Coolest thing since autopilot

I’ve just spent a quick weekend in Cape Town to see my god children (before they get any bigger behind my back). Having to rely on lifts to and from the airports meant that I ended up in the departure lounge hours before both flights with way too much time to kill.

Luckily, though, Wi-Fi abounds in airports, so it is easy to keep busy while enjoying a cup of coffee and waiting for your plane to begin boarding. Until now, the same couldn’t be said for the actual flight, where in-flight magazines or napping tend to be my entertainment of choice.

Notice what I said in that last sentence: until now.

Mango Airlines and G-Connect have teamed up to bring South Africans Wi-Fi in the sky! It is now possible to connect the internet from your cellphone, tablet, or laptop as soon as the seatbelt sign switches off.

Although still in its beta-phase, I didn’t experience any problems at all with my phone. I was able to access Twitter, Facebook, What’s App, my emails and messages, the works! If you’re less of a social networking addict than I am, I suppose you could also use the connection to catch up on work.

What I did struggle with, however, was getting my phone battery to last throughout the flight! Although, considering that it died at about the same time the crew told passengers to turn off all electronic devices, this fact may be a Mango conspiracy.

Another interesting feature that Mango is offering us mobile junkies is a range of applications that allow you to book and pay for flights from your tablet or the mobi-site on your phone. While it may help Mango target customers with limited internet access, I can already tell I’m going to love this option.

Considering that I got to the self-service kiosk with no idea what my e-ticket or booking reference number was (I travel super light – no check-in luggage for me), I wish I’d known about it sooner. Instead of rummaging through all my emails trying to find the one from Mango with my details (to the irritation of those queuing behind me), I could have it handy on my phone in no time!

The flight to Cape Town from Johannesburg may not be a long one, but time really can fly thanks to G-Connect. It’s a bit pricy, if you compare it to whatever you’re currently paying for data. However, so is a glass of wine! At that altitude, just be impressed that you can even buy data at all. I was, and I reckon it’s worth it!

The photo I took and posted to all my social networks from the plane as we left Cape Town

Wishing upon a wine list…

With my birthday just around the corner, I’m getting many friends asking me what they can buy me. I’m actually looking to invest in some wines that age well so that I can get my “cellar” started. But some of the wines listed here have been chosen to help me pass the time while ageing the others! The prices vary tremendously, with some of the listed wines being much cheaper than others, so there should be something everyone can afford. Hope this answers that “what can I get you?” question!

Available from Debi van Flymen of Wine Cellar (082 493 2549) Joburg

• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2007
• Chapoutier Tavel Beaurevoir Rosé 2009
• Terre Nere Etna Rosato 2010
• Chapoutier Hermitage Chante Alouette Blanc 2010
• Corino Barolo 2006
• Yves Cuilleron Cornas Les Vires 2010
• Chapoutier Ermitage L’Ermite Rouge 2009 (for the VERY generous gifter)

Available from Stephni Naudé of SoloVini (072 595 9368) Pretoria

• Vondeling Sweet Carolyn 2009
• Vondeling Chardonnay
• Middelvlei Free Run Pinotage 2010
• Middelvlei Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
• Middelvlei Shiraz 2010
• Middelvlei Momberg 2010

Available from Charmaine Cockhead of Wine Dynamics (083 556 1147) Joburg

• Sterhuis MCC Blanc de Blanc 2009
• Sterhuis Sauvignon Blanc 2012
• Sterhuis Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Available from Martin Snyman of The Company of Wine People  (083 648 4060) Pretoria

• Kumkani Infiniti MCC 2007
• Kumkani Cabernet Shiraz 2007
• Kumkani Pinotage 2009

Available from Makro (check http://www.makro.co.za for availability)

• Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat Chardonnay
• Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Pinot Noir
• Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz
• Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon
• Klein Constantia Vin De Constance
• Diemersfontein Pinotage
• Val de Vie Ryk Neethling
• Vondeling Petit Blanc

Available either from Cyber Cellar.com or from the farms directly

Juanita | www.waterfordestate.co.za | 021 880 0496

• Waterford Family Reserve Heatherleigh Noble Late Harvest
• Waterford Pecan Stream Chenin Blanc 2011

Danél Theron | www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za | 028 312 3515

• Bouchard Finlayson Limited Edition Kaaimansgat Crocodiles Lair Chardonnay 2010
• Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2010
• Bouchard Finlayson Tete De Cuvee Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2009

info@hartenbergestate.com | www.hartenbergestate.com | 021 865 2541

• Hartenberg Gravel Hill Shiraz 2007
• Hartenberg The Mackenzie 2007
• Hartenberg The Eleanor Chardonnay 2008
• Hartenberg House of Mandela 2008
• Hartenberg Sauvignon Blanc 2011

info@valdevie.co.za | www.valdevie.co.za | 021 863 6100

• Val de Vie Gvc
• Val de Vie Shiraz 2008
• Val de Vie Val De Vie 2006

David | www.lemberg.co.za | 072 375 4336

• Lemberg Pinotage 2010
• Lemberg Spencer 2010

Other (see contact details in brackets)

• Altydgedacht GewÜrztraminer (altydgedacht@mweb.co.za |www.altydgedacht.co.za |021 976 1295)
• Alvi's Drift Viognier 2011 (info@alvisdrift.co.za | www.alvisdrift.co.za | 023 340 4117)
• Christina Van Loveren Chardonnay (Maritsa | www.vanloveren.co.za | 023 61 51505)
• David Finlayson Pinot Noir 2011 (David | www.edgebaston.co.za | 021 889 9572)
• Mont Rochelle Miko Chardonnay Sur Lie 2009 (wine@montrochelle.co.za | www.montrochelle.co.za | 021 876 3000)
• Oak Valley Elgin Chardonnay 2010 (mail@oak-valley.co.za | www.oakvalley.co.za | 021 859 2510)
• Swartland Bushvine Pinotage 2010 (Suzanne | www.swwines.co.za | 022 482 1134)
• Topaz Pinot Noir 2008 (www.topazwines.co.za | 021 855 4275)
• William Everson Chardonnay 2009 (William | www.eversonwine.co.za)

I’ll keep adding to my wine wish list as I discover more treasures at tastings. Feel free to return to this list for Christmas as well. Or Valentine’s Day. Or Women’s Day. Or really any occasion where you feel like buying me something special! ;)

Merrily Eating and Drinking on National Braai Day 2012

The men making their lunch contribution

What could be better than spending a hot, sunny Monday afternoon relaxing in the garden around the braai with friends rather than sitting behind the office computer? Not much, certainly! On National Heritage Day, South Africans get to skip work and celebrate their diversity instead.

Despite the many cultural differences represented in our country, one thing we all have in common is that we love to light up a fire and throw some meat (and veggies, in my case) on it. According to www.braai.com, “this is a noble cause, which will contribute to strengthening South Africa as a nation” and is supported by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Emeritus Archbishop Doctor Desmond Tutu.

Our National Braai Day feast

Even the Germans enjoy taking part, and a whole group of them gathered at my home, where my husband, Kevin, had lit up the braai our in the garden. Having been friends since school, they never seem to run out of conversation (mostly discussed in their mother tongue), so I had plenty of time to prepare the accompaniments while they lounged around the fire.

While they’d brought steak and boerewors to enjoy, Kevin and I had decided to share a piece of trout. We’ve learned a great way for cooking it over a flame without drying it out or burning it. Essentially, you place the seasoned fish and some pre-cooked potatoes in a foil roasting pan and cover it, set it on the braai for 15 minutes, then leave it to steam for another 15 minutes. The result is perfectly cooked, flaky, smoked, and delicious!

The very pretty and delicious desserts

To accompany the meat, I also served the leftover boiled pink fir potatoes (a delicious new type that is available from Woolworths), a creamy potato salad (made with regular potatoes), pasta salad, a leafy Greek salad, and some ciabatta rolls from Food Lover’s Market. Since some guests had not been able to attend at the last minute, lots of leftovers found their way back to the fridge.

Nevertheless, it seemed everyone still had room for dessert, which was a light and summery fruit salad – perfect for such a beautiful day! Comprised of green and red apples, cantaloupe, red grapes, strawberries, and kiwi fruit, the mix was dressed in delicious rosewater syrup. I served them in the gorgeous individualised ramekins we’d received as a wedding gift.

Can you tell that I love this wine?

To drink, the German gentlemen stuck mainly to their beers, but I enjoyed a glass of Middelvlei Free Run Pinotage 2010, which played to both Heritage Day (being an authentic local cultivar) and to Braai Day (considering that reds are often paired with meat). Although not a cultivar one might normally pair with gently seasoned fish or prefer on a warm day, Middelvlei’s version is light enough to enjoy with both.

Unfortunately, while it may have felt like a lazy Saturday afternoon, we do all need to get up early for work again in the morning, so everyone made their way home in the late afternoon. Still, it was great spending time with friends and enjoying the great South African braaing tradition! Hope you all had a wonderful Heritage Day.

All smiles as we prepare to tuck in!

The future of South African art is looking competitive

I finally got around to seeing the entries of the annual Kinnerkunsfees at Woodlands Boulevard. The competition is open to all pupils from pre-school to grade 12, and entrants can choose their own theme and medium.

It’s quite interesting to see what our youth are getting up to in their art classes nowadays, and the level of talent is exceptionally high. The results of this competition will not be easy to decide! These poor things are also going to face some fierce rivalry amongst each other if they all pursue artistic careers.

Generally, I find that school art tends to portray a fair deal of angst, almost cramming too much meaning into one painting. And it is very serious meaning: drugs, abuse, abortion, crime, and so the list goes on.

There was plenty of that to be found, for sure, but I did find some really fun pieces as well. Dylan Naidoo, a Grade 11 from Crawford College Pretoria, created a large “Starboks” coffee mug, with a checklist of key players on it.

Also feeling crafty, a Grade 11 Crawford College Pretoria classmate, Sean Tucker, fashioned an enormous Absolut Karma bottle, revealing the inevitable effects of over consuming (one hopes he doesn’t know these based on experience).

Another amusing picture on display was a pen sketch of the four facial expressions of a playful boy that was done by a Grade 12 student from Hoerskool Menlopark called Anja Jarling. I’d love to know if the kid in the picture is her little brother or something, since I think it’d have been an adorable tribute.

My favourite piece, however, must be the Coca Cola “Progress” piece done by Mary Song, a Grade 11 that is also from Crawford (I suspect that Crawford might claim the prize due to their great entries). I think ong’s work is so good that Coca Cola should actually run it as an advertisement! Tell me I’m wrong?

Overall, though, there are a lot of really excellent pieces. These kids are so creative, with almost way too much talent between them. I’ll be really curious to know who the judges crown as the winner, since it can’t be an easy task at all!

The artwork will be displayed until 7 October, so you still have time to go and check it out. Your favourites might be very different to mine, so I’d be interested to know what you think.