Spring does bring along change, and we as a family were ready to embrace it. With travel restrictions still in place, what better idea to celebrate the wonder of this new season immersed in one of the natural wonders of our world – the Cape wildflowers. We pointed our springtime travels in the direction of the flower route on the West Coast and boldly went somewhere we’ve never been before.
I have one word to describe our adventure: awestruck. I was mesmerised by the tapestry of the landscape and captivated by the hidden gems that I’ve never discovered before in South Africa.
Our first stop was Paternoster, one of the oldest and most iconic fishing villages on the West Coast. We stayed in a gorgeous house that we found on the LekkeSlaap travel and accommodation website. It was the perfect spot to explore the tranquil, relaxing atmosphere of the town, the beach and the Columbine Nature Reserve. It’s no secret that I love food and cooking! You should not be surprised that we decided to explore the Foodie Route on the West Coast. Sitting at the harbour in St Helena Bay munching on fried fish and chips served in paper packets was simple but oh so delicious.
You may have heard of our next stop, Darling. Blogger Anje Rautenbach of Going Somewhere Slowly describes Darling as akin to fine wine – a soft yet crisp experience best enjoyed with good company, at a slow speed, with an explorer’s undertone and a good balance of fun and laughter. This is also where Pieter Dirk Uys turned the station into a theatrical experience with Evita se Perron. I was blown away by the Ormonde Private Cellar with its collection of 30+ award-winning wines and loved how the owner spent time with us sharing his passion for wine. The snack platter served was an outstanding, delicious work of art that took me back to how snack platters were served in Franschoek before it was commercialised. We also visited the Orchid Festival that only happens once a year in Darling.
Of course, Darling is not only famous for Evita se Perron, wine tasting and flowers. We popped into Darling Brew for a glass of slowly fermented craft beer – a lovely visit but beer has never been my favourite. You can also explore the town museum and try out the many delightful eateries scattered along the main road.
Spring has reminded me to nurture my soul with all the things that make me happy. My family, special friends, delicious foods and adventuring in our picturesque country add up to unforgettable memories that I will cherish always.
There are many beautiful places to visit in South Africa to revive yourself and bring you closer to nature. I would love to hear (and see some pics) of some of your favourite destinations.
There is no denying that winter is finally here. The cold weather coupled with the fact that we are in the third wave is the perfect opportunity to spend time at home, reading a good book and eating nourishing and comforting food.
Sally Williams is not only famous for her nougat but also her cooking. One of Kim’s favourite recipes of Sally’s is her delicious roasted tomato and butternut soup. So give it a try and let us know what you think.
Sally Williams’ Roasted Butternut and Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
Olive oil spray 2 onions cut into chunks 8 plum tomatoes cut in half 1kg butternut cut into chunks 12 cloves of peeled garlic 2 teaspoons of sugar A sprinkling of ground cinnamon Pinch of nutmeg 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil Seasoning 1-litre chicken or vegetable stock ½ cup of cream (you can leave out if desired) ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together and toss. Place in the oven at 220 for 45 minutes until soft and browned. Put the mixture in a bowl (scrape all the bits from the bottom of the pan) and pour over the stock and mix – then place in a liquidiser and liquidise until smooth. Return to the pot, season and add the chopped basil. Before serving, add the cream. Serve hot or cold.
We have such talented authors in South Africa, and we are spoilt for choice when it comes to genres. We highly recommend Hamilton Wende’s new book, Red Air. If you would like to win a personalised copy of Red Air, please email Lyndsay@charteredwealth.co.za, and we will put you in the draw.
Red Air by Hamilton Wende
War is an ugly business, no matter which way you look at it. The fact that people profit from bloodletting is ugly. That thousands of young lives are lost, oftentimes senselessly, is ugly. And the grief of those left behind is ugly. There are no real winners in conflict, although enough movies and books would have us believe otherwise. The casualties of war mean that even if one side triumphs over another, there are still parents mourning their sons and daughters.
SA combat journalist Hamilton Wende knows this only too well, having witnessed first-hand the tragedies that can befall families when man recedes into the darkest recesses of his soul. It is the powerful theme he explores in his new novel, Red Air.
War correspondent Danny Morris has made the potentially fatal mistake of identifying in an article the hotel where he meets the son of an Afghan warlord, Azmaray Shah. Shah is a separatist who wants nothing to do with either the Taliban or the American forces in Afghanistan but views Danny’s error as treacherous. In an act of vengeance, he kidnaps the reporter’s father, Al Morris, a veteran CIA operative whose relationship with Danny soured years earlier when he walked out on the family.
Recognising that having both Danny and Al on the hook would also serve to bring the world’s attention to his political ambitions, Shah plays his hand carefully, understanding that he dare not come across as fanatical as the Taliban. Danny is required to wrestle with his conscience and assess where he might have failed in terms of the distance between him and his father.
Wende has covered conflict in Afghanistan, and knows that things are always more complex than they seem. Black-and-white perceptions of who the good and bad guys are entirely wrong since the country comprises any number of groups that carry their own views of what the country and the religion of Islam should be. His grasp of political dynamics comes across strongly in the narrative, giving authenticity to the novel. That is not to say there isn’t plenty of action.
Danny links up with a US Marines unit to rescue his father, and the fighting is bloody and frenetic. Wende’s descriptions of these scenes speak to his considerable powers as a journalist and give the book the fast-paced appeal needed to keep readers focused on the broader issues of family relationships, love and respect.
As far as modern war novels go, Red Air ranks among the more poignant.
Review by John Harvey in the Daily Dispatch
We love hearing from our Retire Successfully community, so if you have any recipes you love or books that you recommend please get in touch with us here.
You are never too young or too old to create joy in your life. Ariel in The Little Mermaid said, “Who says my dreams have to stay just my dreams?” And she’s right! There’s a certain magic sharing your dreams with someone special, and chances are that if you plan your dreams together, they may just come true in spectacular princess style!
This year, a special friend and I decided to celebrate our birthdays together with an intimate group of friends and family. We both love the magic and joy of birthdays and to make the most of this occasion, we decided on a princess themed party. I really missed not throwing a bold and extravagant party with my trademark ‘more is more’ and ‘bolder is better’ approach last year. Back then, we were in level 5 of lockdown, so my birthday dream turned into a wish that I’m making come true this year.
Dreams don’t have to stay wishes forever, but you may have to put them on hold sometimes. Cinderella had it right when she said: “If you dream a thing more than once, it’s sure to come true.” We may not all be princesses, but every girl deserves a princess party at least once in her lifetime!
Planning my birthday is often the best part. And planning a princess party is so much fun! We will be setting up a delicious candy stand and I even got to choose a magnificent regal crown for the special day! Moana said: “If I go, there’s just no telling how far I’ll go,” and in true Moana style, we are going all out!
Joy is contagious! Creating joy very often leads to more happiness! Have you ever noticed how good it feels to give? So I’ve decided to put another joyous plan in action for Easter. I will be doing a fun-filled Easter egg hunt for my children and their friends (the youngest being fifteen.) They will be going on a scavenger hunt in search of lost treasure on the beach.
It really has not been an easy or cheerful year so far, and it is tough to lighten up. We may not have much to laugh about, but research has shown that laughter has far-ranging health benefits and it’s a great tool to manage stress. It’s also contagious. Snow White told the Seven Dwarfs that “you are the only one that can fill the world with sunshine,” and I agree. Creating and planning for joy and sharing the fun and laughter gives everyone something to look forward to!
I would love to hear your ideas on how to spread joy and laughter in our daily lives.
Every sprinkle of fairy dust makes a difference and may just make another dream come true!
One of the things that we seem to be collectively missing at the moment is a lack of joy and fun. In a world of horrific events discussed every five minutes on the television, radio newspapers and social media, it’s no wonder so many people are struggling to find joy and have fun when the state of the world is as it is. As hard as it is, it is at times like these that we need to view life from a new perspective and to not let outside circumstances, the media and other people’s negative attitudes affect us in our daily lives.
As an adult, you have every right to enjoy yourself. In fact, adults need to play. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
Back when we were children, this experience of pure delight didn’t have to come from a heightened event for us to feel like our day had been made. Pure fun happens when we are fully engaged with ourselves and our world in each moment. It is the spontaneous delight that bubbles out of us when we let go long enough to bring it through. Approach your life today with the knowledge that pure fun isn’t something that is given or done to you; rather, it is something that you allow yourself to experience.
So how then do we bring fun back into our lives?
Set the Goal of Playing More. Start by setting a goal to have more fun. When we think of setting goals we usually think of serious things, such as saving more money, eating healthier or exercising more often. However, the goal of having more fun is just as important as those more serious-sounding goals.
Define what fun looks like for you. A lot of the time adults can’t even remember what they like to do. Or maybe they’ve outgrown the things that they liked to do in the past and they haven’t gotten around to identifying new things that they enjoy. If this is you, sit down and make a list of the things that you enjoyed doing in your youth. Then, go over your list and highlight those things that still sound appealing. Google is a wonderful resource and if you are stuck for ideas try googling “fun ideas for adults”.
Set a fun minimum and put it in your schedule. Just as you tell yourself that you’re going to exercise for at least half-an-hour a day, tell yourself that you’re also going to do something fun for at least half-an-hour-a-day. It’s important to schedule it in your diary because if you don’t schedule it in it’s unlikely to happen.
Create a play drawer. In her book “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy,” Sarah Ban Breathnach recommends creating a drawer to “stockpile small indulgences.” This drawer could contain anything that brings you joy. Popular items include colouring books for adults, board games and puzzles.
Spend time with a fun friend. Whether it is online or in-person, the people you spend time with will have an enormous impact on your life. If you need to relearn how to relax, be more spontaneous, laugh more, and simply be more willing to play, look for someone who’s already doing these things. Then, follow their lead.
We would love to hear how you are finding ways to have fun, so please share your stories with us. Most importantly, remember to never stop finding joy!
Route 62 is an inland tarred route between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town that offers a scenic and interesting alternative to the traditional N2 highway that is further South and follows some of the coastline. Route 62 promotes associations with the legendary Route 66 in the USA which was built in 1926 to connect Chicago and Los Angeles. Route 62 (the red line in the map below) covers around 1000 km of mountains, fertile valleys and semi-desserts, ensuring an experience that leaves those who have travelled it with special memories. As Route 62 tends to be a bucket-list trip for many South Africans, particularly those who ride motorbikes, I had been wanting to arrange a bike road trip of this area for years.
Our 15-day Route 62 motorbike trip was originally planned for April 2020, but Covid-19 unfortunately scuppered those dates. We therefore had to postpone it to February and March this year (2021) and in the end a small group of four of us did the whole trip – Avril, Anton, Grant and I. When we do such long bike trips, we try to stay off the main N routes and we typically plan the route to cover an average distance of around 350 to 400 km per day, as this is easily done and is not too tiring. In addition, we do these trips outside school holidays and we normally do not book accommodation in advance, but rather look online for accommodation for the night when we stop for lunch or for something to drink in the afternoon. Doing it this way gives us flexibility and means that we do not need to add “rest days” along the way. It also means that if we get stuck somewhere due to bad weather or some other delay, we can usually catch up by increasing the distance ridden over the next day or two. Having done quite a few two-week bike trips in SA and overseas, we have never battled to find accommodation and the places where we have stayed have seldom been disappointing. Another advantage is that one sometimes finds special last-minute rates when booking on the day.
As is generally the case when riding or driving just about anywhere from Gauteng, the first day is somewhat boring and the scenery only really improves from the second day. Our first day was planned to take us from Gauteng to Bultfontein, but we missed a turnoff to Wesselsbron somewhere after Bothaville and ended up in Odendaalsrus, where we had lunch. We looked online and decided to change our plans and to rather stay on a farm called Die Kuirhuis B&B outside Ventersburg. This was reached via a roughly 14 km dirt road that was a bit tricky on road bikes with road tyres, but we all managed to get there without falling off our bikes. The accommodation was nice and the owners were very friendly and hospitable. We had a lovely “Boerekos” supper there and an equally good breakfast the following morning.
Day 2 took us from Ventersburg to Bethulie via Bloemfontein and Phillipolis, staying off the N1 as far as possible. Our overnight stop was at the Royal Hotel in Bethulie, which is a unique and quirky hotel with literally thousands of LPs and books lining most of the walls in all areas except the actual rooms.
The third day took us from Bethulei to Graaf-Reinet, via the Gariep Dam which was still overflowing after the recent good rains. We stayed overnight at the Roode Bloem Farm House, which is a lovely old house on a farm about 10 km before Graaff-Reinet. One advantage of staying outside the towns is that the stars are so much brighter than when in the cities. The Milky Way is so clear that it seems that you can reach out and touch it and one can see lots of satellites on clear nights.
Day 4 was from Graaff-Reinet to Prince Albert, via Meiringspoort which is absolutely stunning.
Our route for the fifth day was from Prince Albert via the Swartberg Pass to Barrydale. The Swartberg Pass was probably the most impressive of the many great passes we did on this trip and the scenery was amazing. The dirt road had recently been worked on and was in excellent condition. Barrydale is a lovely little town and we found really nice accommodation at Doorways. If you are ever in Barrydale, I can highly recommend that you spend the night there, followed by breakfast at The Diesel and Crème Diner.
Day 6 took us from Barrydale to Riebeek Kasteel, which is another lovely town we stayed in. Luis, an old friend of Grant’s and mine who lives in Cape Town, met up with us along the way and joined us until the next afternoon.
The seventh day was from Riebeek Kasteel to Darling (where we met up with Darryl, another mate of ours, for lunch at The Darling Brewery), Paternoster and then to Langebaan. This day also included us seeing the sea for the first time on this trip.
The route on day 8 was from Langebaan to Kleinmond and included several road passes and amazing scenery. My brother, Guy, rode through from Stellenbosch on his restored 1958 Vespa and joined us in Gordon’s Bay. We then rode the 50 km to Kleinmond against some serious headwinds which were a bit of a battle on the Vespa. This was followed by a lovely supper at KabelJoe’s Seafood Restaurant that night.
Guy left us on the morning of day 9 – he went back to Stellenbosch – and we then headed from Kleinmond to Barrydale, via Cape Agulhas. We had intended staying over in Swellendam but decided to go back to Doorways in Barrydale when we realised how close it was and as they again had rooms for us.
Day 10 took us from Barrydale to Wilderness, doing several more lovely passes along the way.
The eleventh day started with the amazing Seven Passes Road (more info below) from George to Knysna, milkshakes at Marilyn’s Diner near Storms River and on to Port Elizabeth.
The route for day 12 was from Port Elizabeth to Elliot and we stayed at The Mountain Shadows Hotel which is on the road from Elliot to Barkly East. We were then getting close to the Drakenberg Mountains, the scenery was spectacular and the hotel was very nice.
Day 13 was from Elliot to Bulwer. Although there were some nice and scenic stretches, most of the day was spent riding through sprawling settlements and some towns that have sadly really deteriorated over the past 20 or 30 years. If I ever do a similar trip again, I will look for an alternative route from Elliot.
The fourteenth day – from Bulwer to Fouriesburg – included the Midlands Meander (R103) which is very pretty with lots of places to stop, Oliviershoek Pass and the beauty of the Golden Gate National Park. We stayed at the Sandstone Chameleon Guest house in Fouriesburg, which I can highly recommend. If you are ever in the Clarens area for a night, rather stay at Sandstone Chameleon in Fouriesburg. There are some lovely places to eat at in the town and you can then take the lovely and scenic 35 km road to Clarens the next day.
Our last day was getting home from Fouriesburg and once again meant that the scenery would unfortunately be getting boring, the closer we got to Gauteng. Having said that, we rode past many farms with good crops getting ready for harvesting.
The only “trouble” we had on the trip was a rear wheel puncture Grant had in Underberg on day 13. We were fortunately just arriving in the town when he discovered it – his bike has tyre pressure sensors and these alert you before you feel it. He fortunately had a puncture repair kit with him, which he used to plug the hole very quickly and he did not have any further problems with it on the trip.
The above is but a taste of the trip, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. The company was great, the scenery was amazing and most of the roads were good. If you have any urge to do a road trip, be it by car or (preferably) by motorbike, do yourself a favour and do Route 62. You won’t be sorry.
