Nacht Wacht- and the not so dreaded christmas party

The first thing we saw as soon as we parked the car was this tree. For some reason, a picture had to be taken.. My first Christmas party and im glad to say that is was not a disaster, quite dignified actually. Good wine (2004), great venue and good company. i was waiting for someone to misbehave but alas, I guess people in the bundus are more calmer and less prone to dancing on the tables like my fellow city-sleekers!

No prices for guessing..

No that wwas not my drink, the decoration on the table. Although it could have done with a fresher rose.

The oldest building on the farm, this now houses the Art gallery where Melanie Albertyn (our host) has some of her painting as well as other artists. i think it used to be a stable (since the history of the farm goes back to the 1800s) but Melanie told us the history of the farm as we were eating and gulping some 5 year old Shiraz, so details of her talk are bit schrachy.

The restaurant, which is in the middle of the farm, called Country Cuisine.

I'm being eaten alive by creepy crawlies that fly!!!

Maybe that is a bit melodramatic but it sure feels like it. The thing with making a transition from city-life to being "one with nature" in the bundus, is that the idea of it seems so romantic. Rolling hills, lots of beautiful scenery, peace and quiet, no traffic etc. But the one thing that I forgot about in my dreamy little head was the bugs and how they enjoy feeding off dreamy tree-huggers in the hills. The good thing is that we don't have snakes (at least I have been told by a rather dodgy source). So I can deal with a few bugs feeding off me every once in a while, it is the circle of life afterall right? Since we have no cellphone reception, I have to up the hill (like Jack and Jill) every now and then to make a phonecall or two. The view is spectacular up there, the sunsets too. But all this is forgotten as soon as I get back to the house and constantly having to scrach myself after the bugs have finished their feeding fest. In fact, I am convinced that they now time my walks up the hill and call their relatives and neighbours to come and feast on the new arrival. The sad thing is I don't have the heart to squash them.. I imagine the conversation goes something like this: Bug1: we have something new to feed on Bug2: No, u kidding me!!! Bug1: Im not, can't u see my new shinny complection? Bug2: Now that u mention it, u do look kinda well-fed these days..so where is this? Bug1: *gives detailed description of my location* you should come through, in fact bring the whole neighbourhood with u', there is more than enough to go around. Bug2: Done! Ok, so maybe bugs don't speak English, but as I am taking a break from typing to scrach yet another spot on my back, I feel that this is adequate training for that reality show "Survivor". At least then I can be famous for being the girl who never complained about the bugs eating her alive because i am getting more than my fair share of practice down here in the bundus. I guess it really is "a bug's life!!"

Go Natural and Organic or Go home

That was the name of the expo held at the Cape Town Convention Centre. Now, I am not too sure about that name (I always have a problem with names). It's just not catchy enough, I mean that phrase, "Go blah blah blah Or go home" is so 90's... no one speaks like that anymore!!! Anyway, the fashion show (pictures) was called "No KaK" which means "no Poo" (for lack of a more socially-acceptable-word) in Afrikaans. It was kind of boring watching these ladies parade around in clothes dyed in Beetroot water, tea, coffee and what ever else. The only consoling factor for me was that some of the design student were from my campus, so it was nice hearing TUT mentioned every once in a while... but that's about it. The talks were interesting, as expected we had someone remind us that the world is in chaos, its our fault and only "going green" is going to save the planet (apparenly). Then we had a lady, Anthea Torr, basically telling us that you can't be a "greenie" and not be vegan. She is vegan, and so is her entire family (including the dog). After her drawn-out talk with the soccer-moms asking her for ways to trick kids into eating vegetables, I went in search of free stuff since Pick n Pay handed us these huge shopper bags. I landed up at their food stall for some free organic coffee and tea as well as scones and what not. So my coffeee supply for the day was taken care of, by the time I left the expo I was still not sure if organic coffee tasted better than my regular filter coffee. I checked out the stalls, the natural and organic market is growing, solar this, hybrid that, suddenly I had new "greenie" words to annoy my friends with. From shopper bags to make-up and food, even wine...would you believe "organic red wine" but they all taste the same to me.

Gansbaai

found it bizarre that the graveyard in this town was next to the sea, I mean what happend if a storm comes? You don't want to see headstones floating off the coast now...

harbour

Hermanus Pietersfontein and the rocky shores

During by brief stint in Hermanus. I took the took some time to learn something about the town. Aparently it was named after mr Hermanus Pietersfontein, the man who "discovered" it. I can imagine Mr Pietersfontein coming up the hill to "discover" this lovely town by the sea, but I can assure that there must have been people living there and as is the case with history, most of these little facts are ignored. I mean who wants to know about the original people who resided that when you can learn about Pietersfontein right?

Anyway, it is still a lovely town!! With lovely rocky shores as Colleen once commented.

the annoying soccer fan

If you have ever sat in bus, taxi, train, plane or whatever mode of transport that requires that you share you space with relative strangers, you might have encountered him/her. To be fair, I have only ever met male ones but since I am an equal-opportunity blogger, I aknowledge that female ones do exist as well and they are just as annoying. Yes, I am talking about the annoying soccer fans. They come in all shapes and sizes, colours and creed and wear "their" team's soccer kit in public. Most of them are not very athletic, with obesity being as it is, but they wear sporty clothes nonetheless... be it Orlando Pirates, Chiefs, Chelsea or whatever else. I prefer the one in their soccer kits/gear (I dunno what to call them) because they are easily avoidable. Spot one in the bus and I go seat as far away from them as possible, if it's after a big match then I catch the next bus. Surely being late is a small price to pay... But the tricky part comes when they are not wearing their sports attire and look just like the rest of us and before you know it, you are spending the rest of your two hour flight sitting next to a guy/girl who assumes that u give a toss about last night's match and the "offiside" and "freekick" and what not. What is it about soccer fans that makes them assume that you are one of them? I mean it really doesnt help to politely answer "no I do not watch soccer" they just continue talking your ear off about the match and all the boring details that they feel are of national importance that they feel, I (the declared non-fan) should know. I mean, the audasity!!! It's not just soccer though, it happens with rugby, cricket, and all other sports. But the soccer fans are the most annoying and with 2010 coming swiftly along, there is no escaping them... the horror!!!