Goodness, where did this heat come from?
We touched down in South Africa. Pretoria and Centurion became our home base, and we spent our days alternating between family visits — lots of talking, laughing, sharing stories and, of course, lots of eating. Never forget the food — it makes everything extra social.
But the heat? That was planned by no one.
Menopause Meets African Summer
Immediately we remembered something we’d clearly forgotten: it’s hot here. Like, really hot. The kind of dry, relentless heat that makes you regret ever leaving the winter snow in Europe.
There was no wind. Just scorching, dry heat sitting on you like a weighted blanket made of fire.
And because life is hilarious, both Bernice and I are navigating menopause — meaning our internal thermostats are already broken. Add 35°C weather to that mix, and you’ve got a situation.
I struggled. Properly struggled. I ended up buying a fan (apparently I’d forgotten how survival works), and at one point resorted to wetting my shirt and just… sitting in it. Wet. Like a sad, overheated seal. Dignity? Zero. Success? Also zero. Effort? Maximum.
Bernice handled it better than me, which I am definitely choosing not to take personally.
Rain, Wildlife, and Paranoia
Afternoons brought proper rain. Rolling thunder. Heavy storms. Sounds we haven’t heard in years. Instead of being annoying, they’ve been oddly comforting. We’ve genuinely enjoyed stopping to listen.
Then there’s the wildlife reminder. Bugs. Spiders. Snails. Creepy crawlies appearing indoors with complete confidence.
Including a spider on the wall directly in front of my face.
We named her Felisha.
Add to that recent news about dangerous snakes being released into Rietvlei Nature Reserve, and you’ll find us checking under pillows, blankets, and absolutely everything before bed. Every night.
Entirely reasonable behaviour.
Shopping and Chatty Stopovers
Something we’d clearly forgotten: just how friendly and welcoming people are back in South Africa.
What was meant to be a quick shopping dash turned into long, chatty stopovers in every shop. We’d go in for one thing and come out twenty minutes later having discussed life with the staff. Seriously. In the Czech Republic, this doesn’t happen. People are polite. They smile. That’s it.
As a full-time freelancer working mostly online, daily human interaction is fairly limited — ironic, given how talkative I am. Being able to chat freely again, with no agenda and no rush, felt like being let loose in a conversational playground. I could not shut up. And there was Bernice with that look: rolling eyes, big grin, quietly amused — and then, somehow, joining in herself.
The Food (Because Obviously)
One of the best parts of being back? The food. Biltong. Dry wors. Chilli bites. Fish and chips with vinegar — things you absolutely do not find in the Czech Republic. We ate. A lot.
The Standout Meal at Mythos
A Greek Restaurant in Irene Village, and wow — incredible. The waitress seemed new and stumbled a bit, but the food more than made up for it: quality, flavour, portions that didn’t require a magnifying glass.
What we ordered:
MYTHOS MIXED MEZE PLATTER
Keftethes, fillet souvlaki, chicken souvlaki, medium prawns, calamari, beef strips, peri-peri chicken livers, tzatziki, hummus & pita bread,
and the KLEFTIKO
Tender lamb shank slow-roasted on the bone for at least 6 hours, served with their famous Greek-style oven-roasted potatoes.
Potatoes were missing sadly, but when they finally arrived, they were hard enough to qualify as construction materials.
So, 8/10 — purely because everything else was that good. Highly recommended. Just maybe double-check your sides. You can find the menu and prices here.
Hennies: Where Rules Are Suggestions
We also took a trip to Hennie’s Moreleta in Moreleta Square Shopping Centre (Githa Street, Moreleta Park).
You must see these rules, so funny! You can find the “house rules” on their website here!
I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. But much fun was had. Many Shooters were consumed.
One thing we’ve genuinely missed? South African shooters. They’re fun. Creative. Colourful.
Actual flavour combinations that don’t just burn your throat.
We find that in Europe, shots / shooters are mostly — straight vodka, tequila, rum, fire waters, etc. So if you want to have some fun check out this South African Shooter Recipe Menu for inspiration.
Springbok Shooter Recipe
½ shot peppermint liqueur
½ shot Amarula (Bailey’s)
Layer carefully. Don’t mix. Shoot responsibly (or don’t).
BlowJob Shooter Recipe
⅓ shot Kahlúa (Tia Maria)
⅓ shot Baileys
⅓ Cream (fresh or whipped)
Layer carefully. Don’t mix.
Load Shedding Is Back, Baby
To keep things interesting, we also lost power and internet. Plans became loose, days slowed down, fires were made outside in broad daylight, drinks and local snacks appeared frequently, and we mostly just enjoyed the company. It was relaxed, sweaty but wonderful to connect again.
Next Stop: Cape Town
St. Helena Bay (Golden Mile), Valley of Cape Cobra’s and Scorpions. Sounds charming, right? We’ll find out.
Stay tuned.