2009, September 16
· Filed under 2008, Bamburgh, Family, Sheffield
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Tia, Eyal and I departed from Mill Hill at 5.30 pm on Thursday to meet Dinah and Jason at Sheffield. It was dusk when we arrived but we drove past lovely old and new buildings to Millenium Square to dine at Piccolino’s. It was wonderful to see them and to hear that Dinah is pregnant. Baby due 15 Feb 2009. They are still shocked at the idea. Sheffield is worth another visit.
We slept in a Travelodge for £30 a room. It was clean, plain and good value.
It was a pretty drive through rolling country side to Hazlewood Country House. 
This was a wonderful stop in the country for breakfast in a beautiful sunny garden with views. We would love to stay for a couple of days.
The drive towards Bamburgh was delightful rolling hills of farmland. The rain came down so we met Jeanette and Scott Robinson, Jessica, Oliver, Tatum and Scarlet at Seahouses in a place that had an excellent playroom for the children.
So began a lovely party which lasted until we said goodnight at 10 pm. Seahouses is a small fishing harbour and we saw the flat which Scott has just bought overlooking the harbour. They want to do holiday lets on it but the rules do not allow it.
We drove the couple of miles to Bamburgh Castle where Jeanette and family stayed in their beautiful apartment in the castle. Paulo, Ben and Gracie from Marlow joined us at the Victoria Hotel in the High street.
After finding our pretty rooms in this rabbit warren of an hotel we met in the pub for early dinner. The rain stopped and there was a lovely garden in which the children played races and always let the toddler Scarlet win!!!
Then the highlight of the visit was to go to Bamburgh Castle where they have a large apartment on 3 levels with wonderful views over the village and sea. There are only 160 residents in the village. So it is really quaint and small. It was well worth the drive to get there and I hope I will return for at least a week.
Jeanette and Scott live in a village, Skirpenbeck, which is outside York. Yorkshire seems a lovely place to be. It is near the Lake District and Bamburgh.
2008, August 21
· Filed under 2008, Family, St James
Another rainy day so we decided to see “The Just So Stories” at the Kalk Bay Theatre. It was fabulous entertainment and very full so we sat on the floor.
Jon invited us for a movie at Cavendish. There was nothing suitable so we made our own entertainment. Zoe wanted pizza. Amy wanted sushi and Jon wanted desserts. So we all shared pizzas, then up the escalators for Sushi to share again, and then a long, long ride to the bottom to find super desserts in new place in Woolworths. It was fun.
The next day Charnay and I were sad to say goodbye. It was a lovely week.
2008, August 20
· Filed under 2008, Cape Town, Family
Wind and rain today made this a good day for the theatre. Amy, Zoe and I saw an excellent Noddy show in the foyer of the Artscape Theatre. I shall have to borrow some grandchildren so that I can go again next week! After the show the actors met the audience and shook hands with us . Noddy gave each child a gift after greeting them.
The Aquarium was wonderful again. We saw sting rays, sharks, turtle and all type of fish in the large tank and more in the seaweed forest tank. We were lucky to be there in time for the fish feeding which only lasts 5 minutes. The sharks only get fed once a week on Sundays. They do help themselves to food by eating the fish that are swimming in the tank with them.
Amy and Zoe enjoy all the tanks and displays but it is the microscope which keeps their interest the most. The seals were missing today.
2008, August 20
· Filed under 2008, Family
Tuesday was perfect for swimming and cycling in Fish Hoek. Zoe and Amy cycled very well in the car park. Then shared a strawberry milkshake before climbing the jungle gym. We returned to Eight Bells for lunch.
After reading time, we drove to Simonstown to see the penguins and practice cycling again. After enjoying the jacuzz everyone was ready for bed.
2008, August 20
· Filed under 2008, Family, St James
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3 strangers visited us after lunch.
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Sheltering from the wind below the wall io Fish Hoek beach.
We began the sunny morning in the jacuzzi. Breakfast on fruit and cereal with Patricia’s crunchies. We went to Fish Hoek to look at hiring a bike for Zoe. Instead we found a super secondhand purple bike with fairy wheels.
Amy and Zoe spent an hour whizzing round the Fish Hoek beach car park in the strong wind. There were only 5 crashes and all recovered by bedtime.
Yvonne, Saskia and Kiana lunched with us and played dressing up from the box. We laughed a lot.
We spent an hour watching video of Zoe and Amy at Kwa Maratani.
2008, August 20
· Filed under 2008, Family, St James
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Amy, Zoe and Rose arrived on Saturday.
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The bulldog Charnay arrived on Friday. Sunday morning in bed Amy and Zoe entertained Jon and I with the dressing up box. When they had put on as many clothes as they could possible wear they decided to dress Jon with the Scottish wig/hat. It made him speak with a Scottish accent which caused much laughter.
Jon prepared a super breakfast of poached eggs and salmon on English muffings with Bearnaise sauce. Delicious! Amy built my new Dolls house under Jon’ supervision.
We went to the garage to try out the bikes. The smaller one suits Amy.
We enjoyed babootie for lunch with meringues and icecream and mangoes fpr dessert.
Jon and the dogs went home and we enjoyed the evening with a roaring fire.
2008, August 20
· Filed under 2008, Vintage Cars
2008, June 28
· Filed under 2008, Constantia, Family
Tia celebrated her birthday with Eyal, Mom, Jon, Nicky, Rob, Yvonne, Hilary, Anne and Nick at Stellenberg Wine Estate on a warm winter’s day in the Constantia Valley.
The buffet lunch was amazing. We were overwhelmed by the variety of the food. The cold buffet was stunningly different from the usual Sunday buffet with lots of fish, springrolls, somoosas, salads. The sunday roasts were good and the vegetables freshly cooked. The deserts were a meal on their own.
It is such a beautiful arm dominated by the Constantiaberg mountain. The drive from the gate to the Werf through the vineyards was lovely. The farm buildings are in Cape Dutch style. Tall oaks dominate the Werf. We dined under the oak trees with a band playing delightful tunes.
2008, June 28
· Filed under 2008, Family, St James
After a long wait for the flight and then luggage Amy, Zoe and Rose finally arrived in Cape Town. Grandolin drove them to the Blue Route for hot chocolate drinks and cinnamon pancakes. Unfortunately we missed the opportuniity to Skype Laura and Joseph.
In St James we unloaded the suitcases on to the lift and drove to the garage while the lift took the baggage to Eight Bells.
We are all excited to be together in St James. 
Tonight we watched video of Zoe and Amy when Zoe was 10 weeks. Jon arrived for supper and the girls finished watching a german video. Amy tells me if they watch this they will be able to understand Laura speaking German!!!
2008, May 29
· Filed under 2008, Family, Silvermist
I flew to Johannesburg to meet Margie with whom I would drive to Silvermist. Unfortunately Margie took ill so Kate drove from Polokwane to fetch me from the Johannesburg airport. A 7 hour drive !!!!
I was delighted to see this driveway on the farm. 
I stayed in this charming cottage on the farm.
I was delighted to visit Peter D’Arcy-Hermann. 
Amy and Zoe went to a friend who made their flower girl dresses for Philippa and Mike’s wedding.
Zoe played with make-believe rabbits while Amy worked on the new ABC puzzle.
We went to Johannesburg. The first night Zoe and Amy met their new cousin Edward.
While I was staying with Jennifer, we took Alister and Zoe to the Zoo to find a polar bear. It was a lovely outing to see the improved zoo. The children managed the walking so well.
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The next day we went to Philippa and Mikes’ wedding. See this on another blog
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