25 November 2013

Chillin'

This blog is chillin' and waiting for all the things that happened since April to go up at sooome or other juncture, but in the meantime there are more current vibes over here.

14 September 2013

April day in Amsterdam

We escaped the airport for a few hours and then evaded the cold of the city for a bit to hang out with the hipsters in a new Starbucks concept store.

But after all the frietjes, coffee, and lots of fun flower-bulb shapes, it was time to KLM it back to Germany.

13 September 2013

So let's pretend March is relevant?

Instead of another rant about posting about looong forgotten events, I'll just refer you to the origin of the name of this blog. Done.

Let's go back to the Langkloof in March, okay? Okay.

Langkloof landscape

Some Langkloof animals, but since the internet is already full of cats...

Here are some dogs and a lizard, too

Finally, the next time you're roaring down this Route 62, stop in at Kannabos Cacti and Succulents for the most beautiful collection of plants ever.

31 July 2013

Estonian X Afrikaans

Since I'm totally behind on picture posting I'll just do something else as an aside...

Not only has every step of the administrative process of applying to the University of Tartu been super effortless and everyone really friendly, I've also just discovered that I apparently get a tutor. The Estonian music video below is courtesy of his introductory email. Naturally the concept immediately reminded me of Die Vraagstuk by Die Heuwels Fantasties featuring Jack Parow. Two tiny languages at opposite ends of the earth, doing their thing in comparable ways. Do you know other videos that use this concept?

29 June 2013

Gardening

I'm almost done with a bit of DIY for our balcony. That is to say, I've done the essential parts but the balcony itself sleeps in disorder tonight.

While a greener balcony will be nice, it will never resemble Babylonstoren's garden. We dropped by there in March on a day out that started at the Afrikaanse Taalmonument. Speaking of the latter, apparently it's an interesting place to do wedding pictures or pseudo-futuristic fashion shoots. Who knew?

Anyway, I recommend a visit to Babylonstoren for a bit of gardening paradise and the best iced tea in the universe. That's about all for now.

26 May 2013

Weddings

So here's a draft that finally became a post just now: another most lovely South African wedding. The post comes about two months after the event, just as the album that I composed of our own happy day came almost four years after the fact. Hoping it looks nice when it finally arrives in the post.

On the topic of weddings, I happened to learn while teaching (as is inevitably always the case) that the German-speaking world has different anniversaries—so yes, also silver, gold and diamond the way we know it, but lots of different ones in between, including a number of alternatives for each year. But hey, who cares what the theme of the anniversary is supposed to be, let's just all try and be as awesome as these guys.

wedding photo renierjoshgif_zpsd8278747.gif

05 May 2013

Happy Children's Day

Interrupting the South African recap to wish Japan a happy (and already somewhat belated) Children's Day. Judging by Facebook pictures, it looks like the giant kite at the Ikazaki Kite Fighting Festival actually achieved a height describable as 'mid-air'. Well done.

Nothing nearly as exciting is happening here. Yesterday we hung around Stuttgart before seeing Iron Man 3. Look out for the Westworld reference, I thought that was kind of brilliant. I also finally gave in and got myself a Reclam book. They're the sort of publisher that brings out the books you have to read at school, so maybe Germans aren't that into it, but I love all the paperbacks that happen in yellow, orange and red. Delicious.

Of course I also desperately need to buy more Fischer TaschenBibliothek numbers, but I first have to finish reading the ones I have. Then, little stand of books that calls my name, then I will come to you.

P.S. The mini carp streamers that keep my plant company came from a most amazing Children's Day themed package from Japan. So much love.
P.P.S. The sun is coming out today!!!

30 April 2013

Makaron

If you want to drop a fat stack of cash on food in Stellenbosch: Visit Makaron to be continually fed on deceptively small portions until you feel like you might burst... and then be served a plate of complimentary sweet things that will laugh in your face. Delicious. Fantastic service. Bring your gold credit card.

And your second stomach.

Philharmonious

I gate-crashed a friend's family picnic at the Cape Philharmonic concert at Kirstenbosch. Quite lucky really, because now I have an actual clue about all of his four brothers. Only time will tell whether I manage to keep the names and birth order in my head. Having four brothers is kind of like being in a football team—no, I can't keep track of who's who in a squad of... how many?

P.S. The notebook above was new then (end of February) and is just about full as of yesterday.

28 April 2013

Pre-honeymoon

I couldn't decide on a picture of my lovely friends' wedding, so I thought I would go with a sort of non-picture of the pre-drinks venue. And then it reminded me of a similar phone picture of sky and telephone lines taken with some or other Nokia back in 2007. I found it, but then I also found that the next one was very much like it, except that it also included the relevant couple. So, voilà.

That was pre-honeymoon and now we've moved onto Honeymoon, Katrin's exhibition at Salon91 in Cape Town that is on until 18 May. Go see it—for me—please. But if you're also too far away, you can view a little bit of the 24 April opening on Instagram.

18 April 2013

Woodmill Market

The Woodmill Lifestyle Market in Stellenbosch probably won't blow your mind. I think it might have something to do with the fact that "lifestyle" has been included in the name. That said, it's a good place to pop by on a Friday evening for a beer and some curry. And a cover band.

17 April 2013

Cape Town Pop Up Party

So my friend Charl doesn't need a TV, because his flat is filled with awesome things that he can play exhibition-exhibition with. True story.

Then sometimes he and his twin brother (so, double awesome) will do things like add another friend who also shares their birthday and then organise a pop up party in public. And they'll bring beautiful things to sit on and delicious snacks and since they know so many terrific people you'll find a team of girls who show up to share their experiments in vegetables and coconut cream with everyone. And so on, and so fun.

So that was 20 February on Church Square in Cape Town and we even got a bird's eye view of ourselves on Facebook a few days later.

P.S. The city security people were fantastic. They didn't come by to tell us off — no, they just wanted to make sure no one tries to steal from us.

11 April 2013

Destination: McGregor

This post got lost approximately a million years ago one day when blogger decided to frustrate me. But anyway, since the South African winter seems to have landed with force, let's remember February with fondness.

Oh, see the enormous red chair with the little white chairs on top? I didn't. I travelled with my aunt and grandmother and my parents came through later. Then they asked, "So, did you take your picture on the giant red chair at the Rooiberg farmstall?" "No, I didn't see it..."

Turns out I had seen it. And photographed it. I just somehow missed that it was, in fact, a giant red chair and not just a podium for regular chairs so they can get a bit of height. Genius.

08 March 2013

Wine and...?

You've heard of wine and cheese. And then someone told you about wine and chocolate. And those rumours about sparkling wine and nougat. What?

Now imagine trying to take this trend in a new direction and maybe one in a million people would come up with... wine and art. And then they'd put a summer twist on it all by adding some artisan ice cream to the mix. The experience can't really be explained. You simply have to make sure you pack all your senses when you go to visit the KWV Sensorium.

The pictures are from an 8 February event. Tomorrow is your last chance to experience the wine and ice cream pairings at the Ommiberg festival in Paarl.

10 February 2013

Long Street

Tire of bumming around Long Street? Never.

Specific highlights on my recent shopping jaunt included Afraid of Mice with their super vintage and one South African designer selection. I can't wait to wear the jacket I bought — it'll make everything look fancy. At the ever-colourful Mali South I got some fabric to fulfil the longtime promise of a gift. The African Music Store also solved a gift problem rather neatly and I got myself a Mahotella Queens album — a bit of South African music legend that I had to go live in Japan to learn about. Clarke's Bookshop moved, but the good news is that it didn't move very far and that it's as awesome as always.

Oh and if all that shopping leaves you a bit hungry, check out the Eastern Food Bazaar for amazing value for money.

09 February 2013

Came, went, and to come

After a deliciously hot day yesterday, an early-morning rain shower has just... bvvrrooooot! Wat is Engels vir losgetrek, julle? Anyway, I say deliciously hot, because I came here to warm myself deep down into my bones and the temperatures have actually been quite mild, so I'll take all the skeleton-heating I can get.

Posts to come will include some bumming around Cape Town and yesterday's KWV Sensorium ice cream event, but right now it's still too early to think. So please enjoy my very late year-in-review: Some screenshots of the 2012 European adventures book we had printed for our grandmothers.