Happy Shrove Tuesday from our shrunken room!

Marina and I at the top of table mountain

The Gaps on table mountain

View of Camps Bay and Lions Head

This is how we felt hiking....

Braai.....




Birthday Flowers!!! thanks Mum and Dad :)

Hi,

I am sorry I have been kinda blog drop out but I am finding it quite difficult to find the time to update it- we however just got a new computer in our wing so maybe that will make things easier (although as i upload these pictures I am thinking it is a little slower than the teachers computers.. hmmm...) I updated the blog last Wednesday so since then it hasn't been to hectic. Friday night as I said we went to our first Braai which was quite the experience. We went to Bishops Prep for it- sooo different than here! They had about 30 people (boys and girls) and we were allowed to stay there late and drink and make noise (vs here where no boys are allowed on campus and e

verything else has to be kept very hush hush). We ate chicken and beef and pork that was dipped in really good sauce and seasoning and then "braaied" on an open grill (with coals etc). The boys organzied it though so there was no cutlery, plates, veggies etc- only beer and meat (apparently- according to them, the perfect combo) Around 8:30 we had another power cut (hmm on a friday night right when it gets dark... the country of South Africa is very sneaky) which ment lots of standing around talking to people you couldn't see. We planned on going home early any how as we were climbing table mountain the next morning at 8. The only dissapointing part of the night was that marina and I made brownies on a poor excuse for a stove (aka easy-bake oven) for the night and then forgot them.... (which acctually worked out well because we ate them for strength the next day). So we woke up bright and early the next day- put on our sneakers (the first time i have worn shoes in 3 weeks) and filled up LOTS of water bottles and took off (marina dragging her heels). We started at the base of table mountain on the waterfront side (one side of table mountain is waterfront/city and the other side is Camps bay) and then walked all the way around to the far side of the mountain on the camps bay side (approx 45min-1 hour of constant uphill) then we all of a sudden turned the corner and were facing a rock face that we proceded to scale- using hands etc. It was very rough... and sooo hot. Luckily we had super packed lunches from the kitchen with lots of snack food to intice us up the mountain. Marina who had been dreading this climb decided to be quite obnoxious when the rest of us changed our minds half way up and was very eager and excited about continuing up- "come on guys- i have such a good rhythm going" etc etc. We finally got to the top which made the whole thing worth while- the whole trip had amazing views (joan- you would have hated it!) and it was cool and windy at the top. The walk down was rough for many but I much prefer that direction. We all made it up and down (even the gr 9s!) and no one broke any ankles- suprising since climbing down that rock face felt very unsafe. I decided to wear my sens shirt on the hike- not realizing that my hat was also senators (thanks derek- you have decked me out) and along with my backpack and canadian flag i looked like a patriotic freak. After our hike we each had long cool showers and everyone went in different directions that night. I ended up joining Nicole Uys (St Cyps girl who did exchange to Sedbergh earlier this year) at a fmaily party she was going to- we have been trying to get together for awhile so it was nice that it finally worked out. It was also really nice to acctually get out of the boarding house and into someones home and meet some more people. Marina and I met out later that night and went out for a bit. Our new claim to fame is that we met a guy who makes the clay figures for the movie Wallace and Gromet. (soo cool). Sunday ended up being a lazy morning and then Marina and I WALKED down to the waterfront to watch a movie at the cinema and then WALKED back (we are so active- and too cheap for taxis!) We saw Elizabeth- the golden age. Very good- and Marina got all patriotic and started whispering historical facts to me through out the movie. We made it back just in time for dinner and then went out again to Camps Bay to meet up with the guys and watch Goldfish perform. They were done early so we headed back to school and made it a not-too-late-night. Monday and Tuesday have both been very lax days- Happy Shrove Tuesday! The school sold pancakes and we celebrated ourseleves by making our own. Today I had my first Ash Wednesday ceremony..... it was long... and interesting. This afternoon we are going to watch/play some tennis and then heading down to Gardens Center to get some phots developed. Also we have been invited to a fancy party at this club that is in the highest builing on the waterfront- supposed to be the best view ever. But it is supposed to be very formal and if we are not on the guest list very expensive- so we will see. If I end up going I will be sure to get some pictures.

In terms of school it is athletics week so a swimming gala tomorrow and the running gala saturday morning at 6am!!! (before it gets hot) so should be a bit of a quieter weekend.

Love to all at home- hope you are enjoying the snow and good luck with the marathon this weekend (hehe suckers.. but i felt the table mountain hike was somewhat comparable- it is going to be sweet taking the cable car up and down!)

xxxx Heather

Ps. My legs hurt for 3 weeks following the hike- and all i could think is i will probably have to do this twice more!!! :S