Cape Town, My City.

Anything ‘spring’ to mind?

Spring is most definitely in the air in Cape Town. When I got up this morning a small fragrant breeze was teasing my curtains and the crisp promise of a beautiful day was already hovering on the horizon. The perfect day to call in sick to work and set off on a Cape Town tour. But, alas, money buys the whiskey and it wouldn’t do to bite the hand that feeds. It’s the kind of day that makes you realise all over again why we stick it out in a country that is riddled with crime, is grossly mismanaged and squandering its resources. The truth of the matter is what we lack in infrastructure and economic maturity we make up for in great natural beauty. Poor trade-off? I guess you could see it that way, but let’s not spoil a perfectly lovely day by being all pessimistic now.

Back to the matter at hand – spring time. While there is much to be said for this most gentle of seasons, it is also important to report that it is also the Official Season of Break-ups. Ask around and I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at how many relationships go up in flames as soon as that hay fever inducing blossoms start peeking out their charming little heads. Granted, I haven’t actually done a clinical study on the subject but I have been subjected to quite a few post-breakup conciliatory drinking sessions and I can tell you it’s not pretty. Many of my friends and acquaintances have also noticed this alarming trend and many hours have been spent discussing the phenomenon. (We’ve even come up with a name for the people that abandon their relationships in spring time: Spring Chickens. Get it? Ha, kinda lame, I know, but what can you do?)

The main question is, why? Were we genetically engineered in such a way that we feel the need to be free to pursue multiple mates in spring time? Does it have something to do with the rotation of the earth, the pull of the tides or a shift in gravitational force? Or do we simply get antsy as soon as our counterparts start bearing more flesh?

There is no way to be completely sure. As with every social hypothesis this one has many a gaping hole, but it does make for very interesting dinner conversation that somehow always tend to veer in the direction of mini-skirts and the moral dilemma it represents for most hot-blooded males.

With that said, it looks as though Capetonians can now officially abandon their heavy jackets, scarfs and mittens to the back of the closet. Spring is most definitely sprung. Why not celebrate our escape from the icy grip of winter with a nice cocktail. Here’s a recipe that’s tasty, quick and surprisingly easy to whip up:

Mandatory Cocktail:

1 1/2 ounces Amaretto Disaronna
1 ounce simple syrup (dissolve an equal amount of sugar in water)
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

Shake all the ingredients well with ice and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.
See, easy as pie. Enjoy.