A young hiker hoists the broken trig beacon on top of Brakkloofrant overlooking Fish Hoek. This is a really nice trail that takes you on an hour or so walk from the east to the west of Fish Hoek across the ridge of the Fish Hoek mountain, with fabulous views over Fish Hoek and Simon's Town.
The newly re-named Helen Suzman Boulevard. Judging by the stretch limo in the distance, it is either Matric Dance season, or an indication that we are nearing the fleshpots of the Atlantic Seaboard suburbs. I can't help thinking that Helen Suzman would be a bit embarrassed at having a street named after herself if she were still around.
Working hard at home, so no time for coffee shops and delicious breakfasts. But our espresso machine makes pretty fine coffee - especially with this Bean There fair trade Ethiopian coffee in my favourite scottie mug - and some Ticklemouse Country Fare (a small company in Pringle Bay) Farmhouse Rusks.
Madiba is 94 today and the whole of South Africa wished the most loved and respected statesman of all time a happy 94th birthday. We were celebrating with a mug of bubbly on top of Devil's Peak early this morning. With Robben Island in the distance - it was an appropriate way to celebrate the Island's most famous inhabitant.
Early morning sunshine on the distant hill top - bringing the promise of a clear and sunny day! Yay. This is the Jacques Kallis cricket oval at Wynberg Boys High School.
The old Silvertree Restaurant at Kirstenbosch is no longer and in its place is the exciting Moyo Restuarant. It is a tad on the pricey side - R108 for coffee and scones for two - but they use only locally sourced stuff and the vibe is great. These Helen Martins-style angels stand guard at the entrance. The human angels are my nephews; on holiday at the moment.
Seen on the beach at Fish Hoek yesterday morning: a little hermit crab in a plough snail shell. It looks like it could be a Pink Hermit (Paguristes gamianus) and I will post it on the wonderful iSpot website and see if one of the experts agrees. It has been quite stormy here so maybe it got washed off the rocky shores that it prefers as it is not usually seen on the beach.
Looking back over the wetlants of the Zandvlei towards Muizenberg Peak is the Greater Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve which is jointly run by the City of Cape Town and Zandvlei Trust, a non-profit organization whose aims are to promote the conservation of the indigenous fauna and flora of Zandvlei and to enhance the natural resource for the benefit of all. They do amazing work in this beautiful but quite degraded area, which backs up against some of the poorer suburbs of Cape Town. The Nature Reserve is open every day to visitors, and sometimes they hold open days when staff is available to show the public around.
It really is the best hardware shop in Cape Town! Kismet, on the corner of Batts Road and Park Street, Wynberg goes back to 1957 when it opened as a corner store by Mahood Mohamed Fakier who still runs things today. What is great about them is that they are always open it seems, and will sell in small quantities too - most of the big hardware shops only sell stuff in great, pre-packaged quantities. Kismet means luck or destiny in Arabic.
A lazy Sunday lunch in the winelands. Cosecha Restaurant and some wine-tasting on Noble Hill estate.
Early morning walk along Fish Hoek in a gentle Cape Town winter drizzle.
Cape Town Time