'like walking in a dream'

Sadly when we got home yesterday I discovered that half the photos I took of the Starke Ayres Nursery Christmas decorations were on some weird setting which made them all look like they'd been drawn by a 2 yr old on acid.

As if the decor itself wasn't magical enough.

Friday said it was like 'walking in a dream'.

I have to say I know of no other place in Cape Town which has quite as many fantastical Christmas decorations.

If you do please share!

The Rosebank nursery has their Christmas display up until the end of December. If you can bear more twinkly lights and if you believe me that they're much more impressive than these few photos show, take your kids for a visit. It's pretty special.

Merry Christmas everyone!

snow play park, canal walk

*this is a guest post, by Friday*

Last night Mum and I went to the Snow Play Park. We were on a special list. When we walked in a lady gave me a HUGE stick of candyfloss and Mum a HUGE glass of wine.
We were both very happy.

It was magical, with all the decorations and lights. I saw a giant snow globe, but it didn't turn upside down, and it looked like there were huge candy-canes everywhere.

Mum's friend told her it would be really cold, so we brought lots of coats which we didn't need at all. But I was happy I had my mittens when I played in the 'snow pit'. It was like sand but not as easy to build with and very, very cold!

Because it was the first night there were snacks and face-painting and icy cold drinks, and we could go on all the rides for free!

The rides were my best part. We had to drag our little boats up, up, up a long slope and then wait for the man to give us a push so we could slide down.
Mum came after me and I know I heard her screaming although she said she didn't. Mum said grown-ups go faster because they are heavier and for once she was happy to have a big bum.

I went on each ride lots of times, standing in line wasn't that much fun but there were lots of lights and decorations to look at.

I wish we could go back there everyday, but Mum says she doesn't really like shopping centres that much. 

I think she's mad.

*Thank you Canal Walk for kindly inviting us to the launch event for their 2013 Snow Play Park. Friday had heaps of fun!*

cape point vineyards

My car has been acting up. It's going fine, as long as I don't get stuck in traffic. Crawling along at slow speed quickly leads to great belches of black smoke and funny noises. Getting it fixed is on the To Do list ...

So when I realised the girls and I were 'stuck' in the Noordhoek area until after evening traffic abated yesterday, we decided to find somewhere to have a little supper.
And by happystance stumbled upon the Cape Point Vineyards Thursday Food Market.

Not a bad little spot to wait out the traffic right?

It's TOTALLY Cape Town. Vegan patisserie, craft beer, lily white patrons and views so profound your eyes and brain have to use every colour in their paint box to try and do it justice.

Vineyards, pretentious food, kids called Tucker and lots of hippies in BMW's. It's Cape Town see?

But the beauty. I can be grinchy about many things, but every day I have pause to gasp at the beauty of this place we live in - and there's an uncomplicated purity in that which appeases my cynical old heart.

The Cape Point Vineyard is a damn fine place to be briefly appeased.

Even that silly old car had a view!

one city block: bree street

I had some time to kill in the city last week, in that magic hour of calm between the day workers leaving and the night joll-ers arriving.
I had my phone camera, the streets to myself, and a overwhelming need to stretch my legs and my lungs after being holed up indoors in meetings all day.

I want to recreate everything about this last picture at home, isn't that gorgeous?

A fast walk and some lovely sights, I felt much rejuvenated and ready for the next stage in my super-long working day. Yoh, it's been busy!

the bird man

Hold your jumping castles, magicians, Cinderellas and face-painters. Cancel the pony, the balloon-shaper and the puppet show.
There's a new kiddie party guy in town and he is ... odd.
Martin Odd, aka The Bird Man.

Because what 6 year old doesn't want a Rock Kestrel sitting on his head at his birthday party?

And who doesn't want their friends to experience the magic ...

... the wonder ...

... and the mind-boggling privilege of an African White Backed Vulture pooping visiting in your living room?

Martin and his team of feathered friends (Macaw Parrot, Hadeda, Owls, Crow and more) do an amazing hour long show, full of facts and information, entertainment and education, guaranteed to leave all the guests (young and old) with lots to think about and remember about the magnificent birds which live amongst us.

Martin shows an affection and respect for his birds which we commonly associate with furry mammals, and speaks candidly of his early days as a budding ornithologist, seeking out nests as a boy around his home in the suburbs.
How wonderful to expose our children to an adult so passionate about what he does. Someone who has followed his childhood dream and now does the work he loves everyday.
Valuable lessons indeed.

And so entertaining!

Rounded off with a chance to hang out with a White Faced Scops Owl. A very special birthday party experience indeed.

More information on Martin's shows (he can also be found at Ratanga Junction in season) and his contact details can be found here, or on his facebook page Birds of Africa Show.

one year on

Friday lost a tooth this afternoon, her second this week, her 6th so far. And as she catalogued the circumstance and location of all 5 prior loses (a ritual she repeats every time), we realised one of those was almost exactly a year ago, the second night we spent in this house.

That one we suspect she swallowed, which she vehemently denied, and we let it go considering we'd just moved house and everything was new and uncertain. We left a note for the tooth fairy, and exclaimed with wonder the next morning at how she'd managed to find us, despite having only just left Observatory.

And now here we are, one year on.

The boxes are all unpacked! With the exception of two ... and one of the last was only opened last week. We've all had a birthday in this house. We've hosted Christmas and celebrated New Year. We've weathered all four seasons, although winter still feels very new.

In fact, lots still seems very new. Despite the world having turned full circle round the sun we're still seeing, smelling, feeling, discovering new things every day, and we still have moments of complete unbelievable awe that we live in such a beautiful place.

Happy birthday house on the lake. Thank you.

PS, thanks to my friend Bronwyn for the street sign shots in the header - all the way from Brisbane!

planet kids, muizenberg

I'm not a fan of indoor play places (sometimes I think I'm such a parenting grinch), but Planet Kids in Muizenberg is truly an exception.

A beautiful building, huge room, high ceilings, wooden floors and lots and lots of creative, original and stimulating play to be had.

Exciting sit-on slide, takes kids up to 35kg.

All manner of ride-on's. These padded platforms with wheels and some gorgeous little wooden cars too.

Lovely wooden puzzles and a couple of fooz-ball tables for some calmer fun.

Great imaginative 'ball wall' - with lots of different sized balls and holes to lob them through.

Plus, two indoor jumping castles - one is a UFO with aliens inside! A corner for smaller kiddies, comfy seating for the grown-ups, coffee, an outside jungle gym etc for sunny days, a fun collection of party stuff for sale and a dedicated room for birthday parties.
What's not to love?

FEAT. socks

So ... I bought husband some socks for his birthday last month. Amongst other things okay? Sheez.

I bought him some fancy-pants socks from Feat. sock co. - a wee bamboo/cotton blend nod to hipsterville and all that he ain't.
His birthday was in mid-July, and last week I noticed one of the socks had a hole in the toe.

So I thought what the heck, and sent them a mail kindly inquiring whether they'd send someone round to darn it?
That was on Friday.
On Monday replacements were hand-delivered to our front door.

Considering he wears biker boots all day they gently suggested he try some from their more rugged cotton/nylon blend range. Probably not a bad plan.

I like this kind of service. I like supporting local brands who take this kind of pride in their reputation. I even like their little sock movie (how cute are those scallop-edged socks for girls?).

And I thought seeing as I have a modest public platform here, I'd thank them publicly. Thanks Feat!

cute coffee stop

Driving down Constantia Main Rd the other day (which incidentally, and appropriately, as to be the most la-di-da Main Rd in Cape Town, not at all what we expect from a Main Rd really) - in fact, I didn't even know it was called that until recently - you know, the road which goes from Constantia Village all the way up to Constantia Nek?

Okay, wait. Driving down Constantia Main Rd the other day I came upon this, near the High Constantia Shopping Centre:

How cute?!

Not the cheapest coffee in town but it was delicious, and total props for style ...

... and you get a loyalty card that only needs 5 stamps to get a freebie! I like.

An inspired initiative by a Hout Bay coffee lover (who also serves tea). Go support him!

a necessary list

Yesterday evening, a little terrified at the prospect of being stuck indoors all weekend in this rainy weather, I got out the whiteboard and commissioned a list.

A List for a Rainy Weekend.

The first thing on the list quickly became 'play with board', but then we got down to business. My favourite item is Friday's idea, to 'wear cuddly clothes'.

So far we've completed items 1, 3 and 5. And as it turns out that 3 ('watch circus') meant Cirque du Soleil and Madagascar 3 (polkadotpolkadotpolkadotafro), we've kind of stalled there.

It's good to know we've got a few more plans in the works for when we need them though.

If you're in Cape Town, stay warm and dry!

one city block: muizenberg

During December the girls and I watched this amazing piece going up. A couple of times we stopped to watch the artists at work and it's still a regular request.
Friday: 'Mum, can we stop to look at the octopus?'
Followed always by Sunday: 'And the 'normous toes?'

On the side of Stoked Backpackers, piece by Mak1one and The One Love Studio. More pics of it here.

We stopped again last week and I quickly snapped another few pics, each one of something lovely.

Across the road, this beautiful Grande Dame.

At our backs, the Muizenberg Station building, with wooden clock tower.

Or amusing.

Sign in the parking lot. 

Around the corner.

And across the street.

Just one small block of beautiful Muizenberg, just up the drag from our new home, just another small snippet of the beauty of Cape Town.

AND, if you'd like to see more of this part of the world, visit my friend Wendy at Make.Believe. She just spent a morning in Kalk Bay and took some magnificent photos!

cupcakes and crafts and rainbow sprinkled farts

Okay, okay, I've had my moan ... back to normal programming about how wonderful and idyllic our lives are.

Hanging out with the love of her life - David Attenborough.

Peanut butter and jam muffins. With chocolate chips.

Mongoose encounters at the World of Birds.

Camping on Easter weekend. We love camping.

Making tambourines, as per Friday's instructions.

Screw the end product, hole-punched paper plates and pipe cleaners ftw!

But for the true muzo, it's a serious business.

Pelicans drifting aloft. Reminding us to look up, and remember our blessings.