Cape Town is such a place of extremes. This time it was the weather! This Saturday it is hot and summery and last Saturday the weather was horrendous in Hout Bay. Last Saturday Norm and the visitors took off about 9ish for Hermanus where the Annual Whale Festival was occurring.
The thing about Cape Town and the surrounds is that the weather is so changeable by region or by time. You can leave the house and it is cold, you wear boots and a cardigan and then it is boiling hot on the other side of town! You have to prepare for every eventuality which is fine as the visitors are in a huge van with plenty of space for bags and boots. However the weather in Hermanus was rubbish as well. I had prayed for them to see whales and at least they did have a spotting of tails.
I had to wait for Norm to collect me and our allotted appointment for going to the hospital to see Caitlin and the baby was for 5pm but we were just a little bit late because the traffic was bad for Norm on the way home. Caitlin looked exhausted. I took the baby to give her a bit of a rest and so I could watch baby’s tiny little face and it’s ever shifting range of twitches, frowns, smiles and mews. Caitlin got up and sorted herself out for bed while we were there and then we got her settled back in bed with the baby in her arms. Caitlin was looking forward to dozing with baby quietly that night. Wes had gone home to watch the rugby and get some rest.
Norm and I headed off to the house and he picked up Kim and Greg and they went with Norm to collect some take-aways for everyone from Massimo’s. Everyone else had a pizza except for Norm and I. I had my fave calamari and chips and Norm had the Milanese with mash. Norm was tired so we watched a bit of news and headed to bed early.
Last Sunday the weather was dreadful and it rained hard for most of the night.
The visitors had booked tickets to go to Robben Island and got up and out early to make the 9am ferry, but the weather was so bad it was cancelled. Of course they only found out after they drove there. Norm had even checked the website before leaving to see if there was any messages about closure. Typical South African poor communication unfortunately. The guests decided to do a bit of shopping at the V&A Waterfront since they were already there and had dealt with the parking which is the biggest challenge at that very busy mall. They also went to the Hout Bay Harbour Market again to get some gifts to take back and popped by the Hout Bay Manor Hotel for tea and cake as I suggested they stop by to look at the decor. I love the style there, it is very bright and colourful which is not everyone’s taste and no one in the group seemed very enamored of it. Oops. Hopefully they enjoyed their cake.
Caitlin had decided that she did not feel up to having any visitors on Sunday as she was in a lot of pain and the baby was a bit niggly. I feel so bad for her as the first few weeks are so exhausting so I was content to let her decide what suited her and their new family as they settle into a routine.
As it was the visitor’s last night we went to Cheyne’s in Hout Bay which has always been one of my favourite local venues. We were seated at a big table by the fire.
There was a strange vibe and after a bit Norm went to the bar to ask if someone could take our drink order. The host came over to say that he would be serving us as it was the last night the restaurant would be open! I was shocked and very sad as this is where I would go for all of my celebrations and we had just been there a few weeks ago for my birthday (here is the post). The owner Viv popped by to say hi and I gave my commiserations and she mentioned that they hope to re-open in a smaller venue. I really hope so as I adore the food. This is one of the few places I have a drink, I love their Passionate Buddhas.
We all chose the 4 dish special for R420 each. We also chose 2 orders of the potato and coconut croquettes for the table to share. Everyone enjoyed these.
I chose the Baby Shrimp Tempura with garlic truffle mayo & red pepper flakes. This was perfection as always. The tempura was light and crispy, the prawns beautifully tender and the sauce the perfect balance. They were piping hot which is great, nothing worse than lukewarm food.
Norm chose the Hake tempura, miso aoli, sauce unagi for his first course. A few people had this and all of them raved about it.
After this I was too busy focusing on a voicemail I was listening to and was too distracted to take photos of anything except my own food.
Next I had the Chili Salt Squid, cajun furikake, green chili, and dashi mayo. It was delicious and perfectly seasoned.
Next 3 of us had the Mumbai chili beef, cardamom, teriyaki, green chili and coconut. This is my favourite of their dishes and I have it every time I go. It is sweet yet spicy, crispy and light. I love this dish.
For this course 2 of the had the lamb cutlets and really enjoyed them. A few people had the chicken yakitori with grilled pineapple and also enjoyed it.
For my last choice I had the double thick peanut butter shake, miso butterscotch, toasted nuts and chocolate soil. This is also my favourite dessert and almost always have it. It is so fresh and rich and a perfect end to a perfect meal.
I felt lucky that I was there for their last night, but sad that it was their last night! I can feel two things at once. I was thankful that my visitors got to experience it and that their presence resulted in me getting to experience it! We all rated it a full 5 Kitten Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A little string of sad stars.
On Monday Norm had to do several runs to the airport to drop off the visitors. Caitlin and the baby got to go home from the hospital that day, however we did not push to visit in order to give them time to settle in, they also had a nurse popping by to chat.
Tuesday life was back to normal. I got to pop over and see the baby. Caitlin looked fabulous but tired. I could not believe how tidy and perky she was. I would be slobbing in bed in dirty PJs for weeks if someone just cut a baba outta my belly.
After my visit Norm raced over to Tamlyn’s to drop me for the Social Circle which began at 6. There were a few new ladies there I had not met and a few I knew already. Norm collected me afterwards. I had a pizza waiting when I got home but I was too tired to eat more than a piece or two before I crashed out.
On Wednesday I felt exhausted. I had work to do so I kept busy but I did so in my pajamas. I did have my coffee outside when I had a break because it was a gorgeous day and Finn came with me and brought his hoof to play with. He loves being chased and barks until I do so.
Thursday was also a beautiful day. It has started getting warmer so I asked Norm to clean the pool as Millie was arriving the following day and she loves to swim. He opened it and it was even worse than we had expected.
By yesterday afternoon Norm had managed to get it to a more civilised appearance. He checked it to see what the pH etc. was and put in the balancing bits and pieces so hopefully we can swim tomorrow.
By the end of the day it was a bit cloudy but suspect it will settle, we will do one last wash in the morning.
In addition to the squirrels and the myriad of birds I always see in my garden, I saw 2 lizards on Thursday. First a tiny little beige gecko was in the post box when I collected the mail. Then this striped skink appeared by the pool, ran up the steps and up the wall to the garden. He was really long, probably 20-30cms.
This week my air plants have finally properly bloomed. Aren’t they beautiful?
My clivias are also starting to bloom as are my wild irises which are on the hill above the pool.
Norm popped off to the airport yesterday afternoon to collect Lily and Amelia. I stayed home from a space point of view and I ordered take outs so that Amelia could eat soon after she arrived.
Amelia was in fine form and was full of nonsense. She had her pizza and pasta and went off to bed with Lily.
This morning I was up and out early for our last Soul Circle. Maybe not the last last ever, but the last in person with Nikki and Bridget heading it up as they are applying for residency in Portugal and may be off to the other side of the world soon which means our little group of women may end up breaking up. Many of us have connected outside of the group and hopefully those connections will continue as the group of women I have met via that group are all so special. I think the group softened me and has helped me to welcome the feminine, vulnerable side of me.
Today’s theme for the session was ‘Rhythm and Flow’. Nikki spoke about how if you are in a state of flow it just means bobbing along in the river of life. She mentioned a few quotes by a few people whom I am now too tired to look up, so you get the Lisa interpretation. One is likened to being in water – if you fight and flail about you will sink, but if you lay out and just relax you will float.
Nikki told the Taoist parable called “Sāi Wēng Lost His Horse” which you are welcome to read about here. But basically we talked about how when things are going well we celebrate but when things go badly we despair, instead of just riding the swells. I mentioned that the whole ‘good day / bad day’ concept is a fallacy anyway because everything is neutral, it is us humans who associate a judgement to everything. That judgement is based on our current mood, our past experiences and the situation at hand, but it is our own decision of whether it is a good day or a bad day.
I liked to think of the flow being visualised as a heartbeat like on a scan. You get some flat, maybe slightly dull bits, then some ups, then downs and then the repeat of the cycle over and over again. And that is life!
After the session Tamlyn dropped me home and I sat outside with Norm but it was incredibly hot! Millie had a long nap and then when she woke up Lily went to visit Caitlin and the new baby.
Millie and I ate strawberries, chased guinea fowl, rode the little pony I bought her and then played in the swimming pool on the steps for ages. She had a few wee niggles here and there but the cat or Finn or something would usually distract her. It was lovely having so much one on one time with her. Finn is obsessed with her and follows her around everywhere so it was basically the three of us.
Tomorrow we have Lily’s friend and her family coming over and the pool should be perfect by then!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend and week ahead. Until next time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxoxo
Kitten in the City 