Our day started off literally a with BANG. The Tableview pick up point has been changed because of changes at the centre. When our coach arrived the driver tried to collect the ladies where they were standing. This involved negotiating a tight corner and there was a large tree in the way. A branch of the tree literally shattered a very large window on the side of the coach. Being shatter-proof glass no one was injured just a few Constantia ladies were rightly shocked.
Everyone was directed into a coffee shop in the shopping centre where coffee was provided. Initially we were told that they hoped they had 34 cups to cope with a very quick order!!
Within 40 minutes our transport providers, Hylton Ross, had sent a replacement coach and we were on our way up the N1 to Allee Bleue. (Fortunately, we didn’t have to use the N2 today as due to an accident with a large truck this had been completely shut down!)
On arrival at Allee Bleue we were all offered a glass of bubbly and very soon we wandered down to their herb tunnels. The tour was super – rows and rows of all types of herbs cultivated for the large retail market. Amazingly the herbs move from farm to shelf in just 2 days, picked early in the morning, sorted, packed and collected by 14h00. Parsley, coriander, the most divine mint (with square stems!), and then the collection of Asian herbs grown especially for restaurants, really opened our minds to a whole new herb world.
We then needed to board the coach again and travel down to The Bistro for lunch. Our main course was served and was disappointingly so small that a formal complaint was made! This is the first occurrence that ¾ of the patrons had something to say about the lunch. (lack thereof).
A delicious dessert followed – Spiced lemon thyme and cashew nut custard with lemongrass and lemon thyme sorbet and very soon everyone was back on the coach and on to our last stop for the day – the Rhodes factory shop. The ladies were ‘allowed’ 15 minutes to “gather” but, never give women such a short time to purchase goods from a factory shop! First off they have to stand and contemplate just exactly ‘what’ they should buy ; then discuss recipes they intend making with what they had bought ; and finally negotiate a till where only one person was available to take their money, ‘with’ a faulty card machine. This ended up being a 45 minute exercise. Oh well ladies, I hope you were satisfied with your purchases!
The first drop off point was in Tableview at just on 16h30 but then, as most times, the Constantia ladies have to negotiate all sorts of traffic making their drop-off considerably later. With the joys of city life not very much can be done about this and from time-to-time the two pick ups are swapped to make everyone happy!
“Time is an herb that cures all Diseases.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)