V Lavender Hotel Singapore
Singapore is someone’s vision come to fruition and for that I admire the man and his dream, but, it’s just another large, modern city with a beautiful skyline at night when the lights are shining bright. We were very spoilt whilst there and enjoyed sundowners at a rooftop bar, had delicious...
KOK Coffee - Ha Noi - Vietnam
A week ago I opened my eyes in Saigon; today I awoke, like most mornings, by the exotic aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee and the golden sunshine pouring into my bedroom from the azure sky. My Dad has been making his “Sleeping Beauty” her first cuppa every day now for 60 years and...
Baked Pumpkin Pie
Here it's summer blue, sun-yellowed gentle days, which is a reminder of the harsh weather many ex-pats are going into. Celebrate a table laden with the essence of summer with joyful Thanksgiving. BAKED PUMPKIN PIE - South African style.“without bread, without wine, love is nothing” Anon...
Trekking in Sa Pa with Zer-Zer
On 24th August Butch Googled “trekking in Sa Pa Vietnam” and found a guide called Zer-Zer followed by a telephone number. Little did we know that a life changing experience was awaiting us. To contact Zer-Zer: phone +84 16 75312817 Butch was quick out of the blocks, phoned the number and...
Fowler's Grill
In a one horse town this is where the horse is. It's had it's ups and downs but it remains a landmark in Church Str. Locals love it, as there're no surprises here. Not even Chef has a bad day. When I arrived in Worcester thirty three years ago there was a landmark restaurant called Albert's...
Flights of Fancy
Boozy lunches can lead to trouble and this one was no exception, at our table there's always good food, good company and copious amounts of champagne and wine. As the afternoon unravelled we decided we’d flip a coin, September was a good month to either start Banting or to travel. It was...
Les Girls are Frenching It - First Reunion
My beloved spends a weekend with his four ex-wives and a girlfriend, that's how he described himself when asked what he was doing! Our friendship is a gift which we re-live as we savour it. In a wink a year has passed. Les Girls got their act together and we enjoyed a fabulous weekend...
Les Girls are Frenching It - Menerbes
Au Revoir Paris! All too soon we had to pack our bags and make our way down our narrow staircase to our taxi to board the TGV to Avignon. Thankfully we had someone who very kindly carried our bags down those stairs and waved and airkissed us, shouting "Au revoir" to us as the door closed...
Les Girls are Frenching It - Paris
The three days in Paris were just fabulous, our apartment in the Hotel Verneuil Saint Germaine beautifully appointed, modern, immaculate and slap in the middle of Saint Germaine, pure indulgence. A stones throw from the Louvre, the Seine, the shops, eateries, cafés, bakeries and all...
Inverroche Classic Gin
Most people remember their Grandmothers because they smelt of Violets or Lavender, when I think of my Glam’ma I imagine Gin and cigarette smoke, two of my favourite things! Femme fatale. She was glamorous, worldly, beautiful, graceful, well travelled, she spoke the Queen’s English and...
Have NO Passport. Will NOT Travel.
Picture the scene: you're late, you're brushing your teeth and above the whine of the electric toothbrush you hear this "Darling! have you got your passport?" by now you've had it and shout back "yesh" loudly. Spraying toothpaste foam all over your new black cashmere sweater. I received...
Ranthambore National Park - India
We travelled halfway around the world to visit Ranthambore National Park for one reason only. To see the mightly and very elusive Bengal Tiger. I wonder if they exsist?In Ranthambore village Precious decided to employ the services of a tailor to make some shorts, after a lot of haggling...
India by Rail
Whether you travel like a Prince or a pauper, in India there will be a train to suit your needs and your pocket. It's poplular and a great way to experience the culture, landscape and the people. You can dine with a Maharajah on the Rajastan Express or enjoy street food on the platform on...
Vietnam
They say “a secret’s only a secret once you’ve told someone”. So I have a confession to make, jip, I have a crush on Luke Nguyen, I’d record his cooking programmes, he filled my disc space, which was awkward to explain. So when we decided to visit Vietnam I rushed out to the nearest Book...
Being Catherine De Nerve
"Work is a sideline - Live the holiday I’ll probably never see the Voyager blast off into space, but, it’s like Cape Canaveral in this house as we start the countdown to lift-off on Tuesday. Old habits die hard. When I was growing up there were certain things that had to be done before...
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...