Time flies!

Wow! Tuesday already and not a word from me this week! I was waiting to be able to report real progress on the Candlewood Cottage. But YES! there is really! - we received the Xtra length king size bed with its glamorous head board this afternoon with all the lovely bedding. The builders are still finishing off tiling and cupboards and the P G Glass man still must return to fit glass panels in the shower and by the free-standing bath - that is scheduled for tomorrow. So gradually we are getting there and tomorrow we will be in a position to load some pictures as the sun has promised to shine for a photo shoot.

Johan has just come in and reported that despite the soft rain falling on his head he has managed to make real progress with the path ( gravel and brick) leading down to the Cottage.

So we are all having a very productive day!

Lourika has been busy uploading new pics onto our website today so these will appear within 24 hours. Don't forget to keep your eyes in that direction also.

Watch tomorrow for the promised photos!

Fresh supplies of wine from the Montagu/Robertson/BonnievaleEstates

Today we have sunshine! Can you even begin to imagine how amazed and excited we are?!! I am afraid that the whole Coast has taken a battering this past 4 - 5 days. Such a huge volume of rain brings problems;- the water table rises, the Bathrooms are affected as the mud mingles with the normally pristine bore-hole water, the gutters cannot cope, and the rooms become wet at their entrances and inside on the carpets. The Guests naturally are frustrated and cross as they came ostensibly to ' sunny South Africa ' - so you can imagine the collective sigh of relief as life returns to normal.

Johan braved all that bad weather yesterday in order to visit our wine estates, driving there and back all in the one day - approx. 1000 kms - just to put that wine back on the wine list. So here is a picture of Gordon, the Gardener and multitasker extraordinaire helping to bring those precious wine boxes from the bakkie.

The stairs leading up to the new Cottage I shall feature in my next posting. Meanwhile we are all out in the sunshine !!

Candlewood Cottage Update!!

I promised some word on the Candlewood - no photos - as it is a wee bit wet here in the Tsitsikamma. How else do you expect it to be such a lush green area!?

The electrification work is complete and the carpentry work is well on its way, shelving is being installed in the dressing room, cupboards in the mini-kitchen, and by the fireplace, mirrors and glass panels are being fitted in the bathroom, and the stairs for the outside access to the patio have arrived...very very exciting!! Hopefully tomorrow we shall have the sun again and the photo of the new stairs can then be featured.

And when you ask will this Cottage be ready for occupation? We are now thinking that it will be the middle of next week so keep your eye on developments here!

We are so fortunate here to have such lovely builders; 2 local guys Willie and Stoof and their team who are really dedicated efficient and professional.

More tomorrow as we are very busy here in the Guest House and the Rafters Restaurant with full houses every night..in both! How thankful we are as we can hire and keep hiring the locals and ensure that their children have a better future.

Damage Control Birthday Cake!

I just could not resist sharing this with you all out there.

My son Stephen, wife Charlotte, and the 3 grand-children; Hubert Rufus and Ferdi were visiting from France for a very short school holiday. Stephen celebrated his Birthday while with us in the Tsitskamma, and here Johan is trying to prevent two over eager boys from stealing Stephen's moment at the Candle Blowing ceremony.....!

Natalie opening her present!

I was not sure how to show 2 pictures so I am doing a separate posting so that we can have the 2nd picture!

We wish Natalie well in her new position at the Spa!

Natalie,our Manager, moves across to Spa

Yesterday, Sunday 09 Nov 2008 we had a little farewell for Natalie who has decided that the Spa needs her more that we do at the Armagh! Tsitsikamma Mountain Spa has indeed been very busy and so Robyn will have Natalie to assist with the Bookings and the admin as well as learning some of the Beauty Treatments herself.

Our new Manager, Kathryn, arrived today and she is being trained by Johan and is already slotting is very nicely indeed but more of that later!

I am posting the pictures of our Staff at the farewell party and Natalie about to open her present.

Tomorrow I shall give you all an update on the progress of the Candlewood Cottage!

Wow! it has been a busy time for us so no postings on our site!

Things are moving on with the new Cottage and I shall have more photos later in the week so you may share the progress with us; we do think we shall be open for Business around 15 November 2008! The Builders have popped in over the week-end to varnish all the freshly sanded wooden floors and soon the cupboards and fireplace will be fitted to it is now getting very exciting. The Big King size extra length bed has arrived at The Bedroom Shop in Plettenberg Bay and has duly gone off to Bay Decor where the upholstering will take place.

I am attaching a wonderful photo showing how much we are surrounded by fynbos and forest in our stunning area. Our swimming Pool is just set in the middle! This photo was taken from our Africa Loft by Dawie van Wyk who has just completed a Virtual Tour of our Guest House. This will shortly be flighted on our website and will give you all a better idea of how things really are at The Armagh....