For many years I have been meeting friends I have known since my college days (sh – way back in the 70s) every month for breakfast – We call it, predictably, Breakfast Club.   There are seven of us and its one of those girlie things that keep us sane – taking a break from our normal routine of work and family and just chilling for a couple of hours in each other’s company.   On our birthdays, the birthday girl gets presents and her breakfast paid for by the others!   One of our number, Margie, who has now reached retirement age is planning to join her children in Australia.  So for her birthday we decided to have a grand send off.  Five of us left Cape Town at 4:30 on Friday afternoon and took off for our holiday house in Struisbaai.   Don’t ask how we managed to get the three hubbies involved to let us go.  There might have been great sulking if they hadn’t agreed to release us – wonderful men that they are! The fun began right from the start – everyone relaxed and the Caravelle was abuzz with laughter and chatter and we enjoyed the drive through traffic, dusk and finally darkness till we arrived at our destination at 7:30.  Just before we arrived I realised I’d forgotten the milk but lucky for us there was one cafe open and we got to it just before they closed for the night. The catering was well under control – no effort involved – Woollies spit roast chicken, veggies in a bag and baby potatoes followed by Melba pudding and custard!   Oh – and of course Champers to celebrate Margie’s 62 years. It was almost midnight when we found our beds and crashed for the night. Unfortunately it had to be a working weekend for me – my reports being due on Monday – so I was up early on Saturday and spent a productive hour working.   By the time everyone was up and ready for action I had accomplished a fair amount. After enjoying a cup of coffee and a bun together we got ourselves ready to go out for breakfast – “You have three choices girls – a fancy brekkie with white table clothes but no view, a basic brekkie at the harbour – with a view or The Lighthouse Restaurant in Agulhas.  Unanimously we decided that  the Harbour Brekkie with a view was the only place we wanted to be.   What a busy place a fishing harbour is – and so picturesque.   When we arrived we noticed some police and rescue vehicles.  Margie asked – What’s happening?”  And we were told that a ski-boat had capsized at the 12mile bank – but all on board were safe.

From the Pelican Restaurant we were able to watch all the interesting activity the harbour had to offer.  The sea was flat and lots of the commercial and ski-boats were out at sea.  But the commercial, Big Blue was there offloading her catch.

Hanging on the wall in my lounge is a painting of two Arniston fishermen’s cottages.  Margie instantly coveted it and said, Where can I buy some art like that!

So we went to Agulhas in search of art galleries.  No problem – The Southern Wright Gallery was found with ease and we spent a long time looking at beautiful pieces by local artists.   It was a bit of a problem trying to get Margie, Dot and Cheryl out of there. After selecting a few pieces that she might like to take with her to Australia Margie said, “We’ll be back – I must just think about this over coffee.  And off we went to Potpourri across the road.  Wow – what a lovely coffee/gift shop!

Our gatherer instincts kicked in and we browsed the nooks and crannies displaying beach-house decor, novelties, bags, jewelry, clothing and scarves.

There was a tricky moment when Margie and Chrissie vied for possession of the same scarf.

In the end Chrissie said, Okay – its your birthday – you can have it.

It was an expensive visit and we all left with packets full of lovely goodies.

You can’t bring visitors to Agulhas without doing the tip of Africa thing – so we dutifully went to stand on the spot and have a kind young man take our portraits with each ones camera.  “Don’t worry, ” he said when we tried to show him how to use our cameras – “I do this for a living.’ Then when he was done, said, “Thanks Ladies” and started walking off with our cameras.  We laughed –  “So that’s what you do for a living,”   Luckily it wasn’t!

It was a drizzly day and cool but our spirits were high as we took a drive to Suiderstrand.  We saw a jackal buzzard soaring overhead and spotted several birds on the side of the road – Cape francolin, canaries, bulbuls etc.

Back in Agulhas we found the lighthouse museum closed for renovations and climbing to the top of the tower held little appeal.  We did take a pic of the view though.

The dealer at Southern Wright had a glint of glee in her eye when she saw us returning.  Margie has visions of marmite toast for dinner till the end of the month because after much deliberation and advice and suggestions from Cheryl and me, she made up her mind, bit the bullet and maxed out her card  to invest in  four delightful little paintings of parts of the country that are dear to her.

Give them pride of place in your new Aussie home Margs!

We returned to Struisbaai, delighted with our day and the fun we’d had.   Margie called out marks for me to enter onto our internet based system and after an hour or so it was all done and dusted and  I shall be ready to print my reports on Monday afternoon.

We enjoyed another pleasant evening together and once again dinner required little preparation – Woollies’ Lasange and micro veggies, rolls and of course the obligatory glass of champers!