West Cape Boys

Paul and I managed to get back to CT by the skin of our teeth this morning. I set the alarm for an hour later than intended, and he was hung over after drinking beer until the small hours at the hotel last night. I managed to blag my way past the 40 minute check-in queue like it was nothing. Paul was very impressed.

Last night's drinking session (which for me ended at midnight rather than at 3 am) was interesting. The two lads were capetownians born and bred, in their thirties and with young kids at home.

You always get a certain kind of conversation going when there are two guys and a girl having drinks together. On the one hand, they both try to impress you with their antics. And they want to protect you, treat you like a woman. But if you don't play along, they'll gang up against you. Apparently I had been giving them a hard time on issues ranging from strip clubs to game hunting, but I thought I'd been really diplomatic and laissez-faire. I can't wait to have a go at the braii (barbecue) - a traditionally male domain.

Paul was going game fishing this weekend. His friend has a boat which goes out for marlins. Very Hemingway. If the marlins aren't biting, they'll start chumming - with a horse's leg apparently - and start to fish for great whites. The hooks for these monsters are a foot long. But you don't take those fish out of the water, you let them go after you weigh and tag them. A little bit of science, I think. However, he promised to bring me back a tuna steak the size of a dinner table if he caught one.

This weekend it's going to get colder again and rain. I'll try to get myself a car for monday. I drove almost all the way to the Sheraton hotel last night for the conference gala dinner, and even Paul had to admit that I was doing well. I'll be overtaking on the left like the best of them in no time...

Miss you all.