Titia Blake, Author at Palm Strings

Ever since we were invited to play a wedding in Sweetfontein (which eventually actually happened in Kathu), we’ve been yearning to get back on the RT and explore the vineyards around Upington and the Orange River. So having actually never been to Sweetfontein, it definitely needs to be visited!

The bug actually bit when we were invited to play a wedding in Kariega and decided to take our time getting there and back, stopping over in Knysna, playing for our stay — as it were — spending a couple of nights at Kenton-on-Sea to explore that area a little as well.

A holiday in Hogsback took us through Bedford, which is a small town with wonderful people trying to make things happen. They have a gardening show once a year in October, when people from far and wide come to experience the wonder of the Eastern Cape. Friends in Somerset East invited us over for a few days, and we loved it so much we can’t wait to go back! We learned from that trip that the way to get to know a town is to get to know her people — because driving through on the main road is most definitely not going to give you the right idea!

On that same trip, we took a tour through the Cango Caves and discovered all manner of wonderful adventures around Oudtshoorn needing our attention! De Rust was so utterly charming when we passed through on a very cold, misty morning that it has stayed on our bucket list ever since.

A wedding in the Tankwa resulted in us taking a detour to Prince Albert, over the Swartberg Pass, staying over at Kobus se Gat, which felt almost like being in Switzerland. The views were breathtaking! We decided to head home via the Groenfontein road, which starts just below Kobus se Gat towards Calitzdorp. Just short of a day in Calitzdorp — wine tasting at Boplaas, eating at Giovanni’s — made us realise that passing through is simply not enough. There is going to have to be a new motto: two nights minimum!

Hogsback has been on our bucket list for a very long time. This June,2024 Mike had a gap in his teaching schedule so we decided to venture to the Eastern Cape and explore! What a paradise Hogsback is! If you love mountains and nature this is definitely the place to be. After a journey of 610 kms our instruments, although strapped to a BMW RT 1200 ,were perfectly in tune when we unpacked them on arrival at Away with the Fairies, our ‘home’ for the duration of our stay. We sat in front of a lovely fire with some wine and a pizza and retired early for some much needed sleep.

A glorious sunshine drew us to the Madonna & Child Falls-a 4km walk through a Forrest alive with birds and exquisite indigenous Ironwood, Blackwood, Stinkwood and Yellowwood trees-I almost thought I was in Natures Valley again doing the Tsitsikamma Trail!

On the way back there was an irresistible icy pool that I had to swim in and another hike up to the Swallows Tail Falls which was a tricky path but seriously rewarded with spectacular Falls. I really got the feeling of being on a multi day hike-when one has walked for quite a few kilometres and starts fantasising about a beer or a glass of wine or some good food…

The following day saw us in search of St Patrick’s Chapel-one of the few left in SA which doesn’t lock its doors-ever!After quite a slog uphill most of the way we finally came upon a charming stone and thatch Chapel and as luck would have it, we arrived at the same time as Lynne from Cathedral Weddings ,who was checking on lighting for a wedding tomorrow-we played a few tunes-she convinced us to play at the wedding in return for a walk in her private garden to see her private waterfalls at 42 on Main plus videos and advertising for her destination weddings. Any excuse to come back here is a good excuse for us!! We’ll simply hop on our trusty BMW and do what we do!!

Greeting us in the car park at the Chapel next morning was a herd of cows-seems that they have free reign in the Eastern Cape-as well as ‘right of way’-a bit like bicycles in the Netherlands. Turns out it was the grooms birthday so when he arrived at the Chapel we played happy birthday for him and got chatting. His bride -to -be was his girlfriend when they were both 18-life happened-and now,on his 66th birthday -they decided to tie the knot in a private affair in Hogsback. We were thrilled to be able to make music for him and his bride-even playing their favourite song he happened to mention which we downloaded in the Church and played for their exit . They left the Chapel dancing!Definitely a wedding we won’t forget!

This weekend the Palm Strings Duo is delighted to be serenading the guests wining and dining at Southhill Guest Farm at Elgin just outside Cape Town. The annual Blossom Festival celebrates the dawning of spring and takes place from 2–3 October 2021. The festival is known for crisp white wines native to the region, excellent cuisine and music to match.

The Duo will be entertaining guests over breakfast, lunch and dinner, pausing for rugby as necessary. They do this by virtue of the reams of songs they have memorised, to satisfy every musical taste. Whatever the occasion, Palm Strings has just the right tune.

Courtney and Sasha tied the knot on Saturday 7 December 2019 at Altydlig, a beautiful old farm on the mountain above Kuilsriver. It was a hot day and the view of Table Mountain could not have been better. The service was on the lawn and the high tea afterwards was outside on the balcony of the Manor House maximizing the experience of being in the Cape Winelands.