Staying In

I plan to spend this evening quietly at home. It is so nice not to have to worry about going out and being on the roads. I've borrowed a bunch of dvds from a friend, but also went out and hired the show I really want to see: the BBC's Return to Cranford. I do love a bit of period drama escapism!
~ A year ago today I was fiddling with cables ~

Nee Nar Nee Nar

Wouldn't be summer without at least one fire watched from our office windows. Two helicopters and several fire trucks were on the scene within minutes and the blaze was put out swiftly. Phew!
Update: Shortly afterwards a second fire started on another part of Signal Hill and then this one started to burn again. The firefighters battled the flames for the rest of the day (and in strong winds) but the whole hillside burned. So unfortunate.
~ A year ago today I went for a walk in the city bowl ~

Ruffles

My most recent clothing purchase: this blouse. I like the print and lacy detail.
~ A year ago today I was wearing my favourite pendant ~

Soap Suds

My car got a long overdue wash this afternoon. All clean & sparkly!
~ A year ago today I got my 2010 dairy ~

Bristles

Tom is not only tolerating being brushed at the moment, I think he has learnt to enjoy it. He purred throughout a brushing session this afternoon. He's such a happy cat these days.
~ A year ago today I met Michele's new cat for the first time ~

Bed & Book

I drank too much champagne at Dom's last night so today was a very slow day indeed. Much of it was spent lying down.
~ A year ago today I put up a photo of my good friend Dorothy ~

Sun Dog

At our Christmas picnic at Kirstenbosch today we noticed that the sun had a faint - but beautiful - rainbow halo.
~ A year ago today I was pulling crackers ~

Parachutes

Good music to bake by: Coldplay's Parachutes. I spent the afternoon making shortbread, sponge cake, egg custard and quiches for tomorrow's feasting, all while humming along to this old favourite. And snacking on left-over shortbread. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was eating Christmas mince pies. Off the same little plate, ha ha! ~

And That's a Wrap

I just can't believe it's Christmas and the end of the year again. Already!!
~ A year ago today I went to watch Avatar ~

Buds

For the last week or so I've been watching one of my new succulents send out a flower stem. It is just about to burst into flower... maybe it will open tomorrow?
~ A year ago today I checked in with The Daily Coyote ~

Fluffy

Little madam on the kitchen counter ~ where she is not allowed. I give up! I'm also losing the war against cat hair... this one leaves fur wherever she goes.
~ A year ago today I was tackling the laundry ~

Baubles

I'm getting a fair bit of use out of this, my newest piece of jewellery. It is rather festive, no?
~ A year ago today was visiting with my brother ~

Saga

I spent the entire afternoon lying on my bed finishing this rather overwrought but very readable historical novel. It was a guilt-free pleasure after my long morning walk.
~ A year ago today I was swimming in a river ~

Sue & Alex

This afternoon I met friends for a picnic and laze in the shade in Kirstenbosch. It was lovely to catch up with Susan. Her boy Alex is now four!
~ A year ago today I was relaxing at Paddahoek ~

Lugging Boxes

An exhausting work day! Masses of stock arrived and it was all hands on deck as everyone in the office had to help unpack and check it all. Ha, who needs gym after a day of this?!
~ A year ago today I was in Vermaaklikheid ~

Quiche

I had a quiet holiday today... a short walk, a long movie and some fun time at home in the kitchen.
~ A year ago today I was packing my bags for a long weekend away ~

Last Rays

I love living in Cape Town! What a privilege it is to be able to climb a mountain after work on weekday afternoon. It was after 7.30pm as we came down and caught the sun illuminating the side of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles. Beautiful end to the day!
~ A year ago today I was at the Waterfront ~

Rocking World

It was our staff party this evening and we went to see Rocking All Over the World at the Barnyard Theatre. It's a fun people-pleasing show with something for everyone, and I think we all had a really good time.
~ A year ago today I was playing with a Gorillapod ~

Cape Doctor

The south-easter wind started up again today and has been gusting ferociously. I know it cools things down and blows away the smog, and the cloud looks pretty billowing around the mountain, but I hate it. Haaaaaate it. It puts me such a bad mood... it's noisy, blows the dust and leaves in, gives me hayfever, makes everything rattle and does unspeakably awful things to my poor garden. Go away horrid wind.
~ Ha! A year ago today I was assessing the damage of another wind storm ~

Scrambled

Had an early start to my day for a walk up the mountain. We had a picnic lunch up there, but I woke from my afternoon nap hungry again. So I made some eggs: my favourite, scrambled, with cheese on top, yum!
~ A year ago today I spent the day at the beach ~

Lie to Me

I've got hooked onto a new series, Lie to Me. Tim Roth is rather strange but the show is an interesting and entertaining drama.
~ A year ago today I was watering my parched garden ~

Showroom

Today I went to the opening of a friend's new interiors shop. I met Ian, John and some friends there, had a sip of bubbly, looked at the furniture, paintings and fabulous fabrics, and couldn't resist taking home a gorgeous Hyme Rabonowitz lidded jar. Congrats, and good luck with the new venture, Dom.
~ A year ago today I was sipping Earl Grey ~

Blades

It is car maintenance month. Time for new tyres, new wipers, getting the brakes checked and of course a full service. Yikes, expensive!
~ A year ago today I was playing internet backgammon ~

Done Read

One of my favourite blogs is Books I Done Read. She always makes me laugh! I've just finished reading The Red Queen. Like most of Philippa Gregory's books, it's awfully whiny and repetitive yet I couldn't stop reading. Done Read's review is spot-on!
~ A year ago today I picked up a bunch of books to read over the holidays ~

Protection

I usually use sunblock when I spend any time outdoors. Today was one of those days when the sun felt especially fierce, as if one would get burned spending just a little while outside, even late afternoon. Summer is here and it's time for extra vigilance - this stuff must go on every single day.
~ A year ago today I put up a pic of Claudia & Ric ~

Meta

I went to watch The Social Network yesterday. I'd heard it was good but was really very impressed: smart, complex and completely engrossing. Usually I read a few reviews before seeing a film, but this time I did so after as I was intrigued by every aspect of the movie and couldn't stop thinking about it today. So I clicked on my favourite site for this: Metacritic. Wow, this film really had been met with universal acclaim. Definitely worth seeing, and possibly more than once.
~ A year ago today I was eating Claudia's blueberry cheesecake ~

Aunt

Flick has been in Cape Town the last couple of weeks. It's always lovely to see her. This afternoon she came with me to Claudia's party.
~ A year ago today I was contemplating the washing-up ~

War Wounds

I had to get up in the early hours this morning to stop a cat fight. Thomas came in swaggering but sporting cuts on his face and a torn ear. He is incorrigible!
~ A year ago today I was watching Dirty Sexy Money ~

Shoe Swop

I've been doing LOTS of walking recently, and once again this afternoon I stepped out of my sandals and into my socks and walking shoes for another little stappie.
~ A year ago today I was happy with the agapanthus in my garden ~

Ferris

I went down to the Waterfront after work and saw that the so-called Wheel of Excellence has moved in near the amphitheatre. It's really quite big up close. Bet the view from the top is amazing.
~ A year ago today I took a walk near the sea shore ~

Market

Markets have sprung up all over Cape Town in the last couple of years. This evening I popped in the Earth Fair Food Market in Tokai where I bought some cheese and fruit, had a bite to eat and had a good look around. It was interesting and fun.
~ A year ago today Tom was off the the vet ~

Garden Grows

Summer is here. We've had some rain recently and the temperatures are rising... and my garden is flourishing. I love it in the morning light. Hey there Trixie, good morning little cat!
~ A year ago today I was attempting to finish a knitting project. It is still not done. ~

Nice Day

"Why thank you, you have a nice day too now, er, parking garage."
~ A year ago today I was using my Thomas the City Cat bowl ~

Played with Fire

I haven't been to the movies very often recently, but I did manage to see Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a while ago, and today I saw the sequel. They are interesting films. Looking forward to the final instalment.
~ A year ago today I enjoyed a delicious refreshing smoothie ~

Jonkershuis

My aunt and I popped down to Groot Constantia for tea at the Jonkershuis Restaurant this afternoon. Mmm, baked lemon cheesecake. Then we strolled around a bit under the trees... it is such a quiet, restful place.
~ A year ago today Trixie was sunning herself in the garden ~

Drop

I've found out that one of the things I can do to help low blood pressure is eat licorice! It must be the real stuff though, with extract of licorice root. So I've hunted down some proper dutch zoute drop. I used to eat it often when I lived in Holland, but haven't had any for years. Really nice to rediscover the stuff. And it's the sort of medicine I don't mind taking ;-)
~ A year ago today I was padlocking my garden hosepipe ~

Keyboard & Mouse

I am absolutely loving my new laptop.
~ A year ago today I went to see the amazing Watsonias on Devil's Peak ~

Wires

I went to visit my friend Dom after work and had to wait for a few minutes for him to arrive. Not a hardship at all when there's a mountain to gaze at!
~ A year ago today I was reading A City Imagined ~

Hospital

This morning I took a stroll down to my doctor's rooms at the hospital. I had an appointment for a general check-up and wanted to have a chat to her about my low blood pressure. It's been making me feel really dreadful the last while.
~ A year ago today I bought myself some new hiking socks ~

Strange

I finished Damon Galgut's In a Strange Room today. It was utterly compelling. He's such a very gifted writer.
~ A year go today I had my first swim of the summer ~

Tea Break

Home-made banana bread and strong cup of tea... mmm, there's nothing better.
~ A year ago today I was visiting Kirstenbosch ~

Sweet Face

I spent the afternoon at my friend Vanessa's place. After much bouncing around Ozzie, her little pooch, settled into on her lap for cuddles. He's a cutie ;-)
~ A year ago today I was eating a delicious sandwich for my lunch ~

NoMU Stash

Went down to the NoMU warehouse sale this afternoon and scooped up some goodies. I love their cocoa, hot chocolate and vanilla, but haven't tried any of the savoury products yet. I hope this liquid stock, Fond, is as good as I hear.
~ A year ago today I was writing about the fabric of my favourite shirt ~

Unpacking the Box

Ooh, I bought a new laptop. It arrived today. So excited about my new toy!
~ A year ago today I was eating breakfast out a favourite bowl ~

Mascot

This guy always used to live on my desk. Today I found him in a cupboard. Hee hee, I don't remember moving him and I haven't missed him, and but Welcome Back, Little Bear!
~ A year ago today I got the new David Gray album. I still listen to it often. ~

Blinds

Summer is here again. It is hot. It is windy. And the bright sun is streaming into my office so I've had to draw the blinds down. It's bye-bye to my view for the next few months.
~ A year ago today I was enjoying green leaves in my garden ~

Catus Vomitus

What a start to my week: cleaning up cat vomit before breakfast. Tom didn't come home last night. He finally made an appearance around 7am, and promptly threw up in the bedroom and the living room. Poor boy! He seemed to feel better afterwards though.
~ A year ago today I was admiring flower arrangements ~

Fluke

Day-trip to Hermanus today! We saw a couple of whales in the bay... mostly they were bobbing in the water and rolling in the waves. Very hard to photograph.
~ A year ago today I was considering cosmetic products ~

Layers

I've been making my own muesli for year. Into my container goes: assorted flakes - rye, millet, spelt and barley - plus oat bran, digestive bran, wheat germ, ground up linseed and sesame seeds, whole sunflower seeds, coconut flakes, cranberries, sultanas, chopped almonds, brazils and hazelnuts. All I need to do now is fill up with oats and shake to mix.
~ A year ago today blue skies came out after a week of rain. Just like today! ~

The Cats Upstairs

My neighbours above have two sweet kitties who sit on their balcony and watch my two below. Mine are so fortunate to have a garden and the freedom to come and go as they please. I imagine the two upstairs cats would love to come down and play.
~ A year ago today Tom was showing off his new collar ~