Category: positive thoughts

Pocketed photography (1)

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I’ve got a couple of galleries of amazing professional or semi-professional photography which I have placed in Pocket for sharing as and when I have time, inclination and energy. Amazingly, despite this being a Monday morning, it appears that those metaphorical planets have aligned and now there are going to be fireworks – literally.

Yes – belatedly, some photos of the New Year fireworks around the world via an email from professional and semi-professional photography website 500px:

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Some Germany, some Austria and a bit of Dubai there. Yeah. Pretty good stuff, putting my Instagram efforts from Struisbaai beach over recent years (which I was going to link to, but frankly, they’re not worthy).

I’m not going to shoot my bolt on the other gallery of amazing professional or semi-professional photography just yet. It’ll probably make its appearance later this week when there’s nothing better to blog about or when I have a spare moment. Or, more likely, both.

Rite of Passage note

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Just a quick note to record this moment for posterity. My boy and I have just played his (and therefore our) first game of EA’s FIFA15.

While we’re certainly not a family of gamers, this is an important moment for him, and obviously for me too. It’s basically 20 years *weep* since I played my first FIFA game.

He chose to play as Sheffield United (proud dad moment, right there) and I was randomly assigned Luton Town by the Sony machinery.
For the record, the score at 90 minutes was 1-1, thanks in part to a late defensive error by the Luton centre back and the lightning quick reactions of a pixelated Marc McNulty.
The penalty shootout which followed was a tense affair, with the Blades amazingly triumphing 1-0.

Happy days. Everyone’s a winner.
Except Luton.

Back II Life

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And so, as was mentioned yesterday, Cape Town is slowly getting back into the swing of things. As with everything Capetonian, it’s a glacially slow process, and while managers will be encouraging their charges to hit the ground running, deep down, they’ll be well aware that it will basically be February before anyone here is up to speed.
This process will in no way be assisted today by the dichotomous circumstances of the rain (currently washing most of Cape Agulhas off my car) and day 4 of the SA v West Indies test match at Newlands.

And so a little Soul II Soul is called for to ease us back into this working life. Remember back in 1989 when this won the (somewhat niche) Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals? No. Me neither. But “Back to life, back to reality” very much sums up the sad situation we find ourselves in this morning.

If you are back to work today, stay strong. It’s only 345 days until December 16th 2015. And one or two of them are public holidays.

Halcyon Days…

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And so, the holiday draws to an end. Tomorrow brings with it work, bacteria, admin and meetings.
But what a break it’s been: family, friends, London, Sheffield, snow, real beer, a “proper Christmas” and some amazing memories being made.
And then, as the icing on the cake, a few days of excellent weather and relaxation down in Agulhas.
And then, as the cherry placed gently upon the icing on that luxurious cake, Sheffield United demolishing QPR at Loftus Road and our porcine neighbours losing out to a last minute winner at the Etihad.

Could it get any better?
Well, I could do without heading back to the lab tomorrow. But otherwise, no. It’s been amazing.

But in the meantime, for those who are interested, there are updated photos here and here.

Sense at the Black Oystercatcher

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We went out to the Black Oystercatcher for an amazing lunch today. And while there was a lot to admire on the menu, it was this that particularly caught my eye:

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Yep. After I commented on the struggles of local businesses in season, here’s a completely reasonable solution, elegantly mentioned at the top of the menu.

Nice work, Black Oystercatcher. And bloody good food as well.