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...
18 Fabulous Things To Do in April
These are my 18 fabulous things to do in April. Winter is not my favourite season so I need to have a few highlights to look forward to. For some reason a lot of eating goes into this list, will have to curb my enthusiasm! It is also time to prune and do some maintenance work before we have...
To Arniston With A Surfboard
The Southern Cape must boast the best weather. For some reason autumn has come early this year, I can’t remember ever experiencing three weeks of inclement weather in February/March. We packed up our Honey Badger in the hope of sunshine and perfect waves. Arniston is a gem. As a young girl...
Spicy Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup
Before I do another thing I simply must share this delicious Spicy Mexican Chicken and Corn Soup. I made it in a jiffy last week and we all agreed this is the one everyone can do. It’s suitable at any time of the year. For those living in cold climes it will bring back happy memories of...
12 Fun Things To Do During A Wet Spell
Here are my 12 fun things to do during a wet spell. Bragging rights in the car industry are earned when your new VW outguns the competition and goes from 0-60 in 2 seconds. Our summer went from balmy sunshine days to cloudy and wet overnight and kept Autumn up for 7 days. All of a sudden we had...
Suikerbossie Guest Farm Meander - A Review
There are only 52 weekends in a year, we’ve already spent 9-10. Lives are hectic and stressful, many need to recharge in the country savouring fresh country air. Suikerbossie Guest Farm in the Kouebokkeveld is the perfect retreat for young and old. I have a friend who knows the lyrics to...
Authentic Seafood Paella Recipe
A Spanish Paella packed with punch, traditional spices and ingredients. A conversation piece that looks more complicated than it is and tastes sensational In a previous life I was a caterer and this Paella recipe was a firm favourite with clients. It is fool-proof, easy and takes center stage...
The Heart's Invisible Furies - John Boyne
My book of the year. Devoured by our book club and thoroughly enjoyable this coming of age story is deeply touching. John Boyne put his heart and soul into writing this book and told the story with humour, compassion and illustrated the stark realities of growing up in Catholic Ireland in...
Not Pie In The Sky - Old Fashioned Apple Pie With Nuts and Cranberries
Did you know?: The apples we buy as fresh have been hermetically sealed in a cold storage facility for at least a year! Cold Storage works something like this: Organic-Hermetic storage or “hermetic storage”, consists of a sealed storage system containing a modified atmosphere. This means that...
Cape Salmon Is Summer - Fish Cakes
There’s absolutely no sense in living at the sea and one never enjoys fresh fish. Ironically when we wanted to buy a Cape Salmon, caught at this time, we couldn’t find one in Hermanus. Cape Salmon is the queen of the seas in my opinion and I'll always go for that option. So... we had to turn...
The Wall - Kariba Dam
It was time to wave Mana Pools goodbye. A month was just long enough and I was excited to resume our road trip and next destination. Kariba. All the stories I’ve heard about Kariba have conjured a picture of holidays, fun and houseboats. Romantic. We, of course, would not be staying in...
Going To The Dogs - Nyamepi Campsite Review
Close your eyes. In the distance hear the cry of the African Fish eagle calling its mate. The soft rustle you hear could be a Vervet monkey suckling her young one, the soft blow is an Impala warning the herd of possible danger and the loud swishing and snorting in the water a hippopotamus...
The Company We Keep
It's true, birds of a feather flock together. Just like Lilian's Lovebirds. Although we travel very well together and comfortably do it without company we were delighted to know that we would not be alone for the entire time we were in Mana. We are social animals after all and I definitely...
Mangwanani! Mana Pools
Morning! Early bird catches the worm. We’d be there when the gates open. That’s what we thought. But of course in Africa that seldom happens. We could not have known that the fuel shortages were about to commence. Eventually, we made it to the Mana Gate and then we had to negotiate the...
Roadtripping From Our Southern Shores to The Mighty Zambezi
On a fine Friday afternoon we were all packed and really excited to set off on our 5 day road trip from the southern tip of South Africa to the most northern border of Zimbabwe where our journey would end on the banks of the mighty Zambezi. Our first stop would be Matjiesfontein. We arrived...
The Honey Badger Does Its Maiden Long Haul To Zimbabwe
I am not a procrastinator by nature, what I can’t do is multitask. This blog has been coming along for a while now, unfortunately Murphy had a hand in the delay. What I must confess is that the last couple of months, since my last blog have been hectic. I hope to catch up and share all the...
The Honeybadger Goes Wild - Without Reservations
Christmas was spent at home with family and then, to get away from the crowds flocking to our very popular beach we decided we'd go on a roadtrip in the Honey Badger, I am still in training so this would be the perfect opportunity to take my driving skills up a notch or two while I...
Merry Christmas Special
Our Christmas was a quiet day spent with family. Time to relax, reflect, enjoying each others company at a beautifully laid table enjoying good food. We laughed a lot and shed a tear too. We were blessed abundantly and are deeply grateful for the gift of life, for being spared to enjoy...
Butch With An Eye - A progress report
Shortly after we arrived back in Worcester I sent Butch off to the stand-in Ophthalmologist for an update and check-up. With me in tow. This was duly done with unsatisfactory results. The Dr. had nothing to add to the initial investigation, he simply shrugged his shoulders and with wringing...
A Spoke In The Wheel
What we see on social media is not the sum total of who we are. I have a cloud hanging over my head right now. I don’t have the ability to see the so called silver lining, although I do believe there is one, it’s just shining somewhere else. Maybe someone else needs it more than I do right...
Comfort Food Prince Albert Style
Whenever I think of the Karoo and food there is only one thing that comes to mind. It has to be lamb. Karoo lamb with lots of Rosemary. Of course at this time of the year you might imagine a roast leg of Springbok, that’ll do too. Treat it as if its lamb and the results are spectacular....
Feeling Like A Royal In Prince Albert
Before I lose my mind completely I must tell you about my very special visit to Prince Albert a few weekends ago. This is a Karoo town to look up. I love the authenticity of the place. Little cottages being renovated lovingly, there is a magnificent cinema the architecture pure Art Nouveau,...
Oh Mercy! Mercy! Get My Jersey!
If I could, I would chisel in stone: “Never a dull moment.” And “The winds of misfortune will prevail without fail”! The weather report said, rain. I said “no way!” The annual rainfall in the Tankwa is 10mm, so why get our knickers in a knot? I did keep my eyes on the skies, and, I was...
Romancing the Mill Stone - Sandra's Easy Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread
Here is a divine vegan whole wheat loaf. Please ensure you use Stone Ground Wheat which contains no additives, unhealthy preservatives, sugar or is so refined it resembles something one can make lines with and sniff. If you’re wheat/gluten intolerant give this recipe a try, I am and I...
Glamping In Style - Have Keys and Wheels Will Travel
(Drum Roll, Drum Roll, choir of angels) Right off the bat you must please accept my apologies, I will be boasting and bragging in this blog. I think I have all the reason to. I know! I know it’s very rude. But then, so be it. Please indulge me. Every time I alight our carriage I feel I...
Scones, Simply Whey Too Easy
My Mother-in-law was the Julia Childs of Karoo Kwezeen (Cuisine). We were a good combination on the food front, she cooked it and I ate it, until I became quite poorly from over indulgence. Although very kind and patient I doubt she thought I had any mentionable talents and definitely not in...
Churning A-Whey Homemade Butter
I am so excited. I made my own butter! It was simple to make and I can’t imagine why everyone doesn’t do it too. Since most people are Banting or following Tim Noakes and his full dairy revolution cream and butter have become quite expensive. A liter of cream still costs much less than 500g...
Keep Korma And Curry On
My new favourite quote, especially when my tiara slips fractionally. Yes! Sometimes it takes a change of heart, a change of attitude and courage to be in control of our minds and emotions. It’s unlikely that we all wake up each morning and feel on top of the world. Years ago someone said...
The End Is Nigh And Other Arbitrary Observations
There was a time when I thought I’d never say those words. I am delighted to report The End is nigh. This might be my birthday month with the Honey Badger as the final prize to celebrate the New Year and the end of a long, hard, traumatic and often disappointing 2½ years building our...
Dumpling Delicious
We don’t have central heating, so our homes are colder inside than outside sometimes. This has advantages, we warm up our homes with huge log fires, burn candles, have heaps of blankets and throws, we wear pajamas and bed socks, we fill our hot water bottles and switch on heated blankets. ...
Don't Mind The Gap
Age gaps and generation gaps are getting narrower and narrower at my age. I have a beautiful friend who turns 18 today and shares the day with another who turns 80, yet another BFF turned 70 last week, I’ll be celebrating my 40th for the 21st time in a few days, later on I’m going to enjoy...
Breaking News: We Can't Contain Ourselves!
I have butterflies in my tummy. We are grinning from ear to ear. At last! We have just returned from AC Motorhomes and things are looking fabulous! Our Honey badger is gorgeous. It’s been a fortnight since our last visit and we were bowled over. Overwhelmed is an understatement. Firstly,...
I Can Conclude I'm No (Food) Prude
My beloved, who eats anything and everything, never complains and always says “thank you that was a delicious meal” (even when, on the rare occasion, we have deli pies, accompanied by a good dose of salts, for lunch) decided he had a weekend menu; comfort food. On the one hand I was delighted,...
Mooching In My Flannel Pajamas On Sundays
On Sundays, as the good book commands, I take a day off. Late out of bed, I enjoy my coffee and a rusk made by Butch, it’s too cold for my tootsies to shuffle downstairs to make coffee. I read, catch up with friends on Social Media, read messages from my children and watch the short videos...
Rome Was Not Built In A Day You Say?
All very well to say that when it’s not your time, energy or money being spent. At last! After more than six months, I am happy to report we have made a little progress on our overlander truck the Honey Badger! We’ve been at this project for more than two years now and at last I have...
Giving Chicken A Spicy Pineapple Kick
Sweet and spicy are always a winner and go so well with chicken. We decided to spice up our Sunday roast with a curried pineapple stuffing. Chickens tend to be rather thick skinned and flavours don’t penetrate the skin so we loosened the membrane beneath the skin and popped our stuffing...