Landscaping under way

Now that Durban's Moses Mabhida World Cup Football Stadium is complete and has been officially handed over to FIFA , the landscaping around the Stadium is under way.

In the photos are guests Owen and Karen (right) from Los Angeles who met up with Llewellyn and his kids for a walk around the linking pedestrian route to the beach. The Stadium has spectacular views over Durban's coastline and direct access to the suncoast beaches.

New Stadium completed in time

Our recent guest Friedrich was a whiz with his camera and took these photos of the city from the Guesthouse.

In the top photo is our new 2010 FIFA World Cup Football Stadium which has just been completed. There were sceptics who said the Stadia in the country would never be completed in time, but they were proved wrong. The Durban Stadium, the Moses Mabhida Stadium feature a stunning cable car lift which ca take visitors to the top of the Stadium arch and for those more adverturous there are stairs on the other side to take one up or down as well.

In the middle photo are the night lights of our beachfront hotels, whilst the day photo below shows the CBD of the City from the Guesthouse. Thanks Friedrich for these stunning new pics.

Guesthouse alterations

Our Guesthouse alterations are finally complete, extending the pub entertainment area and adding a patio deck above.

ndeck above the enteDave appreciates the new decor of the Rainbow room.

Birthday at the Guesthouse

It seems the year has flashed by again and it is Guesthouse co-owner Dave's Birthday again.

Most of the day was spent supervising the Guesthouse building alterations and then a nice home cooked roast with mom, Llewellyn and the kids.

New room deck

We're doing some building alterations to improve the Guesthouse in time for the World Cup Foolball... a new sundeck off the Pool room and Rainbow room which at the same time will extend our pool-side entertainment area outside the Guesthouse Pub downstairs.

New sliding doors will take you from your room to the deck where one can smoke, lounge in the sun or sip cocktails overlooking the pool.

2010 Stadium takes shape for the World Cup Football

Durban's 2010 World Cup Football Stadium, the Moses Mabhida Stadium, is well on its way to completion later this year.In the last photo above, the stadium can be seen from our Guesthouse sundeck and we have watched its progress over the past number of months.

The roof structure is presently being completed and the seating is in the process of being installed. A funicular railway will take tourists up the one side of the impressive arch that towers 30 stories over the adjacent beachfront area, while others more energetic will be able to walk up the stairs on the other side of the arch.

Llewellyn and I took a jog around the Stadium the other day and could see the hive of activity which now goes through into the night to ensure completion well in advance of the World Cup Foorball event next year.

Durban is likely to be one of the venues for a semi-final, as well as pre-event training and some of the matches.

Breakfast in the house

Breakfast in the guesthouse with guests Anita, Ulricha, Rudi and Sergio.

Family at the Guesthouse

Kids Kate-Lynn and Mark with the beautiful semi-circular rainbow that appeared over the Durban sky seen from our Guesthouse roof.

And in the second photo family Matt, Leisel, guesthouse co-owners Llewellyn and Dave enjoy a drink in the Guesthouse Pub.

Guesthouse Rates 2012

Rainbow room ............. City View Room .......... Pool View room

Rates to 31 October 2012:

R450 per person per night sharing double room
R550 per person per night single

R325 per third/4th person sharing Garden Studio per night

R275 per person sharing The BunkRoom 
R600 per person sharing Premier Room or R750 single *

December/January or special event rates may be subject to double occupancy/room rate only.

.......... The Bunk Room

Rates includes breakfast of cereals, yoghurts, croissant or muffin and toast, cold meats, jams, cheese selection, egg, tea/coffee, fruit in season and fruit juice. The Studio also has basic self-catering facilities and a separate entrance. A complimentary drink in the Guesthouse Pub with the hosts on the evening of arrival is also included. A full English breakfast is also available as an option at R40 pp per breakfast

Loyalty Programme:

Earn 100 points for each night stayed and after you have 1000 points enjoy a FREE night with us on your next booking of 2 or more nights

Specials: Premier -

* PREMIER ROOM - pamper yourselves with all of the frills and the best views of Durban, welcome pack and complimentary sparkling wine in the room, premier soaps and shampoos.

Guesthouse co-owner shows our Premier Room

Great inhouse Pub for cocktails and drinks

Mardi Gras Fun 1992

Bev shows off the Mardi Gras poster outside our Stableford house off Bluff Rd

Miss Mardi Gras 1992, Miss Teen Mardi Gras, Mr Mardi Gras and Miss Bluff with the Drum Majorettes at the Clairwood Race Day

After the disater of the first Mardi Gras at the Harlequins Sports Grounds, Dave developed the Bluff Community Showgrounds for the 2nd Mardi Gras in 1992

Trade Centre sponsored the 2nd Relay at the Mardi Gras in 1992

Dave promotes the first Mardi Gras Festival to take place in 1991

Bathtime for Kate-Lynn

Kate-Lynn must have been about 9mnths - 14months here... 1989

Challenge of the 80s

In the run-up to the 1981 General Election in which both Nigel (right) and I were candiates for the National Parliament in South Africa, Nigel produced an election newspaper, "Challenge of the 80s". There were several issues of the compact newspaper and these were distributed throughout the constituencies in which our New Republic Party fielded candidates. It had a racy, readable format and brought the news and views of the candidates to the people at a time when the national press did not give our party much coverage, despite us being the official opposition in Parliament. Most of the anti-goverment coverage went to the PFP, a smaller party which eventually became the official opposition.

More photos - Cape Town weekend 16 July 2011

Dave and Llewellyn at Groot Constantia

Mark bags his tree

Groot Constantia - home of the first Govenor of the Cape - Simon van der Stel

Brad and Kate-Lynn

Hout Bay

Wine-tasting at Groot Constantia

Sunset at the foot of Table Mountain

Ice cream in Franschoek on Bastille Day

I think it fits