Appin's weekly blog

16 August 2025

Another vibrant week at Appin House! We’ve been bustling with guests, filling our rooms with warmth and energy. Great news for those planning a visit: We have availability next week, and we’re eager to welcome new faces to our beautiful retreat.

Our veggie garden is thriving, thanks to the hard work from Ntokozo and Essy and our nutrient-packed new compost. We’re enjoying regular harvests and gearing up to plant more, aiming for fresh, homegrown produce every day. Nothing beats the taste of garden-fresh veggies!

In the aviary, our rare purple budgie, hatched in April, is now a proud parent-to-be with a nest full of eggs. We’re counting down the days until her chicks arrive.

On the maintenance side, Ntokozo has been hard at work painting the main house roof, keeping everything in top shape. We had a small hiccup with a burst geyser in the ceiling, but the skilled team at Klaus Fritsch Plumbers swooped in and replaced it promptly, ensuring our guests’ comfort.

Saturday, 9 August 2025

Another fantastic week at Appin House, with the guest house and suite fully booked! We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support from our guests.

Essy has been busy in the garden, harvesting some broccoli that’s been steadily growing since February. It’s a rewarding moment to see the fruits (or rather, veggies) of her labor! She’s also thrilled about a new addition to the house—a range of heavy, warm, and colourful blankets. These vibrant additions not only brighten up the rooms but will also help keep heating costs down during the chilly winter months.

Speaking of energy, with the house fully booked, our energy consumption is naturally higher. To make things more sustainable, we’re exploring the idea of installing solar water heaters on the roof in the near future.

On the maintenance front, Ntokozo has been hard at work painting the staff accommodation roof, applying the primer and the first of two top coats. He’s also shared some exciting news from the aviary—a clutch of hatchlings from our handsome blue show budgie! We’re looking forward to seeing these little ones grow.

Until next week,
The Appin House Team

Saturday, August 2, 2025

 A productive week at Appin House. Our guest Romeo enjoyed a delightful stay at the Thatched Garden Cottage this week. With the main house quieter than usual, Ntokozo seized the opportunity to tackle some maintenance tasks. He was up on the staff quarters’ roof, addressing rust spots and giving it a thorough clean. The roof is now primed for galvanized iron primer and a fresh coat of heritage green paint, ensuring it stays in top shape.Ntokozo also spread our new batch of compost over the mondo grass along the driveway, giving it a nutrient boost to keep it lush and vibrant. The vegetable garden is thriving, with all crops growing strong.

In other news, Essy surprised her daughter with two budgies to take home as pets, and her daughter is thrilled with her new feathered friends.We warmly welcomed back our regular guest Edlyn and her family on Friday for an 18-day stay at the main house. It’s wonderful to have the property brimming with life again!

Our guest Precious, staying at the Appin Suite, has extended her booking for another month, for which we’re truly grateful. With that, we’re now fully booked!

Stay tuned for more updates from the guest house!

Saturday, July 26, 2025:

A Fresh and Happy Week at the Guest House!What a refreshing week it’s been at the guest house! After a hectic few months of non-stop bookings since April, we finally got a chance to slow down and spruce things up. Essy worked her magic with a thorough clean—tackling everything from the carpets and windows to the outdoor chairs and even the walls. The place feels revitalized and ready to welcome guests with a warm, inviting glow.We’re really excited that the thatched Cottage is now available to rent separately, and we’re kicking things off with Romeo staying at the Rondavel this weekend. It’s going to be great having him here!In the veggie garden, Ntokozo’s noticed new brinjals forming and fresh buds on our roses. We’re working hard to make our garden the prettiest in town, and it’s coming along nicely.Here’s to a lovely weekend filled with happy guests and a blooming garden!

Saturday, 19 July – A Lovely Week at Our Guest House

It’s been a productive and pleasant week here at the guest house! Ntokozo has been out in the veggie garden, planting green peppers, tomatoes, chili peppers, lettuce, and basil, adding fresh charm to our little patch. Essy shared that our broccoli and strawberries are coming along nicely, likely ready for picking in a week or two. A bit of rain this week was a welcome relief after some dry days, giving our plants and lawn a nice boost.

Our budgie family is growing steadily—one little one below has ventured out of the nesting box, and many more have hatched, bringing some tiny chirping to the air. We had a small hiccup with vervet monkeys taking a liking to the cottage’s thatch, but we’re sorting it out soon.

We’re pleased to have welcomed Bruce from Johannesburg this week. Today, he’s hosting a small, warm reception with family and friends at the house, making for a special day for all in Cowies Hill. Looking forward to more good moments next week! 

July 10, 2025

Hello again, friends! It’s been a busy week at our beautiful guesthouse. There’s always something going on here, and we’re grateful for the moments that keep things moving forward.

We said goodbye our regular long-term guests (Edlyn) who’ve been with us for over a month, their presence missed already. In their place, we’ve welcomed Roland's group for a four-day stay. It’s nice to have new faces around, and we’re looking forward to making his time here comfortable.

Out in the veggie garden, Ntokozo has been putting in some solid work. The clay-heavy soil was causing some drainage issues, so Roger arranged for a load of composted manure to mix into the beds. It’s already helping with the waterlogging, and the extra nutrients should give the plants a lift. Ntokozo planted some new chili peppers and moved the aubergine plants into the improved soil, which has us hopeful for a good harvest down the line.

In the aviary, two young birds have ventured out of their nesting boxes and are getting the hang of the perches. It’s a small but sweet sight to see them finding their way.Days at the B&B are full of these quiet moments—guests coming and going, the garden taking shape, and little signs of life all around.

Thanks for following along. If you’re thinking of a getaway, we’d be glad to have you stay.

All the best,

the Appin Team.

June 26th
This week at Appin House, we had a great time harvesting peas from the trellis in the shade house. The yield was solid for our first go, and we’re excited to keep improving! Meanwhile, the buggies are doing awesome, hatching healthy chicks that are growing strong. A few eggs are still in the wings, ready to hatch. We’ll keep tending to them and share more updates soon!