One would put up with a great deal to be the mistress of Pemberley
This weekend Sister and I thought we'd get a bit adventurous, so we decided to drive to the winelands east of Cape Town to have a look around and test some vino. We spent Friday night having dinner at a friend's house and Miracle-Gro (yea, she's back in the blog) mentioned that her flatmate's parents own a vineyard up there. He spends a lot of time up there now as uni is on summer break, she said, maybe he could show us around? Sister and I thought YEAH!
Now, I know Simon, he's a great chap. A bit of SMS-ing and hey, presto, we'd made a plan to come visit the following morning.
So the Saturday, after an hour's drive and a time consuming doubling back to get the guide book, we finally found his parents' place. Not that it was very hard. Pulling up at what can only be described as a tourist attraction (all in good taste, mind) we were amazed to find that this chap is not just the heir of any old wine farm. He (and his sister, it's the 21st century after all) are next in line to take over this place
Having got over our initial Lizzy Bennett moment (Simon's single after all), we got the grand tour. Simon took us up the slopes of the mountain (which is called Simonsberg - no relation) in his trusty landrover and around the wine producing 'stuff' which was all very impressive. His great grandfather, a Lithuanian jew who emigrated from increasingly unstable Europe in the early 1900s, swapped the butcher's he'd set up in Cape Town for this piece of land - not knowing the first thing about winemaking. A century later, it seems he had a knack for it. Hot damn!
In the office today I got a grim reminder that I'm in the new Africa, not the Africa of a hundred years ago. A chap had promised to write me an opinion piece, but he hasn't been in touch for a while. So last week I reminded him. And I got this back:
Sorry for the delay in my response. I was attacked a couple of weeks ago and stabbed several times. I am recovering now but had to have an operation on my right wrist to reconnect severed tendons.
His point is, he can't type for another couple of weeks... Could I wait another month for the story, apologies etc... You certainly may...
Now, I know Simon, he's a great chap. A bit of SMS-ing and hey, presto, we'd made a plan to come visit the following morning.
So the Saturday, after an hour's drive and a time consuming doubling back to get the guide book, we finally found his parents' place. Not that it was very hard. Pulling up at what can only be described as a tourist attraction (all in good taste, mind) we were amazed to find that this chap is not just the heir of any old wine farm. He (and his sister, it's the 21st century after all) are next in line to take over this place
Having got over our initial Lizzy Bennett moment (Simon's single after all), we got the grand tour. Simon took us up the slopes of the mountain (which is called Simonsberg - no relation) in his trusty landrover and around the wine producing 'stuff' which was all very impressive. His great grandfather, a Lithuanian jew who emigrated from increasingly unstable Europe in the early 1900s, swapped the butcher's he'd set up in Cape Town for this piece of land - not knowing the first thing about winemaking. A century later, it seems he had a knack for it. Hot damn!
In the office today I got a grim reminder that I'm in the new Africa, not the Africa of a hundred years ago. A chap had promised to write me an opinion piece, but he hasn't been in touch for a while. So last week I reminded him. And I got this back:
Sorry for the delay in my response. I was attacked a couple of weeks ago and stabbed several times. I am recovering now but had to have an operation on my right wrist to reconnect severed tendons.
His point is, he can't type for another couple of weeks... Could I wait another month for the story, apologies etc... You certainly may...
posted by Linda at 12:35
2 Comments:
It was a great pleasure. Simon (...how did I find your blog- i didn't. it found me: the power of google alerts never ceases to amaze...)
Linda, please make sure that we can have a solid wineyard tour during our visit in February. Perhaps you and Sofia can design a small suggestion!!
Love, Pappa
Post a Comment
<< Home