REPORT ON TRIP TO PATERNOSTER
Thursday 31st May, 2018
The Merry Month of May is what it is called, and no-one could dispute that we were a merry bunch of people all heading up the R27 to Paternoster.
There was no official Time Out trip in April as with all the long weekends, it had been decided to rather do the steam train trip to Elgin on Sunday 29th April.
Many of the ladies had not seen each other for 2 months, and there was much catching up to do.
Our first stop was the Vye Vallei farm stall where many bought take away coffees and little snacks to tide them over as pad-kos!
Paternoster is officially 133,9km from Tableview – so I guess in a car travelling at 120km an hour – just over an hour – However, traveling in a 48seater coach which is not permitted to go over 100km an hour, it took just a little longer than an hour.
Arriving in Paternoster at 11h45 it did seem “A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY (sorry I mean Paternoster)!!
Paternoster is launching a new Paternoster Art and Food Route – a few of us chose to visit 2 of the artists – POTTER’S REST where Pam does the most amazing ceramics! Sylvia was particularly pleased about this visit – Pam is a good friend of her daughter’s and they have a lovely catch up time over a glass of sherry. On a cold wintry day this was welcome indeed. Sandy found 2 pieces of ceramics that she ‘just had to have’ and was very pleased with her purchase.
Next stop was Nostra de Padre where Uro is kept busy with amazing art and Sven with his wonderful book he is writing – and we heard he actually ‘gives’ classes over the Internet to students in Japan. They have designed a beautiful new home and have many plans. To sit in their kitchen sipping on Italian coffee and enjoying chocolate chip cookies was very special! They kindly fetched and carried the interested ladies to their home and to Pam’s – I appreciated this very much as the day was cold and threatening rain.
The other ladies and Dennis spent the hour in the Pantie Bar at the Paternoster Hotel – also a very comforting thing to do………This tiny bar filled to the brim with everyone makes for a happy time too!
Next stop was Mondvol Koffie Winkel which is just outside Paternoster. Here Charmaine and Alex run such a very pleasant restaurant. They have recently opened in Paternoster after spending a few years on the Trekoskraal road, and are already receiving rave reviews. They have such passion with what they do – the staff they employ have the same passion which makes for an extremely happy time – it feels like you’re having lunch with family!
Charmaine had made individual chicken pies in little pots – yes, a very tasty lunch served with delicious roast vegetables. Dessert was from their selection of decadent cakes – Lemon Meringue / Carrot Baked Cheesecake / Chocolate (which was pronounced absolutely delicious by those who ate this,) / and everyone indulged without worrying about their diets – “Tomorrow is another day I guess”
This was ended off with cappuccino or tea or plain coffee and by just after 3.10pm we all headed out of Cape Town. Arrival in Tableview was just before 5.00pm and all was going well – until the wheels fell off.
The city experienced rain and bad weather all day, which meant that many people who ordinarily might use public transport, decided to use their cars and the roads became bedlam. Honestly a full hour to go down Koeberg Road which is no more than 5km is totally ridiculous! This meant that the Constantia people only got back to their starting point at just before 19h00!!
A long day with friends and happiness is so good for your soul
Once a month is somehow not enough when you realise how good and happy you feel when you come home after a day out!