Mid-winter has its problems – Flu, Bronchitis seems to be plaguing many people – not least of all the good few ladies who had booked and found themselves feeling poorly! Yet with just over 20 attendees, fun and excitement was in the air on the coach heading out to Somerset West!
The traffic to Constantia was considerably lower (was it the fact that a few private schools are already on their mid-term break?) and we found ourselves in Somerset West by just after 10h30. We headed to Lourensford, to find renovations in progress – paths full of workmen / coffee shop being renovated and all around an air of winter evident by the very cold wind blowing! Most took refuge in a coffee shop / hot chocolate very popular indeed. Incidentally they never told us about ‘renovations’ and ‘some facilities may be closed’, when we booked! (but why turn away business?)
Wine tasting also proved popular, or just sipping on a glass of white or red wine catching up with friends always makes for a good start to a day out! What a pity they had not lit their huge fireplace in the wine tasting room! Might encourage people to ‘stay longer’ on a cold winter’s day. Sip was delighted with her purchase of a ‘wine barrel bread board’ – “Just perfect for my kitchen in Barrydale” she said.
We brought lunch forward by ½ hour as it wasn’t very pleasant walking with workmen and winter weather! Lunch was a choice of Dorado fish served with winter vegetables and couscous OR a Warm Chicken salad – many who had the Fish were satisfied they’d made this choice! The best choice by far.
Dessert was a chocolate brownie served with some fresh berries and a scoop of ice cream. The negative part of Lourensford was the fact that a few people purchased wine at the cellar to enjoy with their lunch AND they were charged an exorbitant R45 to drink the Estate Wine in their Restaurant!
After lunch, many ladies were definitely in high spirits (was it the fact that they were happy OR the wine they’d been imbibing with lunch? – who cares – happiness is contagious indeed!
We decided to take an extra turn into Morgenster to purchase olives. Very quickly staff bought out French bread and olives (“Hey girls, haven’t you just finished lunch” – but a girls got to taste before you buy, I guess!
We boarded the coach back to the city by 15h00 – thanks girls for listening to the ‘time factor’ issue which is sometimes so hard to administer! This had the Constantia ladies back to the shopping centre by 16h15 – however, Tableview had more of a traffic issue along the M5 (oh my goodness a virtual stand still – where oh where do all the cars come from and where are they going to!) This resulted in Tableview only getting to the Pick ‘n Pay shopping centre by just before 18h00 – pity we can’t use the MiCity bus lane! (Note to self – MUST get an application in post-haste)
It’s easy to impress me. I don’t need a fancy party to be happy. Just good friends, good food, and good laughs. I’m happy. I’m satisfied. I’m content. Maria Sharapova