Category: flickr

Current Affairs

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It’s actually quite hard to blog when you’re not watching the news, reading the twitter or doing anything except planning your next week off work. Thus, I don’t have any incisive insight into the current state of affairs in SA or the world in general, because I actually don’t know what that state of affairs is right now. Look, based on previous experience of these sort of things, it’s probably not great. But if you were here for that sort of cutting edge opinion, then you’re going to be sorely disappointed. (Spoiler: you were going to be sorely disappointed anyway.)

Instead, I bring you a photo of a butterfly (I’m no expert, but I think that this one is an Acraea horta), taken this morning while walking the beagle (us, not the butterfly) in Newlands Forest.

It was a nice walk in the shade of the trees, and we all had fun. The beagle was less impressed when it got bathed when we got home, but cheered up a bit when it got fed. It’s worth remembering that a beagle’s favourite food is anything.

The rest of the afternoon will be spent preparing for a trip down to Agulhas for New Year, during which time you can probably expect shorter, photo-filled posts on here, increased Instagram activity and the already bulging Summer 2015 album on Flickr to swell even further. I’m determined to relax, drink beer, walk on the beach and listen to some music – sometimes all at the same time – while I’m down south.

Come live vicariously through 6000 miles…

P.S. The game last night finished 4-0. I was finished long before then though.

Quads

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Nope. No new arrivals Chez 6000. Certainly not twins of twins. *shudders a little at the thought*

We did go quadbiking though, in Grabouw.

And the we went for lunch. Also in Grabouw.

Grabouw itself doesn’t really have a lot going for it. However, the quadbiking and restaurant facilities in the surrounds are nothing short of excellent.

I can totally recommend both of our stops today, which you can view by clicking the links above.

Photos? Flickr.

Greek Letters

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More holiday. More wine.

Back onto the Constantia Wine Route, with the intentions of getting to High and Beau, before lunch at Glen. The latter, we achieved by booking a table there a couple of weeks back. The former, we managed by starting there. But, as previously with attempted wine route planning, we failed to make out second port of call simply by enjoying the first place too much, and staying there.

We’ve done it before, back in 2013, just after I’d mashed my ankle. Again – a quick visit to High Constantia for a quick Groupon pairing, led to us staying for several (or more) hours and having to order pizza on the way home. It was a memorable visit for us, and, it seemed, for the staff, who remembered us from almost 3 years ago. I’m aware that this isn’t necessarily a good thing. But they are evidently non-judgmental, being friendly, chatty, knowledgeable and ever patient with us non fundis. Their MCC is magnificent, and there’s always their HUGE Bordeaux blend – Sebastian – to look forward to at the end of the proceedings.

This (purely ornamental) vine also makes shapes like the Greek alphabet. What’s not to like?

The tranquility of High Constantia sets it aside from all the other Constantia vineyards. I’m putting it firmly in my 6000 recommends category. Wander through their working cellar, out onto the stoop and watch the birds in their small garden while you enjoy tasting 7 or more wines for R50. The prices are high (no pun intended), but the wine is genuinely world class. It’s worth treating yourself every two and half years. Or maybe more often, given that the 2007 Sebastian is out any time now and is supposedly incredible.

Then it was up the road for lunch at Constantia Glen – platters, rosé and some Five. Superb, as expected. And then, back to Eagle’s Nest for the kids to run off some frustration and play in the stream there. After last time (when this got me into trouble with them), I let Mrs 6000 do the talking, and I also sat out on the tasting. It was a world away from the near silence of High Constantia and the elegant Constantia Glen, but they’re certainly not struggling for business.

More photos have been dropped into this set on Flickr, and it looks like tomorrow, when we’re… er… visiting another wine region, there may be even more.
I’m sure you, just like me, can hardly contain your excitement.

More like it

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Today was a good day. Blue skies, sunshine, swimming pools and a bit of Stellenbosch.
There were strawberries, there was brandy (good brandy), and there was wine (my favourite wine, nogal). Later, if the stars are to be believed, there may even be very nice Asian food. And in between, there was even time to get some photos up onto Flickr.

It would seem that the summer holidays are well and truly underway. And I’m quite happy about that.

Chris’ PoA sky & lighthouse p0rn

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You know me, dear reader.
I like lighthouses.
And pretty skies.
And the Isle of Man.
And other people’s photos.

If only someone could combine all of those thi… OMG! – Chris Wormwell has only gone and done it!

And I’m unapologetically leaving it large.

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That’s the Point of Ayre Lighthouse (you may remember it from posts such as this) right at the very Northern tip of the Isle of Man. But look at that light, look at that sky, look at those colours, check out the composition.
Absolutely stunning.

My goodness.

One day, I will be able to take photographs like this.
Until then, I will continue to borrow the ones that Chris takes.

Here it is – big and on black – on Chris’ Flickr stream.