Here comes the sun

So after finishing at Volmoed I was collected and we drove round the beautiful coast road to get to Hook, Line and Sinker. We hadn't been told anything about it except that it only does fish and chips and it's quirky

Make your own rock shandy... you even get to add bitters to taste which could be a bit risky...

Tablecloth was the local newspaper and plates wee greaseproof paper. All food served in 2 giant pans for you to help yourself

Desserts of creme brûlée and choccup were finished while you wait

This didn't happen to the cinnamon ice cream though

Crunchy on the outside, soft of the inside l... armadillo https://youtu.be/bqeGxMgVOHI

The walls were decorated by happy and literary customers... shakespeare

To Asterix and Obelix

And to the really literary

We had lunch with friends from Cape Town who were experiencing the consequences of extreme water conditions

Hook, Lone and Sinker is in Pringle Bay. Not a lot else there but very scenic

What to do if your number plate falls off

On return to Hermanus we went for a walk on Grotto beach. Don't worry if there is a fire at sea

The clouds were coming in

And it got very dramatic

But it's still very hot

Clouds over the mountains

The wknd was getting up

And we were treated to an amazing lightening storm and heavy rain. Opposite to the uk it was not fresher afterwards but hotter and more humid

Back at home in the uk Splodge can't get any closer to the fire

Not even by a whisker

More anon xxx

Winter Interlude

Pausing before a continuation of sunny South Africa pics for a reality check for the uk...
Couldn't get to work today so enjoyed being at home


Even the trees have snow in their hair


We walked around The Priory 


Looking back to where we live- yup in the biggest one going


Looking at the view


The view


This is the view from our garden down to the Medway. Can see more now Woody halved the hedge in height


Looking back up to our home


Even the bird table got its fair share


Why Woody can't work


One side of the garden


The other side


What happened when the cats were shown the snow


Going


Going


Gone


Queuing to get in


Our neighbours hanging baskets


Later we went for a walk. We were the only footprints in the churchyard


Looking from churchyard down to the river


Watching me watching you


Ah haaaaaa  🎶 


East Farleigh bridge and church


Carry on up the Medway


Frozen catkins


And on our way home to log fire and hot chocolate yum!


Hope all in England wrapped up warm xxx

Following the Celts at Volmoed

I had a three day course at Volmoed which is a Christian retreat and conference centre near Hermanus. It is in the valley behind and it was amazing how much hotter it was with a mountain between you and the sea.


This is looking back up towards the community- there are more buildings here than you'd realise


There are also secret places to sit


And there is even a cave


Called the Grotto 


The reflections on the roof were beautiful. You can't see in this photo but there was also a bird nesting in there.


Watch out! Slowly driving cats! Or maybe cats that need to drive have to be reminded to drive slowly. Take your pick...


Looking along to the chapel


And over the pond the other side of the chapel


The water lilies are not the usual blue we have been seeing here


And here are the Jade Plants  or money plants - huge and spreading not like the potted ones you see in the uk


A fairy retreat house!

On the second day we had a break in the afternoon and when Woody came to collect me I took him for an adventure following the sign to mountain and dam


We found this sign though we seemed a long way away from the sea and even further form a lighthouse


We found the overflow from the Karwyderskraal dam which is the reservoir that feeds Hermanus (I think I got that right)


There were some pools in the Rocks which cooled both us and some frogs. Much needed after a long walk up the valley overlooking the stream that flows down it towards Volmoed


Froggy!


Looking down the valley towards the Grotto at Volmoed. Above the Grotto is the prayer hut...
We got back to Hermanus and went for another walk along the cliff path... all the way to Neptune...


Dramatic skies but still warm enough to get the Woodward legs out


Woody and I both went back to Volmoed for a social evening at the Boma with those that live at Volmoed and those on the course with me

And the kitty was also invited. Wine and chat til the meat was cooked on the barbecue and we went down to the dining room


We had chicken and boerworst (beef sausage) with these salads. Watermelon, feta and mint was amazing and something I'd not had before. As the dessert was ice cream I had more watermelon salad.


This is the layout though it keeps the Grotto a secret


Another useful warning.....remain firmly seated after drinking. It also led to the singing of hymns which must be pretty unusual...


And South Africa's answer to the Rosetta Stone



Amazing flower heads on this one. The last day at Volmoed was a half day and we went on to an extremely quirky fish and chip shop where we met Cape Town friends do more to follow xxx