Monday 18 July 2022

Franschoek and Maitjiesfontein 17th and 18th July 2022

This morning Amy and I woke up reasonably early and went back to Franschoek for her singing and entertainment session at the Garden Cafe. Lovely drive and while listening to Amy time flies.i look again and it is 12:30 and Andrew, Carolyn, Michael and Terrance arrive and join us for lunch. The menu has few dishes but each is made to perfection. 
Love these people and we always have such a great time together. 
After a great lunch, Michael and I left for Maitjiesfontein to stay at the Lord Milner hotel, what an experience. We took advantage of the Historic Tour of Matjiesfontein available on the Voice App - well worth a listen, can be done virtually as well. A cricket pitch, a railway station, a great hotel, 2 Museums, an Anglo Boer war refuge for the English and the best pub.


The next day we visited the museums which are treasure troves of historical artifacts dating back to 1800s. Driving back to St Francis Bay having had an amazing weekend.

Summerset West and Franschoek 15th and 16th July 2022

Michael drove us to Summerset West and dropped me off at Petra and collected the rugby tickets for Terrance and Andrew (thank you soooo much). Had been a very long while since we had been able to chat and catch up. It is different with a phone call, face to face wins every time, as we were able to make dinner together lovely salad, cheeses, biscuits dried fruit. We sorted out some computer and phone stuff and discussed a lot more. Exhausted and in  bed by 12:00. Slept very well and we were up and about by 8:00, then to adoration at tle local beautiful Catholic church, after which we went to find the dried fruit. Great value for money at a local mall, such good variety and quality.
Petra then kindly drove us to Franschoek where the Bastille weekend was in progress, everything decorated in red, white and blue. We met up with Amy (my daughter in law) at the Garden Cafe where she was playing her unique blend of music and entertainment facilitated by Brian (Amy's dad). I love it, and based on audience reaction, they very much enjoy it as well.  The Garden Cafe is spacious and beautiful, with various tables in the gardens and inside. Kiddies area and facepainting.  Paint a pottery mug or other item and have it fired so you can use it indefinitely.  Well worth a visit!
Brian drove us home and the first sign of an interesting evening was us searching for a petrol station as the petrol light was permanently on. We found the station yay and bought stuff for dinner. Brian parked the car and we took the items Amy needed for the next day inside her house. After a few minutes we heard a crack, someone had smashed the back windscreen and stolen Brian's backpack with expensive cables. As dominos fall, a series of unfortunate events followed, culminating in Amy, Brian and I alternatively standing inside and outside the police station for 2.5 hours. Got back to Terrance and Andrew having had an awesome time at the rugby. Brother bonding time. We  finally ate our dinner around 11:30 (well worth waiting for) and chatted until past 02:00.