This post Wedgewood – Inventors of Wonderful Things is written by Carmen I am fortunate enough to live in one of the most vibrant and lively areas in the country. Formerly thought of as sleepy and slow; this is no longer the case. The Midlands is fast growing into a vibrant network of up and coming artists, eateries, bars, and artisanal craft producers.  Creative resurgence If you live here, you know this. But this resurgence in creative expressions has been a while in coming. Almost like a steam engine, starting slow and building until it reaches its speed and power to carry its load pow ..read more

This post Travel to the Midlands countryside – The Orchards is written by Carmen It was a particularly warm Winter’s weekend that greeted our circle of friends as we decided to settle down on the porch around the fire pit. The encompassing view takes in the meandering river, rolling hills and forest, as well as the railway along the edge of the valley. Picture this! You find yourself dreamily walking through orchards of fruit trees with a bubbling brook curling indolently around the grassed bends of field. It conjures up images of verdant grass and leaves with a fragrance rambling ..read more

This post Finding a Midlands Farmstall Treasure is written by Carmen A Farmstall in a Railhouse on a winding road. Sheryl Crow reckons ‘everyday is a winding road’. I reckon she is a Midlands girl at heart, because here, we have lots of winding roads arranged side by side with rolling hills and fields dotted with cattle. And the railway. Always the railway. The intersection between our history and our future, neatly tied up with steel tracks and tirelessly toiling engines shunting railway carriages. This is where I find myself on Women’s Day in 2020. With Au-Gust winds pushing dust and leaves ..read more

This post My Midlands Coffee Route (South Side) is written by Carmen Reading Time: < 1 minute If you know me, you know I love a good cup of coffee and hence me ending up creating my own coffee route. My favourites being a Flat White or a Cappuccino. For this reason, and because I live in a really fast-growing coffee area, people regularly ask me about where they can find a good cup of coffee. On a bit of prompting and thinking, I decided to put a few names down in a coffee route Infographic so people can find their way with ease. All of the places are on Facebook, and most are on Instag ..read more

This post A new coffee shop on the block that you need to try | VT Coffee Cafe Midlands is written by Carmen Reading Time: 3 minutes Sipping coffee, sitting on the deck watching a freight train pull off on one side, while vehicles head up the old R103 road to their respective adventures, I figure it is a fitting start to a new year. Somewhat transitory. And yet a trendy new take on an older space is where I find myself. VT Coffee Cafe Midlands is located on the R103 at the old Lions River station alongside the art hub, The Platform. Newly opened, it features a converted container ..read more

This post The basics of a fine Bourbon is written by Carmen Reading Time: 3 minutes Thanks to Woodford Reserve, I now know a lot more about bourbon. I am no aficionado, but I am certainly more educated and happier for it. Enter Woodford bourbon which is said to have been made first in 1881 by a bartender in Kentucky and is now considered one of Kentucky’s oldest distillery sites. I thought I would share some fundamentals that helped me understand this classic drink a bit better. So how is Woodford Reserve made? Well, according to the pro’s high rye bourbons maintain the standard thre ..read more

This post Uzwelo: Bags with style and an eco attitude is written by Carmen This proudly South African eco-conscious Company is growing in leaps and bounds in its ethos of supporting the environment, skills development and conservation. Billions of Polyethylene Terephthalate (or PET) bottles are thrown away each year. Yes, people, we are talking plastic. This plastic chokes up our waterways and oceans causing havoc in nature and to the species that inhabit it. Where did it begin? Expand a Sign decided that they wanted to do something for South Africa with what they saw around them. T ..read more

This post Anything but plain at Nambiti Plains is written by Carmen She sweeps from the crisp white sheets, enrobing herself in a luxurious white gown. Padding quietly onto an expansive wooden deck at Nambiti Plains to join the circle of life rising on the South African plains laid out before her. It is impossible to not wax lyrical when faced with the beating heart of our land as your opening scene when waking. Nambiti Plains is set overlooking the grazing plains on the northern side of the Nambiti Private Game Reserve. It is foremost, a lodge that is environmentally aware in its ..read more

This post Finding the Emerald Gecko is written by Carmen Where to find the Emerald Gecko Finding the Emerald Gecko, now that it is open, is easier than you would think. Just head on over to 38 Hilton Avenue (the Jacaranda Center to some) and you will see if facing the street. Shading its deck is a great big tree that adds a touch of serenity to this relaxed space. I sit with the Owner, Jonathan, to find out what inspired this space and the food along with it. The Why of Emerald Gecko Jonathan grew up in the Seychelles with his sister and Mom where an average day included heading ..read more