Hepburn vs Hilton
02 Aug 2010, Posted by Cape Town Girl in Celebrity, girl stuff, 1 Comments
Chuckles. I has them.
Chuckles. I has them.
Spa babies
You know how sometimes living in the city bowl, living in Gardens, well it can just get to be too much. Just too much. Too much ease, too much convenience, too many friendly store owners ‘knowing your name’, too much ‘hey long time’ at the Kloof Street Vida, too much pretending not to see acquaintances while running into the salon for your Hollywood first thing in a Saturday so you can hit the (private) beach by lunchtime. Just Too Bloody Much. Such it was when Frances Sauvage and CTG realised that they were simply OVER the city bowl, OVER the Gardens Centre, OVER the moms in the park in Tambles (Tamboerskloof for you non-CT readers) and very very much OVER the relentlessly breathtaking views of the mountain and we decided we simply HAD to get away. We had to get away from the Bowl Terror, which is what we call that feeling where you are sure you are going to start eating your own head at any given minute. And what better a retreat to make a sanctuary from the Bowl Terror than One&Only Cape Town, since they are running a special for Women’s Month.
View from the Marina Suite
Lindt Hot Chocolate while checking in
CTG stayed in a Marina Grand Suite, which was so ridiculously spacious that Frances and CTG could practise their ‘Can’t Touch This’ Routine (that’s another story) without any kind of fear of breaking lampshades or dignity or nails. CTG’s suite had 3 bathrooms, an enormous bath, 2 showers and a giant cloud of a bed I had to run at from a distance to make it onto. Fosbury Flop style. Made sure to use a different toilet each time it was needed, just because I could. Frances stayed in an adjacent Queen Room which had a door that led onto CTG’s Suite. An interleading door. Like a spy movie. Honestly.
Cloud bed in the Marina Grand Suite
First thing we did upon arrival is hit the Island Spa. Because when one wants to escape the Bowl Terror, one MUST have a massage. Our masseuses, Alexandra and Pieter, ironed the knots out of us to the point that both Frances and CTG lay virtually comatose in the Relaxing Room with straws channeling pure pomegranate juice into our freshly pressed muscles. What’s a relaxing room, you ask? It’s a room filled with soft beds, soft blankets, soft lights, soft music, nuts and fruit juice, where you recover from your massage. Believe it, because it’s true. We lay there for a looooong time. Just lay there. Feeling safe. And soft. And calm. And after we lay in the Relaxing Room, we padded in our plush slippers and our gowns over to the vitality pools, where we proceeded to spend the entire afternoon in and out of the fragrantly scented waters, floating on the air bubble beds, sweating in the sauna, glowing in the steam room, drenching ourselves in the delicious Espa range… listen, there is NO better way to spend an afternoon. If you can find a better way to spend an afternoon, tell me, and I will print out my words and eat them in front of you.
Post-massage glow with Island Spa in the background
After massage and vitality REBIRTH (we were now different people. We are still), Frances and I arrived at Vista Bar for High Tea, which is an unbelievable spread of some of the most delicious nom noms you have seen in your LIFE. Because massages make you hungry, as does floating around ‘being reborn’, CTG’s eyes popped out of her head as she battled to choose only a few items in order to save herself for dinner. She settled on a Salmon open sandwich, and some macarons. Of course.
Macaron and meringue heaven
Nom nom nom!
After rebirth, and High Tea, it was time for a High Chill on our balcony, overlooking the Marina. Shame. It was tough. We ordered some red wine and we gazed at the lights on the water, marvelling at how we didn’t feel like we were anywhere near Cape Town since the cloud was covering the mountain. The Bowl Terror felt far away. Everything was perfect. We started referring to the present as ‘best day’. Then in-store dining arrived to set up dinner in our suite. Have you ever done that? Had dinner served to you in your hotel suite? We thought it would be an interesting change from the usual pomp & ceremony of dinner. All those other people. Loves, the lights were dimmed and the suite was covered in candles and rose petals and a gorgeous table setting, and Frances and CTG were served oysters and Graham Beck champagne while we waited on the balcony for them to prepare our feast. And THAT, loves, is luxury.
My Bubbles. Like the Nemo fish.
Divine
Frances shows that mollusc
Mmm bubbles - the Graham Beck Brut
We then proceeded to be waited on hand and newly manicured (Essie) foot. We were served new wines with each dish, and once we were finished each dish we gave in-room dining a call and they came and cleared and laid out the next dish. Thank you to sommelier Andre for pairing the wines perfectly! It was incredible. It changed the dining experience into something that is usually quite a self-conscious experience into something intimate and fun and the height of luxury – being able to take breaks between meals and relax with the view of the Marina before us. The food was amazing. First dish was a seared Salmon, beetroot, fennel, turnip, grape and pomegranate salad. Mains was lamb fillet served with polenta cake, aubergine paste and tomato juice (out of this world) and dinner was Blood Orange pannacotta, Campari Jelly, 70% Ecuador ‘rain’ and a chocolate-orange giant macaroon. Unreal!
Salmon, beetroot, turnip, fennel, grape and pomegranate salad with mustard dressing, which we enjoyed with the Spice Route Voignier.
The lamb fillet which we enjoyed with the 2005 Sequillo Red.
Dessert, which we enjoyed with an Orange-infused armagnac called La Grande Josiane
Needless to say, after all this CTG and Frances retired to the corner couch to loll around like pythons before we had energy to make ourselves some tea and carry on with our duty – to relax on the balcony and enjoy ourselves. And the sea air. And the view. And the plushness of our gowns. Did CTG mention in-room dining means you can swan around in your gown like Hugh Hefner while you eat? Okay at this point there was nothing left to do but for each to draw an enormous bath, where we used ALL our Charlotte Rhys bubble baths and continued to sip champagne while contemplating the remainder of the evening.
Frances owning her tub while CTG tops up her bubbly.
The bath primed us for further gown time, so we shrugged them on and shuffled onto the balcony for tea and cigars, minus the cigars (they cause wrinkles and smell siff luvvies).
Heffing out
Frances gets her Hef on too
At this point CTG and Frances were supposed to get dressed to go out to a friend’s birthday. But so stuffed with happiness were we that we turned away the stylist and makeup and we opted to remain on the balcony for a while longer, before we retired back to the corner couch in CTG’s Suite and watched Quarantine - a totally awesome take on the zombie movie. And then we lurched to our cloud beds, where passed out and slept the sleep of those who have escaped the Bowl Terror. Both of us awoke to the sounds of birds and the smell of the sea to an extreme breakfast spread. We went for salmon, cream cheese, scrambled eggs, seed toast, fruit, home-baked muesli, Bulgarian yoghurt and cappuccinos – god it was incredible. Frances face says it all:
Nommed out
Breakfast view
But now it is Monday, and Best Day is over. Miss u Best Day. There is so much about One&Only Cape Town that really just blows your mind and takes it from a luxury hotel stay to an experience that is just on a whole other level. Things like Pillow Menus, and Scent Menus - where you order which pillows you would like and how you would like your room to smell. Things like the quality of the food, and the attentiveness of the staff, who literally bend over backwards to satisfy each and every need CTG and Frances had. The fluffiness of the towels. The Suedeness of the gowns. The knowledge of the Sommeliers. The Lemon in the iced water at the spa even tastes special.Do yourself a favour – One&Only are running a Women’s Month Special for the month of August. You can basically have this entire experience for a RIDICULOUSLY discounted price. Click here to find out what it entails, or give One&Only a call on 021 431 5800. You won’t regret it – you’ll only regret not doing it sooner. See you at the Island Spa!
xxCTG
Am completely obsessed with one-shoulder cuts in dresses and tops. In fact, if I could, I’d be one-shouldering my way through life like an amazon of the sales, in search of the ultimate one-shoulder item. People would call me Jane and ask me where Tarzan is. They would offer me bananas, and approach me slowly, all the while saying ‘easy girl… we’re not going to hurt you..’. They’d say ‘Wilma, where’s Fred?’ like it’s actually a funny joke. Actually people say that already… but in a good way… I’m serious…
One of my favs, got this at a small store in Gardens Centre called Scoop and it's one of the best-fitting dresses I own.
This dress belongs to Carol aka @CJstweets - follow her on twitter - she's awesome!
This is a one-shoulder top from India Jane. It has really nice shoulder detail too, which is hidden by my hair.
…you get the idea. Anyway have discovered a gorgeous store called Lulu’s who have a feast of one-shoulder dresses. I’m currently transferring half of my personal wealth into their bank account, which might convince you to take a look at their dresses. Too awesome. Here are some of them (don’t order these as I am):
Divine, right? There’s loads more where these came from.
PS Lulu’s also have a very cool blog.
LA, PD and CTG
Went to the launch of 2oceansvibe radio on Wednesday night – you’ve never seen the New Cape Quarter so packed. It was an awesome evening – Jack Parow played live! Which rocked! Lots of good wine and pretty people. But the best part is the fact that we don’t have to listen to mass market radio anymore! Thank DOG. Because I’m NOT mass market. I’m CTG.
Click here to check out the pics from the launch.
Click here to check out 2oceansvibe radio site.
Click here to stream 2oceansvibe radio live. You can actually stream it on your phone! It totally works real time – perfectly! Ja, radio really is obsolete isn’t it… miss u AM / FM. Kinda. Not. Have thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 days of 2OV radio - Richard Hardiman and Seth are doing a great job. Don’t you think they’re really funny to listen to? Especially since they’re talking about things that are actually relevant to CTG’s interests – completely unlike ‘normal radio’. Plus I find myself actually liking ALL the music. And even the ads! Hehe. Tune in and enjoy.
Ffffound a bunch of them this morning.
You no like ping pong show? How sure you no like? Bang.
Don’t move, you’ve got a knot in your face… Bang.
Not sure how long I can hold this pose… Bang.
Wish I belonged to the yellow bandanna mercenaries… Bang.
Posing with knives is sexy right? Slice.
America. I loves it. Bang.
The 'Shee Pee'
Been having a quiet chuckle at this rather naughty way to use your vuvuzela now that the World Cup is over. Check out Wozela – they have a whole BUNCH of innovative uses for old vuvuzelas. You can even submit your own! Maybe more fun than recycling but remember, once you’ve had your fun, recycle!
Me Panjo The Tiger
Panjo like soooooo tired of being spooned in bed by human
Feeding me chickens & kibbles
Givin me tummy ribs
Panjo pretend is okay (don’t mind tummy rubs)
But deep down
Panjo want to stalk around jungles
Eat some Indian babies
Maybe Panjo poke a python (is Panjo’s favourite game)
But NOOOOOOO
Panjo must spoon with this bro in Africa
This bro smell like whiteboy
Panjo smell like tiger
Tiger smell good
Panjo want to know,
“WHER ARE DER OTHER TIGERS PLS??”
Me Panjo The Tiger
Whitebro make Panjo go to vet
Panjo no like vet
Vet stick thing in Panjo bum
Make panjo go “RAAAWAWAWAWRRRR!”
So Panjo run away
Panjo scared.
Me Panjo The Tiger
Me found a shady spot to hide
Until India finds Panjo again
Just now some kid wave at Panjo with a stick
Say ‘NO PANJO DOWN BOY’
Snap a camera in Panjo’s face
Say “OOOH GONNA BE RICH”
Panjo not understand
Panjo want to know
“WHERE IS INDIAA?”
Me Panjo The Tiger
Panjo likes tummy rubs
But Panjo miss India
Panjo scared.
Not hurt Panjo with stick, please.
Please. Not make do tricks for kibbles.
Take Panjo home.
Oh hello there
Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Just the first pic induces heart explosions. Brace for second pic of Life & Times of Josie Cat. Coming. Now.
zzzzzzzzzzz
I know, I know. The worst is yet to come though…
Shew. Can you handle it? Am barely coping...
I don’t really know what to say anymore. It’s just ridiculous that anything should be this cute. Josie Cat’s Guest Cat today, Finch, also happens to be exceptionally cute, a warning. Meet Finch.
Finch lives in the flat above Josie. Although younger than Josie by a couple of weeks, Finch is fortunate enough to have more liberal parents who are happy for her to roam free with her new collar. She’s a very sweet little girl and as fluffy as ever. Sadly, Finch and Josie do not get along but that doesn’t mean that Josie’s mom can’t pet Finch or take cutesy photos of her when Josie isn’t looking.
I haz bag, will travel
Interesting fact: Finch goes on road trips with her parents. Whenever they go away, they take Finch with. Amazing, right?
'Cat of the road'.
Travelling cat!! It does my head in! Finch’s mom happens to be a fashion designer – check out her stuff at ILoveLeroy. Thanks for sending her in Em! xx Send your CapeTownCat to CTG – editor@capetowngirl.com.
Although younger than Josie by a couple of weeks, Finch is fortunate enough to have more liberal parents who are happy for her to roam free with her new collar.
She’s a very sweet little girl and as fluffy as ever. Sadly, her and Josie do not like get along but that doesn’t mean that Josie’s mom can’t pet Finch or take cutesy photos of her when Josie isn’t looking.
Interesting fact: Finch goes on road trips with her parents. Whenever they go away, they take Finch with. They told me that they once had to phone around, asking all the guest houses in the area they were visiting, if cats are allowed. This was the first time that most of the guest house owners had received such an unusual request. Naturally.
I remember my Sweet Valley High days as if they were yesterday. I was about 10 years old. Prime SVH-hooking age. I’d go to my school library, beg the librarian to let me check out 10 books at once (it took about 30 minutes to read one Sweet Valley volume), she wouldn’t let me. I would offer her my lunch, she would say ‘that’s unethical’, then we’d come to an agreement where I could check out as many Sweet Valley High books as I liked provided I read a ‘real’ book in between. So I would end up with 20 books – 10 Sweet Valley High, and 10 others. Think Suskind, Nietzsche and Dante. Ja, I reeeeeeally had to overcompensate (via fear of ‘becoming stupid’, which is what my mom said would happen if I read SVH at the same time as the wind changed direction). But this, my friends, is how I got an education. Via Sweet Valley High alternate-bribery.
Just read Pride & Prejudice so I could read this. Wish Pride & Prejudice was set in LA and all the characters drove Jeeps and were blonde, too.
Of course, it was a WHOLE OTHER STORY when it came to getting gold stars for my reading chart. My teacher was simply having none of SVH, and she would actually DEDUCT 5 points from my reading chart for every Sweet Valley High book I read. I did work out a system whereby I could double my points for reading a book published before 1950 (think F Scott Fitzgerald, Graham Greene, Jane Freaking Austen …etc). Sheesh. When I look back things seemed awfully complicated for the simple benefit of reading a series of such simple books. Sing with me now…
“Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield were identical blonde twins who lived in a split-level house…”
Soooooooo bad. Not sure I’ll be reading SVC again. I think ‘life might be too short’. But it was nice to take this little trip down memory lane.
Went to the beach. Ate at lovely restaurants. Went shopping. Lunched. Got vida takeout and went for a walk on that weird farm in Tamboerskloof. Took some pics. Went for a walk on Melkbosstrand with some puppies. Does it get any better?
How was your weekend?
