I’m in love with Cape Town - it’s an alive, magical city filled with treasures and surprises that never cease to amaze me.

The fish was christened Gherkin. According to my brother Gherkin has no ‘mamma’ or ‘pappa’ and as far as friends were concerned, Petr would do just fine - hence there was no need to return Gherkin to his pool. Besides, he can speak fishy and Gherkin has already said “bloep bloep’. (I’m guessing it’s code for “HELP!”, but who am I to disagree with a four year old?)

Upon return from ‘Stroompie’ last night - more on this unique family get-together later - Gherkin was floating two degrees from belly up. The little castle only holds that much water and being accustomed to a regular dose of oxygen, things weren’t looking to hot for our fishy friend. Petr finally recognised the urgency of the matter and accompanied my dad to the beach to release the captive. By all accounts Gherkin turned the right way up when he hit home base so we’re holding thumbs he makes it.

I’m on day 10 of my sacred holiday of which six days have been spent with in-laws, one with a hangover and the remaining three with my dad, Petr and my dad’s new girlfriend. As is, I’m floating two degrees from belly up and hope, like Gherkin, that I make it back to home base in time.

Being in the most beautiful spot on earth (I’m biased as you can tell) really helps though and it’s been great to pick up my note book when everyone is fed and happy and spill my thoughts on to good old fashioned paper.

As Parri said a night or two ago: “Cath likes lists” so here is my round up of 2008:

THIS YEAR I…

• Learned to water ski - I got up on my second try!
• Started blogging.
• Went to two weddings.
• Learned that two of my best friends are pregnant (due 2009) while another gave birth on my birthday.
• Woke up with a strange man in my bedroom at 3am on a Saturday morning. Parri and I both lost out wallets, phones, my wedding ring and our ability to sleep peacefully.
• Went to Johannesburg a lot. I’ve come to appreciate the city, its people, its beauty and especially the jacarandas in full bloom - and I can now semi find my way around.
• Started painting.
• Did coke for the first time.
• Went to Port Elizabeth twice - don’t ask.
• Never traveled outside of SA (much to my dismay).
• Saw my two older brothers and my mom once while they were out from the UK. The fact that they live far away really sucks.
• Spent my 27th bday with both brothers present!
• Attended my baby brother’s first Christmas concert.
• Went blonder and cut my hair short.
• Admitted my geeky gadget streak and now own an iPod Nano, a Macbook, a 16 gig iPhone, a DSLR (Nikon D60) and an electronic sudoku game.
• Learned to play poker.
• Started playing chess again (after a 10+ year abstinence).
• Discovered Stony with cola tonic and mint.
• Stopped drinking for 3 months.
• Rekindled a friendship.
• Tweeted a lot.
• Went onto Facebook at least once a day.
• Learned how precious people can be.
• Made great friends.
• Experienced a wind still moonless night flashing with thousands of fireflies.
• Wrote only in black pen in my Moleskin diary.
• Worked on some incredible campaigns that I believe made a difference.
• Turned 27.
• Bought a vacuum cleaner and a dishwasher and a tumble-dryer.
• Discovered new music (e.g. Jim White).
• Attended a Joe Cocker concert in Kirstenbosch gardens.
• Stayed at the Vineyard Hotel.
• Bought plane tickets to Europe for my brother’s wedding in March 09.
• Was asked to review a phone, attend events and share my opinion all because I blog, Tweet and generally play online. Very surreal.
• Started wearing necklaces.
• Realised my box is too small. But as Emma says: “You don’t need a bigger box, you just need to stand up.” I’m in the process of figuring out how.
• Learned that a friend is beating cancer one day at a time.
• Made Christmas tree decorations and baked brownies as presents.
• Worked bloody hard.
• Played as much as I could.
• Literally gave up at the end of the year.
• Watched to many DVD’s.
• Consumed an enormous amount of information in the form of conversations, blog posts, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, smss, emails (I sent close on 8000 this year), billboards, television programmes, radio slots and strategy documents.
• Learned to say ‘no’.
• Kept orchids alive and flowering.
• Discovered mineral foundation.
• Realised I’m not quite ready for kids despite having planned to have my first by 28.
• Worked with dynamic, interesting, dedicated and maverick people.
• Ate avo almost everyday.
• Went to the gym very infrequently.
• Swore to much.
• Started wearing skinny jeans.
• Admitted to mostly wearing only black and white and then promptly went out and bought a red and pink dress!
• Experienced a bomb scare at Cavendish Square.
• Ate to much KFC.
• Moved to a new office.
• Employed two extra people.
• Forgot to look after me and unfairly blamed and resented the world for it.

As of today I unplug.

I’m done. Thanks for playing.

Hope you have fun in the sun.

C