The Latest
What's in a Name?
“Jason scratched his head.”You named him Festus? You know that in Latin, ‘Festus’ means ‘happy’? You want us to ride off to save the world on Happy the Dragon?” Rick Riordan, The Lost Hero My nephew and his wife are expecting their first child, my first grand-nephew and my...
Zucchini and Oregano Quiche
Celebrate the days getting longer and warmer with a family favourite. Simply serve a crisp green salad and Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing. Don't forget to pack a bottle of Bubbly and Strawberries. PASTRY 500g Flour 2,5ml Salt 1,2ml Paprika 250g Butter 250ml Cheddar Cheese, grated 125ml...
Meditteranean Baked Tomato Salad
Nothing beats a beautiful plump sun-kissed bright red Rosa Tomato, in our house they're a staple and this recipe is a winner for it's versatility and simplicity. Use a variety of tomatoes. Pre-heat the oven to 220°C On a lined (line with baking paper or tin foil) baking sheet spread out a...
Herb Crusted Pork Neck
Be bold and ring the changes with this simply delicious de-boned Pork neck. The fresh herb crust is versatile and can be used successfully with either fresh fish or chicken breasts. Lemon zest adds zing. 8 Pork neck steaks, trimmed into palm-sized portions 1" thick Salt and pepper,...
Moon over the Sea
If you should read a book with the title "100 places to go to before you die" then this cottage is one of them. Right there on the beach in Tofo, a seaside village not too far from Inhambane in Mozambique, just North of Maputo the capital. Whatever you do, try to get there either by...
Nutty Carrot Cake
This cake has stood me in good stead for 30 years, it never fails to please and I've shared it many times. It's easy to bake and flavours improve with time which makes it perfect for weekends. 3 Extra large eggs 375ml Sugar 250ml Canola oil 750ml Grated carrots...
Bather Blues
It’s taken me forty years to figure out why old ladies wear last decade’s bathers: it’s because that’s their only choice. When I left school I started working in a Department store and there were a few things that fascinated me about our “older” female clients. For one, they always...
12 Facts
If/when I see myself in a mirror I automatically look behind me! I have to go to spinning classes for my blood circulation I've got my Mom's hands and Grand-mama's liver spots. I'm not a blonde anymore Clothes' sizing has changed; a size 12 is the new size 9 Having the Apple...
Gorilla De Ville Goes Camping - Botswana
“Precious”, promised himself that he would go to the bush in 2014. Reservations were made with Banks, the Camp Official at the Khwai Community Camp. This is bush camping at it's best, hard to beat and hard to find. We camped for eleven nights. N.B here's a link to "Youtube link to...
Have Passport Will Travel
For weeks we’ve spoken about nothing except Princess Open Book's holiday to Tofo, Inhambane, Mozambique. The child’s tired, over-worked, stressed and fatigued and needs to detoxify of all her physical, mental and emotional toxins. We’ve sent lists of what to haves, what to take, what not to...
Can't Live Without Books
For the past 34 years I’ve been a member of a Ladies Evening Book Club. I rarely miss a meeting and can't wait to see the new books, my love affair is with the books, I adore my friends, but I can’t do without the books. The smell of the paper makes me swoon. My love of stories and books...
Flower Power in Namaqualand
There’s nothing as rewarding as a trip to the Namaqualand in spring. Figuring out when spring has sprung is the question, traditionally we “celebrate” spring day on the 1st September, but, we’ve not informed Nature. Our experience has been that the best flowers are to be seen during...
Travelling with Audiobooks
The first thing we do when we go anywhere out of town is pack our iPod to listen to Audiobooks. For some reason we've never been successful when it comes to the car radio, that aerial just remains dodgy! I joined www.audible.co.uk years ago and eagerly await my very affordable subscription...
Caravan Capers
We're back from Botswana via the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park, and what an adventure we had! Not a day past without a mishap or surprise!Thank goodness we were able to keep our fine sense of humour! AND the world hasn’t ended, winter has come and gone and South Africa still rocks! The...
Actually India!
A year ago we were persuaded to get to India So one day whilst surfing the web I spotted some really cheap tickets and while Georgie went off to Town to do the groceries I booked our flights. 1st May we set off to India, after we’d spent 4 days walking in the Kruger National Park. We did...
Les Girls are Frenching It - The Backgound
Where do I start with this travellogue I wonder? Just a few minutes ago whilst hanging up the washing I thought about the last couple of months, first an epic adventure to India and then France, son magnifique! India was a life changing experience and left it’s indelible mark on my soul,...
Skietkuil Guest Farm, a star in the Karoo
This one's a keeper in my books. Situated right on the N1 from Cape Town to Johannesburg slap in the middle between Three Sisters and Richmond. Beautifully renovated farmsteads, tastefully decorated with all the amenities for a self catering stay for one night or 10, take your pick. What's...
Molopo Kalahari Lodge: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
A gin and tonic never tasted better. When last did you get up at 3H30 in the morning, after you'd been to a wedding, and been on the road for at least 10 hours? Exactly, few people have or would dare to. We did. My aching bones rejoiced when we stopped at the Molopo Lodge en-route to...
Maun Lodge: I know I Maun a lot.
It was with a heavy heart that we left the Khwai Community Camp last Thursday, we were really getting into the swing of things in the bush and the last thing we anticipated was a return to civilization, but, unfortunately a broken alternator waits for no man. Anticipating a long and frustrating...
Bon Arrivee Maun: Fly me to the moon
I know it's very unlikely that all restaurants will keep up standards in the long run, but, one can live in hope and a patron at our guesthouse, assured us that this was the best Maun had to offer. We'd been there before and we'd enjoyed the vibe, food, colonial atmosphere and the rather...
Queness Inn: Maun
Don't judge a Guesthouse by it's impersonal face bricks. A new Guesthouse, quite a few kilometers from the CBD, Queness Inn was a great find. Friendly, accommodating receptionist, willing to help and make suggestions and she was able to give us informative advice. The three golden rules were...
Duchess of Wisbeach: Sea Point
Good recipe + great ingredients = a culinary flop. A friends recommendation to visit the Duchess was all the encouragement we needed to make a booking, even though our daughter and son-in-law were skeptical about our choice. There's so much choice in Cape Town they lamented. What my friend...
Seelan Restaurant and Bar: V&A Waterfront
Stunning autumn days in Cape Town beckon us to stroll down to the V&A Waterfront for lunch, it's always surprising how busy restaurants in this neck of the woods are, almost European busy. We stumbled upon Seeian tucked away below "decks" on Quay 5, a new establishment, hardly 2 weeks...
Sawai Madhopur: Nahargarh Ranthambhore
Earning their stripes at Nahagarh. We visited the Rantambore national park in summer when it's not tourist season and very hot, I think we hit it spot on as far as our accommodation was concerned! What a treat, we were pampered and spoilt and waited upon fit for a Maharajah. A most...
The Oberoi, Mumbai
Staying at the Oberoi was like landing with my bottom in the butter in Bombay! What can I say? 10/10 I couldn't ask for more except to linger longer. The Oberoi is just fabulous from the basement to the penthouse! This establishment lacks nothing, from my very first email enquiring...
India By Car with a Driver - Private Day Tours
Driving in a vehicle in India is almost like taking your life into your own hands. Oh Holy Cow it's hectic and indescribable unless you have a driver in his own car. Our driver Rajesh picked us up at the train station in Udaipur with a bouquet of red roses and a sign welcoming us to India,...
Grand Mumbai - Private Tours
Can't get any grander than this! On a recent visit to Mumbai we decided to make use of the services of the Grand Mumbai tours. We had a fabulous day and couldn't have wished for a better way to see Mumbai with our charming guide Da Pranav. I think it's the pride that Pranav has for Mumbai...
Jamaica Me Crazy Cape Town
You might make me crazy but Jamaica my day! I had a hectic day, many many tears as my darling boy was returning to Canada and I was distraught to say the least! So we decided to end our holiday together with a bang and head off to Roodebloem road in Woodstock, you know that shady area where...
Chandani Indian & Vegetarian Restaurant Cape Town
Spice up your day and do a trip to Roodebloem road wouldn't be complete without ending up at this lovely restaurant, A glammed up Victorian house situated in the heart of Woodstock. Rich purples, reds and silver were used to create the decor. I loved the fact that the restauranteur welcomed...
Mosselberg On Grotto Beach Hermanus
boy + girl + 4 seasons in a day = marriage This was my second visit to Mosselberg Guesthouse and I was once again suitably impressed by the beauty of the space, the location, the sublime views, the decor and the atmosphere of peace and serenity. My first impression was ""wow look at that...
Temptation at La Vierge Winery
A glimpse of Tuscany. I admit, it was with reluctance that I made a reservation at La Vierge, I had another favourite eatery in mind, but, thankfully followed my best friend's advice and called for a luncheon reservation at La Vierge instead. This was my third visit, the last a wedding...
B's Steakhouse: Hemel and Aarde
You think you'll never return for an onion? Think again, here they make a morish onion that breaks all the rules. B's is an institution. Steak house fare at it's best, B knows his oats when it comes to beef. Try the onion it's on the starter menu, fabulous! If the graffiti on the walls...
Oskar's Delikatessen: Hermanus
It's a coffee shop for Pete's sake! Books are my favourite thing in the world, and what could be nicer than a book shop next to a coffee shop? So I'll pop into the bookshop do my nosing around and then happily go and settle in Oskars, here you can catch your breath, have cake, light...
Fernkloof Nature Reserve: Hermanus
A monkey's wedding must be a good omen for a bride and groom I think. We attended a beautiful, romantic wedding in Fernkloof a week ago, besides the gorgeous bridal couple, Fernkloof stole the show, as it always does, we even saw baboons on the lawns, they came out of hiding to make our day...
Ah! Guest House: Paternoster
Ah! ha Ah!ha I like it... "You see! you must always be nice to children, for the simple reason; they grow up and then they're nice to you (especially useful when you're getting on). Our nephew and niece invited us to celebrate their 23rd (I think) wedding anniversary with them in Paternoster...
Oep ve Koep bistro Paternoster
An olde world charm this quaint shop has, all the old fashioned sweeties, lovely cup cakes, a childs dream and you can use them as a bribe too, children and adults will fall for your charms if you promise a cupcake. Fresh homebaked bread can be bought, but be quick or put in an order as...
Plattelander Restaurant Colesberg
Should you ever happen to be in Colesberg just keep left and whatever you do don't stop. It's beyond my comprehension that good ingredients can be turned into really awful food but the Plattelander proved one can. Most travellers on the N1 from Cape Town (the South) or Johannesburg (the...
The Barefoot Cook Hermanus
She's got diamonds on the soles of her feet. Fresh, wholesome local food is always pleasing, especially when it's made with good humour, love and passion. Mari-Claire puts comfort back into food. When I'm enjoying a glass of My Best Friend in the company of my best friend life is good....
Ryan's Kitchen: Franschoek
The cherry on my birthday cake - is a Ryanstone. My meal here was a visual and culinary feast par excellance. Sadly it seems as if Ryan and his wife Svetlana have closed the doors at their current venue in the Main Road, a beautiful old Cape Dutch Homestead, well appointed diningroom and my...
Indochine: Stellenbosch
There're no flies on this one. I could write a book and call it "a hundred places to eat before you die" Indochine would probably take top honours. This is my second visit and I was as overwhelmed, excited, impressed as the first time! It's just amazing and everyone should go there at least...
