Snails, Cheese and Wine. And Rain. And Footy.

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It’s been a wet weekend. Very wet.
Latest figures from Kirstenbosch suggest that they weren’t really expecting rain at this time of year and forgot to put the rainfall gauge out. But if they had have done, it would have been full. And that’s a lot of water.
I would look it up on the SA Weather Service site, but since it got “upgraded” it’s worse than useless.

Aside from a trip to the supermarket, we stayed in. As you would have done as well.
Mrs 6000 and her chums were due to take some horses out through the vineyards in the spring sunshine, but after the spring sunshine failed to pierce the thick grey clouds above and all around us, apparently even the horses were moaning about it being cold and wet (98% relative humidity 13.8°C at 3pm), and thus a semi-impromptu cheese and wine party took the places of the ruiterkuns. Which was nice.
Especially since we didn’t invite the horses.

The wet weekend flickr set.

Snails, cheese, wine and bathing the kids gave me limited opportunity to watch Chelsea and Man U, but I did get to see the goal and yes, it was a foul; no, Drogba wasn’t offside and no, he wasn’t interfering with play anyway. And yes, actually I am a qualified referee, so **** you.
I’m sure Fergie and the Man U fans won’t be happy, but to be perfectly honest, who really gives a toss about what they think? Deep down inside they’ll be happy to have something to moan about, anyway.  

And so it’s onward and upward (the stairs, to bed), with a week full of grey, wet weather to look forward to. Happy days.

Sweet smell of success

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After a good deal of fun, some out of date Jack Black Beer and no small amount of success (R1,500 worth of prizeware for us) at Cafe Roux’s JDI Charity Pub Quiz evening last night, many of the male attendees crowded around the bar and the small, yet perfectly formed flatscreen TV therein to watch the worst Bok pack ever being taken to the cleaners by Leicester Tigers.
The results of the quiz evening and the score at Welford Road may have come as a surprise to many, but I don’t count myself amongst that number.

I accurately predicted our overall second place as soon as I saw the Garth the tall quiz genius walk in (ducking slightly) and take his place with another team. Damn nice guy, but absolutely devastating to be quizzing against.
Either he has a photographic memory or he reads stuff 24/7. Or more likely, both.
There’s a marked difference between defeatism and realism, and thinking that you’re going to win a quiz when he is around is like thinking you might just sneak in ahead of Nelson Mandela in a list of Greatest South Africans. Seriously, only Julius Malema would think that he could defeat the might of Garth and Madiba. (Although he may have been let down by the surprisingly testing Woodwork round last night).

It seemed that I was the only one even mildly happy about the rugby result that followed. That was because, having predicted that Leicester would win by 5 points in my SuperBru league, I was virtually assured of taking maximum points when Leicester actually did win by 5 points.

Player: Flo
Pool(s): Pool 176

Game 3: Leicester Tigers v South Africa: Leicester Tigers by 5

And like hitting a four off the first ball of the over, that takes the pressure off predicting the big crunch game between Portugal and Namibia this afternoon. Which was a toughie.

Tonight – rest and recuperation as we head into yet another cold, grey Cape Town winter. Which I know we’re not, but the weather doesn’t appear to know that. It’s dark grey and it’s blowing a gale out there. Believe me, the rain is but minutes away.
And you know how good my powers of prediction are right now.

Bring forth a warm TV and that 2002 Nelson Estate Cab Sauv/Merlot blend.
As you do.

Questions, questions…

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I will be expecting a lot of them this evening at the JDI charity quiz evening at Cafe Roux in Noordhoek  this evening.

The money raised will be shared between the Bulungula Incubator in the Transkei and Ferndale Primary in Ottery.

The Bulungula Incubator strives to be a catalyst for the creation of a vibrant and sustainable rural community. One of their focus areas is Education – the rehabilitation of their local Primary School as well as establishing an Early Learning Centre. The Primary School Building collapsed 3 years ago and the teachers hardly came to work – only 5 days taught in 2007. There was no food, furniture, books, toilets and the average attendance was only 40 percent.
In short it was and still is dysfunctional.  JDI are striving to make it functional! 

Ferndale Primary School in Ottery is much closer to home and far more functional but their hardworking, dedicated staff members could do with some recognition. Funds raised will go toward making the staff room a little more comfortable for staff on their much deserved breaks.

Education is, without doubt, the most important factor in influencing any nation’s future, but particularly this one. And teachers are, without doubt, the key to getting a decent education and are, without doubt, hopelessly underpaid for their important work.
JDI have worked on over 200 projects across South Africa, improving the lives and hopes of thousands of people and I’m very happy to be going along, quaffing expensive beer and (hopefully) winning some big prizes while supporting their excellent work.

I would invite you along, but I’m told that it was sold out over a month ago. Apologies and all that.

Every day…

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Every day, I am blown away by the beauty of the mountain.
(When it’s visible and not hidden behind shedloads of dark grey cloud, obviously.)

This was from my drive home tonight.

Full size with option of spankingly large desktop background size here.

Pedants (you know who you are):
This doesn’t count as a quota photo because I’ve already posted today.

Zebra & Giraffe will support The Killers

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And you heard it where first?

Z&G broke the news on their Facebook page this morning:

SA’s hottest new rock act Zebra & Giraffe have been chosen by The KILLERS to be the support act on their South African tour, which commences with two nights at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg (Thursday 3rd December and Friday 4th December 2009) and then moves to Cape Town with one performance on Sunday 6th December at Val De Vie Wine and Polo Estate, in the scenic Paarl/Franschhoek Valley.

But sometime last month, someone had already got the scoop and tweeted it loud and clear:

1:49 PM Oct 31st
Have you heard? @zebraandgiraffe opening for #TheKillers SA gigs…

Yep. That would have been little old me.

So – next time you want the news first on the biggest events of the year, you know where to come, right? Lest we forget, we were the first to tell you that The Killers were coming, as well.

Aside from blowing my own trumpet (and let’s not beat around the bush here, if you could blow your own trumpet, you would), this has just added to my already mounting anticipation of a great concert. I like Zebra & Giraffe – and they have proven Winelands experience with their amazing performance at CokeZeroFest at Lourensford:

Widely tipped to be the next “big” SA band, they blew me away with their New Order vs The Cure, mildly melancholic electronica. It amazes me that there are some bands that are still able to find a niche in the music market which no-one has previously exploited. While others are producing decent, enjoyable but somewhat “samey” tracks, Z&G are novel, refreshing and exciting. And eminently listenable. The performance was tight and professional, the audience interaction not too full-on, but enough to let us know they knew we were there. Very impressive and definitely the best SA band of the day.

So, roll on December 6th. Just 30 sleeps away – or if, like me, you have small children – probably nearer 15.