29th-31st January

Sunday 29th

exercise, lazy start, LONG lunch at Paynes with Martyn, Muriel, Andrew & Stewart; Phil, Nicole & Chris - all Jen’s maternal cousins.

Dice roll:

Wil (best man-made) enormous container ship tonight with cranes etc on it. It looks like a city all lit up at night.

Kel (best word) plesier - Afrikaans for it’s a pleasure

Jeff (best natural wonder) chameleon  - groovy feet, cool tongue . Muriel had several families in her garden with new babies.

Jen (best taste) Muriel’s strawberry, chilli & macadamia nut salad

Monday 30th - JEFF’S 44th birthday!

exercise, off for a day trip toward the Cape of Good Hope taking in Kalk Bay (art & craft - bought a beaded road bike from Mapako); Simon’s Town (large British Naval Base; Penguins!; fine seaside b/day lunch); Noordhoek, Chapman’s Peak coastal drive & back to the waterfront for a champagne sunset cruise on a large catamaran via our favourite Beach, Glen Beach. Last dip in the icy Atlantic Ocean.

dice roll;

Wil (best man-made) the enormous catamaran because it has amazing cruising size yet is fast!

Kel (best of nature) South African Penguins! So cute. We could get so close. I love the way they waddle. (native to the area but as a result of trawling the bay, human activity and domestic animals, there were only 2 breeding pairs left in 1982. Now, with a protected area and a return of their food source, there are more than 2,500 and counting.)

Jeff (best part) sunset champagne cruise out from the harbour. The views back over Cape Town were spectacular. For a 90 minute experience (with bottomless, albeit cheapish champagne) the total family cost was $75.

Jen(best taste) soft,richly flavoured, exceptional SA biltong sourced by cozzie Phil.

Tuesday 31st

Goodbye to the most beautiful city in the world.

Met up with cozzie Laura, meandered through city markets & galleries and shared lunch at the most divine African organic produce cafe. 

Washing, cleaning the flat, pack and to the airport for a 2030hrs direct flight to London.

Departure made easier in the knowledge that we’ll probably come home via Capetown & share New Year with the family.

REFLECTIONS on SOUTH AFRICA (Jen)

Resilience of South Africans, especially people of colour, in negotiating social change. Economic projections have most South Africans living without dire poverty & with numeracy & literacy within ~ 120 years. Grinding hardship sitting next to hope.......

SA looks very different despite ongoing “economic apartheid” with not infrequent visible inter-racial partnerships, people of mixed colour in all public places & obvious wealth amongst some blacks. I love the sounds of nature (thundering ocean, wild wind, guinea fowl...) & black people music & singing and am mesmerized by the sculptured landscape.

Love, love the place.

Easy 12 hour flight (dinner, movie, sleep, brekkie..... we’re there on pretty much the same time)