Landing in the Southern Hemisphere

The first thing that hit me getting off the plane at Cape Town International airport yesterday was the sun. It was so high! Instead of squinting into a glaring orb that barely rises above the horizon, suddenly the light was above me, feeling so warm.

The second thing Tim and I couldn’t help but notice was the lovely long day. The suddenness of the northern hemisphere winter after reverting to Standard time always takes me by surprise. How dare the sun disappear around 5pm, and by Christmas, at 4pm?

Tonight we'll be enjoying a cool glass of wine on our warm patio on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. There is no daylight saving in South Africa and at the moment, the sun rises at 5:30am and sets at 7:45pm.

Tim’s first day here was spent at the new Stanford Centre in Mowbray, getting connected with the people he has hired, and slowly working through the “to do” list for getting the centre up and running by the time the first students arrive and the quarter begins on January 4th.

I had a less complicated task. A walk to the shopping centre to get some groceries and a visit to our friend Pieter and the last of my Jack Russell terriers, Geronimo, who still recognizes me and jumps into my arms at age twelve and a half.

On the way to Cape Town I spent three nights in London with my son, Gareth and his girlfriend, Naz. We lunched with friends; Pieter's sister, Clare, on Sunday, joined by my nephew Will and his girlfriend, Jen. What a meal. Clare produced the most incredible Asian duck dish, with butternut squash and rice. Not to forget the fish starter and chocolate cake deluxe ending.

Monday Gareth took the day off and we had another super lunch with Anne and Steve James who live near Gareth in Wimbledon.

Tuesday I caught the tube to the Hyatt in Portman Square and had a very pleasant pub lunch with Mary Whitfield. Tim joined me off the San Francisco flight in the afternoon.

Another superb meal that evening with Gareth and Naz at the “Porte de las Indes” restaurant near the hotel. Rather sumptuous French/Indian food.

And a last day in London with Tim, walking in Hyde Park before the rain chased us under cover for a final pub lunch before heading to the airport.


Some of the Hyde Park wildlife!

A good start to our seven months away from home.