The day after I arrived my Grandparents took me for a little drive around Cape Point and we stopped at Boulders Beach (well the parking lot at least as you now have to pay to get to the beach).  It is quite famous for having penguins.

My Dad also leaves in a seaside town (although the house is in the mountains).  Last weekend when we went for a walk along the beach.

While we were walking we saw a snake which seemed to be heading straight for the water.

The waves also made a lovely pattern on the sand.  There goes that Mother Nature again showing off.

I am pretty sure if I did have any dances in primary school there wouldn’t have been much of the boys and girls dancing together.  In fact I think they boys wouldn’t have being dancing at all.  But everyone got involved here.  The music was pretty awesome though.  I think half the DJ’s playlist was used when I was in school – Macarena anybody?

Do you remember your first dance? What did you wear? Did you dance the night away?

On another note, any tips on how you take photos in the dark when you can’t even see what is there in order to focus on something.  Or is that a stupid question and means that you shouldn’t be taking pictures anyway?

Suitably nautical stripes?

Before you think it was all a calm event with me tanning on the wee deck, this was a window of about 10 minutes where I sat on the deck without having to dodge a swinging boom as they “tacked” the boat (changed directions).  Honestly I was slightly fearful of my life (or at least of my beloved camera) as the boat spent at least half of the time practically perpendicular to the water.  This picture was taken with me sticking my head out of the below deck bit (yeah I don’t have that sailing gene), looking at the water from my parallel position.

We were sailing on the lagoon in Knysna, and these are the “Heads” which you have to pass through to go out to sea.  The wind was a bit rough to head out but got some good views.  The boat was rather wobbly so no straight pictures of them.

On Sunday, my Step Mom and I went for a hike along a rather dry river bed in the mountains near Wilderness (a small town near my Dad’s place).  So lots of fresh air this weekend.  I didn’t really take any photos as it was so nice to just be walking around.

I think I have been pretty good at avoiding temptation.  This is what I have been faced with:

1. Biscuits (in heart shapes!) baked by my Step Mom

2. Rhubarb pie (be still my beating heart)

3. Valentine’s Toblerone

4. Chuckles in the supermarket (for non-South Africans reading think Maltesers but 10,000 times better).  I saw them, recognised their pull and carried on with a bag of almonds to the till instead.

Although I have eaten two of those biscuits and two small slices of the rhubarb the fact that there is still any left is a vast difference from the old me.  I have enjoyed eating these small and decided not to beat myself up with these indiscretions and just enjoy my holiday.  As long as I am not eating that whole bar of Toblerone or a whole bag of Chuckles I think I am doing well.

I will definitely be back on the sugar-free bandwagon after I return (okay after my birthday which is two days after I return).

Photos taken on my new android phone. Does anybody have any photo apps they use?

Hope you have a day full of love – whether from a partner or friends and family.

xx

We walked past on a week night a few weeks before and weren’t able to get in so we followed Katie’s advice and went on a Sunday.

As it was my last full day in London the Mr and I went on a date day starting with a brunch of sorts at the establishment.  It is on Rupert Street in Soho and you could easily walk past it without even spotting it as it only has a small chalked name on the front of the building.  It has a very “rustic” feel with chipped walls and enamel cups and plates although there is some beautiful mosaic work around the top of the wall which makes me wonder what it used to be.  The layout is mostly seating around a bar which inspires you not to eat like a pig, but not enough that we didn’t order loads of food.  We shared the artichoke, caper and chilli pizzetta, macaroni cheese, string fries and cole slaw.  All really delicious.  And you get given popcorn while you wait.  That made the Mr very happy.

This basically goes along with my new clothing philosophy: “life is too short to wear boring clothes”.  And how can you not be happy wearing something sparkly.

What do you think?  It is going with me on holiday so hopefully there will be better photos with daylight in a few weeks.

I’ve had enough, I am heading over to summer.  I will be gone for two months – one month in South Africa visiting family and friends and attending a wedding and one month in Australia where I have bridesmaid duties and will be spending time with friends.

Posting around here will be sporadic, you understand.

To those in England, I hope Spring comes soon and I am sorry I will be missing it.

Last week was a toughy.  I bought myself some flowers to cheer myself up but then have been out at school leaving early and coming home late so I haven’t been able to enjoy them.  So I quickly took some photos this morning and before I ran out the house.  I got to the station just in time to squeeze through the doors as they shut, shew.  I don’t normally buy flowers but they are British and since I can’t comfort myself with sugar. Although I had a sneaky biscuit today when tea and biscuits were offered at a break.  Sitting in a university room without natural light for 7 hours, 6 hours sleep, running for the station and forgetting a purse at home will make a biscuit very tempting I will tell you.

Anyway, back to the flowers. I love how the middle one looks sort of ghost like.  And the bright spring colours. Definitely add a bit of cheer to the winter.

What do you do to cheer yourself up when days are tough?

So Wedgewood has always had a special place in my heart.  That blue is better than a Tiffany’s blue any day in my book.  On Friday I was spending time with friends and wondering around Liberty’s as a break between lunch and tea (yes shopping is what happens between meals for me) and we spotted the lovely range called Nature’s Canvas.  There are both glazed and unglazed pieces but I love the rough earthy look of the sandstone coloured jugs sans glaze.  And just the whisper of Wedgewood blue around the top.  What a way to update a classic.

p.s. Wedgewood are having a sale on some of these items and boy if I hadn’t just spent all my money for my trip home I would certainly get that beautiful jug.