A Sheltered Bay

My day started with a walk down to the beach and a lovely swim. My first swim of the summer on the last day of the year! 
~ A year ago today I was shopping ~ 

Beach House

Some friends of mine have taken a house near the beach at Simon's Town for the holiday. I went down to join them for a bit. What a beautiful place!
~ A year ago today I was at Kirstenbosch ~ 

The Pits

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon... stretched out on the grass, eating cherries out of a tupperware container.
~ A year ago today I was baking ~ 

Tiny Twins

Dorothy's new kittens, Cinnamon and Button. Cuteness overload!
~ A year ago today I was walking in the forest ~ 

Blue Print

Went to see the isishweshwe exhibition at the Slave Lodge Museum this afternoon. I've always loved this fabric. Designers are doing wonderful things with it these days.
~ A year ago today I was cleaning cupboards ~ 

Glassful

My breakfast smoothie: banana, mango and apricot. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was reading ~ 

Peak

Once again we had a glorious day for our Kirstenbosch Christmas picnic. I spent much of the afternoon gazing on this view.
~ A year ago today I was also picnicking ~ 

Fluff Ball

This is Duvet, the second of the cats that are coming to visit me and Thomas regularly. This afternoon she hang around for hours and we had a very nice time. She's gorgeous and very gentle - a sweetheart. 
~ A year ago today I was at the movies ~ 

New Gadgets

Today I bought two items for my kitchen that I have wanted for a while: an electronic scale and a julienne cutter.
~ A year ago today I was hanging out with my friends ~ 

Fridge Tart

I went totally old school with the dessert I'm taking to a dinner party this evening: South African classic Peppermint Crisp Tart. It's even in a Pyrex dish!
~ A year ago today I had a sore ankle ~ 

Afternoon Movie

Saw Richard Curtis's About Time this afternoon. Sweet film for the holidays.
~ A year ago today I was also at the movies ~ 

Table 13

This evening I went out for burgers with some friends. It was fun.
~ A year ago today I was out with my colleagues ~ 

Not So Super

I was at the Waterfront this evening for our work end-of-year function, and afterwards I popped into the new Pick n Pay. It is a pretty nice supermarket but it would have been much better with 80% fewer people and 100% less alarm going off.
~ A year ago today I was reading a magazine ~ 

Deerfield

Here I am holding up an embroidered throw, part of a prize I won in a raffle. My mom did quite a lot of the needlework. Isn't it lovely!
~ A year ago today I was giving Thomas a scratch under his chin ~

Swedish

Last couple of weeks I've been watching Wallander. Kenneth Branagh is great in it and I love the bleak scenery, the gritty stories and gloomy mood.
~ A year ago today I was reading in my garden ~ 

Pinks & Reds

The roses I picked the other day and looking and smelling wonderful. Love, love, love them!
~ A year ago today I had a walk and a swim ~ 

Blue Plate

I made a cherry cake for the family and friend who visited yesterday. There was one last slice left for my morning tea today. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was visiting a friend celebrating a birthday ~ 

Constantia Valley

My day started with a visit to Chart Farm to pick roses.
~ A year ago today I was visiting Max and Ginger ~ 

Cat in a Bag

My friend Michele brought Thomas a new paper bag to play with today. He can't resist them!
~ A year ago today I was eating a delicious supper ~ 

Swatter

It been hot this week and my nemesis, the super-annoying house fly, is back. Grrr!
~ A year ago today I was taking photos of my kittie ~ 

Green Things Growing

My succulent pots are coming along nicely.
~ A year ago today I got a new camera ~ 

Flashmob

I love this video!
~ A year ago today I was starting a new book ~

Wembley Square

I stopped in at the gym on the way home today. It's nice and quiet in December. 
~ A year ago today I was nursing a nasty cat scratch ~ 

Above

I had a very quiet day at home today.
~ A year ago today I was looking at an art exhibition ~ 

Nine Weeks Old

I met this little funny face today... she's a hairless Chinese Crested. Just 1.7kg of cute.
~ A year ago today I was doing lots of admin work ~ 

RIP Madiba

Like the rest of the world I woke this morning to the sad news of Nelson Mandela's passing.
~ A year ago today I was wearing a new top ~ 

Jar

I met friends at the market tonight. We had a bite to eat and did some shopping. I got some fruit and veg, a tray of caramels and these olives. Yum!
~ A year ago today I was watching videos online ~ 

Rainforest

I've been using this shampoo and conditioner for the last few months. The make my hair smell like honey.
~ A year ago today I noticed Christmas decorations up in the mall ~ 

Lindor

Someone was handing out Lindt chocolate balls at the supermarket this afternoon. I didn't say no... I love these things!
~ A year ago today I was reading a local novel ~ 

My Animal

Thomas, the black cat. He's such a good boy.
~ A year ago today I was looking at rugs ~ 

Geranium Incanum

I spent the morning at Kirstenbosch today. So many lovely flowers!
~ A year ago today I was at a friend's for supper ~ 

Conn & C.J.

It's nice to have new(ish) books to read from authors I enjoy. Today I started the latest installment of the Emperor series.

~ A year ago today my outside gate was squeaking ~ 

Black Out Friday

We had a frustrating work day today as our Head Office was without electricity until 3.30pm. Makes one realize just how much we rely on power coming out of the plugs in our walls.
~ A year ago today I got my lunch from The Kitchen ~ 

Front Bed

I like how things are looking in the garden round the other side of the block.
~ A year ago today Tom was sitting on my bed ~ 

Snacks on the Table

Chips and dips, pate and cheese, for my guests.
~ A year ago today I was reading the local paper ~ 

The A to Z Book

Today I did some book club admin. It's our meeting tomorrow.
~ A year ago today I was using my hairdryer ~ 

Hibiscus

I had a very busy day today - but I did stop to smell a flower :)
~ A year ago today I was watching Bones ~ 

Feeling the Blues

I bought a few summer tops yesterday, and was definitely drawn to blue hues and floral patterns.
~ A year ago today I was baking a tart ~ 

Mug Tree

One of the potters at today's Potters Market tied his mugs onto a wooden frame to make a sort of Christmas tree display. It looked really cute. I bought two gorgeous white mugs - exactly what I was looking for!
~ A year ago today one of my succulent plants was having babies ~ 

Pine

Fruit du jour! I'm into pineapples at the moment.
~ A year ago today I was enjoying avo ~ 

The Nibbler

This guy is still hanging out at my place every day. He spends a lot of timing scratching and biting himself - I think he may have as a skin condition, perhaps an allergy? Poor little fellow.
~ A year ago today I was using a new mug ~ 

Pope & Associates

I watched the pilot episode of Scandal this evening. Lots going on. Will probably watch some more though.
~ A year ago today I was dong some weeding ~ 

Qwerty

I've been trying some creative writing the last few days. I'm not really sure what I'm doing and I'm a terrible typist so it is taking ages. But still quite fun to do something different.
~ A year ago today I got a little gift from a friend who'd been travelling ~

Lamp

My kitchen light takes three of these spots. They need replacing far too often. Of course it doesn't help if I drop them before I have installed them. I did this on the weekend: tiny fragments of glass and silver all over my kitchen - gah!
~ A year ago today I went to the beach ~ 

Frosting

This afternoon I had a bunch of friends over for tea. I baked a cake for the occasion, and made Swiss meringue buttercream icing for it. Bit of a palaver.... First I whisked egg white and sugar in bowl over simmering water until the sugar melted and the mixture thickened. Then I beat further, til cool, then began to add butter, block at a time. Beat, beat, beat.  Lastly I folded in homemade pineapple curd for flavour. The icing went onto a coconut pound cake, and I sprinkled toasted coconut on top. It wasn't awful.
~ A year ago today I was watching butterflied in a garden ~ 

Fluffy Pink Thing

I visited my friend Michele today and was very pleased to see her kittie is very well again after some very serious injuries and illnesses a couple of months ago. Back to her sweet playful self.
~ A year ago today I was reading an enjoyable book ~

Bridge over Buitenkant

Looking out over the east city this afternoon, the weather already turning for the worse. Big storm expected in the Cape tonight and tomorrow. Time to hunker down.
~ A year ago today Tom was playing with a box ~ 

Category: Crime

I can't get into the literary novel I started a few days ago so have put it aside for a bit and picked up a couple of thrillers instead. They're a better match for my current attention span - i.e. short!
~ A year ago today my colleague got his new bike ~ 

Fish Steak

A friend of a friend went game fishing on the weekend and caught a 70kg tuna, and I got to share in the bounty! I had some last night, and will have more tonight. This evening's supper (and tomorrow's lunch) is seared tuna with stir-fried vegetables on the side.
~ A year ago today I was looking out the window at the mountain ~ 

Harbour View

One of my favourite views of the city, taken from Tafelberg Road. Had a good walk up there today - it was a gorgeous afternoon!
~ A year ago today my kittie was being adorable ~