The Happy Labby Blog

We had a lovely day out with our friends from Hamilton and firstly went to –

A type of market that sold any variety of food and African artefacts. Unfortunately all the art and pictures you weren’t allowed to be photograph.

Then onto –

Where there were a number of strange sculptures. The ones that look like glass are actually cellulose.

The winery area with its vats, barrels and wine rack were great –

This shop called Wedgewood sold the most amazing biscuits –

Painting for the children –

A Persian carpet auction !!!!!!!!! –

Some vintage vehicles –

And a massive food area –

You will be pleased to know it was cloudy and cooler today.

Of to another winery –

Warm day again. Read the “ real feel “ temperatures –

Even the car parking bays were offered some shade –

Rather strang fish tank that the fish seem to be able to enter and leave – don’t know how the water doesn’t run out –

Now a bit of a tour of what was on view –

A lot of the paths were made of old nut shells which was quite hard to walk on –

Two scarecrows in the vegetable garden –

I’ve never seen rice growing before –

This was called the puff adder walk way –

A selection of fruit that they grow – Bananas

Pomegranates –

And figs –

There is this lovely walk way covered in trailing gourds –

A couple of photos of the butchers –

Family of chickens –

This is the only cat we’ve seen all holiday –

All over for another day.

Today we met up with some friends from Hamilton (Scotland ) who are visiting the same time as us and went firstly to –

For some wine tasting –

The entrance was beautifully lined –

And the lobby was very tranquil –

Again wonderful backdrops –

We then went onto –

For lunch of mussels and prawns –

Which were fabulous followed by a walk around the grounds –

A rather nice sign for the toilets –

Another great day out.

This morning we went into Stellenbosch to visit the –

A variety of plants as you would expect –

The lily pads and water lily flowers were something else –

Air plant –

Then a little stroll into the town itself –

The hare and octopus sculptures –

A post box from Queen Victoria’s era –

Rather liked this notice for the deli at Tokara Wine Estate –

And a photo to show how regimented the vines are –

Had a very quiet day today. Just lazed the morning away then went back to Lanzerac for a massage.

Clouds over the hills like the table cloth over Table mountain –

Some of the facilities –

Gordon ready to go –

And view from treatment area –

Very relaxing and therapeutic.

Decided to have a trip out to see African penguins ( also known as the Jackass penguin ) –

Now several pictures of them –

Then there were a few Hyrax amongst the rock –

Then we moved onto –

Where there was an abundance of wildlife to see and wonderful views –

An interesting flower just growing out of the sand, no leaves –

A pensive Gordon –

This is called a monkey vine –

A couple of photos of the coast –

That is The Cape of Good Hope in the distance –

This is a photo of the rock face at the side of the road that looks ready to just collapse –

A good day out.

Another of those days –

Temperature rising

Could have happily gone in to the fountain

Water lilies were lovely-

Then this little sunbird was outside the kitchen window –

Off to visit –

Back drops again of the mountains –

A very upmarket hotel and spa with fabulous looking accommodation –

Entrance –

Quick peek at the private library –

Lovely fountain –

Not sure what this is –

Glad the instructions for the private helipad were clear –

Then the chopper arrived –

Now moving on to –

More stunning views –

Interesting sculpture –

Close up –

Olive groves, olives and grapes looked fabulous –

Some interesting sculptures around –

Lunch –

And a fabulous gift shop –

Wine vats through glass –

And what look like radishes growing on a tree –

Then back for a swim.

Woke up this morning to find this little chap trying to get into the bedroom –

Then off to a nearby town of –

They used to have a vibrant outdoor Saturday market with lots of local stalls but COVID has reduced it to this –

A rather nice open health food market –

Selling beautiful lion fruit which are black and white inside –

you could get out and about on either the winery bus –

Or a little tuk-tuk

One or two interesting sculptures to be seen –

Saw this in a shop window – one way to die –

Then a couple of shots of their lovely Dutch architecture –

The most perfect box hedge I’ve ever seen –

Then onto –

A lovely winery for lunch –

Followed by a piece of cheesecake and melting ice cream –

Good day out.

One of those days –

So not a lot to photograph. But we did get our first sight of the fruit of the sausage tree!!!!!!!!

A novel way to collect golf balls from the lake – in full scuba diving gear –

And quite a haul –