Peri Bateman (below) objects to me harpooning the Whale Cottage blogger using ratings from TripAdvisor. She comments “to use TripAdvisor reports is laughable. We all know how ridiculed and skewed those nasty little snipes are.” But a tsunami of six out of six negative ratings in one week is surely an issue for a self-appointed Cape Town tourism bureau? Peri goes on “to attack her guest-house business (which has nothing to do with her journo activities) is really, really low.” I disagree that being unable to run a guest house is irrelevant to a tourism blogger.

But I do love TripAdvisor at the minute after unsolicited praise for our manager Daniel Pretorius (below). ”The Taj is well located in the centre of the old city. The staff could not have been more friendly: reception, concierge, room service, and especially the breakfast staff at the Mint each morning! Our room was very comfortable. We have never had a better appointed bathroom (loved the night light under the sink). Daniel in the wine store was very helpful in selecting a bottle of wine for the room. The Bombay Brasserie served an exquisite meal and is well worth a visit if you are looking for fine dining.”

People tell me that Whale Cottage has had a lot to say about our Wine Gallery in the past – all of it negative – which does not bother me in the slightest as he does not have the mental capacity to understand the concept or the aesthetic facility to appreciate art. We simply smile and wave.

Sunday Morning PS. Peri emails to point out “I am a he, not a she.” Which makes his FaceBook likes of The Bible and Stripper Studs – male exotic dancers – much more exciting. Sorry about getting your gender wrong Peri, but from your photo, it’s really hard to tell.