I have to share this with you. Living in this sleepy little hollow, the one thing I have missed since moving from Pretoria, was the option to pop in, of an eve, to watch a nice art movie. So last night a group of us got together real early, made the great trek to Pietermaritzburg (an hours drive away for some of us), and had a wonderful light supper and toddled off to the movies to pay for our tickets. Now at some point one of us did mention the idea of purchasing our tickets before supper, even during supper, but somehow we didn't listen and were promptly turned away from the movies with "sorry, sold out", and we haven't watched a movie in months!
If you're in Nottingham Road this Friday Kings School (just off the Loteni Road) are hosting 'Somethings gotta Give' on the big screen, at 6pm. Wine & snacks included, for a nominal fee, with a separate movie showing for the kids. All welcome.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Festive France - new stock just arrived
Our new stock of Festive France has just been up-packed, so if you were waiting for your copy, pop in to Simply Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts soon, whilst we still have stock. This book has been so popular that we couldn't get hold of it and the publisher had to do a re-print. On that note we couldn't believe it when the other day when we actually got an order from the United States for Festive France! Now how's that for global shopping. Visit our website for on-line orders of this book. www.simplysam.co.za
The little little Iron house - new home of Exitus Paper & Coffee Connection
Exitus has been making hand-made paper in Nottingham road for years and used to employ as many as fifty people, such was the demand for their product. The advent of the Internet has put pay to most people hand writing letters and thus Exitus has slowed down somewhat, though they still make the prettiest papers in a whole range of colours, perfect for special occasion invitations such as weddings cards.
Recently they moved both the paper shop and The Exitus Coffee Connection to the most quaint and hidden gem of a place just at the back of the Spar centre in Nottingham Road. Now housed in an original wood and iron building on over 6000 sqm of lovely grounds, with a pretty view and lots of space for the kids to run around. Mounds and mounds of Midlands charm, oozing with ambiance and yet right in the center of Nottingham Road, so you can even nip next door to the local Spar do a bit of stocking up.
Wednesday is market day at the Coffee Connection where fresh produce and home industry bakes are for sale in the gardens, all home grown locally. Margaret, the owner, also makes delicious biscuits and other treats which are for sale daily in her shop. If all that wasn't enough, take time out to visit Claudia in her log cabin for a session of massage therapy and reflexology.
Exitus – call Margaret on (033) 266 6582 exitus@iafrica.com
Recently they moved both the paper shop and The Exitus Coffee Connection to the most quaint and hidden gem of a place just at the back of the Spar centre in Nottingham Road. Now housed in an original wood and iron building on over 6000 sqm of lovely grounds, with a pretty view and lots of space for the kids to run around. Mounds and mounds of Midlands charm, oozing with ambiance and yet right in the center of Nottingham Road, so you can even nip next door to the local Spar do a bit of stocking up.
Wednesday is market day at the Coffee Connection where fresh produce and home industry bakes are for sale in the gardens, all home grown locally. Margaret, the owner, also makes delicious biscuits and other treats which are for sale daily in her shop. If all that wasn't enough, take time out to visit Claudia in her log cabin for a session of massage therapy and reflexology.
Exitus – call Margaret on (033) 266 6582 exitus@iafrica.com
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Country Company
Owned and managed by Sally Pereira, Country Company, in the Country Courtyard Centre, has to be one of the most stunning and successful businesses on the Midlands Meander. You kinda don't feel you have been to the Midlands without having stopped and bought something from this gorgeous, decor inspired, shop. Brand new stock has just been un-packed, after the 'end of tax year sale' cleared out the old stock, so hurry along and see what's new.
The Country Courtyard Centre was developed by Sally and her husband Carlos Pereira, centered around a stunning English country garden which was designed by local landscaper Gary Cox. You'll find Country Company, Cafe Bloom, Simply Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts (my shop) and ceramics by the well known Mick Haigh, co-owner of Cafe Bloom. One of the most delightful places to stop, shop and unwind on the Midlands Meander..... children's playground on the premises.
The Country Courtyard Centre was developed by Sally and her husband Carlos Pereira, centered around a stunning English country garden which was designed by local landscaper Gary Cox. You'll find Country Company, Cafe Bloom, Simply Sam Antique Brocante & Gifts (my shop) and ceramics by the well known Mick Haigh, co-owner of Cafe Bloom. One of the most delightful places to stop, shop and unwind on the Midlands Meander..... children's playground on the premises.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Els Amics Restaurant
If you are in Nottingham road over a weekend, remember Els Amics (previously of Pietermaritzburg) is open Saturday and Sunday for lunch in the hamlet of Fort Nottingham (children over 12 years welcome Tel: 033 2666982). Supper parties are by prior arrangement. Get onto their mailing list for info regarding their regular theme dinners elsamics@absamail.co.za
This little hamlet is really beautiful, built within a nature reserve, and well worth driving the 15km from Nottingham road. The local Fort Nottingham Museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 10-4pm and the Sherwood Forest self catering cottage is available for hire tel: 0726059909
This little hamlet is really beautiful, built within a nature reserve, and well worth driving the 15km from Nottingham road. The local Fort Nottingham Museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 10-4pm and the Sherwood Forest self catering cottage is available for hire tel: 0726059909
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Hot chocolate & La Baguette
Yesterday I spent the day stock taking in the shop. Today, as its turned out, is overcast and misty and verrrrry chilly, so hot chocolate is the order of the day and a good time to finish the stock take whilst there are so few people around. I have received a number of sales over the web which, besides being comforting, says something about being able to work from anywhere.
My friend Liza reminded me yesterday of the French Patisserie & Boulangerie 'La Baguette' at the Green Acres Centre in Howick - tel: 033 3304491). Owned by a number of French speaking friends, this is really a mouth watering place to visit where they not only sell a fabulous selection of pastries, sweets and breads, but also present them in a gift wrapped style that makes your purchase very special - you know you are consuming something worth getting fat for! And as they say on their pamphlet "move onto the French way and come every day."
Which brings me to a point I wanted to make about living in the countryside and owning a business. I just never find the time to do my grocery shopping and I really do want to buy local and wholesome. So yesterday I made a point of finally ordering my bulk meats from a local 'grower' of beef, pork and chicken. Another supplier I found will deliver seasonal fruit & veg, fresh from the farm, and our local dairy will supply our milk which has the most delumptious cream which I scape off to make yummy chocolate mousse. (Watch this space for the easy recipe which will be posted soon.) One of my neighbours kindly gave me a butter churn and my kids were so excited to make butter, though the novelty quickly wore thin.
We recently planted cabbage and cauliflower and our herb garden has taken on a life of its own. It is so satisfying to pick fresh herbs as and when you need them. We just have to keep everything out of reach of monkeys and chickens who always seem to get to ripe produce, just before we do. Even the freshly laid eggs don't seem to escape the crafty eyes of the monkeys.
Friday night is Pizza night at our house made with the most amazing Italian dough recipe which has Semolina added. The Mozzarella is from a local supplier. Remind me to post this recipe too.
Bon Appetit
My friend Liza reminded me yesterday of the French Patisserie & Boulangerie 'La Baguette' at the Green Acres Centre in Howick - tel: 033 3304491). Owned by a number of French speaking friends, this is really a mouth watering place to visit where they not only sell a fabulous selection of pastries, sweets and breads, but also present them in a gift wrapped style that makes your purchase very special - you know you are consuming something worth getting fat for! And as they say on their pamphlet "move onto the French way and come every day."
Which brings me to a point I wanted to make about living in the countryside and owning a business. I just never find the time to do my grocery shopping and I really do want to buy local and wholesome. So yesterday I made a point of finally ordering my bulk meats from a local 'grower' of beef, pork and chicken. Another supplier I found will deliver seasonal fruit & veg, fresh from the farm, and our local dairy will supply our milk which has the most delumptious cream which I scape off to make yummy chocolate mousse. (Watch this space for the easy recipe which will be posted soon.) One of my neighbours kindly gave me a butter churn and my kids were so excited to make butter, though the novelty quickly wore thin.
We recently planted cabbage and cauliflower and our herb garden has taken on a life of its own. It is so satisfying to pick fresh herbs as and when you need them. We just have to keep everything out of reach of monkeys and chickens who always seem to get to ripe produce, just before we do. Even the freshly laid eggs don't seem to escape the crafty eyes of the monkeys.
Friday night is Pizza night at our house made with the most amazing Italian dough recipe which has Semolina added. The Mozzarella is from a local supplier. Remind me to post this recipe too.
Bon Appetit
Monday, March 1, 2010
Eco Living
Yesterday I had the pleasure of chatting to a couple of people in the shop who have interests in Eco Living, and they reminded me of my dream to build a Cob house. The word cob comes from an old English root meaning a lump or rounded mass. In fact bread rolls in some parts of England are referred to as 'cobs'. Cob building uses hands and feet to form lumps of earth mixed with sand and straw, an aesthetic and sensory experience similar to sculpting with clay. Cobbing is easy to learn and inexpensive to build and earth is, after all, God's given gift to us. It has been used for hundreds of years to build housing, even in the coastal areas of England where properties as old as 300 years still stand.
A couple of years ago I donned my pink spotted wellies and headed off to Jill Hogan's Alternative Technology Centre in McGregor in the Cape. My husband, who at the time was a suit and tie man, wondered what I was getting him into as we arrived at this half built 'mud' house in McGregor where we were to spend the weekend, well, building! There was something very grounding (excuse the pun) about squashing mud with your wellies and forming this into something that could be turned into your very own accommodation. Our bedroom had in fact been built by previous 'students' and was actually very nice and even had a built in air conditioning system, so it was warm in winter, cool in summer. We ate food cooked in a solar cooker, which was very basic, but some of the best food I had savored, the ambiance of McGregor adding to this of course.
Cobbing does not have to look alternative either. I read a fascinating article in a UK decor magazine about a couple who had built a cob house (with marble floors), which looked very conventional and was stunning both inside and out. It had cost them (about 6 years ago) Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds to build and once completed was worth three times that price.
Whether my ambition will remain a dream only time will tell. In the mean time I need to get on with restoring our current century old house.
Jill Hogan
McGregor Alternative Technology Centre
Tel: 023 625 1533
Email: jill.hogan@mat.org.za
www.mat.org.za
A couple of years ago I donned my pink spotted wellies and headed off to Jill Hogan's Alternative Technology Centre in McGregor in the Cape. My husband, who at the time was a suit and tie man, wondered what I was getting him into as we arrived at this half built 'mud' house in McGregor where we were to spend the weekend, well, building! There was something very grounding (excuse the pun) about squashing mud with your wellies and forming this into something that could be turned into your very own accommodation. Our bedroom had in fact been built by previous 'students' and was actually very nice and even had a built in air conditioning system, so it was warm in winter, cool in summer. We ate food cooked in a solar cooker, which was very basic, but some of the best food I had savored, the ambiance of McGregor adding to this of course.
Cobbing does not have to look alternative either. I read a fascinating article in a UK decor magazine about a couple who had built a cob house (with marble floors), which looked very conventional and was stunning both inside and out. It had cost them (about 6 years ago) Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds to build and once completed was worth three times that price.
Whether my ambition will remain a dream only time will tell. In the mean time I need to get on with restoring our current century old house.
Jill Hogan
McGregor Alternative Technology Centre
Tel: 023 625 1533
Email: jill.hogan@mat.org.za
www.mat.org.za
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