Category: this is south africa

Budget decisions

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There are always tough decisions to make. [Anecdotal evidence says that] prices are rising far faster than the official inflation figures would like to suggest, and the lack of any recent significant precipitation (dam levels are only at 92.6% vs 103.4% this time last year) has left the magic money tree in the back garden sadly fruit-free.

Some things are easy. I can’t get around without diesel (in my car at least), so we’ll definitely have to have some of that. But I really don’t need a new hob this month. I mean – I do – but it can wait. And so it will.

Other choices are tighter though. Those things which aren’t quite essential, but don’t quite fall into the “nice-to-have” category either.

I ran out of collagen this morning. External collagen, that is. There’s still some in my body. And like it or not, there are studies which show that collagen intake (if it’s the right sort of collagen you are intaking) can help with joint health. And I need all the help I can get with that sort of thing (because of knee and ankle).

But collagen is expensive and although it helps, I can live without it.
Oh, and also falling into my inbox, there was this offer:

Which comes in at around the same price: if you squint a little.

And if your knee or ankle does hurt because of a lack of collagen intake, then some of this will either dull the pain or – at the very least – make you care a whole lot less about it.

So: protein powder or magic liquid? Which will it be?

There are always tough decisions to make.

Beyond the curtain

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I’m heading North this afternoon, out beyond the infamous Boerewors Curtain. That’s the line between the English-speaking South of Cape Town, and the Afrikaans-speaking North.

Cue the “Don’t forget your passport!” jokes.

But it is a bit like that.

It’s not the only Cape curtain though. Between the Southern Suburbs and the Deep South is the Lentil Curtain. And so we exist between the two: eating meat like our Northern neighbours and occasionally enjoying a salad like the hippies in the south.

But I digress. Often.

Today is about racehorsing, and Durbanville is the course in question. It’s very much the smaller of the two courses in Cape Town but it has a nice homely, personal feel to it, and it’s always a nice friendly place to go.

And after that, dinner at Signal Gun – on a school night, nogal – hopefully celebrating a winner (or two).

A good weekend

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We headed down to Agulhas in the dark on Friday. That meant that we managed to get a whole Friday afternoon of activities in Cape Town and still wake up down at the Southern Tip on Saturday morning.

And actually, I have no issue with driving down the R316 at any time of the day or night. Always fun.

And it was a fun family weekend with some superb weather.

Walking on the beach, braai’ing and games night yesterday.

And then, after a lovely lie in, 8½kms  barefoot along Struisbaai beach with some considerable pace and speed. And yes, some blisters on my toes, but I’ll probably survive.

Home in time for a bit of footy on the TV and off to bed before the new week kicks off horribly early tomorrow.

Unforgettable Marketing Stunt in Football: Showmax’s Viral Video

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I recognise that this blog has been a bit football heavy of late, but despite the current disorganised mess at Bramall Lane, I’m still quite enjoying the fact that football is back. Proper football, that is, not the Club World Cup nonsense or those friendlies that actually mean very little.

Of course, being the first day of the Premier League season, I am obliged to share this video:

It’s the rules. It’s also the rules that I tell you that the original video for that song was filmed in Piketberg, very close to here.

And also being the first day of the Premier League season, I was reminded of this incredible stunt that was pulled this time last year by Showmax, in order the market their new offering:

I have never been so completely and utterly fooled in my life (ok, maybe by that blond lass on the dance floor in Madison’s in Newcastle back in 1993, but still…). Wow. It was soooo awkward.
I was on Whatsapp and every other social media platform while this was happening, wondering if it was only me that was seeing it. Thankfully, everyone else was wondering exactly the same.

I’m amazed that this didn’t get worldwide attention given just how original and convincing it was.
Literally the best marketing video I have ever seen.

I still didn’t buy the product though.

Plot twist

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Look at this beautiful plot for sale in Suiderstrand, Cape Agulhas. Doesn’t it look idyllic?

And doesn’t sales agent Richard Pratt (stop it!) make it sound idyllic?

Situated within the Agulhas National Park, this vacant stand in Suiderstrand presents a rare opportunity to construct your coastal retreat. The land is level—ideal for straightforward construction. Lush fynbos to the rear boundary, offering a serene backdrop of indigenous flora and the soothing sound of the ocean. The clear sightlines to both the front and back of the plot make it possible to plan your home that captures sea views with clever orientation.

Approved house plans included.

Suiderstrand is a sanctuary for those drawn to serenity and natural fynbos.

Stunning, doll! Stunning!

What Richard has failed to mention here is that while this plot absolutely backs onto lush fynbos at the moment, that won’t be the case for very long, with 15 houses being built all over that very same lush fynbos in the new – and rather controversial – Moquini Bay housing estate, in the very near future.
And then this plot will back onto first a building site, and then a security estate, and not lush fynbos.

But then, I wouldn’t want to accuse Richard of being slightly disingenuous with his description of this place. After all, how on earth would he know about that new development?

Oh yes, now I remember.

He’s selling the houses there too.

Right.