19th Oct 2009 There can’t be much worse than a chef in hospital; all their typical traits are abolished: no creativity, no energy, no enthusiasm and no good food! Guess what, I’m in hospital! I’d been suffering from a swollen ankle on my left foot since Wednesday evening. I couldn’t think of an exact explanation for my injury except that I had foolishly slipped off the bottom step of a bunk bed ladder the previous Sunday evening. I started work this wee...

11th Oct 2009 If I have the money next year, I am so coming to “Rocking the Daisies” again! Think Reading festival but on a much smaller, greener, prettier, friendlier scale! It’s awesome – I went with two new friends, Michelle and Lesley who are from Ireland travelling South Africa and who are both chefs! When I met them, I couldn’t believe my luck; I was so happy to find people who were definitely on the same wave length as me. We seem to roughly hav...

8th 0ct 2009 3 days in and I have fallen in love.

5th Oct 2009 CAPE TOWN! I have arrived in South Africa and feeling incredibly excited and hopeful for fitting into a pleasant lifestyle here, with a balance of work, fun and exploration. Just over 24 hours ago, I arrived at ‘The Backpackers’ hostel even though it feels like it could have been a week. The hostel itself is fantastic, offers everything you need including a travel centre, booking you in for all the crazy excursions Cape Town has to offer. Right...

1st Oct 2009 I just watched the sun dissolve on the horizon. It was spectacular, happening in only seconds and would have been missed in the blink of an eye. A small canoe makes its way back to the beach where I am chilling under a palm and dreaming of Cape Town. Mangrove Village communal area is bustling at this time of day as adults and children return from their day’s activities to jump in the pool, play in the park or compete in a game of tennis. To comple...