Category: this is south africa

Hot

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It’s hit a ridiculous 36 South African degrees in Cape Town this afternoon, and anyone with any sort of a brain has been sensibly hiding inside.

I’ve been out and about.

First of all grabbing another morning walk in Kirstenbosch, and then doing jobs and running errands: one of which included delivering some table grapes to an estate agency, and another of which included buying some boerie and spuds for dinner. Quick and easy in the air-fryer stuff.

It’s now been suggested to me that I should go outside (again) and light a fire – a hot fire – and cook the dinner over that instead. I mean, it’s not like I could get any hotter, right?

Right?

We might pop out for an ice cream before or after that.
We will be popping to the airport for more family goodbyes a bit later as well. [sad trombone]

Tomorrow promises to be a quieter, cooler day.
I mean… apart from that thing that’s going to happen…

OBS

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Not an Orange Breasted Mousebird. This is an Orange Breasted Sunbird.

Just some of the wildlife we spotted at Kirstenbosch this morning, which also included a mouse, and a snake.

The snake was a Cape Cobra, and I did get some very quick shots, but nothing great. It just wanted to get away from us, and did so by quickly disappearing into a hole.

You shouldn’t be afraid of South African snakes. This one could kill you with a single bite, but don’t want to hurt you. They don’t want to be anywhere near you.

Think of it as a mouse with fangs.

Tonight: Dad’s last night before he heads home. There are plans for a nice meal out.

On the way back in

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After yesterday’s… [thinks carefully]… “interesting” day out by train up to Elgin – including ploughing through right next to the active fireline in Grabouw – it’s been a quieter, cooler day today, with a nice gentle walk up the mountain.

And with the football about to start, I need a quick QP to pop up here. So here’s one from on the way back into Cape Town’s fetid industrial dockland area yesterday evening.

The AQI was into the 170s, but it made for some wonderful light across Table Bay and over towards Signal Hill. Also, really bad for asthmatics.

There are a load more images to process from the weekend, but I don’t have time right now, so please look out for them in a future edition.

All aboard

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A trip to Elgin with the Ceres Rail Company today as a birthday treat.

Lots of fun, but bumpier than an Eastern Cape road and later than someone who has long since died.

We’ve still got a couple of hours for lunch in Elgin before we head back down the mountain. And there are beers and burgers.

And yes, I will be removing that forearm as soon as I get near a Photoshop.

Just another Flycatcher (thank goodness)

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Birthday breakfast at Kirstenbosch and then a quick wander around the gardens before it got too hot.

Crickets, Agamae(?), Agamas(?), Agamasses(?) eish…
An Agama – and then another one – and some pretty flowers (obviously), but not too many birds on show. We did get what we could, though.

I do really like the detail on this sunbird shot

And it even stands the zoom test:

…but the shadows really ruin the image.

And thus we were about to leave disappointed (as far as ‘togging birds went, at least), but then our old friend the inquisitive African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) popped by.

Absolute bread and butter stuff, but such a willing and dependable subject: and just so cute.

More celebrations planned for this lunchtime, so I’ll have to love you and leave you for the moment, but the great news (T&Cs apply) is that there will almost certainly be more here tomorrow.