Tag: must do

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Ring making workshop

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Workshop Wednesday! I don’t know about you, but during these time, I have been trying to come up with other hobbies that I could get into that would mean I would have more to do during this pandemic. This is a throwback to a workshop i did a while ago. I want to share with you guys.

In Winchester there is an opportunity to do a ring making workshop – a lovely girl named Marion runs them – she is a jewellery maker by trade. Check out her stuff on instagram: Marionlebouteillerjewellery

Upon arrival, we were given tea, of course, a shown how to use some of the mysterious tools that were on the bench in front of us. You could use hammers and etchers and all sort to see what effects you liked and what you would like to put on our ring during the process. Obviously doing it on copper to test first, but be aware how it turns out on copper is not always how it turns out on the ring – warning.

You have to admit some of the effects are really cool – you want to put all of them on the ring. but best to chose a top 3 – I did more than that and although I am pleased with the result in hindsight less is more.

Once we have had a test, and a drawing of what we would like, we were given a strip of metal to make our ring out of. Careful to not put our ‘patterns’ to the end of the metal as to not impact the joining of the two ends, we set about imprinting our mark.

Once completed, we were trusted to heat up the strip to make it into a ring – usually this is not something that is done by the individuals. It can get quite technical and if children are involved not always the safest.

I was so pleased to have Marion there, as having the advice to make slightly more complex designs and understanding each step of the process was incredible. She really helped us, especially when it came to the acid, and then the buffering it all out. Even helping us to edit the rings when they came out a bit small. With only two of us there it meant we had her undivided attention, and all of the time to be able to make exactly what we wanted.

Okay so the end result is nothing to sell in a shop – but it was a really fun workshop . The value for money was great. I think it was £50 for the day, and you get to play with the tools and create something you actually would want to wear. It was a great time to spend with my mum, a great rainy day activity. I tell you what, I have a greater appreciation for jewellery makers now!

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Apartheid museum

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Gallery of Images taken from Apratheid Museum in Johannesburg.

It is Travel Tuesday. During this time, where we are not allowed out of our homes let alone the country, I want to take this opportunity to share some of my jaunts around the world.

Now you wouldn’t think that it could ever be normal to arrive at a museum, be given a ticket telling you which side of the fight you were on, and then be given a different entrance depending on that ticket.

At the apartheid museum in Johannesburg this is exactly what happens. As you can see from the gallery above.

This museum takes you through life during the apartheid both sides of the story, no holes barred, the full gruesome history that it is. The highs and the lows. Upon entering you walk through an outside area with glass boards (for want of a better word ) With people so you are walking with them up to a view over Johannesburg and the surrounding area. Each of these people have a story that connects them to the fight, whether it be family members for themselves. George Bizos is one of them, a Greek immigrant, who joined Mandela’s legal battle in his fight for freedom.

Inside the museum you walk through the history of the oppression and the apartheid, with interactive galleries available as well as boards and images. Some images have been created such a so many hangmans noose hanging from the ceiling to signify the people who died for the cause. Videos from different massacres all over the country.

The museum itself it quite quiet other than the hub bub of the usual noise of people passing through. There are headphones to hear different testimonies, and in the galleries with videos, the video is hushed.

I do not want to ruin all of the museum for you but I am not going to lie to you, it is a heart wrenching museum, I spent 2.5 hours there looking through. I could not take in even half of the information before I had to leave, and yet I still cam out having learnt so much and yet feeling as through I have not scratched the surface of this great topic.

I would seriously recommend this museum to everyone who visits Johannesburg, it is on the Hop On Hop Off bus route so easy to get there and back from the city. There is a shop and a lovely cafe at the end of it, with outdoor seating if the weather is good. You can even tag it on with a visit to Soweto to see Mandela house and there are plenty of other museums to help you understand this era of history throughout the city.

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Spier

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Spier – probably one of the most well known places in South Africa to try and drink wine. It is about 45 minutes outside of the city. It is grey drive, mostly on main road, but I promise you, when you arrive you don’t even know the road is there.

It is green beyond belief! Such wide open spaces it is a beautiful winery. You can stay there as well, there are plenty of things to do, places to eat and things to try. It is a whole experience at Spier. I am getting ahead of myself – lets concentrate on the main reason… the wine.

So I stopped here for a wine tasting. R40 for 7 different wines, I had 2 sparkling, 1 rose, 2 white and 2 red. It really did show the complexity of wine making in those wines and how perfect these people are at it. All of them were enjoyable and drinkable more to the point. There is something there for every taste. You can have a chocolate and wine tasting, cheese and wine, or just different levels of tasting depending on your feelings. I saw many many tables here with groups of people or even with children.

I ordered a 6 bottle mixed case to be send home for delivery when I get home. Which was super easy and very convenient. I am so pleased I was able to do that. So if you are interested just talk to the host you are working with and they will be able to walk you through the process.

The grounds of Spier are stunning, so please do not just do the wine tasting and leave, enjoy it. Walk around, and just get a feeling for the place. There is a small stream that you can walk along as you can see from the below photo.

Lunch – now this place has 4 different restaurants from a farm to table place, a steakhouse or even just a run of the mile restaurant whatever you are feeling they will have it. I went to the farm to table place and I order a roast beef sandwich and got a cake too. Both were amazing, the roast beef came with rocket, caramelised onions and vegetable crisps on the side. What more could you want. You can even rent a picnic set with your lunch and have a picnic on the lawns. Wine is a must naturally. I took a bottle home to enjoy at a different time.

Spier for me was a must coming to Cape Town. I hope it is for you too. The wine tours are good to do a number of wines and even better when you don’t have to drive yourself right, however experiencing one by yourself is a wonderful experience in itself.

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Lions Head

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Walking the Lions Head is no small feat. It is a hike – a good hike but definitely a hike. Although saying this…I did it in Sketchers/ Trainers.

Let me start at the bottom – get it? It is free to get in, you just need to get an Uber to the base of the walk. It is dusty to wear hiking clothes or clothes you don’t mind getting dusty at least. Many people I saw were wearing Gym clothes and I wish I had done the same in hindsight.

It is about an hour walk or so (depending on breaks, fitness, how fast you want to go), but it is all uphill, some with stairs but initially just a steep slope.
Once past the stairs you come to the clambering bits up and over rocks, you end up watching your feet constantly.

There is a cave to find on the way up if you wish to, however it is a very narrow and quite cumbersome to get there. Although the view and the pictures are lovely when you get there.

Anyway, you clamber up and you come to a plateau where you can see both sides of Table Mountain, the 12 Apostles, Clifton and Camps Bay and the City too. It is a gorgeous view.

There is a walk up to the very top of the Lions Head (the bit I am looking at in the photo – yes you can climb to the top). However, it is more clambering on hands and feet and not many passing points. Therefore if you are doing this at Sunset as we did I wouldn’t recommend going up unless you are very sure on your feet and have good strong shoes on. It is easier to go during the day as the people traffic is more fluid and less of people wanting to stand or sit and take photos of the sunset.

It is a tough climb, I will be the first to admit I am not in the best shape but I still managed it in Sketchers. I did enjoy it. We stopped a couple of times and took it really easy. It is definitely a walk to do if you are in the vicinity and enjoy your hiking.

Table Mountain at Sunset featuring the Tablecloth