Kokstad Christmas – Part 1

2017-12-25 | puppy1952

Those of you who follow my blog regularly know that we are currently visiting our clan in Kokstad. We started our Christmas celebrations early. On Wednesday The Bakers came over for a pre-Christmas dinner. We wore the silly hats and pulled the surprise pack crackers and shared the corny jokes that popped out too. It really got us all into the Christmas spirit

Nicoline, Shan and Scott

Simon and Robyn

Al, Si, Shan, Scott, Me, Earl, Lauren

Al, Nicoline, Shan, Scott, Si, Robyn, Sean, Me, Lauren

We have had unseasonably cold weather this December so when we saw that the sun would be shining on Thursday we headed off to a dam in the mountains so the ‘boys’ could do some fishing. What a lovey cottage we had on The Du Plessis farm in the Swartberg.

It was Allan’s birthday on Friday. He and Simon were out fishing very early on on their return we presented the gifts and had a slap-up breakfast to celebrate his special day.

My Rural Family

Scrumptious Birthday Breakfast

Al is such a great dad and his kids expressed this so well in the cards they made.

Al, Earl and Simon fished and caught a total of nine bass. They kept two which The Earl cooked for lunch when we were back home.

Because of the iffy weather we have not done much outdoorsy stuff but on Sunday at the rude hour of 6:30 am my son-in-law and granddaughter knocked on the door – Hey Gran – do you want to come for a walk.

I thought it would be a gentle stroll along gravel paths suitable for a 65 year old grandmother.

Like this

But no – they took me on a bundu bashing ramble across farmlands, over barbed wire fences, through long, possibly snake-infested grass while dodging thorny thistles, low overhanging branches and rabbit holes.

Do you see the reed buck and the dog? – No? That’s how long the grass was!

Cody smelt a reed buck – but it was too clever for him and kept dead still – all we could see were it’s horns sticking up from the long grass.

We bent over to get through the trees

And climbed through many tricky fences

The plan was to cross the river over a bridge and then take the shortcut back to their farm but somehow the it seemed not to be there and so we headed back through the long grass observing many pretty buck and birds before reaching home two hours after we started out!

It was all worth the effort for the pretty scenes we saw

Lovely river – no bridge

Considering that Shan and Al both have much longer legs than I, I think I did okay to keep up with them – Yes my limbs felt like jelly at the end of it but it was great fun. I think I might join them again.

Today we celebrated Christmas with The Bakers and tomorrow we’re having the Macs over – More about that next time.

Warm Hospitality in Kokstad

2017-12-17 | puppy1952

It’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere and in KZN you would expect the weather to be super hot! But there has been lingering snow in the Drakensberg and Kokstad was gripped in some winter-like weather for over a week. Thankfully it’s warming up now and yesterday, instead of complaining about the cold, we complained about the heat!

One thing we’re not complaining about is the warm hospitality of the Kokstad friends and family. I don’t know what it is about this place but everybody is incredibly friendly. Perhaps it’s the beautiful environment in which they live and their relaxed lifestyle that causes them to be warm-hearted and kind. Most of the people we know here live on farms or small holdings and they are surrounded by beautiful mountains, streams, trees and have amazing gardens. Some might say that small places are friendlier but that’s not always true. Some small places are very cliquey and it may take years to be made to feel welcome there. Here in East Griqualand, we have found, you’re made to feel one of the family immediately.

So while the weather has been chilly we’ve been visiting. Thanks to the Clarkes for a lovely morning of catching up on their amazing four-month adventure off-roading through Africa with their two boys. The pancakes for tea were scrumptious, thanks Bryan.

The Flemmings had us over for dinner which was delicious. And sitting before their roaring fire was wonderful. Rose, your roast dinner was to die for.

Rose whipping up a Master Meal

Anti-clockwise from front – Neil, Rose, Lauren, Shannon, Allan, Simon, The Earl

Of course we have been catching up with the extended Stone/Mackenzie family too. We reminisced about spending so many Christmases together when we were still raising our own kids. They’re all grown now with kids of their own and what a great bunch those kids are.

Just a few of the extended family who popped in for tea

Barbara and Andrew’s cottage on The Farm

An outhouse used as an office and guest flat

Our kids went off for a golfing weekend to Pennington this weekend so we were left to our own devices. On Friday we had lunch with Barbs and Andrew and yesterday another of our clan arrived from Bloemfontein so we went to The Farm to greet them and have family braai.

Soon after the Bothas arrived, The Earl invited the kids to go to the dam to fish. I knew the Mackenzie boys would not hesitate. Rebecca, however, is a girlie girl and I expected her to decline. How wrong I was. “I’ve got my fishing rod,” she said. “Are you sure?” said Mom. “I don’t think we packed it.” “Of course, Dad did!” she insisted and went off to fetch it.

So off the merry little band went. How delighted we all were when they returned with two fat bass – both caught by 8 year-old girlie girl Rebecca!

Becca with her Bass

While the fisherfolk were off adventuring the rest of us enjoyed Barbara’s shady garden.

Caleb decided that the fishpond would be a good place to cool off.

The Earl cooked the bass as a starter before the braai. The kids insisted that they would not be eating fish – but all of them did! Becca only had a tiny bit but got a bit of scale so that put her off! The others were back for seconds.

Becca trying some fish

Little Emma loved her sisters fish

Seth said no way was he eating Bass – but here he is enjoying it!

The Earl had some willing helpers with the braai. Aiden and Seth helped chop wood. Henk has some braaing skills of his own and saved the day when the wood wouldn’t burn. The food was delicious and the bonding even better. And what a perfect evening it was after all the cold weather we’ve been having.

Getting the braai going

The essential Boerwors

Henk grilling the steak and chops

Weekend Breakaway – Good Hope Farm Robertson

2014-05-19 | puppy1952

We decided on the spur of the moment to take off for the weekend. We love Robertson for the bass fishing and bird watching opportunities. Over the years we have stayed at a few places but Retreat Cottage is one of our favourites. This time we decided to go to a place we haven’t been to for a number of years – Good Hope Olive and Wine Farm. We first stayed at their Mountain Cottages which had a ‘loo with a view’. We got to know the owner, Shirlee but she has since sold and we wanted to stay at the Fishing Cottages which are somewhat more rustic but attractive as they are right on the Bass Dam.

I phoned to book at lunch time and by 3 o’clock we were packed on the road with very little packed in the way of self-catering! So after checking in we headed to the town of Robertson for dinner. The Bourbon Restaurant came highly recommended and we were not disappointed. It had a varied menu. Earl settled for Lamb Shank and I had a sort of Pitta filled with delicious middle eastern vegetables served with tzatziki.

After dinner coffee

Our accommodation was rustic but comfortable. The stone floors meant did nothing for warmth but we had a heater and wonderful electric blankets. Between the two semi-detatched huts there was indoor/outdoor kitchen – wonderfully equipped and perfect for our needs. The Dam Cottages would be perfect for a group of friends who wanted to share some time together.

A beautiful mountain setting

The view of the dam was fabulous. We were the only guests on the farm this being very low season. In summer and on long weekends it is hard to get accommodation in the Robertson area.

Situated next to the bass dam

The Dam

A hammock could be fun

Enjoying morning coffee on the bench with a view

Master Chef Earl cooking breakfast

Good Hope Farm is a working farm and one wakes to sound turkeys gobbling and cocks crowing. There are pigs and sheep and horses too.

Cheeky Pig

horses

Christmas Dinner?

Good Looking Sheep

Earl threw in a line or two but the aim was to do a bit of bird watching. There were a few birds like coots, herons, Egyptian Geese and darters on the dam. On Sunday morning we were amused to see a heron give way to the superior claim to the float to a darter.

Heron on a float in the middle of the dam

The darter approaches

The heron flies off and the darter takes the perch

Darter

The area is good for all the Karoo specials. I was hoping to find the Karoo Robin and I was in luck. The pale chanting goshawk is also common in the area. Here are some birds that we had fun finding.

Cape Sparrow

Bokmakierie

African Pipit

Familiar chat

Familiar Chat

Black Headed Heron

Black-shouldered Kite

Karoo Robin

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Rock Kestrel

Stone Chat

Hereunder some photographs of the beautiful scenery – the mountains stood out clearly and we were stunned by the stunning autumn colours of the vines and trees. The Elgin area displayed some beautiful trees in their rustic apparel.

End of School Holidays

2013-04-12 | puppy1952

For a teacher school holidays are a time to recharge batteries – or so that is what we are told. But actually when you are a wife, mother and involved grandmother it is a time to catch up with your other life! Like having your hair done, getting a manicure, servicing the car and catching up with friends and family. Did I do any of these things – I did catch up with two friends and I had the car valeted. Many hours were also spent preparing material for the new term but most importantly I also spent a fair amount of time getting my visitor’s Visa for England organised. This is not as simple as it sounds. There is a comprehensive application form to be filled in online, a fee to be paid and an appointment with the Visa4UK company to be made. Supporting documents have to accompany the application and getting them together is a mission. If you do not have hotel bookings you have to prove that the person you are staying with is a British citizen has a job and can support you. I am eternally grateful to my friend, Linda for supplying me with all the requirements within 24 hours of receiving my requesting email. Then 24 hours later after filling in the online application twice because I was thrown off right at the end of my first try and had to start all over again, I was able to pay the fee and make an appointment with said company. My appointment was on Friday at 1 p.m. the last day of the holidays so I did not have to take an afternoon off school to get it done! (They are in the city and close at 3 p.m.)

My darling husband took me in to the city for my appointment . The weather was gorgeous and we were early. While we were waiting for my appointment we had a cup of coffee and a croissant. “”Let’s go to Robertson for the weekend,”” he suggested. So we googled the number of our favourite cottage on a farm in Robertson and were in luck – they could accommodate us. So after my one hour appointment we raced home, packed and were on the road by 3:45.

Retreat Guest Cottage can be found on a peach, apricot, grape and citrus farm at the far end of a dirt road jutting off the Robertson-to-McGregor tar highway. It boasts two lovely bass fishing dams and we have been going there on and off for several years. The cottage is rustic but comfortable and we just love the peace and tranquility of the setting. The main reason for weekending here is for the fresh water fishing but also for the wonderful birdlife.

Not the Arniston Hotel – but quite comfortable thank you

Enough space to relas

Cosy Kitchen

Personal Chef and Caterer

View from stoep

View on other side of cottage toward the mountains

Rusty kept us company all weekend

Earl was fishing at before I opened my eyes

Rusty and I took a walk to find Earl – Rusty invited me in for a swim but I declined.

The birds were a bit nervous of the dog walking with me but some of them still obliged by posing for portraits.

Cape Turtle Dove catching the early rays of sun

Common Waxbill

Tree full of yellow canaries

Double Collared Sunbird in moult

Bokmakierie – taken a long way off

Grey-backed cisticola

Stonechat

Retreat Cottage Back

Front of Retreat Cottage

Succulent Garden next to the cottage

We took the scenic route home on Sunday afternoon and stopped to photograph one or two birds. We drove through the picturesque little town of McGregor which was rather sleepy on this lovely Autumn day.