Catch Up

Time is simply rolling by!  This is my second post this month, and it is almost mid-month.  Scary truth.  It has obviously been a busy month.  So let's recap.

Sunday 2nd was Dani's birthday.  I spent it thinking back to earlier times, to her childhood, to my trip to see her earlier this year.  

Monday 3rd entailed a hike in Newlands from the forest station up to Paradise Cottage.  Monday hikes are easier hikes for those less able.  I enjoy them.  One spends time chatting with fellow hikers, and there is always time to stop and take an appealing photograph.

I didn't go hiking on Tuesday 4th as it entailed a trip into Cape Town, by car, as the hike started just below the Cable Car.  I didn't really want to do that so I stayed home and roamed the neighbourhood for good photographs.  I have developed a fondness for the Dido Valley Commonwealth cemetry.  I realise that sounds a little bizarre, as I don't particularly know anyone who is buried there.  It is just a very pretty place to go.  The gardens are impeccable.  The views across the sea, Simon's Town dockyard and further to the Helderberg mountain range is beautiful.  There are also very interesting grave stones which make for some fairly arty-farty photographs is one takes the time and gets a good sunny day.  So I went there for a while.  Here is an example of the kind of photograph that can be taken there:

There is another at Abandoned Angel.

Wednesday was UIF day.  On my way home, I stopped in at Mineral world and took some simply beautiful photographs in their fossil shop.  This is another adventure in the fathomless beauty of nature.  You can see some of the photographs on Project 365 at Ammonite, Rock Rose and Amethyst.

On Thursday morning, I attended the U3A meeting in Muizenberg.  This time round there was a talk by NSRI, which was informative and entertaining.  With an organisation like NSRI, there is a mine of wonderful tales and stories to be told which are sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sad.  Afterwards I went through to Kommetjie to have my hair cut.  In the evening I went to Computer Club.  At Computer Club, we had a presentation of the role of computers in Astronomy.  This proved to be fascinating.  The calculations that need to be performed in order to position and distance and track various stars and galaxies are literally astronomical!  It is most likely that these would not be possible without some form of automation.  Since the advent of computers, the science of astronomy has advanced at a rapid rate of knots.

 Friday entailed a hike to Kleinplaas dam in Redhill.  Here are some of the photographs that I took:

Fellow hikers enjoying lunch at the dam

The Kleinplaas Dam signboard with the dam in the background

Saturday entailed a hike in Cape Point.  I have posted a picture on Project 365.

Sunday was spent weeding and gardening.  I posted a picture of some of the strawberries on Project 365.  I also resumed more intense gym training, and managed 3.5 kms on the treadmill and 40 lengths of the pool, followed by a long hot siesta in the sauna.  It was lovely.

Monday was a lovely and busy day.  It started with a hike along Hout Bay beach.  The wind was howling and we got a bit sand blasted.  We then wandered around the docks, went to the various fish markets,  and admired the various tourist craft markets.  I posted one picture which really amused me on doggy parking.

Here is one of the strength of the wind causing 'blow back' on the foam as the waves were breaking close to the shore:

After the hike, I went to the gym for a sauna, then went through to see Merle, my sister-in-law, who is down from Johannesburg for a wedding.  She was staying with her sister in Constantia.  I was blessed with wonderful company, some absolutely gorgeous roses, posted on Project 365, and another plant which I plan to post on Project 365 at some future date.

Yesterday was another lovely long hike through Cape Point.  It was cold and damp to start with, so we waited in the restaurant for the weather to lift a bit.  I posted a photograph of one of the proteas in a flower arrangement on Project 365.  In the evening, I went to knitting club, then returned to Constantia to collect my forgotten knitting, then on to a meeting with Avril in Bervliet.

Today, so far, as been catch-up day.  I photographed my roses in order to post them, caught up on photographs for Project 365, roasted a chicken, cleaned the house - that sort of thing.  I also caught up on the myriad of phone calls which have come through over the past few days, which I have not returned, as I have been running around quite a bit.

Now for a lovely cup of coffee, and some more gardening....