Comments on: . Tea, Tartelettes & Yellow Cape Cobras

By: african vanielje

african vanielje — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:05:32 +0000

Susan, thank you. That’s the great thing about roundups, now I’ve discovered you too. The christmas cookie collection is looking fantastic

By: Susan from Food Blogga

Susan from Food Blogga — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:38:38 +0000

What’s better–the post or the tart? They’re both fantastic! What a stunning photo; I’m so glad I discovered your beautiful blog at Jeanne’s round-up. -Susan

By: african vanielje

african vanielje — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:01:23 +0000

Elle, thank you, and I too loved the picture of a typically hectic day in my family’s life. There have been awful floods in and near the mountains where my parents have a holiday cottage. Greyton has been flooded as has much of the surrounding area and thousands have been rendered homeless. The dams cannot cope with the excess water, yet the new dams they are supposed to be building are not ready and the population now exceeds the amount of water our current dams can supply. Seem backwards? DIA (Dis is Africa). My mom has blocks of time when I cannot contact her because they have no electricity and she has woken up 3 mornings this week to no electricity, no hot water etc. This is because they do not have enough power on the national grid so have to ration it. My mom is philosophical as she knows that not too far away live people with little or no electricity, no bathrooms, let alone hot water….

By: Elle

Elle — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:15:33 +0000

Beautiful, beautiful tarts, but the post is even better! Both the snake story with all the players, and the thought of that wonderful birthday tea with the little one eating so many little plates of goodies. You must tell us about the floods.

By: african vanielje

african vanielje — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 18:17:13 +0000

Thanks Pasticcera. I can envisage you sitting in your garden at Bella Baita tucking in to one of these

By: Pasticcera

Pasticcera — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:41:38 +0000

Late for the tea party, but glad I made it as the story was great. I’m still smiling, and the tartlette is awesome.

By: african vanielje

african vanielje — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:00:57 +0000

Vanilla, your grandmother sounds like one of those indomitable pioneering women. We have a few o f those in our family.

Christy, a paucity of snakes is one of Somerset’s attractions as well. And I wouldn’t do the keyboard in the dishwasher trick. I think you have to be a trained professional.

Jeanne, can you imagine, it would be the meeting of Fawlty towers and the Life of Brian. Although I’m rather drawn to a man who ‘calls for his fowling piece to despatch something’

PS. I was counting on your patriotism.

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:36:30 +0000

Oh what a great, great post! Your family sounds as crazy as mine - God forbid they should ever meet! My parents’ house (where I grew up) is right on the edge of the Baakens Valley in the middle of PE. We often had snakes come slithering through, but I’m afraid my father was more of the “shoot first, ask questions later” variety with snakes. When I was younger I remember many a puff-adder gettign bashed with a spade. And even after I had already come to live in the UK, I used to get these slightly deranged stories. Like when he pulled the car out of the carport and discovere that there was a puff-adder curled up underneath it - one of Africa’s deadliest and most dangerous snakes centimetres from his ankles! As this was all breathlessly relayed during our next pone call, I asked him “so what did you do then?” He replied “well, of course I called for my fowling piece and dispatched it!” Bear in mind that this is a man over 80 living in the suburbs, not some pioneer settler!! I just shut my eyes and said a little prayer of thanks that nobody had been bitten - or shot!

Your tarts look fabulous - the Nellie would be proud to have them! Love the idea of the grapefruit curd to add a twist. And although I think you are sailing close to the wind with the topless definition, in the spirit of patriotism I’ll accept them

By: Christy

Christy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:07:40 +0000

Ha! I guess living in frigid (winter) humid (summer) flat central Illinois has its benefits, one of which is the paucity of scary snakes. As Marye said, I’m so happy to not have had anything in my mouth while reading your post, or I would be attempting the keyboard in the dishwasher trick right now.

By: Absolute Vanilla (and Atyllah)

Absolute Vanilla (and Atyllah) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:30:34 +0000

There is nothing quite like Sunday afternoon tea at the Nellie! I’ve not been for ages because I often think it’s the sort of outing that is best saved up for a special treat - which is probably a silly idea but there you go.

As for that cobra, I’m reminded of a story I heard about my great grandmother - a cook - who had, back in those days, recently arrived in Cape Town from Vienna. She was living in Hout Bay and had entered her kitchen to start the days work when she spotted a huge snake slithering towards her. Her response was to wave her apron at it and tell it to “shoo, shoo” from her kitchen. The snake took one look and left. They did always say that great-grandma had gypsy blood - so maybe she was threatening the snake with a vile curse!