Dessie's

It was a very windy day in PE last Thursday... one of those Spring days when Mother Nature decides to play hairdresser.  As if taking a cue from the weather, this week's Crawlers, June Nash along with her sister, Gail Backstrom and friend, Jenny Pollitt (both visiting from Cape Town), Leanne Waller and son, Daniel, Les Baldwin, Nomusa Nkomo, Fran and Keith de Beer, Gail Darne, all "breezed in and out"  of Dessie's for a shorter than typical Crawl.  Everyone had places to go, people to see, things to do, so a quick round and a half was served by our very pleasant waiter, Moses.

Meet the Owner
Dessie van de Walt

Located in the Bloomingdales Lifestyle Village, 145 Main Rd. in Walmer, Dessie's is a great place to stop for a quick pick-me-up if you're already at Bloomingdales Nursery getting flowers for your garden or if you're just passing through Walmer.  Plan for busy Main Rd. traffic as it may cause problems entering to or exiting from the parking lot to the opposite side traffic lane.  Because the shop is open seven days a week (short hours on the weekend) and seats about 60 patrons there's plenty of time (and space) to avail yourself of the extensive breakfast/lunch menu.  Owner, Dessie van de Walt told me that she caters for off-site events as well.  As for the coffee, the Crawlers have had their share of LavAzza and Masterton's blends but all were in agreement that barista Patricia's was the strongest we've tasted.  (If memory serves me, there was one other Crawl where I had to work off my coffee jitters at the gym!)

Meet the Barista and our Waiter
Patricia and Moses

This Week's Crawlers
June, Gail D. Gail B. Jenny, Fran, Nomusa, Leanne, Les, Keith, Daniel

So with a short Crawl comes limited time for conversation though it never fails to entertain.  With Summer close at hand an interesting debate came up at one end of the table... one-piece vs bikini vs nude ... good thing Les and Keith were at the other end of the table talking cricket ...  AGAIN.  Gail B. (June's sis) said there's a nude beach somewhere in the Cape Town area ... just watch out for the sharks!!!  Speaking of wild creatures (nudists or sharks?), Keith told us about Rhodesian-born, rugby player (circa 1960s), Andy McDonald who is known to have killed a lion with his bare hands!!!  I made the mistake of saying that it sounded like an urban legend to me... by Thursday night I had received numerous, though conflicting, emails (with links) from the Crawlers regarding the Andy McDonald story.  Any readers out there with the low down on Andy, please enlighten us.... 

Rugby World Cup 2011 Update - the U.S. team lost to Italy on Tues.  I think that's it for the Eagles.  Better luck at the World Cup 2015 in England, guys!  South Africa beat Samoa on Friday ensuring the Springboks a place in the quarterfinals.

Keith's useless fact-of-the-week finally has something to do with coffee!!  The longest running coffee shop, Queen's Lane, opened in the UK in 1652 and is still going strong.  Boy, I hope you're right on this one, Keith.... I guess we'll find out from UK readers if you're not!!!  

~Thank you to Dessie, Moses, Patricia, and Dessie's mom
~Happy Birthday to Leanne - Sept 28
~Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Lou - Oct 5
~Congrats to Les and Nomusa for welcoming their new additions - seven goslings just hatched at their
   farm!  

Until next week,

Ellen