They say that a picture tells a thousand words, so here are a few to try and capture the special occasion. (And we even managed to squeeze in some serious book discussion!)
Buying quiches, snacks, ice-cream and ginger beer at Houw Hoek Farm Stall.
Arriving on Klein Perle which is in the heart of the Groot Hagelkraal botanical hotspot near Pearly Beach.
Sue and Dave's house in the limestone hills. 
Setting off on our first walk after a delicious lunch of soup and mielie bread and fresh, fresh fruit.
The Green Snake-stem Pincushion (Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron) which, so my book tells me, means "a tree with leaves and fruit below, or on the ground" Greek hupo=under; phullon=leaf; karpos=fruit; dendron=tree. 
One of the little wooden sheds up on the fynbos-clad limestone hill above the house.
Sue with our Christmas tree.
Les.
Heather at the hut in the hills.
Some of the spice (or spouses?) - Les, Dave and Stephen - with Magnum.
Tritoniopsis antholyza.
The Common Pagoda (Mimetes cucullatus).
Toothbrush Fern (Schizaea pectinata).
Large Painted Lady (Gladiolus carneus).
I think these may be Watsonia zeyeri, but not sure. The limestone hills in the distance look like they have snow on them, but it is only the bare limestone and sand - exposed in the recent fires.
Waiting for the gin and tonic.
Wonderful light and wide open spaces.
Christmas dinner decorating.
The gumboot Christmas tree - with Lobola.On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ...
Sue's appropriate Christmas card.
Getting the braai going and chatting while we talked books. We missed you Bev, Terry and Joan!
Business over, then down to the real reason for coming ...
eating and drinking. Here is Sue and Stephen with the two Magnums.
Sue and Magnum. 
Robin sorting out our "Webered" chicken.
Cheers.
Jane and Sue in mellow mood.
Alison putting the finishing touches to the elegant table.
Dave recording the event, and me recording him recording the event ...
Dishing up. Sue and Dave produced an amazing spread of delicious, varied courses - all without Eskom power and municipal water.
Lang-arm to the Baardskeerdersbos Boereorkes. (Click on the name to find out more about them!)
The next morning we went for another walk. The veld was burnt recently and there were lots of interesting things coming up. Here is Dave taking photos of this species of Powder Puff (Pseudoselago something that I cant pin down but its not spuria or serrata.)
A close up of the mystery Powder Puff with us walking in the background.
Another little pincushion - the White Trailing Pincushion (Leucospermum pedunculatum). It starts off creamy white and turns carmine. It is a rare plant that only occurs on coastal flats from Danger Point to the Soetanysberg.
It was quite windy, but stunningly beautiful up there! Pearly Beach and Dyer Island in the distance.
Sue and De Noon doing a spot of gardening.
We came down the limestone ridge which was quite challenging at times, but most enjoyable.
This is the habitat of the rare Erica occulta, but we didn't find any plants.
The house far below.
Dave directing the traffic. It looks easy but it was quite a tricky little descent! Good for the hand-eye co-ordination. 
Jane nearly home and dry.
Brunch.
The Silver Edge Pincushion (Leucospermum patersonii) - another pincushion that occurs only in limestone areas from Hermanus to Cape Agulhas.What a fantastic weekend - thank you so much Sue and Dave for making it happen, and providing all the accommodation and organizing all the wonderful food. It was a really special occiasion and a great highlight in the life of Woodland Bookclub.
