Beauty Is All Around Us - Overberg Daytrip
“Let’s pack up our troubles and go day trippin’,” said good lookin’. Every week has its minor challenges, and last week didn’t disappoint. I have had wheels under my bum since I turned 18. Ten days without a car is something to get your head around. Not that I minded. We’ve managed to empty...
Around The World With A Wooden Spoon And Spatula
Pfft, to armchair travel we might think. For the foreseeable future, it’s a new reality whichever way we look at it. The thought of not travelling is like telling a ladybird she may not save her children burning in their house. Dreadful. Unthinkable. Depressing. Every morning I throw back...
Still Wandering - Gatsrivier Guest Farm
With dust billowing in our wake, we made our way from the Tankwa farmstall back onto the main road (a 70km detour, I was told) to continue our meanderings in search of peace. The road north became quieter, and farmsteads became fewer. In the Karoo, sustainable farming can only be on vast tracts...
Wandering into the future – Matroosberg Nature Reserve
It's no use crying over spilt milk. We’ve had our chips, and now we must suck it up and move on, without the help or approval of the government, closed borders or the WHO. Our lives are still in our hands. What we do with the situation takes some creative thinking and a will to do something...
Rooting For Beets
My farm to table produce box from Groenstoor included, amongst many delicious offerings, a bushel of beetroot, and a bunch of carrots, and rooted sweet and bitter salad leaves. This morning, while I was grating an apple and pear for my breakfast Bircher, I remembered how, as children, we used...
Bolognaise Arancini - Flavour Bombs
Arancini is an Italian dish consisting of small balls of Arborio rice, stuffed with a savoury filling, coated in breadcrumbs, and fried. Arancini is synonymous with Sicily. If you’ve never tasted arancini or made it yourself now is a golden opportunity to impress. Here it’s raining, cold...
Honey Badgers Don't Hibernate
I stopped laughing. My one redeeming attribute is that I enjoy a good laugh, some start deep in my belly, others I try to suppress as they tickle my spirit, but, on the whole Butch and I enjoy a good old fashioned chortle. When did merriment leave us? Sometime, I can’t pinpoint, probably...
Covid19 Confessions
Covid19 stumped even the writers of Horoscopes who did not predict this devastating pandemic. No, as far as all the psychics go, we’re still plain sailing. They’ve let us down miserably. My prediction for today. Cancerian. “Since Mercury is just about to turn retrograde, it’s best to keep...
My Saucy Pepper Beef Pie
We thought the pie was delicious. Butch’s mouth has been salivating for something like this for a while so I thought “Well why not?” I didn’t make my pastry but bought a ready-made Puff pastry instead. We all have our favourite one, I like using the Woolies All Butter Puff Pastry Sheets. ...
My Run-in With Covid 19
I think we’re all of the opinion that our world has changed with Covid 19 in one way or another. Mine certainly has. But, not so much my daily life as my outlook on life. For the first time in almost 65 years, I have had to really take a close look at how I view life. For a South African...
Sunday's Roast With Sweet Onion Tarte Tatin
Using staples from our store cupboard is always a bargain, especially over a weekend when you don’t want to put a foot wrong, or into a shop. On most Sundays we like to take things easy, meals should be hassle free, but, always, delicious and preferably with something new. My parents often...
Breakfast Inspiration - BIRCHER
Sometimes we all need a little inspiration. I find we slip into a routine very quickly especially when it’s just Butch and I. Every meal is just a repetition of the day before as we’re both busy and meals at home just serve their nutritional purpose. Keeping us sustained and hopefully healthy....
Gifting Memories - La Colombe and Kleinbosch Kloof
A few years ago we decided to invite a grand-daughter on a camping weekend to Prince Albert. It was an opportunity to get to know her better and for her to experience some of the things we enjoy. As luck would have it, it was the very weekend of the Olive Festival so we had much to explore...
Weekend Meander to MIDDELPOS
Pompelompie Hartklop (Heartbeat) Festival. The heart of the Karoo beats in its people. They are a hardened community, resilient and steadfast in their faith and in the land. Here every person is worthy. So, one fine day Butch comes along and suggests we go on a road trip to Middelpos. I’d...
Lets Hit The Road Jack - YZERFONTEIN
My beloved knew I’d be emotionally drained after our glorious six weeks in Onrus with the family. This was my weekend to be spoilt, almost an early Valentine’s treat. He made a reservation at the Yzerfontein Caravan Park for the weekend and secured a lovely campsite using the camp layout on...
Rather Late Than Never
Hallo! I have missed you old friend. And, like some relationships, if neglected, one could become estranged. I am back! We will be on track in no time, good friends, although separated, don’t need much to become reacquainted! After almost three months I have all my balls in the air...
Moaning Minnie on Monday
I hate complaining, it does no one any good does it? But sometimes I am so disappointed that the only way to get over myself is to vent my frustration. Today I see red. On Friday, as is customary, I telephonically ordered Almond Croissants from Daly Bread in Worcester. There is no denying...
Quiche Me Quick
When it's sunny and days can be spent on the beach with a book there is no time to linger in the kitchen. Quick, easy meals are called for. Having a few vegetarian recipes in your arsenal is always a good idea especially while on holiday. I find we need something “fresh” and that’s when...
Sunday AKA The Wife's Day Off
In South Africa husbands give their wives “the day off” when THEY cook. This often happens on a Sunday Fun day. What it means is that we don’t have to stand in front of the stove, (normally a barbecue fire), and sweat it out. This day off doesn’t come cheap though. We earn it. Before we...
Setting The Record Straight
A very interesting article was written by some very clever people all about perception, comprehension and fake news. We are bombarded by news and most of it is fake. "Humans can transform fake information into fake memories, especially when the fabricated details align with our system of...
Windy Weekend Weather Wolseley
It’s often hard to believe there was a life before a disaster. Fortunately there is. Our memories eventually only remember the good things in life as bad thoughts are laid to rest along the wayside. And then life goes on and soon we say “life is good”! So before the great debacle and...
A Gut-Wrenching Confession
If you're interested in the whole sordid disaster then this is it! Shake, Rattle and Roll, without the big band, was what happened to me this morning. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try or work at something it fails. Coming to terms with failure and moving on is also a learning curve I...
2nd November A Day To Remember
It would’ve been my Grandmama, Joe Knight’s birthday. Born on the 2nd November, 1906. She would’ve been a ripe old age (113), but, would she have been proud of our rugby team? Absolutely. Oftentimes I wish she could’ve witnessed and experienced our Rainbow nation in action, especially when all...
Changing Lanes
Not only am I trying to negotiate my way to a heavy duty driving license, which in itself is nerve wracking, we are gearing down to change lanes in our lives too. Once we took the plunge to put the indicators on signaling a changing of lanes in our personal life it was inevitable that many...
Making Memories In Montagu
As we get older we enjoy celebrations. Could it be that they’re becoming scarcer as we attend more funerals than parties these days? Fortunately we were on our way to a birthday braai and would camp in beautiful Montagu with its heritage homes, large properties, channelled water, quaint...
A Knight's Stay - Somerset West
It’s hereditary, this thing that I don’t do sleep overs. I prefer sleeping in my own bed with my own ancient down pillow. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when I have to sleep out, my pillow. The other is packing all my toiletries. I inevitably forget something at home. This time it...
Seven Sticks Of Wood And A Block Of Blitz
No final destination was the plan. YR.com said it would be the worst weekend to go camping. I checked daily, which is very unusual, to see whether the weather would improve. Not a chance. We’d not have our spirits dampened by a drizzle so we packed up and went off to see some spring blooms...
The Honey Badger Goes For An Annual Check-up
We’ve been far and wide in the Honey Badger, our Isuzu NP 300 4X4 Overlander or motor home. Motor home sounds like a retirement home whereas Overlander sounds sexy and adventurous. Don’t you think? We'll stick to Overlander Truck. It’s been just over a year since we officially took...
Winter Wining And Dining Winners
One Restaurant did leave a bad taste in our mouths. Their food is mouth watering, their communications shocking. More about them later. Let’s move on. Should I ever complain about anything, just roll your eyes. I know, life is a bed of meringue, sugar and spice. . I am spoilt and...
If Eyes Are Dim Eye Cannot See
This morning while driving in congested traffic I decided to close my right eye in an experiment to see what it’s like to have only one good eye. It’s dreadful. Scary. One’s whole perspective changes. With only one eye my focus changed, my distance calculations were horrid and I lost...
Safari On Super Suppers And Snacks
Gosh it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that spring in my step. A new shop opened in town, Nibbly Bits. As the name suggests they stock all sorts of delicious nibbly bits. I went all out and got us some treats. After my spree I met up with friends en-route to Prince Albert in the Karoo and...
Tips And Tricks For Camping, Overlanding Or Roadtripping
Every trip has its unique challenges and it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality especially when space is of the essence. African roads are often bad, always take that into account. Here are some of the things I learned on this trip. 1. Less is more.2. When catering have a menu. Some...
Mabuasahube - The Pecking Order
At last we were ready to enjoy ten days of doing absolutely nothing. That's what dreams are made of... a real holiday. The wonder of Mabuasahube. All we do is wonder what’s next. Shrug. Shake your head. Nothing. We just wait and see. No expectations. But, there is always the promise of a...
The Fab Four Conquer The Kalahari - En Route to Mabuasahube
Best friends, best buddies, best Boetie (brother) and hiekkelsuster (crochet companion) that’s what Percy and Sue are to us. It’s rare to hear siblings, at our age, actually like each other and choose to spend time together. We do. We’re close, companionable, comfortable and cosy. The...
My Many Miles To Mabuasahube
Plus many hours practicing MA-BU-A-SA-HU-BE and for successfully playing the sympathy card. But first we rendezvous at Melton Wold in the Karoo. Planning a trip on short notice is very exciting. From the moment we decided, (during one of our long boozy lunches) that we needed a quick getaway...
Who Let The Dogs Out?
And what's more in the Kalahari to boot! So, there we were, minding our own business watching another beautiful African sunset, contemplating the day, sipping drinks when a Land Cruiser came hurtling up our road in a billowing cloud of dust. My stomach lurched and I do confess I felt...
The Story Of My Crochet Blanket
I dread coming home, not the actual being home, but the flight, it scares the living daylights out of me. I am a wreck, no custom official leaves me be, I will always be the lucky one to be “randomly checked”, scrutinized and frisked. Do I really look like a drug-couriering-terrorist I wonder, do...
"Maricha! Where have you been?"
It’s Monday the 8th July, 2019 and will be the very first time I open my laptop to scroll down to Word to take up my keyboard once again and write. It’s been a while. I hope my words don’t let me down after all these months. I opened this scribbling written while in Canada and thought it a...
Bonnievale River Lodge And White Linen Camping
Sometimes the end of a story is the story. Our stay in Bonnievale is a classic case where a mishap could make or break one's enjoyment of the moment . We have friends who are Swallows, in other words they spend six summer months in South Africa before migrating back to the UK to spend...
Butch With An Eye - Update
This nightmare started 8 months ago and has changed the way he sees. Everything. In the wink of an eye Butch’s plans and dreams changed when he suffered a “stroke” in the Retina. Central Retina Vein Occlusion was the diagnosis. Going from having a clear vision he was left with minimal vision...