Yes we are spoilt. South Africa faces so many challenges, challenges with which both locals and the rest of the world are ALL  too familiar. However a day like this last Sunday makes up for a lot. In the spring, SAPPI a very large paper making public company, generously sponsors concerts at the National Botanical [...]

It’s Women’s Day in South Africa this Sunday 9th August. It marks the day in 1956 when 20,000 women, in an extraordinary brave, resolute and powerful show of  protest, marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the extension of the pass laws to women.  Although I am sorry to be missing commemorative celebrations here in Joburg, I [...]

Am very excited as I’m off to the Kruger Park this coming week-end, leaving the guesthouse in the very capable hands of Zac, Catherine and Thandi. My locum Olga, who moves in with her husband Dick, takes over my daily tasks and role in the running of the guest house. I can barely wait for the early morning [...]

Yesterday, Joburger’s took to the streets in force: 702’s Walk the Talk saw 50,000 people enter the various events: 5km, 8km, 21 km and 30 km.  For those doing the 30km race it was bitterly cold (0°) at the race start at 7.30 am, but temperatures warmed up during the day to a high of 16°. A U.K. [...]

Temps this weekend at ca. 19 degrees but  due to drop to around 13 degrees again from Tuesday. So …. make the most of the predicted warmer week-end and get out to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens in Roodepoort.     When I went a couple of weekends ago, the skies were blue, the grass was still green, the aloes [...]