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All posts by Marco Davids

  • Home
  • Blast From the Past: Setting up satellite TV and connectivity.
28Jul

Blast From the Past: Setting up satellite TV and connectivity.

by Marco Davids Renovations
July 28, 2025

I recently stumbled upon an old entry from the archives, dated March 26, 2016, that brought back vivid memories of a particularly challenging, yet ultimately rewarding, day. The task at hand? The installation of our satellite television …

28Jul

A Journey Revisited: Echoes of an Easter past.

by Marco Davids Renovations
July 28, 2025

Rediscovering old photographs can be a profound experience, and today, on a rather cool and damp April 13, 2017, I found myself sifting through digital archives, unearthing images from our Easter trip in 2017. What a vivid …

16Jul

The Herculean Haul: Transporting an antique coal and wood-burning stove.

by Marco Davids Renovations
July 16, 2025

The current challenge before us presents a significant logistical puzzle: the secure transportation of a valuable, antique coal and wood-burning stove from Brandvlei to Elgato Artworks in Cape Town. This journey is not merely a relocation but …

11Jun

The Brains Trust of “Rusticana” and one man down.

by Marco Davids Renovations
June 11, 2025

The story of Rusticana is not merely written in brick, mortar, and coats of paint; it is etched into the lineage of the men who have dedicated their weekends and their strength to its revival. The heart …

19Apr

A grandfather’s last lesson: Crafting more than just ladders.

by Marco Davids Renovations
April 19, 2025

The legacy of a craftsman is rarely found in the words he speaks, but in the strength of the things he builds and the hands he trains to carry the torch. At our home in Brandvlei, that …

17Apr

A legacy lives on: Honouring Dad’s wisdom in Brandvlei.

by Marco Davids Renovations
April 17, 2025

Life throws us curve balls when we least expect them, and sometimes, those curve balls hit harder than a fast pitch. On December 8, 2024, a day that was already poignant as my late Mom's birthday, my …

15Jun

Brandvlei adventures: Smart alarms and bucket flushes!

by Marco Davids Renovations
June 15, 2024

The road to Brandvlei is becoming a familiar trail of milestones for my son and I, and our most recent expedition was a perfect blend of high-tech upgrades and old-school grit. We returned to the homestead with …

7Jul

Conservancy – septic tank install.

by Marco Davids Renovations
July 7, 2023

The restoration of a property like Rusticana is often a mix of the profoundly technical and the deeply emotional. Our most recent trip to Brandvlei was no exception, as my father and I set out to tackle …

3Jan

A DIY Smart lighting installation.

by Marco Davids Renovations
January 3, 2023

In the remote quiet of the Northern Cape, security is not just a luxury—it is a cornerstone of responsible property ownership. This past weekend, my son and I returned to Brandvlei to execute a strategic upgrade to …

22Dec

Navigating the sombre holidays: A Brandvlei trip unlike any other festive season with Dad.

by Marco Davids Renovations
December 23, 2022

The festive season often brings thoughts of joy and togetherness, but for many, it can also be a poignant reminder of those we've lost. For my family, the Christmas of 2022 was exactly that – our first …

Posts pagination

1 … 3 4 5 … 7
  • L'Avenir
  • Renovations

Recent Posts

  • Sailing on support. September 16, 2026
  • A matter of scale. September 10, 2026
  • Out of storage. September 7, 2026
  • Passing the torch on deck. September 4, 2026
  • Raising masts and christening the hull with its name. September 4, 2026
  • The steady progress of resilient hands. September 3, 2026
  • Trials, tones, and the pursuit of the finish. September 3, 2026
  • Painting, anti-fouling and masking waterline finishes. September 2, 2026
  • Sanding, line work, and shared hands September 1, 2026
  • The “Plug” and “Mould” are fabricated. August 31, 2026
  • Framing and preparing the “Plug” August 30, 2026
  • Legacy Anchored August 29, 2026
  • About the Sailing Ship S.V. L’Avenir — the vessel that brought ‘The Future’ into history August 28, 2026
  • The Sailing Vessel “L’Avenir” – General Specifications August 28, 2026
  • The Art of the Third Attempt: Balancing Rest and Restoration in the Heart of the Karoo August 25, 2026
  • How Brandvlei Can Turn Sunshine Into Total Energy Independence July 22, 2026
  • The Weight of Heritage: Why the mammoth stove is staying put. June 5, 2026
  • The Road to Rusticana: Two Decades, Two Travellers, and 35,000 Kilometres April 21, 2026
  • Septic tank concrete is delivered, finally! April 10, 2026
  • The Great Karoo Stalled: Geopolitics, fuel crises, and the hard choice to stay put. March 29, 2026
  • Resilience and Reinforcement – Returning to Rusticana this Easter 26′ March 25, 2026
  • Securing Rusticana with a state-of-the-art CCTV security system. March 4, 2026
  • Rusticana: The long road home. January 27, 2026
  • The Weight of Ambition: A hard-learned lesson on the slopes of the Vanrhyns Pass. December 24, 2025
  • The Weight of Wisdom: Prioritizing safety on the Vanrhyns Pass. December 18, 2025
  • Preparing for Rusticana: A Northern Cape sojourn and the pursuit of tranquillity. November 20, 2025
  • Rusticana ’25/26: The manhole slab and stove extraction project. October 21, 2025
  • A Verandah of Wisdom: The lasting legacy of a father. September 12, 2025
  • No Donkey Business – Preparations underway for concrete slab and septic sewer line. September 1, 2025
  • Stumbled across some additional images of operation septic tank. August 6, 2025
  • Blast From the Past: Setting up satellite TV and connectivity. July 28, 2025
  • A Journey Revisited: Echoes of an Easter past. July 28, 2025
  • The Herculean Haul: Transporting an antique coal and wood-burning stove. July 16, 2025
  • The Brains Trust of “Rusticana” and one man down. June 11, 2025
  • A grandfather’s last lesson: Crafting more than just ladders. April 19, 2025
  • A legacy lives on: Honouring Dad’s wisdom in Brandvlei. April 17, 2025
  • Brandvlei adventures: Smart alarms and bucket flushes! June 15, 2024
  • Conservancy – septic tank install. July 7, 2023
  • A DIY Smart lighting installation. January 3, 2023
  • Navigating the sombre holidays: A Brandvlei trip unlike any other festive season with Dad. December 22, 2022
  • Festive season fix-up and family reflections. December 23, 2021
  • The joys of “Load Shedding”: Our Brandvlei electricity saga. July 29, 2021
  • A flash trip and a fridge! September 10, 2020
  • Family, fun, and (more) electrical runs! June 16, 2019
  • Easter with my cousin’s daughter. April 20, 2019
  • A quick recharge and a house check-up. July 8, 2018
  • Operation “Give Me Power”: A father-son electrical adventure. July 1, 2017
  • My Mom’s Revelations: An Easter weekend that changed everything! April 13, 2017
  • Our son’s 15th Birthday! July 10, 2016
  • A lick of paint, Easter 2016! March 28, 2016
  • The unwelcome surprise! July 11, 2015
  • Hot Water Heater Heist: A small town reality check! December 27, 2014
  • A festive family getaway with the In-Laws. December 23, 2013
  • Kitting Out the House: Alarm system adventures! August 8, 2013
  • We finally take ownership of the main house, tenant vacates. June 1, 2013
  • Working holiday on the main house water supply. April 20, 2011
  • This was literally, “In & Out”. April 3, 2010
  • Delivery of supplies and garage lock-up. July 1, 2009
  • First Christmas December 23, 2008
  • A Tranquil Retreat: Escaping the city for a family getaway. May 1, 2008
  • Granny flat water supply and finishings fully upgraded. March 20, 2008
  • Taming the water gremlins in Brandvlei. December 14, 2007
  • Tackling the essentials at Brandvlei. August 9, 2007
  • Karoo Base-Camp: Easter blitz in Brandvlei – A time-lapse overview. April 6, 2007
  • Establishing the Karoo base camp – Renovation of the outbuilding. April 5, 2007
  • The Origin of the Name: From Aidan House to Our Karoo Sanctuary (and a Twist in Time). August 2, 2006
  • Our Brandvlei Adventure: Breathing new life into a Karoo homestead. August 1, 2006
  • The Road to Brandvlei: A Voyage through the heart of the western and northern cape. July 30, 2006
  • Brandvlei: A testament to quiet resilience in the heart of the great Karoo. July 29, 2006
  • 600km Into the Unknown: A personal reflection on taking a leap. July 28, 2006

Contact

Telephone:
+27 79 899 9385
(WhatsApp Only)
Email:
rusticanalife@gmail.com

Rusticana Life
HQ Location: Brandvlei
Region: Northern Cape Province Country: South Africa

Legacy Anchored
Location: Cape Town
Region: Western Cape Cape Province Country: South Africa

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