Book: Gang Town, Don Pinnock

For me, this book was a bit like swimming in syrup. Not exactly light Christmas reading. In 'The President's Keepers' reference was made to gang  involvement, which was incredibly interesting. I was keen to learn more about the gangs. I suppose I was expecting a slightly different read. This book does give good and fairly detailed information about the gangs in Cape Town; I think I was hoping to read about more specific examples and insights.

The last two/three chapters about drugs and also what needs to be done was the most interesting.

Book: Frankenstein, Mary W. Shelley

This forms part of catching up on classical literature #40for40. Intriguing read, rather sad.

Book: The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

B E T R A Y A L! That's pretty much the premise of the book throughout. This forms part of my #40for40 mission to read ten classics that I've not read yet.

It's a looong read. Some sections are superfluous, and at times you feel like saying to the author, get to the point! There are so many names and plot twists, that if you don't read the book for a while, you need to revisit the earlier chapters to remind yourself as to who, what, where. There are other sections that are fabulously intriguing and it feels like you can't read it quickly enough to find out what happens.

I had downloaded this as an ebook, so whenever I was in a queue or waited somewhere it was great to quickly read a page or two without having to lug a big book everywhere.

Book: Die Plesierboom, Audrey Blignaut

'n Lekker lees boek. Ek het hierdie op die selfde tyd begin lees as Dot Serfontein se 'Ek is Maar Ene'.

Ek hou ietwat meer van Dot se skryfstyl. Maar op die einde van die dag is dit lekker om enige goeie Afrikaanse boeke te lees.  

Race: Satori Camel Run, 10 miler Classic 03 September 2017

Not as fit as I had hoped I would be, went a lot better than I thought. Was fun to run a race with Graham again. 

Time: 02:10 I came 700th :-D

Book: Superwoman, everything you need to know about running a home in South Africa today. Shirley Conran

I do use the word "reading" very loosely. It was more a case of skimming through it on the flight back from Joburg to Cape Town. I saw the book on my Mom's bookshelf and the chapter about cleaning more effectively caught my eye. We don't have a domestic worker, so I allocate time for cleaning every Saturday morning (it's quite a full body workout!).

Going through the book, which was published in 1972, I just thought how grateful I am for Google. The more I went through the book the more I realised that I was very unlikely to change my already quite established habits, and the likelihood of making my own cleaning concoctions was zero.

Book: French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano

A fun, easy read. It's not a diet or a recipe book. It does however focus on healthy eating habits, eating more fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables and eating smaller portions of tasty food. Drinking enough water and moving is also a key to a healthier lifestyle [these are things we all know, but the reminder is good!]. There are some really easy and delicious recipes that are shared. Personally I find that the amount of lemon juice used for some of the recipes are a bit heavy handed, but now that I know it, I'll change it the next time round. 

Book: What the dog saw and other adventures, Malcolm Gladwell

Interesting stories, some more interesting than others. Particularly enjoyed the chapter on criminal profiling. An easy read, with food for thought. 

Book: Aesop's Fables, Aesop

Must admit that I did not realise that all these famous fables were written by Aesop. Each moral shared is still very relevant today

Book: Murder On The Orient Express, Agatha Christie

Fabulous, classic "WhoDunnit".

Race: Old Mutual Two Oceans Half Marathon

Number three done and dusted! Admittedly not my best time, I could give a million excuses, the long and the short of it is that I really had not trained enough (at all) for this one. Each year I say that I need to be better prepared and then alas, before I know it I'm standing in the seeding pen wishing I had put a bit more effort in.

Love the 'gees' it really is quite a fun race.

Above: Started in the same seeding as Jana, her first, she did incredibly well!

Above: my favourite part of the race is coming over Wynberg Hill, terrible photo taken on the trot.

Super proud of us all!

Book: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4, Sue Townsend

What an incredibly fun book! Am still on my mission to catch up on "classics". This book reminded me of all the anguish and agony that you go through as a teenager. Keen to read the read of the series.   

Book: Out of Africa, Karen Blixen

During a recent trip to Nairobi, Kenya, I took the opportunity to visit Karen Blixen's house. To be honest, I really did not know her story as I had fallen asleep every time I attempted to watch the movie "Out of Africa," and also always confused it with "Born Free." 

Now I have a much better understanding; my goodness Karen Blixen had an incredibly sad life. 

It is quite a sad and poignant take on the life in Kenya in the early 1900's. A very different time of hunting wild animals; interestingly giraffes were illegal to shoot and lions were fair game. 

Was super happy to find a copy of the book in the gift shop. 

The driveway leading to Karen Blixen's home.

Karen Blixen's home

Karen's favourite piece of machinery used to work the 6000 hectares of the coffee plantation she had.

Remains of an ox wagon used to transport the coffee; it needed 16 oxen to pull it!

Photo of Karen Blixen in her room

Dining room

Where her writing magic happened.

Outside lawn.

Book: Real Magic, Creating Miracles in Everyday Life, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

As they say, when you are right for it, the teacher comes to you. I bought this book many many years ago. Dr Dyer's book on "Your Erronous Zones," (zooming in on dealing with worrying, guilt, anger etc.), was one of the first books I read in the realm of self enrichment, so was eager to read "Real Magic". When I first started reading it (many years ago), I didn't quite "get" it and didn't make it too far into the book. The other day it caught my eye on the bookshelf, and I thought I'd give it another go.

Am so pleased I did, this time I think I was ready for it. 

It's about realising that we are not humans having spiritual experiences, we are spirits having a human experience. He incorporates different religions. He also focusses on the importance of meditation as well as realising that we are here to serve each other, and ultimately provides a guide on living a more purposeful driven life. 

Book: Peter Pan In Kensington Gardens, J.M Barrie

 

This is one of the first books on my #40for40 reading list. The only thing that I knew about Peter Pan and Wendy is that there are statues of them at Magnolia Dell in Pretoria, which was always such a treat to go and visit. 

Wendy does not feature in this book, so I will work through the other Peter Pan books too.  

What a fabulous, imaginative book, no wonder it is Richard Branson's favourite book. 

Book: The Boer War, Thomas Pakenham

The art of storytelling is so important, especially when it comes to history. It can so easily become incredibly boring to just relay dates, names and facts. Thomas Pakenham gave a very comprehensive, colourful overview of the Anlgo Boer war including the English, Boer and African perspective. 

Personally, my deduction is that this was an incredibly unnecessary war. A war dreamed up by Milner where everyone suffered massive losses. 

It was very interesting to get insight into this war, as I knew (embarrassingly) very little about it. I know that my great grandmother was in a concentration camp. Whenever I think of my grandfather, I remember him reading this book. I think we would have had a wonderful conversation about all the characters and this part of our history; I would have loved to get his take on it. 

It was good to meet all the characters, now when I drive to Stellenbosch and I see Baden-Powell offramp, I can immediately place him. 

The only thing that I found a bit frustrating with this book is that the author would take us on a journey, and then all of a sudden jump two / three months back

Book: The Book of Joy, Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams

In my mission to complete #40for40 things this year, I broke it down into different categories; ten activities I've never done, ten places I've never been to; ten people to meet and ten books to read. I put a call out on Facebook for suggestions, recommendations and challenges. Someone said that I should meet the Dalai Lama [why not!]. My lovely neighbour, Shona,  then suggested meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu (that would be incredible!). Then the next thing I knew, Tim and Shona (said lovely neighbours) brought over "The Book of Joy", recently co authored by both the Dalai Lama and the Archbishop! 

What a wonderful read; I have such deep respect for both of these leaders and their worldviews. The book is written in such a way that you it feels as if you form part of the conversation. [I love the fact that it was authored and put together by someone from the Jewish faith.] 

The crux of joy, which is a lot more than happiness, is about helping each other, being compassionate, education and laughing more, even (especially) if it is at ourselves.

Race: Nutribullet Bay2Bay, 15kms

The first race of the year. I definitely was not fit enough for the 30kms this year and opted for the 15kms. Still my absolute favourite route in the world!

Book: Treasure Island

What an adventure! This year is about getting up to speed with classics, such as "Treasure Island". This specific book has been in our family library for years, I see it was published in 1950. As they say in the intro, the purpose of this version was not to 'edit' or revise' the Stevenson classic. Rather, to recapture the dramatic form of the screen pay [hence it indicates Walt Disney on the spine]. 

It was absolutely wonderful to 'meet' Jim Hawkins and Long John Silver, and reading about the betrayals and adventure of finding hidden treasure!

Restaurant: Atlantic Express Restaurant, Sea Point

I've often walked past the old train coach along Regent Street in Sea Point and never got as far as going in. When the team were in Cape Town and staying in Sea Point earlier this year, I thought it a perfect opportunity to 'suss' it out as it was also walking distance from where the team were staying.

What a quaint, charming restaurant. There were seven of us and we were seated in two compartments adjacent to each other. The food was delicious; we were treated to a few tasters before ordering. The portions were also quite generous. They make all the Halaal food for the Protea Fire & Ice. 

The only thing is that I am not a fan of garlic and there was A LOT in my prawn curry, with that said, it was incredibly delicious. 

Restaurant: Byblos Trading

In between a busy afternoon of meetings, I came across this gem in Woodstock. It was a grey wet afternoon, and the aroma of coffee and brilliant smile from the Barrister most inviting and warming. As much as I love coffee, I avoid it in the afternoon, so opted for a pot of black tea and tried one of their date delicacies. I'll definitely go back and try their Turkish Delight next time. They also have an outlet in Sea Point.