REPORT ON TIME OUT TRIP TO YZERFONTEIN

25th  April 2019

Thursday dawned with almost summer-like conditions – warm with no hint that we have been experiencing cooler days which had us believing that winter was on-the-way!  We headed the 71km directly to Yzerfontein and the Lifestyle Centre where Karen and Boykie were out to meet us all, as we arrived.

When this day was in the planning stages, I wanted to introduce the wonderful people Brian & I had met on our recce months prior to our trip.  On this day we met Karen and Petrie at the Haus of Décor in the New Lifestyle Centre and we were immediately impressed with their friendly personalities.  They thought-out-of-the-box and suggested they put together a day-with-a-difference!  Karen said she would prepare our lunch – with her experience of having run a Farm Kitchen on her farm outside of Darling we knew we were in good hands!  They also suggested asking Boykie Booysen, who grew up in Yzerfontein to take us on a guided tour in our coach.

On arrival Boykie suggested that we all go either to Rosemead Bakery for their divine coffee and one of their Pasteis da Nata; OR a beer/gin tasting; OR spend time in their pop-up shop which has lovely clothing and handbags and jewellery; OR visit their nursery – all a stroll away from Haus of Décor!

At 11h30 we all boarded the coach again and for almost an hour and a ¼ Boykie regaled stories of his youth in Yzerfontein.  Albeit that to many of us, Boykie seemed to be a mischievous little boy with some of the stories, what a wonderful youth he must have had.  His mom still lives in Yzerfontein.  We were shown their original family home built with some of the local stone; the house Boykie and his wife occupied for many years; and then we were taken through to Pearl Bay where there is SO much construction going on that it is keeping various builders extremely busy – wonderful news in the almost ‘depressed’ market many of us think South Africa is going through!  In fact, one builder retired and now says he’s busier than he’s ever been!

By 13h00 we were back at Haus of Décor.  Our first course was a potato soup served with bacon or feta for those who don’t eat bacon!  It was a different texture of soup as we normally all know – tasty but different!  Mains were Chicken a-la-king and an Asparagus Quiche for vegetarians.  Karen managed remarkably well – having to go up and down-stairs to a self-catering flat to warm meals!  Not the ideal situation and a first for Time Out, who always go to a restaurant! Dessert was malva pudding and a delicious creamy custard with fruit salad for the Jewish ladies who are celebrating Passover and could, obviously, not eat the Malva!

We left a bit later than was intended – at 15h30 – making our arrival in Tableview at 16h30 and hopefully Constantia by about 18h00.

Mission accomplished – I believe that everyone could experience the warmth of Yzerfontein and will now view this little town through different eyes!

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