Last Friday

Seeing as it is Friday, I thought I would tell you how my last Friday went. Jax just had some renovations done and a birthday party had been thrown there the day before. So instead of wasting the decorations they had their own re-birthday party to celebrate the new look. Well, it had the kind of turnout that would scar a ten-year-old child. If there were five people in the place it was a lot. After a beer, and a lot of writing at the bar I thought I would head down to Barnies and spend my last thirty rand. Besides, I felt like a calm and quite night.

When I got there I met up with a very friendly crowd. They saw me writing and inquired as to what I was doing; the kind of reaction I have gotten used to over the last few months. They wanted me to write a story about them, and I was open to the idea. From the names I got they seemed to be a family, probably because they all had the surname Viljoen. There was an Anton, a Judy, a Lee-Ann, and others. Now I would love to tell you what their story is; really, but they greeted me with three small quantities of different-coloured and unnamed liquids. I did not want to reject such a cordial offer, as I though it would offend their native customs. Alas, from that point onwards I cannot hope to tell you what transpired. Thankfully I did not have to drive home.

From now on I refuse to put anything to my lips that does not come in a bottle that I have seen opened. So if I do end up doing anything this weekend, I just hope that what ever place I end up at serves orange juice.

Here's a some pictures of the friendly crowd at Barnies. Oh, and the outside of Jax.

Oom Stiens

Last week I was politely dragged on a bit of an adventure. Wait -- that makes it sound a bit too epic. I went with someone I had just met to Stanford. Yes, that's more of a reasonable explanation. While there I was shown some of the local colour. Again I think that may be a bit misleading. It gives the impression of something artistic or even culturally relevant. In fact we simply went to the local pub.

Now I have been one to find the curiously quaint to the happy little hovels, so it makes sense I tell you where to the locals wet their whiskers in dear old Stanford. Now I would tell you where Oom Stiens is; but I was not driving, and as a result I was not paying any attention at all to the road. Sorry.

Oom Stiens has been open for one and a half years. Its not a franchise, and tries to cater for those who want to sit down and have a hearty feast with friends and family, as well as those that just got paid who need to drown the torrents of sorrow that lap at their hearts. Of course the marketing term for that is a Restro-Bar, but I prefer my description.

The décor is actually quite nice, and they also have a spacious garden area, not to mention a great fireplace. The also tell me they source only the freshest fish, which with Hermanus only a few kilometres down the road should not be too hard. 

I was there on a quiet night so I can't really give you an in depth analysis of the clientèle but at first glance they seem friendly -- or they were smiling at the girl sitting next to me.

At least now if you are in Stanford and you don't know what to do, at least you know of a place to drink that worry away.

Yeah, I know, Not the best photo. 

Oh my, a garden area, mom, come quick you have to see this!

Trust me, if I had a flash, it would look a lot more inviting