Wandering and wine

Yesterday, we went to buy Norman two beehives for the flower farm, our farm-warming present for them. Very nice man who makes them, though he is quite the sportsman, big hunter and fisher with pictures and mounted horns to prove it. He also had really nice legs in shorts and workboots — a killer look for some men. Afterwards, we went off wandering around the countryside, though with purpose. We drove to the gates of Gondwana, a private game reserve, but found out we can only schedule a game drive on the internet — and then when Laird went on their website, found that you have to be staying there to do it. Too bad, but there are at least two more reserves within a very short distance to try. Or go back to Botlierskopp, which we really like. So no game drive. On to wine tasting. Went through Herbertsdale, a town of no people from the look around — there’s not even a sign outside the church that says what it is. Dutch reformed, we found out. White. We got to Jakkalsvlie, which I have heard variously as Yakopsplace, Yakofsflay and slight variations. Marita says “Oh, Afrikaans is so easy, it’s pronounced as you see it. Well, except Beginning Js have a Y sound, beginning Gs have a phlemmy H sound — oh, except when they sound like G, or, to my ear, like Qu or Qw. “Googie more” is good morning/day. It is pronounced to my ear as Quia mora. Or Whea mora. I thik more has an accent n the e. And Vs sound like Fs.

Anyway, we got to Yakkelsflay (Jakkal’s marsh) and tasted several wines, most of which were delicious. I even found a white wine I liked! So I bought a little over a case (their cases are short, only 6 bottles); got a muscadel for Noekie who likes sweet wine, the bottle we had with our lunch of cheeses, ostrich carpaccio (do I have a letters missing? I must, it’s too short), ostrich pate, olives and figs. Looking out over a gorgeous valley, how perfect. Well, it could have been slightly better since it was quite cool with lots of wind. Still windy this morning and cold. Laird is gone with Norman to take Noekie to airport (she just got home last night from Pretoria, today off to Durban, poor woman!) in George, then to buy the remainder of the stuff for the beehives. Marita are going to drink coffee and read the paper.