A spot of blood to start the year. Acting like 12 year olds, jumping from the rocks above the ‘maalgat’ into the pool of unfathomable depth. The water, amazingly warm.

Managed to get a tad lost on our drive to Dwarsriver, taking the scenic drive out of Citrusdal after stopping to hunt down lemons, for a salad, of all things. The valley of Cederberg vineyards a surprise after the dramatic, but beautiful landscape through the mountains. The house (Dollie se Huise) Hesta has organized, comfortable and ideally positioned away from the campsite, to envelope us in the seclusion of the mountains.

The wind stirring mischief. Oilli bollen from Jan for New Year, under the setting sun, the mountains glowing red. The fire keeping us warm as the evening chill settles into our bones after the days heat.

A painting full of hidden mystery and stories. The first in the 30 day challenge that will take me through January. The focus on 15cmx15cm canvases, however while we are in the mountains, charcoal and acrylic will be my medium.

Wolfberg towering above us as first light pushed its way into the mountains. An 8km walk up the side of the mountain to the Wolfberg Cracks. Great boulders, left over from a giants game of marbles, requiring mountain goat style to clamber over, and ‘bum-slide’ down them. Inside the wide crack, between the sheer rock walls, an unexpected Eden of myrtle and small flowering plants.

I didn’t disappoint and managed to miss the path on the way down. Following the small rock cairns that some kind soul had placed at strategic points for others who wanted to take this unconventional route. Eventually we found ourselves back on the path, a bit of blood to keep it all real.

Lines, shapes and shadows. Demanding far better drafting skills than mine, to capture the grandure of the rock formations that are constantly changing as the light moves. The turquoise house of my Dwarsriver painting once again finding its way onto the canvas.

Muscles complaining from the exertion, eased with a spot of wine under a full moon, we chatted aimlessly. Ed Sheeran a new discovery.

The antics of two four year old girls on their plastic push scooters the wisdom for the year ahead. Having tried unsuccessfully to get any momentum on the scooters over the sand road, the one turned to her friend: ‘you know Sarah, fuck this!’