It’s been 30 years and it was time to celebrate in a little more lavish style than we have done in the past. I knew that in order to do this, luring Mike with the promise of golf was the way to go. We found a special weekday offer at the Arabella hotel and country estate just outside Kleinmond and the booking was made.
We arrived yesterday at lunch time, booked in and got out to the golf course. The golf course is spectacular and we enjoyed 4 hours of entertainment, with Mike playing well in the first 9 and fading in the second. This was not unexpected. We walked the course, not taking a cart. By the end of the first 9, my feet were already barking. To my delight, we got caught behind a slow 4 ball and I was able to sit down between each hole, giving my feet a break. That made a difference.
The course is said to be the 5th best in the country. It is magnificently maintained, picturesque and set amidst natural fynbos of the region, surrounded by farmlands and mountains. Always something to see…a family of ducks, perfectly at home…
On the 11th, half way down the fairway, there is a bell that players ring to let the golfers about to tee off know that it is safe to do so…
The tees are marked by signs on stones…
My view while resting at the 12th…
This is the 16th fairway – just such a beautiful view…
There is a house which is the firing line of golf balls. Clearly the owners had had enough. The entire house is covered with netting… the black pyramid shaped cover over the house below is it…
Mike teeing off…
We ended our 10km game with the sun beginning to disappear below the mountains, casting long shadows….this is the 16th green.
We were suitably tired and hungry by the time we lumbered back up to the hotel. We had a long soak and then dressed up and went to the hotel restaurant for a celebratory dinner. It’s not always easy to find someone to take a photo but when you make the effort the result is always better than a selfie….
We spent a couple of hours reminiscing over each year of the 30 we have been married. From starting out at Jenglen court in Tamboerskloof, moving to Paarl and then to Sun Valley. Of building our home, raising our children, being involved in the birth of CCFm, working, educating, caring for parents, mourning the death of family members, rejoicing in the marriage of Stacey and Adrian, graduations and holiday memories. We covered events of every year and we were grateful to God for each one. Today we agreed that this is probably the most expensive hotel we have ever stayed in. Mike asked which was the worst. There was no contest. Five years ago, we were returning from a road trip to Hogsback to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and we stopped at some hot springs we had heard about on Route 66. Not Montague, but not far from it. It was terrible – a tiny little dingy wooden hut with grimy linen and the fear of bedbugs. It was cheap though! We tucked ourselves deeply into the awful bed and watched a video on Mike’s cell phone. It was memorable. We will know to pass it by if the opportunity every arises again. 🙂
That’s what marriage is made of. Good memories even if they are don’t rank high on the list of best resorts stayed at. Home tomorrow.
Psalm 126:3 (NLT)
Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!
These are the days!
Keep the smile going!
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂