Yugo Stores.

Sunlight soap, paraffin, lighthouse candles, mielie meal and marshmallow mice. The smell is a combination of these things and it transports me straight back to childhood summers, when my mother used to take us to buy slip slops at Dups - the ones that only came in blue, with little fish shapes pressed into the rubber.

The same shelves covered in gift wrap. Bicycle spares, plastic dolls in cellophane, razor blades, enamel mugs, zam-buk salve in tins, lifebuoy soap, vicks cough drops and tokoloshe salts.

Opened in 1946 by Archie's parents, long gone now. We left with a red enamel dish, stoney ginger beer and a small glass bottle of coca cola, ice cold.

56 4th Avenue

Linden

Johannesburg

Tea for two at Nigiro.

Gunpowder Temple of Heaven. Blood Orange. Blooming Richness. Flower Gate. Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearls. Spring Rain. 

The menu reads like God's will.

At the back of the Origin shop on De Waterkant there's an intriguing glass enclosure. This is not a smoking room. Welcome to Nigiro. Origin backwards.

 Neo told us that learning the skill of the tea ceremony is akin to learning one of the martial arts. It was a wonderful thing to watch - his graceful hands with sure, slender fingers and all the bits and pieces that fall into place to form this ancient ritual.

 We drank seven infusions of Ali Oolong Mountain tea, watching as the leaves unfurled and became almost new again. Aromas came and went: poppies, hay, wheat, rice, asparagus, candy floss and pencil shavings. With each addition of warm spring water, the brew changed, unlocking new qualities. The final pot was silky and cool on the tongue, almost minty, with the other flavours all still present - like ghosts of their former selves. 

It was easy to imagine those mountains.

A steamed bun filled with pork, cabbage and carrot. Sticky soya. Chopstick negotiation...

Show time: the tight bud opens underwater, like magic. A golden crysanthemum. As the flower blooms, it releases small osmanthus blossoms. The flavours are fleeting and delicate. Caramel and grass.

I ask about red tea and Neo shows us a disc of compacted Pu-erh tea from China. Matured for fifteen years, it's rare and costly, sold by the gram like hash or truffles.

Dessert: a moon cake, to share. Flaky pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. Earl Grey two ways.

We left three hours later, calm and lazy. 

Tried on dresses for an hour.

Thanks T, for a dreamy morning.

Dokter and Misses and Mister Minato.

I take my hat off to David West. I have some friends in the rag trade and from what I gather it's a scary place littered with many sharp scissors. Yet the intrepid Mr.West has just opened another outlet in Cape Town. Dokter and Misses is at 113 Long Street. His other shop is Weekend Special, near the Biscuit Mill.
 

 Cute dresses.
 

 And a changing room lined with high-density foam for when you need a moment...
 

 It was so comfy in there, I didn't particularly want to leave.
 

 But for a cold glass of wine. And sushi...

My Lovely Friend and The Production Designer picked me up for supper at Minato. Beautifully cut fish - for example: the nigiri - the fish doesn't end bluntly, it tapers into an almost translucent point and is draped over the rice.
 

 The pieces are big. Apparently this puts The Tall Drink of Water off so much that he doesn't want to eat here. I rather like it. I struggled valiantly with the sticks for a long time, but The Lip taught me some years ago that sometimes it's okay to use your hands. Very liberating.
 

 The Healthy Roll: no rice. Delicious. As was the one with the crispy tempura coat. We refrained from the Crying Roll and the Sweet Kiss Hot Roll. None of that thank you very much.
 

 Oh. oh. I would love to have a tattoo. But I'm a scaredy cat. So now and then I draw one with a felt tip pen. This one is à la Derek from Las Vegas. (God made me draw it, says Derek.)
 

What do you think?

New Asian Spice Supermarket.

 Keep your eyes open for this little shop - it's easy to miss. If you're coming from town, it's a ways after Laughton's, on the other side of the road. Large variety of good stuff, friendly and helpful service.
 

  The prices are really good - R45 for a kilo of miso! Those packets of goji berries, R35 only.

A fridge full of fresh Asian greens, home-made tofu, frozen dim sum....
 

 Pigeon brand pickled mustard cabbage.

Quail eggs in a can!
 

 

 The door buzzer says "Welcome!" when you arrive and when you leave.
 

 New Asian Spice Supermarket.  

186 Main Rd, Sea Point, 021 434 0598

Amulet.

 My friend Elizabeth phoned to say she had an early birthday present for me. She's been exploring laser cutting. She gave me these red perspex and silver daisy earrings. Lucky me!

I love people's nests.
This is Elizabeth's work bench:
 

 and some more tools:
 

 I ❤ tools.

Amulet. 14 Kloofnek Rd, Tamboerskloof. 
Tel (021) 426 1149

Myatt Cafe and Chocolatier

Bumped into my winsome friend at the Waterfront - she who also goes by a plant name. She led me to Myatt for a coffee. Somehow I've never been. Undoubtedly the prettiest cup of mocha I've ever seen!
 

 Delicious too. And the mini macaroon - an intense burst of chewy raspberry. Even better than Cassis and that takes some doing. They make fifteen different flavours of macaroon, the chocolates look delectable and the plates of food that passed our table looked very appetizing - everything done with great care and attention to detail. Not cheap, but one class act.

Two Woodstock Gems.

People have been saying I'm too skinny (is there such a thing?). So I'm making an effort to eat well. This is an easy thing to do at The Kitchen and decidedly one of the best deals in town. A vegetarian lunch plate is R40.00, add meat or chicken for R10.00 extra. I had: mustard & honey grilled pork sausage, lentil salad with courgette ribbons & peas, beautiful young green beans, two discs of perfectly roasted aubergine and a salad of grated beet, apple and coriander. There was a wealth to choose from, service was friendly and the whole experience is absolutely without pretense.
 

The Kitchen: 111 Sir Lowry Rd, Woodstock.
 

Two doors down, an old friend of mine has opened up a new shop. He stocks a pleasing assortment of old refurbished pieces and commissioned metal work.
The Treasury: 107 Sir Lowry Rd, Woodstock.
 

Church, Bread, Milk, Honey.

This morning I felt I had to go and try out an egg & bacon pastry at Bread, Milk & Honey, after reading about them on The Foodie. He waxes lyrical. And yes - it was darn good. But teeny. I could have eaten four. The banana & berry smoothie helped to fill my growling belly.
I read the Afrikaans newspaper for the first time in years. The word "soesjikroeg" had me puzzled for a moment, until I read that it was in the "ontkleeklub". Sushi bar in the strip club. hm.
 

 I popped in at Church, the little shop next door, to talk to that dude with the afro. The entire place is papered with painted cardboard and brown packaging tape. Had a good browse - there are interesting things from here to Bueunos Aires. Lovely wooden inlay work with unexpected subject matter. Chunky wooden rings and bracelets. Books. And, of course, the piñatas...

Predictably, I liked the panting dog.
 

 But was swayed in the direction of the Batmen when I was told that you get an adult and a children's version. The one is filled with sweeties and the other... well, he wouldn't say.