Skimming Stones | Sula's Blog | Sula1968 A South African poet, potter and mother

Over periods in my life, I often feel creatively dead.  Day to-day mundanities stifle the part of me that I love most. Reading average books creates average thoughts and starve my spirit of stimuli.  Last week I finished reading Philip Larkins novel ‘A Girl in Winter’, the quality of the work immediately reawakened the part of me which fully appreciates …

Cliff has wanted to re-visit Ezemvelo Nature Reserve near Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng.  Last weekend we found the time to get there.  It was a very long drive from home in Boksburg particularly avoiding e-tolls.  There was a 30 min stop/go near Bronkhorstspruit which was rather annoying for a 4.7km stretch of road works.  The last 20 km leading to Ezemvelo …

  I love Padstals they place me in a holiday frame of mind before reaching our destination, providing a sensory lift during a long drive.  I love the Karoo for its simple canvas and colourful character.  3 Sisters marries these two loves.   This Padstal in the Karoo on the N1 between Joburg and Cape Town, is one of my top …

I can bake pretty much any sweet thing your heart desires but when it comes to savory snacks I find myself at a loss.  I had to bring a plate of savory snacks for a church funeral today. I had a recipe but veered so far from it that I sort of made up my own and I am well …

Can they re-discover love After standing back to back so long? After taking countless measured steps Loaded weapons drawn Shall pistols drop from weary hands Returning to  embrace? Or shall they simply turn and fire? On the umpteenth pace

After my Imperial Cookie press died (after an all too short life), I set my sights on the Russell Hobbs Biscuit and Cookie maker.  I wanted to fall in love with it, but I couldn’t.  I loved the snazzy clip lock box which it came in, I loved the fact that it was electric instead of manual.  After trying 4 …

Yay, this week my camera was returned to me.  I had left it in our room at An-Ra Guest House in Richmond and am so grateful to Meda from An-Ra for her honesty and the trouble that she took to return it in perfect condition. An-Ra in Richmond is a perfect stopover between Joburg and Cape Town and is located …

You seldom see road signs in a town warning that Hippo may be encountered.  St Lucia in Kwa Zulu Natal has this distinction and Hippo do indeed fairly regularly wander through town at night.  Although I did not encounter a hippo on the streets we saw many on a boat trip on the estuary. I would so love to live …

Now and then you will see me go on a bit of a rant about quality of service and products, both can really get me going.  Over weekends, starting the days with a yummy cappuccino is our regular indulgence.  Last year we went through 3 hand held milk frothers.  The first 2 were the same Salter frother which comes with …

Choosing accommodation for Cliff’s birthday weekend away I took a few things into consideration, price and the distance from home are top of the list.  After narrowing down our options I checked reviews and felt comfortable choosing Monyane Lodge.  If I could give an award for the best hospitality ever Des and Elna would win, they were fantastic! Driving to …

The e-tolls saga in Gauteng is depressing and frustrating in so many ways for so many reasons.  The implementation of this system has raised blood pressures across the board.  Yet this situation has left me with a ‘feel good’ sensation.  It seems that not only sporting euphoria can draw us together, this time a common cause has united us. For …

UPDATE – JULY 2015 Mirage Toeriste Kamers is now under new Management and Owners. They are currently busy with renovations, but still open. Secure and under cover Parking is now available. Prices still exactly the same as 2 / 3 years ago. Rusks, coffee and tea in each room. More often than not, heading for Cape Town from home in …

The Western Shores section of iSimangaliso Wetland Park opened the week before we visited.  In a world where man runs roughshod over nature, where materialism and destruction mark and mar every aspect of existence the rehabilitation of 25 000ha of commercial plantations has returned the land to mother nature.  Visiting I felt a sense of hope and peace, wrongs can …

As often the case, our decision to visit Bilton Wine Estate was driven by the children’s play area.  We have previously tasted and purchased Bilton wines at the Joburg Wine Show, but that was several years ago and we have never visited the estate.  Cliff did a full tasting and I took sample sips from his glasses.  The ‘Sir Percy’ …

On previous visits to the Cape we have ummed and ahhed regarding a visit to Die Bergkelder (literal translation, the mountain cellar), which falls under the large corporate Distell banner.  We decided to do the tour this time.  One can be put off by the fact that they also do an ‘Artisanal salt tasting’ which sounds a load like bs …