The weather has taken a sudden turn in Cape Town and it has been boiling hot outside. On Thursday I had my annual check up at the gynae who is in Milnerton so I set off just after 7am to make my way across the city. I had to use the car’s air conditioner as it was already in the upper 20s and by the end of the day we saw people posting shots of their temperature gauges hitting the 40s!

After the doctor I had to go into the client offices and work late to make up the time I had lost that morning. After work when I got home it was still incredibly hot and so we pulled off the pool cover and had a swim. The pool cover keeps the water a lovely temperature and it keeps the pool full as we are unable to top it up due to the drought. It does not keep all of the rubbish from blowing in however so Norm had to do a quick clean before we jumped in.

Navajo and Pixie go insane and try to bite the pool brush.

Panda just sat next to me watching quietly like a good boy.

After our swim we decided it was too hot to cook so we had a braai. Norm grilled chicken breasts, chicken thighs, corn on the cob and some oepsies which are saucy bacon strips wound around a wooden stick.

I made a salad and some coleslaw.

We ate outside under the patio at the back of the house.

Even after the sun went down it was still so hot that I sat outside for ages.

On Friday our team had their year end function at Basilico in Newlands.

The theme was The Great Gatsby.

However it was about 30*C outside and it seemed even hotter inside. It was like an oven. They had all the doors and windows closed as they supposedly had air conditioning on but we eventually told them we had to have air. The sweat was literally rolling down our faces. It was incredibly uncomfortable.

Nevertheless we carried on.

I ordered the chicken breasts with chips.

But after I saw my colleague’s pizza I was ever so jealous as it looked amazing, crispy thin crust and lots of cheese and proper bacon. I’ll pop in sometime when it’s cooler and try one.

For dessert I chose the chocolate cherry brownie.

The brownie was more like a chocolate fondant in texture as it was undercooked. It was a soft smushy almost pudding like consistency. It needed 5 more minutes in the oven and would have been amazing as the flavours were perfection but it is really rich.

We played several party games. I won a nice bottle of wine as I had 12 of the 14 random items in a list which we all had to have in our handbags. I carry a suitcase, not a handbag. We were all given a few little party treats too, body creams and a nice chocolate.

One of the ladies does belly dancing and so she led a contest with the guys to test their skills.

We had such a giggle.

Unfortunately due to the heat I’m only rating Basilico 3 Kitten Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once we finished lunch I shot off home and changed and Norm packed up our picnic gear and chairs and we headed off to Kirstenbosch Gardens for the Texas concert.

We were driving in towards the venue and I started chatting to my angels. I always say ‘Angels find me nice parking’ when I enter any car park, but this venue can be a nightmare so I said ‘Pierre I know you would have had a game plan to avoid crowds, I liked the parking I had last time so if you can arrange that same spot I’ll be ever so grateful. I know that’s a bit of an ask so if you can get one anywhere in that lot I’ll be very happy.’

We drove in to the same area from the last time we were at the venue and the parking was full. We decided Norm would drop me and the gear and go park. He was back in seconds so I said ‘that was fast did you find something close?’

He says ‘I saw a car leaving after I dropped you and swung back around and got the exact same car parking space as last time.’

What?!?!?

I had to sit down and catch my breath and we hadn’t even started the uphill trek.

You may call this coincidence but I am 100% sure that my request for help was heard and acted on.

Pierre knew I’m not good with walking long distances. He also knew poor Norm would be laden like a pack animal with me dragging slowly up the hill moaning loudly behind him. Maybe it wasn’t me Pierre was helping after all!?

We gathered our gear and trekked uphill to the gate. We waited only a bit before the gate opened and we then got settled on the slope down towards the stage.

Eventually the space filled so full that it was blanket to blanket.

Norm popped open a cider for me.

We loved our new chairs, it has both a wee bottle holder and a wine glass holder.

How cool?

We were so comfy.

Those chairs are life changers. We were so happy.

We spotted our friend Tom who now lives in Scotland and he told us a fortuitous tale of running into Sharleen at the airport at the moment when she was really annoyed at the long queues and loss of her luggage, including her guitar.

We were delighted to hear a happy ending that the guitar was eventually found.

Norm had packed our picnic basket with chicken meatballs, cheeses, chicken breasts, nuts, seed crackers, pickles, salads and all sorts of delicious tidbits but it was so hot I wasn’t terribly hungry so I just nibbled.

To give the promoter their due the emcee came on stage promptly at 7 as promised. We loved that it was an evening of all female singers.

The first act up was Emily Capell from London.

Image credit.

She was very funny and energetic and we enjoyed her.

She was quite country with a rock twist. I liked her whimsical cheeky vibe but thought her hair a bit too Amy Winehouse-esque.

Next was Henry Ate and they also had a great sound with lots of energy.

Henry Ate was a South African band that came to fame in the mid-1990s. Headed up at the time by lead singer Karma-Ann Swanepoel. It appears she is still the lead singer so maybe they broke up and reformed. I’m pretty sure we saw her years ago when on the bill with Ard Matthews at Cape Farmhouse. She was a bit tipsy if I’ve got the right chick.

The sun eventually set and it got chilly so we wrapped up. Then Sharleen and the band bounced onstage to thunderous applause and Texas were off. The entire audience got up on their feet and danced until the 10 pm curfew when the sound has to shut down as the park is surrounded by residential areas.

They played all of their old hits. This is one of my faves. It hits me in the feels.

She is so beautiful and still looked amazing, of course I was a million miles away.

Imagine our surprise when Sharleen starts to tell a story about having a princess moment over airport dramas and meeting Tom!

A few minutes later she then says she wants to say hi to her long time friend Kate Carin who now lives in Cape Town and was in the audience. Norm and I both whipped round to look at each other.

What?

Kate is our next door neighbour and until this moment when I googled her had no idea she is a famous costume designer! Norm had said vaguely that she “worked for the BBC.”

What a small world! Sharleen tells two stories onstage and they are both about people we know.

We had such a brilliant night. We danced the entire last set and had such a laugh. I sang so much my throat is a bit sore.

We have now cracked the Kirstenbosch best practice. We did have to wait ages to get out of the car park after the concert finished but at least we didn’t walk miles so I can live with that balance.

We had such a perfect night. I give the experience a full 5 Kitten stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This morning we got up and showered and headed to La Cuccina for breakfast. I had the eggs benedict with bacon.

Norm had a full breakfast with low carb bread.

Afterwards I shot off to the city to get my hair cut and coloured. The wind is insane and the coast road was littered with bits of trees and rocks blown off of the mountains along the road.

After my haircut I came home and we just chilled out with the pups.

Tonight Norm has popped out to Massimo’s for pizza for our dinner.

It was rather amazingly delicious.

We are having a quiet night in. We are watching #SLFN.

We finally decided what to do for NY Eve. We booked in for dinner at Foxcroft our fave restaurant. We will have an early fancy dinner of amazing food then toddle off home, climb into the pool and welcome in the bells together listening to some music and sipping wine.

There will be no first footing round the neighborhood for Norm this year like last year in Scotland.

Never mind I’ll be spending it with the love of my life so I can’t ask for more.

What a lucky Kitten I am. I am thankful for my many blessings.

Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxo