Lazy weekend afternoons

On Saturday I attended a low key high tea, aka something between a picnic and a tea party.

The setting was perfect, the eats were special, and the best part: seeing some of my oldest friends and the people who are in their life.

There is something amazing about friends who have been through exams and heartbreak with you.

There's something about giggling at her husband dry humour that borders on macabre.

On Sunday afternoon I spent some quality time with my couch, reading for a bit, listening to some jazzy tunes on my mini entertainment system. When the music faded, so did I, drifting in and out of relaxed sleep. This was followed by a lazy evening of watching movies and updating blogs.

The perfect ending to a perfect relaxing weekend.

Don't forget your pump!

I went cycling today - or at least I tried. The my trusty old mountain bike is a bit on the dirty side, and probably in need of a service. I haven't been riding in a few months, and I hoped a spot of "white lightning" would do the trick. And it did, sort of...

Around the first corner, could feel the tires skidding, and I looked down to see the months of standing has taken its toll, and I have two limp tires. A quick check revealed that for the first time in as long as I can remember, I forgot to take my pump. I usually take it off when I transport the bike, in case it falls off and gets lost, and I just didn't put it back. Luckily there's a petrol station down the road and the friendly pump assistant helped me to put the air back, and after that I realised just how much I enjoy the feeling of riding my bike.

The plan was to go to the promenade, but that means going through the city centre. Not really a problem at 5:30 am. As I turned a corner, I could feel the wheels skid once again and I had a slowmo fall - the kind that happens when you can't clip out your shoes in time. My audience was the CCID city guards (those guys do an awesome job) and I assured them that I was perfectly fine, I just got back on and cycled around the corner to do a stock take.

It seems my front wheel has gotten a slow puncture or something. I have a full repair kit in my onboard bum bag, even a spare tube, but alas, no pump! And there is no petrol station in that part of town. My options were limited to walking back to the same garage as earlier, or walking past it, home. I was about 3km away, not really what I would call an epic cycle, but far enough for a good walk. I would have preferred 2km, since I was walking barefoot.

The city is quite something in the early morning. I walked back through the Company's Gardens, and I got to see some squirrels, joggers, other cyclists and a homeless guy humping his bag, picking it up, and walking on. Never a dull moment!

Journey to nowhere

I wanted me time, and that is what I got. With a single phone call, I was requested to go to the middle of nowhere for a week to visit a project site for a solar farm we are building and provide some help. At first I said yes, because I had to, although I was reluctant to cancel all my plans. Then I started packing my suitcase and I got excited. When the week was over, I didn't want to leave.

I enjoyed working in the sun, its a long day, with hard work, but at the end of the day, there is satisfaction in knowing that today I worked on something concrete, and there is the results.

I enjoyed the silence and the sense of space. The sky stretching for miles around you, a lone cloud drifting in the endless sky. A quiver tree becomes a feature, a windmill a symbol of life, water, hope. The road stretching out into the distance, reminding me of the song by Karen Zoid:

"I heard there was a road out in the desert,
that goes on and on, for miles and miles.
...
There's only one station on the radio
and all they play is all rock and roll"
- Set of wheels (Karoo anthem)

Only the radio on my rental did not pick up a station, and I did not think of bringing a CD along. So I got a bit of me time. Time to enjoy the way the light falls on the landscape. Time to notice the dust devils on the dirt road. Time to hear the birds sing in a faraway corner of the construction plant where the work is finished and waiting for commissioning. Time to appreciate the spots of green where the earth is sprouting new life in what seemed like a barren landscape.

What a wonderful reminder that every now and then, it is good to leave behind the bustle of everyday life and take a journey to nowhere.

Murder and me time

I love people, really, and I draw energy from being around people. When I am alone for a while, I turn on the radio or the TV, to hear the voices of other people.

That said, there are times when you feel like you should make sure you have an ally who would hide an axe in your birthday cake when they visit you in prison, because you might just murder someone. You know, when you are so worn out to the point where every little thing gets on your nerves. Or is it just me?

Well, the trick is identifying these times, and taking some "me time" before you do something you might get arrested for.

So with this weekend ahead of me, I will do things that make me happy; exercise, lie on the beach, and plan a solo road trip to explore the fantastic place I live in, hopefully there will be nice weather to enjoy as well.

Edit (15 November 2013) I wrote about my solo road trip on my travel blog (in Afrikaans)

Its easy to be a morning person in summer

I am a morning person, always have been. Its a bit tricky when I stay over with friend who like to sleep late, but I have learned to find the kettle and coffee/tea on my own, find their bookshelf and get myself something to read.

The morning is when I get stuff done. I train like a regular gym bunny, or write a few hundred words of my novel, and on the odd occasion that I take work home, that is when I do it. What would take me 2 hours in the evening takes 1 in the morning. I was an odd student... hahaha. My internal clock switches off at 10 pm and I fall asleep. I can stay up on special occasions, but not often. I have even come to terms with the fact that some times I go to sleep earlier than my brother's toddler when I visit there.

The great thing about summer, is that the day starts earlier. I am no longer the only soul awake in what looks like the dead of night, but instead I am the only soul awake in the glorious summer morning! It is beautiful to walk to the gym in the crisp early morning, to admire the mountain, or to just have a cup of tea on the balcony and look at the squrirrels playing.

There is life in abundance all around, and I am part of it! I love every moment, every opportunity to celebrate life!

The Honesty of animals

This morning a cat came up to me and said hello. Apparently they do that, but I have never experienced it before until a few weeks back. It might even be the same cat. He came up to me, said hello and let me scratch his back. I've been told cats do that when they know you're happy, but I have no reference to that.

I never considered myself a cat person. Once, when I was a kid, we visited some people on the farm and I remember a very pleasant cat. Some of my friends had cats, but on the whole they were very aloof and the one time Twinkle came to sit on my lap, the entire family was surprised at her actions. She should have been named "Thunder" because she seemed to be in a bad mood all the time.

Dogs on the other hand I loved my entire life. With the exception of the one that bit me, I have had good relations with dogs my entire life, and admittedly spoiled my Charlie a bit. He is currently living with my parents and they assure me he has calmed down a bit.

But one thing I always loved about dogs, is how they seem to comfort you when you are down, and when you are feeling joyful, they basically radiate happiness in return!

There are a number of animals that make popular pets. I visited friends yesterday with a tank full of beautiful fish. Another friend has a rattlesnake called Penelope, and then there are people who keep birds, lizards and all sorts of things.

The best thing about animals, is that they love honesty, and unconditionally. All they ask is shelter and food, and lots and lots of love. By loving another being, we learn what love really is, and what is not to love about a pet?

On top of the World

My legs are numb, my right foot feels wonky, I am a little sunburnt (where I missed a spot with the sunscreen) and I had a 4 hour nap before bedtime and then went straight back to sleep an hour later.

Why?

Because yesterday I conquered Table Mountain. I wasn't the first, or the fastest, but it was a personal best for me!

I love the challenge and the knowledge that I accomplished something that I wouldn't be able to do a year ago. I love the idea that for a year I have been looking at the mountain from my office and now I can finally say: I did it!

I love the fact that after more than 4 hours, my knees protesting after climbing down about rock, I saw the breathtaking blue of the Atlantic between the buttresses. I love that there are perfect and uniquely interesting flowers and plants lining the path, and realising that the fynbos is unique to this area.

I love that I could celebrate the start of summer with something so amazing!

Summer rain and French Champagne

Some time a go, a week or so, I bought a pot plant - a lavender. I wanted a miniature rose, but the lavender was the closest I could find. I am not the most successful gardener in the history of gardens, so when my lavender looked a bit sad a few days later, I thought I might have bought a dud, OR I might have killed it, or both.

Not wanting to give up so soon, I did a bit of emergency work. It looked like some ants were in the soil, so I used a trick my mother suggested (dish washing liquid, who would have thought) and then started watering the sad plant a little each day. I realised that where it was standing on my balcony it doesn't get touched by the occasional raindrops, so I moved it closer to the edge, especially since I went away for a few days last weekend.

I am happy to report that my little lavender has perked up, looks up, and is even shooting new little flowers. And I think a part of the magic was the unseasonal summer rain we have been getting the last few days.

I live in Cape Town, and if you ask anybody about Cape Town, they will tell you 1. We have a mountain, 2. The water is VERY cold, and 3. It rains in winter.

So the summer rain is a bit of a surprise, as it was for the birthday girl for the party I went to last night. For the last 2 months she has been telling us about this party at the fantastic venue that is the house of one of her clients, and it has a very amazing view. I can't say much about the view, as it was raining, but I CAN report that it was an awesome party, with interesting people, a fantastic venue, and of course French champagne! Definitely something worth remembering :)

Today is the first day of my 30 day novel writing challenge, and when I accomplish that goal, I might just celebrate with some more bubbles!

Cookie monster crazy

I just signed up to write a novel in November. At least 50 000 words, or 1667 a day...

On the good side, I have already figured out the storyline a long time ago, and I have commited to having it written by my next birthday, which is 6 months from now. So when I have written all that needs to be written, then at least I will have time to edit it and have something decent by my birthday...

Just as well, because I have told a friend I am going to write his biography, and the practice will do me good. Especially as his life is changing faster than I could type!

Here's to the novel.

Spring cleaning

When spring comes around, there's an air of new life in the air. Excitement, if you will.

I was looking for a document today that the resulted in me cleaning out my desk and doing some well overdue filing, without finding the right document, alas!

It is also a time for reevaluating your life and where you are going, and who you are going with. The hard part of spring cleaning is giving up on the one thing that was not really making you happy, but it has become so ingrained in your life that the thought of changing it is quite scary, and even sad to deal with.

In the spirit of spring, it is also a good time to reconnect with old friends who might have been on the side of your awareness for too long and seek out new friends who share your passion. You never know, there might even be a bit of magic...

What do we really want?

There seems to be a paradox, so often we want something different from what we have. If you grew up with curly hair, its likely you wanted straight hair. If you have been single for a while, you long after a relationship. If you have a desk job, some days you wish to do something more interesting, but if you travel a lot, sometimes you just wish to have some routine in your life.

The question remains then: What do we really want? If whatever your situation is, you wish that it would be different? Where is the key to happiness then?

 There's many paths to happiness, but one way to look at it, is as Bob Marley would say:

"Love the life you live,
live the life you love."

Beauty and Art

Sometimes we get so absorbed in our lives, that we forget to appreciate the beauty around us. Eat, sleep, work, repeat. And in the crazy rush of our humdrum lives we no longer look around, see how the seasons change, how life happens all over, and the beauty of people all around. 

And then a white squirrel runs across the road! 

I kid you not, an albino squirrel! In the street outside my house. It made me look around, see the fresh leaves of spring in the tree outside my window, the blossoms on the neighbour's tree, and the way the morning light falls on the mountain.

Its as if my eyes have been opened. My morning coffee is now a celebration of life, enjoying the gorgeous city I live in. I have my dinner on the balcony, remember to water my plants, and notice the paintings that have been hanging in my house for the whole year. 

Life seems to be in full colour again, and all because of a white squirrel!

Friends

Life is full of disappointments, challenges, and a lot of sadness. Yet, in these times, this is where we see the value of true friends. Each have their own way of cheering you up. A different flavour of advice, support. from each of them.

Friends who check in at different times of day and night, to say "hello", make conversation, to just see if i am alright. Each one has a unique kind of awesomeness!

As we go through the challenges of life, we are sometimes too absorbed in our own crisis, that we overlook the amazing love and support of every single friend.
.

Coffee

Many things have been said for, and against, coffee. With or without milk, with or without sugar. Cappuccinos, Lattes, Espresso, or just plain black.

There's comfort in a coffee. That first sip of nectar in the morning, that sort of kick starts your day. The warm cup on a rainy winters day that warms you up from the inside. That comforting honey nut latte that you refuse to feel guilty about - its better than a slice of cake after all.

There's power in an espresso in the afternoon. To give you the final push to get through the day.

There's something special about coffee in bed. Sharing a moment with your loved ones. All together, talking, fresh from the nights sleep, sharing a moment on a holiday before the day takes off. Don't forget the rusks.

What does a cuppa mean to you?

The Keys

There is something about a Tuesday. Its a different sort of day to any other. It's not the red headed step-child called Monday, and not the halfway day like Wednesday, Thursday is one day closer to the end, and then of course there is Friday, of the weekday of choice.

So on one unsuspecting Tuesday, I attended a function work function at a swanky hotel. It was all well, especially since I had very short notice and I went straight from work. Lucky for me I dressed up for the day and was in heels and pearls and ready to fit right in.

On my way out, I wanted to send a text message to a friend to tell her I am on my way to the pancake party at her house. Then, out of the blue, the strangest thing happened. My key slipped out of my hand and fell to the ground, possibly because I was a bit preoccupied with the cellphone and notes in my hands at the time. 

This would hot have been a problem, under normal circumstances. I am known to be a bit of a cluts, and I have picked up my keys, and just about everything else in my life. The problem was that at that exact same moment, I happened to be walking over a storm water drain and my car key fell right through. into the drain. 

I considered taking a taxi to fetch the spare keys, but my house keys were inside the locked car, and then my car key would still be lying in a storm water pipe. I considered phoning my house mate for backup, but I wouldn't be able to tell her where the spare keys were, so I had to retreive the fallen keys.

I turned to the helpful security guard to help me find the keys. He in turn got some maintenance guys with a torch and found a long piece of wire, twisted to another piece of wire to make it long enough, made a hook at the end and helped me fish out the keys. Thank goodness it fell next to the little stream of water at the bottom of the storm water pipe, as the electronics may have stopped working. 

Now I have the names of 3 security guards/maintenance men written down in my diary. My heroes on a Tuesday night, who helped me out in my moment of need.