Stellenblog

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A day out (sort of – we were home by 3:30pm) in Stellenbosch. And I know I said that I’d share it live, but if it weren’t for the detail above, you might think we were still there, so it’s all good, right?

We started at the Unlock Escape Rooms in the Eikestad Mall, where we played the Oak City Wine Heist game. We’re kinda old hands at escape rooms now, and we were headed out to Stellies because we’ve done all the ones in Cape Town. We finished this one in 47 minutes, but it was a bit disappointing. One of the major components of the room wasn’t working, and despite watching us struggle with it for maybe a quarter of a hour, they only told us that it was broken after we got out and had asked what the relevance of the whole thing was.

So we could have been a lot quicker, and it could have been a lot more fun.

They also could have… you know… mended it. But no.

So fun, but not up to the standards we’re used to. 3 out of 5 stars.

Then off to Hartenberg for some wine and some food. And this was really good.

It’s seriously pricey, but their “super premium” tasting option is worth it just to experience their flagship offerings. Link.

Great service from Sive, and a real privilege to be able to taste some really superb wines, despite the bonkers prices. Their Gravel Hill Syrah is exceptional, but at R1,275 (£55, $69), it’s also way out of reach for most of us. I also enjoyed the The Stork Shiraz (R1,050) and the Bordeaux style (not blend, because no Malbec) The Mackenzie at R875.


And while the wines were unquestionably very special, you could get three or four bottles of very decent stuff for the price of any one of those big boys, so you can make your own call on that.
Because it’s not like their “everyday” wines are in any way poor. Their easy-drinking Cabernet Sauvignon (R335) made for a lovely accompaniment to their delicious cheese and charcuterie grazing platters in the summer heat.

Before we left, we popped down to see their Ankole cattle. Too hot to spend too long with them, but wow, they are incredible: hornz for dayz.

And then – with the Boy Wonder acting as chauffeur – it was back home for a swim and a blog.

The problem with having so very many wine farms on the doorstep is that even when they are really good – which Hartenberg undoubtedly is – it seems wasteful to go back when you could be experiencing something new and untried.

But maybe we need to add this one to our “let’s go back again” list, just because it was a great few hours out.

Afternoon catch up.

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Look, this is going to be a quick one. The braai is lit, and I’m running slightly late this afternoon, due to a entirely deserved and much-required 2½ hour nap just after lunchtime.

Wow, it was good.

It was a morning filled with a decent gym workout, followed by another upper body session while sanding and painting (some of) the living room. It turned out that I’d been a bit bold with the filler when doing some maintenance a couple of weeks ago, and when the time came to make it all flat again (today), there was probably more work than there should have been.

Anyway, that’s now done and it actually looks pretty good.

In other news (because I know that you are desperate to know every detail of my life), I might – might – have finally fixed the bug that has been plaguing my Garmin watch for the past couple of weeks. And if – if – I have, then I will be able to start getting Discovery points for my 10,000 steps again instead of having to rely on several (and more) hardcore workouts each week.

Might not be a big thing to you. It’s a big thing for me.

And there will likely be post on it at some time in the future so that other people don’t have to go through the same irritation that I’ve had to bear.

OK. But now I need to go. A chunk of rump, some lamb ribs and some tikka chicken are awaiting entry onto the braai grid, and I’m going helping them on their journey over the coals.

Tomorrow looks like it might be a fun day, which – if I have time – I’ll share live.

Not naming and shaming but…

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When it came down to getting Junior a motor car, we narrowed it down to two different possibilities.
And this is a lot of money and a tight decision, so we went and we researched extensively, and we test drove each of them on a few different occasions.

And of course the salespeople – both men in this case – were lovely and charming and helpful and friendly. But we look past the salespeople and we look at the actual car. Because we’ve met salespeople before.

Still, they had a job to do, and they did it: both extolled the virtues of their option and mildly exaggerated the actual facts on the spec sheet. And to their credit, they didn’t do too much shouting about the negative side of things regarding the other choices out there.

They each got their contact just about right, as well: not too much, not too little. We were neither ignored nor bombarded. And they seemed to respect the fact that we would have to make a choice at some stage. Because… well, we cant afford both. (I’m still not 100% sure that we can afford one.)

So when we finally made a decision, it seemed just good manners to let the one guy know that we were going with the other manufacturer. Not something we had to do, but we’re big on respect and politeness in this household.

And so we sent him a message (all contact both ways had been via Whatsapp apart from the times when we were actually at the dealership), saying thanks for your time, but we’ve chosen to go with the other vehicle, all the best, Us.

His response was friendly and magnanimous:

Ah well. That’s a shame. But thanks for letting me know and all the best.

Ja right. Was it bollocks.

Nothing back. Mr Friendly for the past three weeks couldn’t even be arsed to respond.
Cut us dead.
Because Mr Friendly was actually Mr Salesman-Twat in disguise and it was all an act.

I mean, I shouldn’t have expected anything else but wow. What a two-faced POS.

I’m not naming and shaming. Why stoop to his level?

Just see it – like we have – as a reminder that salespeople are always going to salesperson, and you’d do really well to overlook anything and everything they say and do, and make sure that you are clued up and have everything – EVERYTHING – down in writing.

And just be nice, and as genuine as you can.

Last minute bargain? Beware.

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Just be careful out there when you’re looking for your (very) last minute bargain for a Christmas gift.

They know that you’re (quite reasonably) panicking about getting that Xmas gift you overlooked, and they’re ready to take advantage.

Sometimes it’s subtle:

A frankly ridiculous price for a shitty knock-off backpack anyway.

But sometimes they are even more brazen and the thievery is even more heinous:

I’ve mentioned before just how much I love Checkers, but this time, I’m leaving my card in my wallet, thank you very much.

As ever, whatever you’re doing today, have a nice day.

What a save

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No. Not top goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

Me.

This month – known as one of the busiest of the year – has been very busy. Not that it’s been bad busy.
We did this. And we also did this (and this and this). Oh, and this too, I suppose.

But aside from being away, when we were at home, we were also busy. Football, social events, football social events, horseriding (not me) etc etc etc. And so I had… mmm… “neglected” the pool a bit.

So when the time came to open it up for the Christmas week… well…

Oh dear.

Three weeks of hot weather and an opaque pool cover will allow this to happen. Especially if no-one intervenes. That no-one being me. Because I did not intervene at all, and the pool took the opportunity and returned to nature.

Let me be honest, though: this is the worst that I have ever seen a pool under my management. Ever. And by a long way too. But records are made to be broken, and this one was. Comprehensively.

Time to fight back then, but not much time, given the proximity of the festive season.

I attacked. And less than 48 hours later, after a bit of hard work and some extremely toxic chemicals, this:

Ka – if I might be so bold – boom.

Crystal clear. Inviting. Sorted. Altogether:

What a save.

So. Let the good times roll. Just as soon as I have cooked my gammon (not a euphemism) and made a final decision on some wine for tomorrow: the Penhill 2016 Shiraz (only 6000 bottles produced) is clearly leading the way right now.

Enjoy your day.