Our “Devine” Afternoon

  We had yet another trip “over the hill” to the Wairarapa on Sunday when we met up for a day out with our SLG friends.  We lunched at “Devine Cafe”, at Clareville.  This building used to house an antique business some years ago, and it was obvious that it started out life as a church. 

Our group of eleven friends spent some time looking at the menu and humming and haaing before making up our minds on what to chose for lunch.  There was a good selection on offer, with everything from toasted sandwiches, lambs fry and bacon, or a mixed grill.  Robin chose Eggs Benedict, and declared it very tasty indeed.  My mushrooms flavoured with smoky paprika served on toast  got the better of me and I couldn’t quite finish them all, but they weren’t wasted, Robin took care of the last few remaining mushrooms for me.    

After a lot more chatting it was time to move on.  We asked another group of diners departing at the same time if they would mind taking a couple of group photos for us.  No trouble at all, we were told, as they snapped photos with one camera after another for us as we lined up outside the cafe.  Just look at the shape of those windows – don‘t they just say ‘’’old church?”

  Outside Devine Cafe

After lunch we returned to Ann and Les’s home.  The men followed Les downstairs for a game of pool.  Memories of their youthful years playing pool in smoky pubs surfaced as they endeavoured to sink the balls into those pockets.  It wasn’t quite as easy as it used to be and, they said, and most commented that they seemed to have lost their touch. 

Shades of mis-spent youth in pubs

While the men were reliving their mis-spent youth, the ladies were being instructed in a game of rummy.  This is a game using  numbered tiles, and I think I came last.  I’m not really one for games, but I gave it a go, then left the others to it.  It’s obvious that some of our group are very competitive indeed, from what I could hear going on around the table.

The ladies playing rummy

Our afternoon concluded with a delicious afternoon tea – what, more food!  Thanks Anne and Les, we had a lovely time.