[imagesource:fromthefiresofmountdoom]

I must be honest, I was surprised that someone explained to me the other day that the reason things were so ‘crazy’ is that it was ‘silly season’.

“Sorry, it’s Silly Season now”, he actually said unto me in real life. I didn’t quite know where to go from there.

Did he suppose this was a new concept for me? Or did he suspect that I wasn’t aware of the time of year? Like I wasn’t already feeling anxious about the plethora of ‘Closing Dates’ emails that littered my near-abandoned inbox. Or the “what are your plans” small talk that neither party is truly engaged in, what with their minds almost entirely consumed with Sports Day and/or Coral Service logistics. All simultaneously contributing to the noticeable uptick in Urbanol consumption in and around the Southern Suburbs region.

As we turn to ChatGPT for further insight:

“The phrase “silly season” originated in the 19th century, often used in British English to describe the period, especially during summer, when newspapers would publish frivolous or trivial news stories due to a lack of serious news. It’s believed to stem from the slow news cycle during the summer months when Parliament was in recess, resulting in less substantial news to report.”

One can now understand why a word as silly as ‘silly’ is used to describe these end-of-year scenes. It’s because we’re using a phrase from the 19th century. Do you know how long ago that was? Darwin is from the 19th century.

I propose a more modern take on the phrase, and will from now on be referring to it as ‘Shitshow Season’. I encourage you to do the same.

Back to all things 2oceansvibe. I am pleased to report readership levels have returned to pre-COVID levels and we look forward to unveiling a whole new website to you in the first quarter. Clean lines. Less red. And beyond just the look and feel, we will be bringing back some of the 2oceansvibe Characters. But this time things are going to have more of a networking / entrepreneurial spin.

I find the LinkedIn model of hundreds of connections with various levels or tiers all a tad inauthentic. In reality, new ideas, deals and networking are conducted via people with real relationships. Usually on the Cafe du Cap deck in Newlands. The 2oceansvibe Characters are part of a real network of multi-industry people who have been getting things done for 20+ years. These are people who get excited about new ideas and enjoy working with like-minded people.

So that’s all rather exciting.

Also quite exciting is the imminent launch of Air du Cap – a fixed-wing charter service that has been brewing for a couple of years. Besides just scenic and ‘experiences’ trips around the Western Cape in the Cessna (Cape Point, whales, flowers, G&T in the Tankwa, Afrika Burn etc.), we will also be offering affordable charter services in a pristine, air-conditioned, twin-engine Beechcraft Baron 58. More on that here.

Now we move on to some general housekeeping.

We maintain our position on unscheduled phone calls and prawns.

Phone calls are lessening, but still rampant. And so I have taken to a new method, as I continue my crusade. I call it the ‘inside-out’ approach. I am now warning offenders that what they are doing is illegal and that their arrest is imminent. I think this adds an element of fear for the offender – far more effective than telling them to simply go f*** themselves.

And because some of our actual friends are busy transitioning into prawns, we do tolerate them – but, as Alex de Bruin agrees, we insist on at least a shower before sharing public eating spaces with civilians. We also insist the spandex is stylish and at least matches (including the helmet). And some padding over the groin, please.

So here’s to a fantastic 2024 for all of you. Please look after yourselves. For those of you who haven’t yet done so, you can add a colonoscopy and dermatologist visit to your list of New Year’s resolutions. Please.

I have several resolutions I will be attempting to keep, as the year unfolds. One is to play more of this new sport I’ve been enjoying.

It’s a cross between Padel and tennis.

Seriously – you’ll love it.

It’s called Pennis.

😉

Have a good holiday and see you in 2024.