10th Valentines together

 On the 1st December 2013 we celebrated our 9th anniversary together, so everything from then onwards comes in 10s - 10th New Year, 10th Valentine's day, and soon will be 10 whole years together with my amazing man, Llewellyn. Love you so much!! xxxx

Durban Skyye

I was up early this morning to get some great shots of the Durban coastline from my plane and to promote my flight school Durban Skyye which opens soon.

The view from Umhlanga to the harbour entrance

Durban beachfront with the 2010 World Cup Stadium

The view from my GoPro under the wing over the Durban beachfront and CBD towards the harbour

Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium was the focus of the 2010 World Cup Football in South Africa

The harbour entrance and Bluff

Holiday apartments

Virginia Airport along the northern beaches, where our plane, a Sling ZU-ZDL is hangared

Friends have a blast

What we love most about South Africa is that we have a world in one country. On the one hand we have the glorious ocean and beaches and to the interior we have the mountains. We took a weekend break-away to the mountains and the land beyond the Drakensberg to the eastern Free State. We flew in our airplane, a Sling 2-seater ZDL, and travelled together with our mates Marc and Lee in their similar plane SAA and Luois and Jeanette in JAL. We were joined in Clarens by a 4th Sling and their owners and we enjoyed a weekend of fun, drinking and eating!!

 

 

First stop after landing was for some biltong and a drink with lunch



Cheers to the queers, applause.. etc as we take our 15th or so drink/shooter



The eastern Free State town of Clarens below us, encircled by mountains



A few clouds too many over the mountains as we steer a course to avoid them to the left and under.

Llewellyn (left) and Dave (right) up in the air over the KwaZulu-Natal midlands on our way home.



Durban's Bluff and the harbour, city and northern beaches in the distance as we connect with the Air Traffic Controller at Virginia Airport who saw us in to land at our home base.

Yes, we landed safely back in Durban - here's a pic of an appropriate painting we saw in Clarens.

Eating out

Guests from Italy, Stefan (left) and Luky (right) enjoy dinner out in Durban at one of Gay Durban's favourite new restaurants Jack Salmon Fish House where we enjoyed stunning prawns and calamari and outstanding sushi. In the middle is guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn.
 

Happy Birthday John

Around the pool at the Guesthouse, wishing John a Happy Birthday!

Great start to 2014

Highly recommended for superb food and amazing hospitality from Jason at Jack Salmon Fish House in Glenashley - what a way to start the New Year and with great friends and guests.

Happy New Year

First and last pics of 2013/2014 as we cheer in the New Year on the rooftop of the Guesthouse.. sorry pics are few.. was having fun, drinks, firing rockets and more...

 

Hope you guys have an incredible 2014. Thank you for the support for the Guesthouse over the year past. We have made many new friends and met some amazing people from all over the world. Let's hope 2014 brings everything you may wish for .. love, happiness and acceptance. Love ya all!!

 

Boxing day

Anees, Travis, Rob and Ahmed

Ahmed, Anees, Travis and Guesthouse co-owner Dave

Chilling around the guesthouse pool after a fab Christmas.. Duane and Pieter where are you?

Christmas Cheer

It's Christmas time at the Guesthouse and we're in the mood for good cheer and spirits ha ha.

For those staying with us this festive season, and to all guests past, Merry Christmas and thank you for your support this year. Hope to see more of you in 2014.

It's more holiday fun

Guesthouse drinks and braai with our mate Dain.

Holiday roll

The holidays are here... I am on leave from today and our guests are already arriving for a break before Christmas, soaking up some glorious Durban sunshine around the guesthouse pool.

Guests Ervin, Anees and Mariske

 

Guesthouse braai

Getting into the festive spirit and taking a break-away to Durban before Christmas are guests Freddie, Anees, Shaun and Gareth. Thanks for joining us guys, hope you have a special time this Christmas with your loved ones.

Goodbye to a dear father

The modern father of our nation and South Africa's favourite President died at the age of 95 last night on the 5th December 2013.

Nelson Mandela will be remembered as a world Statesman who brought unity to South Africa and peace to this part of Africa and a man loved by everyone.

CNN sets out well his life history and the passage to a peaceful transition from the National Party government pre-1994 to the democratic elections and the inauguration of our first black President under the new negotiated Constitution of the Republic. The Constitution introduced a Bill of Rights and widespread new freedoms for all citizens, regardless of race or gender. We salute you dear father and thank you for your gift to us all. May you Rest in Peace.

President Nelson Mandela

Busy weekend

Welcome back to the Guesthouse Matt and Kris who were living in Edinburgh when they last came to stay with us, but who have now relocated to Chester in the Manchester area of the UK. Sadly, to put to rest his mom's ashes, but good to have been part of this memorable occasion with you Matt and to welcome you guys back to the house. As it turns out murphy's law had it that the weekend we had planned on an escape from Durban on a Mozambique cruise turned out to be one of our busier weekends with guys from Belgium, and a few from Johannesburg for the Babylon Party in Durban, ably looked after by our friend Ian. Thanks Ian for looking after everyone so well... it seems the party was happening in our absence!!

Guesthouse owners Dave and Llewellyn celebrated their 9th anniversary together on the MSC Opera on a cruise from Durban to the Portuguese Island just off the coast of Maputo.

There was plenty of talent on the cruise and the beach

Llewellyn soaks up some sun on Portuguese Island

My son just finished his Engineering degree and the cruise was a chance to congratulate my kids and spend some time catching up and with my mom who also joined us on the ship.

 

Premier package

Fresh flowers and Moet on arrival

We've been hard at work this week with a few guests wanting our Premier package and also a tailored Premier selection that had us scouring the shops to meet the exacting requirements. Nothing like arriving from a boat cruise to find your room stocked with the finest French champagne and a selection of treats whilst candles, bath salts and creams await you around the relaxing tub.

Llewellyn in our City Lights Premier room

Durban Romeo and Juliet Adult Pantomime

It's time for the annual sexy saucy adult panto in Durban with our infamous and delightful guys in drag...

The panto Romeo and Juliet, an East Coast story, makes the famous love story relevant to Durban and starts at SunCoast Casino Zone running from 12th November to 31st December.

Bookings are through Computicket and if you get your tickets early you will be sure not to miss Durban's gay community celebrities Anthony Stonier and Thomie Holthausen. Shows are Tuesday to Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 2.00pm. Tickets are R150 per person. Group or table bookings can also be arranged through 083-2502690.

The cast features Anthony Stonier as Anita, Rowan Bartlett as Chubby, Clinton Small as a Toti surfer dude (right above), Thomie Holthausen as Juliet's maid, Jacobus van Heerden as the sexy Romeo (left above) and Katy Moore as Juliet. Scripting and Direction is by Darren King.

Yeah baby.. see you at the panto..... not to be missed. It's a fucking laugh a minute!! Hilarious!! risque'!!

Scoop

Look what I scooped at the Durban Motor Show today ha ha. Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn in a large CAT in between looking at the hot rods on show..mmm