Farside Farm in Nottingham Road, KwaZulu Natal

Nottingham Road is a village on Nottingham Road in the Midlands, KwaZulu Natal.   We booked all the rooms at Farside Farm B&B, plus the Dam Cottage, for family, for the weekend of Elaine and Bryan’s wedding.   The Dam Cottage (I’m putting it in capitals as it sounds rather rude to call it a dam cottage – even tho’  the spelling is slightly different!!!!).. anyway, the Dam Cottage was used as the bridal suite.  Perfect for getting ready for the wedding as well as a quiet spot for the newly-weds!!

Graham and his right-hand man Abel make you feel so very welcome and at home.  Home from home !!   Sitting by the fire, having a night-cap one late night, we thought we smelt popcorn.  Indeed we did – Graham came out of kitchen with a huge bowl of warm delicious popcorn!!!!  How could not stay cozy by the fire just a little while longer !!!   Abel, was amazing!  He came to my rescue several times when I needed to bake the wedding cake in the main house and not in the Dam Cottage as planned.   Always at hand to show me plug points, extra baking paper, cocoa (I’d had stupidly left mine at home!),  and the use of their super duper oven, which worked like a charm!!   I had bought everything .. cake mixer, all ingredients for cake – except cocoa!!!  Mpho  (in pic below) and Regina were wonderful too – I tried not to get in their way.  That’s all my stuff on that vast expanse of space !!!!  It was fantastic baking in there 🙂   There was a TV blaring forth … how could anybody be nervous about baking the most important cake in their daughter’s life .. it took my mind off everything .. I can make this cake blindfolded I’ve done it so many time 🙂 !!

 I didn’t use this oven .. but I believe they’re brilliant  ..

Meet Abel … in the dining area with the pub beyond.  Through the glass doors is braai/barbeque area.  Great when the weather isn’t that wonderful – we had a braai on the evening of the day we arrived

Graham is a fan of Gary Larson’s cartoons The Far Side .. and has the complete set of books  … hence the name of the farm and B&B

The evening of our arrival we sat outside before the chill came down and drove us inside for our braai ..  stunning prezzie from Terry and Paola, traditional symbols from Colombia on place mats and coasters

Toasting the future with Daniella, my niece, first bridesmaid to arrive ..

I took the opportunity of walking around with my camera to capture this beautiful setting in the evening light ..

The Dam Cottage which as pedestrian access through the fence as well as via the farm entrance road ..

 

Hubby and I had the heart embroidered in Verona, Italy on our recent trip .. ‘Romeo and Juliet’s’ city

Scrumptious breakfast with the most delicious freshly-baked-still-warm Chelsea buns made by Abel …. (that’s me BTW)

Breakfast on wedding day .. Abel went all out with fairy lights and a pink boa on the table (personally we liked the simplicity of the roses in glasses, but we all told him how festive it all looked, especially for this special day!!!   He beamed from ear to ear .. he was very sweet 🙂

He made cupcakes with chocolate leaves especially for us too ..

Glorious place, Farside Farm .. tranquil and peaceful,  home from home  … we’ll definitely be back

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