The Restory Retreat Centre

 In South Africa (maybe elsewhere too, but I can only speak for my own country) we have the tendency to overwork things. Especially artwise. What is in vogue on the interior decoration scene at the moment (on linen, curtaining,scatter cushions and even t-shirts and facebook), are scenes of rural or farm life, complete with windmill, tractor and with patriotic sayings printed all over the place: “Afrikaners is plesierig” (Afrikaans speaking people are happy go lucky) and “Die Kaap is Hollands”(a very old saying meaning that everything is quite alright).      A decade or two ago there was a season of guinea fowl. They were depicted on everything from artists’ canvas to dinnerware. I remember a dinner set I had hand painted for a client with a typical bespeckled border and some guinea fowl grazing with you in the middle of the dinner plate.      Another theme that was very much in vogue and still makes me feel nauseous, was paintings by all and ...

George worries about the strangest things. He asked me this morning: Do you think the dogs have settled in allright after the move here to Barrowfield? This is what came to my mind. "Oh, I think so," I said. Matilda

On a stroll down to the river I was amazed at the change since our last walk. Autumn is blazing all around us. Matilda

Two months down the line, it is quite natural that a city slicker like myself will be drawing some comparison between life here on the farm and the life I grew accustomed to back in Pretoria, South Africa's capital city. And, please correct me if I'm mistaken, but so far it seems we're not missing out on much. Garden services "Phone booth"- The view from the only spot where we have mobile phone reception. Running water Free range beef   Dept of Water Affairs Security fences and gates Highway Tarred road for four legged pedestrians Big screen Matilda Note: Photographs by George, Marinetha Naude, Ralie du Preez and myself

Collage of photos of a weekend near  Groenvlei, Wakkerstroom As you set out for Ithaka* hope the voyage is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery. Laistrygonians and Cyclops, angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them: you’ll never find things like that on your way as long as you keep your thoughts raised high, as long as a rare excitement stirs your spirit and your body. Laistrygonians and Cyclops, wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you. Hope the voyage is a long one. May there be many a summer morning when, with what pleasure, what joy, you come into harbors seen for the first time; may you stop at Phoenician trading stations to buy fine things, mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony, sensual perfume of every kind— as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars. Keep It...

The photo, taken by photographer Jack Bradley, shows the moment that Harold Whittles hears for the first time after being fitted with a hearing aid. Date unknown. Source: Able magazine, 2 June 2010