I’ve spent a weekend with 4 men in the middle of the bush. I’m in love with one of them, two are in love with eachother and one is about to be married (and also very much in love). So I think we had the whole “love thing” totally covered.

Part of staying in the bush for a weekend is to go and look for animals. This amounts to a certain amount of planning which equals a lot of patience and of course a lot of food. Leftovers from the braai the night before, a lot of beer, biltong and of course chocolate for those of us that have an incredible addiction to the dark substance.  Usually one will have a good off-road vehicle with good ground-clearance in order to actually spot critters. In this department we lacked seriously. Then there was also the “small” matter of fitting large men into a car. Evidently the owner would be the driver. The tallest person filled the other front seat and the rest of us had to share the backseat. Now this brings back memories of when I was 5 and had my first trip to the Kruger National Park. As the youngest I always got the middle seat - this time I could get a window seat just because my two companions were not to be separated (and in love).

Five hours in a car filled with beer-guzzling men and limited space can make even the most patient person a bit cranky and smelly. The animals and soaking in a enourmous bathtub filled to the brim made even the biggest beer burps worthwhile.

My absence from cyberspace wasn’t planned.

In between old/new love, the art of perfecting the shoulder stand (in a freezing yoga studio), the amount of birthdays and the coming of the Gentle Giant last weekend, my blank screen just couldn’t be filled with any meaning(less) words.

I’m still looking through rose-tinted glasses and I might be levitating soon (wouldn’t it be fun? - in-love-superpowers). I’ll be jetting off to the city of gold again in 2 weeks. Going to stare at some wild animals for a weekend (that includes you, Gentle Giant) and hopefully feel some warm sun on my skin. Considered changing my vehicle into a boat this past week.

Wild animals and sunshine is what I need and possibly a day-trip across the border for some delicious prawns and beer… fingers crossed.

(With apologies to Otis Redding)

I will be writing poetry next. I do love poetry and my poems would probably only be loved and read by the Gentle Giant.

What is it with butterflies in the stomach, the smile of the Cheshire Cat that makes one watch really bad romantic comedies and actually think they’re good. I’m putting Nick Cave on relentless repeat, I think people might see that I’m smiling from the behind. My productivity at work has slumped to an all-time low and never has staring blankly at my computer screen given me so much joy.

Next weekend the Gentle Giant will be visiting the Mother City, I’m counting the nights like when I was at (boarding) school and waiting for the holidays to start (this time around counting is just so much better!)

I’ve been neglecting putting word to screen.

Since my birthday 2 weeks ago life has moved into a fast-forward motion. A week ago this time I was waiting to get on a flight to the city of gold. It was an extremely impulsive decision (for me at least). Sometimes one has to wear one’s feelings upon one’s sleeve. It was the moment of truth that was long overdue (about 10 years).

My personal life has been in shambles. After a lack of male interest all of a sudden my life was filled with male interest. Usually I don’t know what to do when the moment strikes. I run away, say the wrong things, don’t see the interest etc. etc.

I’ve taken a plane to meet the love of my life. It took me 10 years to realise that my first love is maybe just my only love. 

We dated as students for 3 years - I left for London for 2 years and left him behind. Did some growing up and breaking up in-between. At that stage I believed that I was setting us free. In a way I did (we did). Through various relationships and break-ups we still were in contact. He’s the only person I could ever do that with and only leaving some of my stubbornness behind can I now see that I never stopped loving him.

This week I looked like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland and felt like him (slightly). I never ever thought I would feel this way again as I’m the greatest cynic when it comes to love.

Hopefully no ball-breaking this time, my love.

Can tick off the birthday for the year now. Had such a great time on Friday which fizzled out into a bit of a haze and then a total blackout.  Can remember I wanted to sleep next to my toilet. In winter without central-heating not the most comfortable and coziest place in the flat. Think I knocked my head against the sink in the process of snuggling up to the toilet.

The cherry on the cake was that I had to go to Spanish class at 10.30. I managed to drag myself out of bed and into the car (probably still slightly inebriated). When I got to the building the lift was broken which meant I had to carry my incapable body up 6 flights of stairs. Great! I actually turned around wanting to totally skip the class and bumped into the Clever Classmate. Well, up the 6 flights of stairs I went. My already white complexion didn’t help me much - survived class.

To redeem myself I’ve baked 60 cupcakes today - my lovely colleagues better enjoy them tomorrow. Especially the utterly sluttishly red velvet cupcakes. Don’t know why I’ve never baked them before, they’re going to be a show-stopper… yum!

I’ve been trying to clear my head whilst trying to dodge arrows, bullets, curve-balls, words. Instead I’m left with white noise. 

Nothing (please note: objects only) was damaged by me in the past few days. I hope to keep it that way until Friday at least.

Will be taking Friday and Monday off. A long weekend just for ME. Sleeping late, going to the movies (in daytime - in the week), getting my hair chopped, eating cake and drinking tea. Hitting Long Street with a camera if it doesn’t rain. Being a tourist in my own city. Maybe go up the Table with cable car (free on one’s birthday). Choices, choices…

Going to Haiku on Friday for dinner (for my birthday). Looking forward to it. Hope that their dim sum will live up to my expectations.

June has only started and July is just around the corner…

I must be punished by someone unknown car god.

Ten years of accident-free, non-mechanical problems and in 2 weeks I’ve got my bumper knocked and managed to leave my replacement car’s lights on (through screeching warning sounds) and almost miss Spanish Class Number 2.

Thank you people of the friendly neigbourhood that now have been parking in my apartment block’s alloted bays!

Thank you neighbour with shaven head for giving me lift - there truly still are some men in shining armour.

Oh, and in the meantime I’ve flooded my kitchen.

And before I break my mac and will be unable to send my words into cyberspace I will retreat to my couch with remote in one hand and a strong whiskey in the other.

Had a fantastic dinner on Thursday evening. Too much food, too much wine and silly conversation (lots of it).

Z., the master of cookery, spoiled us to an evening of culinary delight (over-indulgence). The amount of wine consumed seemed scary with empty bottles cluttering the apartment. Conversation and actions became more and more silly. Never saw anyone create origami without instructions with the silver foil of a cigarette packet. I guess after a lot of wine it seems amazing.

Thus Friday was a tough day. Struggling through the working day without acting totally blond (think I forgot my brain at home) seemed impossible and partly was.

So off to class this morning and then the Sex in the City movie. Girlie day today (loads of tea and loads of chocolate or cake or something sweet), haven’t seen one of my best friends for weeks (and she lives down the road).

Taking time-out from confused love this weekend and will face reality again on Monday. Also have the next birthday lurking.

Inspiration has hit a bit of an all-time low despite not being part of the blog universe for very long.

My italian vehicle has been swopped for an eye-catching emerald green japanese vehicle (for this week only). My blue babe is in for repairs… couldn’t light the match.

Played aunt for a day. My motherly instincts kicked in for about 2 hours and then it was gone. My niece (4 years old) wanted to know where my husband/boyfriend was, so did her brother (aged 5). The pressure became too much, even toddlers can be vicious. Older sister tried to save me with an even more heart-wrenching quip. “His name is Nothing”, she said.  That needed even more explanation which I wasn’t prepared to face.

Meanwhile I’ll dream about glistening torsos and look forward to bikram (and the Argentinean pinching my cheek). Exercise (and Spanish) now has some incentive and maybe, just maybe Nothing might become Something.

PS: Drama Queen - I’ll be honored.

I’ve never liked exercise. My idea of burning calories would be shopping.

Finding that perfect pair of shoes or jeans necessitates an enormous amount of walking and getting in and out of shoes and pants.

I’ve started with yoga about 3 months ago. I don’t really know why - to me it seemed that it didn’t involve ugly trainers and a huge amount of sweating.

In a moment of absolute madness I decided to visit a bikram yoga studio on Sunday morning. After a night of drinking champagne and copious amounts of red wine (sneaking in a few cigarettes) it seemed the perfect opportunity to get rid of all the toxins.

Result: HUGE headache - me grabbing a little bottle of toxins from bathroom shelf