Monday, June 8, 2009

I'm back ...

... from a fantastic weekend in the Cape.

While hubby and Mr T went about their business, I stayed with Ian and Kathy (my brother and sister in law) in Somerset West and visited my Mum. It's always so heartbreaking to walk into the Home seeing all the little old folk sitting in the comfy chairs in and around the lounges, some nodding off to sleep, others chatting (saying the odd word to each other is more like it), and others staring into the other world we cannot see ...

My Mum now doesn't go downstairs anymore but sits in the frail care lounge .. she was there .. asleep .. but woke when I approached her. It took her a few seconds to gather her thoughts .. she was pleased to see me but time means nothing as it was as if I had been there the day before. Very difficult to 'chat' now - I have to shout in her ear with only a few words at a time ... it was wonderful spending time with her again ... she's frailer and thinner than she was 8 weeks ago, but she's still our beautiful Mum



I then spent a couple of hours with Kathy at her beading class - what an experience! Kathy makes incredibly beautiful jewellery with beads, threaded intricately into twists and patterns, creating necklaces, rings, bangles etc. I watched the group of ladies being guided by an amazingly talented 'beader' who has written several books on beading, Heather Laithwaite - fascinating stuff!!!

You buy the 'kit' which has all the beads you need for the particular piece and follow the instructions. Sounds and looks terribly complicated but I believe once you get the hang of it, like a crochet/knitting pattern, it becomes easier ..


... this beautiful piece of jewellery is what the above work-in-progress will eventually look like ...


I will do a post on the beading as it's requires more than just a few words and two photos!!

And .... then it was onto the wines, wine estates and wine tasting ... as many as we could fit into a day and half ... !!!!!

The countryside was beautiful with autumn shades in the vineyards ...

I will do a post on each wine estate but in the meantime here's a 'taste' ...

The first one we popped into was Kanonkop ...


... then we drove to Meerlust .. which seemed to be quite run down and we wondered if we were in the right place ...


.. we certainly were in the right place ... the wines were yummy!! ... all six of them ... !!!


We had arranged to meet family members for a lunch at Guardian Peak but we managed to squeeze in more tastings at Rust en Vrede ... oooh ... thank goodness we did ... very very nice!!


This is our 'wine-tasting-chappie' (I am sure they have a title but I am too tired to find out!) who did our tastings. We took our 21 year old niece, Daniella, with us, who is in the 'foodie' industry - she seemed to like the Rust en Vrede wines a lot .. !!! ;)


Lunch at Guardian Peak which is on the wine estate owned by the internationally known golfer, Ernie Els ... what a magnificent view while munching away at the very tasty food which came with wines-to-match! This is our family enjoying the wine, food and view ..


Beautiful, isn't it ... just like a painting ... that's Ernie Els wine estate ..

We couldn't handle anymore wine or food after that and went back to the hotel in Cape Town for a 'rest' !

The foyer in the Southern Sun Hotel at the Waterfront ...


.. with a huge bowl of proteas in the centre ...


... and for breakfast, among other scrumptious food .. there was yummy honey dripping from a honeycomb

We needed the dripping-honey-energy for yet another wine estate before heading off to the airport and we decided to go to Lourensford, in Somerset West. Very modern building where they do the wine tasting...

.. which can be done either pairing with nougat or just plain! I made the mistake of doing just plain wine, but Ian, Kathy and Daniella did the nougat one ... oh yummy!!! That's a MUST for my next visit, as is the coffee roastery and the cheesery which are also at Lourensford


Then it was homeward bound ... over False Bay with the Strand and Gordon's Bay in the distance ...

7 comments:

  1. looks like you had a good trip...glad you made it home safe and sound...nice photos...

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  2. Lovely blog Avril. So glad we were able to join you. Looking forward to your next visit. Your photos are fantastic.

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  3. I also thought how sad it looked when we visited my grandmother in the old age home a couple of years ago. The day it was her birthday we rocked up there with tons of eats and drinks and played some music. The other old folk loved it. People should do more things like that.

    I've never taken photos at a wine estate. Never had the opportunity. I should mnake a plan next time I'm down in the Western Cape.

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  4. The photo of you mum made me so sad..... for the old people who are just there from day to day... and for us, .... because we all going that path. Aaaaaag why can't we not all live a full live until 80 years old .....and then just pass on one night in our sleep?

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  5. So glad you got to spend time with your Mum - bless her!
    The wine estates are my favourite - have you been to Marati? Now that is lovely!!

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  6. Well come back - so pleased you had a good time with your mom, love the photo of your hands...very special indeed...sorry to hear she is not as well as she was 8 weeks ago.

    Good to see CT through your eyes, have never been to a wine estate ever!! Can you believe that or done wine tasting...

    Thanks so much for sharing...

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  7. That honeycomb looks amazing!! I've nevr seen any like that, that must have tasted as delicious as the wines! It looks like you had a wonderful trip, and I'm glad you got to spend some time with your Mum as well. Hugs, for that, I can feel what you're going through. Loved the hands picture, it's a treasure!

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