It’s been an amazing weekend, both socially and meteorologically. But all that seems set to change tomorrow when there is both work and a nasty storm expected in Cape Town.
Ugh.
We made hay and went to see Elliot the crateman (photos), watched a house fire (really) and then attended a couple of braais.
And drank a couple of beers.
Some of us then went on to balance a small rottweiler puppy on our heads.
Fortunately, I remained sober enough not to try anything so outrageous.
I think.
It was with a heavy heart that I read this tweet from the V&A Waterfront account, yesterday.
On Monday, we start the breakdown of Elliot the Coca-Cola Crate Man. Elliot has spent 3 years at the V&A but now it is time to say goodbye.
— V&A Waterfront (@VandAWaterfront) June 21, 2013
Yes, after three years valiant service to the Waterfront and its visitors, Elliot, the iconic Coca Cola “crateman” is to be dismantled.
I’m taking the kids along to see Eliot for one last time this afternoon. Doubtless, there will be tears: he’s been a big part of their lives, with every visit to the Waterfront necessitating a trip to his feet. (And occasionally slightly higher when Dad wasn’t looking.)
Rarely have I been moved so much by a piece of art.
Note those tiny kids at his right foot, 10 August 2010.
Previously, Elliot has also featured on this blog, when an angry man described him as:
a monument to mediocrity, global exploitation and humankind’s dysfunctional health and disregard for our treasured eco-heritage.
and I defended the sculpture, using the tools of rationality, accuracy and ridicule.
Those were the days.
But now, it’s Elliot’s time to move on to a better place.
Although, looking at that second photo, is there really a better place?
Goodbye Elliot. Hamba Kahle, old friend.
And thank you for all the joy you’ve brought my kids and me.
It seems that there is an element of denial in the national psyche over here after South Africa lost in the semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy to England yesterday. Now, I don’t want to harp on about this, although the self-flagellation amongst the locals shows no sign of abating, so it’s obviously still relevant (and raw).
But there was this on the IOL news website:
Try, if you can, to ignore the formatting issues and look at those options. Because the blame game must be played.
Might I suggest a fifth option though (even though there’s blatantly not even room for that fourth one)?
How about “England“?
Maybe it wasn’t the best SA cricket performance ever, but then, maybe they weren’t actually allowed to play well. I mean, perish the thought that the opposition were actually better than them. We could never admit that though, could we?
Come to think of it, where is the story here? The Proteas lost to a better team, a team that is above them in the ICC rankings, a team that played better cricket than they did yesterday. ‘Choking’ (in this context, rather than a buxom celebrity cook context) is when you lose a game that you were expected to win – or you lose from a winning position. That didn’t happen here.
Oh – and Dale Steyn was injured, you say? – well, we’ll be sure to make a footnote in the history books for you.
What a weekend. Walks on the beach, braais in the evening, drinking, repairing a garden, climbing on the cottage roof, all carried out in wall-to-wall sunshine. Perhaps understandably, there’s not much left in the tank.
There’s more where that came from, here.
We spent Father’s Day morning walking on the beach:
Absolutely stunning weather and a good workout for my ankle.
We’re going to spend Father’s Day afternoon sitting in the sun and drinking beer.