Gentle walk, on a misty day in the vineyards. Legs still a tad wobbly from our walk up the mountain. Polly full of energy. The grapes, in the vineyards, turning purple. Still terribly sour.

Lesa visit in for a few days which gave us the excuse to head out to Stellenbosch to walk around the sculpture exhibition. Draw pictures on the tables at Brampton, with a bottle of wine for creative stimulation before heading to lunch at Clos Malverne.

Life in the vineyards settling into a new routine as the holidays come to an end and the burden of South Sudan lifts. Walk at first light. Cappuccino mulling over the news bits before the studio calls with its relentless schedule. The odd glass of wine with people stopping by the cottage and the enticement of Estates with their gardens and restaurants, always a distraction.

Around Stellies, planters filled with vegetables as part of the Free to Grow project, which aims to encourage home food gardens for food security to support vulnerable groups.

Vergelegen for the agapanthus garden which is at its prime. Fields of a gazillion purples, spectacular against green trees, with the mountains to frame the setting. The Octagonal Garden is past its early summer best, however the dahlias are splendid. Crazy that there is nowhere to get a coffee, and you can’t get a glass of their wine. The Stables Restaurant only opening at 12.

Franschhoek on a stunning day to visit galleries, drink cappuccinos on the terrace at Le Quartier Farancais before lunch at Roco.

The 30 paintings in 30 days challenge into its second week. The patio, my studio, in the midst of the cottage garden. Birds and the fountain, magical companions. The birds are a bit of a terror in their search for cheese, which has them walking across the table. Not ideal with wet paint in abundance.