I spent four days in the village of McGregor last week, last having been there four months ago. I spent such a relaxing and special time there, that I wish to acknowledge with gratitude the contribution which each of the following made to me during my stay: 

#. Temenos, at which I have been accommodated numerous times since I first visited it when Graham Goble started working there in November 2016. Temenos is a home to me in McGregor, with friendly service from Madie Maans when one checks in and from Judy when one checks out on a Sunday; from waitrons Helga, Annelies, and Shannon;  special care and kindness by Margaret Johnston; and the warmth from its owner and founder Billy Kennedy, with whom I had a long chat about The SwitchBitch Book, about my new home, about my plans for 2018, and who subsequently gave me permission to use the ‘Camino’ painting by him, which I had seen in the Temenos Gallery, for the cover of my second SwitchBitch book after I walk the Camino in May. New Manager Nolan Allnutt wore beautiful shoes for evening service, so much so that I teased him about where we were going to dance!  From somewhat reticent initially, he warmed to me, and he was very helpful in securing the painting to the back seat of my car, it getting to Cape Town safe and sound.

No visit to Temenos is complete without mentioning the peacocks, this spiritual bird being the emblem of Temenos. Two lady peacocks, as well as a peacock couple, sat in the tree outside my Santa Chiara cottage, and I felt blessed and protected. The Male peacocks look splendid in their deep blues, and especially when they prance and preen their beautiful ‘paisley’ tails. The guinea fowl mama with her twelve chicks scurried around the luscious gardens, while another guineafowl mama had ‘teenage’ youngsters that she went walkabout with. The gardens are in a beautiful condition, Temenos having a borehole, and the dam in McGregor being near full. Many visitors to the village walk through the Gardens, built up over the past 20 years under the watchful eye of Billy. A number of special spiritual buildings as well as figures are dotted around the property, a multi-denominational place of peace and spirituality.

The pool was a welcome respite in the hot weather, it feeling wonderful to be surrounded by water, a luxury for a Capetonian.  I met South African Sydney resident Ingrid Slater there, and she and I spent a lot of time chatting, and eating some meals together. 

#.  Wahnfried is the home of music and movies, benevolently established by Michael MacKenzie and his late partner, just down the road from Temenos. In the time that I was there I was fortunate to experience the following: a live violin and piano performance by Belgian duo Jolene de Maeyer and Nikolaas Kende, a performance which included the Kreuzer Sonata by Beethoven (it was walking out of Wahnfried after this performance that I saw the What’s App from my estate agent that the offer on my new home had been accepted, very exciting news); the screening of ‘A Family Affair’ documentary by Dutch filmmaker Tom Faessert,  about his dysfunctional family, a stimulating and triggering experience for almost every member of the audience; and the crowning ending was the filmed performance by countertenor Philippe Jaroussky of Bach and Telemann’s Sacred Cantatas, which lifted me all the way back to Cape Town!

#.  Having dinner at Karoux Bistro, down the road from Temenos, by far the best restaurant in the McGregor/Robertson area. The menu is changed every week, and produce is locally sourced. I had invited fellow Temenos guest Ingrid Slater to join me, and we ordered different dishes, but tasted each others. As I am besotted with figs, I just had to order the figs roasted, served with Gorgonzola cheese, and almonds. I had a second starter, an unusual steak tartare in a yuzu mirrin sauce, which was delicious. Ingrid ordered a salmon trout fish cake, as a starter, followed by a Cape Malay chicken curry, which she felt could have more heat on the curry side, but she did enjoy it. I ordered the chocolate mousse for dessert, and while it tasted good, its presentation was not as good as that of Temenos. Ingrid and I chatted endlessly, getting to learn more about each other, a most enjoyable evening. Dutch Filmmaker Tom Faessert joined the neighbouring table, so we got to know even more about his documentary, which we had seen at Wahnfried the evening before. 

#. Excellent cappuccinos were made by How Bazaar owner Barbara, and I was also tempted by two dresses in her gift shop. The coffee/gift shop has seating outside, enabling one to meet locals as well as tourists, as well as a Boules Court. 

#  I had only briefly previously met Susan Walker in McGregor, and had never been to her wine shop Grape De-Vine. Whilst inside, I saw that she had vanilla preserved figs, and bought the last jar. She was friendly, and gave me credit until later in the week, as her credit card machine was not working. 

#   An ozone health therapy treatment by Karin Fuchsloch of The Old Mill Spa was a first experience, described as removing toxins, and allowing one to de-stress, not that I have much stress. One breathes in pure humidified oxygen while one’s body is enclosed in a space into which an ozone and oxygen mix is circulated. The hour seemed to have flown. 

#  The Saturday Market is a meeting place for the locals, and a mix of mainly food items is sold there,  including honey, preserves, freshest basil and cherry tomatoes, fruit, and prepared foods.  

The best part about my four days away in McGregor was that my car did not move from the Temenos parking, until it was time to drive back home! With thanks and gratitude to McGregor! ?❤️?

Temenos, Voortrekker Street, McGregor. Tel (023) 625-1871 www.temenos.org.za

Wahnfried, 27 Bree Street, McGregor. Tel 072 601 1616

Karoux, 42 Voortrekker Street, McGregor. Tel (023) 625-1421. www.karoux.co.za

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein