Hope all local ladies had a lovely Woman's Day yesterday, and that local lads reading my blog spoilt their ladies accordingly. We had a wonderful day, enjoying the company of new friends which accompanied the lift in the weather, which fooled us into thinking that spring was in the air. Ha! As I write, the blackest, wildest cold front is heading straight towards us, so button up and batten down the hatches.
Those of you who have been following this blog for a while might recall me mentioning an interest in astrology. (Astral travellings etc 29/3/2012) I'm not talking about reading one's stars first thing in the paper every day, though I do that too just for fun as I can't help myself smiling gleefully when promises of travel and great opportunities pop up. This is more of a "know thyself" astrology, which isn't fanatical, but definitely shows an interest in where the planets were and the sun was aligned when one was born, all the better to determine and understand one's place in the whole cosmic space. Thus it was I was invited to have my birth chart read by local astrological psychology consultant, Amanda Baldwin at her cozy studio in her home in Fish Hoek. The studio is bright and comfortable, the perfect size for creating intimacy, but is non threatening, creating a safe space to discuss one's life, dreams, failures and future prospects.
Amanda is at odds to point out that the Huber method of astrology which she practices is a diagnostic, not a predictive tool, with which to view one's life. Knowledge is power, and understanding your strengths, weaknesses, early influences and relationships enables one to live a balanced life and reach one's full potential. Having received my birth place, date and time, she has prepared my charts, and presents me with the "artwork of my soul." Love that! Her observations and assessment of my life are uncannily accurate, and I am rather shaken at how she can pinpoint really difficult times in my life. This is not however time to look back, but to take responsibility and use experience and understanding to propel oneself forward. The good news is that my planets seem to be melding into a positive space, so it's looking good for Suzy Q, you may be happy to hear.
I'm so impressed with Amanda's insight, advice and empathy, that I want to know more about her motivation and astrological education. She was a successful primary school teacher who had studied child psychology, and had used astrology to assist her in raising her own three very gifted children. Reaching a stalemate in her own career, she took the plunge and changed directions, studying astro-psychology. She is affiliated to the UK based APA and has set up her own practice. She offers assistance, based on a detailed assessment of a birth chart, on careers, talents, problem areas, and is especially interested in parent/child relationships, as she felt that she benefitted as a mother from this type of advice.
She finds that people usually tend to turn to her in times of trouble, but is also available for consultations providing a snapshot into one's life. A consultation is usually two hours, although a lot of work is done prior to meeting face to face. Speaking of which, whilst Amanda obviously prefers to meet with her clients, as her popularity has grown and her insight and advice have become so highly valued, she does offer skype consultations as she has a growing international client base. Her fees are more than competitive with other consultants, and I truly believe that she does her work with a genuine interest in her fellow man rather than for financial gain. I definitely left her feeling enlightened, emboldened and motivated.
Contact details: Amanda Baldwin Cell: 27-83 3913716
email: albaldwin@mweb.co.za skype: aleebaldwin
It's all in the stars kids, hope they're shining brightly on you.
Love,
Suzy Q
Finally dear friends, a bumper blog edition, thanks for your patience. There have been practical reasons for delays with which I shan't bore you, but please read on...
I do hope that I don't lose any friends or readers when you find out all about the De Hoop ...Of Wine, Whales and now Music festival we've recently been fortunate enough to attend. We are still coming down slowly from a weekend so wonderful that I'm a little nervous to tell you about it, for that very reason, but since I promised to, I shall honour my obligation. As I'm on the Cape Nature mailing list, I received a tantalising email outlining a weekend to be held in the De Hoop Nature Reserve. Having visited this most beautiful place many years hence, I was enticed back with thoughts of the exquisitely beautiful coastline, whales in the bay, pristine fynbos, and abundant bird and animal life coupled with perfect peace and tranquility. However, in addition to all these attractions, a special winter weekend of whales, wine and music was being offered which sounded so irresistible that I managed to convince Mr SQ that we simply had to go, and being the good sport he is, we booked and wondered what lay in wait.
And wonder we may...what a whopper of a weekend it turned out to be! We were so busy trying to partake of all the events in the programme, as well as having time to enjoy the reserve itself that there was scant time for relaxation, so I'm hoping that we may be able to return for a few quiet days at some later stage. On arrival, after about a four hour journey, we were warmly welcomed and given tea and chocolate cake, and started making the acquaintance of some of our fellow weekenders. Being solitary travellers who have never gone on anything akin to a tour before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a group event such as this one. Suffice to say, we met loads of interesting people during the weekend. We skilfully avoided the more serious and occasionally strange sorts, and made some great friends along the way, whilst enjoying a weekend of great company, conversation and laughter. Our hosts, William and Nini Stephens, and the manager, Justin and his staff ensured that we were all superbly cared and catered for, and rather overfed and watered. No complaints though, the exercise bike will just have to do double time.
Our well appointed cottage on the vlei was comfortable and private, with an inviting four poster bed as well as a second bedroom. Since our last visit, De Hoop has been taken over by Madikwe Lodges and tarted up quite a bit with stylish furnishing and fittings. The self catering accomodation is well equipped, but on this all inclusive weekend package, we were catered for so had the luxury of not packing up the kitchen sink for the trip, nor cooking and washing during the weekend. What a treat! We resisted the temptation to go for 40 winks after the drive, not wanting to waste a minute of our precious time, so headed down to Koppie Alleen, fortunately not by bike as planned as it was a good 25 minute drive. We saw bontebok and a family of Cape mountain zebra en route, which added to our excitement at revisiting this breathtakingly beautiful spot. Even the memory of our previous visit could not adequately prepare me for the sheer spectacle of the expanse of sky, sand and sea with a pod of Southern Right whales already in residence. Every year almost half the world's population of this magnificent species come to this warm Indian Ocean reserve to mate and calve, offering visitors wonderful displays of whale nursery antics. This spot is also the ending point of the famed five day Whale Trail, and kids, that's the Next Big Thing on my To Do List when Miss SQ No 2 leaves school at the end of the year and we are no longer bound by school holidays and routines. I spy blue sky...
We made it back just in time for a quick shower and nipped into the pub for a sundowner and an informal music talk with the five musicians from the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra who would be presenting Saturday night's Whale Time Serenade. It created a cozy, intimate atmosphere and we felt as if we'd known this disparate and extremely talented band of minstrels all our lives.
Whilst the four ladies from Melane Hofmeyr-Burger's string and flute quintet held court, perched atop their barstools, it was their maestro Ivo Ivanov who serenaded us with his magical violin during dinner. The candlelit Fig Tree Restaurant came alive as we took to our tables in eager anticipation of the next event. Included in our bonanza package was a food and wine pairing evening, hosted by Strandveld and First Sighting wines. A veritable culinary feast it was too, of six small, but more than ample, tasteful appetite teasers prepared by Liezl and charmingly served by the camp staff, some wearing different hats for the occasion. Each course was accompanied by a different wine, well presented if perhaps a tad shy on the pour, to complement the food. Luckily for Mr SQ, who clearly hasn't lost the charms for which I first fell, he was forever the lucky recipient of the extra glass left at the bottom of each bottle (much to the chagrin of some of the other greedy guests) so he never went thirsty! I half expected to find a dead crow nailed to our door on return, judging by some of the black looks he was getting (and that wasn't just from me!) Ah the luck...
Hard pressed to choose, I think my favourite combination was the Strandveld Syrah accompanying the Rare Roast Beef on a bed of perfectly cooked risotto, though the Warm Chocolate Fondant drizzled with a Vanilla and Coffee Cream tempted even a non dessert gal like your Ever-Wannbe-Slender Suzy Q. Oh well, what the hell. Those whose eyes weren't drooping or bellies popping stayed up to watch the Olympics opening ceremony but we headed for bed, to sleep the sleep...
Not for long however, as we had to be op en wakker and ready at the meeting tree for our guided bird walk at 8am. Reluctantly leaving the warmth of said four poster bed, warmed by hot water bottles, we braved the bitterly cold morning to join our two charming and extremely knowledgable guides and the rest of the group who hadn't partied too late into the night. Our efforts were well rewarded, as we rounded the vlei to see heron, flamingoes, pelicans, cormorants and an ibis. Unfortunately we were a little too late to spot any Cape clawless otters, but hopefully there'll be another time. I was a tad nervous about being in the midst of serious twitchers, of which there were a few (nearly as off putting as serious vinophiles at a wine tasting) but happily we met other like minded bird lovers who simply wanted to enjoy the walk and learn more about our feathered friends. No better man to lead this expedition than Dalfrenzo Laing, from nearby Napier, who has completed intensive guiding courses, and both educated and entertained us.
After a hearty breakfast on the sunny terrace of the restaurant, my intention was to hire one of the mountain bikes and go for a nice long ride, as the terrain is flat and ideal for game spotting. Unfortunately, due to twisting my already gammy knee the previous day (ask no questions, hear no lies, though it had more to do with falling out of the sea when caught skinny dipping on a seemingly deserted beach than falling out of the famous four poster bed) I was unable to take up the challenge, and fell into bad company, a doctor no less, whose advice was "wyn vir die pyn." (wine as a painkiller) Those in the know already know that I don't need much encouragement in that direction so a wine tasting set up under the 100 year old fig tree by the local Cape Agulhas estates proved a perfect place to forget that my aching joints precluded me from cycling the nature reserve flat. We were so well treated by the representatives from Black Oyster Catcher, Quoin Rock, The Berrio and again Strandveld/First Sighting, to name but a few that my woes were soon forgotten. The setting beats anything I have attended in my more serious wine tasting days into a cocked hat, and the ambience around the flames as we wandered from beautifully appointed wine stand to stand was fabulous. So much thought had gone into each stand that I fear an award should have been given, though it would have difficult to single one out. Cherries, cigars, chocolate, asparagus, guavas and limestone were all on display, representative of the elements in any one particular estate or cultivar. Fun fun fun, and all the while meeting up again and again (it was a circular tasting around the magnificent fig tree after all) with other guests and day trippers and wine folk.
Our lunch platters or picnic hampers soon called (more food and wine!!) so we headed off to the picnic tables at Koppie Alleen with our newfound friends and drank deep of the view we were so thrilled to introduce them to and chatted the afternoon away...until it was suddenly time for the Saturday evening highlights of the weekend. More quick splash, shower and change for dinner (hey, when is this famous four poster gonna come into it's own we were both starting to wonder?) and we were semi spruced for the Whale Time Serenade in the elegant Cloete Room. Melane and her musical crew, also very much more elegant than our meeting of the previous evening shimmered and shone under whale collages which flashed up onto the overhead screen. Part 1 was a classical programme, with an interval accompanied by delicious canapes and a glass of sherry, followed by more contemporary music and a dinner back in the Fig Tree Restaurant.
Now, I am ashamed to admit, we did not rise at 6am to go on the whale walk at low tide. Mea culpa. So much a gal can do on a decadent, indulgent weekend away. We had been fortunate to hear the excellent power point presentation from Delfrenzo the previous evening and had walked the route and swam in the sea and so felt a little guilty but also justified in snuggling down for an extra hour on Sunday morning. Before we knew it, we were all saying our fond farewells, hoping that we'll meet again, same time, same place next year dv. Hope we will, and maybe we'll see you there too...?
With lotsa love,
Suzy Q
www.dehoopcollection.co.za
