Vivez Bien * Live Well

Monday, February 6, 2017

Desert Daydreaming



My household is a cultural desert! A while back, I suggested at the family dinner table that we might like to go and see a musical. Well, my suggestion was met with deathly silence accompanied by a complete lack of eye contact from anyone, my husband included! You would think that I had suggested some sort of interactive, avant-guard fringe theatre rather than a harmless musical.

 I have now learned to have less lofty cultural ambitions, but did recently suggest a family movie outing. This sounds a lot simpler than it is. With 4 teenage sons and a husband who all have slightly different movie tastes, it isn't easy to find anything with general appeal. But I pulled maternal rank and decided that we should go and see the movie Lion, partly because I'm just a little bit in love with Dev Patel and it seemed to be a good option for the whole family. The youngest relented only because we decided to go to the Labia Theatre and he never sees anyone he knows at the Labia!

What a beautiful movie. I cried bucket loads of tears. The rest of my family all said that they didn't cry, but when I declared them to be cold and heartless, my eldest confessed that he did shed a tear or two during the reunion scene. Even though he probably said it just to placate me, he is now officially my favourite!

So do yourself a favour and go and see Lion,. Nothing like a box of popcorn and a good cry.

Moving from cultural deserts to real ones.... I grew up in the Karoo which is a semi-desert area of South Africa and I still find those wide open spaces endlessly appealing.

 While trawling the web looking for Karoo scenery, I came upon this place called Klipspringer near Calitzdorp in the Little Karoo. It is set high up in a mountainous area and has panoramic views of  the surrounding landscape. The homestead is off the grid and is built with stone from the area. So all very  green and eco-friendly.




There is something decidedly peaceful about this view of...well....nothing. A good book, a nap, a dip in the pool, maybe a tall drink. Bliss!


Having dinner out here on a balmy Karoo evening followed by some stargazing would be hard to beat. 



The bedrooms have French doors to let the air flow through and their are views all around. 


Stone walls and muted colour schemes blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.




And you might spot some wildlife while sipping your G & T. 


The good news is that it is available for rent through Perfect Hideaways.

So are you packing your bags yet?


Till next time

Sharon x


3 comments:

  1. Lol! Well written, Sharon! I have made the same mistake of recently suggesting a musical evening to my assortment of teenagers. They all claimed to have 'too much homework' (have you ever?!) LOVE the Karoo House...definitely a place to escape to without the teenagers...they can stay at home and finish their homework ��

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  2. Oh my!! You certainly made me laugh Sharon. Sounds very similar to what goes on in our house. My daughter is working a ski season at the end of Varsity, in the States and I am taking her to New York so I get to see her during her gap 6 months. She is dying to see a Broadway show so I told her about 'Come from away' the story of the small town in New Newfoundland that took on plane loads of people when all flights were diverted from the US during 9/11. But no, 'please Mum can we rather a Disney show'!! so off to Aladdin we will go!! :)

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  3. I will put that on my movie list!! Your cute story reminds me when my kids were teenagers and I couldn't figure out why they always wanted to go to this movie theater so far away--then my littlest said--so no one would see them with their Mom!!! Oh well at least they went! xo

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