A Cruise included in your wedding package at Lythwood Lodge.
Book your wedding by 30 October 2019 to take place at Lythwood before 28 February 2020 and Lythwood will include a 3 night cruise to Mozambique on-board the MSC Orchestra in your package at no extra cost or 50% off their venue hire.
Find out more at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
News supplied by Lythwood Lodge.
Last month Eat at Andrew’s launched themed dinners, these will happen on the last Thursday of the month, when they will host a set menu themed dinner.
In April we enjoyed a French theme. This week, on Thursday, 30 May 2019, you can visit Greece.
Dinners are on a bookings only system as space is limited, dinners are 3 course and wine is "B.Y.O." this month the cost per person is R200.00 and we will endeavour to keep the spend per head as low as possible for the remainder of the year.
Themes for the rest of the year are as follows:
June: Indian
July: Israeli
August: Italian
September: Vegetarian
October: Mauritian
November: South American
News supplied by Eat at Andrews.
Father’s Day this year has an exciting new format! We will be hosting a Father’s Day lunch in our garden, deck, Orange Tree room and Theatre with a beer garden, craft gin on tap and multiple foodie stations to enjoy.
Chef Alex and his team will be creating donut walls, a Mexican food stall, Braai station, gourmet burger bar, and waffle building buffet. There will also be multiple vegetarian options available to our non-meat eaters.
The marvellously talented Grace Botha will be singing during lunch and there will be a jumping castle for kids. Price per person is R240, pensioners R220 and kids aged 5-11 R150 - this includes full access to all food stations! The event will be covered if rain decides to join in too. Booking and payment upfront is essential to secure your seats!
To book, contact Ningi on 033
330 5071.
News supplied By Fern Hill Hotel.
This stunning Romance Package will be available for the three months of winter.
Starting 1st June until the 31st August, Fern Hill will be offering an all-inclusive romantic overnight experience. After check-in, guests will be shown through to their Luxury Suites where they can unwind and take-in the tranquillity of the Midlands.
Cocktails and canapes will be served in the room at 5pm where after guests will be taken to the dining room and served a delicious 3 course meal. The dinner includes a bottle of house wine. While you are enjoying your meal, our housekeeping will arrange a romantic turn down complete with chocolate truffles and Amarula.
The package is completed with breakfast the next day.
Space is limited and booking in advance is essential. This special is available every day of the week within the winter months.
The cost per couple is R2500.
To book contact Ningi on 033 330 5071 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
News supplied by Fern Hill Hotel.
Polliwiggle Preschool children , going dotty and learning about the wild animals of our beautiful country during their theme for the week.
Pictured above, having fun with the giraffe masks they made during class.
News supplied by Polliwiggle Preschool.
Working with ToPs Species (Threatened or Protected Species).
It is always a fantastic feeling when we are able to release this special species back into the wild where they belong.
We spend weeks finding the safest release site with the correct habitat so that these cats may thrive as they go forward.
How would you react when being introduced to a new and exciting area? Follow the photos below to find out how these Servals reacted!
Would you like to contribute and be involved in the work FREEME KZN does? Then please join the Custodianship Program.
http://www.freemekzn.co.za/become-a-custodian/
News supplied by FreeMe Rehabilitation Centre KZN.
Every term Howick Pre-Primary School host a "GIVING CHALLENGE". Through this challenge we encourage our children to support people and organisations that help others who are struggling or less fortunate.
Last week Friday, we enjoyed Slipper Day at school in support of the Reach For a Dream Initiative.
Encouraging our young children to help others forms the foundation for them to grow up to be grateful, sympathetic and empathetic towards others.
News supplied by Howick Pre Primary School.
Fern Hill is an official drop off point for the KZN Flood Relief. Donations of blankets, clothing, non perishable foods, toiletries etc all welcome.
The national deadline is the 10th May, but the KZN points have been extended to the 17th May. Our drop off point is being overseen by the official 67 Blankets for Mandela Day Organisation.
Please share with as many people as possible. Let's help those who lost so much in the floods.
News supplied by Fern Hill Hotel.
Host an event and help raise funds for Howick Hospice.
Birthday parties, tea parties, braais, any event goes. Ask your guest to donate an entry fee that will be donated to Howick Hospice.
Howick Hospice is a non-profit organisation committed to caring for the terminally ill through home-based care, education and training, and bereavement support. Hospice relies on support and financial contributions from the general public, corporate sector, and philanthropic donors.
News supplied by Howick Hospice.
Families South Africa Pietermaritzburg (FAMSA PMB) is a non-governmental organization which started out over 58 years ago because of a need determined by local church organizations that saw a need for marriage guidance services and the PMB Marriage Guidance Society was established. It is a registered NPO and BPO. FAMSA PMB has a management committee which is elected annually at an Annual General Meeting. Its staff consists of a Director, Social Workers and administrative staff.
FAMSA PMB runs a number of different services and plays an important role in women, men and families alike. The organization prides itself in restoring hope, faith, peace and trust in families and societies as a whole. These services are done mostly through counselling (trauma, gender-based violence, grief, individual, family, Pre marriage counselling, divorce and EAP services), outreach programmes and also through support groups.
The organization now has also has satellite offices/services in Mafakatini, Esigodini, Mkhambathini, Northdale, Camperdown, Howick, Eastwood and Elandskop. Although government subsidies are received for the social workers employed, the large geographical areas served require a more innovative approach that included communities within which we work, hence we have trained local women to provide services but receive no government support for this service.
With the many services provided, FAMSA PMB also faces a large number of challenges mainly regarding finance. We are grateful for the donations we receive but they are not enough to keep FAMSA afloat. FAMSA PMB would like to call on those who are in a position to sponsor with anything, to please make contact with FAMSA PMB. Any donation received will be greatly appreciated.
If you feel you are in need of our services or know of someone who is, please do not hesitate to make contact with us on 033 342 4945 or visit our main offices at 15 Drummond Street, PMB or alternatively you can email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We work on an appointment basis.
News supplied.
Funda Nenja is always happy to welcome visitors to our Friday afternoon dog school, especially when they are vets!
Last week we were delighted when Dr.Estee van Aardt from Chase Valley Veterinary Clinic came to see our programme in action and she did not hesitate to assist our Animal Welfare Officer with some of the patients attending our primary veterinary care clinic.
News supplied by Funda Nenja.
Applications for our training college are still open for June intake.
This is applicable for Management courses only as our Chef course for 2019 is full. If you’d like to come and visit us to view the college, please don’t hesitate to contact either Megan or Vanessa in the training department.
We welcome those interested to come and meet with our team, chat to current students, and work alongside us for a few days before deciding whether the course is right for them.
City & Guilds and CATHSETA approved.
Call us on 033 330 5071 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
News supplied by Fern Hill Hotel.
Calling for Funders
Wessa Umngeni Valley are looking for sponsors for 30 mountain bikes for a community development project.
Any part donations are also most welcome.
Please contact Matthew Cocks.
News supplied by Wessa Umngeni Valley.
Amberglen recently rocked to the 60's sound of the legendary musical, Grease.
60 years on from the era depicted in the movie, producer par excellence Jo Orsmond rustled together a group of retirees and put on an excellent production.
Playing to 4 full house audiences, the cast, led by Mike and Rita Fisher as Danny and Sandie, the audiences were treated to an outstanding show!
Kudos to all the cast and their superb producer!!
Pictured above are Mike and Rita Fisher (Danny and Sandie).
News supplied.
Fans of legal dramas and local theatre will not want to miss Justice is a Woman; a highly emotive theatre production highlighting issues of gender inequality and the ethical dilemmas of the justice system written by well-respected former KZN judge Chris Nicholson, directed by Paul Spence, formerly of the Royal Shakespeare Company UK and starring a richly talented South African cast.
Set in a KZN university in 2018, after the 2 000-year exclusion of women as lawyers in the courtroom, Justice is a Woman tells the captivating story of a female post-graduate student’s molestation case against her male university professor. Lead character Portia, the lawyer representing the professor, is faced with an ethical dilemma that forces her to question her values and threatens to tear her personal life apart.
Opening performances take place from 23 to 25 May at Michaelhouse, 29 and 30 May at Grace College, and from 4 to 8 June at the Hexagon Theatre, Pietermaritzburg.
Tickets are R80 per person (R130 Hexagon), R50 pensioners (R80 Hexagon) and students R40. For more information, follow @justiceisawoman on Facebook or contact Paul Spence on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (084) 341 1742.
Justice Cast : Pictured from left are Mark Mulder, Phiyayinkosi Mbuyazi and Paul Spence.
News supplied.
Our first baby Barn Owl (Tyto alba) of the season is here.
Barn Owls often use chimneys to nest in. In this instance, the home owners did not realize there was a family of Barn Owls using the chimney until they lit their first fire for the season, and this youngster came tumbling down into the fireplace.
They reacted quickly and pulled the hapless youngster from the fire before he sustained anything more than a few singed feathers and a bruised wing.
He has been in our care for the last few days and his minor injuries have been treated.
The home owners, residing in Nottingham Road's Gowrie Village, have decided that an owl box will be safer for him and his family than the chimney will be, so the FreeMe KZN's Owl Box Project team will be installing a Barn Owl box and he will be reunited with his family.
Would you like to contribute and be involved in the work FREEME KZN does? Then please join the Custodianship Program.
http://www.freemekzn.co.za/become-a-custodian/
News supplied by FreeMe Rehabilitation Centre.
Top 10 Reasons to Choose a Closed Combustion Fireplace or Wood Stove this Winter
More heat, less fuel, for longer
Besides the wonderful ambiance it creates, a fireplaces is a great way to heat a home effectively, especially if you live in an area where wood is plentiful. Whether built-in or freestanding, closed combustion fireplaces win hands down every time on every possible metric.
So what exactly is closed combustion?
Closed combustion, also called slow burners, refers to a fire burning behind a sealed glass door. The units are generally fitted with adjustable air controls so that you can regulate the amount of air flowing into the combustion chamber (and to some extent control the flame and output of the fireplace).
Closed combustion fires use approximately one third of the wood and transfer 85% of the heat back into the room.
Why is it more effective than an open fire?
In an open combustion fireplace (no glass) there is no control over combustion air. As your fire heats up, it consumes more air, most of which goes up and out the flue outlet resulting in heat loss.
Additionally, closed-combustion fireplaces recirculate the hot air before allowing it to escape through the flue, and burn at a high enough temperature to re-ignite the recirculated air.
So in a closed system, most of the heat generated remains in your home as the flow of hot air up the chimney is very low and the need to suck cold air in from outside, to replace the escaped hot air, is negated.
Top 10 reasons to choose closed combustion.
1. Lifespan: Most slow combustion stoves have a very long lifespan, normally in excess of 25 years if not abused. So even if they are a little more pricy at the start they are more efficient, more effective, last longer and require less maintenance than open fires.
2. Efficiency: Closed combustion is 70% – 80% effective, compared to open fires which are rated around 10% – 35%
3. Environmentally a good choice: Being +70% efficient, the wood stoves are fully acceptable as environmentally friendly. Carbon emissions are extremely low are long as the correct dry hardwood logs are used. In fact a tree gives off less carbon dioxide when burnt in a stove than if allowed to decompose naturally. Certain models with cast iron grates and ash-pans are suitable as multi-fuel burners and can also burn Anthracite. The ash content is higher, but it allows for a longer burn time.
4. Less mess: The ash content of dry hardwoods is usually around 1%, so only clean max once per week. The ash is great for the garden.
5. Economical to run: Most slow burners use very little wood and can keep burning on one or two pieces of wood per hour. In fact, on average closed combustion, slow burners, use one third less wood than open hearth fires.
6. Adds value: As efficient wood stoves are the sensible choice now and for the foreseeable future, whatever you spend now will not only add true value to your home, but give many years of wonderful warmth through the winters at extremely low cost.
7. Slow burn, warm mornings: With your controls set correctly and after placing a number of logs into the unit late in the evening the stove will continue to give heat for up to 8 hours which means you will wake up to a warm home. What a pleasure, don’t you think?
8. Safety: Closed system fireplaces are much safer than open fires, because there is no risk of sparks igniting nearby fabric or carpet.
9. Low smoke emissions: Closed system fireplaces are designed to be used in smoke free zones. Because closed system fireplaces are sealed, you won’t have to deal with smoke filling your house.
10. Non-reliance of electricity: Power outages won’t leave you “in the cold”
11. PLUS – a BONUS point is that fire place and stove technology has improved so much that you can now get almost any colour, size, shape and output.
So, to sum it all up:
MORE HEAT LESS FUEL FOR LONGER
Closed system fireplaces are the most effective way to heat your home as they only allow enough air into the fireplace to fuel the fire, thus creating an 80% heat retention in your home, versus a traditional open fireplace that has an 80% heat loss.
News supplied by Fires and Braais.
Eat at Andrew's, Mushka, Nuts About Books & Toys and Harvard Electrical Wholesalers have put together spoils for one lucky Mom. To enter follow the steps on Facebook.
The prize includes tea/coffee and cake for TWO at Eat at Andrew's on collecting the hamper which contains gloves and a scarf from Mushka, a novel and a cookbook from Nuts About Books & Toys and two white desk lamps from Harvard Electrical Wholesalers. The winner will be announced on Facebook on Saturday, 11 May 2019 at 11am.
Follow the link to facebook and action the steps by the end of the day on Friday 10 May 2019!
https://web.facebook.com/Howickvillage.co.za/