It’s been a good day.
A lie in, some lovely gifts, a nice blustery walk at a local wine farm as the clouds scudded across the sky.
And then a few jobs at home, before lighting up the fire and switching on the football.
It’s been a good day.
Father’s Day, and after some lovely gifts and a nice coffee in bed, I was lucky enough to be taken out (not in a Mafia way, no) for a picnic brunch at Kirstenbosch.
A few things that are relevant or of interest at this point:
It’s midwinter’s day tomorrow, but today is 28 degrees with a strong, gusting gale force, Bergwind blowing. (You’ll note that that link is illustrated with a photo from Kirstenbosch, almost as proof that it can happen there. Because it does.) It’s hot, dry and very breezy. Not bad for June, great to be out and about, but not great for watching the birds, as their perches were waving about all over the place and the feathery things themselves were very skittish.
Kirstenbosch was empty. Like, park right outside the gate empty. On a sunny Sunday morning (and Father’s Day, nogal) at 10am.
Why is this? Where is everybody? I don’t understand. Still: fantastic for social distancing.
Also, Kirstenbosch needs a bit of TLC. I’ve never had to say that before. Yes, of course it’s still utterly magnificent, but the lawns need a mow and the beds need weeding. Basic stuff that makes a lot of difference to the general appearance and the overall impression. I don’t know if this is a money thing or a Covid thing or a environmental decision, but it looks a bit tatty at the moment.
Anyway, after a very pleasant brunch and an international Zoom call to partially fulfill my own filial duties, I tried to find a few more sheltered places to get some quick shots. The pincushions were bright and cheerful, and the sunbirds were out and about. It was frustrating stuff with the birds flitting at the slightest movement and the flowers being buffeted by the wind from all angles, but I did manage to get a few decent images. You can see them on Flickr here.
I feel that in better conditions, I could have done better, and so I’m determined to pop back “soon” (it is just up the road and we are BotSoc members, after all) and see if I can improve on what I got today.
So… look out for that then, I guess.
Careful now.
It’s been a great Father’s Day. We skyped my Dad, we did lunch, I sat on the couch and watched the World Cup all afternoon with a beer and a beagle for company.
I hope your day was equally good.
And, because I’m about to enjoy Brazil v Switzerland, here’s a quick quota photo to fill up the gap between yesterday and tomorrow.
Ethereal background, striking, but weird red and white post thing, perfectly positioned crescent moon. Not much to dislike here.
And now, football.
Thanks Jamie
Well, there’s Flashback Friday [is there? – Ed.] and Throwback Thursday, so why not Memory Monday?
Easy way to slip a quota photo in while I’m out hunting swimming with dolphins in the Indian Ocean. And since I’m writing this on Father’s Day (dolphins having comprehensively failed to invent wifi yet), here’s one of of my dad.
A belated Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
And for more up to date photos, maybe check out my Instagram…
Once the near Biblical weather of last night had subsided, I was taken for a ride, literally, by my boy.
Many of the paths around Tokai Forest were similarly waterlogged, and we spent a couple of hours riding through them and getting thoroughly wet.
It was a good way to spend a Father’s Day afternoon, but the hot shower afterwards was much needed.