South African sequens

I have to admit that I have, on more than one occasion, chuckled at the complaints made by Capetonians about the frigid winters. I was particularly amused when I was repeatedly told before I left Seattle to bring very warm clothing because Cape Town was experiencing one of its coldest winters ever. I checked on the weather: Highs in the low 60’s and lows in the low 40’s. Sunny. Humph- that sounds a lot like Seattle’s summer this year… except without the sun!

I’ve been here three days and I am in the flat after running some errands. I have on a T-shirt with a sweater over it and am wrapped in a soft, lime green throw and I am freezing. I walk outside. Yep, probably about 65 with the bright South African winter sun beaming from the blue sky. However, I still chilled nearly to the bone. I now realize something I underestimated: central heating. Most homes in South Africa don’t have central heating and the most common form of heat is an electric heater that, at best, warms one room at a time. Lesson number one: Cape Town winters really are cold and no more making fun of subtle complaints by South Africans anymore.

Realizing that I still have a few hours of sunlight, I heat some water in the kettle and decide to take my laptop outside where I have a little brick veranda with a plastic table and chairs awaiting. I fill a beautiful zebra-print tea pot, stuff in a couple of Rooisbos tea bags and head outside into the sunshine. I pour the hot tea into a matching zebra-print coffee mug and settle down to bath in the sun’s warmth. I feel myself warming from inside and out. The sun is warm and the tea is lovely.

After about my third drink of tea, I notice something in the bottom. A bug? Maybe a piece of glass? At a closer glance I notice four opalescent sequins at the bottom of the mug. I smile thinking that the owner of those sequins is watching over me now. I finish that cup and debate to myself whether or not I should take them out of the mug. I leave them at the bottom and pour myself another hot cup of tea, allowing the warmth to fill me.