Steve Newman

One of the perks working for Distell (besides the obvious), is that the company is a big supporter of arts and culture - if you are quick enough to respond, you get to make use of some freebie tickets to shows from time to time.

The most recent one was Steve Newman at the Oude Libertas Theater in Stellenbosch. It was a most perfect day - so perfect in fact that I managed to scorch my face to a tender tomato on the beach that same morning. So for those of you who have not seen me in a while - no, it is not the stress at work that has aged me 10 years virtually overnight, but a mere temporary adjustment to skin elasticity that was restored again after I shed my countenance about twice. Who needs a chemical peel if you have Cape Town sun! No seriously - won't do it again. Not on purpose anyway: had to go through a whole week of people coming into my office and the first thing they say is "*gasp* oh my god! what happened to your face?"

Anyway...the venue has a lovely area for picnicking so that is normally the general idea before a show, and depending the nature of the show (or the picnic!) you might just end up lingering at the picnic spot throughout the show as well, as we did this time.


View from the theater as you enter the grounds. My work is just to the right of this view.



Path towards the amphitheater.




The theater.


The picnic spot.


Jacques & Margot


Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you - it is an unusually large bottle of bubbly...did not last unusually long though...


A captive audience.


The man himself.


Can never understand why it is always only me moving about to music like this...everybody else can surely not be that dead, so must be something wrong with me??


Oh no - the unthinkable! Empty bottle!!


No wait...wait...


Wow that was close!


All well again (well maybe not ALL - think he's been irredeemably lost to Bacchus)


Cheers...



From the temporarily aged Dragon Lady!

Dare I say it again? Another shit day in Africa...

A typical Sunday afternoon in Cape Town...

Before I continue, a practical matter to address: up to this point, captions for pics were placed above relevant pictures. This post onwards it will be at the bottom...just to make sure those easily confused stay in the loop! Apparently it reads easier this way...

Anyway...

One of the very many things I absolutely love about Cape Town, is the fact that places like Newlands Forest is practically in our back yard - about 15min drive.

There are also quite a few options when you visit Newlands - anything from a few minutes walk to a picnic spot to a few hours walk along the contour path of the Table Mountain Range. Thus for a lazy afternoon last minute urge to indulge in some Nature, we opted for something in the middle and bullied the Nell's (Jo-Marie = keen; Louis = not so keen) into keeping us company.


The entrance to the Park


Louis already starting to wonder whether this was a good idea...


A huge tree full of purple flowers - can't see them so well on the pic though.


I think by this time the surroundings have convinced Louis that maybe it was not such a bad idea after all...


The intrepid adventurer leading the way.


Heading up.


Isn't he supposed to be wearing a furry hat??


The path follows a mountain stream most of the way - really beautiful.


What? Consulting directions?? Nah, must be some guide about which plants can be smoked or something...


View of the city.


Wall paper anybody?


Huge tree roots exposed by water erosion.


Cool tree.

After we had our Nature fix, we popped in at home for a quick shower and headed off to Camps Bay for dinner. It was such a lovely day - we just had to get a good spot for sunset, and besides, we needed an excuse to open a really good bottle of wine...obviously we don't really need much of an excuse if watching the sunset is a perfectly acceptable one!



View from our table at the restaurant (Summerville)



The sunset was worth the traffic!


Trio of game espetada...accompanied by De Toren Z 2004 - bliss!


Well, I certainly cannot, in good conscious, allow perfectly good bone-marrow to go to waste!


YUM!

Thus ends another shit day in Africa!

Miller's Point Gathering

As is tradition, the biker crowd descended on Dave's hospitality at the Miller's point boat club the day after the long ride in order to indulge in the good weather, good company and PILES of crayfish!

View from the clubhouse


Being entertained by Louis, as usual :)


Wes, crazy as ever lending a slight manic edge to any gathering!


The Nell's


Louis catching some of Wes' derangement...


This is certainly a moment for posterity: The braai masters took so long in getting things going that Abbu was compelled to actually pick up some tools and feed the beast himself! For those of you who do not know Abbu - he is master in subtle delegation...and is always hungry.

Abbu...in action?


Andy and myself being forced to pose for Marc.


Great pic of 2 awesome guys! *gush*


See - I did not exaggerate when I said PILES of crayfish, and for free/PASELLA. I love Cape Town!


Serious business crayfish-eating is.


Or not...


Rebel without a...guitar??


Oh no wait - he's got it!