Richard Scott : 19th June 2022

Hello,

The storm on Monday night through to Tuesday morning was amazing. I don’t know if you know but when I designed my house all the bedrooms have tin roofs with no ceilings so you can’t hear yourself think when it rains. I did this because when I was a kid, 12 years old, my dad turned the maids quarters in the back yard in Johannesburg into my own private pad/hideout and I used to get quite scared going out to bed each night, especially those Johannesburg thunderstorms. The room had a tin roof and when those storms came and the rain fell on the roof it was so soothing for me. When it rains now it makes me feel safe, young, happy and brings back memories of my childhood growing up in Johannesburg. That house was 147 Kwartel Road, Birch Acres. That’s why 147 is my lucky number and I edition my prints to 147 and 47 and 14 and 7 etc. Bet you didn’t know that. I even choose 1’s and 4’s and 7’s when I buy a Euro lotto ticket. Here are some pics of me in the room. I was a bit SKA crazy.

Me in my room back then 

While driving into the shop with Joanne on Tuesday, I wondered what am I doing? I should be in bed. I really struggled all morning with some sort of anxiety. I must tell you a story about the first time I experienced anxiety. It was in 2019. I had a meeting with a client and gallery owner in Frankfurt Germany.  I got on the airplane in Cape Town, landed in Dubai and then took the connecting flight to Frankfurt. As my feet touched the ground from the airplane in Frankfurt, I had a massive rush come over me like I’ve never experienced before. I decided to exit the terminal and see if it went away. I remember it very clearly, it was snowing and I stood outside in the snow trying to fight this flood of emotion. I couldn’t control it and went straight back inside to the Emirates counter and bought a ticket back to Cape Town leaving immediately. It was the longest leg I have ever flown 32 hours to be exact. It was such a waste of money but what can you do. I also upset the Gallery owner and client in Germany. I have managed to get the anxiety under control but now accept I am not bullet proof.

The rest of my Tuesday was fine and I sorted myself out. I left the shop at 2pm to meet Joanne and we headed home to meet Ian from Jarwitz Estate Agency. The idea was to sign a Sole Mandate. Not something I would normally do but I do want to get the house sold and move on. 

Wednesday I had another admin day and sorting out a legal matter with a client who does not want to pay me. I have never been to court and am quite excited. I will keep you in the loop as the case unfolds and I am allowed to expose them. There is also a gallery owner I’m going expose in the coming weeks on my blog. Another stolen painting.

I popped out Wednesday morning to have coffee with one of my best friends Irini. Irini kids and my kids grew up together. Same schools, same braais etc. It was great to catch up and hear all the news. The coffee was nice. We tried Coffee Bru in Melkbos. I was impressed the coffee was excellent and the ham sandwich with a mayonnaise and gherkin dip, it was delicious. So cool to see a 4 restaurant’s on the strip.  I can highly recommend Coffee Bru when you next visiting Melkbos. 

Wednesday Angelina came over before dance and filmed me drawing on my gin bottles for a Tik Tok reel. There is 4 different flavours: Cirtus, Classic, Herbal and Naval. Each one is editioned to 147 only.

Thursday was a public holiday here in South Africa and Joanne took Friday off and we spent the weekend in Riebeek Kasteel. It’s a beautiful little town up the west coast and inland a bit.

On arrival we booked into the Royal Hotel and then went on a walk about. We stopped off at about 6 different restaurants and tried all the local cuisine and local Swartland wines. Ok my idea of spoiling Joanne at a ROYAL hotel was a disaster. We stayed just the one night and booked out. It just wasn’t us.

 Road Tripping

We found ourselves a beautiful house on the hill all to ourselves with it’s own garden, pool and fireplace – 3 Walter Street. Claire, the manageress was very kind and rescued our weekend – the house is spectacular. We foraged for food in the very well kept garden. Apparently, the soil is very fertile here. Joanne and I picked olives, avocados, pomegranates, apples, oranges, lemons and limes.  We only picked what we can eat. I am going to try make my own olives – one half in salt and one half in brine and see which one comes out the best.

Cant wait to come back in summer

Friday we settled into the new home and had lunch at Felix restaurant two houses down the road.  We started with a feta focaccia and then opted for the calamari done two ways whilst sipping on Grootepost champagne.  It was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be going back to Felix for the beetroot salad and peri peri chicken livers they both looked delicious but just couldn’t eat that much in one go.

Enjoying a Darling Brew beer. We found it very hard to find good craft beer in Riebeek Kasteel. I must speak to my friend Andre at Woodstock Brewery and get a brewery going here.

Joanne and I walked into Riebeek Kasteels only fine art contemporary art gallery. Astrid spoke to us about the local artists and the solo studio event which they run on 26 – 28 August. We have already booked the house for that weekend. We decided to relax for the rest of the day and enjoy the house. Saturday we went olive and wine tasting at Kloovenberg Wine farm. Claire, who is also the manageress of 3 Walter Street, suggested it – she works there. We bought a case of their Grenache Brut. It is a Swartland sparkling wine which is just delicious. It reminds me of eating candy floss as a kid. The olive tasting was a wide variety and I didn’t realize that you can do so much with olives from tappas to jam to salt and the obvious being olive oil but they push the boundaries with their dipping oils but Joanne and I walked out with a 5L extra virgin olive oil can 0po– heaven. It made me realize if they can do so much with olives what can I do with my girls.  

Joanne and I after out Wine and olive experiance outside Kloovenberg Wine and Olive farm Rieebeek Kasteel

Well its Sunday now and we are happy to be back home. Richie and Angelina have surprised me with Father’s Day lunch. It was great to see them and spend time with them but you know me, every day is Father’s Day!!

Myself, Joanne and the kids. Pizza from Forneria in Melkbos. The 2nd best pizza I’ve ever had ever had after David Higgs at Saint in Johannesburg and the Garage Guy in Cape Town

Until Next Week.

Richard