CPT.

2018 was a big year for me, a watershed year.

Someone wrote about how there are years that ask questions and years that answer. For me, 2018 year was all about doing groundwork . Hopefully 2019 will reveal the answers I have been striving toward. Faith is difficult to hold onto when you are simply putting in the long hours without immediate results. As a particularly millenial millenial, raised on and sustained by immediacy (haha), I can easily admit that I struggle with that. But I have learnt that in the years that ask questions, you have to just push through and trust that you’ll emerge right at the end and that the sacrifices will be enough. Yes, even writing exams on your birthday. And there will be a glimmer here and there that you are on the right path. Reassuring.

By late September, I could feel the weight of the year on me. It felt like all I had done was work.  It had been a great year with lots of spontaneous and organised trips, an international jaunt, and lots of cocktails, lazy brunches and selfies. Add to that, my best friend and I in the same country after a long break apart,  and it really was a party.

The issue remained though, that the balance remained in favour of working and building. As the year drew to a close, I found myself deeply unhappy, stressed and severely anxious. I still had so much work to do in the year and I was unsure of how I would get through it. Exhausted, I was waking up in a panic multiple times throughout the night, stressed at my exhaustion and inability to get anything done fast enough. I realised that if I was to close the year off strong, I needed a break. So I did just that!

I headed to one of my favourite places in the world, where I lived for a few years, growing and growing up. Where the sun shines a little brighter, the air calms my spirit, and I find myself breathing easier. Cape Town.

I am obsessed with Cape Town. I resolved that for my own sanity, I would travel there at least once every year to recharge, see my family and friends and breathe. The convenience of getting around, the insane amount of eateries  and the general improvement in my skin and health when I am there made it a no-brainer holiday hide-away get-away. 

I stayed in the City Centre first to get some business and admin out of the way, before moving to a place in Camps Bay. Both places were really great, well- maintained with really lovely staff. What I loved about Camps Bay though, was that I could start my mornings with a leisurely stroll along the beach before breakfast. Cold morning air, warm sun, easy conversations- stunning for the spirit.

When I first moved to Cape Town, I loved it. All of it. But an experience that really stuck out for me and solidified my love for the city was my first visit to Hout Bay.  I visited my lovely Aunt and her family for the weekend, and we went all around the city, ending up in Hout Bay for the day.  Time seems to slow down, the locals are friendly, the food is rustic and good, and it is just the loveliest place to find yourself. My friend D and I brainstormed briefly on where to spend the day, settling on Hout Bay before moving on to Muizenberg for a quick visit.

This time around, we had some really lovely seafood at Snookies, before wandering across the road to a local artisinal brewery, Urban. A great place with a gallery around the side. Do check it out, particularly on a quiet Tuesday morning, although I am sure it is even more amazing on a Friday night.

I ate a lot. I walked a fair bit. Took in the crisp air, smiled, recalibrated and reminded myself of a few things that had gotten lost throughout the year. The balance that I felt? Priceless.

Honourable Mention: Banana Jam Cafe in Kenilworth. Trust me on this. It has an excellent vibe, good drinks and is an all-round intimate spot.

Sun, Sand and Sea. Throw in cocktails, friends and rainy nights, you have a winning combination. I came back refreshed, ready to finish off the year, and so grateful for the blessings in my life.

Easy Like Sunday Afternoon

Any day is always a good day for ice-cream in my world. Sunday afternoon, however, is a particularly good day for ice-cream. There is something magical about Sunday afternoon; the sun shines brighter, the air is softer; time moves a little slower. It’s perfect for trying out delicious new combinations.

Armed with a friend, I made my way to Gelato Crema, at Riverside Mall in Avondale; there is another branch in Borrowdale.  Gelato Crema is a fairly new space specialising in ice cream, fro-yo and baked goods; something which really has a market in Harare, especially among those with children; it’s an easy appeasement spot at a decent cost.

The space itself is positively quaint, with delicious colours stimulating your senses as you walk in, making you feel right at home. A sensory delight of baby pink, mint green, stripped awnings, light and sparkles. It’s almost like something out of a kid’s book. I love it.

 

The space is fun and pretty; the ice cream is good. The staff is very helpful and obliging; they let you have tiny tastes of the treats before you make your choice. Anyone who knows me knows that I am big on getting value for my money and being treated well where I spend my money. Life is too short to be spending your money where you are treated badly. Consumer care is pretty low in these parts, so I always note and appreciate a special effort. We really enjoyed our ice-cream date and I will definitely be going back to treat myself once in a while, especially for that positively orgasmic chocolate brownie!

 

 

While there is space to sit down, I wouldn’t recommend it because the shop is tiny. There are two tables but you are better off grabbing and going to enjoy your goodies outside in the warm sun. Just how ice-cream should be enjoyed. My friend had the Baobab and sugar-free Vanilla, while I opted for a double scoop of refreshing Peach and the brownie. Did I mention how good the brownie was?

 

“You can’t buy happiness but you can buy ice-cream! It’s kind of the same thing,” the chalkboard proclaims.

Look, i’m not arguing.

Restaurant Review- Spice Lounge

The more I work, the more I strongly believe that I might not really be cut out for it. It’s exhausting!  Work has been unrelenting and particularly stressful over the past few weeks. On Friday I got home from gym and collapsed into my bed. I woke the next morning… with a swollen face and the most lethargic spirit. So I spent the day in bed watching TV and resting. Somewhere along the third consecutive episode of Criminal Minds, I fell asleep, and continued to drift in and out of consciousness.

Around lunchtime, I woke up to a text from a friend asking if I was keen to go out to get some food. Now anyone who knows me even vaguely knows how much I love to eat good food. I really enjoy going out to eat and exploring new places with some good company over a nice bottle of white and soft background music. This particular friend is one of my consistent and favourite dinner partners, but I was so tired I literally read the text with one eye open and went back to sleep! I woke up around four and asked him where he wanted to eat. His response was that he was open to anything. We went back and forth on a few places, then our spice-loving taste-buds settled on 7 pm at Delhi Palace, an Indian restaurant by Riverside Mall.

A couple of hours later I had managed to roll out of bed and make myself look half decent. He was already waiting when I got there only to find… Delhi Palace had closed up shop and been replaced by Pariah State (Avondale branch)…

Womp womp womp.

Deflated. It was only then that I realised that I had not been out for a really long time! Making a mental note to get out more (!) I wondered whether we should go to Borrowdale Delhi Palace. But neither of us really wanted to drive that far since we were already in Avondale, so we agreed to try something else. Pariah looked like it was picking up and while I was eager to check out their new digs, I was just wanted to eat and not party hearty. More so since I had given up alcohol for Lent.

 

I suggested one of my favourite places: Spice Lounge. I have never been disappointed by their food; it’s actually one of my favourite places to eat. The food is always delicious, hearty, generous portions at a fair price, in a quiet and restful environment. It’s intimate and warm and a really good spot to spend a Saturday night eating some authentic Indian cuisine. So we drove for two minutes and voila! Spice Lounge. Spice Lounge is on Lezzard Avenue, just off Prince Edward next to Kensington Shopping Centre. You really cannot miss it because they have beautiful cheerful fairy lights stringed up all along the trees and wall outside. I often wonder if that’s one of the reasons I love the place. It’s just so welcoming!

We got there just after half seven and it was pretty quiet. The inside filled up a bit later but we chose to sit outside as it was a nice summery evening. There was one other family eating outside. It was nice and intimate, one of my favourite qualities in a place. You could be relaxing in your own home with friends.

We were warmly greeted by the hostess and a few waiters. It was a bit of a welcoming committee to be honest! It was still pretty slow so maybe that’s why we got more than two people greeting us. Our waiter showed us to a table and gave us some drinks menus. I opted for a virgin daquiri, and “to support me” my charming date opted not to get a bottle of wine, but a martini.

 

Our waiter returned quickly with our very attractive drinks. I like that the drinks at Spice Lounge not overly finnicky; it’s a good refreshing beverage that you’re getting. The waiter returned shortly after with an amuse-bouche, and then starters- minced beef samoosas. The amuse-bouche was actually very similar to the samoosa. I asked what it was but all he said was that it was something fun!  While that didn’t tell me much, it was really good to get the appetite warmed up. It seemed like a deconstructed samoosa- crispy potato, onions, herbs- that sort of thing. It came with green chutney, greek yoghurt and sweet chilli, in three separate little bowls. The samoosas were golden tasty and crunchy- four for $5. I had wanted a butternut soup to start off but they only had tomato, so I opted not to have any. I genuinely do not like tomatoes (side-eyes Bloody Marys. I mean?)

For my main course, I opted for the prawn briyani, while my friend chose the butter chicken and naan bread. I only opted for the prawns because he is always specifically mocking me for how much chicken I eat! (But the chicken biryani is flawless I tell you.) Our food came out pretty quickly- the conversation was flowing so I didn’t really notice. The rice was delicious- thick and sticky, aromatic simply doused in spices with beautiful and just-done prawns littering it; they could have been a bit more. I opted for the medium-hot because I wanted to be able to taste my food and not overwhelm my tastebuds; prawns are such a sensitive flavour. My friend chose the hot option for his chicken. Rich, creamy, hot and plentiful.

The portions were generous and we shared the two dishes, mostly because someone decided they didn’t like the naan bread- which I found delicious and well-prepared. It was smokey and thick and warm and I loved it. He calmly worked his way through his chicken while I really cried at the little he placed on my rice! It was so delicious but unbelievably hot. The naan bread helped though. And the raita. I think he ate more of my rice than I did. It was a lovely meal. Traditional Indian music was playing soothingly in the background and it was just such a wonderful eating experience. We were too full to even look at the dessert menu. It was a really good night.

 

This is such a bad review because I do not have a single complaint, but I promise you everything was delicious and perfect!  The portions are generous and extremely flavourful. The service is attentive and warm without hovering or suffocating you; our waiter was so funny and kind and he and my date really hit it off! Sometimes they even have some great live entertainment. Parking is plentiful- inside and outside in a secure environment.

If you’re ever in the mood for some hot, well-prepared food in a beautiful relaxed atmosphere where you can talk freely and enjoy some fresh air, Spice Lounge is your spot.

 

 

until further notice.

 

About two months ago, I was admitted as an attorney of the High Court. It marked the end of a five year journey to the bar, and the beginning of what I hope will be an exciting stage in my life and career.

As with most things legal, the ceremony was fairly dull and uninspiring. There was a judge, a court room, a bunch of impatient attorneys waiting for their cases to be heard, family members and about ten nervous almost-lawyers. There was some very polite applause once all of us had been sworn and duly registered. No ululations, no dancing, no popping of champagne. Cold and clinical. My voice trembled a bit. Then it was over and we went to lunch then back to work.  Painless and almost a footnote. I was underwhelmed given how long it had taken me to fulfill my career goal and to get to this point.

So obviously I decided to throw a little party. A soiree with my closest friends. It was a chance to just dress up, drink and be happy and sparkle. At this point I hadn’t seen my friends in a few weeks, months and years in some cases, so I made sure that I chose a date where everyone, or as many of the,  would be home for the holidays.

We had pasta, cocktails and cake and  more drinks; we took pictures; went dancing afterwards , drank champagne and had a lovely evening. Whenever I am feeling particularly low, I just look at the pictures and enjoy the night all over again. I decided to share a few with you here. I am the type of person who is very hard on herself and does not ever really take time out to celebrate; I am already on to the next stage of the paper chase. This was a chance to slow down and relax and acknowledge how far I have come. It does not mean that I have done it all. It takes nothing away from your goals when you stop breathe and dance.

Until further notice, celebrate everything…

Thanks for reading.