Monday, January 31, 2011

CTFM Southdowns - a review

Last Friday Himself decided to treat the family so we went to Cape Town Fish Market in Southdowns mall. We'd been there with friends before and thought J&C would enjoy seeing a sushi bar and eating off it. J is into sushi big time right now and he and I treat ourselves to a few pieces every other month. C....not so much a fan.

We sat down at the table first, just to make sure the kids really wanted to try the sushi. Then we sat at the sushi bar. Between J, Himself and I, we had 7 different dishes. C tried one but ended up eating the rice and not the fish.

The first time we were there, we'd found the service really slow. Not any different this time either and the place was only half full. I don't know what it is about a restaurant that is about half full. Every time we eat out somewhere and it is half full, the service slows down. It's weird.

J had calamari and chips, C had steak (yes my carnivore struck again ;) ) with chips. Himself tried the Sizzler, a seafood mix with prawns, calamari strips, mussels and bits of fish in a peri peri sauce. I had a combo of fish of the day and calamari strips. We ordered a seafood noodle dish for all to share.

The prawns in the Sizzler....6 heads without bodies and 3 tiny prawns, no sign of bits of fish. My fish of the day was the tail end and so overcooked I couldn't even taste what species of fish it was. The calamari was great though. Kids enjoyed their meal.

When the manager came round asking how the meal was, Himself showed him the last of the heads he'd just removed from the sauce and wanted to know if that was what it was supposed to look like. He said no and immediately arranged for our waitress to get him 6 more prawns.

For R600 which included 4 soft drinks and two beers, it wasn't a great meal. The sushi was really good, J outdid even my expectations of how much he enjoys it.

Rating : 4/5 (originally 3/5 but an extra point for the manager organising more prawns)
Service : Not great. Expect long delays between courses

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Indie Authors

I was fortunate enough to be given a Kindle last year October and have been having some great fun downloading samples and buying books. I'm a diehard print fan though so won't be giving up my addiction to Exclusive Books just yet!

However, the one thing that has really changed my reading experience has been talking to authors of the books I have been reading. How cool is that! I would never have thought to even contact the author of a book I enjoyed a year ago.

It has also introduced me to a whole world of Indie authors I didn't know existed. One place is The Indie Spot, a website dedicated to bringing readers and authors together where authors are not restricted in advertising their books and readers have access to their favourite authors. It's been a refreshing experience and one that I hope will continue for many many years.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Incompetence at it's best?

On the 27th of May last year, I posted about being hijacked at gunpoint and it's aftermath.

In December Himself had to renew his vehicle licence and enquired why we hadn't received a notificiation for mine which was due then too. He was told that the database showed it was a stolen vehicle and therefore no renewal notice had been sent out. We couldn't do anything about it then as Himself was flying out the next day to join us in Cape Town on holiday.

Since we've been back, he's been calling the entire countryside trying to find out what we have to do in order to get the vehicle cleared as a recovered vehicle so that we can carry on with our lives and not worry about it.

The day after the hijacking Himself and the detective overseeing the case drove to Waltloo testing station, they did all of this there and then. It was cleared dammit!

Himself now has to take a day's leave, drive out to Waltloo and stand in a queue, show the vehicle to the police and get a receipt. Then he has to stand in another queue, show the person behind the counter the receipt and request a new vehicle licence. Why the fuck didn't the idiot who was on duty on the 28th of May 2010 do all of this there and then? Why?

Monday, January 24, 2011

Metal mouth

C has to have two milk teeth taken out today. Poor kid. It all started two weeks ago when I took her to see the dentist about a hole in a milk tooth. He cleaned it out, filled it and then sat me down for a talk. Her mouth is too small for all her teeth he said, and as a result some of her teeth on the top have come out behind the others. Way behind. He recommended a few orthodontists. We saw a really good one last week who recommended braces for C's top front teeth for now. The two milk teeth are in the way and have to come out before he puts the braces on in March. She gets to wear the braces for 8 or 9 months.

Back home, J (the little bugger) started joking around about her soon to be put in braces. In a way I am glad he did, his teasing is only the start of what is going to come.

She was very upset about the teasing so we spoke about the coming months, the treatment and what it is going to do for her and why it is so necessary. She understands why it has to be done but is not at all happy about being teased for it.

Still, I pity her. Children can be nasty and cruel for no reason. I'm going to make sure that the Tand Muis (Tooth Fairy) leaves behind a huge pile of loot for the teeth tonight.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

American Idols 10

Tonight sees the return of the American Idol show on DSTV. I think this year I might actually watch. Steven "fuck a duck and see what hatches" Tyler is so far the star of the show! And of course there are the nutjobs who make the show what it is in the audition rounds. Those contestants who dress up and think that their costumes will make up for their serious lack of vocal talent...then stand there in shock when told no, they are not good enough.

I didn't watch much last year because really, 9 seasons already? Have people not had enough?

Apparently not.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Ah 2011, how good you are!

Belated Happy New Year to all my adoring fans! :)

I hope that 2011 has started out on a great note and if not, that it soon picks up on a more positive note.

After a month long holiday, J&C have started grades 4 and 3 respectively, Himself is back at the grindstone, and I get to enjoy my Kindle!