Review
The Weakest Link Takes A Hike
History tells us that contemplation, meditation, soul-searching and philosophising often takes place on mountain tops. Jesus, Mohammed, Moses, Mandela and Ghandi did it. I had a close call, a wake-up call, a bruised ego, a sore bottom and a chipped toenail. Last week we packed our back...
My Ten Cents Worth
Our friends' enquiry about the weather in Zimbabwe got the ball rolling rather unexpectedly. We were on our way to Mana Pools for the summer holidays when I put a spanner in the works. I like glamping. Sadly a wet tent doesn’t do it for me. I’ve got the (wet) T shirt to prove it. Picture...
Finishing In A Flurry
Things are tight in this house. We have a couple of hours left to do all the packing. This year has gone from 0-365 in a flash, yet, we’ve achieved much. Our country has reached all-time lows and surprisingly we’ve become more unified, determined and resolute about our future, our freedom and...
Juanita Conchita Margarita
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for sure. What could’ve turned into a “slit my wrist” moment became a re-kindling of a friendship sorely missed. My hopes were restored and my budget stretched like old garter elastic. Every time I walk into her home I gasp, by the time I get to...
Posh Nosh On A Friday In November
To stop me smoking in the tickey box (phone booth) my Mom dangled the “once you’ve written your Matric you can do as you please” carrot. It didn’t work. But, what I did do once I was my own boss was have a really large slab of my Mom's delicious Chocolate Cake for Breakfast. I did it...
October November A Weekend To Remember
My job is opening farm gates, there were 18, this time I didn't have to open any.That pleased me. It delighted me to know our Swallows had returned earlier this week. Catching up takes time, unfolding and laying out the tales needs time and space. It's best to do so somewhere quiet...
A Spring Celebration In The Nuy Valley
The evening was perfect, balmy, windless with a promise of summer. Perfectly groomed gardens all around us as we mingled on the manicured lawns under the stars at Leipzig, right here on our doorstep in the Nuy Valley a mere 10 or so kilometres from Worcester. This was a celebration of good...
Spit or Swallow
That is the question. Not on an empty stomach. Well I don’t know about that. At the time of this dilemma choices were limited; there was no place to hide. A mad dash to the kitchen I made, it was a shambles. “Manners maketh man” was ringing in my ears while I heaved and clamped my jaw. I was...
Between The Covers it's Man up or Clam up
We need confidence and courage to seize an opportunity and run with it; persevering and not losing faith takes guts. “A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is NOT what it is built for.” — Albert Einstein. People are fascinating, and if you’re a little more aware and have an...
The Melting Pot
The Chocolate Melting Jar is an innovative find from Kitchen Inspire by ANZO. Often, the best buys are the ones I do on the trot while my eyes are searching shelves for the thingy on the list. My blue eye spotted this gem while scouring the shelves for the 6th colander for our summer cottage...
Silly Season Snapping at our Heels – It’s Market Day in Hermanus
This morning I didn’t wake up to the chirruping of songbirds, but to the clanging of a bucket, snap of a step ladder, and a yodelling painter, Wally is revamping. Roof trusses are being set up across the street as a new house goes up, and, according to the owner, his parents are moving in on...
Oranges and Lemons ring the bells of Citrusdal
Just a quickie before I forget, do not pass through Citrusdal without stopping for brunch and coffee on the main road. The chocolate cake is the best in the west, and the baked cheesecake is celestial. At the Grapevine Coffee Shop, the instruction is clear: "Greet everyone with a smile!" ...
Having street food without being a pavement special
Si! “The Italians and Spanish, the Chinese and Vietnamese see food as part of a larger, more essential, and pleasurable part of daily life. Not as an experience to be collected or bragged about - or as a ritual like filling up a car - but as something else that gives pleasure, like sex or music,...
The Church Boutique Hotel Hanoi
Imagine our excitement when we touched down in Hanoi. We’d had a brilliant flight and been attended to hand and foot, but a cunning little cottonwool cloud floated over our sunny autumn horizon as we were ripped off at the tourism counter when we ordered a taxi. Charging us an arm and a leg,...
Ruffled in Raffles - Singapore
This I’ve got to get off my chest. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right? So off we went to the iconic Raffles bar for the famous Singapore Sling. It was a typical hot, humid Singapore day, so we didn’t need much encouragement to visit this famous landmark. The beautiful Raffles Hotel...
Clams Crabs and Cookery Courses
Slipping into a sexy, starched apron with a new recipe in one hand and a flute of bubbles in the other is indulgent. The olive in my Martini is attending a cookery course that rekindles my passion for food, where delicious recipes are shared, prepared, and enjoyed by the group. Good food and...
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 shine bright. We were very spoiled while there, enjoying sundowners at a rooftop bar and delicious street food...
KOK Coffee - Ha Noi - Vietnam
A week ago, I opened my eyes in Saigon; today, as on most mornings, I awoke to the exotic aroma of freshly brewed 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 for 60 years, and it’s still...
Fowler's Grill
In a one-horse town, this is where the horse is. It's had its ups and downs, but it remains a landmark on Church Str. Locals love it, as there are no surprises here. Not even Chef has a bad day. If you're looking for more than just steak, ask about other menu options or vegetarian choices...
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...
Inverroche Classic Gin
Most people remember their grandmothers because they smelled 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, and well-travelled. She spoke the Queen’s English...
Vietnam - Getting Educated
They say, “a secret’s only a secret once you’ve told someone.” I have a confession to make: Jip, I have a crush on Luke Nguyen. I’d record his cooking programs, and he filled my disc space, which was awkward to explain. When we decided to visit Vietnam, I rushed to the nearest bookstore,...
Moon over the Sea
If you read a book titled "100 Places to Go Before You Die," 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, you'll find local markets, restaurants, and transportation options such as...
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...
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, it offers a warm, authentic Karoo experience. Beautifully renovated farmsteads, tastefully decorated with all the amenities for a self-catering stay...
Molopo Kalahari Lodge: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
The 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...
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 its impersonal face bricks. A new Guesthouse, quite a few kilometres from the CBD, Queness Inn, was a great find. The friendly, accommodating receptionist was eager to help and make suggestions, which made us feel welcomed and at ease. The three golden rules were met...
Duchess of Wisbeach: Sea Point
A good recipe and great ingredients set the scene, but the atmosphere and food quality at Duchess of Wisbeach are key factors. A friend's recommendation to visit the Duchess was all the encouragement we needed to book, even though our daughter and son-in-law were sceptical of our choice....
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 Seelan tucked away below "decks" on Quay 5, a new establishment, hardly 2 weeks...
Sawai Madhopur: Nahargarh Ranthambhore
Earning our stripes at Nahargarh. We visited the Ranthambore 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 bum 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 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, but the...
Grand Mumbai - Private Tours
Can't get any grander than this! On a recent visit to Mumbai, we decided to use the services of Grand Mumbai Tours, which offers personalized city sightseeing, cultural experiences, and more. We had a fabulous day and couldn't have wished for a better way to see Mumbai with our charming guide,...
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. I was distraught to say the least! We decided to end our holiday together with a bang and head off to Roodebloem road in Woodstock, you know that shady area...
Chandani Indian & Vegetarian Restaurant Cape Town
Spice up your day and take a trip to Roodebloem Road, which wouldn't be complete without ending up at this lovely restaurant. A tarted-up Victorian house situated in the heart of Woodstock. Rich purples, reds, and silver were used to create the decor. I loved that the restaurateur 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 much-loved eatery in mind, but thankfully, I followed my best friend's advice and made a luncheon reservation at La Vierge instead. This was my third visit, the last a wedding...