Something I have learnt teaching at my school is this. ‘Don’t expect anything to be the same as it was before – there is always change and there are always surprises’  This applies to the curriculum as well as the end of year treat!   This year we were simply told – the buses will be here at 11 – be ready!   Now some people just don’t like surprises and had to be reassured that we would not be doing anything strenuous, uncomfortable or dangerous.   Others had to know ‘what to wear’ while others were concerned about the expected time of return.   But I was just thrilled that I didn’t have to think about it, didn’t have to pay for it and didn’t even have to drive myself there!  I was just  delighted to be getting a treat at all!

The secret almost slipped out of the organiser’s mouth this morning at our Keep in Touch meeting – but still I was in the dark until the bus turned toward the Waterfront and with a little thrill of Oh Boy – I realised it was to The One and Only – Cape Town we were going.

As we disembarked from the bus, one of our staff said, “If anyone asks, tell them we’re from ……..”and she mentioned the name of a neighbouring school. – Let them get the bad reputation for bad behaviour!    Ha ha – no of course we didn’t misbehave!

We felt so special being welcomed by staff in smart livery, and shown to a lounge with comfortable chairs and couches arranged around coffee tables set with cups, saucers and cutlery.  A waitress appeared and invited us to help ourselves to the delicious savoury and sweet confectionery on a buffet table.   We needed no second invitation.   We tucked in to the delicate sandwiches, quiches, savoury tarts and pies and returned for the tiny iced cup cakes, cheese cakes, scones and the like and drank excellent coffees and teas.   A pianist played and sang beautiful music that was not intrusive on the conversation but added to the ambience of the luxurious setting.  The view out to the harbour added to the perfection of the afternoon.

I seldom leave home without my camera but today I forgot and so had to rely on my new BlackBerry to take some snaps.  I do not blame the phone – only my lack of experience in using its camera function –  for the poor quality of the photos below.

A lovely spread

What a treat

After we’d all enjoyed our tea/coffee and delectable goodies, some of us went for a walk and some enjoyed cocktails on the stoep – or both.

A lifestyle we could get used to

Couldn’t wish for a nicer setting

The One and Only Spa has springbuck drinking at the fountain

How about a leisure cruise

This is The One and Only – Cape Town

Enjoying the view

A wonderful place to chill

All too soon it was time to say a few sad farewells to colleagues who for various reasons will not be returning next year.   And then it was back onto the buses and a return to our normal plebeian lives.  But we bonded with colleagues and morale was up – a lovely way to end the school year!  Thanks to Leadership for surprising us with a fun way to end a busy but rewarding year!