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I’m just still amazed at how sharp the #ttartisan50mmf12 is wide open at f1.2 even though I paid a chunk less than US$100 for it brand new. It’s such a great little all metal, all manual lens. And yet it’s not a modern ultra sharp lens at the same time. You can see some weird little flares. It’s got real personality. This is the most elegant Rolls Royce but, to be honest they were never the most beautiful cars. You only have to compare it to a Hispano-Suiza from the same era. The modern RR bricks are perfect for demonstrating that you’re an oaf with no passion for anything but power.

Classic Cape Dutch farmhouse at Hazendal. Netherlanders really loved stretching out in the land they grabbed here after the limited space in Holland.

I’ve been hit by two infections in a row that have messed up my exercise. This was a long walk between them that I took my camera on. The corner of Rondebosch Common on a misty autumn morning. I remember taking my dog Jess here early one morning which was unheard of for me as a teenager. The common is an essential reserve for rare Cape plants and a wonderful public site for exercise.

A couple more from Kirstenbosch the other day. This rather riotous thing is Crassula cochinea my dad tells me.

I overcame my trepidation and found the path up from the Blockhouse to the scout hut - most of the way to the top. I got lost and got my legs scratched up a few times. The route is very poorly marked. I can’t help thinking without other information that rescue services could save a ton of money by simply putting good markers and clear information on the paths. Anyway. Now I’ve found the path I can extend my route even to Maclear’s Beacon - the highest point on our modest little mountain.

Lots of drama on the mountain today. A big fire was raging above Kirstenbosch seemingly. Throughout my extended hike the Apocalypse Now thudding of Hugheys flying constant relays to dump water on the fire. Pic 2 shows what it looked like when I first started my walk. It’s much reduced now but I still hear the helicopters from home. @johnthevudio is hard at work on the fire line I believe.

The Khaya tree in Kirstenbosch is one of my favourites. I’d love to see them wild one day in Central Africa… if there are any left. On a related note the back and neck of my favourite guitar is made from this, marketed as “African Mahogany” due to the close similarity of the wood to the true mahoganies of the Americas - now under heavy restrictions due to overharvesting.

More ambling around Kirstenbosch taking pictures with the old man. I thought not bringing my bird photography rig would have brought out the Orange-Breasted Sunbirds. There were certainly plenty of their favourite ericas in bloom. But not a feather was to be seen. Still a lovely morning out though.

Oh. this was the other one I meant to post. The dinosaur landscape of the cycads that evolved before there were trees or grass. I’m planning my exit strategy from instagram which that ridiculous animated manikin, Zuckerberg, has now enshittified to the point where it’s just a place for seeing recycled stuff from TikTok and Twitter. I see more original photos on Bluesky and I’m not exaggerating. The reverse Midases of big tech will never stop (unless they run into Mario’s brother) so I think I might scrape everything off here and put it on my own website.

Another little expedition into Kirstenbosch with my old man in his dapper explorer’s outfit. Wandering about. Taking pictures.