COOL THOUGHTS

Friday, 4 July 2014

SNUG AS A BUG IN A RUG

St. Michael's Anglican Church in Umhlanga Rocks took the Milimani Educational Trust and their tiny souls under its wing this winter to appeal for blankets, jerseys, beanies and anything warm.

The response has been overwhelming and Lois Kuhle, from Milimani Educational Trust, took bags of goodies to the communities in Sovane and KwaDla-Kuse.

On the 18th June members of the community were there to meet us and the singing, praying and ululations gave us goose bumps! The kids, with wide brown eyes, were wrapped up, dressed up and kept warm. The joy on the children's faces was a picture - so seldom do they receive anything new.

It was just in time for the cold winter snap that passed through Zululand.

Among all the gifts was a notebook computer. As electricity is not in every home (or any home for that matter) it seemed appropriate to donate it to the clinic.

We also had a bag full of babies clothes, kindly knitted by the lovely ladies at Twilanga Retirement Village in Umhlanga. Once again the gratitude of the staff was amazing.

Thank you everyone at St. Michael's for your enormous generosity. These communities in Zululand will remember you for a long time.

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:
SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html
'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT. http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html
COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/loiskuhlescribbler
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/loiskuhle

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Wonderful Weaving

In the heart of Zululand, in Manguzi, is a small business run by Lexi Stavrides.

Lexi employs three ladies from the community to craft Lala Baskets,
beautifully finished with hand stitched leather straps.

Each basket generates an income for the families working with Lexi.

It is so rewarding knowing that their skills,
combined with Lexi’s training
is enabling the ladies to create superior quality products.

These stylish baskets are perfect for storing household goodies!

And they look great too!

Can’t resist? You can order tailor made items off Alex & Thatch’s website:

http://www.alexandthatch.com/

or follow her on FaceBook and find out which markets she will be at:

https://www.facebook.com/alexandthatch

Leather Care:

Never let your leather goods get wet or damp
Leather is not waterproof. If it gets wet ensure that you dry it out, but not in direct sunlight.
Pen does not come off leather when marked – just to note.
Never use polish or detergents to clean leather.
A wet wipe is great to use to clean your leather but without excessive wiping.
Use a leather balm, oil or conditioning cream every 4 – 6 months to treat your leather and to keep it supple.
Using your finger to apply a small amount of the treatment and ensure you wipe off any excess with a clean, dry cloth.
Never use Dubbin or shoe polish to care for your leather, this builds up a waxy layer over time.
Leather ages naturally and when looked after can last you a life time!

HAND-STITCHED . ARTISANAL . LEATHER PRODUCTS

The home of fine leather craftsmanship.

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:

SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html

'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT. http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html

COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/loiskuhlescribbler

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/loiskuhle

Friday, 13 June 2014

THE LITTLE DRINKING TOWN WITH A DIVING PROBLEM

Rest and Relaxation should be on everyone’s schedule but in Mozambique an R&R means something different. While you may end up flat on your back, it might not be quite what the doctor had in mind…

After scrambling across the dusty border post from Kosi Bay to Ponta d’Ouro, bouncing over the sand dunes with little more than a sand track to follow, you arrive at the bustling coastal town of Ponta d’Ouro, a favourite for drinkers and divers. It was once a small coastal haven for South Africans who owned beach houses, but the war soon took care of that. After the end of the war, and assurances that the land mines had been cleared, South Africans came back in their droves.

‘Fernando’s’ is the first shebeen at the entrance to the village. Perched on the edge of the market place, where everything cooks in the hot sun, Fernando’s has grown from a table and chair establishment to a full-on bar with a huge South African stamp. Over the years patrons have taken ownership of the bar and catapulted Fernando into infamy.

No Ponta visitor worth his salt passes Fernando’s without stopping for a R&R. Great big beer mugs are slapped on the table. A full bottle of Tipo Tinto* rum is splashed over ice cubes, a dash of Sparletta raspberry finishes it off. The mug is already filled to the brim with rum leaving little space for the raspberry.It’s only there for colour. With great enthusiasm mugs are clinked, cheers and toasts are made, and down the hatch she goes.

Say ‘good-night’ because that’s one helluva drink! Life after that is seen through rose tinted glasses, the ice is broken and everyone makes new best friends.

Welcome to Ponta d’Ouro – the little drinking town with a diving problem!

Place to stay: Coco Rico - www.cocorico.co.mz

*Tipo Tinto the Mozambican Rum has been made in Maputo, Mozambique since the 1920′s.

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/loiskuhlescribbler

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/loiskuhle
SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html
'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT. http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html
COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/

Tuesday, 3 June 2014

Pristine Pakamisa

Isabella Stepski established Pakamisa Private Game Reserve in 1996, on land that is “Right in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom”. The closest town, 18 kms away, is Pongola. It boasts a burgeoning agricultural community that cultivates 50 square kilometers of sugar cane and sub-tropical fruits.

During the depression of the ‘30’s Pongola introduced a canal system for irrigation. The town thrived and erected a sugar mill, now the back bone of this community. This small town of 128,000 people (2011) has an unfortunate unemployment rate of 35%.

Most of the non-arable land was used for cattle farming. Game existed in the area, but not in great numbers because of threat of disease. In the late ‘80’s a few cattle farmers established basic accommodation for hunters. Approximately 10 years later a handful of land owners realised the potential tourism was bringing to the area and upgraded accommodation to attract international and upmarket visitors. It is against this backdrop that Isabella Stepski manifested a dream of owning a game farm with a 5 star lodge in South Africa, where she could also breed and ride her Arab horses she brought from Spain.

17 years later, after the challenge of constructing a 5 Star lodge with community members who have grown up with a legacy of cattle herding and cane farming, Pakamisa has offered valuable exposure in international tourism. 33 people are employed.

The tired and overgrazed 2,500 hectare cattle farm was transformed into pristine bush, re-introducing indigenous game such as giraffe and antelope.

The most exciting, and unique, element that Isabella introduced to the area is her horsemanship. Isabella is a renowned international Arabian horse expert, who has bred these fine horses for 30 years. Her horses were originally born and bred in Andalusia, Spain, of purebred Spanish Bloodlines. Staff members who have shown an affinity to horses have been ‘groomed’ with phenomenal equine management skills. Understanding the importance of caring for saddles, tack and tools; and being able to identify and treat diseases, basic health and hoof conditions has been instilled via skills transfer either from Isabella or the numerous experts who visit Pakamisa. An international volunteer program offers a valuable opportunity to exchange cultural knowledge.

An obvious benefit of having 33 stabled horses, is of course…..manure! With Pongola’s perfect hot climate growing vegetables is a must, and is overseen by a local horticulturist. Staff grow vegetables for their own pot as well as offering lodge guests organic veg. This is converted into a culinary delight by the chef in the kitchen, another wonderful empowerment story.

Against a landscape that has been historically worlds apart from game farming, bush management, tourism and horsemanship, Isabella and Pakamisa have altered the lives of many people in the local community and introduced a new generation into a lucrative livelihood in tourism and equine management.

It is inspirational for guests and professionals to interact with staff members, whether they are game rangers, stable hands or kitchen staff, to see and appreciate the skills development that has taken place at Pakamisa.

Website:

Pakamisa Private Game Reserve: www.pakamisa.co.za

Or follow them on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/PakamisaGameReserve

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:

SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html

'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT. http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html

COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/loiskuhlescribbler

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/loiskuhle

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

WEDDING BELLES

There is nothing more exhilarating than wide open spaces and Oaklands Country Manor has buckets of it.

This is where we, as a family, decided to meet - just outside the dorp of van Reenen in the Free State. Freddie and Willow travelled from Cape Town and we sauntered across from Pongola. Both couples had married earlier in the month – Freddie and Willow choosing a Buddhist ceremony and Rob and I exchanged vows in the Anglican Church.

Our celebratory ceremony in this vast open land was indeed very special. It was only us – and the crisp Free State air. But there is no such thing as a free bride. The grooms had to climb on their bikes, cycle across cow padded fields to find hidden treasures that would lead them to the altar, where the wedding belles were waiting, with champagne on ice of course! Freddie’s treasures were a little more cumbersome – as he came bearing gifts including an old enamel baby’s bath, a teddy bear and goodness knows what else. Rob was delighted with his red bell with its tantalising message “Ring for Sex”, which we heard miles away!

Oaklands Country Manor is a wonderful wedding venue, with great accommodation for 32 guests – but it works just as well for 4! It is run by the offspring of the Tully family, affectionately known as the Tullyban. The establishment has a fascinating history going as far back as 1860.

The matriarch, Lady Caroline wife of the late Sir Hervey James Hugh Bruce-Clifton, runs Oaklands with her siblings. Kathy Romer-Lee is the master chef with Annie Barnard and brother, Simon Tully, offering their full support.

It is a horsey place, with a polo arena and a stable filled with well-schooled horses. Experience the excitement of this noble game, either as a participant or an observer. If that’s not your chukka then opt for an out-ride taking in the gorgeous views and fresh air. There are loads of activities to keep even the most hyperactive folk busy.

And if that’s not your cup of tea, settle down in the sumptuous décor and fill that tummy with Kathy’s delicious fare. The pub can be conducive to bad behaviour or cuddle up in front of the fire in the comfy sofas in the lounge. That is if you can persuade the Great Danes, strongly resembling an Nguni cow, to move over.

I was particularly delighted to wander around Kathy’s veggie garden, although sad to see how the early morning frost had hammered the more vulnerable veggies. I spotted her worm farms and brought back a yoghurt tub of red wigglers to add a pedigree to my stock at home.

It’s little things like that that make a stay away from home so special!

For more information: www.oaklands.co.za

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:

SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html

'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT. http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html

COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/loiskuhlescribbler

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/loiskuhle

Sunday, 30 March 2014

Wino Wisdom

We are a fascinating bunch. Our talents range from farming, engineering, hospitality, game capturing – we often embrace a retailer and tonight we threw in a lawyer for fun.

We are supposed to meet on a regular basis to share our Wino Wisdom breaking bread and drinking wine, but discipline and organisational skills are frequently lacking.

The Wise Wino Women

But we got it together tonight. Except our capturing team was missing, and they were sorely missed, hence the back up from the lawyer.

Our wine club was established over 20 years ago and has seen members come and go, all this happens in the bundu’s in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

I fear not too much has been learnt over these two decades, but we persist non-the-less.

An old established family from our part of the world, Brian and Denise Blevin, were our hosts. We quaffed and guzzled wine at their home, also the nesting place of Tamboti Ridge B&B. Close by, on the road to Swaziland is their classy lodge – Shayamoya. We were indeed in good company.

Brian has a reputation of using his influence to get others to do his ‘wine club’ for him, and not to disappoint he commissioned the knowledgeable Lucia Smith from Vinimark to pour some wisdom into our pretty heads.

Lucia brought wine from two different Cape vineyards.Flagstone Wines – run by Bruce Jack, based in Somerset West, who cleverly purchases varietals and bottles under Flagstone’s name; and Rietvallei Wine Estate, a 7th generation vineyard in the Robertson Valley.

We were alerted to the fact that every vintage year is different,

wine is so alive and the cellar changes due to a multiple of factors.

We learnt another lesson: with our twitching noses we proffered the most nonsensical comments about flavours – “cut grass, green peppers, crisp, refreshing.” And we were right. The second wine was different: more cheeky. But clever Lucia had given us EXACTLY the same wine, Rietvallei Classic Sauvignon Blanc – but a 2 – 3 degree temperature difference had changed the body completely.

Speaking of body, our token eligible bachelor/ retailer perked up dramatically when

‘long legs’ were mentioned,

and almost lost it when ‘wood’ was tangled up in the same sentence.

We nodded our approval at Flagstone’s “Noon Gun” affectionately known as ‘Mom’s plonk’ a wine that can be respectably opened at noon when the gun goes off at Signal Hill. We finished off our tasting with Flagstone’s“The Last Word”, a port style wine, with the fruitiness and spiciness of Shiraz with 18.5% alcohol content that finishes dry but has the sweetness (so I am told).

In between we indulged in Rietvallei’s leggy Chardonnay, with citrus, grapefruit and pineapple lingering on the tongue. The Cabernet Sauvignon offers a sweetish edge with cigar box flavours.

In the midst of swilling the Flagstone Poetry Merlot with its yummy red berries, the Blevin’s over-sized dog decided to do some rather orgasmic yoga on the Persian carpet. With sufficient wine inside us, giggles prevailed.

The Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz was a beautiful easy to drink wine. 2009, we hear on good authority, was the best red wine vintage South Africa has had for 30 years.

We were all getting along fabulously until our bachelor/ retailer/ soon-to-be-nephew piped up with “I like being here, I am the youngest!”

That was quite unnecessary.

So, another sun sets on Wino Wisdom. No notes were taken (except mine) and it is my duty to share with you what may or may not have been learnt tonight.

Sleep tight Mkuze.

Other blogs by Lois Kuhle:

SMOKE RINGS IN CUBA. A TWO WEEK JOURNEY FILLED WITH SALSA, SUNSHINE AND SILLY PEOPLE: http://smokeringsincuba.blogspot.com/2013/10/smoke-rings-in-cuba-journey-filled-with.html

'LIFE'S COOL'. MY NEAREST AND DEAREST BECAME THOSE THAT GRUNTED, BARKED OR BIT. http://milimanilifescool.blogspot.com/2013/12/i-n-2002-i-was-lucky-enough-to-be-given.html

COOL THOUGHTS – LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE: http://loiscoolthoughts.tumblr.com/

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/loiskuhlescribbler

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/loiskuhle

Thursday, 13 March 2014

CAPTURING THE MAJESTIC HORSE

Perched high up on the Pakamisa Mountain Range in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is the exclusive lodge of the Pakamisa Private Game Reserve. Nestled below, in the low lands, are the Pakamisa stables, home to a collection of magnificent Arabian Horses all superbly trained by the owner, Isabella Stepski. There can be fewer greater thrills than exploring the wild African Bush on horseback.

It was here that artist Graham Kearney developed his unbridled love for Arabian horses. Graham is one of South Africa’s up and coming wildlife artists, and thanks to Isabella’s passion for horses, her enthusiasm rubbed off on to Graham, launching him into a new dimension where he has managed to capture the true spirit of the horse into his art.

Isabella initially commissioned a painting of 5 cats occurring in the wild at Pakamisa. As Graham had shown an interest in the horses, being a horseman himself, she encouraged him to photograph her favourite horse, Baron. The painting is, as she describes, ‘Outstanding!’

Baron was just the beginning, and Graham has not looked back. He loves every minute he spends photographing, interacting and painting these amazing and truly spiritual animals. He firmly believes this is his true calling in the art world.

Recently he has completed commissions for notable horse breeders, including ‘Sandford’ from the Alzu Stud, a champion show jumper, who is a gentle soul; ‘Mullins Bay’, a proud stallion, from the reputable Summerhill Stud; ‘Joepie’ a sport horse stud from Ruach Pinto and ‘Lissabon’, with his inner strength and unwavering presence from Callaho.

One can only dream of painting like Graham with his formidable talent.