Diamond Wedding Anniversary - the party continues

I was up early to go to the earlier service so this is a picture of the sunrise


We were back for coffee and then to change before heading off to Waterkloof for the party with Cape Town friends. The restaurant is near the top of one of the foothills of the mountain range and looks down towards the sea...


The table - only dark because I took the photo looking into the light...
The bread rolls were like mini loaves and the butters had different flavours...


The amuse Bouche- not my cup of tea as it was mostly Creme fraiche but looked pretty/like an eyeball depending on your point of view!


The folks at the other end of the table...

I had the Marron starter which is apparently a fresh water lobster but think crayfish size. Pippa had the egg. The cheese (head of the monk) is shaved off. The onion veloute (sauce) is hot and poured over the dish melting the cheese.

This is the springbok loin- recommended medium rare but I got mine cooked medium

The table decoration...




The palate cleanser... Chocolatey




This is the cheesecake. Tasted absolutely fabulous


Caution photographer at work


Petite fours with the coffee - mango ices not seafood sticks honest


The view 


The flowers in the ladies


Top down


The fireplace


Lichen covered Sticks look good as decorations for the bar


Looking back on the restaurant


Railways are not fenced off like they are in uk. Looking both ways as we cross



And a drive home for a nap!
Off to walk doggies again today 😀🐶

Round and round the rainbow

The journey to Franschoek was atmospheric and South Africa as we have never seen it before. Rainbows abounded...


The tops of the mountains were largely hidden by low clouds and rain


We arrived at Cafe BonBon to be greeted by Heinrich the Second


The bread was mini rolls of different kinds


And tantalisingly on the counter was a giant lemon meringue.


Woody ordered lamb


Nigel had sea bass (this is his happy face)


Pippa had a cheese board...


And I had...


Beef curry pie yum yum


Pippa and the Giant Pie


Last time we were in Africa there was a hunt for these leather strips called Riempie (no idea how to pronounce it) which we discovered finally at Dassiesfontein. Here even in the poshest of restaurants their chairs have it as does my brother and sister in law in Norfolk


Desserts yum


Baked cheesecake...


Going going


Nearly gone


Nope can't do it!


The fountain was flowing as was the rain on the mountains behind...

We saw a family of soggy baboons on the drive back over the mountain pass...
And on the other side...

Was it the same rainbow? Maybe


A quick stop for some cheese and pickled onions...


Cheese Gromit!
Supposed to be onto Just Do's ("whilst you're here can you just do") today but I've lost Woody to the Internet so am enjoying the sun instead 😀
Love to all xxx

Mad dogs and Englishmen

We took the bike out for an airing along some of these roads - the roads with smiley faces are ones that are supposed to be worth driving



And in answer to Freda's question: "who's wearing the jumper now?"


There is a mix of tar and dirt roads. The dirt roads get regraded and can be better than uk roads with no potholes and smooth surfaces. However with the recent rain here it was more mud than dirt...


Admiring the bike...


Lekker means good. Bike goes droom...


Whilst enjoying a stop and photo shoot we made a new friend...



He was so affectionate he would jump up and hug you and paw your arm if you stopped stroking him...


Too cute!


Wanted to bring him home...


Only having a 2 seater we did manage to leave him where he lived and went onwards. Bear in mind the winter here feels like uk summer and we have only ever been here in SA winter it felt slightly odd seeing snow on the mountains in the distance...


We had a circular ride round and back to Hermanus to find some friends waiting for us on the stoep...


Cheese eating friends...


Dinner was at our favourite steakhouse and this is the incredible onion starter. It really is amazing...

It's been partially sliced and looks like a sea anemone (anenome?)


The next day found us at church. We saw rainbows. We also met a famous person but photos to follow. Guesses welcome!


A mix of blue skies and clouds followed us to Franschoek


Still some snow on these mountains


Theewaterskloof reservoir is extremely low you can see old roads running through it and in this part the only water is the river which has returned to its original course...


One of the bridges showing how high the water should be...


And amazingly a rainbow...


I love rainbows...


Normally this is an island when the water is high. There is a massive shortage of water in this part of the world.
Photos of the rest of the trip through the mountains to follow
Love b&w xxx