Yesterday I posted a photo of Langebaan lagoon on a really calm morning. Although it was freezing cold, the still weather continued throughout the day, and we did not have any wind at all. We were also blessed with a glorious sunset, so I grabbed my camera (this time the SLR), and rushed down to the water’s edge to grab a shot or two.
Here are some of the results.
Boat on the lagoon at sunset
Long exposure of Langebaan Lagoon
Golden light; another long exposure of Langebaan Lagoon
I was at Langebaan for the weekend, and I took my point and shoot with me on an early morning run (more proof a great shot does not always need the top camera). Anyway, the water in the lagoon looked so calm and peaceful. I think I captured the atmosphere in this shot. This is in contrast to the howling South-Easter that normally blasts through everything at Langebaan.
I really like this shot; What do you think? By the way this is a large panorama, so click on the photo to zoom in.
We had a yummy Malva Pudding for dessert last night, and the left-overs were a perfect opportunity to do some food shooting. Malva Pudding is a sponge-based dessert, made with plenty of butter, lots of sugar, and often generous lashings of brandy as well. It is a traditional South-African dessert, and is really yummy.
There are two ways to make it.
1) Goto Woolworths and buy it, or
2) You download the recipe, and make it yourself, but it is a lot of work.
The one shot above is alas from Woolworths, but was excellent indeed. And with the preparation consisting of warming it in the oven for about 15 minutes, you simply cannot go wrong.
An (almost full) moon, caught just above the Muizenberg Mountains this morning. The moon was full on Monday, so was still pretty large this morning. If you look really closely, you can see the shapes where the moon-mice have been eating from the big block of cheese.
This was the view out of my bedroom window this morning :-)
PS: no cheating in Photoshop involved. That is exactly where the moon was.
Yes I know, I simply cannot help myself. If I see a tractor I simply have to take a photo of it. I still think that they have so much character, especially the old ones that clearly have such a story to tell. In fact when my friend Dawn saw the shot, she said
…our ancient most beloved Masey Ferguson tractor
And she is right. This old girl (and yes this tractor is a girl – at least I say so) looks like she has literally been around the block a few times. I am glad that she is in good hands now with Dawn and Roger, making a small contribution to their amazing spirits at Jorgensen’s Distillery.
Absinthe from Jorgensen Distillery in Wellington
On Saturday we spent a wonderful afternoon with Dawn and Roger Jorgensen, owners of the wonderful Jorgensen Distillery in Wellington. They have a remarkable selection of spirits that are distilled on their farm, with almost all ingredients organic, and many of them grown on their own farm.
They are both wonderful people, and it amazing to spend time with such people so passionate about their art (and after the afternoon, I am convinced that it is indeed an art, even sometimes bordering on alchemy). We tasted some of their 67% proof absinthe served traditionally over sugar and a slotted spoon. After that taste, I am hooked. It is a remarkable drink that defies description, suffice to say it is a life-changing taste. A little like French Pasties mixed with the herbal flavours of Jagermeister, although that is bar far not a fair description.
Absinthe from Jorgensen Distillery in Wellington
Absinthe is not the only drink they make, the also have a yummy gin, vodka, limoncello, and a very interesting bay liqueur (and plenty of others as well). Lois loved their chilli vodka, but that is only for really serious chilli eaters (and for me to say that is something). But after all, Lois is the chilli queen.
Gin from Jorgensen Distillery in Wellington
Needless to say, we left the distillery a little heavier, with the sound of glass bottles clinking on the back seat of our car.
The bad news is this is specialist stuff, it is not in every bottle store. The good news is that some specialise shops sell their spirits, and you can buy online from their website, so no excuse not to buy and try for yourself.
Now, where did I put the sugar cubes?
Today was the Annual Slave run in Cape Town. Like many old cities, we have a sad history of many slaves that were a large part of building our city, but who are seldom remembered. To commemorate this, there is an annual run and walk through the city centre which passes many historical building remembering slavery. The route started with the firing of cannon from the castle, a run through the castle and past the old slave lodge (which is now a museum).
I ran the 10km run (there is also a 21km run, a 10km walk, and a 5km walk, so something for everyone), and I finished in a very respectable time of 1h03.
I took that shot of my medal at the finish line, with the Cape Town City Hall in the background (it really is a single shot, not multiple shots merged later).
I am proud to be African, celebrating African day with the my friends from Africa.
I was born in Africa, and I live in Africa. Africa is a fascinating place to live. Where else do you have so many languages, interesting foods, brilliant music and amazing culture? Yes Africa has her problems, poverty, crime and corruption being at the top of the list. But it is a REAL place to live. You are alive when you live in Africa.
Here are some pictures taken of Africans, in Africa.
Rasta musician in Muizenberg
Lots of rings
Bafana Bafana, worldcup 2010
Jamming in the street
Gigi! (at a conference and Lois was with me, I promise!)
Here are some more pictures of proud Africans
I am proud to be African, celebrating African day with the my friends from Africa.
At this time of the year, the sun rises and sets with the most amazing colours in the sky. And the few clouds in the sky today make for the most amazing sunrise shots. This particular show was a panorama of 2 shots taken on my compact, caught on the way to work.
I just think that Cape Town is the most amazing place to live, with views like this literally 100m from my front door.
I have now completed three trail runs over the past month. The last one was the Helderberg Mountain Challenge yesterday. Trail running is far more crazy than road running. Sometimes you run on a gravel road, sometimes on a thin mountain path, and quite often you are climbing up a river bed, looking for the next contour.
A 10km run usually takes me just over an hour, but on this trail it took 1:40; it is a much more difficult route. You have to take all your own water with you, and on the longer runs you need to carry space blankets and first aid kits. In total we went up 600m, and of course down another 600m.
I didn’t take my camera with me, but I did have my trusty phone, this shot is a panorama shot of the Somerset West vineyards, heading towards the Strand on the right.
One Comment