From the moment Pam and Errol glimpsed Rome’s ancient skyline, their Italian journey unfolded with unforgettable moments, laughter, and discovery. Travelling with a close-knit group of American friends, they blended guided tours with spontaneous exploration, savouring history, cuisine, and the simple joy of the journey itself.
A Journey Through Italy
Their group’s journey began in Rome, where they spent two and a half days exploring iconic landmarks, including the Vatican and the Colosseum. They highly recommend pre-booking “Skip-the-Line” tickets, which allowed them to skip the long queues and make the most of their time. A private guide enriched their experience, sharing stories and historical details that brought the ancient sites to life.
From Rome, they took the train to Sorrento for five days of coastal beauty and relaxed sightseeing. One highlight was a private boat trip to Capri, complete with a swim in the Mediterranean. Although the famous Blue Grotto was closed due to the tide, the dramatic cliffs and sparkling coastline more than made up for it.
Tuscany was their next stop—a villa nestled on the outskirts of the medieval walled town of San Gimignano, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. With a rental car, the group explored Florence and Bologna by day, and in the evenings, they gathered in the villa’s kitchen to cook simple meals from fresh local produce. These shared dinners became some of the trip’s most cherished moments.
The grand finale was Venice. Arriving by train and gliding through the canals by water taxi, Pam and Errol checked into a 500-year-old hotel near St. Mark’s Square—modernised inside, yet brimming with character. On departure, they discovered the ultimate travel hack: a water taxi straight to the airport, ending their adventure in comfort and style.
Pam and Errol’s Top Travel Tips for Italy:
Download Citymapper: This free app is a lifesaver for navigating Italy’s cities. It shows you whether to walk, take the metro, or hop on a bus—no guesswork required.
Book ahead: “Skip-the-Line” tickets for major attractions like the Vatican and Colosseum are worth every cent. Skip the queues and spend more time exploring.
Be firm with taxis: Italian taxis are legally required to accept credit cards. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Know your gondola rates: The official price is €90 before 6 p.m. and €110 after. If you’re quoted more, walk away.
Avoid driving in city centres: Many Italian cities have restricted traffic zones for authorised vehicles only. Entering by mistake can mean a fine of over €150.
Self-cater in Tuscany: Shopping for local ingredients and cooking together was one of the group’s highlights.
Make the most of Italy’s trains: Italy’s train system is fast and reliable and connects most major cities and scenic regions. Booking tickets in advance can save money, and travelling by train is often more relaxing than driving or flying between destinations.
Use an eSIM for easy connectivity: Consider purchasing an eSIM before your trip or upon arrival in Italy. It’s a convenient way to stay connected without swapping physical SIM cards, and you can activate data plans instantly on your phone. Be sure to verify that your phone is compatible with eSIMs before purchasing.
We’d love to hear your story! If you’ve been on a memorable trip and would like to share your adventure, please email Lyndsay@charteredwealth.co.za.
Researching what was for the two of us a brand-new holiday option was an eye- opener. We began by interrogating a wide range of trusty travellers on sea cruises options.
Most common and vehemently shared views were: Are you mad? (I am told it’s a slow process, was the response), I wouldn’t be seen dead on a ship (careful now), it’s FAR too expensive (Hmm), we can’t stand crowds/queues (been to Plett lately?) and it’s for old people (huh?), said with such passion and conviction that I failed to ask if they had experienced these feelings first-hand. Apparently, many had, but in a different era.
The Brandy and Coke Days
Those of a certain age will recall the MSC cruises that left from the KZN harbour headed for Mauritius, filled with over-excited sales ‘Achievement of the Year’ award winners. The corporate hosts provided French champagne, brandy and Coke, and a range of SA’s amazing ales. Those were the days. And the tradition continues – recently over 450 sales achievers of the year enjoyed an all-paid cruise in glorious sunshine, leaving onboard staff with stories to tell – including typical Saffer shenanigans.
Tackling the FAQs
Here’s the thing – the current crop of upmarket cruise liners gracefully ride the waves, offering a variety of destinations and packages. It’s certainly worth a try as you will read below.
FAQ1
Are we mad? The short answer is “no”. Until you experience the sheer comfort, safety and variety offered (including Alaska, South and North America, Europe and the Middle and Far East), it’s impossible to criticise. Unless you suffer from acute sea sickness, in which case there are nifty patches to wear behind your ear lobes; rather remarkably, they work like a charm.
FAQ2
The cost and what we got? We chose a smaller ship with a maximum of 500 guests and 200 staff. The ship can moor at many of the harbours we sailed into, making disembarkation swift and safe. Our two-week rate for two people was $17.000 (less expensive than a daily rate at a 5-star bush lodge in South Africa). It included pretty much everything. Excluded were laundry, land excursions and spa treatments. Land tour prices ranged from zero to $300 per person in a private luxury car or 4-wheel drive. There is a vast list of tours to choose from.
Or you can sunbathe on the ship, attend a talk on health/wellness or fascinating presentations by an eminent historian – favourite examples were Churchill, Lord Byron and the impact on the global order by Spanish and Portuguese explorers. Relaxing is popular and you can choose from a host of lounges/decks/coffee and ice cream bars, chill in your cabin with a view to marvel at, play table tennis, bridge and Mahjong, win a prize in the competitive putting competition or meet and talk to guests from across the globe.
Oodles of entertainment to choose from: live shows including opera, smooth jazz and late-night quartets followed by the resident DJ, background piano melodies and singers at the restaurant bar – and the cruise favourite, an ABBA show (close your eyes and you are transported to the ABBA Voyage in London).
The cabin was roomy, with service 24 hours a day at the ring of a bell. Filtered water and ice awaited us on arrival and were refreshed twice a day. A massive range of alcohol served by baristas at four bar areas included a different cocktail every evening. There were seven restaurants to choose from, with menus that included fresh food bought daily from the harbour towns we arrived at. We often disembarked and wandered around the harbour and town or city we docked at, and a brief history of the area was provided the day before in person, on our app and TV in the room.
FAQ3
But aren’t there long queues and crowds on board? We did not experience queues on board, even at the busiest bars and restaurants. Seldom were more than four guests sharing the elevator with us. The service was exemplary. Once, during a spate of strong winds, we were held back from disembarking for an hour, which we spent at The Observation tea and coffee bar.
Alert – the size of the boat really matters. In Thailand, we witnessed monster-sized ships carrying over 3000 people standing for hours waiting to go to and from the harbour.
FAQ4
Aren’t cruises just for older people? Age doesn’t matter. The first week on board, we estimated the average age at 55/60. The second week, a batch of tour groups from America, Australia and New Zealand embarked, dropping the age level significantly.
The land tours are divided from easy to challenging. Easy strolls around towns and villages along cobbled streets or challenging, including mountain climbing and sea boarding. You get to choose.
We attended wine farm and art gallery tours with 30-year-olds and tuk-tuk trips up the mountains in Montenegro with 65-year-olds. The entertainment schedule followed suit. We felt right at home wherever we were and whomever we spoke to.
The Sea, Sky and Scrumptious Food
After 3 fascinating days touring the old city and mountains, we embarked at Dubrovnik in Croatia on our way to Montenegro. Here are some highlights:
At 5 am, while enjoying tea and sandwiches on an open deck, we watched a glorious sunrise above the encircling mountain range and into an azure sky as we slowly entered the harbour.
Next stop, the boot of Italy. We strolled through the town of Gallipoli with its chic and colourful restaurants and marvelled at local fashion designs, arts and crafts.
We stopped at several ports along mainland Greece, all charming, historically interesting and full of life. Strolling along palm-lined promenades, shopping for arts and crafts in bustling bazaars or unwinding with fresh seafood and ice-cold local beers by the marinas – what’s not to love?
We took to Nafplion, a city located in Peloponnese Greece, an attractive tourist destination. Like many seaport towns, Nafplion has endured crushing crusades (Ottoman springs to mind). In 1827 it became an important city within the first Hellenic Republic in the Kingdom of Greece.
A 45-minute taxi drive into Athens, followed by a walk around the 5th-century BC Pantheon through the Plaka, brought back memories of previous visits to this city.
We visited two of the biggest and perhaps less travelled islands – Syros and Chania in Crete. Both lovely, with warm and friendly people.
The western Aegean coast of Turkey was a complete surprise. We visited a privately owned art gallery and wine farm in Cesme, a resort town, and drove through Kusadasi, a fast-growing modern area (it reminded us of Franschoek), where Istanbul residents have second houses to escape a tourist-overrun Istanbul. A leather clothing store close to the harbour invited us to ‘kom binne en koop a mooi baadjie”. Many Turkish entrepreneurs lived and worked in South Africa in the 1980/90s. Throughout our time in Turkey, the men spoke passionately about failing governments, the cost of living, the refugee situation and two wars close to Turkey’s borders.
Last stop was the ancient site of Ephesus. We were treated to an extraordinary experience of chamber music, seated among some of the most famous ruins in the world, as the sun lazily dipped below the horizon.
Our verdict
Sea cruises may not suit everyone. However, for the curious and adventurous, they offer comfort, security, diversity, and a massive range of things to do and people to meet.
Kotor MontenegroListening to a band playing ABBA on the pool deckCesme
Standing naked on our terrace at our timeshare just south of Lapland, we didn’t feel awkward as we looked out at a lake and forest. The two of us, Louis and Stephen, were having a sauna in our chalet and then went outside, where it was -4 to enjoy the “Finnish experience” even though there was no snow to roll in.
“What happens if anyone walks past?” Louis asked. “Don’t worry,” I said, “the Finns do this all the time – and are used to it.”
“By “the Finns”,” Louis asked, “Do you mean us as the Finns or the Finns who actually live here?” “Both,” I responded, as a man walked by with his dog and greeted us. Both of them had jackets on.
I’d wanted to go to Finland for decades, not only because of my surname but because of its reputation as a liberal country with its tranquil forests, freezing lakes and incredible music tradition. One of our favourite composers is the fantastic Jean Sibelius. Actually, when I was in primary school and my Dad bought an LP with loads of tracks, I used to stand in front of the radiogram (as it was in those days) and conduct Sibelius’s “Finlandia”, a wonderful tone poem that underlines a desire for independence from oppression.
We’d been warned that the Finns of Finland were unfriendly, unhelpful and taciturn; they evidently don’t engage in small talk. We found just the opposite: incredibly friendly, helpful at all times and some of them more chatty than even I, Stephen, am.
So, you might well ask, what were the highlights (apart from cavorting naked near a lake). The music performances were spectacular: an opera, Animal Farm, written by a Russian in English, performed at the opera house across the road from our hotel; at the same venue the next night, magnificent ballet; the following night saw us in Lahti for a programme of Sibelius – brilliant; and the next one at the concert hall down the road of, among other works, Brahms’s Symphony No 3 – another of our favourites.
What was exciting was to see the age mix of people at all of these performances: as many youngsters were there as the more “mature”, with dozens coming along on their bicycles.
The concert hall in Helsinki is the most beautiful we have ever been to anywhere in the world, dominated by a magnificent steel sculpture that we worked out was actually the organ. It’s one of only two of its kind.
And then there was the phenomenally beautiful Sibelius monument, echoing in steel the flow of his music.
We also did a joyous parkrun along a lake, with loads of cherry trees festooned with blossoms.
As we’re vegan, we had wondered beforehand how well we’d be able to eat. Our hotel had a complete plant-based menu for breakfast and all the restaurants we went to for our suppers catered happily for vegans: Nepalese, Chinese, Italian – and Finnish, with the Helsinki train station having a fantastic restaurant.
We found something even better when we went by ferry across the Baltic Sea for a day in Tallinn, Estonia. It was very interesting, and we found a vegan restaurant just off the main square with incredible food.
Would we go to Finland again with its wonderful architecture (you should see the new library in Helsinki), where there’s no littering, everything runs to time and with its residents evidently being the happiest in the world? Of course, we’d love to but as there are so many other countries we haven’t been to yet, it’s unlikely. Is it one of our favourite of the fifty or so countries we’ve been to? It certainly is. And that’s the naked truth.
This trip had been on our Bucket Wheel® for a long time. We first planned a camping tour in 2019, but our enthusiasm was met with concern. Family questioned whether we had the stamina for the dusty roads, desert heat, and physical demands of camping. It gave us pause, but only briefly. After a few months (and many conversations), we decided that no matter what others thought, we were going.
Namibia had captured our imagination – and we weren’t giving up on this dream!
Just as we finalised the itinerary, Covid hit. Tours were cancelled, our chosen operator closed down, and the plan went on hold. In the meantime, we ticked off other adventures: watching whales in Hermanus, walking among elephants in Addo, and completing the Camino in Spain.
By mid-2024, we decided to try again. But with overseas visitors booking up most tours, we began to think it wasn’t meant to be. Then, unexpectedly, a new tour date was added, and we secured two spots! The only catch: it wasn’t designed for over-65s. After back-and-forth emails and a doctor’s note, we were officially confirmed. The planning could begin – properly, this time.
From Cape Town to the Orange River – new landscapes, new friends
Our journey started in Cape Town, winding through the Cederberg and Namaqualand, where the roadsides were blanketed in wildflowers. Crossing into Namibia, we spent our first night on the banks of the Orange River, waking to golden sunrises and riverside breakfasts. We had wisely chosen the “comfort” option – no tents to pitch, just simple chalets.
One of the unexpected highlights was the group itself – 20 travellers from Germany, Denmark, Spain, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Our Zimbabwean driver and guides were exceptional – keeping us well-fed, comfortable, and entertained. Each morning began with coffee, oats, toast, and fruit prepared over a gas stove, eaten in a circle of fold-up chairs. We shared stories, and everyone pitched in to clean up.
Canyons, forests and desert dunes
We explored Fish River Canyon, walked along its breathtaking rim, and stood in awe of its vast silence.
Keetmanshoop became our base for visiting the Quiver Tree Forest, Giants Playground, Dune 45, Sossusvlei, Dead Vlei, and Sesriem Canyon.
Climbing the dunes was no easy task – legs burning, feet sinking into the sand – but the views from the top made every step worthwhile.
The landscapes were stark and bare yet rich in beauty. Early mornings brought a surprising chill, catching us off guard more than once!
One evening, as the sun set over the dunes, we were treated to stories from a local guide – featuring spiders, snakes, and a few creatures we were glad not to meet in the sand where we sat.
Tropic of Capricorn, Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross
On our way to Swakopmund, we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn – just a simple sign in the middle of the desert. Standing there felt strangely significant, a reminder that we were journeying through places we’d only ever read about in school geography books.
We continued to the Skeleton Coast and Cape Cross, where we saw parts of an old shipwreck and watched a seal colony in action. Another unique and powerful view of this beautiful desert country.
Swakopmund was a highlight. We took a boat cruise in the bay, laughing as seals clambered aboard and pelicans flapped their enormous wings near our heads.
A seafood lunch and warm sherry made it a day to remember, followed by a festive dinner with local food and music.
From there, we travelled through the scenic Brandberg region to Etosha National Park. While animal sightings were few, the experience was unforgettable … especially when our truck broke down on a lion crossing! We were escorted to camp by armed rangers. Dramatic, but definitely a story to bring home.
Our journey ended in Windhoek, where we explored museums and monuments and got a taste of local life.
This trip reminded us that you’re never too old for adventure. Sometimes, the best things just take a little longer. Namibia gave us stories, laughter, and the deep satisfaction of saying: We did it.
It is no secret that South Africa faces deep challenges when it comes to childhood literacy, particularly in reading and understanding English. While the causes are complex, what stands out more powerfully is the work of people who choose to be part of the solution—one child at a time.
One such person is Chartered client Roy Irvine, who recently joined an inspiring initiative called The Link Literacy Project.
Founded in 2010 by Margi Bashall, The Link is a registered NPO staffed entirely by volunteers who are fluent in English and passionate about helping children—no teaching experience is required. The Gauteng Department of Education recognises the programme and currently supports 18 schools across Johannesburg, with that number steadily growing.
Roy, who completed a TEFL course and has always had a passion for reading, saw The Link as an opportunity to encourage and assist the next generation to discover the joy of reading.
The Link’s methodology is both simple and effective. Volunteers commit to just 2.5 hours a week at a centre of their choice—Roy’s is in Melville. They are guided through the process and then paired with a Grade 2 or 3 pupil for two 45-minute sessions, separated by a short break. Together, they focus on key skills like pronunciation, letter formation, and word construction through blending—turning learning into something both fun and empowering.
Roy describes the transformation he’s witnessed in these children as remarkable. “At the first session, the children are very shy,” he says. “But very soon, they get used to this new person and start opening up and really engaging in the material.” One of his standout moments has been seeing the joy on children’s faces when the tutors arrive: “They’re so enthusiastic, chatting with their tutors about all kinds of topics.”
The teachers at participating schools have also embraced the programme wholeheartedly, recognising the rapid improvement that just a little one-on-one attention can bring to students struggling with English literacy.
The biggest challenge The Link faces is not funding or materials—it’s volunteers. “Come along to a session and just sit in,” Roy encourages anyone who’s considering getting involved. “Many tutors have been doing this for years, and a new volunteer will quickly see the joy that both the children and the tutors gain from the experience.”
At Chartered, we’re inspired by clients like Roy who are living out their values and making a tangible difference in their communities. If you’re interested in joining The Link or just want to learn more, visit www.thelinkliteracyproject.co.za.
This is the third novel that British author Clare Pooley has published in the past five years, following the success of her debut novel, The Authenticity Project, and 2022’s offering, The People on Platform 5.
How to Age Disgracefully is a light-hearted read with a message about ageing and intergenerational connection, sometimes humorous and sometimes poignant; it’s a heart-warming tale to add some joy to this Valentine’s month.
Clare Pooley has gathered a colourful and quirky cast of characters, some with lives that haven’t turned out quite as they’d hoped. There’s midlife Lydia, who is dealing with an empty nest and a pompous straying spouse, trying to find herself again after years of being the perfect wife and stay-at-home mom. Teenage dad Ziggy is grappling with early onset responsibilities and an environment threatening to derail his attempts to make a better life. At their local community centre, their lives intersect with a group of senior citizens – Daphne, whose years of self-imposed isolation hide a secret, a failed actor with a bad habit estranged from his family and, of course, a prolific knitter. A scruffy canine is thrown into the mix when its elderly owner meets with a freak accident.
They band together for a cause dear to them all – saving their community centre from demolition after the council deems it structurally unsound and a commercial developer looks set to buy the site. Their combined efforts to raise funds for repairs engage everyone from the preschoolers to the seniors who have come to rely on the centre’s facilities. From a nativity play to a pet talent contest, they try every avenue to bring in money to get the building back to standard. Clare Pooley writes with wit and sensitivity, and she clearly believes that age shouldn’t limit your capacity for fun, creativity, challenge and adventure.
A copy of How to Age Disgracefully is available for short-term loan from the Chartered Client Library.
We are singularly blessed to spend our retirement in what I consider to be my very own Garden of Eden. Our home is nestled in a magnificent coastal forest estate on the KZN North Coast, where we enjoy breathtaking sea views and are surrounded on three sides by pristine coastal forests.
Living so immersed in nature is incredibly therapeutic, though it has its share of unexpected visitors. We’ve had our fair share of snake encounters—usually harmless Natal Green snakes (at least, according to me!). The abundance of monkeys can be troublesome, but we’ve learned to baton down the hatches when they come through. Fortunately, they don’t linger for long. We purchased monkey screens for Christmas, which has certainly helped keep them at bay!
A Leap of Faith: Moving from Gauteng to the Coast
I was initially reluctant to leave my life and home in Gauteng – we spent 54 wonderful years in Vereeniging. Quite frankly, I couldn’t imagine calling anywhere else home. Although we owned our coastal house for nearly 30 years, it was always just our holiday retreat.
Taking the plunge to move permanently was a significant decision but one we don’t regret. Our new life is even better than our old one. Still, I’ve realised that embracing change requires actively seeking out new experiences and opportunities.
Golf, Friendships, and the Unpredictable Weather
As an avid golfer, I quickly found my way onto the fairways and was warmly welcomed by a fantastic group of like-minded women. In a good week, I play up to four rounds—though the weather here is far less predictable than on the Highveld. Wind and rain make for challenging conditions, but if you wait for a calm day, you won’t play much golf at all!
A Commitment to Conservation
Caring for the environment has always been important to me, and I’ve found a wonderful way to contribute through a monthly beach clean-up group. Walking along the shoreline, I can’t help but pick up discarded plastic and polystyrene—so much so that I now won’t go for a beach walk without a garbage bag slung over my shoulder.
Beyond the beach, the estate boasts well-marked walking trails winding through the coastal forests. These walks often bring me face-to-face with bushbuck, blue duiker, and a spectacular variety of birdlife. There’s something deeply meditative about strolling through these trails, surrounded by nothing but the quiet hum of nature.
Quizzing, Camaraderie, and a Good Glass of Wine
My husband and I are keen quizzers and have been lucky to join a local quiz team. More often than not, we’re the go-to sources for any pre-1980s trivia! Despite the age gap, our younger teammates have embraced us warmly. Of course, no quiz night is complete without a delicious meal and a few generous glasses of red wine.
Up Close with the Estate’s Feathered Residents
I recently had the privilege of joining a bird-ringing event on the estate, where expert birders set up special nets before sunrise to safely capture and tag wild birds for research. Each bird was carefully weighed, measured, and released, with the data sent to the University of Cape Town.
The findings were fascinating—a resident crowned eagle is at least 29 years old, and a tagged bird returning from Antarctica had lost 50% of its body weight on the journey. We even learned how to hold a bird properly; some remained perched on our fingers despite being unrestrained. With over 250 bird species on the estate, it was a rare treat to get up close with around 20 of them, including the elusive Marsh Fluff Tail.
Living in Our Own Garden of Eden
These are just a few of the many reasons why we believe we live in a little slice of paradise. Retirement here has been more rewarding than we could have ever imagined. What more could anyone ask for?
When we think about the legacy we want to leave behind, it’s not always about financial inheritance or material wealth. For many, it’s about creating lasting memories, imparting values, and sharing meaningful experiences that will be remembered for generations. Chartered clients Trevor and Rina White chose a different path when considering their legacy. Instead of focusing solely on financial inheritance for their grandchildren, they wanted to create something more personal, something that would resonate with their family for years to come. Here, they share their heartwarming journey of crafting a living legacy through shared experiences.
“While discussing our estate planning, as guided by Chartered Wealth, my wife and I decided that our financial inheritance planning would be limited to our children, allowing them to decide what would accrue to their children (our grandchildren). From the birth of our two grandchildren, one now eleven and the other eight years old, we, as grandparents, have been involved in their early childhood development. We’ve taken them to and from school, sponsored and accompanied our granddaughter to piano lessons, and our grandson to jiu-jitsu lessons.
We decided that instead of leaving them money, we would find a ‘lasting experience’ that we could share with them as a family – something our grandchildren would hopefully always remember us for, as their Oumi and Oupi!
We considered a long list of possibilities, such as pleasure cruises, skiing trips, Mauritius, the Kruger Park, or even a visit to Disney World, just to mention a few. However, none of these really ticked all the boxes. We wanted to be together as a family, actively involved, while also considering the costs and ensuring the experience was fun-filled for everyone.
Having done a barge trip on the French canals nearly a quarter of a century ago, my wife and I felt that this could be exactly what we were looking for. It combined transport and accommodation in one, with the grandchildren being old enough to act as crew members when entering and exiting the many locks along the way. They helped the lock-keepers with opening and closing the manually operated locks and cycled into the towns and villages to buy fresh provisions such as bread and milk. As a health-conscious family, the grandkids cycled alongside while one of us jogged on the traffic-free cycle routes, which run parallel to all the canals, keeping up with the boat as it made its way along the waterways.
The trip turned out to be everything we had hoped for and more. The weather was perfect, everything went according to plan, and we worked together like a well-oiled machine. The grandchildren were involved from start to finish; they were never bored and seemed to love every minute. We, as grandparents, truly believe we have given them an unforgettable experience that they will carry with them into the future. And the best part? We were able to share it with them!”
What began as a simple search for a unique rental unit for their property, Little Orchard, turned into a labour of love—the transformation of a forgotten train coach into a luxurious retreat. Clients, Jeff and Sue Lawrence, inspired by the magic of their past train journeys, discovered Coach 26806, a weathered sleeper coach in Ladysmith. Though stripped of its former glory, it still held immense potential.
Transporting the 34-ton coach to Wakkerstroom was no easy feat, but Jeff and Sue were determined to bring their vision to life. This wasn’t just about restoring a piece of history; it was about creating an experience that would evoke nostalgia and craft lasting memories. Every detail, from the Rhodesian teak floors to the custom windows and vintage memorabilia, was chosen with care and dedication.
Stepping inside the train, you can immediately feel the love and thoughtfulness that went into its transformation. The upcycled rail brackets, Sue’s handcrafted stained glass, and original South African Railways touches all contribute to a space that feels luxurious, personal, and full of history.
It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and forget to live with intention. But Jeff and Sue’s story reminds us of the importance of living intentionally. Their journey beautifully embodies so many aspects of the Wheel of Balance: Play in their nostalgic escape, Work in their dedicated restoration, Purpose in creating a meaningful space, Money in transforming a relic for income, Relationships in their shared passion, and Learn in preserving the train’s history.
For my husband and me, staying at this unique accommodation was more than just a weekend getaway—it was a chance to reflect. As empty nesters, we found ourselves asking, What is our next journey? What excites us now? The experience reminded us that pursuing passion isn’t always easy, but it is worth the ride.
Our visit to Wakkerstroom coincided with Wakkerstroom 165 Stories of the Anglo-Boer War festival. The town, known for its birdwatching, history, and natural beauty, was bustling with excitement. From vintage car parades and Zulu dancers, Transvaal Scottish Pipes and Drums to fascinating talks on the Anglo-Boer War, Wakkerstroom’s charm was on full display. The friendly people, wonderful restaurants, and lively atmosphere made it an enticing destination.
If you’re looking for a getaway that inspires and offers a unique experience, I highly recommend visiting Wakkerstroom and staying in The Train. It’s a chance to rediscover what excites you.
“Sometimes, the journey leads us to destinations we never imagined, but those are often the ones that make the ride worthwhile.”- Anonymous
When Chartered client Ingrid Davidson and her husband Alistair retired to the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay, she was looking forward to peaceful mornings and long walks on the beach; what she didn’t expect was to find herself reliving the exuberance of her youth, thanks to an enthusiastic invitation from her dear friend, Mary Connock.
Mary introduced Ingrid to the Granny Grommets, a lively group of women who have turned the beach into their playground. Twice a week, this spirited group gathers at Robberg Beach at 10:00 in the morning, ready to embrace the waves and leave behind any cares that might have followed.
The Granny Grommets, as the name might suggest, is a group of women who have discovered the sheer joy of boogie boarding. The term “Grommet” originally referred to a young surfer or someone involved in extreme sports, highlighting this group’s youthful, adventurous spirit. But don’t let the “Granny” part fool you—this group is for anyone with a zest for life, with members of all ages joining in the wave-riding excitement.
Initially hesitant, Ingrid was quickly swept up by the group’s enthusiasm. The moment she caught her first wave, all her reservations melted away. The exhilaration of being tossed about by the ocean, the laughter that echoed across the beach, and the sense of freedom that came with every ride reminded her of the playful days of childhood.
And it wasn’t just the wave riding that captured Ingrid’s heart. After an hour of fun in the surf, the group plunks down on the beach, flasks of coffee in hand, sharing stories, solving the world’s problems, and indulging in delicious treats. It’s a time of connection, camaraderie, and simple pleasure.
Ingrid’s Wednesday and Friday mornings have become the highlight of her week. The Granny Grommets have given her a sense of community, energy, and an unexpected source of joy. Even the chilly water can’t dampen the spirits of this group—though, of course, they take a well-deserved break during the colder months when the sharks make their appearance.
So, if you find yourself near the shores of Plett, grab a boogie board and join them—all are welcome.
