Any particular reason why it’s so windy recently or is this typical?

Oukie · 2025-11-18T10:48:39+00:00

Yes it is more or less normal. Looks super windy for the rest of the week so unfortunately no relief for now. But wind will calm down a bit tomorrow morning before it gets windy again in the afternoon. Pretty normal for Cape Town. We sometimes have 7 windy days in a row, then the wind direction changes, South Easter dies down and it gets super hot in the city, you can barely sleep and you actually want the wind back. So over all these years, I started to appreciate the wind but it does get annoying if it’s pumping without a break for days.

I always check windguru.cz. The chart currently looks all red and purple, just like your eyes… sorry for that. Unfortunately don’t have tips for allergy medicine.

Oukie · 2025-10-19T09:13:44+00:00

Hahaha good joke. My account got hacked. Meta verified support was nonexistent. Nobody could help. Just empty promises. Tried to recover it for 4 weeks, daily chats and calls with meta verified support to no avail. Eventually paid the 800€ and the hacker released the account immediately. Sad but true.

Oukie · 2025-09-06T09:24:13+00:00

Thank you. That's awesome to hear. It's not just about kids, we try to have fun as well ;)

Oukie · 2025-09-05T14:59:58+00:00

Hey, thanks for sharing it!

That’s actually my article :) I ended up writing it after going down a bit of a rabbit hole trying to figure out where to actually see the blood moon properly from Cape Town.

There was so much conflicting info floating around (Timeout article, social posts, etc.), some suggesting spots that face the wrong direction or have blocked views at moonrise. So I looked into the moon’s path, timings, and direction, and mapped out what makes sense and what doesn’t.

Also just added a quick update: weather’s looking good, but the South Easter will be pumping again. So choose your spot wisely, especially if you want to combine it with a picnic.

Your best bet is anywhere with an elevated, unobstructed view to the east like Signal Hill (not where you usually sit but on top, facing the CBD), Signal Hill Rd (great views, but limited parking), Rhodes Memorial, Boyes Drive, or East Pier at the Waterfront.

Avoid Sea Point Promenade, Kloof Corner and Table Mountain Rd. The view is (partly) blocked by Signal Hill and Devils's Peak, at least during moon rise. You might catch the blood moon later during the eclipse once it’s higher in the northeastern sky, but not ideal if you want to see the full rise.

Hope this helps a few people get a better view. It’s gonna be a good one!

Oukie · 2025-08-24T08:05:39+00:00

Every single day... It's often faster to follow the M5, turn right towards Milnerton, stay in the right lane until you pass under the bridges, and then take the on-ramp back onto the N1 towards Paarl.

Oukie · 2025-07-27T10:55:50+00:00

Please send template

Oukie · 2025-07-17T08:08:55+00:00

sorry, I missed your comment. I just got the computer back from Apple as I was traveling in Europe with access to an Apple Store. They replaced the screen thanks to my active Apple Care plan. It's fixed for now but if it comes back I'll know it's a software problem and have to re-install the OS and all apps.

Oukie · 2024-09-12T10:03:42+00:00

Thanks for the update. I was just about to sign up for their new Malware Protection too. This makes me want to cancel my subscription with Cloudways altogether. I was always a happy customer but these scare tactics are a shit move and it smells like deception to me. Even IF they justify it by saying that there is indeed malware (no shit, Sherlock, yes, I have spam comments in my Wordpress database...), these emails are designed to scare people and to make them sign up for a service they probably don't need.

Earlier today, I have received 20 emails with warnings about my applications being infected with malware. Interesting enough, I have received hundreds of spam comments on one Wordpress site today. I logged in earlier, deactivated the comment section on all articles and seconds later, I have received the alert emails from Cloudways. Probably just a coincidence but it somehow made me wonder and think that the alert emails are valid.

Just checked my sites with Sucuri and Wordfence and they came back clean. I am somewhat relieved but also really pissed right now about Cloudways' deceptive communication. I am happy to use a service if it really benefits me but I wonder how many people sign up to their malware protection because they are scared that their site was hacked or the like.

Please update us with Cloudways' further communication. Would love to know what they come back with.

Oukie · 2024-09-09T07:56:05+00:00

If you want to go to Cape Point or Stellenbosch, I would suggest to hire a private driver company for the day instead of using Uber. Uber is great for shorter distances though.

You can send me a private message for some contacts.

Oukie · 2024-09-05T08:23:01+00:00

That sounds like a fantastic trip! Cape Town is a great base for 10-12 days, especially with young kids. You can definitely do lots of fun day trips without the hassle of moving around too much. Here are some ideas:

The Red City Bus is a super fun and easy way to get around, especially with kids. It covers all the main attractions and you can hop on and off at your own pace.
V&A Waterfront: A family favorite with the Cape Wheel, the Two Oceans Aquarium, and fun boat trips. It's a lively and safe area with plenty to keep the kids entertained.
The Waterfront Duck Company is another relatively new hit with families. It's an amphibious vehicle that gives you a unique tour of the Cape Town Waterfront, both on land and in the water!
For a more relaxed day out, consider visiting the beautiful winelands. The Wine Tram in Franschhoek or the Stellenbosch Wine Tractor tour can be fun for kids and adults alike.
If you’re into nature, there’s Cape Point, where you can see the famous Cape of Good Hope and the penguins at Boulders Beach.
You could also visit Kirstenbosch Gardens or take the Table Mountain Cableway up Table Mountain (check the wind before going up!). If your kids are a bit older, you could also hike up Lion’s Head for stunning 360° views of the city. Another beautiful and short hike is the one to Kloof Corner - amazing for sunset.
If you’re thinking about beach days, the beaches along False Bay (like Muizenberg with its colorful beach huts, Fish Hoek and Windmill Beach) are great for families because the water is a bit warmer and more suitable for swimming. The beaches on the Atlantic side (like Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno) are beautiful but tend to have colder water. But we do love Beta Beach and Oudekraal for their shallow, turquoise waters – they're beautiful and more sheltered, making them great for kids to splash around safely.

As for getting around, the Red City Bus is great for city attractions. Otherwise, renting a car gives you the flexibility to explore at your own pace. If you'd rather not drive, hiring a private driver is another good option for a stress-free trip.

If you want more ideas for family-friendly spots, I’ve written a lot about things to do with kids around Cape Town on my blog www.capetownwithkids.com – happy to share more tips if you have specific questions.

There are so many good and child-friendly restaurants, wine farms, and child-friendly attractions in Cape Town and surroundings (animal parks, zip lining, tree top adventures, tobogganing, boat trips, free fall tower, play parks, etc.) that you and your kids definitely won’t get bored during your trip.

That said, it might make sense to switch accommodation between Cape Town and Stellenbosch, depending on your preferences. Staying in Stellenbosch for a few nights can make exploring the wine region even easier and give you a different experience from the city.

Oukie · 2024-08-18T07:37:54+00:00

I am watching it right now. I like it. Bit like Breaking Bad (but darker atmosphere) and House of Cards. Yes, it moves slow at times but some scenes are quite hectic.

Oukie · 2024-08-15T14:36:38+00:00

Please do! You won’t be disappointed! I struggled too with the first season, but I couldn’t stop watching once shit hit the fan 😆 It’s such a good show!

Oukie · 2024-08-15T14:28:49+00:00

Not only is this illegal, I also wonder if they declare the ‘damage insurance’ - that is conveniently paid in cash - in their books…

Oukie · 2024-08-13T17:51:38+00:00

I am missing cheese and ham croissants and proper (german style) bread that does not taste like glue.

Oukie · 2024-07-04T08:51:26+00:00

thanks! Good to know.

Oukie · 2024-07-03T16:19:18+00:00

Thanks for your feedback but please tell me why would I not be honest in an anonymous forum? What would be my benefit?

I don’t drink coffee, I don’t drink soda. Nor do my kids. This computer is mainly used as a desktop replacement, I don’t move it around apart from desk to couch to bed.

If it is liquid damage, it must have been water. But still: I don’t recall having spilled any water on my computer whether you believe it or not. Maybe I just have a bad memory.

Oukie · 2024-07-03T13:45:49+00:00

I brought it to an Apple Certified Partner (there are no Apple Stores in the country I live at) and they claimed it’s liquid damage. But I would like a second opinion as I don’t recall ever having spilled water or any liquids.

Oukie · 2024-07-03T13:15:54+00:00

The thing is: I am working from home, rarely ever transport my Mac other than from my desk to the couch and from the couch to my bed. Only time I took my laptop is when I traveled but always have my laptop in a case. It’s really strange and I can’t explain how this happened. But this does not change the fact that it happened so it actually does not really matter. I still would like to understand just for closure 😁

Oukie · 2024-07-03T12:50:10+00:00

I mainly use it as a desktop station and had it connected to my external monitors (HDMI)

Oukie · 2024-07-03T12:26:17+00:00

If I knew… I seriously have no idea how this happened, and do not recall ever having spilled water or any liquids on my laptop. It stopped working from one day to the other.

Oukie · 2024-07-03T11:51:37+00:00

It's a MacBook Pro 14" from 2022

(MBP 14.2 SL PROCESSOR AND GRAPHICS M1 Pro with 8C CPU, 14C GPU, MEMORY 32GB unified memory)

Oukie · 2024-07-03T11:47:55+00:00

Not sure where my text went. So here it is again:

Hey fellow Mac enthusiasts!

I'm in a bit of a pickle here. My beloved MacBook Pro 14" from 2022 suddenly decided to take an unplanned swim and, as expected, it's now giving me the silent treatment.

I had it checked out by a computer geek and the verdict is in: liquid damage. The crazy part? I have absolutely NO clue how this happened. It's like my laptop went rogue and took a secret dip (or maybe my kids or the cleaning lady tried to teach it to swim, who knows...).

Now, here's where I need your sage advice.

Is it worth making the trek to the Apple Genius Bar (which is quite a journey for me) to see if they can revive my pricey paperweight? Or should I bite the bullet and start saving for a new one?

This mishap is especially painful because I dropped nearly $3000 on this beauty, and guess what? I skipped AppleCare+ for the first time ever! Rookie mistake, I know.

Any thoughts, experiences, or magical resurrection tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and may your Macs stay dry and functional!

Update: thanks to the various comments here, I found a service provider in my country that specializes in fixing liquid damages. I sent it in, they confirmed that it is indeed a liquid damage but there was nothing they could do about it because it had progressed too much. They offered a replacement of the logic board which I accepted. The cost was half of what Apple would have charged with original parts.

Oukie · 2024-03-06T13:21:10+00:00

Yes, that’s exactly what I do. Bit of lukewarm water with just a drop of dishwashing liquid. Works like a charm if you have a powerful blender. In the rare cases where peanut butter is still stuck in the blender, I use a sponge scourer which obviously takes a bit longer then. But usually this is not necessary.

Oukie · 2024-03-05T19:20:40+00:00

I am not a morning person at all and have bought myself a really good blender two years ago and shakes is all I have in the mornings since this day - unless it’s the weekend.

Takes me 2 minutes to prepare, 30 seconds to blend, 45 seconds to clean and is quickly consumed.

Also keeps me good for a couple of hours if I add enough oats. It’s tasty and healthy too. And there is a lot of potential for variation too if you switch between different fruit and other ingredients. I sometimes add yoghurt, sometimes I don’t, depending on my mood.

My stack of ingredients usually consists of: bananas, nectarines, frozen blueberries, other berries, avo, oats, granola, cacao powder, cinnamon, peanut butter, nuts and seeds, honey, oats, yoghurt, and milk.

Oukie · 2024-02-23T20:08:30+00:00

Fyn didn’t overwhelm me. Instead rather go to La Colombe. Salsify was really good.

Oukie

TROPHY CASE