Easter in Yzerfontein

Posted in Baby, family, Life, travel by Roseanna McBain

Hi lovelies,

I’m happy to say that we headed out on our first family holiday over Easter this year – and it was our 6th anniversary too … which is why I absolutely love the month of March. 😉

We were quite excited to take some time out and be away from home as we’ve had an almost non-stop stream of visitors coming round to see Amelia. I won’t lie, it was pretty fantastic to have friends popping in and keeping me company – as I didn’t have time to get lonely – but it was only recently that I realised I haven’t had a single week to myself with just Amelia at home (gasp!).

So with the long weekends of Easter coming up and our anniversary, we decided to spend a whole, blissful week with just the three of us – before inviting my parents to join us on a family holiday.

We enjoyed board games, home cooked meals with some Tangled Tree wine, and even a few trips to the beach – though sadly, the weather didn’t quite cooperate. In short it was heavenly!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Yzerfontein as a town? For those who don’t know it, it’s a perfect seaside village outside of Langebaan with secret beaches, family-friendly restaurants with lovely owners that were completely okay with me breastfeeding Amelia which is a big plus in my books.

Easter morning was a quiet affair at home before we decided to head back to Cape Town to beat any kind of crazy traffic. I naturally went a bit crazy with the camera and took a million pictures. I whittled them down to the below. You’re welcome. 😉

I honestly can’t wait to return and suspend time as we enjoy baby giggles, amazed stares at seagulls, wrinkled noses at the scent of braai food, and happy cheer and togetherness with those I love.

30Jun2015

Rambling around and a life update

Posted in Behind the Scenes, travel by Roseanna McBain

Hey lovelies,

Do you ever sit back and wonder where on earth time has gone?!

This past month and a bit has been quite the run-around I must say. In what way I hear you cry? Well …

My cousin Wayne and I attended the free Comic Book Day event at Stadium on Main and got to get some great pics of cosplayers.

Then, A MidSummer Nights Dream ran at the Masque Theatre (the show I was production secretary for) and I suffered some sever post-show blues once it’s 2-week run was over … trust me, they’re a real thing. Ask any actor or theatre contributor how they feel when their show run ends and be prepared for waterworks if the cast has been tight. In fact, in honour of missing them all (and because I tested out my first ‘fancy’ camera, I’m doing a little photo montage post to showcase the amazing theatre people I was working with.

Next up was a visit to Stellenbosch to take part in #Stellenblog 2015 via a Bites and Sites foodie tour with Hanli. I got to meet some very talented bloggers and experience the winelands in a new (and thoroughly recommended) way. You can read about my full experience here.

The very next day a good friend from work and I were whisked away by DC Tours to visit the magical country town of McGregor, and we meet some media peeps who I simply adore (and am still in touch with). I’ll be doing a full post on our trip at some point later in the month, but as you can see from the pics above, this country town is something incredibly special! ^_^

This whirlwind of activity took place just after finding out that I’m pregnant (I feel like I should say ta-dah about that :p) but there’ll be plenty more about this big news in that in a separate post. For those curious, the little life forming in me is going to be a healthy baby girl, and she’s due in December! ^_^

On the home front, we’ve finally got a semblance of a kitchen together again, albeit that it’s spread over two rooms, now that tiling has finally been completed. Next up, painting the kitchen!

Sorry for the surprise photo blurb, but I thought you’d enjoy a peek into what’s kept me away from my (semi) regular posting schedule. ^_^

13Apr2015

Country Anniversary: Breakfast at Peregrine Farm Stall

Posted in Anniversary, Happiness, Life, travel by Roseanna McBain

Hello lovelies,

If you’ve noticed I’ve been rather absent around here lately it’s because I’ve been away celebrating my 4-year anniversary in the nearby valley of Elgin.

It was a very special time, so picture if you will: autumn days, winelands flowing out over hills and into valleys, country-scented air (that smelled of pine forests, orchards, freshly churned dirt, and country cuisine), shaded green farmland and cute animals, coupled with warm sunshine and crisp, cold evenings with clear skies.

Naturally, our stay at Old Mac Daddy in the middle of all of this was a dream come true. ^_^

So since I’ve been gone a while, I’m going to show, rather than tell, you what we’ve been up to – starting with our breakfast at Red Tractor Café (found within Peregrine Farm Stall, in Grabouw).

Though we don’t visit often, the attached café restaurant at Peregrine Farm Stall is our go-to first choice whenever we have to head over the ‘berg.

The rebuilt restaurant is very airy and free-flowing (and done, we think, in a style inspired by Brinny Breeze, the restaurant at Old Mac Daddy). With friendly staff, hearty food, and an easy-to-read blackboard for those seeking takeaways, we’re happy to report that the food is divine and oh-so-fresh! ^_^

After sating ourselves and doing a quick trip through the shop to get some snacks, we walked the grounds and viewed the mini Duncan Roses nursery before setting off to find Old Mac Daddy (I cannot wait to show you pics of this beautiful spot!) ^_^

13Apr2015

Our Anniversary at Old Mac Daddy

Posted in Anniversary, Autumn, Life lately, travel by Roseanna McBain

Hello lovelies,

Wow – what a stunning anniversary we had in Elgin at Old Mac Daddy! It was characterised by crisp mornings followed by warm, sunshine-filled days that were spent exploring the Elgin area – with it’s smooth wines and hard cheeses, as well as plenty of fresh organic foods and friendly locals.

I loved heading out to explore the surrounding countryside, but I also loved returning to our cosy caravan each evening and sitting out on the deck under a canopy of sparkling stars. Seriously, if you love star gazing then this is one of the best spots to be at … plus the odd nightcap at Brinny Breeze was a welcome decadent treat.

So in short, I can say that our time in this beautiful little valley was as perfect as could be hoped for. Want to have a peek at how we spent our anniversary? Check out the pics below! ^_^

Charles Fox (they do gorgeous MCC tastings)

Winters Drift Winery (so awesome – plus it’s on a train platform <3)

South Hill

If you’re ever in this part of the world, do stop in and make yourself at home – it’s one of my personal favourite escapes and it’s literally just outside of Cape Town. There are so many gorgeous wineries and restaurants in the area to check out (ya’ll know I’m a secret foodie, right?) and plenty of fun to be had for families with kids too!

Have you ever been to Old Mac Daddy? Which trailer did you stay in?

30Mar2015

We’re heading to Old Mac Daddy’s – a luxurious farm stay in the woods

Posted in Anniversary, Happiness, travel by Roseanna McBain

Hi lovelies,

Having stayed at the Daddy Long Legs Hotel in Cape Town the eve before my wedding (thanks to my stunning sister Barbara), I remember being astonished by the artistically decorated rooms, perfect bedding, lovely views and friendly service – as well as the seemingly endless glasses of Method Cap Classique that were gleefully imbibed from the chic downstairs bar.My bridesmaids and I enjoyed every aspect of the hotel, from sipping bubbly on the terrace overlooking the lively city nightlife to curling up under a big fluffy duvet in a room that had decorations that were out of this world. It’s quite understandable that this venue has a very special place in my memories.It’s where I woke up a good 2 hours before my alarm clock on my wedding day, and trying to quell the butterflies in my stomach, browsed the various medical decor about the room before grabbing a shower. It’s where the first quiet knock on my door for the day announced the arrival of my makeup artist, aunty and mum. It’s where my pristine, sparkly wedding dress and shoes were revealed and I was dressed, as those nearest and dearest to me gave me teary hugs and kisses. It’s where my final coffee as a single lady was sipped, and it’s where my father and I had a quiet chat in a small hallway alcove, before we made our way to the Castle and my betrothed.

Finding out that the Daddy Long Legs hotel had a second accommodation that was hidden in a pine forest, not even an hour outside of Cape Town, meant that a stay at Old Mac Daddy has been on my books for a long while – though the timing has just never been right.

With hubby and I celebrating our 4-year anniversary this year, a cosy getaway close to Cape Town was what we were seeking and the search for a perfect accommodation began – from looking at seaside getaways, country and wineland stays, small town houses, and even a center city apartments, the one thing we had agreed on was that we needed somewhere serene.

When a blog on Old Mac Daddy caught my eye, all those happy memories from a night at the Daddy Long Legs hotel sprang to mind, and it was quickly decided that this beautiful haven in the country would be our chosen anniversary venue. Though, since they’re an incredibly popular escape I was half-terrified that my newly imagined getaway plans would be declined from a lack of availability. So just try and imagine the goofy grin that graced my face when I received a confirmation from them, a scant half hour after my enquiry for the Mills & Boon Airstream trailer, along with a polite query as to whether we’d like a massage!! ^_^

I’m absolutely over the moon as this caravan practically screams romance and seclusion.

So stay tuned everyone, pics and a blog will follow! ^_~

13Mar2015

Sauntering around sand dunes and spotting whales at De Hoop Nature Reserve

Posted in Autumn, Review, travel, weekend by Roseanna McBain

Hi there lovelies,

Have you ever just wanted to run away and escape? To explore beautiful scenery and marvel at the wonders of nature far from the daily grind? I’ve had that feeling recently, an ache to go exploring and simply be.

Which is why being whisked away to De Hoop Nature Reserve was the best thing I could’ve imagined! I said goodbye to city life, and bid farewell to responsibility for a little while as the Mr and I spent a weekend in utter paradise with some dear friends. Be warned that the road in to De Hoop is incredibly bumpy (and you feel a tad like 007’s famous drink at the end of it).

After settling in and sunscreening up, our group got to scramble around sand dunes, explore walking trails and beautiful flora, spot whales breaching and calves playing while we picnicked near the shoreline, before dashing merrily around algae-stained caverns at low-tide to watch sea anemones sway gently in underwater currents.

Letting the soft sand cling to our feet and trickle between our toes as the wind whipped our hair about was magic in it’s purest form before we headed back to De Opstal to light an evening braai fire.

Trading stories and laughter over a bottle of wine as barn swallows flitted about at sunset; replaced by bats after dark along with the call of a baboon troop, while a sea of stars sparkle above us meant I just had to use my stargazing app and discover the constellations both above (and below) where we were.

The next day we took a bit of a drive and saw buck of all kinds, along with zebra with calves, the odd ostrich, and passed other weekenders riding bikes, which naturally meant we had to take a turn too.

I hate to admit it, but I’ve never actually learnt to ride before, so while our friends merrily followed along one of the bike pathways, hubby got to coach me for just under 2 hours on how to ride – and I was over the moon when I finally stayed on my two-wheeled transport for over 3 minutes (before kissing the dirt yet again … I’m almost certain I saw a buck shake it’s head at me when that happened). Ah well, maybe one day I’ll get to try again and master riding a bike. After that, to somewhat soothe my spirits, we wandered the gift shop and restaurant, and I photographed the ruins of the old restaurant which burnt down very carefully. From the doorway. Of course. 😉

If you ever get the chance to go here, do take it! Because spending time in this coastal paradise and unique biome does a world of good for your soul.

Have you ever gone to De Hoop and done a stargazing experience or marine walk? I’m tempted to do one of the two next time I go. ^_^

15Feb2015

Valentine’s Day: a Full Date Day of Fun

Posted in Happiness, Romance, travel by Roseanna McBain

Hello sweetie,

I hope you had a stunning V-day yesterday! ^_^

This year for Valentine’s Day hubby and I decided to go low key and instead of the usual chocolates, rose bouquet and a fancy dinner out at a restaurant (as per the usual social norm), we decided instead to have a full date day (with an interlude at home after breakfast, since hubby had to put in a few hours of work this weekend).

We started our date day with a breakfast atCape Farmhouse. It’s set in the middle of almost nowhere, and is a stunning country-styled gem with good food and a great monthly line up of musicians (we literally just missed seeing Arno Carstens – gah!).

The breakfast hit the spot perfectly, and since there’s so much to see on the property, we decided to take a wander around and stop in at Red Rock Tribal shop and the sculpture garden, accompanied by Bandit (a friendly one-eyed German Shepherd who just loved getting a rub!) ^_^

Then, to help walk off the there was the sea-scented coastal drive with a few stop offs for photos – and we even spotted a Dassie family (aka the Rock Hyrax) safely crossing the busy road via a drainage system.

Once hubby finished what he needed to for work, and I did a quick dress change, it was a bit too late for lunch so we decided to do a late brunch (or as I call it, lupper), at the False Bay Rugby Club. It’s quite a nice spot for burgers and milkshakes in the great outdoors ^_^

And that’s it from me for now.

What kind of Valentine ’s Day did you have? ^_^

Rambling with Rose

Lifestyle blogger, South African travel writer, brand new mom.

Category Archives: travel

Easter in Yzerfontein

Rambling around and a life update

Country Anniversary: Breakfast at Peregrine Farm Stall

Our Anniversary at Old Mac Daddy

We’re heading to Old Mac Daddy’s – a luxurious farm stay in the woods

Sauntering around sand dunes and spotting whales at De Hoop Nature Reserve

Valentine’s Day: a Full Date Day of Fun

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