March news and April Specials

Wyndford woke up this morning to 8° and snow dusting the Maluti Mountains for the first time this year.  It would appear that summer has said goodbye and winter has shown its face in spectacular fashion.  Bright blue clear skies, fantastic walking weather…although definitely time to put the sandals away and bring out the boots…

The wood pile is stacked ready for cosy evening fires and Charlotte will no doubt be heading for hibernation shortly – pity all the animals don’t take that route…it would mean for cheaper food bills, and possibly ice cream from the cows in spring…I digress!
We are having an Autumn April Special!  Book and pay for 2 nights stay for 3!  Book and pay for 3 nights stay for 4! Book and pay for 4 nights stay for 5…..Book and pay for 5 nights stay for 7! Call us now in the office for availability on 058 223 0274.  Round up the family and friends and escape to the country for a few days.
Our new reading room is open, although not quite complete yet.  A quiet cosy place to sit and read while having great views of the garden with the delicious smell of cappuccinos wafting from the coffee room. There is access now from the reception side through a passage, so the green staircase is not the only entrance.  It was an interesting process which included painting the carpet, cutting down a dead mulberry tree, reworking some dress patterns, music sheets and an old western. (You have to love a man that just raises an eyebrow and nods sagely, when I say “I’ve had an idea”!  Still a work in progress but with under floor heating will surely be a good winter spot- with the added advantage that it overlooks the swings, so parents can oversee the youngsters in comfort.
If you are facebookers, like us on www.facebook.com/wyndfordholidayfarm or alternatively directly from our website on www.wyndford.co.za to be able to share any news and specials with your friends and families. We have availability on the bus from Howick in May and for all bowlers the November Fun Bowling Competition is still on the cards.

We had a fun Easter with an egg hunt that ended in the bunny cage…where else?!...as well as playing at the river crossing (no age limit to sailing log races in the water) and the last of the summer braai’s.  Hopefully a good time was had by all, including this little moppet who, we can assure you, did get lunch!                   

Our monthly draw winner for March is Tracey Callister!

Have a great day! Looking forward to hearing from you soon, until then stay well and warm.

The Wyndford Team

P.S. We are updating our database so if you receive this twice please inform us and we will correct this.

Ride up from Howick area..

There is still space on the bus if you would like to visit us...

Coming from the Howick area departing 5 May returning the 10th May. Give us a ring on 058 223 0274... share if you know someone in this area who would rather not have the hassle of driving! Looking forward to hearing from you soon...

It's Friday...

We have experienced spectacular thunder storms, had 16mm rain and today have beautiful sunny skies - just in time for the weekend!  There is a little space left for the first long weekend and after Easter during the school holidays, so give the girls in the office a call .  We also now have an official facebook page at www.facebook.com/WyndfordHolidayFarm   We look forward to your visits and keeping you up to date.

February news

Right, February already! Before you know it will be 2020….and someone else will be writing the newsletters!  But time does just seem to fly, even when you aren’t having fun!  So make sure you start planning some holidays!

Today saw us harvesting the pumpkins that magically appeared at the front gate.  So far, 15 very large, very beautiful pumpkins safely (we had visions of them being used as wheels…..) stored in the garden shed. Not a bad crop for not having planted a single one, unlike last year when our specially prepared and planted pumpkin patch yielded less.  Of course the gate is going to be looking a little less interesting now, maybe we should try carrots next time and see if we can increase our dassie population. (Ulterior motive there – they eat snakes, or so I am told).
We have also gathered some of our own figs as well as receiving donations from folk in Fouriesburg, so jam and preserves are the order of the day.  And as our wine and cider skills have not progressed from our initial lessons, we will be jamming with our grapes this year!
Charlotte, our tortoise, has relocated to greener pastures where she is watched over (fanatically!) by her new best friend. She has GT yellow stripes down each side – so that we can find her… and like some VW beetle drivers that I know (the ones who always have frilly bumpers), she drives by feel, as she has almost worn off her first set of stripes. The cats are not so sure of this ‘rock’ that hisses louder than they do….
Thanks to Jaco, we have three additional pigmy goats who have joined Yodel.  What is it about goats that they always have to stand on something? It now looks like a circus in the farmyard with any rock, bucket or hut with a goat balancing on top. Barbara (or Lambie as Cassidy calls her), is still puzzled as to where she left her coat after her recent shearing.

I am busy wall papering the “library-to-be with an old Western paperback & dress patterns (they’re the right colour….) and as is suitable for a reading room, it is as they say in the classics, a work in progress……

Maintenane work has been done on the Church. The front window had moved significantly and the glass was starting to crack. Also the mural was starting to dislodge, so yesterday saw us (for all you interested engineers…) drilling a hole in the main pole and with a threaded bar winching the whole window, which we could see visibly moving, back into place. A few hundred knee bends later the mural was resorted and the only thing wrong…was not having thought to book a massage at the salon!

Celvin and Angelique will be visiting the Howick area to promote our tours, so anyone in that area and keen to visit us get to Amber Valley (10am) or Eagle Ridge estate (11:30am) on Monday the 25^th February 2013. You will need a flyer to get into these villages so give us a call if you wish to view our presentation.
A
fter, all the excitement of recent days with asteroids and meteorites…. Why don’t you plan to join us for a star gazing weekend with Joyce and Robert Faltermeier on the weekend of the 15^th to 17^th March 2013.  The long weekends in March and April holiday are starting to book up so get in early to avoid disappointment! 
Our winner is Bev Fourie
Have a great day further! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
The Wyndford Team

January news

Staff member of the holidays award goes to..... our horses!
Keepers of generations of children’s secrets, dreams and chatter – even the quietest of children seem to find their voices once on the back of a horse. They plod unwavering to the gate and back with shrieking little cowboys and girls, with just a startled tweak of an ear, or a slight rump jiggle but never a hoof wrong. Well done Maluti, Zazu, Buster, Starlight and the rest of the gang!

Of course, for those privileged few to have witnessed George’s spectacular 4x4 driving on the return from tubing down the Caledon River on Christmas afternoon, it was probably a highlight they won’t forget in a hurry! (Move over Father Christmas...) Drenching rain – the only reason we were able to go on the river in the first place, meant that the road was a challenge... and the new Amarok earned its place as a farm bakkie!

After being the wife of a pastor for many years, I have listened to wedding ceremonies often. One thing George has repeatedly challenged young couples (and old ones too), was to make an occasion out of the usual. Don’t wait for Christmas to celebrate family being together, set a time and round everyone up – make an occasion. One of the best things to witness here at Wyndford, is families spending time, catching up, meeting up from all over the world and knowing each other again. (Of course with the added bonus that no one gets the cooking and wash up duties!)

Talking of special occasions, we are working on our ‘treat’ weekends for the year – Star gazing was amazing and great fun – despite dubious weather and the Walking with Wildflowers was fantastic! Walking with Wyndford guides is now even more entertaining as they sprout forth interesting info along the way... Although, we did wonder if Jaco was suffering from heatstroke when he radioed to say ‘Hanging’ rock was gone and must have fallen. A quick ride to the next door farm assured us that it was and is, (proof herewith) still there – so now we are wondering whether he has been leading you up the garden path…..

Ana Jones starts off the year by winning our monthly draw, congratulations and we look forward to welcoming you!

Our Coffee Room and Salon, went into action over Christmas and New Year. Up the green stairs into a WiFi world with Cappuccino or massage...

One little chap found waiting for midnight tiresome, but 2013 arrived amidst much singing and joy! We wish you all a wonderful year full of good surprises and special memories, hopefully some of which will be made at Wyndford!

Greetings from us all
The Wyndford Team

Christmas availability

We have late cancellations for 23 - 28 December for two family rooms. 5 night stay - father Christmas has our address! Call the office 058 2230274 or email reception@wyndford.co.za.

the plants are sighing..

We are having the most wonderful rain. I know that large parts of the country have had a little too much and too hard, but we are about 300mm below our annual rainfall so, one can almost hear the plants sighing in delight!