Weird wall gizmos and job title celebrations

The past weekend was a goodie as I finally started feeling better from bronchitis – antibiotics are a necessary evil – and we didn’t have much on the cards, so could spend some time relaxing and rejuvenating. Here’s what we got up to…

Friday, 2 October 2015: Dogs in various positions on couches

First the doggies decided to take up the whole couch – Bertie placed Bear perfectly so there just wasn’t enough space for his parents to join in.

Then Bassie moved to sit with her dad and Bertie decided to help me with my studies… note lots of medicine on top of ‘shades of grey’ cabinet.

Eventually all three relocated to the other couch. Note Bertie has Bear under his chin and has placed himself over Bassie.

Saturday, 3 October 2015: Brekkie overlooking rainy Rondebosch Common

Saturday dawned cold and drizzly… with the realisation that I’d left most of my notes for that week’s assignments in the office. So we headed out for breakfast in the general vicinity of work, ending up at Common Ground for breakfast.

‘Common ground’ is a clever name because apart from the obvious, it’s also a coffee shop (ground) opposite the Rondebosch Common. Our table was fairly situated in the middle but we could still watch the rain pouring down. I opted for the bacon and banana French toast.

Here’s Husband in mid-chew of his eggs benedict – yes, I have considered renaming the blog “French toast and eggs ben”!

So much was the French toast that I took half home with me to finish off that afternoon. Note we both proudly wore South Africa supporter shirts to support the Springboks in that evening’s RWC match.

Next stop – work to collect my assignment notes. While waiting for the guard to arrive and let me in, we explored the ‘Delos’ building next door. It’s filled with antiques like chandeliers, fancy tables and somewhat scary wall decorations, like this guy.

Notes in hand, we stopped off at the nursery, where I fell in love with a selection of metal outdoor wall owlies. Still deciding which is my favourite.

Gardening and assignments complete, we settled in to watch the rugby – Bertie was very interested and kept checking with his dad for approval, Bassie ignored the festivities.

Sunday, 4 October 2015: New job title celebrations

Still not feeling 100%, I enjoyed some early morning cuddles with the doggies before we ventured out for breakfast, as we do.

We ended up at Greens. Husband had his favourite deluxe breakfast – here he is buttering his toast

I had a chai latte and tried the coconut-pineapple French toast. Delicious.

Mum had bought the most beautifully patterned milk tart to celebrate my new job title (am officially editor-in-chief: marketing & media)…

And we had dry pink MCC to top off the celebrations.

Wednesday, 7 October 2015: Business of Design conferencing at ICIC

It was a busy week for me as I covered two conferences. The first was the Spring 2015 edition of Business of Design, held at the Inner City Ideas Cartel. This was my rushed tea-time treat between taking notes and networking.

Lunch that afternoon was served on the rooftop. I love these egg chairs!

Thursday, 8 October 2015: Mobile 360 Africa conferencing at African Pride Crystal Towers

My second conference of the week was the GSMA Mobile 360 Africa, held at the African Pride Crystal Towers hotel in Century City. This sculpture is fascinating.

The conference content may have been technical and detailed, but the snacks were delicious. This was a mini mille feulle with my coffee

Later that afternoon I had to take a shot of these gorgeous citrus blooms on my walk to the Myciti station. Yes, those are colourful cats on my sock.

That’s all, folks! Until next time…

Dog shows and dinner on top of The Ritz

Oh packing, how I’ve not missed thee. It’s just two years since last we met. There’s nothing quite like moving house to give your whole life a shake-up. Weekends and evenings are no longer yours to laze around in. Instead there are endless glass things to wrap in newspaper, boxes to seal, box tape to mangle by getting it stuck on itself and endless towels to dirty by dragging the heavy, sealed and probably over-filled boxes from room to room until you decide which room is the designated ‘storage room’, until the panicky final days when the whole HOUSE is a storage area, and you’ve forgotten what it’s like to traipse down the passage without tripping over something cardboardy and pointy cornered. Or maybe that’s just how I do it.

With less than three weeks to go to our big move, that’s what life’s been like lately. But of course this past week we did a little more than that, especially as I had an ‘Awesome Award’ to celebrate, from my first month at the amazing place I now work – no box-packing pics below, I promise…

Monday, 10 November 2014: Friendly hot drinks at Mugg & Bean, Paddocks

You know I love going out on Monday evenings to extend the ‘weekend feeling’ , so go out on Monday I did! I met a new friend (see her blog here, she’s inspiringly creative!) at the Mugg & Bean in Paddocks Shopping Centre – just LOOK at the delicious red velvet hot chocolate they made for me! Those are real cake crumbles accompanied by a dollop of cream cheese. It’s like drinking a slice of cake, but better.

Friday, 7 November 2014: Delicious tastes and sights at #Mobile360, at the V&A Clocktower

Morning coffee looking out at the V&A Harbour when I got to the event a bit early on Friday. With soothing music in the background, it was bliss

Chilled, fruit-flavoured waters were delicious during ‘tea’ on the unseasonally hot day

Saturday, 8 November 2014: Milnerton dog show, dinner on top of the Ritz, Sea Point

Couldn’t resist sitting on the pretty bronzey couch set-up at Cubana when we breakfasted

Husband enjoying the sunshine at the doggie show, with a wors roll and warm beer. Happiness is.

I love how the big doggie is completely unaware he’s almost photobombing me. PS: That’s not one but TWO pancakes I’m about to wolf down – one filled with Nutella, one with caramel topping. Divine.

Bassie approved of our pawprint-shaped dog show entry stamps

The Sea Point Ritz, in all its glory. Revolving restaurant is the very top bit jutting out like a top hat. Follow me…

So excited were we that we couldn’t resist a photo at the lovely staircase

Husband admiring the view. This is about 10 minutes after we were seated, as our table was originally behind the side building you can see behind Husband outside the window

View from the top, before sunset. That’s Lion’s Head peeping out in the background

Husband looking mightily pleased with himself – we were on the 24th floor, which made the cars and people below look like toys

Don’t they look like little toys, scattered on the floor?

Husband’s dimple only shows on very rare occasions! This was his satay starter – prawn and chicken with a sweet chilli dipping sauce

My ‘starter’ main – the Top of the Ritz salad, which had warm chicken, lots of cashew nuts and orange segments. I drenched it in dressing. It was wonderful, for just R56. I tried the creme brulee for dessert – topping cracked most delightfully with a single thwack from the spoon provided. I tried the creme brulee for dessert – topping cracked most delightfully with a single thwack from the spoon provided.

Husband’s linefish with mixed veg and finished accompaniment of gratinated potato. With obligatory bottle o’ Tabasco sauce, of course. See how full the restaurant is behind him – people only get seated around the outer revolving ring

Sunset begins! Alas it was too cloudy for an evening of orangey pink skies but the greys were just as striking as lights came on below

Gazing on – almost the same spot as my original photo of Lion’s Head. It takes about 75 minutes for the restaurant to fully revolve, staff say.

Pretty! Note there’s a window between me and the outside, so those funny light smudges that appear over Signal Hill are actually reflections of the lights below

Sunday, 9 November 2014: Tough packing decisions and packing celebration drinks

While packing on Sunday, I had to decide whether or not to throw away balloon owlie, who has deflated quite considerably since we got him on Father’s Day. I kept him

To celebrate the lots and lots of boxes we packed, Husband and I decided to trace down some cocktails on the beach. We shared this strawberry, lime and litchi Bacardi jam jar at the Boardhouse in Blouberg for R60.

See, I had my share too…

Deep. Word to live by at the exit to the Boardhouse

And with that we’re already at a quarter to Friday again, that much closer to the next big box-packing session. Joy 😉 (See? I may have mentioned packing and posted photos related to packing, but not a single photo of boxes did you see! Yay, me).