Creating Monsters

Xperinece 81

I have a slight obsession with Giovanni’s and their espressos. Most of my friends and I suppose anyone reading this blog knows it (if you didn’t, now you know something new). The girls in the office are convinced I have a problem and made me a bit self-conscious of my apparent problem. So I have abstained for a while (the longest 40 days ever!).

Ronel then asked me to join her for a coffee at Giovanni’s, I rushed as quick as I could to my favourite deli. Like a true junkie, I had a quick one before Ronel arrived for her new xperience and Pandora’s Box is now wide open again.

I ordered for us, mostly by catching the barista’s eye and holding 2 fingers up in the air. In this bar, they know my poison. With a flourish I presented Cape Town’s best espresso to Ronel and was rewarded with a worthy reaction. Like a connoisseur she commented on the smell, colour amount of foam and lastly the taste, by this time I was zoned out and enjoying all this in my own little private coffee paradise (jeez, maybe I do have a problem?). As espressos go, they don’t last long. After the last sip Ronel gravely announced that Jason’s coffee just won’t do anymore and her eyes wandered again to the counter. At that moment I it came to me, I might have created a monster.

Her newly created monster status was confirmed when she ordered a cappuccino and I went for my 3rd (40 days people, 40 days), I decided to poke the monster and suggest we take a walk inside the deli when done with our coffees… I succeeded right there in making Ronel Main Monster (insert wicked laugh here).

The next day while I was enjoying my new book and espresso in the corner of Giovanni’s, I wondered if I should phone Ronel, to join me. I didn’t, thinking maybe I need to give her some time, for the poison to do its work. It turns out I didn’t have to worry, she was sitting in her apartment trying very hard to ignore the call of the perfect espresso.

My work is done here, let one of them point a finger again at my little habit…

 

How much does the Russians recycle?

Xperience 38 (40)

There is a real difference between art movies and the stuff Ster Kinekor feeds to us as art movies. For one, there are countries other than Hollywood producing movies
We can thank our Cape Tonian behinds for institutions like The Labia.

The grand old dame in Orange street is hosting a Russian Film Festival and the venue for my next new xperience. I got my ticket for The Vanished Empire, a cold alcoholic drink (Labia is cool like that, you can even take it into the cinema) and while waiting made a new friend (cool people hang out there…).

The movie was nothing like the description which sometimes makes me wonder, can we really trust the person who wrote the sub-titles? I’m sure you’ve watched an animated conversation from a distance and made up your own dialog. If not, you should try it.
So the movie was good, but even better was drinks with a new friend afterwards (and no, he’s not russian).

Xperience 39 (41)

The plan was to go to the new market on Hope Street, but winter is slow season which leads to severe cash flow problems. I will be damned if I go to a new market and can’t spend money on food (glorious new wonderful tastes).
So I stayed in, trying to think of things to do that’s also wallet friendly until I had to go to work. After work, I went to Giovanni’s and spent my last R12.50 on an espresso. I’m sure my dad and anyone that’s got anything to do with finances wouldn’t approve, but as always it was a fine cup.

I just realised, I did have a new xperience! I had to beg the liquor store to return my car to me. Don’t judge! Let me explain.
There was a game at the stadium and parking was as rare as pork sausages in India. The only parking was at the liquor store… so I parked there and pretended to go inside, or else they ask you to move your car. In all fairness I’ve spent a considerable portion of my income at their establishment, I think it’s just good client relations to allow me some parking once in 6 months even though I’m not buying anything from them.

So I lost track of the time and realised just after five I need to sneak my car out. It took some serious convincing to get the mean liquor man to release my poor little car. By the way it’s the store close to Giovanni’s, get my drift?

Xperience 40 (42)

I thought Sunday was another day without a new xperience. Until I spoke to my friend Maralise.

Since I moved to Cape Town most Sunday evenings are spent at Maralise’s. First her parents house and after she got married at hers. Now they’re staying again at her parents’ house while renovating. It almost felt like high school again, with a few differences. Her dad now pours me a glass of wine and there are toddlers, who needs bathing. And here’s the xperience.
Sitting on the loo with a glass of wine while my friends bath their children and prevent them from drowning each other.

Gosh, how much they’ve grown up from teenagers consuming liters of coffee, playing darts in the braai room and watching Sunday movies. Me? I’ve trade coffee for wine, I was never any good at darts and I still like the Sunday movie.

Xperience 41 (43)

I think I have to do some planning with this xperience stuff…. and then keep to it.

Did I mention I don’t like winter? Today winter hit Cape Town. I had warm porridge for breakfast, wore my new Wellies, favourite scarf and thickest coat. Winter’s done, bring on Summer pronto!
I don’t find winter to be inspiring at all and coupled with my cash-flow problem, new experiences today was a challenge.

While talking to Maralise (who reminded me of yesterday’s xperience) and complaining about today’s no-show xperience, I fell over the bag of newspapers. The bag I’ve been meaning to take to the recycling point.

And then I realised, I have never actually done recycling. I always mean to and tonight I did. I grabbed my bag of newspapers and box of empty wine, mayonnaise and chutney bottles and dropped it in the allocated containers.

I feel green…who knows, I might try to grow something next.

 

Does a friend’s new experience count?

According to the rules, as set by me, NO!

But xperiencing a friend’s new xperience feels just as good. Giovanni’s is one of my favourite obsessions and one I indulge in when I’m in close range (about 15km radius). The office are tired of hearing me gush about their espressos, bread, food and actually just everything.

Today I dragged a friend with, her first Giovanni’s espresso and a quick walk through the deli later and Kim was converted. Needless to say the barista was really happy about a new pretty face around the counter.

Giovanni’s is by far not a new xperience, but I’m sure somewhere in their huge inventory I will find a list of new smells and tastes to add to my daily new xperience. Until the 10th I’ll just take as many friends with me to xperience Giovanni’s.