A proper book party

there in the foreground lies this season's most coveted book

I was going to say launch, but with that wicked punch, endless rows of pink bubbles.... and don't get me started on the sublime pork pate-  it really was a very good party.

WIth The Book lounge in Roeland street as the perfect venue, our fabulous and now famous Marie from '66 square feet'  reigned supreme last night.

I would describe the book to you in all it’s delicious detail- but they’re gone- yes, all of them.....snatched up even faster than those delicious morsels of crispy pork rind!

I can tell you that everyone was there and we loved the question and answer session with the vivacious Sam Woulidge of Confessions of a hungry woman fame.

Whispers overheard amongst the books ....'so thoughtful', 'captivating', 'intelligent', 'witty' - and as you can see Marie signed all those books as if she were born to do it.

Off to Kalahari.net to secure my copy - .now I just need it signed...,,

 

drive by- drive home

Cape Point Vineyard market

 

Feel like a glass of wine...or two, as well as a yummy selection of eats on a Thursday evening? 

Cape Point Vineyard Market in Noordhoek - We visited a few weeks back, coming over the mountain a little after 6 pm, it was already bursting with happy people.

I headed straight for The foodbarn's stall and couldn't help but start with dessert- the churros with chocolate sauce....*insert 3 minutes of pure melting enjoyment*...I actually couldn't eat anything else after that.

Now turn around, look at that view, take a sip of wine and know what it feels like to be living in Cape Town.

A few of the lovely stallholders with their treats

Drive home- drive by

Jan Neethling- A Greek Goddess up to no Good

Jan Neethling's exhibition has opened at Heidi's Erdmann Contemporary.

An exciting and vibrant exhibition - bold, colourful pieces, 21 in all, my favourite below....I admit it was a difficult choice.

The artist was a  close friend of the late Robert Hodgins, he named the exhibition in memory of him and a favourite painting by him- A Greek Goddess up to no Good.

Visit soon- you won't be disappointed, but they may all be sold.

The artist in the middle

A voyeuristic peak through a window on our walk to the car- a designer hard at work in his studio, pausing occasionally to sip from a glass of red wine.

Drive by- drive home

Prince Albert

 

I don't know if it's the air, the spectacular Swartberg mountains or the sheer nothingness surrounding Prince Albert- perhaps it's the combination.

 As you enter the town everything slows, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the gentle lulling.

 It had been too long and it was a surprise party for our old mate Gary, we stayed at Lisa's beautiful guest house in the main road 'Onse Rus'

I know they are our friends, but what a fabulous place to stay- just take a look and see for yourselves.

Saturday morning breakfast on the stoep watching the town walk by, a meander to the market and of course, late night drinking in the fairy lit courtyard garden.

 We spent the day on their farm 30 kms outside of Prince Albert, this is the road we took- I know..... I'm sure you could meditate for hours on the serenity of just this picture, but to be sure, 

I'm throwing in the roadside tortoise as well.

We drove past a large fig farm, this was very hard, row upon row of almost ripe large black figs - just as well I wasn't driving.

Almost at end, we veered right to reveal their gorgeous little farm, the horses came to greet us.

 We got to eat some of those figs- stuffed with blue cheese, gently roasted in the weber and then wrapped with black forest ham- I haven't stopped thinking about them.

The art teacher chose the hammock and we all wiled away the afternoon listening to sweet sounds of nothing.

We left at sunset- the horses bid us farewell.

Drive by- drive home

Infecting the City

In the silence 20 000 glow sticks tumbled down the steps of SANG, a small child squealed with such joyful abandon, her delight infected us.

Prior to 'Erosion' we watched a dance installation called JINX 103 in the amphitheater in front of the museum.

Afterward the crowd followed the 'grey lit man' down the avenue through Company gardens to the next art installation in Adderley street.

It's all part of a wonderful initiative called 'Infecting the City' bringing all forms of art into the city of Cape Town- on every day until the 16th March.

Drive by- drive home

 

Maynardville Carnival

It's the time of the year for harings, rollmops, shots of genever and piping hot bitterballen dipped in mustard- yippee!

Tensions were high this year, as on Wednesday the precious harings were still sitting with customs, but don't worry, they thankfully arrived yesterday.

We found a few bargains in Petticoat lane, the kids did the bumper cars last night, the art teacher has his eye on a juicy shwarma from the larger than life Cairo man.

Finish the evening with a grappa and an espresso from the Italian tent - goes perfectly with a crispy, sugar dusted rosenkuchen.......can you feel my satisfaction?

Themba Shibase- Erdmann Contemporary

Themba Shibase's exhibition - Paint, Masculinity, Power & Violence opened at Heidi's gallery Erdmann Contemporary last night.

Themba's work explores the link between masculinity, patriarchy, power and violence as a recipe for a violent and oppressive society-  and how they occur not only in the context of state, but in other domains as well.

Catch it- on until 23 March

artist Themba Shibase

Drive by- drive home