Spit Spot

It may be raining but still significantly warmer than ye olde Maidstone...



And proof that the rain in South Africa is mainly in the mountains...


Guinea fowl on the golf course


Clouds on the mountains behind... I want to walk up them one day...


We started the day with a shop. Woody doesn't get why I like food shopping but he's beginning to appreciate that shopping in other countries can be fun .... to start some biscuits...


Nuttikrust!


Fat b*rstard wine with a hippo logo


And an old favourite...


And one for Pippa woof!


Last holiday was noted for the rainbows this one seems to be highlighting the novelty signing that they have in this area. We started with the no parking sign that had been moved and ignored. In the Hemel en Aarde valley there is a 40k speed limit for a hairpin bend which is shortly followed by an advisory 60k for the next bend in apparently a 40 zone... and here we have a stop sign for the short sighted???


Dinner was at a regular haunt- la Vierge with the best steaks in the world (apparently)
1 out of 3 woody's smiling not bad


My main was the Incredible onion


And a beetroot salad


The restaurant has this amazing view down the valley- we sat inside but you can be outside to eat, drink or play boules


The view... the windows underneath the restaurant have the same view for the ladies as one is seated on the throne. the lower half of the windows are frosted out so those driving by don't also get a view


As you cross a bridge you can see the winery below at work labelling and packing bottles- this side getting them out


This side packing the labelled bottles follows. we don't usually get to see this because we've been there in the evenings


We got dropped off on the way home and looked in a couple of shops


And came back along the cliff path. There is a dassie in this photo honest


And even more dassies in this one...


Happy hunting love W&b

In the valley

There is a part of the mountains called the valley where due to the conditions is particularly good for grapes... 
we stopped off at one of our regular viewpoints 


Look for the lizard


The panorama


We were playing leapfrog with a truck depositing water followed by a road regrader 


Even where it looks most barren there are flowers

The temperature reached 37*c
We took a new road which is full of weeping willows despite the water shortage


And the willows are covered with morning glory


They were stunning


All purple ones and just incredible how they had spread


We got to the winery which is organic biodynamic and had a v special Sauvignon blanc but despite saying open it was closed

The car was parked facing the view of a small valley 
No way in


So we tried to go to another winery for lunch but being a Monday the restaurant was closed so on again


To Ecology... or "the mutton curry place"

The mutton curry was fab. Woody had rice and I had roti and they also came with a tomato/onion salad and lime chutney
Oh and a wine tasting


I like to reassure my mother that I am the alcoholic she thinks I am

They do 2 ranges, ecology and paardenkloof. It was really interesting to taste wines made from the same grape in the same vineyard but wines that were older and the flavours were definitely different.

And we made friends with Alfie


He was trying to lie on my leg but eventually slid off 


And this is the mountains behind, the tall one is the one where the grapes grow that I tasted...


When it had cooled down to a more reasonable 20somehing degrees Woody and I went for a walk along the beach.... believe it or not but there is a deal in the waves, the first time these people got in the way


And again it is where the splosh is but I never got a photo 


Another lovely sunset with the sun going down over the new harbour


We found a patch of empty mussel shells - probably the seals breakfast and then turned back but we walked back along the other side of the beach which splits the sea from the lagoon


Looking at a heron in the lagoon


And the sun melting and pouring across the beach


The mountains here really glow


And supper on the stoep with our friendly gecko


He was very good and didn't move


Off out to lunch now so love to all xxx

In the beginning

So we start at the beginning with a Splodge who has developed a fascination for the woodpile... must have been visited by something furry in the woodshed 



And a hello from Fog


Lots of goodies for our friends and family...


We got to the airport in good time for a visit to a selection of shops.... the doctor where I worked was suggesting prescribing Domperidone for one of our patients so I found a good source


We had a sushi starter


We got round all the shops we needed to and it was time to board... the perk of taking Woodys injection and ice packs mean that we could sneak over some cheddar and Stilton as a luxury product! 


On Sunday I was up early 8am - and it's 2 hours ahead in sa- to go to church. We parked near Hoys Koppie. We had friends round for Sunday lunch and then Woody and I went to the beach for a walk in the evening...


On the way to the beach 


A stop off for a Rock Shandy - soda, lemonade and a dash of bitters


We shared a combo dinner - grilled hake, fried calamari and salad and chips


And were there for the glorious sunset


We watched the sun drop down below the horizon


We saw some sea critters


And the sunset faded to pastels



The one way has been made 2 way whilst they resurface one end of it. Apparently the locals don't approve of having their parking limited so this sign had been moved onto the pavement...

Extremely hot today so enjoying air con in the car!

Love to all w&b xxx