BLog / archive

Francois on family + fame

Balancing the demands of a flourishing music career with the responsibilities of family life is a delicate art that South African pop/rock sensation Francois van Coke has mastered over the years. In a candid interview, Francois shares insights into how he navigates the ebbs and flows of fame while staying grounded in the warmth of family. When Francois agreed to do this interview, I was obviously beside myself. Not just

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Top Tips for dealing with pet parent guilt

by Bryony Van Niekerk Hello, my name is Bryony and I suffer from dog mom guilt. I feel guilty if we don’t go on a walk everyday (even if there is a literal flood). I feel guilty for leaving my dogs alone when I need to go out. I feel guilty for feeding them ‘junk food’ on occasion. I feel guilty for not being able to provide equal attention to

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Fascinating Grasshopper Facts

Grasshoppers and Locust belong to the order Orthoptera, which also includes crickets and katydids. Locusts are actually species of short-horned grasshoppers. Grasshoppers existed long before dinosaurs. Fossils date back to the Carboniferous period, which shows that the primitive grasshoppers first appeared more than 320 million years ago. Grasshoppers sometimes “spit” brown liquid to defend themselves from predators. Some people say grasshopper’s spit “tobacco juice,” probably because grasshoppers have been associated

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Pets Need a Break too

BY BRIAN BERKMAN Luxury travel writer, brian berkman, searches out the fabulous and often affordable options available to you and your pets. Julie, his rescued mixed-breed doggie-daughter, insists on joining them. Belmond Mount Nelson now welcomes dogs & cats Brian Berkman says you can now take your best friend to one of Cape Town’s best hotels Afternoon Tea at Cape Town’s gracious pink lady, Belmond Mount Nelson, began like it

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PETS NEEDS A BREAK – Overberg

Paws in the Overberg: Julie Berkman- Fluckiger’s Guide to Stanford BY BRIAN BERKMAN Julie Berkman-Fluckiger sniffs out a remarkable stay at a fire-restored Stanford home

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Recipes Winter Issue 2026

. . . RAINBOW WELCOME ROLLS Ingredients:12 spring roll rice paper wrappers½ cup mint leaves½ small pack Thai basil leaves4 spring onions (cut in half

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Heart & Home

There is something incredibly special about the relationship between humans and their pets. Long before science confirmed the emotional and psychological benefits of companion animals,

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Recipes (April / May 2026)

Spring Sprout & Marrow Soup Ingredients: 450g baby marrow, chopped1 onion, roughly chopped2 celery sticks, roughly chopped1 carrot, roughly chopped4 Tbsp butter3 Tbsp flour3 cups

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Trails To Thrive

Inspiring pet-friendly destinations where every trail walked together tells a story of growth CEDERBERG MOUNTAINS Rugged, dramatic, and beautifully untamed, the Cederberg Mountains are a

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Fascinating Honey Badger Facts

Fascinating Honey badger (Mellivora capensis) The honey badger (Mellivora capensis) is the only surviving species in the genus Mellivora and the subfamily Mellivorinae. The species

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Growing Together

By: Jenni Davies Our furry family members don’t all enter our lives at the same stage. We welcome some as roly-poly babies or gangly juveniles;

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Small Steps, Big Progress

COCO’S IVDD RECOVERY STORY Coco, a lively French Bulldog, suddenly lost function in her back legs. Her owners immediately knew something was wrong. She was

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A Fresh New Start

By Tracy Mcquarrie There’s something magical about a fresh new start. Whether it’s the beginning of a new year, a new season, or simply a

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