Saturday 31 December 2016

'Fourging' ahead - a hundred days of activities

Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and say - nothing can stop us now!

I first touched South African land ready to move here in the afternoon of the 31st August 2016. After a brief stint back in the UK, I arrived back on the 31st December 2016, and since now is the 2nd January 2017, I have now been living in South Africa for a 100 days! To repeat my first blog, the important things first. I haven't been shot...although I did get chased home at 2 AM in the morning. I'm not homeless...although I won't be putting the whole place on Airbnb again. I haven't died of dehydration not starvation...although I'm still waiting for most of my salary from uni.

I left...
...then came back

December was especially hectic, beginning with first Thursdays, an event where the cornucopia of Capetonian museums and galleries are open for free access until late in the evening, providing wine and snacks. A couple of us headed to an auction house, and I spotted a nice vintage motorcycle, which I did not buy because I hadn't been paid. And also...don't know how to.

Beyond that, most of the time was spent trying to finish work related activities before I flew back to the UK. I guess otherwise all that happened is that I acquired a duck, and then lost the duck as I got chased home, in another scene where I thought I was Mo Farah but thankfully managed to this time conjure up his full spirit before I got mugged; possibly for the duck, but probably more likely my phone. It was 2 AM and it was whilst going through an underpass, of which there is probably none safe in the world.

Flew back home, graduated, hung out in Liverpool, went to Manchester, played Risk, lost at Risk, popped into York, went to a wedding in Birmingham, had Christmas, snuck a fantastic trip to London in before flying back (just, I arrived 15 minutes after bag drop closed), and spent new year's eve on a beach missing people back in the UK but loving everything else about being back.

I also met my first non-work friend visiting today, even if it was just a happy coincidence we were both here!

Highlights so far...
- FOOD
- Scenery
- New friends
- Work
- Animals
- Vineyards

Negatives so far...
- Someone drove into the back of me at about 5mph I guess?
- The McDonalds chips are so bad here...but the KFC ones are amazing, so...
- Definitely not this blog, right guys?!*

I've had a fantastic time so far and I owe it to so many people. Being back home was great too, even if it was hectic, but in the end the UK has to compete with this:

I said I thought I would not be bored of it here. I think I was right. I also found out something else...

Apparently taking pictures of your feet is seen as fashionable.


Song of the month: Carol of the Bells, by August Burns Red, because Christmas.

*Right?!?!

Editor's note: I moved this to be published in December so that my months lined up better. 100 days was 02/01/2017, and so good.