Notes

Flammkuchen but not quite

24, March 2013

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Suzannne & Tobi with their bottle of La Belle Dame Sans Chapeau

It is always a treat when someone stays with us, bringing with them a view on a product or cultural items which hitherto had been unknown to us. When Suzanne Diehm and Tobi Mast checked in, little would betray the fact that Tobi is a masterbaker in the making at home in Stuttgart where he, with his family, owns and run the Deie Backhaus. They produce Swabian Deie which is a relative of the better known Flammkuchen, the Alasatian speciality. A recipe for 'Schwäbische Deie' basically impossible to find, but here is a recipe for flammkuchen with yeast dough, which we have made on occasion...

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Burchell’s legacy

22, March 2013

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Happy birthday to William Burchell, English Explorer, naturalist, traveller, artist, and author was born in 1792, the son of a wealthy nurseryman.  Burchell travelled nearly 7 000 km throughout South Africa between 1810 and 1815, collecting specimens of animals and plants. He described his journey in a book Travels in the Interior of Southern Africa.  His collection contains the most extensive examples of African fauna and flora.  Burchell's travels however exhausted his fortune, and he became quite isolated and disillusioned. On 23 March 1863, he ended his own life in London. Burchell is remembered...

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Knot of Stone

07, March 2013

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Nicolaas & Ellen

One of the real treats of living in a guesthouse and meeting such a wide range of people is that you become good friends with many. It is natural then, that when they return for a second, third or fourth visit, you greet them as a guest but also as a friend. Two such friends have just been for their annual visit and it was, again, inspiring, interesting and just too quick. Nicolaas Vergunst is a published author who currently is riding the crest of his most amazing book, Knot of Stone. Born in Cape Town of post-war Dutch emigrants he worked as an artist, art teacher, designer, curator...

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A Minor Public Figure…

31, January 2013

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We are so priviigded to get some amazing guests. From movers and shakers in the jazz world to journalists, chefs and fashion designers. We were very honoured to have the wonderful Des Wilson and his gorgeous wife Jane with us this week, and to also cook dinner for them. We were surprised and touched when Des left a copy of his very recent book Memoirs of a Minor Public Figure in the suite after they checked out. But what a book! Choc full of information on the transformation of British politics and the people behind it. As Sir Harold Evans says in the forward: "Every country needs a Des Wilson." Des...

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Without a paddle

30, January 2013

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Long before the idea of a guesthouse in Swellendam was even a possibility and life was all about ad campaigns and clients, one of the highlights of the year was to take the road to Swellendam and rip a few all-nighters. It didn't matter whether you were a staunch oke, a trance tripper, a hip hipster or a hip hop head. It didn't even matter if you were a zombie robot. And it still doesn't. Tomorrow sees the start of Up the Creek 2013 and while things change in the real world, here on the banks of the Breede, mercifully, things haven't really changed much at all. At Up The Creek everyone comes...

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Penguin Run

08, January 2013

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Dave with his pram

The African Penguin population has undergone a staggering 80% decrease over the last 50 years. When the first official population census was conducted in 1956, there were about 141 000 pairs. More than fifty years later, the population is at only 20 000 pairs. These charismatic birds breed only at a few islands along the coast of South Africa and Namibia and their numbers are continuing to dwindle. Penguins are threatened by a myriad of sources from predation by seals (and possibly sharks) to the potential for a catastrophic oil spill to a lack of food. The impact of these threats will only be exacerbated...

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Bravo Tredici

30, November 2012

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Very stylish interior

It's not every day that you walk into a totally new build of this scale and purpose, in a small South African town and just marvel at the high level of craftmanship, decor, and quality. This place would be unique and special anywhere in the world, and we are so lucky to have it in Swellendam. Over the last two years, several places have opened and relaunched, each with the hint of what Swellendam is going to be when its all grown up. Tredici is a game-changer. Now, when you arrive at the town on the N2 you are greeted by this very stylish sight. And you naturally feel like the town is ripe for exploring. You...

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From Uganda to Cape Town ON A BIKE!

13, November 2012

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photo copy

  Mark McNamara spent a few days at Augusta on his bicycle journey through the heart of Africa raising funds for orphaned & vulnerable children. He is cycling through 10 countries from Uganda to Cape Town, South Africa. He is assisting Keep the Dream 196, a community-based charity using mentoring programmes to advance employment generation, poverty reduction and social integration at a grassroots level. Australian koala, Katie Dee, has come along for the ride. She is cycling with Mark along the entire BIKE AFRICA route. Katie is an inspiration for all of us to ‘get out of our tree’...

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Our water in Germany

30, October 2012

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Swellendam water in Germany!

Recent guest Marion sent us these candid pics of Suurbraak, our guys repairing our wall and most importantly, a bottle of Augusta de Mist Pure Swellendam Water, which made it very safely back to Germany. We love hearing from guests and getting images which they took while staying with us.  

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Sunday Independent

30, October 2012

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And another really good article about Augusta de Mist and the association we have with The Passionate Pomegranate Co. We are also very proud of the kind people at Passionate Pomegranate, as this product is truly flying and they deserve every bit of success they get. The product is also now available at 'Volkers Feinkost' in Paarl, which is owned by the same couple who own 'Cascade Manor 'in Paarl, part of the Cape Country Route, as are we in Swellendam.

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