Our friendship started seven years ago through the exciting Cook With Us contest on the old blockchain. The bar was raised each week as some super-talented foodies from all corners of the globe were drawn in by what was one of the best foodie contests ever held on the blockchain. Even though we were fiercely competitive, good friendships were formed. We learned a lot from each other and our different cuisines. My foodie friend @carolynstahl, the fabulous Vegan chef, is one of the few CWU foodies who still is active. We were given weekly food challenges by the super-organized Cook With Us team of @offoodandart, @chefsteve, and everyone's favourite Mama, @pandamama, who is the only one on the team still active, and who I've been wanting to meet in person for a very long time. What a privilege to host Mom and daughter at my Airbnb, and spend many special moments together! I wondered what it would be like meeting in person, but I need not have worried, it was like meeting old friends.
Some of my favorite dishes from that contest - The Cook With Us logo not my own.
I met Pandamama's daughter @edenmichelle when visiting my son in the Netherlands soon after the loss of my hubby. I will never forget her kindness when my grief was still raw, giving me a shoulder to cry on!
Eden was one of the foodies back in the CookWithUs days, but of course, she is busy making a name for herself in the music world where she is known as EggSta; musician, producer, singer, and songwriter. Eden was a regular participant in the Vibes community, but her professional career keeps her on the run.
Christine and I had been chatting from afar for a very long time, way back when they were still in Cyprus, and hoped to one day have the opportunity to meet. Eden's work brought her to my hometown and Christine accompanied her to their next stop in the beautiful city of Cape Town, which is around 180 kilometers from the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas.
Eden and a fellow artist Kyle - Artist/Musician/Doctor worked together on a song, while Christine and I reminisced about the old contest, and how the world has changed in the seven years that we've known each other.
I wasn't well enough to treat them to a special meal but I hope to host them again sometime in the future and make up for it.
You will never get to see what I write inside here, nor will anyone else, as I will use the book for any of the following, maybe all!
Oh, and that's a pretty beaded keyring Eden gave me as well.
This Book is for:
- Long list making - yep!
- Procrastinating - Hmmm, yes.
- Guacamole Recipes - not so sure.
- Sarcastic Comments - Hmmm, yep.
- Weird Dreams - yes, I have them all the time!
- Deep dark secrets - yep, who does not have any?
- Doodling - for sure.
- Unpopular Opinions - yesss, especially the ones I have to refrain from broadcasting on the neighbourhood WhatsApp groups
- Computer Paswords - yes, despite having 1password, I'm old school, like seeing them on paper!
- Profanities - I say them silently, so no, they won't show up here!
- Other - lots of other!
As it says, if this book is found, it's to be burnt and never spoken of again!
Of course, when friends meet, there's something special about the meal preparation and enjoying it afterward around the table. I did manage to make a quick breakfast one morning, and because I was not feeling great, I chose a simple one-pan dish of Poached Eggs in a fresh Tomato and Onion Sauce which we enjoyed with toast.
Yet another super special and unexpected WOW gift!
Three of my friends and I had booked tickets to see Lord of the Dance in August; flights and accommodation still had to be booked. We had enough time to save for that, but then Eden surprised me by booking a five-star boutique hotel for my friends and I. Super generous and leaving my friends and me speechless. My brother also hopped on board, and booked our flights, so we can now save some money for a new outfit...or tap dance shoes.
The accommodation spoil gifted by Eden was such a wonderful surprise - the cherry on the cake!
We said our goodbyes at the end of four eventful days, but meet again, we for sure will, and hopefully gather some of our other SA Hivers for a bigger Hive meetup!
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Artwork by @artywink