2012 did wind down wonderfully Culminating in a weekend away at the Umgeni valley nature reserve. It is my first holiday alone with Cuddlefish in a decade of being together. Despite our holiday abode being a cabin in the woods: no zombies, ghosties or supernatural beasties were sighted or impending signs of the apocalypse. The most dangerous occurrence was travelling down to the cabin in the storm. We didn't so much drive down to our cabin as slide. Our tyres were slick with caked mud



After that, with a new found appreciation for being alive we relaxed proper like the rest of the trip. With no electricity there really was little else to do but read and watch the storm rage outside over the valley snug in our little time warped shelter.







Howick Falls:



We got to enjoy it all from these weird slatted hammock chairs on the porch. We also made friends with a buck



We think he was guarding us from the zombies because he was hanging around our cabin the entire time. We hiked, saw raptors, wydahs, giraffe, a dead shrew and a zebra. The fact that baby zebra have beards is new information to me, perhaps it was only the one we saw. <3

Other lazings in Howick in tree nestled shoppes:







The sister unit came to KZN. We went to botanical gardens. We hugged trees, fed duckies and got chased by a camera shy asshole monkey. I wanted to steal a duckling but I knew Spartacus my hamster would not approve. So I distracted myself by fantasizing about being able to walk on these enormous Lilly pads:







I was also lucky enough to see a peach moth
(not my photo, but I found a pic to show you what they look like)


I also have recently been a moth pornographer. I found splendorous hornet moths mating. They were clearly quite happy to be photographed at least unlike said asshole monkey.





After that, I travelled to JHB. Did the Christmas thing with the family, attended a birthday celebration for my sister then my beastie talamia (where I also saw Tarion, Lunar, Kohana, punkskunk,Xaosnyte )
<3 PINATA!





We travelled home, probably very stupidly on the 31st Dec arrived at noon, had a power nap and had a nerdy, quiet, relaxed New Years with some friends. That suited me well since I usually have bad luck on New Year's Eve.







My favourite Christmas present. It is a rare find since you always see books on butterflies but never moths. This book and I have history. I first sighted it a year ago at that time I couldn't afford it then when I went back it was sold out. Then I saw it again while perusing second hand book stores with Arroia and Vassilis. Unfortunately the owner wanted a stupendous amount so I didn't get it for a third fucking time. Luckily not a week after my trip with Vas and Arroia I found it yet again in Howick and Cuddlefish got it for me for Christmas. I was bloody elated. Fucking finally. The best present for a bug nerd girly ever! I sat hunched over my bookie, enthralled oblivious to my family for a good long while. Also like some kind of an omen the mothy powers that be sent me some kind of as of yet unidentified Christmas hawk moth! I was very happy with life.





Random pics some of my escapades:





Book found while thrifting with Vassilis and Arroia: An amazingly racist children's book entitled home fun! I also loved how it says on the cover profusely illustrated.






Just wow different times.


The Natural History Museum:



Unfortunately they didn't label the bugs for some reason which really irks me I don't know why it does. It doesn't matter what it's called if something is beautiful it's beautiful but I have a need to know. 

Stunning architecture:



Wonderful fossils of ammonites and other fishes: