Capetown on The Singemonkey

April 26, 2024

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:20:23 +0000

I was with my dad while he got his prescription filled at Noyes Pharmacy in Kenilworth which still amazingly has a film autolab. You can see the diamond grid where they once had many brands and types of 35mm film for sale and now there’s just one - and only about a dozen in stock plus some disposable cameras.

They used to have a collection of vintage Leicas - MIII’s through M6s I think. Maybe 20 or so. Not even for sale. I believe the old owner sold them quickly when digital moved in - not realising like most of us that their value would recover in time I think.

May 12, 2023

Fri, 12 May 2023 12:25:05 +0000

First time on the metro rail since the pandemic began. Despite massive government looting and the dismantling of much of the infrastructure, the new trains do feel much better than the postwar stuff that my ma also used in uni. Though there’s a big gap and step up from the platform to the door which is inaccessible for many people with disabilities and is sure to cause accidents.

April 03, 2023

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:47:14 +0000

If you’re in Cape Town, please send me pics of any cat matching this description. Grey, marble - not stripe - tabby. Grey feet. Grey throat and chest. No collar. Only white just around nose. Belly pouch. Large, neutered male. Cash reward for info leading to his return.

October 29, 2022

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 10:20:53 +0000

Well I’m sure you’ve all just been dying for another of my blockhouse walk photodocs… I had a cold and was waiting to come right before re-embarking on exercise. Hopefully the fact that I’m typing this rather than lying dead from a stroke means I waited long enough.

For the first time I decided to listen to music on my walk. Well… you add that mountain feeling to those music feelings and you can get pretty close to ecstasy, no lie. I had some thoughts:

July 24, 2021

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 15:17:36 +0000

In the queue at the Cape Town International Convention Centre for my first COVID shot yesterday. It’s a huge, well-managed, friendly operation. With the current dominant variant, it’s a long way from a guarantee that we won’t get the virus. But there’s a much better chance, and an even better chance that the virus will pass mildly and leave no long term effects. It’s not a castle. It’s a shield. But a critically important one that would be impossible without the dedicated efforts of thousands of independent, university-based scholars and masses of tax-payer funding globally.

June 15, 2021

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:24:11 +0000

The tourist’s eye view of Cape Town. A shining jewel between two great oceans. True but also not.

June 15, 2021

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:45:59 +0000

Huge day for me. First time I’ve ever seen a wild otter. And it was here, fifteen minutes’ walk from my house where the city thinks it’s ok to bulldoze everything to put up offices for Amazon. The Cape Clawless Otter is thriving in this little bit of urban paradise.

September 29, 2019

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 10:54:43 +0000

90s bois. Set the camera up in the grass. Push the little lever. Wait for the mechanical whirl to end in a click. And a day in 1996 is captured in grainy, squinty glory. What were we up to on plum-pudding hill that noon? Digging. Just another madcap Gareth scheme.

June 11, 2019

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 11:49:46 +0000

Lovely light on the way up to coffee in Obz this morning. Winter in Cape Town is not the non-stop downpour many imagine.

April 26, 2019

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:00:24 +0000

This is our last autumn in Ash Street. We’ve lived here since 2007. Without any plan in that regard we’ve both lived here longer than either of us has ever lived anywhere else. We’ll miss wonderful neighbours but it’ll be good to be moving… a full 3 or 4 blocks away.

February 25, 2019

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 12:34:58 +0000

I literally got every detail of our weekend gig wrong - except the venue. It’s on SUNDAY the 3RD at 3PM.

To be fair it wasn’t all my fault. Plz pass on to interested parties. .

February 22, 2019

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 19:24:15 +0000

I don’t know what time it’ll be and I misspelled Muizenberg. But it’ll be a reverb-soaked spectacle.

October 26, 2018

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:27:08 +0000

Summer in the city.

August 24, 2018

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:46:25 +0000

In South Africa in 2018 you can get bread like this at Pick ‘n Pay. The ‘80s never seemed so long ago. 🥖 .

August 17, 2018

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 16:05:50 +0000

Trinket got bigger in the last couple of months and is almost a full-size cat now. She’s still obsessed with playing and doing her little ‘social roll’ on the regular. .

July 05, 2018

Thu, 05 Jul 2018 13:54:31 +0000

Beautiful sunny winter’s day chez moi.

July 02, 2018

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:42:35 +0000

A classic rain-drenched Cape Town winter is cold and inconvenient. But now we can really appreciate it as we read how the dam levels are rising all the time.

July 01, 2018

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 15:05:36 +0000

My favorite gormless thicc boi twitching in his dreams.

June 15, 2018

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:17:48 +0000

After four years of drought it takes mere days to get annoyed by the inconvenience of a proper Cape Town winter. But when it does clear enough to walk to the shops it can get really pretty.

June 04, 2018

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 18:04:46 +0000

Trinket’s up after a brutal day of relentless napping. She’s exploring the mess that house repairs have left the back yard in. Being a crepuscular creature, she enjoys the winter twilight.

May 28, 2018

Mon, 28 May 2018 11:51:07 +0000

Folks. @hello_sailor_bistro now has this game! Who’s up for it? @sophdex @withoutaleaf @sad_ivan ?

May 15, 2018

Tue, 15 May 2018 12:59:04 +0000

It’s a new Observatory generation down at the Two Rivers Park. Egyptian Geese (in truth they’re ducks) and their fuzzy new brood.

May 14, 2018

Mon, 14 May 2018 11:50:18 +0000

Or this one?

May 14, 2018

Mon, 14 May 2018 11:47:34 +0000

The pretty lady. I wanted to show off @withoutaleaf’s latest lilac hair. But my high contrast background concept doesn’t show it off that well. But I still like the pic. Or is the next one better?

May 12, 2018

Sat, 12 May 2018 12:08:32 +0000

Banting bakery. Peak whiteness?

May 12, 2018

Sat, 12 May 2018 12:04:24 +0000

They’ve heard of evolution, right?

May 03, 2018

Thu, 03 May 2018 14:07:12 +0000

Did a quick impromptu photo session for my dear mate Marcus - a powerhouse consultant on African social investment programs - for his new website. Good enough until I can go again with my full gear.

May 01, 2018

Tue, 01 May 2018 20:56:37 +0000

Wicked little Miss Trinket is back home after turning us into shattered wrecks over the last three days.

April 30, 2018

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 11:57:00 +0000

Wonderful people doing amazing work. And very kind. So many beautiful cats and kittens that need forever homes in Cape Town. Don’t buy. Adopt.

April 29, 2018

Sun, 29 Apr 2018 12:15:46 +0000

BACK HOME NOW: she just popped over the wall 3 days later like nothing had happened- back to our emotionally wrecked husks. #Observatory #capetown #cats #catsofcapetown #kittensofcapetown #hartleyvale #uct Missing since yesterday in Observatory.

April 28, 2018

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 14:02:53 +0000

One of my favorite meals in Cape Town. Linko’s Hell Hot Chili Beef Soup 🌶 .

April 11, 2018

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:42:21 +0000

Working on the train to Kalk Bay today to meet up with @jason66c. One of the most scenic metro lines in the world.

April 01, 2018

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 12:02:41 +0000

Autumn has snuck up on us in Cape Town.

March 26, 2018

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 00:08:26 +0000

WTF is this shit?

March 22, 2018

Thu, 22 Mar 2018 16:14:02 +0000

Observatory pit stop. Listening to @danharmon expressing imposter syndrome and people generally being confused who Asterix is #americanproblems. @hello_sailor_bistro in that quiet pre rush hour calm that makes you feel that Cape Town life. Then practice with Sister Ray - our band that only plays Sister Ray by The Velvet Underground.

March 04, 2018

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 14:37:53 +0000

@withoutaleaf with her new peacock hair getting ice cream @lifeunframed. #explorecapetown #capetown #summer #sunday #icecream #peacockhair.

February 23, 2018

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 17:01:33 +0000

An afternoon at the cinema in Cape Town and it’s raining to boot. Good Friday as Jesus probably wouldn’t say (no record that he enjoyed cinema).

February 19, 2018

Mon, 19 Feb 2018 13:35:59 +0000

It’s Monday. But don’t throw yourself off a bridge! If you’re in Cape Town, my surf-rock band, Krakatoa, is putting on a great show on Friday 2 March at ROAR live here in Obz - with other committed entertainers, Three More White Guys and The Ratrod Cats serving up flame grilled Countrybilly and Rockabilly stomp. Also we’re celebrating @sad_ivan’s birthday.

February 09, 2018

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 17:09:15 +0000

I had to wait half an hour for a train. But I ducked into the Observatory library and it wasn’t all wasted time.

January 29, 2018

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 13:53:37 +0000

#3hot5me Skitten tries to stay cool on a day that’s unjustifiably hot.

January 28, 2018

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 10:17:34 +0000

The Thirty Eights were totally cooking last night on Long Street. It’s a surf guitar boom time in South Africa. @kanecroudace and I went out to scope out the competition and had a frickin’ ball.

December 19, 2017

Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:04:51 +0000

He’s not the messiah, he’s just a very silly boy.

December 14, 2017

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 15:14:38 +0000

Trinket gleefully steals my postprandial spot on the couch. It’s become her signature move.

December 13, 2017

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:17:52 +0000

Mr Crumb is a bit of an anxious boi. When he’s scared like now (there’s a jackhammer doin him a concern) he snuggles up with Skitten.

December 10, 2017

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 11:47:02 +0000

Cara Stacy and Nicola du Toit - the brains and hard slog behind the Betwixt Music project - providing a regular event for musical experimentation here in Cape Town. @cara.

December 10, 2017

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 11:38:43 +0000

@duma_ma. The highlight of a great evening of new and experimental music in Cape Town - hosted regularly by Betwixt Music. The only events of their kind here, so look out for them. @sophdex @cara.

November 30, 2017

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 08:21:48 +0000

Beautiful guitar necks with exotic wood fretboards and custom shaping @haywardcustomguitars in Woodstock, Capetown. The finest, made-to-measure instruments right here at South African prices.

November 07, 2017

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 14:20:59 +0000

It’s another super windy day in the blooming spring.

October 23, 2017

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:42:29 +0000

In Krakatoa’s first year, @sad_ivan left to live in England for a while on September 11, 2001 (I remember the exact date for some reason). So now I had to play all the guitar and he thoughtfully tabbed our this beautiful surf instrumental called, Roamin Bison, for me - and even added some helpful advice at the bottom.

Good thing too, since both of us have long since forgotten how to play it. It’s on our soundcloud though if you want to search and listen.

October 18, 2017

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 18:20:14 +0000

It’s been a long day involving a frightening vacuum cleaner.

October 18, 2017

Wed, 18 Oct 2017 08:20:09 +0000

Morning Skitten. The willful creature moved before I could get a better pic. A souvenir of the start of summer though.

October 13, 2017

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 13:49:48 +0000

Handsomest entitled princeling in Observatory.

October 10, 2017

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 11:50:32 +0000

You are the first to get a tiny teaser of our new song, Calypso - named after the Sea Witch from the Odyssey. I shot a little bit of video of @sad_ivan and Kane recording some demo tracks at my house and put a very early rough demo of the song as soundtrack.

I’m starting to take Instagram a little more seriously, as some of you might have noticed. I’ve been meaning to learn to edit video for years. But this is the first piece I’ve ever shared. Trust me, it will get better! This Cack-handed attempt will be my benchmark (it would have been awesome if I’d managed to post it in wide rather than square format for starters)

October 07, 2017

Sat, 07 Oct 2017 09:13:22 +0000

Perusing. We have a cheerful neighborhood pizza and pasta joint that we’ve gone to for years when we want warm, familiar surroundings and good, humble food.

October 06, 2017

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 12:30:13 +0000

Some Assam tea in the pot for a nice post-coffee treat.

October 02, 2017

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 13:06:03 +0000

If it gets too hot though, a smart Crumb cools off with a refreshing raid on an unattended watering can. 💦 .

October 02, 2017

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 12:48:00 +0000

34C (93F) here in Cape Town. Trinket’s loving it.

October 01, 2017

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 12:59:59 +0000

Yes. The perfect sunburst Les Paul does exist. And it’s made by Tokai Japan.

September 13, 2017

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 10:23:02 +0000

Beautiful #oldschool #indian style #soap from the #Cape #spice emporium on #lansdownroad. Lovely #fragrance and #cheap as chips.

September 11, 2017

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:29:28 +0000

Great white #pelicans on our #walk the way to #lunch. Like #galleons under #sail. We also saw a #malachite #kingfisher - our little #jewel with #wings.

September 07, 2017

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:22:38 +0000

@rhodentette rocking her new #hair.

September 06, 2017

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:42:48 +0000

Strolling to the #recordstore to sell all my #cds on a #spring #morning. It’s a #medicineday, I had the #13thfloorelevators in my ears and #observatory was #perfect.

September 04, 2017

Mon, 04 Sep 2017 14:03:55 +0000

This #boy is #hot. His first #spring and he’s barely #coping.

September 01, 2017

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 13:09:23 +0000

#springtime for #observatory on #trill and #lowermain.

September 01, 2017

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 12:10:49 +0000

Our little #spring #chicken, #effietrinket.

August 10, 2017

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 11:19:13 +0000

A rare bit of #winter #weather this #august. #caffeine is necessary to any forward #movement today. It’s 50 years since the #summeroflove in the #north and results in that time have been mixed.

August 06, 2017

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 16:09:37 +0000

#Sunday #bread just finished #baking.

July 24, 2017

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:27:03 +0000

I’m always #proud to play in #southafrica’s longest running #surf #rock #band, Krakatoa, with @sad_ivan and @joydemillar. #friday at The Armchair in #observatory #capetown. A #fridaynight that will #speed the #pulse.

July 13, 2017

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 14:13:23 +0000

Lower Main Road #observatory #victoriana in #colour.

July 10, 2017

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 13:49:43 +0000

Another #clichéd #Sunday #seaside #sunset.

June 14, 2017

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:49:11 +0000

The #hottest #meal in #capetown.

June 12, 2017

Mon, 12 Jun 2017 19:59:53 +0000

May 28, 2017

Sun, 28 May 2017 13:48:56 +0000

Some days strapping on an #SG is just #perfect. Gonna be dual SG #band this evening.

May 13, 2017

Sat, 13 May 2017 21:41:26 +0000

My dear friend Marcus doing what he does best.

April 27, 2017

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 11:18:25 +0000

#SJC #socialjusticecoalition #equaleducation #right2know, coming together to discuss the #plans against #state capture.

April 06, 2017

Thu, 06 Apr 2017 16:45:14 +0000

How I’m spending my

April 01, 2017

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:21:11 +0000

Men on at the at the

April 01, 2017

Sat, 01 Apr 2017 12:24:07 +0000

#breakfast #Syria style in #capetown. I #love #middleeast #food.

March 30, 2017

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 12:38:41 +0000

March 21, 2017

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 15:39:37 +0000

#hot, #exhausting last days of #summer. Takes it out of you.

March 13, 2017

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 13:15:38 +0000

#lunch @hello_sailor_bistro again. This is a typical #edwardian or #Victorian #southafrican #shop front. At top right you can see the tail of a #dassault #mirage #jet #fighter with the #wasp of #3rd #squadron of the #saaf.

March 12, 2017

Sun, 12 Mar 2017 15:22:16 +0000

When your significant other is a supervisor @rhodentette

March 03, 2017

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:53:21 +0000

March 03, 2017

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:32:44 +0000

March 03, 2017

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:22:41 +0000

#ancient #Egyptian #cat #necklace.

March 03, 2017

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 14:16:33 +0000

February 15, 2017

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:53:23 +0000

When #famousskitten #attacks!

February 14, 2017

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 19:09:07 +0000

It’s Stirling from next door.

February 12, 2017

Sun, 12 Feb 2017 13:44:35 +0000

February 10, 2017

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 15:41:20 +0000

Dash this #heat. Dash it I say.

February 10, 2017

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 14:56:24 +0000

#strandstreet #capetown #waiting in the #street. #sweltering #summer day.

February 05, 2017

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:31:04 +0000

@rhodentette over provision in

February 04, 2017

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 13:38:15 +0000

#demons and #ghosts in #obs.

February 04, 2017

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 11:04:31 +0000

February 04, 2017

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 10:46:28 +0000

February 02, 2017

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 16:42:46 +0000

On the #myciti #bus after a long, #shit day.

February 01, 2017

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 08:35:22 +0000

@konfytbekkie Soaking up in

February 01, 2017

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 08:33:17 +0000

has a guest this morning

January 27, 2017

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 23:20:49 +0000

#bunny #rabbit being brushed by @sophdex in #brooklyn #capetown.

January 27, 2017

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 18:20:16 +0000

January 22, 2017

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:26:31 +0000

Wut?

January 20, 2017

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 12:49:40 +0000

Keeping you updated on #famousskitten and its #sleep training. Catching some hard Zs here.

January 19, 2017

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 10:34:17 +0000

#breakfast at #hellosailor in #observatory #capetown.

January 18, 2017

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 14:04:15 +0000

Every 15 years or so, #docmartens come back into #fashion. Oi! #skinheads in the #70s, #grunge in the #90s, and now #millenials get the best choices yet.

January 16, 2017

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 08:30:34 +0000

#dying doing what you #love in #paarl.

January 14, 2017

Sat, 14 Jan 2017 15:11:37 +0000

#famousskitten is in #training. Now #sleeping 18 hours per day and going for 19.

January 13, 2017

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:43:51 +0000

#famousskitten is #exhausted from #sleeping all #morning. So its taking a #nap.

January 12, 2017

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 14:20:35 +0000

When the guy talking to you on the bus is so you get off at to wait for the next

January 11, 2017

Wed, 11 Jan 2017 12:36:39 +0000

That when you’re at @rhodentette @arathiarvind @sophdex

January 10, 2017

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 16:30:14 +0000

too

January 10, 2017

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 15:04:46 +0000

from so

January 10, 2017

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 14:01:16 +0000

A hot #summer breeze running through the #train from #capetown #metrorail.

January 08, 2017

Sun, 08 Jan 2017 19:38:15 +0000

Last day of our Being at the @rhodentette

January 05, 2017

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:18:13 +0000

#capetown emptying out into #gauteng at #vacation’s end.