Pork belly-bacon benedict at Steenberg’s Bistro Sixteen82 and posing with Just Nuisance

Wowee. Second work week of the year done and dusted, and it feels like two months rather than two weeks since we were on leave. It’s a combination of intense heat, slow internet and sheer hard work. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have any highlights to share – view our latest batch below…

Saturday, 16 January 2016: Panama Jacks lunch, swimming in the icy Atlantic

We do love lunching at Panama Jacks in the harbour. Always a treat to be served rolls before the food arrives…

We each went with the fettuccini mains. Mine is the verde (green, R40) – asparagus, parmesan cheese, thin slivers of baby marrow. Husband had the marinara, (R50) with a mussel chowder starter (R25). He finished his, I had to bring mine home for dins!

You’re not to admire my shiny forehead in this photo but just how well I twirled the fettuccini on my fork. Teehee.

On the lazy ride home we had to stop at the beach. T’was like a postcard!

And of course, Husband wasn’t content just to look at it. Here he is, frollicking in the waves.

Much, much later, once the temperature had dropped a little, we took the doggies for a walk around the suburb. Bertie loves chasing things in the shrubs.

Sunday, 17 January 2016: Brunch at Steenberg’s Bistro Sixteen82

On Sunday we woke late and couldn’t decide on a suitable spot to break our 12-hour fast. We eventually ended up at Steenberg Wine Estate and decided to treat ourselves to brunch at Bistro Sixteen82, known for its pork belly-bacon.

This colourful chandelier is quite something to see in person.

Of course I started with a flat white. T’was delicious. Look at the gorgeous scenery behind me – all that green was very soothing on the eyes.

What a lovely surprise. While waiting for our pork belly-bacon eggs benedicts, we were served hot, fresh honey brioche.

Of course Husband had an oyster starter. For breakfast…

And then, the eggs benedict arrived. Oh. My. Goodness, was it delicious. The pork belly-bacon is amazing, the little tomatoes were steamy and the Hollandaise was just right. Plus they’re served on potato rosti instead of stodgy English muffins. At R72, that’s not bad at all!

As we were already pretty far from home we decided to revisit Simon’s Town. These are some of the dinky little boats right at the harbour’s edge.

Can’t visit Simon’s Town and miss taking a photo with the statue of Just Nuisance. Though he seems to have been moved somewhat since the last time we were there…

Husband is one of the little ‘people dots’ floating in the sea. I sat on the beach with my book and a sugar cone instead.

Bassie insisted on sitting on her Granny’s lap when we visited for lupper. Both grinned.

As it was so hot, we had Do-It-Yourself burgers for dins. Husband placed his onion slices in pleasingly concentric circles on his patty.

Wednesday, 20 January 2016: Midweek sunset

I caught the very end of the sunset – much more spectacular in real life!

That’s all, folks. Sounds like we’re in for a spot of rain this weekend, will bring welcome relief from the incessant heat!

Fun in the sun with the December Joburg visitors

We’ve been looking forward to December ALL year, mainly because we’d have friends and family visiting but also because we’d finally have the time to explore the beautiful city we’ve lived in for 12 months now.

One of the best ways to do so is by using the MyCiti bus, as I’ve explained before it’s relatively inexpensive and reliable if you plan your route in advance (click here for more).

And so, explore we did! Here are some of my favourite moments…

26 December – Boxing Day meal out at Eastern Fusion, Eden on the Bay

Spec waiting for his Boxing Day sushi

More excited sushi faces

The excitement! Chocolate spring rolls with ice cream! Mmm

See how good they are? So good, in fact…

… That Spec also ordered them

27 December – Bussing around Cape Town, Camps Bay

Spec and his brother on the MyCiti bus to Camps Bay

Someone was brave enough to get in the water

The rest of us were happy to sunbathe on the beach

Gatsby time! Our favourite is the tikka chicken one from Durban Diner, this one was enough to feed the five of us for two days

28 December – Breakfast at Driftwood Cafe, train to Kalk Bay and Simon’s Town, MyCiti Bus back home

Saturday dawned cold and drizzly, so we stopped at the Driftwood Cafe for hot drinks and breakfast

Spec and I enjoying the train trip to Simon’s Town

That was our first destination – the Brass Bell, a hop away from the Kalk Bay station

You can tell from this photo that it was still rather cold

Group shot at the Simon’s Town harbour after we ate at the Salty Sea Dog

Me and my two favourite Jozi lads

Hugging the poser

29 December – Ratanga Junction and MyCiti bus (again)

They were tall enough to go on the Cobra, so of course they did – twice!

Proof that the rest of us were also at Ratanga

Despite the long queue, we couldn’t resist the canal boat cruise around the perimeter of Ratanga Junction

All the boys in the kitchen, cooking CBP (corned beef pie)

30 December – Hiking up Table Mountain for the second time this year, up Constantia Nek

The shoe shot. All wearing the exact same colour and brand of hiking shoe 🙂

See how beautiful the scenery is? That’s Constantia behind us and Muizenberg sea in the distance

Such tall trees that we felt tiny. Very peaceful out there

Spec taking in the breathtaking view near the top

We made it to De Villiers’ Dam on top of Table Mountain – no entry though

Two tired brothers outside the Overseer’s Cottage on top

So many options to get back down the mountain! We chose the shortest route of course

Happy hikers on our way back down the mountain

Success! We conquered the Constantia Nek trail both ways

The first few Cape Town escapades

What a great decision this move has been. The doggies love their almost-daily walks on the beach, the endless sunshine is gorgeous, and we’ve just found a housie to move into! Everything’s starting to fall into place and we’re starting to find our way around. I’ll blog about the new house as soon as we’ve taken some pics of it (definitely adding ‘new camera’ to my Christmas wish list) – until then, here are a few pics of our first few adventures in this lovely salty city. They’re mainly from the camera before it took an impromptu swim in the sea and ones Clifton’s already tweeted, so you may have seen a few of these before. There’s still so much to experience but we’re trying to pace ourselves as we have all the time in the world (insert witty ‘world did not end’ joke here) …

Lovely Christmas tree at Cape Town International

Waiting for our lovely Spur breakfast at the airport

Eggs and planes. Someone’s happy 🙂

On the train from Woodstock to Simon’s Town – lovely sea views!

Had to take a pic near the Just Nuisance statue in Simon’s Town for Bertie

Enjoying a milkshake and fish burger at the Salty Sea Dog

About to visit Mariner’s Wharf in Hout Bay with mum

Dad and Clif ate two lobsters each!

We went to Groot Constantia on a whim today and ate the most wondrous meal at Jonkershuis. Dad couldn’t decide from the menu so he had the taste sampler option – bobotie, chicken curry and lamb curry, mmm!

🙂 That’s all for now, folks.