Comfort on Cabot - a B & B I can highly recommend

We've just returned from Johannesburg, South Africa where we attended the wedding of our niece. I love weddings... we each 'interpret' our dreams in such an individual way!  I'm particularly 'nuts' about wedding cakes, flowes and general 'wedding decor' and was delighted to see...

Fairy lights and suspended crystals inbetween beautifully arranged, hanging circles of flowers...

The wedding was held in Modderfontein (just outside Johannesburg) at the Champetre conference and spa centre, in an old refurbished barn. It was a lovely wedding and the weather was kind enough for the ceremony to be held outdoors.  We didn't need coats or brollies, it was a glorious spring evening and a good time was had by all.  We really enjoyed catching up with old friends and long lost family members and we danced until our shoes just had to come off.

We spent the first few nights we were in South Africa, at a B and B in Eastleigh Ridge (just up the road from where I grew up) and if you're ever in need of a safe, clean, friendly place to stay in the Eastern suburbs of Johannesburg, I can definitely recommend that you give Glynnis at the  Comfort On Cabot a visit.  She was most helpful in every regard (including offering the use of the office phone).

It's not your typical B and B - the owners don't live on site so you're not living 'in their home'.  Which I like.  The rooms stretch out along the lenth of the 'house' and the beautifully appointed kitchen, dining room, patio and lounge are at the end of the house.  You go through two sets of security gates to get onto the property, and there's not a hope of anyone climbing over the walls to surprise you - which meant I could sleep soundly at night.

This is a picture of the first gate, on the road... you drive through, close the gate (with a remote controller) and then open the next gate.

The B and B is in a secure suburb accessed through a security boom manned by a professional security agency - which you can catch a glimpse of at the end of this street... all in all... I have to say that we never felt 'unsafe' or 'threatened' at any stage of our visit to South Africa. 

Johannesburg has changed a LOT since we left.  The ever changing/growing highway system is amazing and definitely world class.  There were times when we were most grateful for the GPS we borrowed.  That said, local councils seem to have dropped the ball in most suburbs and suburban roads aren't quite up to scratch at the moment, particularly in rural areas.  See!  I'm ever the optimist.

Huge shopping centres abound.  I have never seen so many new developments!  Business and industrial parks are springing up on every available piece of empty land.  Housing developments stretch as far as the eye can see!  Things are happening and a lot of people are making a lot of money.  Generally, people are a lot more upbeat than they've been in years.  People with jobs, that is. 

And therein lies the crunch.  The same crunch the rest of the world is experiencing really.  Not enough work to keep everybody clothed, housed and properly fed.  So crime is still a problem and you still have to be wary of where you drive/park and what you do. That said, I can honestly vouch for the fact that we didn't feel 'threatened' in any way, even once.

Hope does happen!

April Blackbird

A little travel bug #4 Cabrera, Balearic Islands.

And with a little glimpse into Spain, I return to the blogging scene.  It's time!

My passionate venture into working for Ark is almost at an end, and I have a lot of free time in my schedule that has been freed up by not one, but two angels who come to my house to watch my little chick for a few hours a week.  I am in a new world of time for coffee, for writing, and for long talks with my friend Arabella, which have been sorely missed.

I have been truly spoiled this week with a grand dinner on Saturday night - one very excited little person and one very delicious Peking duck.  Fabulous company, a little pre-warming of a very nice new apartment, and a swanky cocktail and oh-so-delicious beef for a wee birthday celebration.

  

This sort of feeling is one to bottle.  Time management.  I might blog about it.

That, or parenting.   Hmm.  Are there already so many wonderful parenting bloggers out there?  Do the others have the answer to the great time management dilemma that faces new parents in foreign countries?   Perhaps I shall do a little thinking and see what I come up with.

Until then, I did want to share the most beautiful place with you that my former life as superyacht crew allowed me to experience.

The island of Cabrera is just off Mallorca, uninhabited and previously used to house French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars.  Not an enormous success with only 3600 surviving of the original 9000.  Cabrera is now a National park and marine sanctuary and in a sea which is not known for its marine life, this islet is a delightful refuge from the frenetic fishing ports of Palma de Mallorca and busy yachting anchorages surrounding all the Balearic Islands.

Boats are provided with permits for a maximum of two nights and there is a battle upon arrival when the bow of a large superyacht nudges into the small bay and is forced to negotiate in shouted, broken Spanish with much smaller fishing vessels that squat on the buoys.

The view from the fort is magnificent.

The water is a deep, bright blue and the fish contrast against it in black and flashes of silver.   When you jump from the bow of a very large yacht into the depths, you can only imagine the sea-bed.  It requires a big breath and a whole lot of bravado for those not so great at spontaneous water entry. 

 

It is a pure, quiet place.  

Bookie bird - in Voula, Greece.   On her birthday with a tummy full of decadent once-a-year chocolate cake made by her friend Arabella.

A little travel bug #3 I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

In the 30 degree heat of sunny Summer Greece, I happened to pass by a photograph on our wall of we two kids in snow jackets and goggles with rosy cheeks and very cold noses. 

STEAM BOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO

 Good ol' Western hospitality thrives here at Steamboat.  The barn sums it all up.  It's so not Aspen, and we love it for that.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  Christmas time with the scent of fir trees both in and outside the house, the trails of a thousand keen skiers up before the dawn to get the 'fresh tracks' and the smell of turkey roasting.  

Fresh Tracks 

It is here that for one's own good health it is recommended to jump from hot pool, to medium pool, to cool pool and then out and up the snow-covered slope to roll back down into the water.  It's fresh!

Snow mobile tracks in the late evening.

  About to head down this daunting slope....

Snow covered Aspen trees.

So beautiful.   Go to Steamboat and soak up a little of the Winter magic if you ever get a chance.  Drink a milkshake at Lion Drugstore,  buy beautiful Indian woven rugs, have a hot chocolate at the tiny bookstore and read for hours.  Snuggle into your big fluffy coat and inspect the beautiful snow-flakes as they land, unique, on your sleeve and slowly melt away.

Bookie bird in Lavrio, Greece.

Arabella Chickie checking in...

This is just a quick post to say we arrived in Greece earlier this week and we are currently docked in the sleepy village of Sami on the island of Cephalonia in what must surely be the cheapest berth in the Med at a whopping 23 Euro per day for our 37 metre boat!  Unfortunately we don't have internet access due to equipment malfunction, so we have to limit our internet to a trip to one of the waterfront restaurants that offer free wifi (my how times have changed!).  

So, no cards from me for the moment...  but I do have a few to post.  hopefully we will get our internet up and running soon.

In the meantime have a lovely week!

Arabella Chickie in Sami, Greece

A little travel bug #1. Imperia Oneglia - Italy

In light of the lack of card-making I have been doing, away from my little house in Lavrio for three whole months...(now home, and loving it), I have decided to share some of the most beautiful places with you that I have been most fortunate to see recently.

  I am the luckiest girl, and now am thrilled to be able to show our little chick all sorts of exotic parts of the world, from down at his level.

The small streets of Imperia

We reason that these Italians likely don't crave space as they've only ever known this lovely intimate living.  As Australian and African, my chicco and I, we love the sweep of green hills, the shade of towering trees and lots of space...

The height of the Paraiso in Imperia is quite remarkable, accessed by walking up the steep hills in a maze of glimpsed views, or taken more quickly by glass elevators which extend from the marina to the Cathedral of San Maurizio at the top.  Some of the homes in this remarkable part of Imperia are crumbling. 

The primary lift (Ascensore ) from the Marina Porto Maurizio 

San Maurizio Cathedral.

Many, many bells.....at all sorts of random times. One can imagine the Italians all know exactly what they mean and what they are being called to celebrate.

This walkway was deserted and the sun low in the sky in the afternoon when we walked here.  I could imagine the nuns or monks, dark habits whispering about their hidden legs,  through these coridoors of the Santa Chiara Convent atop the Paraiso.

What a beautiful place.  The people are what have made it so special, from being welcomed into the home of new friends and sharing a feast of food and wine, to an invitation into the home of a stranger for an aperitif of Pastis, simply because we shared the lift en route our little apartment.  

We look forward to returning here sometime soon, with wide smiles.

Bookie Bird in Lavrio, Greece.

Omaha, New Zealand

Gosh, time sure flies when you're having fun!

We've had our UK Chic's mum visiting from New Zealand (her family were originally from Cornwall, but she grew up a 'London girl') and we made the most of every moment.

All of which make up my excuse for not sitting at the computer...

Right... Omaha, New Zealand - as promised previously.

The thing that strikes us (always) about New Zealand is the quality of the light. It's almost impossible to describe, photos do it far better. So, here are a few photos taken from the upstairs window of the holiday house (or bach, as the Kiwi's say) we stayed in with Arabella and her chicco.

The view from our bedroom...

They obviously have a very strict building code in this area...  look at the roof pitch of the houses...

The houses across the road front onto the beach...

I do know that Arabella hasn't had much access to the internet for the past few days.  I'm sure she'll have lots to post once she's back online again.

April Blackbird

I'm Leeeeeaving on a Jet Plaaane!

Tomorrow my husband and I leave for our annual holiday back home in NZ!  It doesn't seem real yet as we have been so busy lately with taking the boat from Greece to Italy to France for the boat show, making it all look top notch for five days, and then coming back to Italy today.  

I have just spent the whole afternoon packing my bags... I hate packing.  Luckily I managed to fit in my 'can't live without' copic colours.  I have also charged up my ipod and Kindle and loaded both up with books and podcasts for our 10 hour stopover in Dubai (right before our 20-something hour flight to NZ - joy!).

I think I'm ready... I've even shopped for more card bases to arrive when I get home so I can keep right on crafting!

Have a lovely week as I don't think I will be back here until Thursday for the next Little Miss Muffet Challenge!

Arabella Chickie in Imperia, Italy

Monster balloons and Turkey

Tonight's blog post is coming to you from Turkey... Kusadasi to be exact.

  

We left Greece at about 7.30 this morning and arrived here in Turkey around lunchtime today.  It was an absolutely beautiful winters day... it felt like spring!  BB and her baby came along with us and he was such a delight all day.  It seems he has sea legs like his Dad and he wasn't bothered by being on the boat at all.  At the moment he just wants to walk, but he can't quite do it by himself, so we all spend a lot of time hunched over holding his hands as he madly dashes around.  He doesn't want to go anywhere slowly... full speed all the way!

Today's card is another one for the Forgotten Scraps Challenge number 2 (Anything goes)...

The monster image is from Little Miss Muffet Designs.   He is coloured with copics and I have added glossy accents to the balloons and over the beads I added to his eyes.  The papers are from October Afternoon and Bo Bunny and I have added Stickles as a frame as well as the stitching.   The ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl.

Here are the copics I used:

Arabella Chickie in Kusadasi, Turkey

The love padlocks in Prague

Well a few days on from our trip to Prague and both my husband and I have managed to catch colds.... probably from the aeroplane or the airports on the way home.  Luckily we don't feel too too bad... just sore throats and coughs.

April Blackbird asked about the picture of the padlocks on the rails of the bridge in Prague from my post here and I remembered that I overheard a tour guide saying something about them representing undying love and that the locks in Prague had only started appearing about a year ago.  

I Googled the locks on the bridge in Prague and it turns out that there are bridges decorated like this all around the world where sweethearts have symbolised their undying love with a padlock on a public fixture and thrown away the key!  

There is an interesting article about it on Wikipedia here that lists a few places around the world where you will find similar symbolic lock sites.

Here are some more pics from that little bridge in Prague...

Pretty cool huh?!

Arabella Chickie in Lavrio Greece

Prague was a winter wonderland!

Happy New Year!!!!  We got back from Prague last night just in time to celebrate New Year's Eve with our lovely friends here.  We have done a tag team with Bookie Bird and her family and they are off to visit Santorini today while we man the boat this week.

Prague was beautiful... a real winter wonderland.  The Christmas markets were still running so the atmosphere was still festive, but it was freezing cold... we were frequently forced to stop our sight seeing walks to warm up in cafes with mulled wine!

These markets were right outside our hotel in the Old Town Square...

Here are a few photos from our walks around the city...

Arabella Chickie, Lavrio, Greece

Places I have been #5

I've been looking through our ancient slides and have actually got some fabulous slides taken during our trip around Rhodesia (or Zimbabwe, as it's called today). When I manage to scan them onto my computer I promise to show you some of the best ones. In the meantime, I will have to use links to share our adventures with you.

We did as much as we could in the three weeks we drove around Rhodesia in 1973. We got to visit some remote ruins and took in as much 'rock art' as we possibly could. Much of it has blurred into the background, it was so very long ago... We sat in the car from early in the morning until late at night as we drove through the diverse countryside. I drank Coca Cola because I couldn't drink the water... it couldn't have done my developing son's nervous system too much good, but we didn't know about things like that in those days. (He seems quite alright, but didn't sleep through until he was a 'big boy.') I needed 'liquid'. Needless to say I put on a huge amount of weight and my doctor was absolutely horrified when I got onto the scale!!! A diet of Coca Cola, cashew nuts, dried fruit, dates and prunes is guaranteed to do that.

Eventually, we made our way over to the Victoria Falls, which are every bit as awesome as you might imagine them. We spotted the 'mist' from miles away and stopped to take some photos. I know we have an amazing slide taken through a glass bottle.

We booked in at the local game park and stayed in one of their cottages that came complete with a resident cook who would have done us proud if we'd had any food with us.  We hadn't anticipated doing any cooking, didn't have any supplies and the shops were closed by the time we realised we might be going hungry that night. Needless to say, we were feeling pretty disgusted by that stage so we decided to go for a walk through the 'rain forest'

It was late afternoon, we didn't have a brolly or a raincoat, but we did enjoy our walk through the spray.  We got pretty wet, but it was all so spectacular we didn't mind.  Standing on the edge of the cliff, admiring the view, we turned to remark on it to the couple standing next to us and were absolutely gobsmacked to realise we knew them.  Very well, in fact.  My dad's older sister and her husband were staying only a few doors down from us! None of us knew the others were even in the country! (This has happened a few times in our travels.)

Wonders never cease!  When they realised we were going to have to go to bed hungry that night they invited us over for dinner!  Way to go aunt!

Now, I don't remember what we ate.  It's hardly relevant.  What I do remember is standing in the kitchen with my aunt and hearing what sounded like rocks falling on the zinc roof.  We rushed outside to see what was happening and joined our men on the verandah where they were watching a herd of elephants in 'the garden' next to the cottage.  They were that close!  A huge male had his tusks on either side of the Maroola tree that had long branches overhanging the kitchen and we watched, enthralled as he looped his long trunk around the tree and proceeded to 'rock' the tree until it dropped its fruit at their feet. Maroola (or Marula as it's sometimes called) fruit is made into a potent liquor today.

That wasn't the only close encounter we had while we stayed there.  My man walked down to the river's edge one lunchtime and after he was gone I felt bad about lazing in the cottage so I took myself off to find him (totally stupid thing to do!!!).  Just as I spotted him I was practically rushed off my feet as a small croc made its way over my feet and back to the water.  A total 'townie' in those days, I got the most awful ear bashing... we'd both got an awful shock!

Today, you can visit the falls in style.  The hotel has been refurbished and we have family who have stayed there recently and rave about it.  There are lots of 'things to do' and you can fly in and fly out.

The Victoria Falls are one of the seven wonders of the world.  A must see if you ever get the opportunity.

April Blackbird

Places I have been # 3

Fort Victoria (now called Masvingo) and the Great Zimbabwe Ruins

Well, I talked so much about our 'hitch-hiker' when I was telling you about Lake Kyle that I forgot to tell you how much we enjoyed our visit to Fort Victoria and the Great Zimbabwe Ruins.

If you've ever sat, very quietly, in a very old building you may have had a sense of the awe we felt when we visited the ruins.  There weren't very many other visitors at that time and we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

The walls are hugely thick and it must have taken forever to put the place together.  When we were there, nobody was quite sure who the builders had been.  There had been much conjecture, but no absolute conclusion.  "A medieval city built by a prosperous culture." What a city it must have been!

Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in Zimbabwe.

April Blackbird

Places I have been - # 1

While I was chomping on my very yummy, home-made muesli this morning, I picked up a Gourmet Traveller and began browsing the recipes.  There are so many fantastic recipes in that magazine, but this time it was an article that caught my attention. The journalist was reporting back on the best hotel he'd ever stayed in.

The article sparked a distant memory... I've always wanted to write about the 'places I have been'.  So I thought I'd write about one a week.  Starting to-day.

Rhodesia (now called Zimbabwe), Africa - August 1973.  Leopard's Rock Hotel - Vumba Mountains - the BEST hotel I've ever stayed in.

Not the poshest, but definitely the best.  I'll tell you why.

We were very young.  I was very pregnant with our first chickadee (he was born in November) and we were a very long way from home, with very little money. I would freak out if one of my kids did the same thing!  We knew the writing was on the wall for Rhodesia and we wanted to visit the country before it became too dangerous.  So, we packed up the old Corsair and made our way up.

It was a grand adventure and I'll tell you more about it over the next couple of weeks, but to-day I want to talk about our stay at The Leopard Rock Hotel.

In those days it didn't have a casino and wasn't nearly as grand to look at.  It's had a major refurbishment... they had to, it was hit by mortar fire in the early 70's (see what I mean about needing to visit while it was still safe?) and the grounds are just stunning.

We hadn't made a booking and arrived late in the afternoon of the 5th August expecting to be turned away (I remember because we had to book a trunk call to Johannesburg to wish my dad a happy birthday and it cost us a small fortune).  I waited in the car while 'my man' made enquiries.  Far from being turned away we were (quite literally) welcomed with open arms.  The hotel was practically empty!

By the time our luggage was lugged upstairs by the tall, very dark man with a huge white smile and shining eyes, our room had been opened to air and there was a small crystal decanter of sherry with two glasses on a little table.  The welcoming note that stood beside it had been handwritten and was personally addressed to us.  A little silver tray of Lindt chocolate blocks, and a bunch of freshly picked flowers stood alongside. I don't know about you, but we've never been welcomed in this fashion by any other hotel.

We were informed that the drums would beat to announce the serving of dinner on the terrace and then we were given a quick guided tour so that we would feel 'at home' in this vast castle of a hotel. We were introduced to everyone we met.  By the end of the tour we were 'friends' with all the staff and the few visitors.

We were blown away!  To this day we both still speak of this experience.  We have never forgotten the friendliness of the staff and management.

Our bedroom looked over the beautiful gardens, down over the majestic slopes of the Vumba Mountains and we watched as the mist drifted in over the tops of the thorn trees.  The sounds of the drums beating duly summoned us down to dinner.

'Our' waiter met us at the door, a huge smile on his friendly face!  "I am your waiter while you stay with us.  If there is anything you want, ever, please ask me and I will get it for you."  Wow!  He was true to his word.  I didn't drink tea or coffee in those days (wonder where my kids get their pickiness from?), but I did drink hot chocolate, Milo and Ovaltine.  This sweet man would not rest until he had coaxed me to drink something 'for the pickannini' and he'd always come around at least twice more than he probably should have, with the chocolate basket.  "Please, take a big handful."

When we eventually got upstairs to our bedroom, we found the curtains drawn, the lamps on, the beds beautifully and very precisely, turned back with a hot water bottle stratigically placed for maximum comfort.   Everything in the hotel was always absolutely spotless.

The next afternoon, we arrived home from our drive a little earlier than we'd expected and 'our waiter' met us at reception to inform us that afternoon tea was being served in the drawing room.  Scones and cakes, fresh cream and home-made jams!  All beautifully served. With a big glass of Milo for me!

Given that we'd been camping and staying in game park 'rooms' up until then, we truly thought we'd died and gone to heaven.

Our stay at The Leopard Rock hotel went on in the same vein.  They told of us of the best places to visit and what to stay clear of.  When I arrived home one night feeling totally and completey car sick after a day of wending our way around tight bends in the deep mist, 'our waiter' came  to our door to find out why we weren't coming down for dinner.  He insisted on bringing something up to our room for us.  Hey, who else has ever given a hoot about whether or not we've come down to dinner?

My man plays the guitar and one night while he was playing in our room (very quietly and I promise we had no neighbours to bother) we became aware of quiet singing outside our door.  I'm not quite sure who was the most surprised when I opened the door.  The small group of people outside our door, or me!  It took a lot of persuasion to get them to hang about and they wouldn't come into our room to listen, but we did leave the door open and we all enjoyed the evenings music together.  We sat on the floor just inside our room and they sat on the floor just outside our door - all very proprietal. 

The morning of our last breakfast together has stayed in my mind forever.  'Our waiter' did not want us to leave.  He plied us with food and drink and then insisted on fetching the chocolate basket so that I could make sure I had 'sweets for the pickannini, for the long journey'.  They stood on the stairs of the hotel and waved goodbye until we could not see them anymore.

We have never forgotten them and the kindness they showed us. We think about them each time we read about the terrible goings on in that amazing country and we hope they are safe.

I'd love to take my chickadees there one day, some time in the future.  No doubt, it won't be quite the same, but the views are still amongst the most incredible in the world.  To-day you can 'fly-in and fly-out'.  Things have changed.  As they do.

April Blackbird

An Attitutde of Gratitude - No.2

This has to be a quick post... I'm off to the dentist to have my broken filling fixed.

I am grateful for the wonder of modern flight.  Yes, despite the fact that planes were grounded due to volcanic ash, one has to wonder at our ability to board a flight in one place and arrive (sometimes many hours later) in another place.  It never ceases to amaze me.

My grandfather travelled to South Africa from Great Britain by ship and it took him weeks!  He met and married my grandmother in South Africa just after the First World War.  His parents never got to meet their new daughter-in-law or their seven grandchildren.  It was too far and far too expensive to travel as we do to-day.

So, for all of you who have become so accustomed to travelling around the world quickly (and cheaply, believe it or not), this is my reminder to you of how things used to be.

If you haven't done so yet, you might like to give thanks for this wonderful 'tool' we take so for granted in our lives.  We have only to look at how the grounding of planes has affected everyone (commerce, industry and the man in the street) to begin to understand what it would be like if we weren't able to travel so freely anymore.

Goodness only knows how these past few weeks are going to affect the economy of the world.  This ain't over yet.

April Blackbird

Mission accomplished

Our Palma chicks are on their way back to work.

We had them at the airport by 4 this morning and there weren't very many people (which was surprising) to contend with, which was good.  They hadn't booked in online because they're travelling on mariner's tickets which have a larger baggage allowance and they needed to ensure their luggage was booked all the way through to Palma.  Which it now is. Mission accomplished.

We came home and got back into bed for another few hours.  It's been raining and the sound is very soothing.  Let's hope our Palma chicks get to have some good sleep on the plane.  Apparently, it's pretty full so there's little likelihood of them being able to stretch out anywhere.  They're 7 hours into their 14 hour leg as I type this.

Oh, by the way... New Mum Chick let me know her little one slept through the night!  Now that's progress!

April Blackbird

Photos of New Zealand, as promised to Arabella Chickie

Well Arabella Chickie, I'm finally going to post those promised photos for you.  Some were taken by us, some by our UK Chickie in London (who might just be pursuaded to upload a few more of her stunning photos from the Coromandel if we ask nicely).

Lots more 'family photos to be posted on Facebook asap. Promise.

Mission Bay - New Year's Eve 2009

 

Takapuna Beach - Boxing Day 2009

Takapuna Beach - Boxing Day 2009

Compliments of grandad chickie

 

On the way down to Castor Bay beach

Early evening at Castor Bay beach

Do you recognise the view? Should do...

On a clear evening you can see forever...

A spectacular view from 'up top' - Whangarei Heads 

Up and out over your neighbour's house below!

Not long and you'll be able to take some truly stunning photos yourselves.  

April Blackbird