2019 Update From the Melville Cat

From the the Melville Cat:

Good day, dear readers. I would like to update you on recent developments.

Melville cat on the table
Updates from me, the Melville Cat.

Trixie, the Midget Fluff Ball Menace

  1. The Midget Fluff Ball Menace continues to play an active role in my day to day life, for better or worse. She is no longer a kitten but rather a half-grown cat. The Midget – I suppose I won’t be able to call her that much longer – is still rambunctious, forever scampering and tumbling about.
The Midget in her favorite tree.
Trixie leaping
She is forever leaping from place to place.
I suppose she is rather handsome when she chooses to comport herself with dignity.

Trixie is still a menace, but fortunately she has become a bit more respectful of my boundaries in recent months. I hope this trend will continue.

Sometimes I allow the Midget to share my milk saucer.

A Gift for the Melville Cat

  1. I recently received a beautiful ceramic food bowl from Cape Town. The bowl has gray spots and feline ears and Heather says it was made especially for me by one of my fans.
The Melville Cat with his new ceramic bowl.
Here I am about to dine from my new bowl.
Soenchie bowl
The bowl is very stylish.
Soenchie cat bowl
A closer look at the bowl.

Thank you to Zelda at Soenchie for crafting this lovely Melville Cat accessory.

Instagram Stardom

  1. I am the “Instagram Star of the Month” in the January/February issue of Pick n Pay Fresh Living Magazine. It makes perfect sense that one of South Africa’s most trusted retail brands chose to recognize me in this manner. In fact I’m surprised it took so long. Nonetheless I’m very pleased.
The Melville Cat with Fresh Living Magazine
My magazine feature.
Smokey and Trixie with Fresh Living Magazine.
The Midget was dismayed to learn that I, alone, am the Instagram Star (although she is briefly mentioned in the article text).
Stop in to Pick n Pay this month for your own copy. Also, a reminder that you too can follow me (and the Midget) on Instagram at @themelvillecat.

That is all for now from the Melville Cat (and Trixie).

The Melville Cat’s Soenchie bowl was complimentary. He received nothing in return for his Pick n Pay Instagram stardom. Opinions expressed are his own.


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Sunday Morning at 44 Stanley Avenue

How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?

44 Stanley sign surrounded by trees
The entrance to 44 Stanley Avenue.

I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.

Photos From Braamfontein's Indwe Park

I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.

Americans in Joburg: Why We Vote

In 2020, I published a blog post with tips for Americans living in South Africa who wanted to vote in the U.S. presidential election. I thought about simply resharing that post this year. But then I realized: 1) I want to write a U.S. election post that will be fun and informative for everyone, not just other Americans; and 2) Believe it or not, the U.S. presidential election stakes are even higher in 2024 than they were in 2020. So I’m introducing you to some really cool Americans in Joburg – one who I’ve known forever and two who I just met – and tell you a bit about who they are, why they live here, and why they vote.