Our Toy Run

On Sunday I posted about a MINI Toy Run we went on. We received a few comments in answer to my question in the post, and yes, you guys guessed it. A Toy Run is an event traditionally organised for bikers. Hundreds of bikers buy toys, muster and ride off on their "Toy Run", delivering the toys to orphanages and children's hospitals. It's generally the only time that huge burly bikers can be seen carrying big fluffy toys.

Sunday was a lot more subdued. MINI drivers hardly have the same rough and tough look about them, but still we bought our toys and mustered to begin our Toy Run. After taking a detour (which I'll post about tomorrow) we finally ended up at the Red Cross Children's Hospital, where a whole lot of kids had a little brightness brought to their day.

Toy Run with MINI

A month or two ago Kerry-Anne bought a MINI Cooper from Auric Auto (a MINI and BMW dealer in Claremont). Auric Auto held a MINI Toy Run today, and invited Kerry-Anne and I along to join in the fun.

1. Do you know what a "Toy Run" is?


2. Have you been on one?

We have something else lined up for tomorrow, so you'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out exactly where we went and what we did...

That old mill on the M3

Mostert's Mill is just over 200 years old, and the second-oldest mill in Cape Town. It was named after someone called Sybrand Jacobus Mostert who apparently bought the mill and surrounding property in 1823.

Mostert's Mill has been restored twice: first in 1935 by the Department of Public Works, and then again in 1995 by the Friends of Mostert's Mill. I was sad to read a sign on the gate indicating that the mill is now closed to the public except by special request to the Department of Public Works. I think my mother still has a photo of my brother and I playing outside the mill some 25 years ago.

Tense moments

Last night's quarter-final rugby game was filled with moments of extreme, nerve-wracking tension for Springbok fans, and this was one of them (evidenced by the four people with hands clutched dramatically to their temples).

We watched the game at the Springbok Pub in Newlands, which is hosting Cape Town's official Absa Boktown. The atmosphere was brilliant, with all kinds of prizes (for singing the national anthem with gusto, for dancing on the tables, even for the group buying the most beer); and appropriately celebratory music was played at the end of the game. We'll be there for the semi-final and the final too, so if you're in Cape Town and are looking for a good place to watch the games, join us. (Be sure to call the pub and book a table though - the venue can hold a fair number of people, but I have a feeling it's going to fill up fast.)

Where are all the pretty horses?

I'm not too sure, but since this shot was taken at 7am on a Friday morning, I guess it's not surprising that they weren't on the racetrack.

This is Kenilworth Racecourse, the oldest racecourse in the country and home to the annual J&B Met - a high-fashion affair, with plenty of large hats, designer suits, and very, very short skirts. Oh, apparently there's a little bit of horse-racing too, but you'd never guess so based on the TV coverage of the event.

The J&B Met has been on my to-do list for a really long time, and maybe with a bit of planning we'll actually make it there in 2008 (I don't mind wearing a hat, but my skirt will be of a modest length).

Sugar and spice and all things nice

On Wednesday I took my mother off to the annual O Magazine Tea Party, which was held at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Newlands this year. It was a very genteel affair, complete with cucumber sandwiches (and plenty of other absolutely decadent tea-time treats), pretty outfits, hats (obligatory, and such fun), and lavish pink table-settings. We were treated to a performance by the lovely Lira (pictured at the top right), who got everyone to their feet and even made a few of us become part of the show ourselves... It was a great opportunity for women of all ages and races to bond over a cup of tea and to celebrate our common strength. I can't wait for next year.

Party people at Newlands

Another shot from the T20 World Cup... Two matches were played at Newlands Cricket Ground today - Australia beat Sri Lanka in the first, and Pakistan beat Bangladesh in the second.

This shot was taken during the second game. There was a great atmosphere in the stadium by that time, with supporters of both countries taking turns to run in front of the crowd urging us to shout for their respective teams. These students seemed to be having a really good time in the sun and were only too happy to pose for photos. Looks like fun, doesn't it?

Summer is on its way... :)

Traffic light art

It's difficult to see from the cropped photograph that the tin-shack houses depicted in the foreground of this 430x140x16mm chipboard painting have a 3D appearance. They're actually made from discarded aluminium soda cans!

We bought this piece of art today for R100 (approximately 10 Euros); the artist was selling his work at traffic lights on the Newlands part of the M3, at the foot of Table Mountain. Framed it'll look absolutely stunning.

Shopping in the rain

Another rainy day in Cape Town...

I was caught unawares by today's heavy rain, but these shoppers in Claremont seemed pretty prepared, all dressed up in their raincoats.

I hope the shoes at the stall on the left didn't get damaged during the downpour.