idioteque

the road trip began in a mess of out-of-order robots, highway construction rubble, misleading yellow signs and enormous speeding trucks.

confusion, panic, GPS fail.

until we became free of the chaos on the city end of the N3, and found ourselves surrounded by tranquil grassland, the odd arrangement of trees on the hills creating beautiful through-the-car-window shots.

with brett's leica point-and-shoot. courtesy of nicole in the passenger seat.

encounters with speed cameras, pointed out by helpful GPS beeps. stops for m&m's, inside story and snickers. listening to radiohead's kid a in a red audi filled with bags, too many clothes, and a present wrapped in a duvet.

most of the journey was placid, for me anyway, watching the thatch grass lift, flap and wave along the hills.

hills once reserved for military vantage points, and i'm thinking, canons.

as we crossed over van reenen's pass, in perfect sunny weather (a first for me), the escarpment slowly folded down, aloes began to dot the road sides and the vegetation slowly shifted to lush, subtropical green.

and then we hit peak hour traffic.

but after eventually more chaos, swerving and tried patience, we saw the metallic neon haze of gateway shopping centre, umhlanga, and the sea.

and a newly established hooters on lighthouse road, opposite the newly refurbished oyster box hotel.

an interesting juxtaposition.

after getting settled in our marine terrace apartment, we reminisced about the misspent matric holiday we spent here in '03. when the red fox was still porky's, raffles was cloud 9, and there definitely wasn't a orange and brown owl/boob-themed "family restaurant" on the corner.

in '03 i hadn't learnt to have any consideration of the future beyond new years plans and making it to UCT on the right day in '04. i couldn't have imagined being in the same apartment almost seven years later, for our dear friend casey's wedding. to richard.

which took place at jex cottage near umvoti on 15 may, despite the rain. there was a moving ceremony underneath the trees in the surrounding forest, sandcastles, pinwheels, picnic baskets and braaied barracuda. penguin badges, an awesome photographic duo and a mean pink punch drunk from ribbon-wrapped jam jars.

but mostly, there was happiness. the widest bride smile and a gorgeous abigail betz/audrey hepburn style dress. music under the clear plastic marquis, dancing, and so many macaroons, cupcakes, petit fours, meringues that i felt suitably nauseous jamming barefoot on the dance floor.

in my mom's old halter neck red dress. fitted especially for the occasion.

sibling dance moves and silly shots of my face in a white chinese globe lantern. tanqueray, sea breeze and scrambling for coffee in recycled cardboard cups, after the sparklers on the meringues burnt down and the cake was cut.

three layered carrot with thick icing.

and as all weddings go it ended. so soon.

after a week of durban navigation and GPS missions, shop trawling, dinners and so much dessert, the build up to the day was done. the previous week of venue visiting and helping dress jam jars with badges and ribbons was over.

my pink painted nails, slowly chipping, are now the only reminder of a surprise afternoon bachelorette party at polished, where we ate maraschino cherry and custard cupcakes, drank champagne and laughed at nail polish names.

like "no spain no gain"; "do you know jacques?" and "who comes up with these names anyway?"

(for real)

idioteque by radiohead always makes me feel nostalgic.

but from now on, it will be for a road trip, a red-and-white wedding, my closest friends, and a week spent by the sea.

in the beginnings of highveld winter.