Cape Town

Do your dreams change?

by Fiona Rossiter on June 11, 2013

 

art-supplies

 This is a post I wrote last year and something that has been on my mind constantly for the past few weeks! My hubby put it very aptly the other day – it is as if you are following your dreams and headed in the right direction, when something distracts you! You see what someone else is doing and you think ooh why can’t I do that as well! Something I always say to my girls, when they are studying is – “focus girls focus”! Well it seems I need to take some of my own advice. I am not saying that you cannot diversify or change direction but you need to be careful, that what you are doing is not merely a distraction from your real plan and purpose!

This is a question I have been pondering the past few days. I think this thought process was instigated after my daughter hauled out a few of my art pieces from high school the other day and then insisted on taking them to school to show her art teacher! After I got over the feelings of complete and utter insecurity, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. These were after all my creations and my daughter saw fit that they were good enough to share with her teacher. I am completely aware of the fact that I am “no Picasso” but I felt proud none the less!

It did, however, make me reflect back to my, somewhat naïve, yet hopeful outlook at the tender age of 15 or 16 years, when the world was my oyster. My aspirations of becoming a world-renowned fashion designer, with my own thriving chain of boutiques! At that point in my life doing anything that was creative, was my ultimate goal in life. This really got me thinking – well are my dreams still the same or have they changed and morphed into something completely different? Or are they buried beneath all the stuff life throws at you? I think that maybe I have changed, as my circumstances have changed but I think my dreams are still alive and well! If anything I think we add to these dreams as we grow and mature.

So what now? When does living your dream become impossible, well never, as far as I am concerned – if you want something badly enough you will make it happen? Luckily for me I have daughters that both enjoy fashion and have a creative flare, a husband who is extremely supportive – which I feel makes living my dream even more plausible. It may not be the exact same dream that I had all those years ago but I believe it will be better than ever because I now have special people in my life to share it with!

 

Images: Photography & Drawings By ©FAR Photography

 

 

{ 2 comments }

Groot Constantia New Wine Label

by Fiona Rossiter on April 26, 2013

Groot Constantia

Last week I attended an event at Groot Constantia Wine Farm, which is situated in the stunning Constantia Valley. I have blogged about my love of Groot Constantia before and shared photographs of the stunning vineyards and historical buildings that the farm is renowned for.

Groot Constantia has always been one of our family’s favourite places to spend long lazy afternoons, lunching in one of their popular restaurants, sipping on the amazing estate wines! This is usually followed by a stroll, along the tree-lined avenue, surrounded by the magnificent vineyards and majestic mountains.

Photo Credit Groot Constantia

This event was being held to celebrate the new Groot Constantia Gouverneur’s Reserve label, as well as the official unveiling of the upgraded tasting room. This was definitely an event that I had really been looking forward to attending!

The day before the event, Cape Town was launched into the first of this years stormy winter episodes! Weather predictions for the following day were anything but good, with torrential downpours and flooding predicted but the event was to go on as planned! A bit of rain was not going to dampen our spirits, especially with the offer of good food and amazing wines – wild horses would not keep me away!

We were transported to the event from the V&A Waterfront, aboard the Red Sightseeing Bus, which on a less stormy day would have been ideal but the atmosphere on the bus was fun and filled with great expectations for the day ahead.

Groot Constantia Event Collage3

We arrived at Groot Constantia and managed to make a dash from the bus and get out of the rain! We were greeted with a glass of Groot Constantia bubbly and delicious canapes, courtesy of Jonkerhuis Restaurant. The rain outside was quickly forgotten!

Groot Constantia Event Collage

Jean Naudé, the CEO of Groot Constantia, then gave us a brief history of the farm, which is the oldest wine estate in South Africa. It is a farm steeped in history and it is very apparent that the preservation of its heritage, is of paramount importance. The Groot Constantia legacy has spread far and wide, with bottles, bottle shards and bottle seals, which have been discovered in far corners of the world, dating from as far back as 1774. The current owner of the estate is the Groot Constantia Trust, a non-profit company, which ensures that Groot Constantia is beautifully maintained and operated to the highest of standards.

Groot-Constantia-Event13

Next on the agenda was the official opening and ribbon cutting of the newly revamped tasting room, which epitomizes how Groot Constantia, successfully blends the old with the new. The tasting room is warm and inviting and beautifully decorated.

Groot-Constantia-Event12

This was followed by a tasting of the newly labeled Gouverneurs Reserve range of wines. The “new” wine label is a celebration of the Groot Constantia heritage and is in fact an exact reproduction of one of the Estates historical labels, which has been brought back into use to distinguish and honour the Gouverneurs Reserve range of wines. I got a bit carried away with taking photographs of the wine…

Groot-Constantia-Event14

and more photos of wine…

Groot-Constantia-Event9

and yet more photos of wine!

Groot-Constantia-Event11 Groot-Constantia7

After a rather informative cellar tour we made our way to Simons restaurant to continue the festivities. Simon’s holds very special memories, for me, as my baby brother had his wedding reception there in 2011!

Groot-Constantia-Event17

Groot-Constantia-Event22 Groot-Constantia-Event21

We were greeted with a glass of Port, perfect considering the chilly weather and the treated to an array of delicious finger foods and yummy Groot Constantia wines. My personal favourite wine was the Shiraz – which was perfect as it was definitely red wine weather!

Simon's-Food2 Simon's Food Collage2 Groot-Constantia-Event20

One truly has to experience Groot Constantia to feel Groot Constantia – it is about rich history, a beautiful setting, friendly people, memories to be made, fun to be had and, of course, wine to be savoured and enjoyed.

Thank you to Groot Constantia and the organisers for a wonderful day, enriched by good food, amazing wine and great people!

{ 1 comment }

Wakaberry Willowbridge

by Fiona Rossiter on March 15, 2013

Wakaberry5

Last week I attended the launch of Wakaberry Froyo, at the Willowbridge Centre in Durbanville, Cape Town. Who could resist the opportunity because truth be told I do not have a sweet tooth but I happen to love froyo and I had not been to Wakaberry yet.

Wakaberry8

Wakaberry is the new kid on the block and is very quickly becoming über popular! Wakaberry is the first South African frozen yoghurt brand to offer a unique self-serve concept that allows each customer to be the boss of their own creation, which is loads of fun – once you get the hang of the machine that is!

Wakaberry10

 

Wakaberry

The froyo flavours vary from store to store, but customers can expect a wide variety including classics like Strawberry, Vanilla, Mixed Berry and English Toffee and quirkier taste sensations like Green tea, Pomegranate, Kiwi and Watermelon. Toppings wise, for those watching their waistlines there are healthy alternatives such as fresh fruit, nuts, and cereals, and for those throwing caution to the wind, there are deliciously decadent options such as sweets, chocolates and sauces.

Wakaberry2 Wakaberry9 Wakaberry11

My favourite flavour combination was good old Strawberry and Vanilla, with hundreds and thousands – brought back quite a few happy childhood memories!

Wakaberry Froyo is 100% real yoghurt, which is 98% fat-free, a healthy alternative to full fat ice cream. It is also NIHT Halaal certified, gluten-free and egg-free.

To find a store near you click over to their Store Locater or call the Head Office +27 (0)31 572 4971

{ 0 comments }

Spectacular Cape Town

by Fiona Rossiter on March 4, 2013

Muizenberg

Cape Town is without a doubt one of the most exciting cities to visit in South Africa. Its excellent geographic location makes it a truly spectacular city, with scenic mountains, beautiful beaches and many natural wonders. Together with its excellent nightlife and top quality hospitality industry, it means that there is always something to do, for tourists visiting Cape Town.

Things to do in Cape Town

DSC_1176

It is probably this joie de vivre that attracts people of all ages to the “Mother City”. By day the outdoors and beaches beckon,  it is a great idea to go surfing or just spend a few relaxing hours on one of Cape Town’s many spectacular beaches. Some of the beaches, like Clifton Beach for example, is rated among the best city-beaches in the world. While many tourists may rate Cape Town foremost for its beaches, the city has a lot more to offer.

Table-Mountain-

Of course there is the world famous “Table Mountain” which offers a breathtaking view of the whole city and the surrounding Cape Area. If one prefers to go shopping, the idyllic V&A “Waterfront” shopping mall is a good option. For hikers the Lion’s Head mountain certainly offers a good challenge and if one is into diving, there are plenty of exciting snorkeling and diving spots around the cape.

After experiencing all these adventures by day, one can relax and get to meet the local South Africans at night at one of Cape Town’s many stylish bars and clubs. This means that every visit to Cape Town is filled with exciting moments. By day and by night there are more than enough ways in which to make the most out of every hour spent in this truly world-class city.

Groot Constantia

Anyone spending time in Cape Town, or South Africa in general, should not forget to check out the many exciting leisure offers. These allow for a good time while not straining one’s budget too much. South Africa is an excellent destination for the adventure-seeking, action-oriented tourist with numerous thrilling things to do. This is why finding offers for leisure activities, can be essential for anyone planning to make the most of their time in South Africa.

Cape Point

If you are planning a trip you can also check out my Top 4 Things To Do in Cape Town.

{ 0 comments }

Exploring Kalk Bay

by Fiona Rossiter on November 27, 2012

 

Last weekend we decided to pop over to the other side of the mountain and enjoy a bit of lunch in the quaint fishing village of Kalk Bay, which is on the False Bay Coast of Cape Town. We have  not ventured to part of the coast in a while, due to major road reconstruction that has been on the go for quite a while now, although there was still a stop-go traffic situation we were in no hurry and just meandered our way through.

We settled on Sirocco for lunch, which is situated on the Main Road in Kalk Bay, right next to the Train Station. Sirocco is a casual out-door cafe, with white washed tables and lovely bright decor. The restaurant is quite exposed to the elements and can be a bit chilly, so be sure to take a jacket along.

Lunch was absolutely delish, my grilled calamari which is also one of their signature dishes was to die for – it was quite spicy but very fresh, accompanied by a wonderful savoury rice, caper berries and olives. Mr had the line fish which was served with roast potatoes, artichokes and grapefruit segments – yum. The girls both had the Hake & Chips, which was wonderfully fresh. The service was excellent and I loved the cafe vibe, so needless to say we will definitely be going back.

[click to continue…]

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

{ 0 comments }