Hiking up Slangkop in Kommetjie

For my not South African friends, Fish Hoek is on the East Coast of the tip of South Africa, whilst Kommetjie is on the West Coast.  They two villages are about 15 minutes apart [I didn't take the mileage, but it truly is not very far].  It has to do with the fact that we live so close to Cape Point which, although not the most southerly tip of Africa, is where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.  It can be quiet confusing for visitors, and sometimes for us, to work out which ocean one is looking over.

Today we hiked up Slangkop towards the Block House at the top.  The views looked out over Kommetjie, over Noordhoek beach, and across the coast to Hout Bay:

This little part of the planet makes me want to weep sometimes.  It is so beautiful that words simply can't begin to describe it.  When I look out over these incredible vistas, I get a sense of wholeness, through the sheer power of nature.

This is clearly not an experience which is just my own.  Today we stumbled across a pilgrimage of some sort up in the mountains:

which seems to culminate in a cross which looks out over the view in the first photograph:

 Here is a small prayer for me, and for all of those who are privileged enough to live in this area:  'May we never stop experiencing th wonder that we shared today'.

Cherry Picking

There is something quite delightful about setting the alarm for really, really early, packing relevant items into the boot of the car, collecting a friend, and setting out on a one day journey of wonder.  Today's journey took Helen and I to Klondyke Cherry Farm to pick early and mid season cherries.  It is something that I have never done and really wanted to do, so today was the day.  Here is one picture of cherries:

with another posted on Project 365.

We found a delightful scrapbooking shop with a cute front of shop display.

Which much amusement I found an entire farm, called duck farm, for the ducks posted a few days ago on Project 365:

What is it about water trees and mountains that brings serenty to one's soul?

The sweetest fruit

As one wanders through life, one has opportunities to guide and influence others.  Whilst at my most recent employer, I had the role of mentor to several graduates and incoming employees.  One of them left in January 2011, and I left in May 2011.  We have not spoken since then.

She sms'd me today.  She followed through on a suggestion that I made all that time ago and is starting to reap the rewards.  She did her first speech at Toastmasters and is experiencing the euphoria of having done that.  Go girlfriend!

Walking in Groot Constantia

Today's walk was in Groot Constantia. It turned into an easy stroll.  I got loads of piccies, some of them turned out really nicely.  Here is one of some fellow hikers stopping for a tea break:

I realise that I have a mind which is amused by small things.  This got my vote as photograph of the day.  See Duck Tails on Project 365.

Idiosyncratic synchronicity II

Now I am totally freaked.... My PC sound card is working.....

Idiosyncratic synchronicity

Life is so funny sometimes.  Back in April, my CD stopped playing.  Every time I loaded a disc it would come up saying 'no disc'.  No matter how many discs I tried, it was adamant that there wasn't one.  What was worse, is that the sound card in my pc was on the blink.  So I was living in a soundless, musicless world, which for someone who simply loves music, was like a living death.  I don't do TV, so except for the odd cat yowl, or Bolle-speak, my world was pretty quiet.

Stuff happened today, which meant that things didn't quite work out as planned, and I was kind of restless.  In a last ditch attempt to get myself going again, I obstinately turned the CD player on, and guess what?  It played.  And guess what?  It had 'Time to Say Goodbye' in it, a disc by Sarah Brightman, whose voice has complete and utter perfect pitch.  Ok, so I listened to that.

Then in a fit of sheer mindless joy to be back in a world of sound, I stuck on Billy Joel, hauled out my drum and had a drumming session in the lounge.  The cats are still dumbstruck :).

Now I'm listening to the soundtrack from the movie The Bodyguard.  Whitney Houston has that really strong assertive singing style which fits my mood.

I posted piccies of yesterday's hike on Project 365 as The restlessness of water and A froth of lace.  We had a lovely lunch at the Green Bean afterwards, kindly funded by proceeds of the hike.  It was a lovely day all round. 

The arrival of Festivity month

Since last posting, I have had so much fun.

Firstly, the original purpose of this blog, my little garden is looking quite good.  The first little tomato fruits have appeared, despite a tearing Fish Hoek wind!  They look ever so cute - the size of little pearls.  Hopefully there will be loads, as I don't think that a handful of little pearls will suffice for a lunch :).

On Wednesday, we had the last of our photography course.  We looked at various photographs in terms of how they could be improved and then had demonstrations of how to use Picasa to enhance them.  I learnt a lot.  It was good fun.

Today we had our U3A monthly meeting.  As always, I enjoyed it.  There were two events.  The first was singing by the U3A women's choir, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Their collection of songs was varied and appropriate.  They were all decked out in black and white with neat presentation.  It was a truly lovely event.  The second was the Cape Town U3A chamber ensemble.  Regrettably the PA system did them no favours, but they presented a lovely series of music.

Then, and this has to be the best part... I attended the Fish Hoek CID Awards.  I had nominated Copy Wizard for service excellence.  They received a runner up prize, and I received a lovely meal voucher for a meal at Barracuda's for partner and me.  I wonder if Bolle would like a nice piece of fillet - bleu, without any sauce :).

Actually, that was not the completely best part.  Since a child, I have always wanted to be a journalist - an aspiration which never came to pass for several reasons.  I landed up a Business Analyst in IT, which interestingly enough has the same Thomas profile as a journalist.  Whilst at the ceremony, I chatted with Garth King who is a journalist for the Fish Hoek Echo.  We've come up with a plan whereby I can submit periodical articles which would be relevant and applicable to the local Fish Hoek community.  I just need permission from the organisation concerned to implement it.  So... the little bits and pieces of activity which I have taken on in the past few months may culminate in a life's dream, however small it may be :).  I will be such a happy little chickadee if it comes to pass.

The two workshops which are planned for U3A for February and March of next year are starting to fill up.

And tomorrow, hopefully, I will get my lazy and quickly enlarging butt out of bed and back to hiking, just in time for some lovely festive socialising :).