Seven-ping Sunday (13)

Home is where the ping is.

Some weeks are one continuous ping; boundaries between pings are blurred and subsumed by a grand overall Ping. Or, as a friend put it (of our 40^th anniversary university reunion), “I arrived on the Monday, nervous, left on the Friday, felt like having to leave a family.”

Walk of the week. Sunday last, pre the Big Ping, and twixt sheets of rain, we took a two-hour walk down Simonstown Main Road with Cape Town Heritage Tours. Oozing knowledge (and back-handed wit) from every pore, aspiring movie maker Cameron Peters had our undivided attention as we heard where the Quran was first translated into Afrikaans and where Die Stem was composed. Broekie lace, a military museum and dog, forced removals tales and zillion of obscure and interesting facts were brought to light. Chat with him on 076 033 8164 to find out if he does a tour of your area.

Big Pinglet 1. Glen Country Club, Clifton. A loud and heart-filled gathering of 1980-1985 Rhodes students. Mostly older than me, but I was with a bunch of trusty jolling mates and the stamping ground did not feel unfamiliar.

Big Pinglet 2. Silvermine walk. We came, we saw, we didn’t conquer. But we did walk 6 k’s, get in some good views and deeper stuff.

Big Pinglet 3. Jonkershuis, Groot Constantia. A less loud, more refined gathering with wine and jazz. The organisation and sunset were superb.

Big Pinglet 4. Rooftop on Bree. Under a Scorpio full moon (which landed in my first house apparently symbolising embracing a new identity) under Table Mountain, we choreographed our bright-clothed dance moves to 80s music till late. Though I’m still waiting for The Cure’s ‘Grinding Halt’ which I used to request at the end of every Friday night jorl.

Movie of the week. ‘Michael’, at the Labia. Explores the early life of the youngest, and later most controversial, of the original Jackson five, and his fight to go solo. Long before all the ugly stuff came out. Seems to suggest the possibility of a sequel.

Lead of the week. When James Kagambi summited Everest in May 2022 at the age of 62, he was the first Kenyan to do so. These days he coaches mountaineers all over the world, with a specific focus on young climbers of colour. This week I got to interview this gentle soul for an upcoming magazine feature on the Mt Kenya challenge in May. Watch this space.

Till next week,

Ping with love,

Sharonski