Schaffler's Garden Nursery and Landscaping.

Under the trees restaurant and coffee shop

Under the trees restaurant

I will tell you one thing and you must believe me, you don't have to look very far to find solitude in Johannesburg, Schaffler's Garden nursey and landscaping are exactly it.

It's beautiful and the best part is I came across it entirely by accident. My little family and I were on a hunt one saturday morning, for somewhere nice to try out. Lo and behold, and there it was. Stepping inside it's cool, relaxed interior is like falling down the rabbit hole - only without the weirdness. It's completely isolated from the hustle and bustle yet situated right in the midst of it.

Beautiful food

We had a luxurious mid morning breakfast under the lush and leafy canopies. The food was fresh, filling, healthy and yet absolutely yummy.

I can't say that the prices are necessarily low but what you lose in pennies you more that make up for in the sheer feeling of well being the place evokes.

Ponds of koi

I haven't seen koi that big and magnificent before - perhaps because I haven't seen many koi, swimming happily in ornamental ponds all over the premises.

Your itchy green fingers will find a home there.

They also have an assortment of natural farm and other products for sale.

Try it

Really...and tell me what you think,because I don't think my words are enough to convey the loveliness of the place. 

Contacts;

www.schafflers.co.za

Nursery enquiries:
Nursery Manager (Penny) & Switchboard: (011) 786-0323
penny@schafflers.co.za

Landscape enquiries:
Anthony Schaffler (011) 885-3479 / 083 266 1573
anthony@schafflers.co.za

Irrigation enquiries:
Anthony Schaffler (011) 885-3479 / 083 320 9708
irrigation@schafflers.co.za

Koi & Water Gardens enquiries:
Penny Erasmus (011) 786-0323
koi@schafflers.co.za

Schafflers Florist Enquiries:
Megan (011) 786 0323

Under the Trees Restaurant & Coffee Shop enquiries:
Manageress Rebecca (011) 786-0242
Christine Schaffler 083 252 2090
christine@schafflers.co.za

Abyssinia Restaurant - Kensington

Great food, let's eat!

I had the pleasure of eating at Abyssinia Restaurant on my birthday recently and must say, the experience was very pleasant.

It is as the name indicates a proudly Ethiopian restaurant, right down to the decor and music, which I enjoyed very much.

You will leave a new person, having drank of Ethiopian culture, history and or coffee - which is some of the best in the world.

It's a tribal affair 

Perhaps not entirely but sharing is indeed caring here, a large tray of food is presented to all partaking in the eating ceremony and everyone just digs in - literally and merrily. This way of eating isn't entirely alien to me as most black African culture do practice it but if you haven't tried it before, don't be shy, do give it a try.

Beautiful food

The food was lovely, little bits of everything, it is the norm to eat of everything the chef prepared in one seating in Ethiopian restaurants, personally I have no qualms with the trend in fact I think it's very cool as I am not particularly brilliant at making good decisions in this field..

Most of what we had were little scribbles on paper to me - they are in Aramaic but they were nonetheless very yummy. 

The best thing as always, you don't have to deep too deep into your pocket to eat.

The service

I can't fault the service in anyway, In fact I left the restaurant with a birthday present courtesy of the manager - what more could a girl ask for.

The waiter helping us had minor hiccups communicating in english but the manager came to his rescue and took us through the menu, explaining in great detail what all the dishes were made of.

The ambiance

It's a great atmosphere, a diverse collection of people having a good time, although the majority of the clientele is no doubt Ethiopian in search of a little bite of home.

Abyssinia Restaurant, 

Queen’s Street Kensington (opposite the Shell garage),

Tel: 072 9188824 

Nullarbor Cottages

Uninterrupted Silence

The only service at Nullarbor Cottages is No Service at all, which is just perfect for the kind of place it is.

My sole communication with management was via email, and that I found rather refreshing.

I got exactly what I wanted - zero people interference, right from the moment I set foot at Nullarbor Cottages, there was even no presence at the rather rustic gate!

The Lonesome horse

Right outside the cottage I was in - Pula Moon, was a beautiful horse that constantly came by to graze, complimenting and supplementing the already surreal feel of the place.

Inclusions

The self catering cottages come complete with a jacuzzi, towels,toilet paper, cutlery and utensils. Outside is a fire place, patio and deck chairs from where one can just breath and detox.

A silent being of the human species comes by to clean up every day.

Shopping

If one happens to forget any of their conveniences at home, Magaliesburg town is only about 5-10 minutes away by car. Caution! - the road to Nullarbor Cottages is rather rough and not tarred, but aren't all roads that lead to paradise?.

The view

The view is endless, it goes on and on and on and it's simply beautiful.

And at twilight, the temptation to open a bottle of champagne is not to be taken lightly, it must be obeyed!.

The Details

I think you should definitely use them.

Jenny and Des Fernhold

Nullarbor Cottages
www.nullarbor.co.za
info@nullarbor.co.za
Jenny: +27 836528647
Des:     +27 828710437

Chesa Nyama - Balfour park shopping centre

New kid on the block

There is a new eatery in Balfour park shopping center and this one is right after my own heart.

The name Chesa Nyama speaks for itself but for those non-Joburgers/South Africans, I will explain.

It's all about the meat, or should I say grilling/eating it.

I don't know what took so long but one would expect that there would be such a restaurant in just about every mall or on every street corner in South Africa, it is a meat loving population after all, and I am no exception. 

Enough to feed an army.

It must be because they are newly open, or perhaps that's just how they roll but the helpings are quite big.

For R70, I got enough food to feed 2 adults and a 6 year old - for a few days. I tell lies, in today's economy it is shocking. The food itself was above average, the meat done to our perfection, although the chicken nuggets tasted just slightly offish, but then again, it's not the kind of place one should buy chicken nuggets so the kid has herself to blame.

The details.

Balfour Park shopping center.
Shop no: 119/120
Telephone: 011 075 3609

Fairmount Nursery and Tea Garden

Spruce up your garden this summer!

And have yourself a delicious looking muffin while at it.

Can't remember her name now but the resident confectioner does know her story, the presentation was just  as good as the taste, if not better too.

I had a late breakfast at Fairmount nursery and tea garden,it was a lazy afternoon with families gathered for a nice chat and children building sand castles or feeding goats. Very quaint.

The service was not a 100% but i was happy to just relax under the leafy foliage.

The food when it finally arrived was quite good, it came on a wooden slab - I thought it was a nice touch.

Effect on your pocket.

I can't say it's a cheap place to eat at but it's not 5 star dining either so the prices are quite reasonable, for the ambience and peacefulness offered.

I picked up a few plants and herbs on my way out,and for that my garden is a much happier place.

The details 

Give them a call or drop them an email, who knows, you might even like it.

0116406490

Email: teagarden@fairmount.co.za

Address: 26 Sandler Road Fairmount, Johannesburg.

Kellow Park Stables

My First time on a horse

I don't know if it's me or if the heading above reads slightly dodgy but let's not lose track,

I had never been on a horse until recently, something i am not very proud to admit but there you have it.

So I was pretty much ecstatic when my Girlfriend surprised me with Groupon tickets for a horse riding experience at sunset - don't you just love Groupon! (as a by the way)

We took along our 6 year old daughter who thought the whole experience was absolutely amazing, strange child didn't even suffer any pains and aches like we did.

The Horse riding Experience

I should be honest, it was more horse trotting than riding,but for a beginner, it was intense!

I always imagined being on a horse would be like sitting on a comfy chair - the movies make it looking so easy, which is why  I did not anticipate the bumpy ride a head of me. I felt like I would fall off any minute and held on tightly for dear life the whole time, sweaty palms and all, not wanting to make any wrong move in case the horse got frightened and I went tumbling down.

What I think of Kellow Park stables

The lady in charge of our troupe was very nice and calming, the rest of the guys leading the horses were also very polite and helpful. It's rustic and laid back, complete with an endless number of dogs, some rather ancient.

The overall experience was great, I only wish I had more time - and money of course, to sharpen my horsewomanship!

Kellow park stables is found in Muldersdrift

and ran by:

Ryan Andrews  -  083 601 3075

Kate Andrews - 083 607 3065

Kensington Spring Fair.

Don't you just love spring?

The flowers blossoming, little buds becoming green crowns on once dried up trees and happy fairs.

I love it!

10 rand pony rides, jumping castles am sadly too old to partake in, over priced drinks and stalls upon stalls of some new and some lovely old things to browse through if not buy.

A fair by the lake

The Kensington Spring Fair takes place every 1st Sunday of September at Rhodes  park in Johannesburg.

It's quite lovely seeing young and old stretch the winter tired bones and breath in the freshness of Spring.

The park is nice and spacious, with little lakes of water scattered about in which green algae floats.

It's all quite quaint.

The Food

One of the reasons i go to these fairs is for the food, i got to taste curry straight from Durban, apparently it had been emailed through a few minutes back, girl was it hot!. I would share about it's after effects on bits and parts of me but there is such a thing as TMI - too much information :-p.

Rhodes Park is found at Cnr Cumberland and Ocean streets.

I will most certainly be there next year for the spring fair!