UCI MTB World Cup 2014 Pietermaritzburg

Greg Minnaar crosses the finish line, he is pushed down to third place after Aaron Gwin wins the World Cup
and then we all go to the bar and get crunk! Photo: Gameplan Media

I do this embarrassing thing, when I get drunk, I pick up on foreigner's accents. As humiliating as it is, I can't help myself. It could be worse - I know people who cry when they get drunk! 

So Saturday night saw the celebration of the end of the UCI MTB World Cup in Pietermaritzburg. The city had been crawling with foreigners for weeks. I was in danger, but luckily I had declared myself sober whilst I was training for a marathon.

My job is so amazing because I get to meet interesting new people who lead amazing lives. At the end of the day I celebrated with them at a local pub. And I had a drink. Aaaand apparently being fit coupled with not having had a drink in several weeks equals being drunk.

I found myself at a nightclub talking to some American man who kept taking his teeth out and telling me he was a winner when I was accosted by a South American named - I don't know - maybe it was Manie, Miguel - it could have been Mario? Anyway let's just call him Mario. 

So Mario started to chat and I love meeting new people so I was making conversation when he told me he bought "some amazing weed, eeet wasa five a rand". I'm like, "Five rand weed is not good weed my friend." He responds with, "Weel you smoke witha a mia." I dont mean to sound stuck-up here but if I was going to smoke weed it would not be from a five-rand bankie. I declined and went dancing with a wonderful Ecuadorian. 

Then Mario was back and dancing by me. I could smell the burned seeds. 
"Weel you a sleep witha a me," he whined. 
"NO," I say firmly. 
"Buta a why?" he wines. 
"Because I don't know you", I replied.
"Buta I ride in today and I am good also," he tried.
"No," said I.

Anyway this conversation became a little game and every time I passed him he shouted "Buta a WHY". And as I got drunker I started to mimic the accent to the point that I was shouting back "No" but the O sound was short like they say in Spanish. 
Halfway through the night and I was replying "No, gracias", whilst doing my best to bypass the now many men who were taking their teeth out. 

As an aside, I always wondered why these riders have perfect teeth - mostly they are fake (as I realised), which kinda makes sense if you think about it. But I like to think this is just the minority. I digress.

At the end of the night my reply to Mario's "buta Whyeee" was "irse con su erección feo"! And I never saw him again.

What an amazing weekend, what an amazing night. I am so blessed to have met so many new friends. Los amo a todos - I think that's how you say it - I am not drunk...

The Fig Tree restaurant and terrace at Simbith eco-estate

Oh just hanging in the kitchen, you know, as one does.

I love food, I get food. What I don't get are 'foodies' - people who live for food. They watch all the Masterchef episodes. They buy all the cool Yuppie Chef utensils. They use words like gastronomy and whisk. For me food has always been about nutrition. Everything I eat is optimal for my health. Don't get me wrong - I eat well and I like the taste of food - but I also eat cans of chickpeas for convenience.

You can only imagine what a treat it must have been for me to receive an invite to sit at a chef's table at The Fig Tree restaurant in Simbithi eco-estate by invite of executive chef Gerard van Staden. It really was. I have always heard people talking about food as though it were a theatre piece, with every course a different act. The peas and the carrots all actors and the kitchen directors all working tirelessly behind the scenes. Well...

I get it now. I have tasted fine cuisine and hot-damn it really is an experience. I feel like I have been at a theatre. Last nights five-course meal was one of the most amazing food experiences I have ever had. From the bubbles we received on entrance to the designer at the end of the night. I am a foodie convert.

Let me share with you this wonderful menu:

To start: 

Langoustine Ravioli with peas, butternut and sauce American with lemon foam paired with Buitenverwachting Blanc de Noir.

(I would have happily eaten just this all night, the wine was beautiful.)

Entrée: 

Phyllo, chicken and Mediterranean vegetables with tomato vinaigrette succotash of barley paired with Du Toitskloof Chenin Blanc. 

(For me this was the weakest dish - still very tasty though.) 

Main Course:

 Slow roast belly pork with jalapeño salsa and apple tart au tan with creamed mashed potato paired with Hartenberg Cab Shiraz. 

(This was the most amazing meal I think I have ever eaten, the wine was delicious.)

That's me giggling in the background.

Dessert: 

Chocolate grenoblois chocolate brownie, praline and caramalised hazelnuts with hot caramel sauce paired with Pegasus Cinault. 

(Something heavenly happened when I tasted the orange rind.)         

Designer: 

Deep fried brie with katalfi

Wild berry coulis and honeyed nuts paired with Zondernaam Tokara red.

(The brie was ripe...)

The Food at The Fig Tree reminded me about going on a date with my crush. I sat there not being able to say anything because I was so overwhelmed, so I just giggled a lot and drank. In the end I had to leave and go home alone. I plan to continue this affair though!

The Fig Tree at night.

Hanging out at Freeme KZN Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

I am all brave now that this big boy has been put to sleep.
He weighed in at 11.8 Kg's and I witnessed him tear the crap out of a blanket earlier so forgive my apprehensiveness.

At eleven O'clock on Saturday night I found myself at my parent’s doorstep. I had been suffering from anxiety all day and after a crippling panic attack I knew I had to leave the city. Howick on a Saturday night was just the place I needed to be. After a few cups of tea and a crumpled paper bag later I was asleep.

Awake at five the next morning, my feelings of anxiety came back. I needed to do something, something new. In desperation I decided to take my laptop and sit at a morning function at an organisation called Freeme website, which takes in injured wildlife for the purpose of rehabilitation and release. 

I ended up spending my entire day there. 

The highlight was participating in the release of two adult Serval that had been rehabilitated from a form of feline biliary. They had to be darted, weighed, captured and tagged before being released into Blue Crane farm, a reserve in Underberg. The process was witnessed by UK students who had come to do research into South African wildlife conservation. 

Dr. Ramesh (UKZN Servil studies) and Dr. Ryan van Deventer ( wildlife vet)

I also found myself in love with a warthog that had been brought in on Saturday, he been left with a broken pelvis after being hit by a car. He looked so sad and Roz, the GM of Free Me KZN, commented that he might have been lying on the road for some days. 

Visiting student

The whole concept of conservation in South Africa relies on support and donations. Education is the key to sustaining our wildlife and non-profit organisations like Free Me who work hard to educate, rehabilitate, release and rescue are under increased financial strain. The reality is that the survival of our wildlife depends on our own efforts to stop poaching. This can only be done by supporting organisations that actively work to fight against poachers.

The whole conservation experience really left a mark on me and I found myself wanting to belong to this wonderful organisation. I was exhausted but happy, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had a purpose.This is how I want to spend my day. This is my contribution, I will now be doing PR for Freeme KZN.

Just hanging with my new homie, a sweet baby Reedbuck.

For more information or to make a donation:

P.O. Box 48, Howick, KwaZulu Natal, 3290

Tel: 033 330 3036

Fax: 086 6539 658

e-mail: admin@freemekzn.co.za
http://freemekzn.co.za/