The one with 6 days to go

Breakfast is a smoothie (made by Abraham) and a view of Table Mountain. This morning it was a case of "Kloof Street in the mist" and I had neither smoothie nor mountain view. Autumn in Cape Town is my favorite season: it starts to rain more, the air gets a crispy bite and the students at upper campus start to cover more skin and wear less flip flops. I am going to admit that my TDL is in a depressing state and I cannot blog about my failure to wipe urgent matters of the list.

The one with 7 days to go

Pfizer sponsored my TO DO LIST. It's a Viagra Feel Alive plastic writing board. Here in the Pharmacology Division, all items sponsored by pharmaceutical companies are frowned upon - even those really nice pens (often referred to as "reptile" pens). Anyway... There is one less thing to do (MCC submission: done... check!) but then I added the NONMEM literature to the list. Also, I now have an International Student Identification Card and collected my airplane tickets. Its so rare to actually have a printed ticket now that you can fly with a eticket or just a credit card and ID. Today I also realised that I am dressing to casually and will dig up my white coat and start to walk really fast down the corridors with my white coat flapping and my stethoscope swinging around my neck. Oh, the joys of being a doctor!

The one about the fire on Signal Hill

Three helicopters were used to fight the fire on Signal Hill last Saturday. Our apartment is below their flight path to refil the waterbags at the reservoir at the bottom of De Waal Park. In the picture you can see one coming in for a refil and another tiny spec dumping water on the fire.

The about the rainbow city

I think it was Desmond Tutu who referred to South Africans as the rainbow nation. Cape Town is often referred to as the gay capital of Africa and the international gay symbol is a rainbow. On Saturday I saw a complete double rainbow in Cape Town and it was spectacular. The rainbow seemed to end near the roof of the Tamboerskloof Dutch Reformed Church. What a scary idea!

The one with 8 days to go

Time is rushing by and so much has still to happen before I leave for Sweden next week. On the urgent "To do NOW" list there is a new clinical trial submission to the Medicines Control Council, my PhD proposal, a journal article, three sections of the 8th edition of the South African Medicines Formulary to edit, monitoring reports of my visits to the SEACAT sites in Limpopo en Mpumalanga provinces, two reviews for the university ethics committee and there are still 154 of 170 CDs of complete Mozart Edition that I haven't listen to yet. Today is a public holiday and I am blogging from my office. My desk is a mine field of documents and and coffee cups. Clearing my desk is, however, not on my list of things to do.

The one about changes on Kloof Street

In the past few weeks I have noticed the following changes on Kloof Street:

1. Maestro's are closed. I noticed this a few weeks ago. Alex Fokkens introduced me to their baked cheese cake way back in 1994.
2. The early bird breakfast at Arnold's is now R8.
3. The Kodak shop at the entrance of the Kloof Centre is closing down.
4. The Woolworths food store is being enlarged - a positive change.

5. The Grill is advertising a new menu - but still looks pretty empty to me.

The one about Frank Lloyd et al

South Africa hosted the 2006 International Horn Society Symposium in Cape Town. Although this was almost 9 months ago I finally managed to track down the recordings of the concerts. Windworx played an arrangement of the Schumann Konzertstuck for four horns with some of the world's greatest horn players. The soloists were Frank Lloyd, Bruno Schneider, Jeff Snedeker and Geoffrey Winter. All the concerts were recorded and in my opinion Geoffrey Winter's performance of the Concerto for Horn, Winds and Percussion by Machala (with Windworx) is the best recording.

Frank Lloyd's interpretation of Interstellar Call (Messiaen) was an exhibition of French Horn gymnastics that left the audiance stunned and begging for more. On the CDs there are a number of other recordings of Frank Lloyd's performances: Horn concerto by Förster, Double horn concerto by Haydn (with Bruno Schneider) [with a slow movement in E-flat minor which was absolute hell for the orchestra], Espana for solo horn (Buyabovsky), three pieces from the Little Suite by Borodin and Naturel for solo horn (Pousseur). I stopped playing horn in 1991 and switched to bass (basically because it suited my temperament better and caused less physical pain) but after hearing Prof Lloyd playing I must admit that I longed to blow a note or two.

The one about a breakfast on Bree

Tamara invited me to breakfast at her secret place. We arranged to meet at 07:03, but I was late and only arrived at 07:07 due to a facial scrub emergency [out with Nivea; in with the Body Shop]. "A slice of Bree" is a sandwich heaven just of Buiten Singel (that very San Franciscoesque street connecting Oranje and Buitengracht streets). There are four items on the breakfast menu: a croissant, a full house croissant, a croissant with scramble egg and a croissant with scrambled eggs and bacon. We discussed life (mine) and TK's dinner with Tom and Jerry. Tonight might be a dear diary moment for TK - so let's all hold thumbs.

The one with the visitors from George

I just love Mondays! Many may find this strange. It’s just that if the brown stuff hits the fan on Friday, you are in trouble (read: screwed); if it happens on a Monday you have enough time to deal with the problem or to delegate the brown stuff...

My brother, Louis, and his wife, Suzette, stayed with us during the weekend. They stopped over en route from Durban and George. Louis is my oldest brother. He left home when I was 16 and I believe the reason for our amicable relationship is based on the fact that weren't in each other's way during our early adult years.

Louis and Suzette were not the only visitors from George. Callie and Jeanne decided to drive up on Friday and were staying in a friend’s apartment a few blocks up Kloof Street. We met up at symphony concert in the Baxter (a long story) and had a late dinner at Arnolds. The photo was taken during breakfast on Sunday. I made (!) French toast... a major achievement, I know ;-)

Please note: there is no real maple syrup in Cape Town. I search high (and low). This is a sad state of affairs. French toast and crispy bacon (Louis showed me how to BAKE bacon) is just not the same without maple syrup.

The one about the first double bass lessons for 2007

Mfundo and Odwa had their first bass lessons for 2007. The lessons went well despite the three month summer break. It was a real pleasure to start teaching again and I wouldn't give up teaching these kids easily. Mfundo should be able to enter for Royal Schools Grade III or IV this year. Odwa has the oppurtunity to start music theory lessons to help him to read music better.

Mfundo stands to the left of the bass and Odwa on the right. The two little bass fans in front live next door and came rushing over as soon as we started. If anyone has a half or quater size bass lying around, please let me know.

The one about the windy Windworx concert

I haven't posted for a while. Work has been hectic and we've been gymming like mad in the evenings.

We had our first Windworx concert yesterday afternoon. It was a combined open air band/picnic festival at the Nelson's Creek Wine Estate. The University of Stellenbosch Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Marimbas from the Frank Peters Centre perform for an audience sprawled on the lawn. The concert pretty much sucked because the wind blowed our stands and music all over the wine estate.

Before the concert Abraham and I had lunch with Hannah and her family at Boschendal. Hannah is one of my oldest, best and dearest friends. The Boschendal buffét is an amazing culinary experience and one that I hope to repeat soon. Hannah and Braamie passed out even before the concert started...

I am visible in the first picture (courtesy of Adeleida).

A is for apple

My dad visited on route to Bloemfontein. We visited the new children's bookstore (A is for apple) on Kloofnek Street before dropping him off at the airport for his flight with Mango (a steal at R259). Coffee is served on the veranda with a view of Table Mountain and the Chocolate House. They provide crayons at each table and, as the tables are covered in paper, I sketched an alien and a fancy girl with a balloon. Apparently they throw wonderful birthday parties - even for adults.

The one about Kyoto garden sushi

Drinks at Alba - dinner at Kyoto garden sushi. Lovely setting, pricy food. I really like the ambiance (what a gay word!) of this new restaurant on Kloofnek bend. Again, the bathrooms are fab (is this becoming my new thing - checking out restrooms?) The owner served all the tables. He's unable to find waiting staff because he didn't like the attitude ("..like they are doing you a favor ". This is quintessentially Cape Town, dude.

PS: The fashion accessory in the bottom photo was sponsored by Tamara.

The one about the sale at E(xc)lusive Books

Sale items will not be refunded, reserved or discounted. One sentence to say it all.

The one about Phalaborwa Airport

Flying to Limpopo is better than driving to Limpopo - especially from Cape Town. After crash landing in a north-west-southernly direction, it was time for me grab that little white bag in the seat pocket in front of me. The aiport is fascinating: (1) there is no front door (2) there are no arrival or departure lounges (3) there are no X-ray scanning equipment - this means that your hand luggage is unpacked and that your are frisked (4) there is a pond surrounded by metal animals (a giraffe drinking, a leopard leaping, and two baboons) (5) the bathrooms are FUN. The taps are rocks and the water spurts from the concrete slab decorated with big glass marbles. Although all airports in South Africa have been declared smoke-free buildings, patrons at the departure area/coffee shop are welcome to puff away. Perhaps smoking decreases nausea - I will let you know...

The one about Evita for president

Tamara (social organiser extraordinaire), Kerstin, Hennie and I supported Evita Bezuidenhout in her bid for the presidency of South Africa at Spier Winestate. This ersatz grand damme of the nation claims that it was her bid for the presidency that convinced Hillary Rodham Clinton to join the US presidential race. You go, girlfriends.

Prior to the political action we lounged about at Moyo and consumed GT's like the ex-colonialists we all still are at heart. Kerstin is unfortunately returning to Deutschland, and although I have not known her long (we've met twice), I will miss her. She learnt to speak Afrikaans and Xhosa during her 5 year stay in Cape Town, which is more than most Cape Townians can claim.

The one about the dying palm tree

These photos show the Palm Court in front of the Old Main Building at Groote Schuur Hospital. In the bottom picture you will notice that one of the ancient (?) palm trees is dying. It happend quite suddenly. Every morning I walk past this tree on my way to the office. It makes me sad when I realise it is time to say goodbye. Goodbye, old friend...

The one about McNaught's comet

Update: These photos were taken by Mario Todeschini. Adeleida traced him and asked permission to post these. Thanks, Adi.

The one about Blooms Pharmacy on Kloof Street

Blooms Pharmacy is located next to Checkers on Kloof Street. Like Checkers, it is ridiculously expensive - but it is convenient so I should actually not complain. Last week, as I was bankrupting myself to buy drugs to sooth my sore throat, a man walked in with a sunflower. He was so proud and his postive energy was probably more healing than any of the drugs for sale.

The one about Groote Schuur Hospital's front door

My office (actually a cupboard) is located in the Old Main Building of Groote Schuur Hospital. It is in the same section of the building where the world's first heart transplant was performed. Normally the front doors are wide open, but last friday the one door was closed and for the very first time I noticed the amazing detail on the door. It does remind me a little bit of Queen Victoria... Nurse Victoria?