Tea & Pancakes in Aliwal North

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On a recent trip back from Grahamstown, tummies growling and needing a rest from the boring N6, we headed into "The Stable" Padstal & Coffee Shop just outside Aliwal North. What a delightful stop! With so much to look at (*and of course, purchase*) it took us a while to sit down and take a gander at the menu...pancake's and carrot cake, yum yum yum!







The Padstal also has offers accommodation, La Riviéra Guesthouse...9 luxurious and elegantly decorated en-suite rooms, click here for more info.

Directions:
On the N6 Route next to the Orange River on the Free State side, just before crossing the bridge

Definitely beats the Whimpy in town :)


"Shape" up!

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So...it's nearly spring (can someone please tell Mr Winter this fact) and that means it's nearly time for shorts and dresses. And that means getting into shape so we don't look like we have been curled up indoors for 4 months with nothing for company but hot chocolate and sweet treats. 
So, Shape Magazine & Total Sport are challenging all you ladies to a 10k run in Joburg, Durban & Stellenbosh...


Durban
This year the Totalsports Ladies Race will make its debut in Durban!


DATE: Sunday, 31 July 2011
VENUE: Kingspark Athletic Stadium (Durban)
START: 08h00 – 10km / 09h00 – 5km
DISTANCE: 5km run/walk & 10km run/walk
Stellenbosch


DATE: Tuesday, 9 August 2011
VENUE: Coetzenburg Stadium (Stellenbosch, starting in Plein Street)
START: 08h00
DISTANCE: 5km run/walk & 10km run/walk
Johannesburg


DATE: Tuesday, 9 August 2011
VENUE: Emmerentia (Johannesburg)
START: 08h00
DISTANCE: 5km run/walk & 10km run/walk

How it works



  • Register– it’s free! You will receive a confirmation email welcoming you to the programme.
  • Your first training schedule will be emailed to you on the first Friday after your registration. Thereafter you will receive a training schedule every Friday for 12 weeks.
  • You are required to run 3 times per week.
I haven't managed to run further than my bedroom to the fridge, so it will be my first race...ever! So no more excuses, get those tackies on and get out there!

For more info about registering etc click here.
Besides, who wouldn't want to look like this...

Wabi-Sabi Cacti...

/ Grahamstown, South Africa/


These sweet succulents most definitely caught my eye as I was wondering around the stores at the Village Green in Grahamstown this past week, and with such innovative packaging, who could resist!

These are on sale in Tent Number 1 at the Village Green :)

For more information on these and many more available at the Wabi-Sabi Succulent Nursery, email Celeste at wolmarans@geenet.co.za

Grahamstown Festival...Day 1

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So, day 1 of "Amazing" has come and gone. Even the gale force winds and frequent burst of rain could do little to deter market-goers from their hunt for treasures. Here's a sneak peak of what was on offer at the Village Green Market today...




Even managed to catch a sneaky show, Tellin' Tales by Gavin Bonner...percussionist, storyteller, freestyle poet. What a treat! If you're around for the Festival, consider booking yourself a ticket. He is showing at the Monument B2 Arena, tickets cost R45. Click here for more info!

A great starts to what is hopefully going to be a *warm and sunny* week of festivities :)

*Pat on the Back* for SA Post!

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At the end of February this year, my boyfriend and I (the Farmboy to this Citygirl), touched back down on South African soil after spending a year living & teaching English in South Korea (click here for more info on that!). 


And now, a mere 4 months later, all 6 of our boxes which we shipped from Korea have arrived safely in SA. Shock Horror! We had heard awful stories of things going missing as well as huge amounts of duty needing to be paid after certain individuals had helped themselves to early Christmas presents. Well this certainly was not the case for us. We had both (ok, ok, mainly just me) accumulated so much stuff from our year overseas (I blame the stationary stores) that we needed to do something with the goodies which wouldn't fit into our suitcases. So we decided to ship some boxes, and  didn't expect any of them to arrive.

So...from both of us, a *HuGe* thank you to the South African Postal Service! 

Market on Main...Jo'burg

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Market On Main is the market for Johannesburg, made by Johannesburg. Open every Sunday at Arts on Main from 10am - 3pm. What a great place to meet new & interesting people, while stuffing your face with loads of yummy treats.



Directions:

Next door to The Bioscope at 286 Fox Street, Johannessburg 2094

click here for GoogleMaps
For more information, click here for their website.
More grown up than the I Heart Market in Durban, Market On Main has a slightly more modern, city-slicker atmosphere...and so it should being a Market by Joburg for Joburg. Definitely worth a visit (*just make sure to go hungry!).

Taking in the Trash: *Deer Hunter* Greenside, Joburg

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Deer Hunter...the ultimate junk shop...see for yourself


Who wouldn't want an old school coca-cola sign in their room??


Cool, redefined

That handsome guy in the middle...meet Farmboy, the ♥ of my life :) Ok, ok, I'm getting sidetracked, where was I...oh ya, how about some of these...


 Or even better...this little guy


Every month, Deer Hunter holds a Junk sale where you can get your hands of any and all of the above, check out their facebook group (click here) for more details. 





Deer Hunter
135 Greenway Road, Greenside
Johannesburg, South Africa

Must See...*Defending the Cave Man* Monte Casino, Jo'burg

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"Alan Committe stars in the all-time favourite "date comedy" that explores the reasons why okes don`t like to ask for directions and why girls need so much cupboard space. Directed by Tim Plewman from the original by Rex Garner". That about sums up this witty classic, although I would add that at times I found myself relating more to his definition of the male species than the female...but maybe thats just me :)

Tickets cost R150 and the show makes for a light hearted evening, while you hum and harr about what similarities you can pick up between you and the Cave Man...click here to book your tickets. Defending the Cave Man is also showing at 'Theatre on the Bay' in Cape Town, click here for more info.

Accommodation on the N1...*Kuilfontein Stable Cottages* Colesburg

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The 14 hour drive from Jo'burg to Cape Town, although very tiring, is extremely beautiful. 





But if you are looking for a half way stop point that serves mouth watering meals and crisp white linen, then Kuilfontein Stable Cottages are just for you.
Kuilfontein is a luxury Colesberg guest house offering bed and breakfast or dinner, bed & breakfast accommodation. The rooms are Their prices are definitely not for the faint hearted, but as is the case with most things in life, you really do get what you pay for here. Your hosts, Leigh and Penny Southey are friendly and charming, and will do their utmost to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.




For more information drop them a line at info@kuilfontein.co.za or check out their website by clicking here.



You won't be disappointed by either their hospitality or their Karoo lamb curry :)

Renewing your *Drivers License* in SA

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Even the thought of having to renew my drivers was enough to give me a headache. I mean, you couldn't pay me enough to redo it (what with the hassle of having to make a booking, failing and having to fork out more money for another test date, the stress of having to do an incline start while not putting the car in gear, and of course all the money that went into lessons) let's just say I would rather do without a car than have to do the test again today, I'm sure you feel the same :)


So, when I was pulled over the other day for a routine check (I was not speeding however hard you find that to believe!) I was politely informed that my drivers would expire in the next few months. Ok, so I'll just head to a station and get it renewed, easy peasy right?? Wrong.


30 minutes standing in a queue of 20 people, with one person on duty while everyone is on tea break is not my idea of a nice day out. So, to make things easier for you, I've got all the info on what you need right here:

You will need:
  • green application form (you get this at the driving license centre...fill in parts A & D)
  • your current driving license
  • your ID book
  • photocopy of your current license (Someone at the centre made a copy for me. I'm not sure why you need this but take one just incase)
  • two black and white ID photographs (they seem to have a very snazzy new system in place and only require 1 photo, but take 2 as you never know!)
  • R220 (you can pay by cash or credit/debit card at most places, but have the cash on hand just in case)
Before your licence can be renewed, you will need to have your fingerprints taken and you will have to undergo an eye test. If your sight has deteriorated since your licence was issued, new restrictions may be attached to your licence. For example, you may be required to wear glasses when driving. Should you fail the eye test completely, your driving licence will not be renewed.


The eye test took me bout 30 seconds, and fingerprints about 1 minute. BUT I did go to a very small centre (I would definitely recommend in Jo'burg is Bedfordview, the service was 100 times better than Edenvale and I was in and out in 15 minutes...truth!)

I was then told it would take about 4 weeks for my new, renewed license to arrive. 

Driving License Testing Stations:
click here for Cape Town
click here for Johannesburg 
click here for a more comprehensive, all over South Africa directory of testing stations

Hope you find that helpful, and good luck :)

Municipal Elections 2011

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What not to do:

Wake up at 6:30 and think about maybe getting to the voting stations early for this little baby:



Then go back to sleep till 8:30 and have to deal with this:


All for the sake of checking you get one of these:



To put your mark on this:


*and not forgetting to check that one of these was on the back*



My advice to you would be to get there MUCH later in the day after having a lovely long relax in bed and a nice breakfast with your family :)

For some great tweets (*and lots of other cool stuff!*) about the Elections, check out my awesome friend's blog by clicking here...and there you have it. Another bout of elections done and dusted, and now we wait and see...

2011 South African **Voting Day**

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So, Wednesday the 18th May is not a Public holiday here in South Africa for free. It's our Municipal Elections, so we won't be trying to shake up good old Zuma's rule just yet. So here is some helpful info to keep you clued up...In case you've forgotten who is running, click here. 
To check your voting status, find out where your voting station is and who your candidates are, just enter your ID number in the box by clicking here. Or you can do the following:
  • SMS your ID Number to 32810 (R1.00 per SMS sent or received) OR
  • Call toll-free (from a landline)  0800 11 8000

Plus...click here for an interactive map to help you find out exactly how to find your voting station, cool hey!

For any other info, check out this site :)




The **Green Grass** Shop

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This afternoon Farmboy and I took a little drive to a slightly different part of town. Our travels took us to Parkhurst, one of the coolest areas of Jo'burg I've ever come across. I can't quiet believe I've never been there before. Packed full of dainty antique stores, and cute cafe's, the main focus of our morning was The Green Grass Shop.  




The Green Grass shop sells lots of unique gifts, like this clock (above middle) and a host of crocheted animals...the owls being my favourite! But their main focus is on design. They have just got themselves a laser machine, and with it create all sorts of designs and engravings on anything from paper to wood. A nice touch for wedding invites :)




Check out their website here or pop in to their store at Flat 3 Sunlit Court, 34 Fourth Avenue, Parkhurst


Must See...*Dream Girls* Teatro Monte Casino, Jo'burg

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What an electrifying performance, South African theatre, you have done us proud! I thought the Lion King was fantastic, but that was before I sat glued to my chair, totally absorbed in the world of glitter, scandal and hair-do's. If you only see one theatre production this year, make it this one!

Dream girls tells the rag-to-riches tale of an up and coming 1960's girl group, and all the trials and tribulations that follow fame and glory. Featuring an entirely South African cast to play its all African American characters, Dreamgirls is produced by leading South African Producer, Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management.

Special Easter Performances have been added for the week of Easter - with shows now open for bookings from Wednesday 20 April to Sunday 24 April. Top ticket prices over the weekend have been dropped to R350 per ticket!

Special Easter Packages are also now available:
4 top price tickets only R1000 (save R400)
5 top price tickets R1250 (save R500) and
6 top price tickets for R1500 (save R600)

Click here to book your tickets today!


*Shows also at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town*

Byanston Organic Market

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Looking for a place to buy fresh, home grown veggies for your home cooked Pizza and Pasta dishes??

"The Bryanston Organic & Natural Market is Johannesburg's original outdoor market. When you visit our market, you will enter an environment where the emphasis is on quality hand crafted goods, unique art and photography, clothing made from natural fibres, a deli filled with rich, wholesome foods and, of course, fresh organic and naturally grown produce" Byanston Organic Market
The market is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am until 3pm. 

Why not pop in for cup of tea and a snack, before checking out the wide variety of funky goods on sale...





How to get there:

Upcoming *Festivals* in SA!

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A taste of whats happening in our beautiful country during the month of April:


Klein Karoo Nationale Kunstefees
Where: Oudtshoorn

The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in Oudtshoorn features well-known and young up-and-coming artists in dance and theatre. Started as an Afrikaans alternative to the mainly English National Arts Festival, KKNK has 200 different shows on three different stages.




Splashy Fen
Where: Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal







Website: Splashy Fen


Every year the Splashy Fen music festival attracts thousands of people to a farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal for a feast of mainstream and alternative rock and pop. It offers plenty of facilities, but there are great bed-and-breakfasts in nearby towns for those who believe music festivals can be enjoyed without mud.




Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival
Where: Prince Albert, Western Cape


The Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival, held in the Swartberg region of the Western Cape in April, offers a whole lot more than just the region's famous olives and wine. There's an art exhibition, beer tents, live music, witblits tastings, crafts for kids, historic tours, a cycle race, an olive pip-spitting competition, culinary demonstrations, a midnight ghost walk, stalls, cabaret, a dance and more.

Thanks to SouthAfrica.info for the above information :)

Under the **Berg**

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What are long weekends made for other than to go picnicking in magical places with special people (*apart from sleeping in reading a good book that is*). And Thats exactly what I got up to this long weekend. 

After a great start of relaxing on Farmboy's farm...


The chickens provide the the entertainment as well as the sustenance for good old farm style fry-ups (I'm talking about their eggs...not the chickens themselves!)


View from the patio...it's a tough life for some hey :)


More morning entertainment thanks to "Pirate" and her dislike of early morning dew  :)


It is a dairy farm after all!

Then we headed out to Drakensburg Gardens, near Underburg in KZN, for a delicious Sunday lunch and a little explore of the surrounding area...

Some sights along the way...



Little gorge...


Not so little when you are trying to cross!



The view from our picnic spot


Lovely drive home...another beautiful African sunset! It's good to be home!

Meandering Madness!

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If you've got a few days and feel like some nice scenery and a bit of an arty*farty atmosphere, then why not head to the Natal Midlands to meander your way around restaurants, coffee shops, quaint b&b's and loads of funky arts & crafts!


Here is a map of the area: *For a more detailed interactive map click here for the official Midlands site*






On our way to Balito from Farmboy's Farm, we picked up our very own guide (Farmboy's delightful videographer friend, Luke) hopped into our car and away we went. Here's a few pics of where we stopped off:


1. Aladdin's-de-Light










A little disappointing as their coffee shop was closed for renovations. But, if your looking for some antiques you might spy one or two 'de-lights' :)
2. The Faraway Tree







Ummm...what can we say about this place...a little creepy perhaps? Not worth a stop unless your a real fairy fanatic :)











Chris offers a great introduction to all of the cheeses he has on offer (and of course a chance to stuff your face with cheese tasters!) . Also offered is a cheese-making courses from R750 a person for whole day filled with the intricate processes of turning milk into that yummy yellow stuff! Email Chris at Marrakesh@dillon.co.za for more details.


















Full of exciting bits of junk, this shop is filled to the brim with brightly coloured goodies from all over the show; as well as a very impressive range of 'antiquey' looking furniture. Definitely worth a stop!









Quaint little shop near Lions River with lots of scented goodies and loads of cute home made pajama's :) Definitely worth a browse.


And a few more pic's along the way...