» Hyde Park Accommodation

Like Pooh Bear, I have searched for the perfect honey pot …

liz — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:56:47 +0000

Pooh Bear had his honey pot, but Liz’s search for the perfect honey has been far more complicated. Several years ago at a farm stall whose location, let alone its name, I have long since forgotten, I found some special honey. What really caught my eye – apart from the fact that it was Blue-gum flavoured – was the dinky tubular container it was presented in: like a perspex test tube with a red plastic lid. It’s convenient to hold, you can dispense the honey with ease, and it gets round the problem of those awful half empty squeezed plastic bottles of honey which compete fiercely with crusty tomato sauce bottles for the prize in Supreme Tackiness. But of course at the guesthouse we got to the stage where we were short of the honey containers for the breakfast tables. So now .. the hunt began, as I had NO idea where to source these mysterious containers. All my research skills came to the fore, beginning with Googling ‘test tube suppliers’. Starting out with suppliers of lab equipment as far afield as the Cape, I initially gave my long, garbled and utterly confusing story about being a guest house owner, serving honey in tubes and looking to try and replace these unidentifiable tubes. I soon realized that this was way too much irrelevant info. During each phone call I got to learn more of the technical lingo and so gradually refined my enquiry to the company ‘product information specialist’ : ‘Do you supply clear uncalibrated 150 ml centrifugal test tubes, (short and to the point ?), ideally with a screw top lid’ … it was this latter specific that confounded each ‘product information specialist’ .. along with my reply to his/her question of ‘How many thousand would you be ordering?’ which was, of course, along the lines of ‘Well, I really only need about 10.’ Every person I spoke to was amazingly helpful which each person passing me on to somebody else and seeming to take on my weird project as his or her own personal challenge. SAffers are amazing – I love them! Finally I got to somebody in Joburg who asked me to send her a picture. She phoned back the next morning to say: ‘Guess what? This is a Coke bottle before it has been expanded to its full size’. I mean how amazing is that? And sure enough many more phone calls later, Eddie in the Coke bottling factory said ‘Yep that’s a pre-form’ and you can have some with pleasure. Now I was soo close … except it transpired that Eddie could not supply the screw tops as they were all branded. So the final hurdle was getting the unbranded caps from the supplier at Nampak .. again very generously set aside for me to collect. My hunt for the perfect honey container was complete at last.

But the saga does not end here … I have always wondered what ‘natural honey’ is .. Is there any other kind?? This seeming contradiction has always niggled in the back of my mind (yes, I lead a sad life I know when these are the mysteries of life for me.) And then, seemingly unrelated to all this, conversation over the dinner table a few nights back, led, amongst a whole lot of other equally interesting topics, to a discussion on food irradiation. The consumer I learnt, can identify those products which have been treated by irradiation by looking for the word ‘radurized’ on the food label – a completely new word for me. Buying honey in the supermarket a few days later, I of course examined the label to see, lo and behold, that this product is ‘radurized’. Now I know that honey is one of nature’s few products that never spoils so why would you irradiate honey?? So I begin to think I understand what ‘natural’ honey might mean. And of course I am now on the hunt to track down some ‘natural’ honey (and also to find out why you would irradiate honey in the first place). On Saturday I am ambling through the stalls at the Craigpark Open Day, enjoying the sublime warm autumn day, the festive atmosphere and the laid back sense of community connection, when I spy some unlabelled bottles of honey on a stall table. I pounce on them and as I start spluttering with excitement thinking about all the questions I want to ask, Roy says to me ‘No dear, it’s not irradiated .. is that what you were going to ask?’ So here is the oracle who can answer all my questions about the mysteries of honey. It turns out that honey is irradiated to get rid of the harmful effects of the pesticides that have been used on the plants from which the bees have gathered their nectar. And if an area is pesticide free, there is no need to irradiate the honey. In the Cape where there are badgers, (who love honey nearly as much as Pooh Bear), this is called ‘badger friendly’ honey. So now at last, Liz at Lancaster provides guests with natural unradurized honey, made by bees which have fed off the nectar of citrus trees at Hilton in the Natal Midlands.

Like Hannibal in the A-team .. I do so love it when a plan comes together !

March update on the Joburg art scene

liz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:06:03 +0000

Joel Mpha Dooh's 'Untitled "I'm not drunk, I'm just happy" ' Photograph Courtesy of Gallery Momo's invitation

What’s new in the art scene in March?

Along with Gerard Batha’s Paintings from the Karoo, Hermann Niebuhr’s exhibition City Chromatic, Views of Johannesburg opened at Everard Read on 8th March. For a review see http://todoinjoburg.co.za/2012/03/hermann-niebuhrs-city-chromatic-views-of-johannesburg-opens-at-everard-read/.
RosenClaire’s Immaterial Matters is on at the Goodman and runs till 24th March. This is the first exhibition in South Africa by the duo of Claire Gavronsky and Rose Shakinovsky since they left the country for Italy in 1985. Part of Rosenclaire’s aim is to examine the discourse of art history through their art making . This does perhaps present interesting contradictions in that artists as creative beings tend to look forward and construct visual texts, as opposed to historians who attempt to look at existing production and frame, comment on, and contextualize this creative work. Have just come across a wonderful quote which encapsulates those who are cynical of art history: ‘Writing about art is like dancing about architecture.’ ! So Rosenclaire’s starting point might turn the relationship between art historical production and contemproary art making on its head … but for sure contradictions still abound. James Delaney’s Exhibition Creation: the Discovery of the Ancient shows at In Toto in Birdhaven until 10th April. Opening at Gallery Momo on 15th March (until 16th April) is Joël Mpah Dooh Let’s take a walk!

Further afield in Joburg central : On Friday 16th March at 19.00 Trinity Session and Hobbs/Neustatter celebrate a decade of Collaboration with the opening of their exhibition 10 years on Air at the Maboneng precinct. Showing his amazing jewellry at Unity Gallery until 1st April is Mthakathi Prince of Newtown – what a great poster. See http://www.jhblive.com/events/art/mthakathi_prince_of_newtown/98363 and http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/art/prince_of_newtown_%27s_studio/97865 Candice Breitz, who has just joined Goodman’s stable continues to show at the Standard Bank Gallery until 5th April. On 22nd March the Regional Finalists (Johannesburg) of Absa L’Atelier 2012 will be announced.

Nik Rabinowitz’ new stand-up comedy opens at the end of Feb

liz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:25:32 +0000

As the accompanying press release says: ‘One of only two Jewish boys to have been born in a stable, Nik Rabinowitz always wanted to be an accountant.’ I always love hi sweekly slot on 702 – The week that was, which is achingly funny with nobody being spared Nik’s biting satire. So am really looking forward to Stand and Deliver where ’Nik, a Xhosa-speaking Jew, explores the reasons that have led coloured people to believe that he is coloured, why Afrikaners have settled in Israel, and how a grown man can end up saying things like, ‘daddy make hot for sossy’. ’ Showing at Monte Casino.

Dates: From 29 Feb to 11 March ONLY! Times: Wed to Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 5pm & 8pm, Sun @ 3pm
Price: R150 & R100 BOOK BY PHONE: Computicket (011) 340 8000 OR Theatre Box Office: (011) 511 181 OR book on-line at Computicket

Liz at Lancaster: AA Quality Assurance in the Superior category renewed for 2012

liz — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:17:11 +0000

The AA’s assessor visits anually to monitor and check on the standards of the Guesthouse. Nothing escapes Bev Balusik’s eagle eye! Here are some comments from her report submitted to the board of the AA Quality Assurance:

Such seamless but thoughtful touches in all areas:

a splendid, attractive notice board in main core public area
guest internet station provided
high attention to energy-saving measures including solar geysers, CFLs, solar garden lighting, water-saving shower roses, etc.
generous provision of heating, a real plus for travellers including under-carpet heating
complimentary bottled water & quality home-baked crunchies, Liz’s own muesli & a delightful easy-pour honey tube on breakfast tables
breakfast room with LED DSTV
easy instructions for complimentary internet access in rooms
various menus, maps, evacuation & fire procedures in all rooms, quality paper holder, recycling info on waste bins
generous DSTV in rooms
fridges stocked incl fresh milk, and so on.

Really excellent & indicative of high levels of general efficiency. The exceptional provision of guest comforts for both leisure & corporate guests and the high standards of personal yet professional service and hospitality continue to set this establishment at an exceptionally confident Superior level.

Surgical safaris: where to stay for post-operative recuperation

liz — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:15:16 +0000

Where to stay after recuperating from surgical procedure? Hotel or guesthouse?

We at Liz at Lancaster Guesthouse are fortunate to have hosted many patients who have been recovering after surgery at various Clinics within easy reach of Liz at Lancaster: the Rosebank Clinic, http://www.netcare.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=171 Wits Donald Gordon Medical Institute http://www.dgmc.co.za/ in nearby Parktown, Morningside Clinic http://www.mediclinic.co.za/hospitals/Pages/about.aspx?h=16 and the Milpark http://www.netcare.co.za/live/content.php?Item_ID=161

There are many advantages of staying in a guesthouse for post-operative care. Apart from the obvious advantage of lower rates at guesthouses as compared to hotels, there are many other pluses : the biggest being privacy and being able to recuperate out of the public eye. With rooms opening out onto private enclosed courtyards guests can make the most of fresh air and secluded privacy. And during the day when business guests have all gone off to work they can venture further and enjoy a tranquil garden setting with sparkling pool, shaded areas and Joburg’s significant bird-life. All units at Liz at Lancaster have intercoms to the main house and staff so there is 24/7 access to Liz, Catherine and Zac all of whom live on site. As a registered transport provider Zac provides on-site transport needs: airport transfers, drop-off and collection at the hospital and drives to any attractions or shopping destinations. Many guests choose to have their breakfasts served in their rooms or in their patios – at the time of their choice. Although Liz at Lancaster also provides healthy post-operative lunches and suppers, with fully equipped kitchenettes in all units, once guests feel strong enough, they really appreciate the flexibility and cost-effectiveness of being able to prepare their own light meals. Walking in the area is completely safe with a 3 minute stroll to the shops at the end of the block, being an ideal distance for those wanting to do some gentle exercise. Here there is a coffee shop, hairdresser, 7.30-7 grocery store, chemist, etc. And finally, the caring and nuturing attitude of Liz, Catherine, Zac and Thandie counts for a lot when recovering from a medical procedure.

While we have hosted patients recuperating from a wide range of medical procedures, most of our ‘medical guests’ have been recovering from plastic surgery. Over the years Liz at Lancaster has been fortunate to host patients from many of South Africa’s top plastic surgeons: Dr. Saul Braun http://www.drbraun.co.za/rosebank_medical_facilities.htm and Dr Fayman http://www.doctorfayman.co.za/ who both practice at the Rosebank Clinic; from the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Institute , Dr Richard Stott; as well as Dr Peter Scott who works out of the Morningside Clinic.

Here are just two of the many letters of thanks from our medical patients:

June 2006

Thank you Liz for everything. I had a really relaxing time with you all. You run a lovely place and I will recommend Liz at Lancaster to anybody who is coming to SA in future. Thank you for the jigsaws – it will be a long time before I will be doing a jigsaw again!. Loved the peace and quiet – it contributed to my fast recuperation. Thank you.

January 2012

I have now settled back home and into the office as well. I am healing superbly well with only occasional discomfort. I wanted to thank you again for the warm hospitality that you accorded to me during my stay there. It is not every day that I come across the kindness and personal touch with which I was treated – and this extended to Catherine, Zac, Marley [the lovable Labrador] and Rosemary. Thank you again, I look forward to my stay in April.

Jozi’s jazz spots

liz — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:52:04 +0000

Nice site on SA’s top jazz spots – all but 3 in Jozi . Gotta love Jozi! http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/ca/business-tourism-top-10-detail?oid=417769&sn=Detail&pid=259797&Jazz-Venues

Zapiro gives talk on his cartoons

liz — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:59:18 +0000

South Africa’s public figures and political area has always been a rich source for Zapiro’s biting satire and the events of 2011 have been no exception. This year’s Zapiro, The Last Sushi, will be on sale at Exclusive Books Hyde Park on Tuesday November 16th. Zapiro will present his cartoons and give a talk entitled: Secrecy Bills, Showerheads and What Happened to Free Speech. The comment from Kevin KAL Kallaugher, Economist award-winning cartoonist is evidence of Zapiro’s international recognition: “Zapiro’s willingness to step into controversy and call out the deficiencies in South Africa’s new democracy make him possibly the most important cartoonist in the world”

6 for 6.30 pm RSVP 011 325 4298 or hydepark@exclusivebooks.co.za

Luxury hotels suffer in the accommodation squeeze

liz — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:09:14 +0000

The Luxurious Monarch Hotel, which was supposed to hit the auction floor on September 28, has been withdrawn from auction by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). The hotel will remain standing empty until the IDC decides what to do with it, according to Warren Aronson of Auction Alliance. For more on the Monarch Hotel see http://www.rosebank.co.za/view/index/monarch_on_auction/62/1/134

Last week in October sees some exciting events in Joburg

liz — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 13:46:12 +0000

Upcoming events in Joburg include Winex at Sandton Convention Centre 26-28 Oct followed by the Antique Dealers Fair at Wanderers 28-30 Oct. Liz at Lancaster is only 7 km from Sandton Convention Centre and 5km from Wanderers (up Bompas Rd and down Corlett Drive). So book now!

Responses to curator Ricky Burnett’s latest show, ‘Horse’, have been mixed

liz — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:34:20 +0000

Praised for being accessible and criticized for being too superficial, Ricky Burnett’s show has certainly generated feet through the door of the Everard Read gallery. I like what he says about the over-intellectualization of the visual image: “If you need to read four books to get to an exhibition, someone has their value system back to front. You should get to the exhibition and want to read four books.” For more on this show see Lisa Van wyks piece in the Mail and Guardian http://mg.co.za/article/2011-10-06-curating-101-bringing-magic-to-a-room