Car Park Fog

Very busy day today. Bit of gym, some photography, some editing – cut short by loadshedding – collecting the kids from school… [YOU ARE HERE] …and then some horseriding, a belated birthday celebration and some football from Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane (again, partly hampered by loadshedding).

So here’s a photo from my car park on Monday evening.

Just a phone pic because I didn’t take my camera (rookie error). A puddle, some fog and some security lighting making for a spooky scene. No editing. The fog was less fun on the way home. It’s all good until someone doesn’t have any working rear lights. Then it’s not good at all. But because that sort of thing happens regularly in South Africa, you have to be ready.

What you can’t see here are the billion mosquitoes from the local wetlands. I promise you that they were there though. I killed about 20 in my car afterwards, and I’d only had the door open for a couple of seconds.

What you can’t smell here is the local sewage plant and oil refinery. I do feel that you’re missing out on the full experience.

Anyway, as mentioned, much to be done, so pop back tomorrow (and every other damn day) for more bloggery.

It’s not just me

I’m not a fan of mosquitoes. One (or more) of them once gave me malaria in a dodgy lab in London, and while I haven’t had that misfortune again since, they still eat me. A lot.

I’ve written about this here and here. Also here. And here, and… er… here.

But while wandering around Kirstenbosch before breakfast this morning, I found that I wasn’t the only one being chowed by the little bastards.

We stopped to take a photo of this lizard, who was posing on a tree stump about 5 metres away, and when I lined the shot up…

Look at that on his back!

Remember that I’m not a wildlife expert, but that looks very much like a mosquito to me.

I feel quite sorry for the lizard, because lizards don’t have the benefit of antihistamine medication, so he is going to be ITCHY later. But I’m also quite glad he’s getting nibbled, because (and obviously, I recognise that this is a massive oversimplification of the situation), that’s one full mozzie that won’t have to eat me this evening.

Day 445 – In which I didn’t edit those images

I know I said I would, I just didn’t get around to it, what with picking up a shirt in town and shopping and cooking and watching a bit of the Euro 2020 football.

I was slow to get up this morning (the kids are on holiday, so we’re all good), and it felt like I’d been hit by a train when I did drag myself out of bed. I might have overdosed somewhat on anti-histamines last night. We got absolutely chowed by mosquitoes over the weekend. Numbers like I haven’t seen since Mozambique 17 years ago. They were everywhere. I was trying to get a shot of the moon and Venus in conjunction, but gave up when I splatted about 50 of the little bastards off my legs in about a minute.
“How awful”, you might think, “but you do live in Africa”.
Well, yeah, but it’s MIDWINTER in Africa next week. There should not be mosquitoes out and about in Cape Agulhas a week before the shortest day. There shouldn’t be that many mosquitoes out and about in Cape Agulhas full stop.

I’m still knocking back Allergex as if there is no tomorrow, which, you know, if I knock back enough…

Anyway, tomorrow’s weather looks a bit crappy and there’s limited football on (although I am playing a match myself), so I’ll probably choose to tuck myself in front of a warm Lightroom, choose the best images from the weekend, and make them even better.

Right now, Spain v Sweden.

It’s too late for Mozzies

I’ve mentioned before on here just how attractive I am

 

to mosquitoes.

And while I am obviously completely “delighted” that I hold such appeal for them, I do feel that with the chillier temperatures locally and with the leaves beginning to fall from the trees, it is about time that they slung their metaphorical hook.

To that end, we inadvertently held an “end of season” Voetsek! party for a few (or more) of the little bastards last night, with copious food and drink (me) provided.

I have been repeatedly nibbled, I’m now very itchy and I’m really not very happy about it. It’s as good as winter – why are they still here?

This needs to stop now. At least until November.

Bites

I cannot wait for this infernal sumer to be over (although if it could hang around/return for my upcoming weekend away, that would also be nice).

Not only have we still had no significant rain, meaning that we are even deeper (no pun intended) in the throes of our water crisis, but this week’s calm, warm days and calm, warm nights have made Cape Town – specifically the bit of Cape Town that is our bedroom – a veritable paradise for mosquitoes. The whiney little shits.

I’ve mentioned before on here the lengths I go to in order to improved Mrs 6000’s life in this regard, but the last couple of nights have been off the scale as far as my sacrifices go. I am covered – covered – in bites. I itch.

Feel free to give me all your anti-mosquito tips and tricks, but please bear in mind that I have tried them all, and I am still trying them all. Tabard, Peaceful Sleep, Pyrethrums, Citronella, Prayer, A Big Fan, The AR15 Assault Rifle: all of them.

This morning, despite having employed each and every strategy I had at my disposal, and having checked and declared the room fully mosquito-free before retiring last night, I killed 9 of the engorged little bastards. All fed on me. Not a mark on my wonderful wife.

And why should tonight be any different? Meaning that by this time tomorrow I will basically just be one big histamine molecule.

Well, there’s something to look forward to. Ugh.