I'm back!

I haven't written on here for ages!!

Partly through being very busy at work (office move to soho-bluh)
And also because I was trrrrrapped in South Africa for a little while, because of the ash cloud in iceland!
We went under very sad circumstances- a family member of JW's funeral.
The tickets were booked on the Wednesday and we flew on the Thursday, so everything was very last minute.
I felt totally unprepared for the flight, and we were both very sad about the reason we were going.
It was actually ok, but after 20 or so hours (we went via Dubai) we arrived, knackered in Cape Town.
The minute I got off the plane, I knew it was going to be hot! I ended up buying some flip flops at the airport, which I pretty much stayed in the whole time I was there.

Cape town is such a beautiful city, and it was nice to arrive to lovely afternoon sunshine, unlike the cold and rainy night time I came into last time I went.
Obviously some of the trip was very sad, and there was lots and lots of family time.
But we did actually have a chance to do some cool stuff whilst we were there

1. One thing we had time for this time round was Robbin island, unfortunately I was sick that day, which ruined it a little, but it was interesting.
The guide told us at the end that he was a prisoner at robbin island for being a member of the ANC.
There were some really beautiful parts of the island, with views over to Cape Town.
The only complaint was that they rushed us through the tours really quickly, and didnt really give us a chance to read all the info, especially in the cells, where there was information on the people who were imprisoned there.
Also, I have to say, the written info in and around the prison wasnt well looked after, and bits were missing.

2. We were very lucky that one of JW's friends works for the fisheries and his job is to monitor fishing boats, so he gets to drive out to beautiful beaches and harbours.
We spent a few days with him and got to see the boats pulling in the nets, and people buying the fish directly on the beach.
Also, he took us to areas where there was some wildlife.

we saw...

- Dussies (strange rabbit like things, that are famously shy)
- Baboons - quite scary! They was a whole troop around us for half the day, babies and adults.
- Wild seals
- A whale- Very exciting, its very rare for this time of year, but we watched one not far out of the bay

3.We also did lots of interesting drives, taking in scenery (which is amazing)
4.We had some nights out too, and I really got on with JW's friends (I know some of them from when they lived with us in London)


Its amazing the difference between rich and poor there. When you drive past the shacks its hard to believe that people can actually live in them, and on the flipside some of the rich areas you drive through with massive electric fences and their own vineyards are incredible.
JW is from Mitchells plain, which is a 'cape coloured' area and a bit dodgy (there are lots of gangs and drugs and JW was a bit wary of me wandering around there)
But actually I felt quite at home there! Even the mean dogs in the neighbourhood got to know me and stopped barking at me!

Cape town in August

I'm making plans to go to Cape Town (where JW is from) in August.
Its his Dad's birthday, so we are going to do a special party for him.

I'm hoping it's also another opportunity to do some touristy stuff as well.

Last time we were there we did the Table Mountain cable car (which was a.ma.zing) and the waterfront, beaches etc
But I'd like to do a little more exploring...

Stuff that I want to do in Cape Town...

1. Whale watching
2. Couple of days in the winelands doing some wine tasting
3. Robin island
4. Avoid any English tourists left-over from the world cup
5. More beach time

JW is born and raised in Mitchell's Plain (TOTALLY not a tourist area- in fact more like a place the guidebooks warn you to avoid) and we'll be spending a lot of time there with his parents.

Christmas...

I had a small argument with JW last night,
he was upset, because for the umpteenth time in a row, we are spending xmas with my family.
At this time of year especially, he finds it difficult living so far away and misses his parents back home in Cape town.
I sometimes take it forgranted that I have my parents just across London (and soon will be in the same house!).
JW's mum has 9 sisters and they all have children and grandchildren, so Christmas can be a massive affair for him,

For me, Christmas this year will just be us and my parents.
My sister and her boyfriend are living in Uruguay at the moment, and after my Grandmother died a few years ago, the extended family has dispersed off.
Though we still traditionally do boxing day lunch at my aunts with my cousins.

The argument cooled off and I promised that the year after next we will go...(next year we will be travelling!)
I'm looking forward to it already, Cape Town is in summer at Christmas and at time of writing is...22c and sunny (bit of a contrast to London's 0c and icy today)