'Flowers in the Window'

There aren't many patches of grass round here in Tickenham (the area I've stayed in for two days now). However, there are lovely box flowers and other bits of green in the 'front yards'! And I simply love the fact that you can see what each person has done to their small entrance area. There is no hiding a starving thirsty plant or overgrown jungle behind a high wall then!

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Flowers in the Window

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WIDE OPEN SPACES

As I ready myself to leave Joburg I am thinking of all the things I'll miss once I am in London... just so I can ease the culture shock on the other side and lower my expectations... twisted but it might work (bad weather...check, moody people...check! Ok I think I can handle this!):p
And if I think back to when I had just returned from 6 months in China I distinctly recall driving from the airport and having this overwhelming feeling of SPACE, FREEEEEDOM!!! I also find that there is a more generous amount of this space in the Highveld compared to the coastlines of South Africa. Gotta be some bonuses for living inland... And so today, as I was enjoying the park and saying goodbye to all my near and dear, it came up again... A friend was talking about just how deep the sky's are in Joburg. A wonderful cure for anyone with claustrophobic tendencies. Gotta Love it!

Top Beans

So these last few weeks in Joburg has me reminding myself of all I love about this city and listing the 'why' behind some of my Favs!

Coffee spots...

* Guru/Lulu's (Parktown North) - The best if you wanna feel like your in a quaint trendy living room!
* Fournos (Dunkeld Centre) - The pastries are just DELISH...YUM!
* Seattle (Hyde Park Mall) - Just the perfect place for some laid back couch time with a book, mag or laptop!
* Vida e Caffe (Parktown or Greenside) - this place immediately up's your cool factor and the barristers are super chirpy
* Bean There (44 Stanley) - To experience clean, green coffee machines and the scent of African beans

In transit...

It seems towards the end of last year and at the beginning of this year 'my things to love in Joburg list' ran dry, not that there wasn't anything to love, just the inspiration to write about it was lacking... and maybe that was a sign of what was to come! Here I am now, about to make a move to another city that if you come from sunny South Africa, you also may find a bit hard to love...London town!!! But love London I will and so at the end of March I make my move to the UK, YAY! I find it quite serendipitous that as you begin changes in life you notice relevant things like...the neighbors kid singing 'London bridge is falling down' and how dreary it really is on a cloudy day, but despite these things, I am rather, very, extremely excited to go..! And so my blog changes from things to love in Jozi to things to love in London... cute nicknames for London anyone?

Arts-on-Main

I eventually got there...after months of having the name skim my consciousness. Arts on Main! So instead of spending a lazy afternoon at the park we ventured downtown to check it out. Its cutely quaint, and much smaller than expected...but I love the serene green courtyard feel. You can sit at a table sipping ice cold pineapple juice and feel secluded by the tree between you and the next Joe without feeling like your 'forced to eavesdrop'. The lush green grass, spacious art galleries, along with a generous helping of edgy books at David Krut make it an inner city sanctuary. I say bring on more city courtyard spaces...despite being a forest, Joburg still needs a spot of green to compliment the concrete in the CBD.

The Colour Purple...

Jacaranda's in Jozi...Just make the streets a little more colourful. And so even though Pretoria may be called "The Jacaranda City"...I am seeing more and more blossoming every year on our side of Gauteng. You've gotta love them while they're around because in a few short months they'll be gone...thats my plan!