Birthday Blogging

I have wanted to blog all weekend but I am sanslaptop presently. I borrowed it to my friend for the week while she was without her own. She needed to organise some love songs for her brother's wedding - my iTunes is in need of some attention but she assured me that it would suffice.

It seems that I'm one of the only people who actually concern themselves with song lyrics when putting together wedding music. More times than I wish to remember I've attended weddings where the blissful couple walk in to a depressing song like "Me and Mrs. Jones" or the guests eat their meal to something equally sad like James Morrison's "Wonderful World".

 When did people stop listening to words?

It's not enough having a beautiful piano or guitar solo or some heart-warming tune. Wedding music should tell a story of love; not love and confusion or saying goodbye to love or even the lead up to love. It should be about love in it's purest form so that if the newly weds or guests happen to find themselves tuning into the background music, that they are uplifted and the event is given a memorable and beautiful status.

Speaking of events memorable and beautiful let me get to the point (s) of this blog entry- my birthday weekend.

In South Africa we celebrate Heritage Day on the 24th September. On this day South Africans are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and all things that make them similar or different to others. I guess it comes as no surprise that in 2007 the day became known as 'National Braai Day'. Well I am a complete sucker for anything patriotic so a braai was definitely on the cards when I planned my weekend. But first.... allow me to get my bake on :)

THURSDAY
On Thursday evening I decided it would be a good idea to bake my infamous chocolate cake. I am a lover and believer in home-made things. I've only ever baked this particular cake twice- the first time it was an absolute hit. The second time it baked over the side of the tray and dripped into the oven. Since that incident we have had our oven repaired, apparently it was allowing air to escape. I don't want to be a bad workman who blames her tools so I was nervous to give the baking another go.

Recipe for Klop en Gebak Chocolate Cake to follow shortly...

The braai was just for close friends so it was nice and stress-free. And my fiance was helpful and attentive-the winning formula for this days particular mood.

After dinner we made our mission up Lions Heas for the full moon hike. I read about the event on facebook but I had heard little official information despite my frantic googling. The last thing I wanted was to put my besties in danger...in the dark... High above cape town. We arrived relatively late, it was pitch dark by the time we ascended the mountain. Little groups of people passed us- it seemed they were at the top for sunset and caught the last light while descending the trickiest parts of the slope. Smart people. With torches. We only had 2 headlamps for 6 people sp we had to be strategic. We positioned one wearer in front and one at the back. How do I always end up being the person in the group who has to create fairness and balance? It's a hard role to play and one I was not in the mood to be forced into. As a result there was a lot of kind requests to the people upfront to slow down for the (scared) one's in the middle. My fiance and I stayed at the back to make sure no one got hurt or left behind. The moon looked equally beautiful but so different from every part of Lion's Head.