Phew it's been hot!

Sunday January 26th

We have heard all about your cold snap, so just to be in vogue I will tell you about our hot days. Temperatures have been 38 0r 39 by 11am, only cooling by evening and then to mid 20s so just for a few nights sleep was a hot and sweaty experience! It is calmed down now and is back at around 30 degrees.


There were a lot of bush fires. So we have taken it easy this week .




We have had several e-mails and phone calls and people say they cannot get a comment on the blog, well if you run the mouse over the line at the bottom of the report where it gives the date and then says how many comments linked to this post, the pointer should change to a hand and if you click on that word comments then a page should open which directs you.





Oh modern technlogy has a lot going for it - we have just seen and spoken to Zoe and Megan over the webcam (and Colin and Clare of course) and earlier we were gurgled at by Charlie with his Mum, although Charlie did grab the keyboard and type in a message himself , which lost us contact for a short time! (wonder what he typed)!!!




Paul has been taking some local flower pictures and is adding them to this.



Love from
Di and Paul

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

Because we want to show our friends as much as possible we have been out and about much more than usual. The botanical gardens, built on the slopes of Table Mountain, are one of the jewels in Cape Town's crown and we spent a day there in these beautiful surroundings.

Cape Town lies under the Mountain known as Devil's Peak.

All the plants and flowers are indigenous. A picture says a thousand words so here are several thousand words on the subject! ( By the way if you click on the photos they will enlarge on your screen ).







It was a hot day, so we wandered around in the dell.




Our friends went up the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, but as we have been up before, we went to see the sunset from Signal Hill. While we were there a flock of wild guinea fowl came to see if there were any crumbs.



The sun went behind the clouds before it set but the sea and sky looked beautiful anyway.



Love from
Di and Paul

Last Friday we took our friends to the Van Ryn Brandy Distillery to see how brandy is made, this was very interesting and in the cellars where the brandy is stored for 5, 12 or 20 years the brandy evaporates and fumes fill the air. The amount lost is called "the Angels Share" - we all felt a bit tipsy just breathing it in!

As we were on the subject we then went to a wine farm and did some wine tasting, it was a very old and beautiful estate and weddings are now held in the grounds.




There is a labyrinth in the grounds , built on the design of the one in Chartres Cathedral and the idea is that as you walk round the pathways in the beauty of the mountains and gardens you concentrate on God. However I confess to getting the giggles seeing Pat and Gordon and Richard walking round with me bringing up the rear!!!



At lunchtime we went to a new restaurant which is housed in an old corner shop and is very rustic, featuring a return to the 50's , with some old fifties style genuine kitchen equipment!









The writing was on the wall......... it was the Menu!














But the food was very good.



After that we had a fairly quiet weekend.

Love from
Di and Paul

Afternoon Tea at The Mount Nelson Hotel

We spent a morning visiting the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, where Gordon had a happy time investigating the Military Museums, and Paul decided the sentry box was only for very slender guards.













Then we went on to The Mount Nelson Hotel ( fondly known by many as The Nelly ) for afternoon tea.

We sat in the magnificent gardens until 2 30pm, when we were invited to a table in the lounge and there set out before us was a most sumptuous spread, tiny sandwiches, savoury quiches, scones, cakes large and small of every description, and big bowls of strawberries, fruit salad and blueberries.

Of course, none of us had much because of our diets!!!!!! Actually we thought it would be churlish not to tuck in after they had gone to so much trouble. There was a choice of five different types of teas and coffee, with fresh pots being brought to us throughout.

After we really could eat no more we retired back into the garden in the shade with our last cups of tea . It was a big treat! Michael Winner, in his newspaper column, has pronounced this " the Best Afternoon Tea in the World!!!"

Afterwards we had to go for a long walk on the beach to walk it off!

Love from
Di and Paul

Cape Favourites!

On Monday we took our friends to see some of The Cape Town favourite places.

One of the best known is The Waterfont, the harbour and port of Cape Town, which is still a working harbour, there was a cruise liner in port when we went, but the whole area has been developed to offer lots of shops and eating places, an auditorium for performers and there are lots of groups busking as well.

We had a lunch and some real ale at The Ferryman Tavern.

After lunch we drove across the Cape peninsular via Chapmans Peak, which allows some amazing views.

Then on to Simonstown, a historic naval town, and then on to Boulders Beach where there is a colony of jackass penguins, so called because although they are tiny they make a loud noise like a donkey braying. We hope you like the pictures.

Our visitors have arrived

Last night we went to the airport in Cape town to meet our friends Pat and Gordon, who are making their first visit to The Fair Cape. We expected them to be drooping after the long flight but they were very laid back about it and after a good nights sleep they are rarin' to go.



This is a picture of our street, as with UK, parking can be a problem




Love from
Di and Paul

It is summer holidays here!

Hello Folks,
It has been sunny, blue skies and a few seaside breezes and still very much in holiday mode.
The children do not go back to school until January 22nd, it is the long summer break and Christmas and New Year all rolled into one.





The big mall gets very crowded at this time of year, but the new local Waterstone village shopping is now open, and it is much quieter.











This is a picture of the entrance to our local "Tesco" .










The beaches are full of people having fun, we go most days in the late afternoon when it is not too hot, and we paddle along in the waters edge for an hours exercise, sometimes a big wave catches us out and we get our shorts wet as well.









It is particularly good to see people of every race enjoying the lovely beaches as when I was here in the early 80's I can remember signs that said "whites only".









Credit is due to the people of this country of all races, who have transformed it in 12 years.....

I will get Paul to add the pictures and then off to bed.
Love from
Di and Paul