It’s that time again

As the clocks in the UK and Europe “Spring” forward, we here in SA are reminded of our upcoming winter. No surprises that it rained overnight here then, and the day – while sunny – has been chilly. In fact, the whole week looks like it’s going to be much cooler than we’ve been used to.

That said, we’re back into the 30’s by Friday, so maybe I shouldn’t be quite so dismissive of the end of summer. But there is a chill in the air, and so I’m doing my best to ward it off with some brandy.

For me, the benefit of the clocks changing is that European football matches finish at a vaguely acceptable time. When you’re doing the school run early each morning, that extra hour in bed helps.

Last night’s braai (on SA time) went well, thank you very much for asking. And the beagle did get some nice little schnacks. She’s obviously not very mobile at the moment, but there’s nothing lacking in her cunning. No need to move far from the braai dish: that’s where the good stuff is at. So that’s where I’ll hang out.

And I’ll give everyone the puppy-dog eyes. And they can see me limp a bit.

Winning hearts and minds. Not stupid.

Still going to braai

It was nice this morning. A gentle breeze scurrying the little fluffy clouds across the blue sky, the sunshine playing in and out behind the vivid spring greens of the local trees. As I set out on my run, I thought “bugger me, this hill gets more painful every time I do it”, and then I also thought “We should braai this evening”.

And so, once back from the run and deciding that actually, no medical help was required after all, I went and grabbed a selected of meat and salad products ready for dinner.

Light it at 4, eat at 6ish. No huge hurry. No huge stress.
Just a laid back braai in the Cape Town afternoon sunshine.

And then the Cape Town weather stepped in:

Yeah, it’s no Hurricane Milton, but it’s also far from the best braai’ing weather. But the tjoppies are bought. The steak is marinated. And the fire is lit. So we’re going ahead, even if it chucks it down:

I’ll do my braai’ing in the rain.

Positive vibes and red wine. And possibly an umbrella.

Sorry about yesterday

Yeah. Sorry about that.

Let me explain. I had a sudden craving while out in Hout Bay yesterday. Steak. Specifically rump. And even though I’d already prepared dinner before we left, I knew that I had to deal with things.

Thankfully, I had a pretty agile team at home.

So a quick call to the troops to light the braai, and then a quick drop in at the steak shop on the way home, and we did the thing.

Red wine came courtesy of Miles Mossop, and with some lamb ribs as an amuse bouche it was quite literally a dream come true. And then there was this:

Which wasn’t too shabby either.

Today has seen some gym, a wander around the Waterfront, including a first visit to the Time Out market (nice place, but jeeeeez… expensive!!!) and some weighty fur seal action:

Bit of a bend there, boys.

I’m now settling in for a bit of football this evening.