Tea Cup ,Toiling and Family Fun

Dear Hurricane Hamza,

A carnival in Cape Town? Yes, but not some silly parade with dancers and music, an old school traditional one with rides, games and candyfloss.

It was the first of its kind in many years and we owe our fun to your relatively unspontaneous dad for deciding to check this one out with us. To our surprise, this amusement fair was absolutely dead.

Besides it lacking the usual carnival ambience that comes with crowds, strange food smells and screaming kids, our little family had an absolute blast- with no queuing for rides.

First up you and I tried the baby tea cups, but you weren’t too sure initially. After a little run around the field and a stint on the jumping castle, you were good to go for a ride with dad on the bumper cars. In true Hamza fashion, a suffered a bump on your head in a bumper crash, which you shook off without a moan or tear. The real tears started flowing when the ride was over and you weren’t ready to get off.

The tears were soon remedied with a family ride in the baby tea cups again. We really shouldn’t have all been in the one cup, but with dad’s feet practically hanging out the ride and my knees pretty much under my chin, this cozy threesome had a blast!

The good old family fun day reminded me of when I was growing up.  Although we were still very much a Tv generation, there were at least other options as well.  These days as parents we seem to have to choose between  plonking you in front of the T.V or taking you to some kind of indoor play centre where as a parent you are expected to sit and drink coffee, while the kids ‘play’.

Today was great because we all had a good time, together, with the same entertainment.

This carnival won’t be a monthly thing, or even an annual thing, but I hope that as you grow, people will continue to develop fun ways for families to connect and enjoy each other in an affordable way- that doesn’t involve a flashing screen.

Love Mom xx 

Monkeying About

Dear Hurricane Hamza,

Sunday is my favourite day of the week. It’s the only day that your dad gets to do something cool with us. 

We visited Monkey Town, just passed Somerset West. They just opened a new market with an attached play park and live band. There was so much to do and it was a whole lot of fun.

We saw all kinds of monkeys and apes and there was one that I dare say resembled you just a little.

The market was small but great too. We had homemade Cape Chicken pies and Falafel and ate them at the play area on a large old swing bench while listening to a tolerable rock cover band- and for just a few minutes..life was still and quiet.

To end a perfect day, we rode a pony for the first time, something your dad wasn’t brave enough to do with you. I got to release the forgotten farm girl in me and school you in horse riding 101. It was a special moment for me to have the opportunity to share something with you that was a huge part of my childhood.

I would love to give you some of the innocent freedom that spending your early childhood on a rural farm gives you. When you are forced to play outside and climb trees and ride horses, life stays simple for longer.  For now though, you’re a city boy and we will have to do our best  to keep you away from the PlayStation and keep you climbing those trees.

Days spent with you and dad together are few and far between, but when they do come round, they are always memorable!