A grandfather’s last lesson: Crafting more than just ladders.
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 …
A legacy lives on: Honouring Dad’s wisdom in Brandvlei.
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 …
Brandvlei adventures: Smart alarms and bucket flushes!
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 …
Conservancy – septic tank install.
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 …
A DIY Smart lighting installation.
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 …
Navigating the sombre holidays: A Brandvlei trip unlike any other festive season with Dad.
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 …
Festive season fix-up and family reflections.
As another year winds down, we found ourselves back in Brandvlei for a working holiday, trading festive cheer for some serious DIY. Our mission? To tackle a pesky crack on the exterior sun room wall and give …
The joys of “Load Shedding”: Our Brandvlei electricity saga.
In South Africa, load shedding has become the uninvited guest that refuses to leave, a persistent shadow over our daily routines. While I generally prefer to steer clear of the political fray and the exhausting debates surrounding …
A flash trip and a fridge!
Who knew a kitchen appliance could be the catalyst for a spontaneous 1,200-kilometre round trip? In the world of remote property renovation, sometimes the most pressing "emergencies" aren't structural—they’re logistical. We recently embarked on a high-speed "flash …
Family, fun, and (more) electrical runs!
The beauty of a project like Rusticana is how it evolves into a multi-generational classroom, where the skills of the past are handed down to the hands of the future. Our latest week-long expedition to Brandvlei was …