Writer's Block & Procrasitnation

SO my thesis is due this Friday. All 12 000 words of it. I haven't managed to get passed the 4000 word mark yet. Let alone halfway. There have been more exciting things going on in my life. Things that need to be blogged about. Here is a list of what is on my mind (other than my goddamned thesis), which will receive my attention on this site:

1. The We Love Real Beer Fest
2. Rocking the Daisies
3. Getting into Journalism class next year
4. Rolling Stone magazine not replying to my e-mail requesting a brief interview to help out with my thesis
5. Having a car that wont go
6. How much hipsters irritate me
7. Getting free shit
8. Climbing

Righty-ho. Clearly, my mind is elsewhere. Thesis work always takes the back seat. It's actually not fair for the poor thing. Maybe I should pay it more attention.

Rocklands V.2

What an amazing long weekend, spent in the Rocklands (part of the Cedarberg mountains). Opportunities to boulder were endless, with some world-renowned crags spotted all over the place. I did a bit of sport climbing, which was amazing (albeit the terribly rough rock and the freezing conditions). Andrew and I headed up with some climbing mates, Johnny and Nadine, where we met up with more climbers the next day. It was a fantastic weekend, filled with tough climbs, interesting personalities, potjies, braais and jokes. The weather did zone in on us up at The Pass however, but we wrapped up warmly in our 'downies' and beanies. A night spent sleeping in an open cave was rather exciting, and the local baboons barked all night. These are a few of the tidbits that are flooding into my mind after the weekend. A mate, Morne Uys, makes the most delicious craft beer at his home, and we were lucky enough to enjoy a couple of his 'brewkis' after a long day climbing. I am rather stoked that I have made friends with such interesting, diverse and cool people. A couple of pics to illustrate the weekend's activities...

 'Trapping" off to the crags, as Morne would say.

Johnny working a 21. 

Andrew powering up a boulder in the late afternoon.

Nadine on the same boulder. Not much mercy was shown. 

Go Johnny go!

Me - working a 17. 

My boy and me :)

A bit of excitement with Jacques up on the wall. 

Love this one. Johnny landing hard on the mat after working the 'Girl on our Mind' boulder. 

Pat's plane

I found this on my computer, not too sure when I took it but it's a photo of my dad's friend light aircraft. He often flies it over my farmhouse and waves from above. I like the light distribution and the movement of the clouds.

Shitty Tuesday

I was rather irked today. Trying to find a parking on campus is one of the most tiresome and frustrating things about this town. So when I found one, which looked just about big enough to fit my car (Nissan Micra), I attempted to park. When I was three-quarters in, I thought I would be able to just squeeze my car in further, but I was wrong. So after reversing as far back as I could, I felt the gentle bump of my back bumper touching the front bumper of the car behind me. I didn't hit it hard, and barely felt it, so I tried again. After realising my attempts were futile, I gave up on the parking. Driving out slowly, a random woman ran out of a nearby building. I opened my window to see what she wanted, only to find that she was in fact the parking police in citizen form. In a heavy Afrikaans accent she said to me (with much condescension), "I see you have bumped into that car twice." So I asked if she knew whose it was. "No", she said, "but I think you should write a note on their car".

I mean SERIOUSLY!? What has it got to do with her, and what arbitrary secretarial job did she have that allowed her the time to watch students trying to park their cars? I was so irritated that she had the audacity to tell me what she thinks I should do. And then after the wonderful words of advice, she ran back into her little old building.

On a lighter note, the cops put their siren on as I was idling illegally on the wrong side of the road, about to jump out and check the other goddamn car. So I hot-footed in to the parking lot, didn't pay the meter, checked the other car for dents (zero) and strolled into class.

What a flipping story.

You know you have arrived in the Eastern Cape when...

So a few friends and I road-tripped home for the short September holidays last week. We cruised home in an old Ford Tracer, year unknown but definitely older than 15 years. Tim, the owner of the car, needed to bring his surfboard home, so it was tied to the roof of the car. After travelling about 10km out of Stellenbosch, we realised that the wind was not agreeing with the board, as there was this high-pitched sound coming from the car. With three engineers in the car, a plan was made to stuff an orange under the ropes and 'absorb the friction' or something...So we missioned the 1100km over the decent Western Cape without a problem. It was only when we drove in through the 'real Eastern Cape' that we noticed the difference. The roads were dotted with potholes, the lines were faded and things were generally wild. Driving through Grahamstown was another story, and as we drove out, it became apparent of the 'ruralness' of out surroundings. Cows were happily munching grass in people's backyards, litter decorated the fences and men walked around with heavy things balanced on their heads. I knew I was home ;) For now that is the only difference I would like to note between the EC and the WC, although after living in Stellenbosch for fours years and frequently heading back to my little old town of East London, I am sure that there are many more.

Situ Island, Mozambique
Early morning sunrise

Has Anyone Seen Moxie??

If you're a student and live in Stellenbosch, or if you are a bergie and live in Stellenbosch, then you definitely know who Moxie is. The aggressive, rude, often dangerous but cherised street-dweller is well-known around these parts, and a lot of students are familiar with her demands for very specific goods. Moxie, as she calls herself, has two children and is often found hanging around Bohemia and those parts. She once asked me for R2.50 (exactly), and when I told her I had no money I got a stream of insults thrown at me - "Fok jou, p**s, naaier," blah blah blah. As rude as she is, she is also rather entertaining, and I had the pleasure of watching her chase a policeman down the street, whilst sitting safely on the stoep of Boho. She has had her fair share of publicity in the past few years, appearing in a few newspaper articles and even having a Facebook fan page put up in her honour.
I haven't seen her around lately, and wonder where she is?

Food Lover's Market

It's on everyone's lips and everyone wants to know, "Have you been to Food Lover's Market yet?". New to Stellenbosch and situated in the newly developed part of Eikestadt Mall is every student's dream store. The size of a large department store and perhaps the same size as Stellenbosch Superspar, Food Lover's Market appears to stock nearly anything and everything, as long as it is fresh. I paid the place a visit today during lunch time and it was buzzing with students filling their baskets with fresh produce, baked goods and other treats. The selection of cakes, pastries, pies, do-nuts and numerous other sweet delights really is impressive, and the place has a fantastic bakery pumping out really tasty looking goods. There is even a sushi bar, a small restaurant/coffee shop and a pizzeria section where you can buy large slices of fresh pizza and watch as they bake in a woodfire oven. I am really stoked that there is a new place to shop, and look forward to visiting the place more regularly :)

Black Diamond Rock Rally 2012

So we hit it up at Kleinmond this weekend for a climbing compo, which fell under the organisation of the Gravity Festival people. The weather was grand, bar the icy start, and I was thoroughly impressed to see such a large turn out. I was paired with someone I was yet to meet, and was really happy to find myself with American, Kirsten Getz. When we met for the first time at the main tent, she explained cheekily to me that her name was 'Kirsten as in Kirstenbosch, and Getz as in Hyundai Getz', and that this was an explanation she  has used a number of times in South Africa. After sweating up the steep hike to the main crags, we were both in agreeance that neither of us were in this to win, and would like to focus on enjoyment and climbing fitness. Partner and I on the same page, I readied myself for a stunning day of climbing camaraderie and viewing.

Crew - Morne, Andrew, Johnny, Me, Kirsten, Roland. 

I started my first climb on a 17 which I was not quite up for, and after two attempts decided to head over to the Arete Wall, where two of my favourite climbs are. Kirsten took a big lead fall on the 17 there and decided that she would quit with her 'legend fall', and I jammed it up Fifth Element or Fifth Dimension or something. It is always a pleasure getting back into the groove after some time off, and I wasted no time in finishing that wall off.

What what? My sling stayed on me until I went to bed. Cool view of the Palmiet River.

Another notable part of the weekend was the afterparty/prize-giving/jol. In an earnest discussion amongst the climbers, it was concluded that in a fight between the kayakers and the climbers, the kayakers would 'definitely win' as we witnessed them downing beers out of some dudes soggy booty with no sense of concern ('the booty beer'), and because 'climbers are way too chilled to fight. The kayakers were definitely the rowdiest bunch around, with the events to come proving their capabilities. Kirsten and I  picked up a small entourage of gym-rats/kite-boarders, whom we met at the crag earlier, and who despite being in their mid-thirties got down to some jolling with us and provided us with drinks for part of the night.

When the local band the Boulevard Blues got jamming, the crowd really got involved, and this is when things got crazy. To explain the situation you need to imagine a very large group of exceptionally fit, outdoorsy people under one large marquee complete with stocked bar. Now give these fit people a couple of drinks, throw in some solid tent poles and long bouncy beanbags and what you have is utter raucousness. At one point in the night there were three people climbing up the same pole, whilst some hyperactive characters decided it would be wise to run along the top of the marquee/stretch-tent. Only when the Red Bull DJ's flat screen began sliding on top of his head did he realise what was going on, and then everyone was called to attention. I was really not stoked with the Red Bull DJ's choice of music (Rihanna, Pitbull and some crap remixes), and thought that perhaps at a festival like this we would have decent tunes to jam to.

To say things that things got out of hand last night is a small understatement, and watching this crowd (and occasionally joining in) was hilarious. There was even an acrobatic demonstration, with a handful of hopefuls trying out their double somersaults and sliding skills on the ensemble of shoved-together-beanbags. I managed to get 12 Red Bulls out of one of the drunk reps, but fully regretted handed one to a rather tall guy who then ran around like a three year old on a kg of jelly tots.

Fedde jamming a 23. Johnny on belay and Kirst watching attentively. 

With the night quietening down and the temperature plummeting, it was decided to crash at Kirsten's place in the town. Although we had planned to camp, by midnight we had no signs of an erect tent, I think the group of us were more keen to sleep on proper beds and be able to have basic things like coffee and a shower. So we hit the sack like kings, all the while remembering our contemporaries and Johnny who chose to camp.

Andrew in the afternoon sun on a 19. 

Johnny with the GoPro helicopter getting a level view of him. 

All in all, it was a memorable weekend. Despite missing the prize-giving, I could not have chosen anywhere else to spend my Saturday and Sunday. The sponsors were lekker, with the GoPro people arriving up at the crag with their cam attached to a home-made helicopter thing, ready to film the climbers. Our crew was even better, and it is always cool to meet another slummies brother (Morne). The weather was perfect, Sunday spent at the harbour in Kleinmond was special, and I thoroughly enjoyed the climbing. If I could ask for one thing, it would be for more festivals like this.
Over&Out

**Apologies for the lack of party pictures, but I highly doubt my camera would have survived...

Time to wrap up, again!

It seems like the cold front in the Western Cape is sticking around for a few more days, as if its presence was not noticed enough this past weekend. After a far-from-sober-in-any-sense-or-form weekend spent in Pringle Bay with some wild friends, I thought that this week might offer a chance to get outdoors and detox in and around the beauty that is Stellenbosch. The cold front however will not allow that, and from a glance out of my window, the rain is coming down in icy pellets. So for now, the only thing to do it fill up that hot-water bottle (for purposes of saving electricity and hence, money), make cups and cups of tea, and wrap in whatever warm clothing you have. Lucky for me, First Ascent has produced thee warmest, snuggest and strongest down feather jacket, and named it the Extreme Glacier. This is what I will be wearing to keep the cold out!
Over & Out

Back to the Grindstone

So after two months of spending money, the time has come with no surprise to face the very little money that I have left. In fact, I am rather nervous to check my bank account, for fear that I will have to take stock of my situation and hold back on treats :). Today I returned to my waitressing job at a family restaurant in Stellenbosch, which serves really tasty pizza and steak. It was an uneventful evening, bar the table of 11 Germans who shared their love and tipped me nicely, and the crazy young Dutch guys who were looking for the best places to party in Cape Town. My manager described me as 'irie' to another new waiter, which I guess isn't such a bad thing, and I had a few quick bites of chocolate brownie to keep me going. Waitressing in South Africa is often far from glamorous or fun, but I guess it has to be done. And its a relatively easy way to come home a bit richer than before.
So maybe those treats are still within reach... ;)
Over & Out

A tale of new boots

My dad, being the practical farmer that he is, bought me a pair of hiking boots. These are no ordinary boots; they are in fact, as he informed me, double sole, double leather, double stitching tan leather Razorback Jim Greens. This is what he told me after casually sending an SMS asking what size shoe my boyfriend Andrew and I are. I was not entirely sure what all these technical details meant, but I soon found out. I took my new boots on their first hike today, with the intention of making it to the top of the Coetzenburg mountain despite the foreboding heavy clouds and chilly wind. As my boyfriend, Andrew and I departed, I felt the sturdy fit of the leather around my ankles, and the support of the thick laces which locked them on to my feet. These boots meant business! After hiking up about 600m to get to the start of the approach, the boots stepped in, metaphorically. I would walk no further, they warned. They were not worn in yet, and would require countless wearing-in before any such hikes would happen. So we trotted on down the hillside, blisters all round, to wear them in another day.

Musical adventures

So tonight was a rather turbulent one, in terms of relations at the living quarters. So I became a recluse in my room and settled into doing something which I could do pretty much every night of my life__searching for new bands, artists and songs. Never mind that I have two extensive articles that I have to read for my 'Ecocriticism" English Honours bullshit course tomorrow morning. So I pushed the more academic matters aside in favour of making myself happy. As tradition has it, well in my case, when I am feeling upset or out of sorts, I immerse myself in Bon Iver's music. After listening to a brilliant recording of Justin Vernon and Sean Carey at AIR Studios for about 24 minutes, I proceeded to listen to as many songs on Youtube as possible before I became fearful that my cap would run out. I have not moved away from my desk in the last four hours, and for this I thank the fabulous music site Hype Machine. My ears have been treated to the sweet selection that the 'Popular' tab presents. Tonight's musical orgasm has included such a varied mix of artists. I have had the pleasure of listening to a soulful, simple edit of a Marvin Gaye song, an energetic Deadmua5 mix that nearly had me off my seat, some Alt-J, which I definitely need to get more of and do some research on the band, a really sexy version of Lana Del Ray's 'National Anthem' mixed by Fred Falke and others, not to mention a bit of Miike Snow ft. Lykke Li and Grizzly Bear. My night has been considerably improved, and for this I have music to thank. Over & out.

Back in the Blogosphere

So here I am, back at my first semi-failed attempt at blogging. In nearly two years I had only managed to complete a pitiful three posts, despite constant promises to myself to "remember to blog" and to "remember to blog about everything". So this is round two, and this promises to be a fruitful one, in which manner I am unsure. I made a deal with my boyfriend the other night, while intoxicated, that he would remind me DAILY to update my blog. So far he has kept his part of the deal, and it is only fair to myself to keep mine up. The next few months and hopefully years will be packed with blog posts, some of which will entertain, others which may not. I think it is only fair that I give my blog the attention a new-born deserves, in that I spare sufficient time everyday to see to its happiness. Enough rambling now, I have a helluva lot of reading to complete for my morning class tomorrow. Over&Out.