tweede nuwe jaar!

We were really disappointed to miss the Cape Minstrels parading through the city centre yesterday - they were 3 hours (!) late and after a full morning at the South African Museum and other fun in the City we had two tired little girls and so headed home, a little sad.

But then, just as we gearing up for bath time yesterday evening, we heard music close by and quickly raced through Observatory with pram and dog to catch up with a local troupe, parading home just a few streets away.

Can you see unbridled jump for joy excitement bottom left?

Failing light and fast moving children didn't allow for good snaps but we had such a great time, marching alongside and behind the group, rocking to the big band, jiving with the kiddies, waving to the spectators.
It's hard to describe the energy and charisma of a minstrel troupe. You kinda had to be there, and we were!

As fun, if not more so, than the huge (and probably somewhat overwhelming) parade in town would have been. And that much more special for experiencing it just a few streets from home.

With the light fading we turned back before getting washed into the heart of Salt River and ears ringing, we danced home.
The music continued, in the distance, well into the night.

Out the Box Festival

We so enjoyed the annual Out the Box Festival last week. Amazing puppets, lovely shows, heaps of variety for young and old (and many shows which were perfect for both).

The Festival kicked off with a Puppet Parade through Observatory ...

and a free show on the Village Green ...

What's she watching with such fascination?

French clowns Ubla Dubla Trubla! Such fun.

We managed two other shows during the week. I would've loved to have seen more but there's only so much excitement two small girls can handle.

Friday LOVED The Mermaid of Zanzibar. Pedro the Musicman is a fantastic entertainer and artist, if your kids are even vaguely into music then try and catch his shows. I've got a link to his blog on the right.

The other show we saw was Just a Bit of Paper. Another win. I kid you not when I say Sunday, 18 months old, was enthralled, from beginning to end - 45 minutes!

Well done Out the Box, already looking forward to next year's programme.

with apologies to Nick Cave

This is one of the girl's favourite You Tube videos at the mo. The Sydney Opera House reinterprets Nick Cave's The Ship Song. Very beautiful.

However when I had a juice-bottle toting toddler crawling all over me in bed yesterday while I tried to lie perfectly still to stave off cramps and nausea (a 24h bug NOT what I'm sure you're all thinking right now), I rewrote the song to give it more relevance to my life right now.

"Come spill your juice around me,

And let your crumbs rain down.

You are a little sticky to me,

Every time you come around."