It doesn't happen too often (or at least not often enough)...but when we finally have that weekend off, or even a couple of hours off during the week, the one question we need answering is the following: "I want to do something...but where should we go? Do you know of a place??" The struggle to find a place that suits the budget, the petrol tank and the soul-engine very rarely align.., and therefore since it is a problem that I, along with my friends and family are usually in at least once a week--or every two weeks, depending on how deep into the month it is... I have decided to shed a bit of light on a spot that might help with this--should you have the time and/or resources :-) Juno Bistro & Bakery This awesome Cape-Dutch styled building is located in the Main Street of Paarl. We happened to be passing through Paarl on a somewhat overcast day (on a Tuesday) when we came across this inviting little place. What they have on offer is an amazing bistro/ bakery-type menu (we didn't eat there, at the time) as well as a tasting room/ wine shop on the right wing of the bakery. We were told that we could buy our wine from their shop and then enjoy it there either on the stoep, or anywhere we wanted to. Affordable (and reasonable) prices, friendly service, beautiful interior and a pleasantly-surprising time! I would recommend this bistary (bistro +bakery) for anything from casual wine-sipping to a quirky brunch or just popping in to buy a delicious chocolate brownie. Definitely worth a visit on your next journey to Paarl :-) Here is a link to their website and Facebook page-- http://junowines.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JunoBistro where you can find more info on their Art, Food, Specials, as well as the Wine that they sell under the same brand. Did I mention that they have Jazz evenings on Thursday nights?? Stay tuned for the next post.... There'll be some more info on other places to visit and things to see in the b.e.a.utiful Cape winelands!
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October of 2015! Who would'a thunk it--that the end of this year would come so swiftly?!
As we head into the Summer months here in South Africa, and more specifically, the coming tourist season for the Western Cape, wine farms and restaurants all over the Cape are gearing up for the bustling crowd of travelers and holiday-goers. Reservation lists are filling up, bookings are streaming in from every entry, and tasting rooms are getting fuller and fuller as we move closer to December. What lay ahead is a handful of months promising hard work, long hours and a lot of money! Everyone in the service industry looks forward to this time of year as they start doing their metaphorical stretching and dusting off the sensible shoes and step counters. This coming season promises to be one of the busiest, record-shattering seasons we have seen yet! A recent visit from my and my sister's parents presented the opportunity of being able to explore some of the local attractions Stellenbosch has to offer; have a look at some of the pictures on my Facebook Page to see where we went and some of the things we did! On a bit of a different note, the past few months have brought forward some valuable lessons and questions for contemplation. Almost every day I wake up and feel so lucky and blessed to be able to live in the place that I do. The Cape really is filled with so many beautiful things, hidden treasures to go and discover and really acts as the ideal learning ground to become exactly who and what you want to be. That being said, something very important has struck by me; the notion that it is never okay to stand still. Having worked at the same place, very intensively, for the past ten or so months--closing in on a year, there are days where I feel as though it is time for change. I have always measured my feelings toward something in terms of how nervous I am (or how much BMT I have) right before doing something; if I start to feel that what I am doing no longer scares or excites me, I feel like it might be time to start looking for another, bigger challenge. After working and reworking through my own thoughts, goals, plans and ideas, what I was left with was the following, simple conclusion: I first need to establish what it is that I am looking for; i.e. Money? Happiness? An expanded network of friends? Work Experience? Then, next I have to look at What it is that I can do: i.e. What job (or hobby) can allow/ able me to obtain those things that I am looking for. From here, my next point would be to find out what it is that I need to do to be able to get the job or hobby that I want; i.e. What skills do I need in order to qualify to move onto this bigger job, OR, what qualification do I need in order to be an attractive/ suitable candidate? The crux is--You first need to identify what it is that you want. Once you know what you want, you can find ways getting it. So, what we can say, if this isn't already too much common knowledge, is that without us knowing what our goal is, we are merely drifting. A goal gives purpose. So from here, after realizing and re-realizing this important fact, I have started to put plans into motion for what I want for my future. Not everything is exactly 100% figured out yet, and it shouldn't have to be--because where's the excitement in that? But the most important part of it all is the fact that it is your own, personal journey and that each day, you come closer and closer to what it is that you want to do--and also what you want out of life. So the challenge that I pose to you is this: Firstly, are you excited in the mornings? (Yes, I know we all have those blue/ lazy days-- but for the Most part). Do you try out new ways of doing things? Do you feel inspired by the people who work above or around you? Can you envision yourself having a different position in your current workplace? In all honesty, I think that these questions are things that we should constantly be asking ourselves. Important side note though: money isn't everything--and neither is having any fancy job title--as a job doesn't define the person. However, what we can learn from work can be important to who we are/ who we can become. Try make the most of those days where you feel like it could just be another mundane day. Do things for yourself--rather than acting "in the interests of the business"--because even though those things Do constitute as valuable traits in an employee, they in essence do so much more for YOU as an individual. Your pride, your self-respect, your high standards. Impress yourself before you want to impress any boss who may or may not be looking. Learn as much as you can, while you can. Meet everyone you work with--and even those you don't work with. Ask questions if you're interested in something, offer to help, or just to watch while someone else is busy with something you've never seen before. It can't hurt to learn new things, and at the end of the day--those things can only benefit you in your pursuit to reach your ultimate goals--Whatever they may be. |
AuthorHi there, my name is Judete Fourie. I am a twenty-something-year-old writer living in Stellenbosch in SA's Western Cape. Follow my day to day adventures that involve wine, wit and braaibroodjies. Archives
June 2017
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