Sigh. It was never going to be the Perfect duPlessis Holiday without something rather drastic and expensive happening. Look. If you take a brief look at our history, you’ll know what I mean. It’s 2009. Anton, Alex and I drive to Cape Town for a long weekend for hubby to participate in the Two Oceans … More The End Of Holiday Blues
From the deck of the Coves cottage, we can sit and watch whales playing in the distant water. Spumes of water forced into the air, followed by a breaching shadow and then a splash as she or he crashes back into the blue waters. Either Southern Right or Humpback Whales, we learn that in our … More A Whale Tale
March 12th A gentle hand, a generous thought, a moment from your day spent on caring for others, for the fragility of our overexposed hearts. Sometimes it’s not the physical act of giving that counts in making a difference. Mostly, it’s the little acts of kindness that make the biggest difference. Greet the old lady … More Some scribbles on the ‘gram that you might have missed
Warning: infinitesimal rant ahead. Wednesday night, or more specifically , Thursday morning. It’s 1:30 and I have just climbed into my bed. Nope, I’ve not been up watching tv, neither have I been out kuiering/jolling/dancing/dining with my maatjies. Instead I have washed off the smell of tarte flambée that has embedded itself into my skin, … More Has The Blood Moon and Lunar Eclipse Unbalanced Me?
(I started writing this newsletter in early March so it’s a little disjointed given the weeks that have passed.) Cryptic title isn’t it? The truest answer would be a vague ‘it depends how significant a change you’re referring to’, because changing linen and toilet rolls happens to everyone every day. Changing schools, jobs, countries, diets… … More Everyone’s life is a cycle of changes, right?
Nobody seems to read anymore. We glance at eye-catching newspaper headlines and take it for granted that the news that follows is true and properly reported on, aware that we can never know for certain how true the reporting is, how unbiased it is. We seek out affirmations in neat square blocks, with a wordcount … More Personal Writings: January 2022
2022. The days continue to grow more bizarre. I remember 2 years ago when we first heard of Covid in China, and we were warned that a pandemic was on the way I was on sick-leave recovering from stress injury, and almost as soon as I returned to work after a fortnight off, ready to … More Recipe: Creamy Butternut Gnocchi with Ham Crisps
I’m not certain whether it’s a sign of laziness or simply just how life ebbs and flows, but over the last few years I’ve tended more towards a quicker form of writing, one that I can tap off with relative ease from my phone, while I ponder a scene in front of me, make my … More Bringing in 2022
For the last 7 or 8 months, I’ve participated in a virtual writing group, which I came across on Instagram (there is some benefit to that rather charged space). I joined while I was still on on my paid ‘sabbatical’ (what else do you call it?), which let me admit, has made the creative writing … More The Oculus
September 26th. Heading into the last week of September already. I’ve been keeping track of the weeks of this year more than normal since I’m ticking off each weekly run and we’re approaching week 39 coming up. That’s three quarters of the way through 2021. 😮Does it feel like it? The thing is, being in … More The Autumn Newsletter.
Hello my lovelies, I saw a few prompts yesterday that suggested autumn was starting today. Such as it is, life continues its <<roulant>> and it’s time for the season to change, but I was more concerned about a significant change in the weather: did I need to make sure my kids had rain coats and … More Another season falls.
I love a road trip. A winding road, a falling valley, a climbing hill and a striking, towering mountain top, a moody sky or even just a bright blue expanse hovering above us. Road-side padstals (in South Africa, there’s nothing of that sort in Europe), the sun setting in my rear view mirror. Music. … More The duPlessis’ take on the Flatlands of the North
Privileged is the person who can enjoy being alone with nothing but flighty musings to occupy their thoughts. I may have mentioned recently that I had read something about Proust’s Madeleine that was repeated as a striking coincidence later to my personal seasonal ramblings. No, don’t be impressed or jaded- I’ve not personally read Proust … More A Sweet Trip Down Memory Lane.
Midsummer tomorrow, and with the rain finally falling softly on this midsummers eve evening, I feel like we’re in a pretty content space of chilled-ness. Spring- in all of its late coldness finally brought forth the bushels of elderflower from which I made various batches of cordial. On top of that, I discovered the concept … More June Musings and Scribblings on The Gram
I started this entry a month ago, as confinment restrictions were lifted. Finally, France is offically open (except for the borders) and the terraces across the city were full yesterday evening. Towards the end of last week I started seeing adverts on social media for local restaurants that are now open for customers to order … More Recipe: Malva Pudding
Sunday’s. What’s with a Sunday? Late morning wake up calls. Sleeping in, or perhaps a little morning nookie. Long punishing solo runs pounding the high road or by ways. A dawn cycle with a cycling buddy to the village down the valley. A round of golf with your high school mates. Painting, drawing, reading, writing. … More Recipe: Roast Spatchcock Chicken, Baby Potatoes, Broccoli & Tomato.
Sunday morning, not quite 8 am. What a week it has been! We’ve forfeited our regular Sunday morning 12km family walk due to Thandi-belle currently languishing on my bed, as well as needing to prepare for a braai lunch with friends. The sun is shining again, and instead of yours truly simply scrolling through my … More Thandi the Puppy and other news.
Dearest friends and family I do hope that this finds you well. Between the vast Covid related concerns that invade our daily news, the notion that we haven’t neither seen each other nor even corresponded with each other much ease. Never mind being able to have a coffee together or feel your arms around me, … More Newsletter, March and April. ICYMI.
It’s Week 48 since the French government sent me home after they realised Covid-19 wasn’t going away on its own. Right now, my house is quiet and still, barre the dripping of defrosting ice on the kitchen terrace and the hum of my oven as it dries out yet another batch of rusks for the … More The Year That COVID-19 and The French Government Gave Me An Unexpected Sabbatical (and allowed me to realise that I will never be able to write a recipe book.)
If there is one exciting occurence to have finally risen from the ashes of this year, it would be the happy news that the new Netherby Farm dairy is finally up and running. After breaking ground last October, with months of inactivity due to Covid, they finally went live in the new dairy a month … More Stories from the Farm
Pinot, Bretzels, and Cathedrals 