These two were spotted during a stroll down St George's Street, the main street of Simon's Town. They are two of the three official "doorcats" that welcome you into the St Georges Superette, one of those "corner cafes" that have just always been there and are quintessentially Cape Town.
Sunny Monday lunch at Bertha's in Simon's Town. Good solid seafood and local entertainment.
This is Kleinplaas Dam which is up in the mountains behind Simon's Town - a popular place to hike to. The people who built the dam in the 1960s must have been very hopeful and optimistic because the water has not even reached the base of the marker that was put in there to record water level goodness knows how many years ago.
Christmas shopping along Simon's Town Main Road today - and this shop caught my eye. It is The Meeting Place 
where you can enjoy delicious teas and lunch in a wonderfully relaxing and pretty shop while admiring the lovely Christmas gift displays
like these well dressed reindeer (in Arran and Fair Isle knits) - and lots lots more. I feel positively Christmassy now!
After all the hype and Pop Idol-like fever, Table Mountain eventually made it into the "provisional new 7 wonders of nature" that some company dreamed up. I dont really agree with all this commercial branding hoo-hah, but I do agree that it is a wonder of nature! Here is a view looking at it from above Simon's Town - the back of the traditional view. You can see Devil's Peak on the right, and the table part of it just to the left. What makes it so special is not just its shape and size, but the fact that it harbours an amazing diversity of plants - more indigenous species than the whole of the British Isles. Plus some interesting insects and animals like the Velvet Worm - Peripatus.
The Runciman Building in Simon's Town was built in 1785, but was given its present "facelift" in 1899. Don't ride past it because inside, behind the yellow brollies, lies the best patisserie in the whole of the Cape Peninsula - The Sweetest Thing.
I tried the Pear and Frangipani tart and was hooked. Now I can't wait to go back on the weekend to try a Botstock as they only make those then.
Today was windy and rather hostile, but that did not deter visitors to the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony near Simon's Town. A few years ago there was not a penguin to be seen here, then just over 20 years ago they arrived in force (this is all about the collapse and movement of the sardine shoals on which these penguins have come to depend). They are now having to forage close to shore to survive and this place seemed to suit them. Sanparks have made an interesting visitors centre and walkway that allows paying visitors to walk over and around the African Penguins that go about their daily lives quite unconcerned. It is now one of the top tourist destinations in Cape Town. 
Childhood dreams are made of this. Playing at the water's edge at Seaforth Beach, just past Simon's Town. Table Mountain in the distance.
The Simon's Town Art Group are having their annual art exhibition in the Simon's Town Public Library. My aunt, Wendy Roselli, who is an internationally acclaimed artist from Zimbabwe has some work on the exhibition. 
She is famous for her baobab trees, but after her move to Cape Town, has concentrated on seagulls and seascapes. Her latest works seem to be moving to still-life studies: teapots, hats, vases of flowers. All fabulous. Wow Wendy, I am so proud of you!
Just Nuisance was a Great Dane who was officially adopted by the South African Navy in the 1940s and given the title of Able Seaman Just Nuisance. He used to accompany the sailors to Cape Town on the train, and see them safely home after a night of drinking and carousing. This life-sized statue of him by Jean Doyle can be found on Jubilee Square in Simon's Town. 
My friend's beautiful daughter, Alice, relaxing while her mother and I fossick in the pavement stalls in Simonstown.
The grave of Just Nuisance, a noble Great Dane, is reached by walking up a long staircase of stone steps to the Signal School overlooking Simon's Town. We walk up there to pay our respects quite often but today was not the best day as it is windy and cold but at least the sun is shining.
Cape Town Time