Table Mountain sunsets and how we celebrated my 34th birthday

Yay, last week was my birthday! If you’ve been waiting to find out how we celebrated it since then, rub your hands in glee and get scrolling below!

Thursday, 15 February 2018: Birthday breakfast at All in the Kitchen, dins at Saints

My parents treated me to breakfast at All in the Kitchen on Thursday morning. I love the ‘Chocolate doesn’t ask questions, chocolate understands’ sign!

See me with mum and dad and our lovely food at All in the Kitchen.

A close-up of that lovely food – Mum squeezing lemon for her avo croissant, Dad’s Omega breakfast with poached eggs and avo, with my nutty, fruity granola bowl bottom right. Love those berries!

All in the Kitchen owner Ally sweetly gifted me with a birthday cupcake! It was chocolate ganache-y delicious and even came with a lit candle.

My afternoon looked much like this – napping with the doggies, colouring in, reading and taking coffee breaks with my gorgeous new owlie mug. Birthday bliss!

Once Husband got home from work, we headed to Eden on the Bay in Big Bay for my birthday dinner. We decided on Saint’s where I had the Insomniac shake (the BEST ever, it’s a chocolate-espresso base topped with Kahlua and Amarula and it hardly kept me awake) – also see Husband’s glass of wine and our delicious burgers and sides. Happy birthday to me! 🙂

We stopped off for a photo of one of my favourite things – the lovely sunset over Table Mountain after dins.

We did a few of our standard ‘kiss on the cheek while wearing the birthday hat’ photos that evening. The doggies don’t look impressed.

Friday, 16 February 2018: Day off coffee at The Daily

One doesn’t take off a Thursday from work and then go in to the office on the Friday – no sir, catching up on all the work is Monday’s problem! One of the things I did on Friday was join my parents at The Daily Cafe in Seaside Village for a morning coffee.

See our coffees and laughs and breakfast plates.

Saturday, 17 February 2018: Solitary coffee at Peacocks, early dins at Bossa

Husband had to work on Saturday so we had a quick breakfast together at Mugg n Bean Bayside before he went to the office. See my iced mocha and croissant, with Husband’s decidedly larger farmer’s breakfast.

I stopped in at Peacocks at Bayside Mall for a quick coffee break following a spot of birthday retail therapy. This hazelnut latte was just what I needed!

Work done for the day, we had an early dins at Bossa in Burgundy Estate. See Husband’s Castle draught and ginormous Big Elvis chicken burger (with bacon, avo, hashbrown and melted cheddar) on the waiter’s recommendation, with my Feel Good pizza and Colada shake. All hit the spot!

Another beautiful sunset over Table Mountain, this time on the way home from Bossa.

Sunday, 18 February 2018: Family birthday breakfast at Cassia at Nitida

Sunday morning was time for the full family birthday breakfast. We’d chosen Cassia at Nitida as it’s not too far from all our homes and the breakfasts are delicious and affordable. See various family snaps outside.

Just look at the wonderful eats and drinks! See my cappuccino with the marscapone-bacon-blueberry flapjack stack ordered by Dad and me, as well as the salmon eggs benedict ordered by Husband and Mum-in-Law.

Delicious food = happy faces.

We had sausages and salads for lupper at Mum’s on Sunday evening, with an amazing nutty-bacon-broccoli salad, too. Yum!

Monday, 19 February 2018: Birthday cakes in the office

As I’d last been in the office the day before my birthday, I took in a selection of treats when I returned to my desk on Monday.

That’s all, folks! You can expect an update on the mind-blowing madness and mayhem of covering Design Indaba next time.

Excellent Italian lunch at 95 Keerom and return of the purple hairdo

The past week was filled with delicious bites and happy moments in the sun…

Friday, 9 February 2018: New Friday lunch offering at 95 Keerom

What a wonderful place this is – I went to review the new Friday lunch option at 95 Keerom (yes, situated at 95 Keerom Street), long known as the place to go for a delicious Italian dinner in the Cape Town CBD. There’s a tree growing in the middle, large glass panels in all the walls, with pale wood everywhere you look and delicious starters like this – the asparagus salad and Caprese salad. Full descriptions in my review, coming to Bizcommunity soon!

For mains, see the ’95 Carpacchio’ and the butternut ravioli.

Dessert! Everything sounded wonderful, but I can personally vouch for the mango sorbet (middle-right) and duo fondant (top- and bottom-right) – excellent way to end a meal.

See the lovely selection of breads (yes there was olive oil and balsamic to mop up with the softer hunks), also my cappuccino – typically a ‘morning coffee’ in Italy but it paired perfectly with the dessert.

Saturday, 10 February 2018: Early burger dins at Jerry’s

We started our Saturday at Canal Walk – see our reflections in the lift.

The W Cafe in Woolworths was our first port of call. See my Nutella French toast, as well as honey-nut latte and Husband’s kale-haloumi bowl.

For our Saturday afternoon treat we decided on Jerry’s Burger Bar as it’s just around the corner and we were suddenly quite hungry after all our weekend admin tasks – their burgers are enormous. See various shots of the decor/view and Husband with his Castle draught.

See what I mean? That’s my pina colada shake and double cheese smash burger on the left, with Husband’s Thai chicken burger and fries on the right.

Sunday, 11 February 2018: Melkbos Kitchen breakfast

As we’d not had a braai with Husband’s parents on Saturday afternoon, we met them at Melkbos Kitchen for breakfast on Sunday. See my cappuccino with biscotti and apple-toffee crumpets with walnuts, as well as Mother’s ‘build-your-own’ breakfast and a group shot.

More pics featuring foodie, such as the salmon eggs benedict both Husband and his dad opted for.

A forkful of my apple-toffee crumpets. Yum!

We all went for a long stroll along the beach to help digest our breakfast.

I was allowed to nibble my ‘coffee in a cone’ purchased elsewhere while Husband polished off his salmon sashimi at The Orient in Eden on the Bay that afternoon. See our reflection in the middle mirror panel.

Salmon sashimi for Husband’s Sunday lunch nibble.

Bassie decided to hop in the back of the car and travel with her head out the window just like Bertie on the way to her grandparents’ house that evening.

Voila! My hair is now an ombre purple/blue in some light – and quite a bit shorter (though still long), but most people only notice the colour change. Click here, here and here for reminders of my previous ‘purple hair’.

Pretty pink-streaked sky at sunset that evening.

Tuesday, 13 February 2018: Rainy evening in Cape Town

The precious doglets were a bit chilly and confused as it finally rained, stormed and even hailed on Tuesday evening, here in Cape Town.

The doggies on the couch and with their dad.

That’s all, folks! T’was my birthday yesterday, so expect pics of all the celebrations in my next update. 🙂 Happy weekend!

Lifehouse and Collective Soul at GrandWest Arena

Last weekend we did a great many things as usual, key among them was seeing Lifehouse and Collective Soul live at GrandWest Arena…

Friday, 2 February 2018: Work meetings

Last Friday was a super-busy one, with two high-profile telephonic interviews and a face-to-face with Johanna McDowell in the coffee shop beneath my office. Was so good to finally meet her, you can click here and here for the resulting articles I wrote about her recent accomplishments.

Saturday, 3 February 2018: Mexican benedict at La Rocca

We started our weekend at Canal Walk. Husband had a strong cappuccino with the Mexican eggs benedict at La Rocca, I had the pumpkin-spice latte and Jump jar filled with berries, yoghurt, granola and banana.

The sea was calm and so refreshing, I stood ankle-deep in it myself when Husband had his weekly dip – that’s saying something.

Table Mountain in the distance. We love Cape Town!

T’was just us at the braai at Husband’s parents that week. See the doggies being sweet on the couches, all sorts of braai foodies and a ganache-y caramelly chocolate cake for dessert.

Bassie says she didn’t really mind sitting with her brother’s dog on her head as a blanket, as it was quite chilly on Saturday evening.

Sunday, 4 February 2018: Village Place breakfast, Lifehouse and Collective Soul at Grand West Arena 

See the pretty menu and pistachio-coloured seating area, as well as my banting flapjacks with yoghurt and berries, and Husband’s pesto breakfast.

The little heart-shaped shortbread biscuits are such a sweet touch.

Coffee and magazine with the doggies later that morning.

Little Miss Bassie couldn’t decide which was her best side to show us at her other Grannie-Grampa’s house on Sunday – a proper lunchtime visit for once as we’d be at GrandWest for Collective Soul later that evening. Also see the chicken with mini taters and homemade scones with jam and cream (and coffee) for afters.

Tada! Presenting Lifehouse and Collective Soul, live in concert at GrandWest Casino! They were both truly excellent. Click here if you missed my full review on Biz earlier this week!

Tuesday, 6 February 2018: Healthy office birthday cake

T’was my colleague Ruth’s birthday on Monday, but as she’d cleverly taken a day’s leave then, she brought in ‘healthy’ baked goods on Tuesday. The carrot cake and lemon-poppyseed muffins were yummy!

Thursday, 8 February 2018: After-work croissant and coffee catchup at Cafe Puka

I met my friend Hasmita for a coffee catchup after work on Thursday. We’d last seen each other 7 years ago, when we did the advanced sub-editing course through Wits. Cafe Puka in Tamboerskloof was an excellent choice. Look at the enormous almond croissant we shared (cue shocked and delighted faces), each with a hazelnut cappuccino. And see the sweet doggie who decided to nap under my chair. He was so friendly.

The hazelnut cappuccinos were not small, so you can only imagine how gigantic these croissants were. Flaky and pull-apart perfect!

Husband fetched me from the bus and we treated ourselves to Oreo McFlurries that evening.

That’s all, folks. We’re finally due a spot of rain later this evening – holding thumbs!

Husband’s 38th birthday and waffles on a stick at the Big Bay Summer Market

This past week took an age to get through. Perhaps because we’re finally in February and January’s always the longest month, what with transitioning back into ‘work mode’ after the end-of-year break.

Here’s what we’ve been up to since my last update…

Friday, 26 January 2018: Meltwater webinar presentation

Look at me, looking nervous/excited/relieved with Philippa Dods, Meltwater’s amazing marketing coordinator for India, Middle East & Africa last Friday, after a successful PR webinar presentation. No need for FOMO if you missed it, just click on this link to the recording so you can catch-up!

Saturday, 27 January 2018: Sweet treats at Sweet Loaf, brotherly dins at Catch22

We started our weekend at Wimpy in Bayside as we had a few weekend admin chores to do while there. And surprise, soon after we ordered my parents also ended up there for breakfast! I enjoyed my regular Wimpy coffee and toasted cheese on a stick. Husband had the streaky bacon breakfast with extra cheesegriller (as did Dad), while Mum went for the avo-toast. A good start to the day!

We also did some motorbike-gear pricing at Sable Square and stopped at Sweet Loaf for a quick treat – everything sells for R11, whether you want a cappuccino, can of Cola, mini-cake load or palm-size pie.

Aww! Little Miss Bassie was such a happy girl when we popped in at her grandparents’ house that evening for some tech assistance.

Bertie was also eager to share his affection with his dad. Big licks!

Spec was spending the night with us so after a quick unpack at our house we headed off to Catch22 for dins. See Husband enjoying his glass of red top-left, my gingerbread latte top-right, Spec with his Amstel bottom-left, and Husband and me in front of the tropical paradise painting outside bottom-right. T’was so bright, we needed to wear sunnies.

And the food? Oh boy was it good! See group photo top-left, full table of food bottom-left, that day’s specials in the middle my buccaneer beef burger topped with bacon and cheese top-right and Husband’s baby kingklip with veg bottom-right. Spec went for the linefish with calamari special. All delicious!

Later that evening we walked down the beach to see the kite-surfing competition in action – it was suitably windy!

Sunday, 28 January 2018: Husband’s family birthday lunch at Bossa

The little ones were happy to pose with me on the couch as my coffee was in a doggy-patterned mug so they felt right at home. As they should, as they were at home. Teehee.

For the first time in many years, we all live in the same city so could do a combined birthday lunch for Husband. See the eisbein with roast veg with parents shared top-left, the pizza me and father-in-law ate top-right, dad’s strong flat white bottom-left (and he had a Black Label draught before that, so his placemat was accurate), with a full family shot bottom right.

Once we’d had time to digest lunch, we stopped off at Husband’s favourite sea-swimming hole for his weekly dunk.

We stopped in at Table Bay Mall for a spot of birthday shopping and a treat in the form of Milky Lane ice creams, mmm! Husband’s is plain vanilla with caramel topping and assorted syrups, mine is the berry-meringue whizzer.

Monday, 29 January 2018: Husband’s 38th birthday

Here’s the first batch of ‘kisses with the birthday hat’ photos. The doggies were keen to join in but seemed shy once we started taking the pics.

These are our attempts while sitting on the couch. If i was licking Bertie’s head in the bottom-left pic (I’m not, I’m blowing Husband a kiss but Bertie angled himself in such a way that it looks like Bass is licking my hand, I’m licking Bertie’s head and he’s licking his dad’s chin.) Crying with laughter!

Tuesday, 30 January 2018: Office donuts and owlie mugs

When clients cancel Tuesday meetings and send through apology donuts (from Dunking Donuts, else they’d be ‘doughnuts’), we share. Also, meet my new hipster owl office mug – disinterested deer has bitten the dust.

T’was also the day I did a video interview in the Barclays Rise space in the Woodstock Exchange. I’ll share the link to that interview next week. For now, see the interesting surrounds.

Wednesday, 31 January 2018: Waffles on a stick at the Big Bay Summer Market

It’s been a while since the last ‘I love Big Bay’ food and craft market, usually held at the Big Bay Lifesaving Club at Eden on the Bay on the last Wednesday of every month. It was a very windy day so we didn’t stay very long.

Various shots of me with my waffle on a stick, also see my potato wedges topped with paprika and parmesan top-left. Yum!

Look at the choices! All were fresh and chocolate-y but I went for the ‘Astronaut’, as it was covered in mini-Astros and looked like an edible Christmas tree. Yum.

Thursday, 1 February 2018: #NespressoOnIce pop-up shop at work

The NespressoOnIce truck is conducting a road trip across the country and stopped in at our office on Thursday afternoon. We were thrilled to try a few of the iced coffee options as it was a very hot day.

That’s all, folks! Have a relaxing weekend 🙂