Our September outing was brought forward by one week, owing to the Public Holiday on the last Thursday of September. Numbers were lower than usual as a result – but this did not deter the 20 ladies who chose to join the coach to Stellenbosch on the 17th September!
Our first stop was ZetlersFood & Wine, for some ‘gathering’. This store, next to a garage outside Stellenbosch has undergone a dramatic change. “Wow what a change” was what was frequently heard from the ladies”. Many found ‘just what they were looking for’. Of course, right now strawberries are coming into season and the ladies eagerly bought these to take home. The cherry on the top of purchasers was Molly who bought 5 bags – “Wonderful for Christmas gifts”!!
With some difficulty we got everyone back on the coach and continued our journey into the center of Stellenbosch where everyone took to walking-the-streets! Some of us were in search of Porchie – an amazing artist who has his own gallery in the town. He was in store doing some work, so the ladies enjoyed talking to him about his art (and even bought some of his work). Others went in search of Oom Samie se Winkel another Stellenbosch favorite, and some just ambled, looking for candles. Ladies just love to gather and things bought in another town are almost a ‘find’ of note!! Proof was Dawn who bought her granddaughter a Springbok skin, leather sling bag!
At 12h45 everyone arrived at DeWarenmarkt for lunch. Cheese tasting was done / and much talk about ‘what-to-eat and what-to-drink’ ensued! After decisions were made and orders placed everyone was happy and this novel way of eating with staff bringing you your order (you receive a piece of paper with a number on once you place your order!) had the ladies eagerly checking their numbers every time a waiter entered our ‘reserved’ area in the restaurant. Once mains had been enjoyed, there was talk about getting a dessert and orders were, once again, placed.
Sadly Elaine had her handbag stolen from the back of her chair in the seating area. In hindsight we all realized (and even staff at DeWarenmarkt!!) that some suspicious ‘characters’ had entered the market and were seen ‘milling around’. This was most unfortunate and quick calls to the bank to cancel cards and to Vodacom to block the phone followed. There were many hugs and loves for Elaine and we were, once again, on the coach heading home.
An accident on the N1 inbound caused all three lanes to be shutdown, but we were able to find an alternative route back to Tableview, without much delay.
End result of this unfortunate circumstance has made us all very aware of what we carry in our handbags and this was the topic of conversation on the coach back to Cape Town! This does not only happen in our Country and many of the ladies had heard of similar instances in other countries.
After all, what easier place for thieves to ply their trade than a full restaurant – everyone is relaxed and happy and not really taking an interest in what is going on around them!
All in all, definitely a fun day, but as the organizer of these outings, my personal belief is that a meal in a restaurant (as we normally do) is far more conducive to a well-planned day. At least everyone is not ‘put at a disadvantage to decide what they want to eat’ and ‘everyone could eat more or less at the same time with proper cutlery’ – not plastic knives and forks – but as they say in the classics –