Birthday celebrations

After a leisurely birthday breakfast on the terrace watching whales in the bay, we made it back to the Wine Glass in time for the England / All Blacks game with a few South Africans who were supporting the Kiwis. I think the most excited spectator was the lady who had brought our coffee who was shouting with joy every time England scored - someone suggested that she had a bet on the outcome!

After the game, we managed a walk along the cliff path watching a Southern Right whale with her calf. We could also see across Walker Bay to De Kelders - our next destination - on the horizon

There is a whale and calf - honest!

After lunch at a tapas bar, we were back in the car on our way to Benguela lodge in De Kelders where we had enjoyed such a great dinner on our last trip. This time we are staying there as well.

Jonathan greeted us like long lost family and we were hardly in the door before he handed us a champagne cocktail - to help us recover from the journey. They've been busy over the past few months - extending the building and adding rooms but it still  retains its eclectic feel with an amazing collection of art and furniture. 

 

There were 17 of us for dinner - German, Austrian, Swiss, English and us - with excellent food and good wines in copious supply. With all the chat and Jonathan catering for some of the pickier eaters, we didn't get up from the table until after midnight - thankfully we only had to stagger a few yards across the sitting room to our room.

We woke to a beautiful sunny morning - with a very strong wind whipping up the waves in the bay. Although we were offered breakfast in bed, we had already managed to drag ourselves up to the dining table where we had another great meal - enough to keep us going for the drive home.

I'm sure we'll be back again - although we may have to decline Jonathan's invitation to his birthday  party - 'where we can all get properly pissed'!

 

Seaside towns in the rain

Whether its Skegness, Largs or Hermanus, they're all the same in the rain. However, instead of bingo and fish and chips, Hermanus has the Wine Glass with 96 wines to choose from and a 'Wine Down' from 4-6 on Friday where its two for one on the wine. Very pleasant place to shelter from the rain and even better when Linda found a table next to the log burner. So good that we went back for dinner. 

Spoke too soon

A bit of a change in the weather this week - great weather for hiking to Uitkyk on Tuesday

but then the rain came and the temperature dropped. Wednesday was cool and wet - jackets on for the first time - and is forecast to stay like this for a few days.

We are off to Hermanus and De Kelders for the weekend to celebrate Linda's birthday and it looks like we will be driving through torrential rain storms on the way. Might have to stay in the hotel room on both Saturday and Sunday morning to watch the rugby if its too wet to get out.

Feels like home

Three weeks into our trip and we have settled into a comfortable routine with a couple of fitness classes, a couple of yoga classes and a bit of cycling - it all helps to counteract the food and the wine consumption. We have also fitted in a few wine tastings and lunches at local wineries.

On top of that, the warm weather has arrived - still a little cool for breakfast outside but otherwise definitely feels like summer. Some of the locals may still be dressed for the cool weather -  wearing scarves and jackets - but its warm enough for us.

Sunday morning started with a 40 mile ride with Sue and the cycling group - including our favourite big hill - but back in time for the end of the Wales / France game - not an impressive win but a win none the less.

With both Scotland and Ireland out of the contest, our allegiance has switched to the Springboks so lots of interest in their quarter-final against Japan.  Good result for SA in the face of a determined Japanese team. Hopefully the success of the Brave Blossoms will encourage continuing rugby investment in the country.

Rugby was followed by our first braai of this trip. We have a built in gas braai which needs a little bit of care and attention - and also has starlings or doves nesting in the chimney - so we had to default to the Weber and some charcoal but managed to cook enough meat for 6 people without burning anything. The Painted Wolf Pinotage made all the difference. Definitely need more practice!

Argus next year???

Linda on her new bike, a bit of training over the winter the Argus should be a schoosh next March!!!

Confused

16th October, we dropped into the local mall after yoga to find that they have erected their first Christmas decorations and there are Christmas songs on the sound system. 

Eureka!!!

After an email over the weekend and a couple of phone calls this morning, they finally managed to get us online by about midday - tech guys blaming admin, admin blaming someone else etc., etc. However at least it was done - only 13 days after the initial contract and 11 days later than promised.

Then - as a bonus - the TV guys showed up just after lunch and got that working as well. With no rugby until next weekend there's not much to watch but it has been a little galling to have a 56inch screen hanging on the wall but still having to go to the club to watch the games.

Not sure what to do now - no one to chase - unless you include the electrician who promised to be here first thing and has not yet been in touch, or the plumber who responded to my request for some help by texting me the manufacturers details so I could order the parts myself - guess he thought I had nothing better to do!

Must be time to get stuck into the Telegraph crossword and pour another glass of wine.

First World frustrations

After three days work by the cable engineers and a visit from the network supplier on Friday afternoon to activate our router, we still finished the week without any internet service. Waiting for Monday morning to find out what happens next.

On top of that our cable TV went down on Thursday and despite numerous calls to the help desk and a trip into town to re-programme the decoder we are still without a signal. Normally not a problem but with important RWC 2019 matches it was not ideal – at least we could drop into the clubhouse for cold beer and a big screen TV for the Scotland / Japan game this afternoon.

I know that Sunday used to be a day of rest but we started this morning with a 40km group road ride followed by coffee at the Yard, and then on to brunch at Vrede & Lust before returning to the clubhouse for the Rugby.

After some changeable weather, it is now beginning to get warm – 29C this afternoon and 30+ forecast for the week ahead. Meanwhile we had an excellent lunch on Friday at a nearby winery – Avondale – and dinner in Bloubergstrand on Saturday with Sue and Ally and friends.

Hopefully we will resolve the Internet and TV cable problems tomorrow and move on.

The end of our first week

Time flies.....

Having sorted the utilities and the bank, the only let-down has been the cable company who haven't shown up yet. We were promised a visit from the installers on Monday morning, but it was only the surveyor who arrived - 90 mins late. However, they have now promised that they'll be here on Wednesday to install the cable and router - fingers crossed!

In the absence of a broadband connection we have both managed to get through our monthly mobile data in less than a week - but its easier than going to the clubhouse to log in.

We've been on a couple of shopping expeditions but still looking for some major pieces of furniture.

On the fun side, we were invited to eat with two lots of friends we met on our last trip and also made it to Delheim for lunch and some essential wine shopping -  the 20% wine club membership discount brought some of the wines into Jimmy C's price range.

We've also signed up for the 55+ fitness class at the club gym and had our first session yesterday - John, the trainer from Waterford, gave us a serious workout. Not sure we'll make three sessions a week but at least we have started.

Photos will follow once the cable is in.

Bike race No 2

Having missed last week's race. I managed to get up on Sunday morning for a 54km bike race at Wellington, but Cam was still asleep when I arrived to collect him.

We still made it to the start with time to spare. It was a great morning - only 8C and misty when I left the house but 14C and bright sunshine at the start and around 23C by the time we finished.

Just over 2 hours to complete the course so pretty happy with that.

Linda had brunch ready by the time we got home followed by a shower and a glass or two of Delheim Rose to help with rehydration sitting on the deck in the sun.

Settling in

The agent called at 9.00 on Saturday to confirm that she had the keys and we spent the rest of the weekend clearing out the crap that the sellers had left behind and getting unpacked.

I was supposed to be taking part in a bike race on Sunday morning but overslept and missed the start. Looking at the driving rain which started just after the race time, I felt sorry for Ally, Sue and Cam who all made it the start and completed the 51km course in very unpleasant conditions. The day continued grey and damp so it didn’t feel too bad to be stuck inside getting the new place sorted.

By Monday morning we were pretty well done and all ready for the cleaners to give the place the once over. After a brief stop at the estate office to sort out our security clearances etc, we headed into town for some essential shopping and to pick up the cards for our new SA bank account. All went smoothly and Linda was able to start making a hole in the bank balance.

Also managed to apply for our fibre broadband connection and just waiting to hear from the installers. They promised it would be no more than 48 hours so hope they are accurate as it’s a bit of a pain to have to go up to the clubhouse for any serious internet access.

Decided to have a day off today –  a relaxed morning, a very pleasant walk around the estate and an invitation to supper with some friends we met on our last trip here. Wednesday is set aside for some serious retail activities - not my favourite pastime but needs must!!

Property handovers are the same wherever you go

Friday 27th September

The flight went well, good service and food, managed a decent sleep on the second leg and arrived in Cape Town ahead of schedule and no queues at immigration. Baggage was waiting as we came through and Hertz gave me a brand new RAV 4 ( only 11 km on the clock) to get around in for the next 6 weeks – only problem is the colour – with so many other white cars around it’ll be hard to find in the car parks!

By the time we arrived at Pearl Valley (Friday lunchtime), there was still no news about the transfer of title but had a brief chat with the agent, who was still optimistic. We dropped in to the clubhouse for lunch and before we had finished, we had a call from the solicitor to confirm that the transfer was done. 

Unfortunately, the Sellers had been banking on a delay, had not completed their packing and asked if we would wait until Saturday morning for the keys. Given that the closing date had been agreed in May, it was hard to understand how they still needed more time but we had little choice, so we headed to Ally’s for a much-needed shower and snooze.

By the time the wine was poured we were feeling much better and ready for dinner at Le Petit Paris.

Another airport Lounge

Thursday 26th September

Edinburgh airport with the obligatory glass of fizz before we board our Qatar flight to Cape Town via Doha. New route and although slightly longer, the times work well. Think the idea of travelling light has gone out the window – no kitchen sink, but pretty much everything else.

We were due to collect keys to our new home when we arrived on Friday but have had a message from the lawyers to say there may be a delay. We’ll find out when we get there but thankfully Ally and Sue have offered us a bed for a night or two if we need it.