December holidays part 1

When we took the decision to do a family December holiday last year, we could not have been more spot on in our timing. Family bonds were formed and strengthened - the kids were all at an age where they could form them and will have their own memories. We were all together for Christmas and some quality family time was spent with Hunters brother and family and his parents.

But lets start at the start - we drove down from Gauteng to a farm we totally adore somewhere between Smithfield and Bethulie in the Freestate. It is an area that Hunter and I both adore - there is magic to big open spaces, magical stars and the wind playing in the windpumps. Not to mention the fantastic Karoo food and stunning old house.

Just before turning off to the farm we had the best pies ever at Kuilfontein padstal.

 After arriving at the farm and unpacking only what we needed there Hunter had a nap and the kids and I played around the house. There was cycling and running until they discovered froglets in the "leivoor" which kept them busy for ages.

After some much needed refreshment I went for a nap and the rest of the family for a long walk.

 I woke up refreshed after about an hour and went in search for them - seeing a little pink top far away close to one of the farm dams. I made my way there to find them having a swim in the dam. (I joined them after the pictures - it was hugely refreshing)

Looking back to the farm house from the dam.

 It was a wonderful afternoon - Hunter had a quick bike ride and we had a lovely dinner. To top it all the moon was bright and full over the karoo.

 We left very early the next morning for Houtbay, Cape Town. Dawn was simply spectacular from the car.
We arrived around midday in Houtbay to big welcomes from the cousins. We also got to meet their lovely puppy and after unpacking etc we headed to Houtbay beach for a bit of a swim and then to their pool. Oh gosh, was it cold for us after the last 4 years of North coast Natal waters! But fantastic weather for Cape Town

The small things really are the big things

So I am back at work after our well deserved holiday. A holiday where things did not go exactly as planned but where never the less, we made the best off and all had heaps of fun. We had a big road trip, first sleeping over in the karoo near Bethulie, then spending time in Cape Town (mostly Houtbay) and on to Port Elizabeth over Christmas. We ended our trip with a day with our friends in the karoo on a farm bordering the Orange river. The kids were amazing these holidays - I can hardly describe how great they were and am immensely proud of them.

So I sat with the kids after the holiday away and we talked about their favorite moment of the holiday. We had plenty of highlights, visiting the Two Oceans Aquarium, eating at Simons at Groot Constantia, Christmas with many spoils, ice cream on the beach and too many to mention. A immediately said that it was when she took Spirit, a Welsh pony for a swim in the dam on the farm on the day before last of our holiday. I guess to be expected from a horse lover but she was also the most enthusiastic swimmer amongst our bunch and adores the beach sharing a passion for Sardinia bay with both her parents.

 I then prompted L who simply said "quad bike" referring to all the bike rides on the farm with dad. Anything with engines is his passion, possibly a quad bike most of all.

 C has been quiet all the time and then he quickly said - "Swimming in the farm dam" (our first day on holiday) and then changed it to swimming with the horses as well. And then said "no, no, finding the star fish in Sardinia bay and releasing it again".

 He was clearly having a tough time deciding. And then he said it, "actually every thing was the best because we did it all together."

And that I guess is the answer - its the small things (none of these cost anything) that makes the big things count. Spending time together doing things we enjoy is what holidays are all about. Come to think of it, it's what life's about. May your 2014 be filled with magic moments.

So this is how you do it.

If your blog is open and not private, you know that you run the risk of people copying your pictures, etc. es, I know I should put a logo on or such,but I have not gotten round to making one and am in general a bit lazy on the editing side. Yesterday in amongst the craziness of the day I notice a new comment on my post on Houtbaai earlier this year: "It's hard to be humble when you're from Hout Bay, and I love your photos. I run South Africa Travel Online and each week highlight a travel blog to our readers. This week I've chosen yours. We've linked to this post from the bottom of our BA newsletter."

Now people, if you want to use someone's photo - this is how you do it. Tell them about it, feature them in a newsletter or such and give them credit! Thank Karen for the compliments and good blogging etiquette. This is what she wrote and the picture she used.

Sometimes people take such high quality photos that it's impossible for me not to make a mention of them. Cat caught a flight from Lanseria to Cape Town where she spent time photographing Hout Bay.

Cape Town day 2

Playing along today with Angie:

We woke up to a cloudy and rainy Cape Town on Saturday morning the 10th. We decided to try something indoors and headed to Butterfly world. My, did the girls enjoy it! It is literally a paradise under cover.

The highlight of the day for the Lil Miss was to be chosen to feed the koi fish.

Some of the pretty things to see include parrots, monkeys, lizards and blue duiker (blou bokkies). These are the tiniest most amazing little antelope and very endangered.

After spending quite a bit of time just strolling around we had some coffee at the little restaurant. It has these amazing kites hanging from the ceiling.

A visit to Cape Town

With great excitement we left for Cape Town on Thursday night with a flight delayed a bit from Lanseria airport. Got in very late and went to sleep almost directly.

On Friday morning we woke up to a cloudy but not too cold day and set off for a walk to Houtbaai beach an harbor - just an easy walk from my BIL and SIL's home. The princess loved the hustle and bustle of the harbor. A lot of world cup tourists were milling around and some buildings were well decorated.

By midday it was icy cold and we headed home after picking up a few shells. The afternoon was spent by some of us napping, the rest having a visit from a friend of my SIL and the two cousins playing up a storm.

Cape Town - day 3 and 4

I am still busy recapping on me and The Lil' Miss lovely Cape Town break. On Saturday morning we headed to the Biscuit Mill market - I am keeping those yummy pictures for tomorrow in keeping with my Friday market day posts. After Miss Madelein had a nap, we headed out for one of South Africa's most famous scenic drives - Chapman's peak road and to Simon's Town.

Titanic at the lookout.

The 4 girls.

Houtbay from the lookout.



From the other side of the lookout.

We drove around towards Cape point but did not stop as we had two sleeping princesses in the car. But at Simon's Town we stopped to visit some very special birds. At Boulders beach you find a colony of African Penguins and up to a few moths ago it was the only place in the world where you could swim with wild penguins. Due to a decline in the colony, this has now been stopped. But we still went to see the little gentlemen(and ladies) in cloaks.



There is an extensive set of walkways to keep penguins (and people) safe and apart.


After our visit there we took two ever impatient girls to play on the beach.

The little mermaid, once again.


This is the cutest little beach - only one house right on the beach - imagine living there.


Winell doing her god motherly duties - it is the Atlantic ocean and freaking ice cold.

On Sunday morning we went for a quick beach play at Llandudno before we headed for breakfast buffet (including oysters) on Houtbay beach.

View from the sea back.

View towards Houtbaai.

View towards Camps bay side.

Cousins at play in matching outfits.

Me and sweet Madelein.

Thanks guys - the visits been lekker (great). On the flight back my little princess slept from 15 minutes in until after landing 2 and a quarter hours later.