Thanks to many car trips with teenage daughters, and Gareth Cliff on FiveFM, Fridays  always  evoke this happy cry……….

And being in Stanford for this long weekend promises to be filled with lots of things to do, places to visit, and of course, good things to eat!  Hop over to Hermanus, and visit The Hermanus Wine & Food Fair. Its been nominated as one of the 10 best wine festivals in South Africa. 50 local wineries from Elgin to Elim will present their wines for tasting, not forgetting delectable fares from various cheese and olive farms, as well as the famous Sushi of The Harbour Rock. All the wines on tasting will be available for purchasing at the Wine Village during the festival at cellar price.

Local Stanfordian and Supercook, Michael Dyson, will be plying his wares there. He’ll be offering sirloin steak rolls in home-made plaited stoneground flour rolls, hand-made chorizo sausage in same, Michael’s Fried Chicken, Onion Bhajis and a selection of warm pies, including the shortly-to-be-famous Stanford pie! This one has surpassed sales of the English Pork Pie and is now his best seller.

The Hermanus Botanical Society will be the main beneficiary of the Wine Village Cocktail for Fynbos and Wine Auction on Friday 7 August. Tickets are R120 per person and this includes a sumptuous supper, wine tasting, with the star attraction of the evening, the famous Wine Auction. Please remember that bookings are essential and tickets can be purchased from the Wine Village.

The Hermanus Times Kalfiefees from 6 -10 August hosts a number of class acts including music, comedy, drama, children’s theatre and more. “A Teacher in the Bushveld” is a humour and drama filled play that explores Herman Charles Bosman’s life as a school teacher in the Marico Bushveld. Mike van Graan uses South Africa’s obsession with sport for hilarious and satirical social commentary “Bafana Republic 3: Penalty Shootout“