hoek today, not looking for anything for myself, but on a Persian carpet hunt with my sister. I have to say that there wasn't the usual assortment of cast off rubbish that you sometimes find in these shops and can never imagine who in their right mind would take it home. We took home two silk/wool runners and a revolving hat stand after enjoying a cup of coffee as part of the deal, served in delicate porcelain cups. The entire place is laid out as a home and is well worth a browse if you are looking to add to an already eclectic decor. It is rather better quality than the proliferation of such shops in nearby Kalk Bay.
Back at my sister's house, we laid out the loot for final decisions and then had a light lunch on the balcony overlooking the beach and False Bay, encompassing the mountains from Stellenbosch almost to Hangklip. Fishing boats chugged their way back into the safety of the harbour at Kalk Bay and earlier in the day a pod of dusky dolphins had frolicked in the shallows.
All in all, a restful day which nonetheless did include a few hours' real work by me on the computer when I got home. The painting of the room has now reached its final stages and I have abdicated all responsibilities in that area. I prefer to be the chief cook and bottlewasher. Supper is ready and I'm starving - chicken and rice - now there's a surprise!
Monday 10 June 2013
Different dinners
To the right is Day 34 of rice and chicken! I eat this twice a day (with only some minor infringements), as it is the most easily digestible food while my insides sort themselves out. I season it with Herbs de Provence and throw in some quinoa which gives the rice a nutty and protein-filled boost, together with green veg. In this instance it is Romain (?) cauliflower, an absolutely delicious cross between broccoli and cauliflower (almost) with an exquisite fractal design. The photo doesn't do it justice. If you can find it, buy it. The most hardened broccoli hater will love it!
Brightening up
After a long day of painting, puttying, laundry, cooking, vacuuming, dusting and general housework - all on the most beautiful day imaginable - and finally having completely missed the whole of the French Open final which I had anticipated for two weeks because I had to help put the windows back in, I was not in a mood conducive to writing so thought it best not to! However, I have now got over all that (although you can get the picture), as today has dawned equally beautiful and I can start all over again. Isn't that the exciting thing about life. Every day is a new beginning and you can leave yesterday behind.
I don't know how long the good weather will last but hopefully the plants will recover from the hail they got last week - the leaves are spotted with brown and some died off in the cold. I have at least 50 clivia seeds that can be laid on the ground under a mulch of leaves which seems to be all they need to flourish and these will be scattered under the milkwood tree - I have another one growing now that is about 8 feet high and must start cutting the bottom branches to train it into an umbrella shape.
Splashes of bright jewel-like colour are appearing as the bokbaai vygies burst into bloom at the slightest sign of sunshine - they are very early this year and if I buy more seedlings I should have them in the garden for about 4 months. The lawns are green and the well is filling up for summer, and best of all, it is aloe time in Kommetjie! There are so many different varieties and everyone seems to have them outside on the verge, creating a riot of orange, yellow and red hues where ever you go, with the accompanying sunbirds ever present.
I don't know how long the good weather will last but hopefully the plants will recover from the hail they got last week - the leaves are spotted with brown and some died off in the cold. I have at least 50 clivia seeds that can be laid on the ground under a mulch of leaves which seems to be all they need to flourish and these will be scattered under the milkwood tree - I have another one growing now that is about 8 feet high and must start cutting the bottom branches to train it into an umbrella shape.
Splashes of bright jewel-like colour are appearing as the bokbaai vygies burst into bloom at the slightest sign of sunshine - they are very early this year and if I buy more seedlings I should have them in the garden for about 4 months. The lawns are green and the well is filling up for summer, and best of all, it is aloe time in Kommetjie! There are so many different varieties and everyone seems to have them outside on the verge, creating a riot of orange, yellow and red hues where ever you go, with the accompanying sunbirds ever present.
Saturday 8 June 2013
Cold and alternately wet and sunny Cape Town!
The only good thing about having flu and needing to veg out on the couch like a potato is that there is a little tennis (tomorrow) and there is a marathon on TV of the Big Bang Theory. I am the last person to recommend using the TV to pass the time, but this has to be one of my all-time favourite shows. The script is sparkling and each character is the star of the show. I would love to know whether Sheldon is normal in real life as even his face suits the role. Howard is so well cast in his grossness I can't imagine him ever having a real girlfriend and those pants of his just couldn't be worn by anyone else. Raj and Leonard could probably never play anything else now that we know them in these roles.
He Who Can Fix Anything is racing today, otherwise I have no doubt I would be up the ladder painting again. I believe that is what is on the agenda for tomorrow, so I will have to pull out all the stops to look weak and pathetic as I loll on the couch. As I lie here and look at the ceiling I can see that the chimney flue has leaked (this is the first time in the 20 years or so that we have had it) and left a stain on the ceiling. This confirms what everyone is saying about leaks appearing in places that they have never been before. The weather is definitely coming from a different direction and greater intensity than the old weather patterns, so we are all going to have to adjust to this. HWCFA will have to take the fireplace out and close up the roof and ceiling - another challenge I am sure he will just relish! Or not.
As usual the sun and rain is alternating, leaning towards more sun, and tomorrow is forecast to be all sunny, so let's hold thumbs! Perhaps the flamingos will come back.
He Who Can Fix Anything is racing today, otherwise I have no doubt I would be up the ladder painting again. I believe that is what is on the agenda for tomorrow, so I will have to pull out all the stops to look weak and pathetic as I loll on the couch. As I lie here and look at the ceiling I can see that the chimney flue has leaked (this is the first time in the 20 years or so that we have had it) and left a stain on the ceiling. This confirms what everyone is saying about leaks appearing in places that they have never been before. The weather is definitely coming from a different direction and greater intensity than the old weather patterns, so we are all going to have to adjust to this. HWCFA will have to take the fireplace out and close up the roof and ceiling - another challenge I am sure he will just relish! Or not.
As usual the sun and rain is alternating, leaning towards more sun, and tomorrow is forecast to be all sunny, so let's hold thumbs! Perhaps the flamingos will come back.
Friday 7 June 2013
A little cultural interaction
Our local supermarket has recently started to stock 'traditional' vegetables such as cow peas, madumbis, fresh root turmeric and other unidentifiable items. Today I took the opportunity to ask a young man who was selecting madumbis what they actually were and how you cooked them. His face split into a wide grin, showing a perfect set of white teeth, and he seemed so pleased to explain that they were like potatoes and that you had to boil them with the skins on and then peel them. They should be eaten with stews and curries, he said, and seasoned with salt and pepper and olive oil. His mother used to cook them for him in Durban, which means he is probably Zulu, and he said that only good cooks could make them properly without boiling them first! Apparently they are a bit grey when cooked, but are very nutritious, being the African yam. So I bought a couple and will let you know if it was worth it.
Getting back to the local birdlife, the field outside my kitchen window was quite lively today, with a very elegant black-headed heron stalking through the long grass in search of something tasty - a small snake perhaps - while nearby a small flock of francolins scratched in the undergrowth. I have watched this flock grow up from the time they hatched, being the size of R5 coins, and they all survived the crows and other hazards. They range up and down the road and sometimes when I am visiting my fishing friend they come into his house, as he throws out grain for them in the evenings. They are much more gentle birds than the raucous and somewhat stupid guineafowl, who are also prone to digging your lawn to shreds and pecking at the petunias.
The flu is passing by and I am just relaxing a bit, watching the tennis and doing a bit of this and that. Any exertion causes an increased heart rate, which is a side effect of flu and is not to be taken lightly. I hear that we are expecting more bad weather tomorrow, but as usual will wait and see whether it eventuates!
Getting back to the local birdlife, the field outside my kitchen window was quite lively today, with a very elegant black-headed heron stalking through the long grass in search of something tasty - a small snake perhaps - while nearby a small flock of francolins scratched in the undergrowth. I have watched this flock grow up from the time they hatched, being the size of R5 coins, and they all survived the crows and other hazards. They range up and down the road and sometimes when I am visiting my fishing friend they come into his house, as he throws out grain for them in the evenings. They are much more gentle birds than the raucous and somewhat stupid guineafowl, who are also prone to digging your lawn to shreds and pecking at the petunias.
The flu is passing by and I am just relaxing a bit, watching the tennis and doing a bit of this and that. Any exertion causes an increased heart rate, which is a side effect of flu and is not to be taken lightly. I hear that we are expecting more bad weather tomorrow, but as usual will wait and see whether it eventuates!
Thursday 6 June 2013
Fish, flu and flamingos
The only good thing that has come from this flu is that I have forced myself to attend to some long-outstanding work in the bookkeeping arena and am actually feeling less pressurised by my procrastination. I feel a breakthrough coming on...
The weather has been beautiful, with the sea like a pond again, and dotted with little boats trying to catch a few snoek before the next bout of bad weather. The larger ships seems to be scuttling around Cape Point today in anticipation of same, so plenty of activity.
The flamingos are down to about 20 at the moment, but every day brings a different number and we hope they will all be back soon. Congratulations to the person who has already managed to have a sign erected making it quite clear that all dogs must be on a lead. These signs have always been around, but now it is right next to the area where the flamingos are feeding. Who knows? It may even work.
I have been surrounded by concern for my health and am very grateful for the care shown by my friends, old and new. Supplements and cold remedies have abounded, and a bag of Choc Chip Cookies (home made) was slipped through my gate unnoticed. I have kept a respectable distance from everyone to keep my germs to myself, but a friend that I saw at the mall the other day has also got it, and I am sure that's where we were exposed to it. Perhaps there is some sense in walking around with face masks, a la Michael Jackson! :)
The latest remedy I am taking seems to be working already and I'm hoping that tomorrow will be even better than today!
The weather has been beautiful, with the sea like a pond again, and dotted with little boats trying to catch a few snoek before the next bout of bad weather. The larger ships seems to be scuttling around Cape Point today in anticipation of same, so plenty of activity.
The flamingos are down to about 20 at the moment, but every day brings a different number and we hope they will all be back soon. Congratulations to the person who has already managed to have a sign erected making it quite clear that all dogs must be on a lead. These signs have always been around, but now it is right next to the area where the flamingos are feeding. Who knows? It may even work.
I have been surrounded by concern for my health and am very grateful for the care shown by my friends, old and new. Supplements and cold remedies have abounded, and a bag of Choc Chip Cookies (home made) was slipped through my gate unnoticed. I have kept a respectable distance from everyone to keep my germs to myself, but a friend that I saw at the mall the other day has also got it, and I am sure that's where we were exposed to it. Perhaps there is some sense in walking around with face masks, a la Michael Jackson! :)
The latest remedy I am taking seems to be working already and I'm hoping that tomorrow will be even better than today!
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Felled by the flu
The storms are past for the moment, but will return on Saturday, we are told. Today is a typical June day, with no wind, sunshine, flat sea and the flamingos are back in force after being chased away by the squalls. But I can't enjoy any of it, as I have been felled by the flu. I haven't had so much as a cold in years, so it's a real pain to have droopy eyes, a nose running like an open tap, coughing like a TB patient and a head that feels as though it is in a vice.
I have had to waive the Tai Chi, as exercising when you have flu is a big no-no, and tonight I was supposed to make my first speech at Toastmasters. That will have to happen at a later date now, as I don't think they will appreciate me bringing lungfuls of germs to the meeting. I am disappointed to miss some of the other speakers as they are very entertaining and certainly something to aspire to.
Supper is cooking and the chores of the day are done, so I think a well-deserved loaf on the couch watching Nadal at the French Open is called for. He Who Can Fix Anything offered to get himself a takeaway, so that I didn't have to cook, but unfortunately that was all dealt with early on. I'll have to jump on that bandwagon another time!
I have had to waive the Tai Chi, as exercising when you have flu is a big no-no, and tonight I was supposed to make my first speech at Toastmasters. That will have to happen at a later date now, as I don't think they will appreciate me bringing lungfuls of germs to the meeting. I am disappointed to miss some of the other speakers as they are very entertaining and certainly something to aspire to.
Supper is cooking and the chores of the day are done, so I think a well-deserved loaf on the couch watching Nadal at the French Open is called for. He Who Can Fix Anything offered to get himself a takeaway, so that I didn't have to cook, but unfortunately that was all dealt with early on. I'll have to jump on that bandwagon another time!
Tuesday 4 June 2013
And the painting drags on...
Never, ever paint your room dark blue. It has taken three coats of white, so far, to cover the blue and I think another coat will be needed. We will have to put two coats of the new colour, Winter Savannah, over the white. By the time we are finished, the room will be considerably smaller and the walls much thicker! The smell of the paint is giving me a bad cough and the windows have to be left open day and night despite the icy temperatures at present. I think what I am trying to say is, rather get a painter! Having despatched the last one for DoD, I am currently scouting for a replacement, otherwise this business could drag on for another week.
I took a turn up the ladder today, craning my neck towards the ceiling, and battling to see where I had already painted, as the ceiling has now had four coats and is looking very white. The paint tray has to be kept on a table in the middle of the room, as the ladder doesn't have a shelf and so I am up and down the ladder like a jack-in-the-box. The knees click as I change altitude. I've never been very good on ladders and I missed the last step, falling sideways across the table and landing with my bum in the paint tray! What a laugh. It improved my mood no end, as I was really getting irritated with the painting - I prefer oil on canvas.
I had to whip my clothes off and run them under the bath tap before the paint set, as past experience has taught me that it's not going to come off. At least not the acrylics I use on canvas. Lucky I had old clothes on, so it won't matter if the paint sticks - I must have known how this story ended!
I took a turn up the ladder today, craning my neck towards the ceiling, and battling to see where I had already painted, as the ceiling has now had four coats and is looking very white. The paint tray has to be kept on a table in the middle of the room, as the ladder doesn't have a shelf and so I am up and down the ladder like a jack-in-the-box. The knees click as I change altitude. I've never been very good on ladders and I missed the last step, falling sideways across the table and landing with my bum in the paint tray! What a laugh. It improved my mood no end, as I was really getting irritated with the painting - I prefer oil on canvas.
I had to whip my clothes off and run them under the bath tap before the paint set, as past experience has taught me that it's not going to come off. At least not the acrylics I use on canvas. Lucky I had old clothes on, so it won't matter if the paint sticks - I must have known how this story ended!
Monday 3 June 2013
Still storming
I always say that the mark of a good builder is how well a freestanding wall bears up to a Cape winter storm. A house is being built up the road and on Friday they put up one of the upper storey walls. It's still holding firm, so the owners can rest easy in their beds for future storms.
An old oak tree at the entrance to Noordhoek Farm Village wasn't so lucky, and crashed ignominiously to the ground during yesterday's gale. By the end of today, it was just a pile of neatly carved logs. Hopefully some will be preserved in the form of furniture rather than tossing it into a fire, and the shavings can be used to flavour the most delicious smoked fish - oak is the favoured sawdust for this.
Here in my garden there is little evidence of any particularly high winds apart from the new growth on the bougainvillea having been nipped in the bud, so to speak. The gigantic Brazilian peppers, which are the bane of my life, barely lost a twig and the old gum tree near the road survived similarly. Perhaps we didn't bear the brunt of the bad weather in Kommetjie.
'Our' flamingos - funny how quickly we become proprietorial - made a brief appearance this morning (20), but sensibility got the better of them and they have retreated to a milder climate for the moment. I hope that they return in full force once the weather improves.
We are still painting the bedroom and K is living in a campsite in the lounge, but as she has the big screen TV and a separate remote from ours, I'm already wondering whether she is going to move back into her room when the redecoration is complete. In the meantime, some of the pets are taking advantage of the luxurious accommodation and have moved in with her.
An old oak tree at the entrance to Noordhoek Farm Village wasn't so lucky, and crashed ignominiously to the ground during yesterday's gale. By the end of today, it was just a pile of neatly carved logs. Hopefully some will be preserved in the form of furniture rather than tossing it into a fire, and the shavings can be used to flavour the most delicious smoked fish - oak is the favoured sawdust for this.
Here in my garden there is little evidence of any particularly high winds apart from the new growth on the bougainvillea having been nipped in the bud, so to speak. The gigantic Brazilian peppers, which are the bane of my life, barely lost a twig and the old gum tree near the road survived similarly. Perhaps we didn't bear the brunt of the bad weather in Kommetjie.
'Our' flamingos - funny how quickly we become proprietorial - made a brief appearance this morning (20), but sensibility got the better of them and they have retreated to a milder climate for the moment. I hope that they return in full force once the weather improves.
We are still painting the bedroom and K is living in a campsite in the lounge, but as she has the big screen TV and a separate remote from ours, I'm already wondering whether she is going to move back into her room when the redecoration is complete. In the meantime, some of the pets are taking advantage of the luxurious accommodation and have moved in with her.
Sunday 2 June 2013
Sleet in Cape Town!
If this is winter in Cape Town, I'm flying Coconut Airways to Barbados!
Today has brought hail like we have never seen before. It looks like snow - not something we are used to in the streets of Cape Town. The wind is coming straight from Antarctica and it is only 11 degrees inside the house, which is normally very warm. We don't have a fireplace or a heater, as a wooden house seems to be much warmer than brick, or at least this one is. In winter the sun streams into all the rooms and the garages underneath keep a warm pocket of air underneath us. But the hail or sleet that has just come down is not even melting!
It is as though the cold front is coming in bands, as each downpour is followed by bright sunshine, which makes it slightly easier to cope with. My hands are frozen as I type this, so will have to give up now...
Today has brought hail like we have never seen before. It looks like snow - not something we are used to in the streets of Cape Town. The wind is coming straight from Antarctica and it is only 11 degrees inside the house, which is normally very warm. We don't have a fireplace or a heater, as a wooden house seems to be much warmer than brick, or at least this one is. In winter the sun streams into all the rooms and the garages underneath keep a warm pocket of air underneath us. But the hail or sleet that has just come down is not even melting!
It is as though the cold front is coming in bands, as each downpour is followed by bright sunshine, which makes it slightly easier to cope with. My hands are frozen as I type this, so will have to give up now...
Saturday 1 June 2013
Wild nature and a frightened doggie
Having a spot of thunder and lightning! Also quite large hailstones. The lightning was right overhead so quite spectacular, yet nothing compared to what you get in Jo'burg or the Drakensberg. I have just posted a photo album of a holiday in the Drakensberg two years ago, when we had a huge thunderstorm that was like nothing I have ever experienced before. All the buildings at the resort had lightning conductors and it was obvious why this was so. A lightning bolt killed a cow nearby that night, so it wasn't the kind of weather to stand outside and admire the view. The rain was also torrential that day and only a few weeks before the local river had come down in flood and carried away some caravans and a building or two at a resort a little higher up in the Drakensberg. The power of water to alter the landscape is something that should be borne in mind if you ever consider living near a river. I live next to the sea, and there have been times when we have almost needed to take to the boats. Tomorrow may be one of them, if the forecasts are anything to go by, but time will tell.
My poor little dog, who was rescued from a bad home nearly 10 years ago, still is terrified of thunder and any loud noise, and I can only imagine that her previous owners must have left her outside in the yard to endure these things alone. Her whole body shakes and water falls off her tongue as if from an open tap, she gets into such a state. I have found that rubbing a good dose of rescue remedy into the inside flap of her ear goes a long way towards alleviating her anxiety, but it is still distressing to see her in such a state. It's very sad that the world has people who are cruel to animals but are still allowed to keep them as pets. I'm just thankful that we were able to rescue her and give her a home where she can lie on the couch in the sun all day and sleep on a warm bed at night.
My poor little dog, who was rescued from a bad home nearly 10 years ago, still is terrified of thunder and any loud noise, and I can only imagine that her previous owners must have left her outside in the yard to endure these things alone. Her whole body shakes and water falls off her tongue as if from an open tap, she gets into such a state. I have found that rubbing a good dose of rescue remedy into the inside flap of her ear goes a long way towards alleviating her anxiety, but it is still distressing to see her in such a state. It's very sad that the world has people who are cruel to animals but are still allowed to keep them as pets. I'm just thankful that we were able to rescue her and give her a home where she can lie on the couch in the sun all day and sleep on a warm bed at night.
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