Observatory

I wake up on Saturday morning with a hell of a hangover. Am suppose to meet someone for lunch time wine. Gosh I really cannot do this… BUT hey CHARL get your ass out of bed!!  Its ObsFest!

About 3 weeks ago I decided to “cover” the festival.  The reason: I had so much fun writing and sharing my trip to India and then started wondering what next? Where is next fantastic place I will go? I couldn’t wait to pack my bag again, charge my camera batteries, get a visa in order and be off again … Isn’t it funny how we never look at what we have and appreciate what is right there in front of us?! … So I decided to start taking pictures of my neighbourhood.

I had a great plan. Covering Observatory the 2-3 weeks until the festival. Taking a look at all the bars and restaurant in the area....I didn’t quite get to do all that...I did take my camera along to some places I frequent but  I was slack and lazy and like most silly humans on this planet not really appreciating their immediate surrounding and what they have...and somehow I am good at making up things...so let us say it was  a good representation of my little town and its festival. We had a great plan and didn’t quite work as we hoped. But you know what I LOVED it and still do!

Friday night I danced and overdid it. Ending up chatting and convincing a mom she can trust me to make sure her daughters will get home safe. She did actually leave and gave me their home address but later changed her mind...I’ m actually quite glad she did. Saturday I ended up with a bottle of wine for breakfast and plotting gate crashing a wedding while a lip piercing was going on. Sunday I got to sit back and also wander the streets while listening and watching the performance of some of SA’s best bands.

The streets were too quiet ( not too long ago they were too busy and a fire hazard)  people say. Where are the stalls in the street ( which is legally not allowed anymore) they ask. Why do we need to pay? ( let us not mention the elements and murder of last year after opening the gates) 

I just hope they will still say this is OBS Bru  (the only beer I didn’t get to drink this weekend, yes we have our own beer ) !! And we love it! We complain and we see it when things go wrong! We try and change and are never satisfied that it is good enough. Fantastic people. People who care. People who you can really talk to or shout at! I have studied here. I have lived here. I have worked here. I have lost friends here.  Lost..uhm uhm something else here J...I have been held at gun point and threatened with my life here.  I have loved and lost love here.  Here I have been a fool many times.  I have laughed more than I have cried here.  I have family here.  I have lost my eyesight and got it back here.  Here I have seen some of the greatest  beauty in the world.  And here I have found a neighbourhood and a community with its own festival!

...c