Simon’s Town | Diary of an Adventurous Retiree

Finally the galing south easterly wind has dropped in Cape Town. Earl, Lauren and Simon took the opportunity to get out to sea before it changed its mind. After only getting to bed after midnight last night this was quite an effort but when the yellowtail are biting the fishermen must get out there to catch them!

It was a great adventure for Simon to go out on The Big Boat and he was super proud to catch the biggest fish.

Simon on Kiora with his beautiful yellowtail.

They were out there from about 6 am and returned at lunch time. Earl and Lauren each caught one too.

I beat my Grandpa!

After lunch I popped off to the shops, believing Woolworths and Pick ‘n Pay would be open till at least 4 p.m. I finished at Pick ‘n Pay by 2 and as I left bumped into a friend and we arranged to meet at FLM for coffee after I’d been to Woollies. However, Woollies was closed and so was FLM! Our next option was Wimpy but they were just about to close too, so we just chatted for a few minutes then went home! Well it was a beautiful day so really who wanted to be in a mall!

Earl had a snooze and when he woke up we went to the boat to fetch a rod that he’d left there. On the way we saw this funny sight.

No roof to this car and the driver and passenger hanging on to the canoe so it doesn’t fall off! Only in South Africa!

Earl’s boat is moored on the marina at False Bay Yacht Club

This is Kiora II

After fetching the rod we went to the clubhouse for a drink and enjoyed the view and watching the people. It is really a stunning venue and the perfect place to enjoy the sun on New Year’s Day.

We met up with a couple of people, had a chat and then went back home to prepare sashimi for supper.

Allan likes sushi but wasn’t so sure that he would cope with just sashimi so I heated up some leftover curry for him and Lisa who is definitely not a fan of raw fish like the rest of the family. Anyway we have a new convert. Allan took to sashimi like a fish to water.

The family tucking in

Si-Si loves it

Josh has been eating sashimi since he was 3

Jay and Laurie wanting more

Smile for the camera

Tomorrow we will be cooking Simon’s Yellowtail for a family lunch – there will be fourteen of us!

The day started with everyone going in different directions. Lauren and Allan had friends to catch up with, Jay went to Mixed Martial Arts, I went to gym and Lolz had a lunch date. When everyone returned it was fun in the pool again. Even Lisa, feeling hot after tanning, bravely took to the waters. Shannon alerted us all to this momentous event.

It’s freezing

Lovely once you’re in

Simon dives in

On Jay’s shoulders

An excellent diving board

In the evening Jay and Josh went to Quintin’s New Year’s Eve party and slept over. Lolz went to a party too and the rest of us went to Carol and Vere at Castle Rock.

On the way we had to take a picture of Simon near his town!

The house is set in fynbos near Miller’s Point

It is called Shah’s Folly after the builder who made a bit of mess up which the family had to rectify many years ago.

View toward Castle Rock

View toward Cape Boat and Skiboat Club

View toward the Hottentot Holland Mountains

Carol and Vere, because they have a beautiful fynbos garden, get many birds visiting. They also put out feeders and many of the sugarbirds and sunbirds have become quite trusting of them.

Malachite Sunbird

Cape Sugarbirds at the feeder

The orange-breasted sunbird takes a drink

Other visitors come each evening too. I waited on the stoep to get greet this little slender Mongoose whom Carol names “Kattie”

Nervously looking around

Getting braver

Then hides behind a bush and peeps at me

Later when it got dark a genet made an appearance. Lisa alerted me to it but it was so quick I just got a glimpse. It returned several times and I finally managed a few good photographs. It was the final highlight of my 2014 🙂

Carol served a delicious roast lamb done in a black pot over the fire. Simon fell asleep in front of TV. The rest of us sat on the stoep admiring the view and seeing the New Year in! At midnight we could see fireworks across the bay – from Muizenberg to Pringle Bay! It was an amazing evening. Thanks for hosting us all, Carol and Vere!