An experiment

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Here’s a post which will mean very little to anyone except me, but I’m just conducting a quick little experiment to see if my daughter reads this blog. I know that she sometimes does, but putting a random post in here might just answer the question as to how often.

Sort of, anyway.

So if you’re reading this blog post and you know my daughter, please don’t contact her to tell her to read this blog post. That would ruin the experiment. I’ll know if she reads this blog post because she will tell me.

All I will need to provide is this image of a car in a Cape Agulhas car park, untouched by the magic of Photoshop…

…and I know that she’ll be in touch as soon as she sees it.

(Like I said, this won’t mean anything to the rest of my readership (even to the rest of my family), but MMIRIM, and it’s just one of those father/daughter bonding things that will ruin our relationship forever amuse us both.)

No hurry

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We’re still enjoying some wonderful weather down at the Southern Tip, and there’s really no hurry to get back to Cape Town. Yes, school starts again this week, but it doesn’t start tomorrow, and so we can afford a little more time to relax before we head back home.

And so before I light the braai this evening, I’m sitting in the fresh air – which isn’t moving anywhere near as fast as it was last time we were down here – and enjoying a spicy Bloody Nora with some Chilli [sic] Infusion Vodka from Deep South Distillery. Because of the irritating timing of loadshedding this evening, we’ll eat late tonight, which means braaibroodjie starters to get us through until sundowners, and then some proper vleis a little later on. I can confirm that the rumours of rump steak and peri-peri chicken are not unfounded.

But in the meantime, it’s easy to relax when your biggest concerns are getting a blog post done and lighting a fire.

All good

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15 days post-op for Colin the Beagle, and it’s good news. The stitches are out, and while there’s still a bit of healing to do, the vet is amazed by her progress. She’s putting weight on the bad leg, the good – ok, “better” – leg seems to be holding up well, and the biggest issue is now over-confidence and trying to do too much too soon.

She’s also lost a couple of kilos and looks sleek and mean, and the stitches coming out this morning meant that she could have a bath as well, which is something we’ve all been looking forward to.

Incredibly, with just two weeks gone, it’s like we’ve got our old beagle back already.

Thus, we’re off to Agulhas for a couple of days to celebrate, and walk – gently – around the village.
Check the ‘Gram and on here for updates.

Have a great weekend!

4 to go for #2024 – advance warning!

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I’m nearly ready to share my Spotify #2024 Playlist.

Yes, I know. Already.

And it’s going to be good!

My playlists for each year (you can find them and more on that link) don’t necessarily reflect or contain content from the year in question. Just tracks that I have heard in that calendar year that I thought:

“Yeah, let’s have a bit more of that.”

There’s no point in sharing a playlist with just 6 tracks on (none of which are current songs), but as soon as I reach double figures, I’ll add it to the list and share it on here.

Meanwhile, here’s a bit of Old Skool live Dire Straits which has somehow made the cut.

Not really my usual thing, but when that riff kicks in at 3:13… well… yeah.
It’s all just fun and games after that.

And sounding remarkably good on my laptop’s B&O speakers.
But probably better in your ears.

Sugar

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A disappointingly unproductive morning at Kirstenbosch, with many of the local birds rather uninterested in being in front of any lenses. But on the plus side, there are certainly worse places to be while getting frustrated about the lack of feathered photographic subjects.

This Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer) was one of the few residents that was willing to have a quick shot taken today, whilst feeding – as expected – on one of the local Proteacae. But they are omnivorous and will also eat spiders and insects.
And if they get hungry… I’m sorry… they’ll what?!?

Dear God.

Let’s just hope that there is enough food around for the local Sugarbird population this year. Otherwise photography at Kirstenbosch is going to be even more difficult in the future.