Goodbye Winter............I think!

Last week we had some really foul weather. Huge rain, wind that cut through us like a knife, seas that pounded and crashed through the night, and if we were uncertain about winter having departed, we were reminded of it in no uncertain terms! We even had snow on the mountains inland and every B+B, camp site and Guesthouse was fully booked this weekend as everyone headed inland to freeze themselves daft by playing in the snow! And on Thursday, instead of staying in next to the fire, I had Hospice and Rob had a transfer from Cape Town to Wellington. He set off in rain and arrived home in rain. And in between? Yes, rain!

The Dutch Reform Church in Wellington, built in 1840.

But when we woke up yesterday morning, spring had arrived! A day early I might add! And Rob had to head off to Wellington to pick up the passengers and transfer them to Franschoek. So, I went along for the ride. My camera was charged and ready for me to capture the snow covered mountains, white and shimmering in the early morning light.

Look closely, to the left of centre!!

Well, that was what I was hoping for! But, peer closely at the photo above and see if you can see the tiny deposit of snow on the tippy top of the highest point. No? That's what I thought!! But it is there, I promise!
The Guesthouse at Wellington was beautiful!

I could have moved in there and then! With the wine!

The cottage that our passengers had was an old mill, built in 1707 and the original mill stones were in the garden as a reminder of how it used to be. It looked out over paddocks and trees and I could have happily sat and had a glass or two of the wine they produce there.

One of the original mill stones, there are three in total.

But, the road was waiting and so was lunch, somewhere along the way!

The road to the Guesthouse, beautiful isn't it?

As the day progressed, the temperature rose, until it finally settled at midday at 27 deg C. We decided to find a wine farm along the way to pop in for lunch, there are lots of them, but it seemed that everyone had the same idea and they were bursting at the seams! We finally found one called 'Vrede en Lust' near Franschoek and they had space for us!

It tasted better than it looked and it looked fantastic!

And we were not disappointed. My prawn and avocado salad was delicious, and Rob's burger had a chutney relish made from butternut! (Note to self: try to google a recipe!)

Rob's burger, see the relish-chutney?

Then it was off again for the short trip into town to drop off at the Guesthouse, turn around and come home!
And along the way we saw the wonderful display that only nature can produce at this time of the year. Fields of arums that made my mouth water with jealousy. Ignored and forgotten during the summer months, they forgive all that and fling themselves skywards for a few short weeks. They just won't do that in my garden.

One of my favourite flowers. 

Why not?

And Alfie was really pleased to see us, he had been in all day and was ready to kick a few bushes!

And finally, Happy Spring Day!! Hopefully!