All South African mobile phone SIM cards must now be registered under strict new legislation which came into force on 1st July. From that date mobile telecommunications providers operating in the country are required to record a customer’s cell phone number, full name, identity number or passport number and address before activating a new SIM [...]

Except for Sunday evening, Ami is open everyday for lunch and dinner. So … one of the few restaurants open on a Monday evening.  The menu has also been changed so light salad lunches and sandwiches are now on offer – all very reasonably priced. The dinner menu is varied and reflects the expertise of the [...]

I have had the privilege of being provided with beautifully handcrafted cloths, intricately decorated with beads and safety pins to sell to guests.  Through a guest staying here at the guest house I met up again with  Mbhanyele Jameson Maluleke, whom I had first met whilst I was still at Wits.  Mbhanyele Jameson runs a group project [...]

‘Craighall Park Township, which forms the northern boundary of the Johannesburg Municipality, is one of the beauty spots of the Rand. .. The business man finds in the exhilarating air a peace and calmness, which are part of the place, a restorative to the nerves.’ 
No, this is not part of a 21st Century marketing drive [...]

Giles restaurant and pub (4 blocks from Liz at Lancaster at corner Grafton and Buckingham Aves in Craighall Park) has become the latest meeting spot to unwind on a Friday after the week’s work. Cars line the streets in all directions (from lunch time onwards) and the pub and deck are packed with patrons overflowing  onto [...]

Due to open in September, construction of the new Southern Sun hotel above the Hyde Park shopping centre is moving ahead fast. A joint venture with Hyprop Investments who own Hyde Park shopping centre, the development is said to have a budget of R180 million. A 60 seater restaurant, whiskey bar, function room, gym and [...]

At last a new restaurant has opened at the end of  our block – a five minute walk from the Guest House.  After the closing of  Tre Gatti (see blog Neighbourhood Restaurants of 7 June),  Ami 011 447 4648 opened on 11th July.  Offering a small sophisticated menu,  4 starters vary in price from R40 to [...]

Also your blog is terrific! Thank you for pointing me to it; I’m learning a lot in advance of our trip.