Category Archives: Cazz

Organic Heart, South America, Spanish

A few days (weeks?) ago, I had lunch with a couple friends at Organic Heart. Organic Heart is this cute little restaurant in Plumstead and it serves some scrumptious vegan, vegetarian and organic meat dishes.

And even though stuffing your face with awesomeness is an artform that requires your unadulterated attention, we DID actually manage to have a conversation.

Cazz: I’d like to travel to South America soon. Maybe June or July … But I don’t speak any Spanish.

Calypso: Oh, I bought a Spanish language DVD a while ago. I can teach you a phrase. Los medicamentos no son míos.

Me: What does that mean?

Calypso: The drugs aren’t mine.

Skyfall, Monkey Valley, Sharks

Hey hey

It’s been a while since we talked. About me. So in the spirit of generosity and sharing, I’ve compiled a short list of all things ME.

  • I’ve volunteered to spend my birthday tagging sharks. Not the Patrick Lambie variety, mind you, but Bronze Whaler sharks (Carcharhinus brachyurus).
  • I recently moved into my new apartment. Removing the last of my belongings from my parents’ home, I asked, “Do you have an extra tube of toothpaste?”

Dad: “The grocery store is around the corner.”

  • I recently spent a couple of days at Monkey Valley. Monkey Valley is this absolutely stunning resort, situated below Chapman’s Peak and is a 10 minute walk from Noordhoek beach. The walkway to the beach leads you through one of Cape Town’s oldest Milkwood Forests. During one of my walks through the forest, I spotted a baby hawk. A baby hawk!!! Do you have an idea how AMAZING that is?
  • I recently watched the latest Bond film, Skyfall and absolutely LOVED it. Javier Bardem is BRILLIANT as the creepy criminal.

Photo taken at this year’s Twilight Fun Run. Photo taken by Cougar.

Mordor, Daniel Bedingfield and McGregor

Morning

I’ve spent the last two weeks attending 7 hour lectures on Geocortex Essentials, AFTER work. The lectures were internet based, and since my institution’s connection speed was pathetic, I found myself at Mordor (aka University of Western Cape) from 17:00 to 23:00. My crazy work hours mean that I haven’t exercised or eaten healthily in ages!

Anyway, here’s a list of things I’m looking forward to:

The weekend

My friends and I (about 14 of us in total) are headed to McGregor this weekend. We met up on Sunday to discuss travelling arrangements.

Cougar: Barry says he might come or he might go to Tanzania.

Cazz: Tanzania?

Cougar: Er … I mean Transkei.

Me: She’s not on my 30 Seconds team.

Dan: Yeah, she would say, “It sounds like …”

Me: Except you’re not allowed to say, “Sounds like …” And you’re not allowed to say, “It starts with the letter T”. She’d end up saying, “It might be a country or it might be a city.”

Dan: It might be near or it might be far. It might be in Africa or it might be in Asia. Who can tell?

Daniel Bedingfield

Webtickets has just released the Old Mutual Summer Sunset concerts held at Kirstenbosch. The opening act for this season is UK singer, Daniel Bedingfield. He’ll be performing on 25 November. So excited. I know ALL the words to his first album. ALL THE WORDS!

 

*

Can someone please remind me, to tell you about the time Cazz and Cougar shouted at some random guy that he has a tiny penis?

Beautiful day, Namibia, possibilities

One of my favourite moments of every week is just before I fall asleep on a Friday night. As I climb into bed, I make a mental list of all the things I could do, and WANT to do over the weekend. I could go surfing. I could go hiking. Or I could simply do nothing and veg out in front of the PC. It is a great reminder that tomorrow is full of possibilities.

“It’s a beautiful day , don’t let it get away.” Hums the rest of the song because she doesn’t know the rest of the words.  

Talking about possibilities, the girls and I have been talking about driving to Namibia at the beginning of next year. We’re thinking of spending 7 days there. As yet we’re still in the early stages of planning and haven’t figured out the details. But I’m hoping that the girls, who are clever, hilarious and read this blog, are open to the idea of white water raftering down the Orange River. Pretty please?

This weekend … dragon boat racing, stereotypes and Austria

This weekend I…

  • Attended Juan and Dizzy*’s housewarming. The theme was ‘embrace your stereotype’. Naturally I turned up as a terrorist. I wore a scarf and a jilbab and strapped a clock to my chest. I’d hoped that the clock would clearly represent a bomb. Unfortunately some made the assumption that I’d actually turned up as the “Girl, whose biological clock is ticking”.
  • Went dragon boat racing with my running club. So. Much. Fun. Seriously. I’m actually considering organizing this for my 30th birthday.
  • Bid goodbye to the lovely Mr Schnapps and Dark Knight, who leave for Austria in a couple of days. Since it might be YEARS before they return to Cape Town, they have been gracious enough to extend an invite to visit them. 24 hours later and I’ve already Googled the crap out of Slovenia and Italy, two of the countries I might call on before heading to Austria.

The weekend that was

On Friday after work, the crazy party animal that I am, climbed straight into her PJs and fell asleep watching Noot vir Noot. I know, right now thousands of parents worldwide are envying my freedom.

Saturday was slightly more interesting. I attended the world’s best baby shower EVER. EVER! For those of you, who have yet to be subjected to the horrors that are baby showers, they inevitably involve such exhilarating games as “guess the baby momma’s weight”. At this baby shower however all I was required to do was stuff my face with delicious food. Now this my friends, is something that I’m exceptionally good at. At this point some of you are probably thinking, “You? Eat? But you have the figure of a supermodel. I thought you subsisted on nothing more than sunshine and coffee.” To which I’d like to nonchalantly reply, “Bulimia.”

After stuffing my face with goodness, I attended the theatre production, “Kat and the Kings.” My friend Aims is the leading lady, and OMG is she fucking brilliant. Seriously, I had no idea that the girl could sing.

And then it was off to Little Ethiopia on 76 Short Market Street. I may or may not have said, “I’m not sharing! I’m any of you touch food, I will break your arms.” Pause, look over at people I’ve JUST met, “I know you THINK I’m joking, but I’m nor if they so much at. I will break our arms if you touch my food.” Barry didn’t take my threat seriously, which means that I am now forced to set his house on fire.

 Picture taken by Cazz at Little Ethiopia. I fucking heart that place. From the looks of this picture, I’m a scream.

Anyhoo, today’s Sunday and I just ran a 10km race. In torrential race. After only 6 hours sleep. Because I’m awesome baby. Hoping to spend the rest of the day watching movies. And possibly reading a book …

CS Cape Town Amazing Race 2

Yesterday the second CouchSurfing Cape Town Amazing Race was held. The event was sponspored by Five Flies and Pesto Princess.

Cougar and fellow team member at the starting point, Arnold’s. 

We met up at Arnold’s on 60 Kloof Street, where we paid our registration fee (R20), synchronised our watches, were placed into groups of 4 and debriefed.

Twisted gun in the Waterfront.

Here are some examples of clues given:

Clue 1: In Cape Town city bowl, a vagina is very busy. Bring it’s schedule.

Answer: The Labia Cinema.

Clue 2: In Observatory find the unmistable sitting furniture.

Answer: Armchair Theatre.

Stopping for a snack at MacDs.

Clue 3: In Waterfront, Max has been blinded. He used to be able to see until he lost this organ. Find the place where it used to be.

Answer: Imax.

Climbing the walls. City Rock, Observatory.

As you can tell from the photos, we had a blast. Not only did I meet a few crazy interesting individuals, this was also a great way to explore the city.

Congratulations to our Cougar for winning the R500 Five Flies Restaurant Murder Mystery voucher for two. Oh and Cougar, if you’re looking for a partner, remember that not only am I great at solving murder mysteries, but I’m also willing to put out. *wink wink, nudge nudge*

Thanks so much for the Cape Town CouchSurfing community for organising!

Shit that made me laugh

Me on Twitter: Man, I am loving this season of Survivor. Also I wanna marry Russell. So smart.

Cazz: @sid_kane er, seriously? He looks like a cross between a Tellytubby and a hairy gnome … Has your taste gone on strike?

Crazy/beautiful – Langebaan edition

Thanks to these beautiful ladies (and some men not pictured in the above pic), I had a lovely weekend. We ran a short little race (21.1km).

Woke up at 04:15 on race day, only to have a bus load of marathoners laugh at us.

 We had a potjiekos cook-off.

Played an intense game of Jenga, 30 Seconds and Uno. There were allegations of cheating.

 

Rapunzel I ain’t

People, I have a HUGE problem. It’s my hair. It’s in a dire state. It has reached that point where comparing it to straw would be a compliment. It’s so coarse and dry that I am too ashamed to leave the house without the cold comfort of a cap, or a wig. Yes, I’ve reached the point where synthetic fibres are preferable to my locks.

But don’t worry I’ve called in the experts. I have an appointment with the hairdresser tomorrow, for a cut and blow. I have a feeling that she will need way more than conditioner to turn me into Rapunzel. A wand, perhaps?

And in other unrelated hair news …

Langebaan

My friends and I will be heading to Langebaan for the weekend. Where some of us will be running the Weskus half marathon and others will be doing things that don’t end in tears or regret.

Scholarship and Argus Cycle Tour

This weekend was rather boring, and most of it was spent in front of the computer filling in an application form for a grant. If successful the grant will cover some of my expenses to attend a conference in California. The application form asked such relevant questions as, “What is your GIS expertise?” and “Are you willing to sleep in a tent.” I kid you not!

Unfortunately my dedication meant that I missed out on Juan’s participation in the Argus Cycle Tour. Sad face. Apparently the girls had gone to great lengths to support him. Special cheerleader outfits were created and trains were taken on the day.

Sandboarding

I will also be going sandboarding later this month. I’d promise to upload lots of pics and provide a full detailed report. But considering that I have yet to report back on my shark cage diving, stand-up paddle boarding and ziplining adventures, maybe it is best if I don’t make any promises?

 

That’s about all folks! What’s been happening with you?