HAPPY HEALTHY & PEACEFUL 2009

Sitting here in the quiet of the early morning, on the first day of a brand new Year, I am reminded of my days at boarding school some years ago! ! Autograph Books were the popular thing - I guess the precursor to Face Book; someone wrote in mine and I quote -

The future lies before you like a sheet of driven snow Be careful how you tread on it as EVERY step will show.

I never forgot that!

......and this is how I feel facing a brand new exciting Year full of fresh opportunities and exciting possibilities. Of course there is an economic down turn, there are hideous things happening in the world, but if we just start off by having time for our neighbours, or that smile at a stranger in the street or supermarket, then we can generate a happy and positive vibe and see it grow.

Anyhow enough of the homily ! We wish all our past Guests, recent Guests and future Guests, our way too much spread out family in France, Australia,(and Rorie & Isabel in Tasmania) Ireland, Switzerland (you know who you are!) happiness and health above all.

South Africa is on the cusp of a real shift politically this new Year with elections in the first half and the recent birth of the new party COPE! it is still the most diverse and really great value for money country to visit with food and wines of superb quality. - each Tourist to our beautiful land will enable us to employ more people, and they, in turn, can grow their childrens' futures by the resultant education and upliftment. You are all so welcome so make this your year to visit us. But not all at once as Johan says!

We have had the busiest time over the festive season with some really quite wonderful and appreciative Guests, we even had a Wedding on our premises out on the lawns. Our Staff have been tireless and in the middle of January, when it gets a little quieter, we will be taking time out to have mini-breaks. - but not all at once as Johan reiterates!

I hopefully shall have more time to blog as I have neglected this space horribly - the question " Is anyone out there actually reading it??"

Think Love; Work hard; and the rest will surely follow! Happy lives to you all!

Johan having a very hard day @ THE ARMAGH

Johan is supposed to be hanging the new curtains in the Rafters Restaurant but along came Jonathan from Bramon Wines, between here and Plett, and no second invitation needed!... and what beautiful wines! Of course I had a wee taste also! not bad before 11 am! The Methode Cap Classique is absolutely stunning as is their Sauvignon Blanc AND many others so our day is not all about living in paradise smiling at Guests...the even better news is that he has ordered some cases - so do look out for them when you come to Dinner at Rafters at The Armagh as they will be on our Specials board! By the way anyone can come to Dinner here it is not just residents...AND we have a really special Christmas Lunch planned - Christmas Lunch without all the frills But also particularly catering for the budget conscious Let us know by email if you are interested in Booking. We have a particularly good Menu. It was a real hit last year and this year we have thought out some new dishes for your pleasure.

Happy day!

Mini-Holidays & the NEW Candlewood Cottage

We went away up the Wild Coast for a tiny holiday - 9 hours drive - BUT what a wonderful time we had...I am putting some photos on this Blog so you may see what an absolutley beautiful place it is; peace and tranquility like a byegone era and emphatically ' far from the madding crowd'

Before we left we had virtually completed the Candlewood and I am now posting a few interior shots...Bookings are rolling in and we expect our first occupants later this week when the final tweaks have been tweaked by us and the Builders.

- we are looking forward to a very busy Holiday season.

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.....!