The voices in my head

Wednesday evening and I am panic making last-minute spaghetti carbonara for bible-study in half an hour but in-between frying the bacon and waiting for the pasta to cook I have a small window of time to write to you. 

And I do feel that I have to tell you even though I am incredibly rubbish at writing on here at the moment there are times in my day that I write to you in my head, telling you how beautiful the campus grounds are in in the autumn light or how I have recently become very attached to having flowers in the house or how watching Jane Eyre makes me feel. So even though I don't write, I am actually always writing to you in my mind.

   

Cape town in early Autumn is perfection, it's just chilly enough to wear boots and scarves and justify drinking tea at every meal of the day and it's beautiful with the grey cloud hanging over the mountain and the leaves in the avenues turning gold. But I've come to realize (with it almost being winter and all that) that nothing beats Durban in the late autumn and winter. nothing. Even though It may be cold in the early mornings and late evenings (which is fine because usually i'm snuggled under a blanket during such times) during most days the air is perfect and warm. And the best time of these magical winter days? Afternoon, when I walk back from lectures through the park and everything is golden and when I get home I'm greeted by an enormous patch of happy sunlight in our lounge where I then proceed to spend my time until it gets dark.

 

In other news: I never thought I would get tired of cooking for people or entertaining. Apparently I over estimated my love for food. And people. This weekend we had a glorious saturday; I made real oats for breakfast (more on this later) we cleaned, we went to the beach, I read, then we had people over for a burger and games evening. I love burgers and I love games and it was a smashing evening. Then on sunday we had Grahams cousins over for brunch which was lovely- and there wasn't even that much cooking involved but when we discussed having people over for dinner on monday night I really could think of nothing I wanted less in the entire universe. So we went out for dinner.

   

Saturday mornings are our breakfast mornings. We go big (because technically we don't have the option of going home). In the past month we've done fry ups, omelets, french toast, oats. And then we sit at our dining room table in dressing gowns and pajamas and listen to Mozart or the Lord of the Rings sound track and feel sophisticated. It's the most wonderful ritual and something that I look forward to every week.

 

And just like that my first semester is over. Half of my family arrives this weekend (Graham and I are planning on treating them to a Durban weekend, that is, to spend most of the time on the beach and some of the time at Gateway). And in a months time (hopefully a very short month) ill be writing to you to tell of our upcoming trip to cape town and how, from the time that my exams ended, my life has become a blur of morning television and daydreaming my july holidays away.

Until then xx

an autumn post

The best thing to have for breakfast in Autumn? Home made porridge with honey.

An Autumn Evening:
Dark hills against a hollow crocus sky
Scarfed with its crimson pennons, and below
The dome of sunset long, hushed valleys lie
Cradling the twilight, where the lone winds blow
And wake among the harps of leafless trees
Fantastic runes and mournful melodies.
The chilly purple air is threaded through
With silver from the rising moon afar,
And from a gulf of clear, unfathomed blue
In the southwest glimmers a great gold star
Above the darkening druid glens of fir
Where beckoning boughs and elfin voices stir.
And so I wander through the shadows still,
And look and listen with a rapt delight,
Pausing again and yet again at will
To drink the elusive beauty of the night,
Until my soul is filled, as some deep cup,
That with divine enchantment is brimmed up

-Lucy Maud Montgomery

When else would it be acceptable to wear something like this? all the brown clothes in my closet lie in wait for this season.

[a side note: the confusing thing about Autumn in Cape Town is that we sometimes get very hot days, with hot winds, an experienced Capetonian would understand that this means cold weather is on its way. yesterday was like that, hot and windy, and I felt like the princess in 'Prince of Persia'. today its raining]

a jumbled up week

The crisp autumn mornings are upon us. This week I hauled out my winter clothing and (at the excitement of seeing them again) have been innapropriately been lounging around the house in my stockings and jumpers. Which is fine, because they hide the fact that Ive eaten chocolate easter bunnies for breakfast every morning this week.

In other news, two of my friends got engaged [and i am over-the-moon happy for them] so it feels like the universe is rubbing my lack of engagement in my face.okay, im being a bit dramatic, but its difficult, anticipating something for such a long time and then seeing other people get it while you're still [maybe not so patiently] waiting.

But its been a good week, all in all, and we should celebrate with some cake

autumn. finally.

Autumn! my favourite time of the year, especially in cape town. Iv'e been waiting and waiting for the appropriate time to haul out my winter boots, stockings, woollen beanies and leather gloves and wear them paired with my new beautiful dark plum coloured lipstick. I love autumn for its cold mornings and clear days, the yellow leaves, the increase of tea drinking, the rain.
In other news, my college has been giving away really old-looking books and I've managed to collect 3 full boxes of them for decor [is it bad to want books just to display them?] anyway, im sure they will add to the autumn feeling. lastnight G and I went to a wedding on a wine estate in Stellenbosch. goodness it was beautiful, & now we're supposed to be having tea with a few of the other guests. oh heck, I must run or I'm going to be late!

peace out

eating, just eating

happy saturday morning [is still sticky from making pancakes, which is really all this weather calls for]

Its cold and rainy outside so stay in -under the duvet- and eat comfort food or go out and find a warm place to comfort eat [this is what im thinking] anyway, if you need inspiration and someone to show you just how much you really need this food :) then please, continue.

other reasons to eat comfort food:
1. exams
2. if you can't comfort shop
3. you are going to go to gym later
4. exams
5. it's winter, thats what people do in winter

[leaves to get dressed, to go out and eat]

apple pie

It's alright, you don't need to die of shock. I've just been away for a while. but im back [and when i say away i mean distracted by life] Happy Easter* today was the most perfect Easter day. It was overcast and rainy- which meant that after church and after our sundayroast we really had no excuse not to crawl back into our beds and hide there for the remainder of the day with our books and abundance of chocolate eggs.
[its autumn good and proper, this means that the baking starts tomorrow]

we have been re-united with our winter closets. although this has brought with it the re-uniting of us and cold dark mornings-when its painful to get out of bed and wait in the icy-darkness for the shower to warm up. meh.

"There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been" -Percy Bysshe Shelley
This past week G and i went to two of the most amazing food-eating places i have ever been to. On tuesday night we went to The Bombay Bicycle Club and really the atmosphere [in the small, dimly lit, smoke and incense filled room] far surpassed the food &the food was amazing. Then lastnight we went to Royale, which he had been threatening to take me to for a long time, and the food [really the burgers] were more lovely than i could have imagined. [so it is food that has been largely occupying my time] cold weather is comfort food time -'smores for the win- and Easter is the beginning of the 'get fat for winter' stage. [but. lets be honest. its like this for me the whole year 'round]
i promise to be a better blogger* you're champions for hanging in there.
x

kiss with a fist

[writes this while sitting up in bed drinking tea]

one of the good things about being sick is suddenly having all this extra time added to your life. today i am abusing this gift by, not wallowing in self pity, but working. [lets get real, who works when they're sick?]mom is out to conversational french lessons and this feeling of being alone in the house makes me want to do something reckless. like eat all the nutella. or dance around in my underwear.
happy cupcake monday for yesterday.

[more tea is needed] imcraving- hello pandas, rasberries, sleep, more florence&the machine, anything with mint in it, a bath in lavender bubbles, sunshine, seeing you.

[how great is this picture?]

"It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life." -P.D. James

light a way

cooler mornings, late sunrises, re-uniting with my winter clothes. iloveautumn.

I was up super early this morning to stand in the cold in my sleeping shorts and cheer for 2hours, for the people riding the capeargus today. yes i am a dedicated friend.
[flapjacks for breakfast]

[playing in my head right now]
The morning's here and we're still caught up in the night.
The sky was clear
And everything felt right
Our time is short but
I'm sure I'll see you soon.
We'll take another walk along the bridge and underneath the moon.
thisweek a man joined my gym. he looks something between a hamster and a leprechaun. I have decided to call him fluffy. [you should see fluffy on the bike. insane i tell you.]

this was last sundays lunch/tea/indulgence. it looks harmless but really, i ate a third of it and then started dribbling chocolate. so i stopped.

[onemonth roses. you are lovely thankyou]

What a find, if I could I'd hit rewind
And replay all the moments
That I wished I could've called you mine.

saturday my 9yearold sister had her birthday party [party food. yesplease] and my mom made such amazing cupcakes. but then, the children destroyed them by licking all the icing off and leaving the cake. what the heck?
[a destroyed cupcake]

it was painful to watch. the moral of the story is teach your children to respect cupcakes and eat them properly. goodness.
have a happy sunday x

a bit chilly

There trudges one to a merry-making
With sturdy swing,
On whom the rain comes down.
To fetch the saving medicament
Is another bent,
On whom the rain comes down.
One slowly drives his herd to the stall
Ere ill befall,
On whom the rain comes down.
This bears his missives of life and death
With quickening breath,
On whom the rain comes down.
One watches for signals of wreck or war
From the hill afar,
On whom the rain comes down.
No care if he gain a shelter or none,
Unhired moves on,
On whom the rain comes down.
And another knows nought of its chilling fall
Upon him at all,
On whom the rain comes down
- An autumn rain scene, Thomas Hardy

ah i superlove the tv show 10 things i hate about you*

its kept me happy this week :)

a late night

ah my goodness, another break in = another lame post about things that made me happy this week* although what really made me happy is hidden between the lines, or in this case, the pictures :)

I don’t know but
I think I maybe
Fallin’ for you
Dropping so quickly
Maybe I should
Keep this to myself
Waiting ’til I
Know you better
I am trying
Not to tell you
But I want to

I’m scared of what you’ll say
So I’m hiding what I’m feeling
But I’m tired of
Holding this inside my head
I’ve been spending all my time
Just thinking about ya

I don’t know what to do
I think I’m fallin’ for you
I’ve been waiting all my life
And now I found ya
I don’t know what to do
I think I’m fallin’ for you
I’m fallin’ for you

As I’m standing here
And you hold my hand
Pull me towards you
And we start to dance
All around us
I see nobody
Here in silence
It’s just you and me
I’m trying
Not to tell you

But I want to
I’m scared of what you’ll say
So I’m hiding what I’m feeling
But I’m tired of
Holding this inside my head
I’ve been spending all my time
Just thinking about ya

I don’t know what to do
I think I’m fallin’ for you

have a good night*