Monday, November 22, 2010
Travels....
Information overload, could be one way to describe my month of travelling! Learning by osmosis..seeing how various establishments operate, present food, host people, make beds, market themselves...and more. My head is brimming with ideas and as well as points to be aware of. Watching people was another interesting observation, to see how people are living today and what a 'holiday' means, and then hopefully we can provide a better service. Of course there are also the simple lessons like ' do not try to apply permanent lip colour on a London tube or a South African road...' Signing off until next time!
little late on the blogging front lately...
We have two large family groups just arrived. It is such a delight to see little cousins from other ends of the world getting to know one another and having fun. Wyndford has always been a great place for family. There is also something about a horse that is special, long before we see Maluti or Dusty come into view down the driveway we can hear the busy chatter of little voices, when even the quietest of children seem to be empowered and enthralled by the gentle sway of what would seem to them to be a very large animal. We have seen many cowboys in the making.
The Red Chested Cuckoo (or Piet-my-vrou) has been heard and seen and we are pleased to announce that we have had 8mm rain last night. Good to start slow as the walking trails are very dusty and would be washed away if we had too much in one go. We have worked on the bicycle trail and made it easier (?) to ride – not quite a double highway but apparently a good ride, difficult and technical but not extreme, according to guests.
If you are coming down to us from Joburg areas, the Villiers route is under (proper!) construction and not just sand filling the holes. There are three holding points between Villiers and Frankfort which could take you up to 30 minutes to travel. If however you are fortunate with your timing, as I was last week, you can slip through with no delays at all. This route is fine during the day but would maybe recommend the Warden Bethlehem route if you are traveling at night.
Good news to report on the water front! After four tries and 120 metres, we struck water and now have a borehole, which George reported this morning filled the tanks in one hour, We walked through the trees at the tanks and had our first sips of crystal clear wonderful Wyndford water, straight out the pipe!
Family news.. we have 10 little yellow goslings (and counting!) Angelique, Celvin and Cassidy are back from leave and Shane and Patricia are planning a special time in Durban for her birthday celebrations in November. Lindy is on her way to England to visit Josh and Kirsty and hopefully to be there when Kirsty gets her pilots license. Minei is off to Bloemfontein to pursue a career with the Foshini Group, where we wish her well but note that the staff table will be a little less raucous from now on…
It seems like the year is running away and it is nearly Christmas…Don’t leave it too late to plan for the revitalizing break after a year well done.
The Red Chested Cuckoo (or Piet-my-vrou) has been heard and seen and we are pleased to announce that we have had 8mm rain last night. Good to start slow as the walking trails are very dusty and would be washed away if we had too much in one go. We have worked on the bicycle trail and made it easier (?) to ride – not quite a double highway but apparently a good ride, difficult and technical but not extreme, according to guests.
If you are coming down to us from Joburg areas, the Villiers route is under (proper!) construction and not just sand filling the holes. There are three holding points between Villiers and Frankfort which could take you up to 30 minutes to travel. If however you are fortunate with your timing, as I was last week, you can slip through with no delays at all. This route is fine during the day but would maybe recommend the Warden Bethlehem route if you are traveling at night.
Good news to report on the water front! After four tries and 120 metres, we struck water and now have a borehole, which George reported this morning filled the tanks in one hour, We walked through the trees at the tanks and had our first sips of crystal clear wonderful Wyndford water, straight out the pipe!
Family news.. we have 10 little yellow goslings (and counting!) Angelique, Celvin and Cassidy are back from leave and Shane and Patricia are planning a special time in Durban for her birthday celebrations in November. Lindy is on her way to England to visit Josh and Kirsty and hopefully to be there when Kirsty gets her pilots license. Minei is off to Bloemfontein to pursue a career with the Foshini Group, where we wish her well but note that the staff table will be a little less raucous from now on…
It seems like the year is running away and it is nearly Christmas…Don’t leave it too late to plan for the revitalizing break after a year well done.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Travelling to Wyndford
Just a quick update....
Travelling from Joburg the Villiers /Frankfort / Reitz road is at present being fixed (at long last). There are three stages where there are holding and waiting sections which will add about half and hour onto your trip. Other than that the route seems to be OK. Warden is still an option if you prefer. Travel safe!
Travelling from Joburg the Villiers /Frankfort / Reitz road is at present being fixed (at long last). There are three stages where there are holding and waiting sections which will add about half and hour onto your trip. Other than that the route seems to be OK. Warden is still an option if you prefer. Travel safe!
Friday, August 27, 2010
It has taken a little while of living in the Eastern Free State to not struggle with the brownness and dust but rather to come to appreciate the many shades of gold and orange that adorn the fields at the moment. Farmers are busy harvesting, and we see combine harvesters (‘gander ganders’ according to my kids from the time they were tiny….) loping up and down the fields and then spitting out tons of pale yellow pips. Well, we had our first ride on a ‘gander gander’ this week with Minei as she harvested mielies on her father’s farm, what a great experience! The buck along with their partners in crime, Albert and Victoria, the peacocks are eating all the spring seedlings and bulbs. Already some of the fruit trees are budding - far too early as we haven’t begun pruning yet! Even Charlotte, the tortoise has been popping in and out of hibernation…
We already have three new calves, all Quella’s babies, very beautiful and chocolate brown in colour, duly named Cadbury, Mousse and Brownie! Shane carried Mousse up to the top paddock on her second day and discovered that she is quite a weight and although very small still packs a kick! He also graduated to a slightly larger new camera case after he was unceremoniously relocated by little Moo (who should I suppose now be called medium Moo)! (The camera survived – not sure about Shane’s ego)
We have at last managed to find the leak in the duck pond, which means they now no longer have to stand in line for a chance at ‘the’ puddle… but can actually swim once more albeit with floating ice bergs the last few mornings. The weather has been beautiful, very cold in the mornings and warm in the middle of the day, still no sign of snow, but the ski slopes have a good run going with their snow machines. (Remember to bring your passports if you are thinking of going through to Lesotho - temporary passports are not allowed)
I would not claim in any way to be a gardener but we are very excited about our discovery in the veggie garden…We have managed to keep our coriander, parsley, lettuce and a few other things going amid the severe frosts by nesting them in the hay we feed the horses. This has obviously kept them warm and protected and wonderful to still be picking fresh things from the garden. It does however come with other problems, like last week when the horses escaped and we found them munching away in the veggie patch……nothing like a midnight roundup to warm one up and ensure you sleep well at night!
We also said a warm Wyndford welcome to baby Cassidy who arrived on World Cup Final day, having slid under the radar a full two weeks earlier than expected. A tiny little dot at just under 3kg with a light dusting of brown hair who already upsets all Angelique’s precise planning and is the apple of Dad’s eye! Life has forever changed in the Woolmore residence….
Football is still a hot topic here although the World Cup has come and gone we now boast a Wyndford Team…I spent an hour and a half waiting for kick off yesterday (definitely on African time….) or maybe things were just delayed due to the opposition being the team from Home Affairs!!
It is nearly time to close the bowling green for its annual makeover - (Ponty gets pedicures and the bowling green gets a makeover…I’m definitely missing a trick here) and before we know it, it will be Spring.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Until then, stay well and warm,
Best regards
the Wyndford Team
We already have three new calves, all Quella’s babies, very beautiful and chocolate brown in colour, duly named Cadbury, Mousse and Brownie! Shane carried Mousse up to the top paddock on her second day and discovered that she is quite a weight and although very small still packs a kick! He also graduated to a slightly larger new camera case after he was unceremoniously relocated by little Moo (who should I suppose now be called medium Moo)! (The camera survived – not sure about Shane’s ego)
We have at last managed to find the leak in the duck pond, which means they now no longer have to stand in line for a chance at ‘the’ puddle… but can actually swim once more albeit with floating ice bergs the last few mornings. The weather has been beautiful, very cold in the mornings and warm in the middle of the day, still no sign of snow, but the ski slopes have a good run going with their snow machines. (Remember to bring your passports if you are thinking of going through to Lesotho - temporary passports are not allowed)
I would not claim in any way to be a gardener but we are very excited about our discovery in the veggie garden…We have managed to keep our coriander, parsley, lettuce and a few other things going amid the severe frosts by nesting them in the hay we feed the horses. This has obviously kept them warm and protected and wonderful to still be picking fresh things from the garden. It does however come with other problems, like last week when the horses escaped and we found them munching away in the veggie patch……nothing like a midnight roundup to warm one up and ensure you sleep well at night!
We also said a warm Wyndford welcome to baby Cassidy who arrived on World Cup Final day, having slid under the radar a full two weeks earlier than expected. A tiny little dot at just under 3kg with a light dusting of brown hair who already upsets all Angelique’s precise planning and is the apple of Dad’s eye! Life has forever changed in the Woolmore residence….
Football is still a hot topic here although the World Cup has come and gone we now boast a Wyndford Team…I spent an hour and a half waiting for kick off yesterday (definitely on African time….) or maybe things were just delayed due to the opposition being the team from Home Affairs!!
It is nearly time to close the bowling green for its annual makeover - (Ponty gets pedicures and the bowling green gets a makeover…I’m definitely missing a trick here) and before we know it, it will be Spring.
Looking forward to hearing from you
Until then, stay well and warm,
Best regards
the Wyndford Team
Monday, July 12, 2010
Someone left the fridge door open this morning...Temperatures have taken a dive but as yet still no snow to be seen on the Maluti Mountains. In one household at Wyndford, temperatures were of no consequence as other more important events were occuring. Celvin and Angeliques baby girl arrived on Sunday at lunch time. Mother, Baby (and Dad) are all doing well.
Remember this coming weekend 16 - 18 July 2010 special....all adults receive a 30% discount (yes that means everyone from 13 to 130!) so as is said, Just do it!!
We look forward to hearing from you soon
Stay well and warm
from the Wyndford Team
Remember this coming weekend 16 - 18 July 2010 special....all adults receive a 30% discount (yes that means everyone from 13 to 130!) so as is said, Just do it!!
We look forward to hearing from you soon
Stay well and warm
from the Wyndford Team
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Still no snow that we can see ... but beautiful days. Just one more week of the World Cup and holidays, we trust all our guests have had a great time at Wyndford. Fun was had down at Ibis Gorge as the tractor took everyone down to go agate hunting in the river and a group are just back from abseiling. Remember our post world cup special running for the weekend of the 16th - 18th July 2010 where all adults get a 30% discount. Come and join us for some great walks, or just a little peace and r&r!
Until then, stay well and Warm!
Until then, stay well and Warm!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Crispy, is a good way to describe Wyndford at the moment…The grass is brown and crunchy, the leaves brittle and falling - great fun actually once they have been raked into a pile! Trees are standing bare and quiet and the fence poles are topped with frost each morning. (Dodge has been seen lying early morning covered in a layer of frost making ‘snow angels’ – heaven on earth for a Husky!) It is also fun to see how a few flurries of snow around the farm can bring people out from warm firesides twirling with glee (whatever their age)! These pictures show how different and special each season at Wyndford is.…
Fire is always a worry at this time of year, especially when due to the good rains in summer the grass is standing near as tall as me. Last week we were alerted to a crackling red rim all round us as the top of the mountain burned brightly. Fortunately there was not a breath of wind and although the blackened ground is not great, the threat to Wyndford has now considerably lessened.
I am pleased to say that I am not the only one surprised by Pork Chop… I don’t feel quite so much like a city girl anymore. So here we introduce him, (the Big one) next to a horse which gives you some idea of his size, having said that, he still needs to be seen to be believed!
We had a very festive braai with everybody in the Shed for the Bafana match, unfortunately all our shouting didn’t seem to make a difference! On a quiet day recently, we decided to show our staff that there are other games besides football, and we played foozeball, table tennis and snooker and then took them all outside and taught them how to play bowls. With much hilarity and competition, but with very little expertise, we decided this sport only takes one roll to make people lean either to the left or to the right!
Our winner of a two night mid week stay for two is Val Chilcott. We look forward to being able to welcome you to Wyndford.
♫ Music to your ears (and wallets)…….
We are offering a special discount of 30% for all adults (you don’t have to be a golden oldie to qualify for this one) for the weekend of 16 – 18 July. This would require a two night stay. So, round up friends and family and take a much needed ‘post match’ break – but be sure to call soon to avoid disappointment. ♫
Waiting to hear from you
Until then, stay well and warm,
Best regards from the Wyndford Team
Fire is always a worry at this time of year, especially when due to the good rains in summer the grass is standing near as tall as me. Last week we were alerted to a crackling red rim all round us as the top of the mountain burned brightly. Fortunately there was not a breath of wind and although the blackened ground is not great, the threat to Wyndford has now considerably lessened.
I am pleased to say that I am not the only one surprised by Pork Chop… I don’t feel quite so much like a city girl anymore. So here we introduce him, (the Big one) next to a horse which gives you some idea of his size, having said that, he still needs to be seen to be believed!
We had a very festive braai with everybody in the Shed for the Bafana match, unfortunately all our shouting didn’t seem to make a difference! On a quiet day recently, we decided to show our staff that there are other games besides football, and we played foozeball, table tennis and snooker and then took them all outside and taught them how to play bowls. With much hilarity and competition, but with very little expertise, we decided this sport only takes one roll to make people lean either to the left or to the right!
Our winner of a two night mid week stay for two is Val Chilcott. We look forward to being able to welcome you to Wyndford.
♫ Music to your ears (and wallets)…….
We are offering a special discount of 30% for all adults (you don’t have to be a golden oldie to qualify for this one) for the weekend of 16 – 18 July. This would require a two night stay. So, round up friends and family and take a much needed ‘post match’ break – but be sure to call soon to avoid disappointment. ♫
Waiting to hear from you
Until then, stay well and warm,
Best regards from the Wyndford Team
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