Idealic day at the sea

Yesterday was one of those days where everything was just ok. I am was workign at a wine show in Gordons Bay, right in the marina. Now Gordons Bay is notorious for being one of the windiest places on our Western Cape coast, but yesterday there wasn't even a breeze. Some would argue that this was a bad thiing because yesterday was a scorsher of a day, witht he temperatures going over 30 degrees. Everyone was out on the beaches, taking their "winter-velletjies" out for a spin in the sun and I bet some people are regretting it today.

After the show I went to Skapie's afterwards and we ended up going to the Strand and walking on the beach, just enjoying the last heat of the day and the watching the sun set on a perfect day. No wind and the beach was still busy at 8 in the evening and the everybody was just taking in that last little bit, it felt like the first day of summer.

Red Velvet Delight

I am not the best baker you will ever find in your life, then again, I am also not the worst. When I particularly like a certain food/dish I get remarkable good at it. I think it is the prospect have having that wonderful mouthful and then just pure joy. So tomorrow I am having my housewarming and as a gift to myself and hopefully to my friends tomorrow I made some red velvet cupcakes for desert. The housewarming is not going to be a big affair, we are just having hot dogs and beer and I hope a good time. But I do so wanted red velvet cupcakes and I can't make them all for myself, that would defeat the purpose of going to the gym and having my spinning instructor try and kill me. Seriously, I thought I was gonna pass out today. Anyway, so the only time I can make these little red delights is when I can hand them out.

I've never made them before, so obviously I had to try one ... form each batch that comes out of the oven to make sure I will not be poisoning my guest tomorrow. THEY ARE SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD! I am quite chuffed, they cam out really well. Not all shaped like in the book, but then again the Lord made icing to cover up those misshapen cupcakes ;)

Along the Hermanus promenade

So today me and a friend went walking along the Hermanus Promenade, something I haven't done yet - shame on me - I know. Well today was a good to day to do that, because as we were just getting to the Old Harbour we saw the most beautiful thing. A baby Southern Right whale and its mother, right in the harbour. It was magical. The little one was breaching and having a good old time. Me and my friend ran down to get as close to the water as possible to witness this wonderful creature so at home in our waters. To see the largest mammal on earth splashing around in the Atlantic - there is just that sense of God in it all and you feel and hope(most of all) that things can be right in the world again.

The 'yellow-line-drivers'

There is this courtesy that has come to life on South African roads that has been pissing me off the last few years. In this age of getting everything at the drop of a hat or the snap of your fingers, it has now spilled over onto our roads. It used to be that you can drive and pass a car if the opportunity arose and you could be on your merry way. Now, this is no longer just that easy.

In South Africa we have the emergency lane, or as locally know amongst the Afrikaans speaking people "die geel-lyn" (the yellow line). It started as a courtesy that if you were stuck behind a truck or slow moving vehicle that they would pull into the yellow line and you could pass them without veering into the oncoming lane. This was quick and easy over-taking and took away the stress of facing possible collisions.

Now, the problem comes in, when is it save to turn into the yellow line to let a faster car pass you and when is it save to pass a car in the yellow line. The traffic rules are there, but who in this country has ever followed the rules?

So here I am driving at the legal limit and it is a bendy road and then a car comes from behind and sits on my tail - expecting me to turn into the yellow line. Firstly - the other car is speeding, secondly - it is dangerous for me to turn into the yellow line if i can't see what's up ahead and thirdly - i don't have to turn into the yellow line, it's a courtesy, not a rule/law.

Here is another scenario: I am driving behind a slower moving truck. There are other cars behind me and the truck then pulls into the yellow line - but it is on a winding road and the driver of the truck cannot around the bends. The woman behind me in her Mercedes was cursing and flipping me off to pass the truck, but I refused - you cannot make me risk my life! It isn't save to pass that truck. What if there is a person walking in the yellow line - the truck has to veer back into the driving lane and then i have to swerve into oncoming traffic. Will the lady in her Mercedes be happy then?

When did it become other peoples' right to dictate the way i want to drive? Sure i could have pulled into the yellow line like the truck and let the Mercedes pass, but it wasn't save to be driving in the yellow line to start with. the truck shouldn't have been driving there.

The saddest thing , or more accurately, the most infuriating thing for me is - when there is an open stretch of road and then the car behind me still waits for me to turn into the yellow line, so they can pass, even though there is not a car in the coming lane. AAARRGGG!! These people, that are so dependent on the yellow-line courtesy, that their asses fall off as soon as they are on a piece of road where it isn't - these people I call: The 'Yellow-line-drivers'.

Grow some balls and pass me like a real driver.