Our Christmas Haul

Here are a few gift ideas straight from the Fabmags team – enjoy our haul as we bring you the best of the countryside finds for this festive season. Lorinda Scott “If you’re looking for a gift that’s as unique as the person you’re giving it to, I recommend the Netherwood Blueberry Rum Liqueur from Blueberry Café. I find their gins and rums to be so unusual and cool.” @theblueberry_cafe Justin Scott “I guess you...

Merry Meals

We are pleased to share three hearty and fun Christmas recipes from renowned chef Jackie Cameron. Give these a try if you’re out of ideas or need some inspiration. Here’s to merriment and joy for this festive season! Stoney Ginger Beer, Fresh Peach & Cherry Glazed Dargle Christmas Ham Ingredients: 2kg “Dargle Valley Meat” – Gammon Ham (Bone-out) For the Glaze: 150g butter, salted 300g treacle brown sugar 90ml Dijon mustard 3 cups Stoney Ginger...

For the Love of Music

Carol recently launched the Midlands Suzuki Music School, teaching piano and violin from her home in Lidgetton and at Lions River Primary, as well as several schools in Pietermaritzburg. With the help of BackaBuddy and a pupil’s parent, she raised funds to take a group of her Lions River pupils – many from underprivileged backgrounds – to Cape Town for a national Suzuki workshop. “Seeing those children perform so beautifully, many for the very first...

Living in the Moment

We always keep our ears to the ground when it comes to outstanding community members, and we want to give a shout-out to one such member, Kate-Marie Butlin, a woman, mother, an avid trail runner, and business owner, who is proud to be building a successful life here in our neck of the woods. Meet Midlands-born mom and businesswoman, Kate-Marie Butlin. She has been shaped by small-town life in the best of ways and is...

Creating a Reading Nation

Meet one of our local authors and teachers who started her own publishing company to encourage the love of reading amongst our youth. Nokuphiwe Nala is a Foundation Phase teacher and author with a vision to bring the love of books and reading to as many children as possible. According to statistics from the Department of Education, there has been a decrease in the number of children who can read for enjoyment or meaning. During...

Mission to Mars

One of our very own local students has achieved an out-of-this-world honour, representing South Africa at the prestigious United Space School at NASA in Houston, USA. What an accomplishment! William Segar, a Grade 11 pupil at Hilton College High School, was recently selected to take part in the United Space School programme hosted by FISE (Foundation of International Space Education) at the University of Houston Clear Lake and the NASA Johnson Space Centre in Houston,...

Top Interior Picks From Your Local Decorators

Designing your dream home can be thrilling, but what if you want a space that truly stands the test of time? Amanda Kelly, Head Residential Interior Designer at Tracy Kelly Design, says the ‘gin stool‘ is her go-to piece for adding charm to a room. Small but full of character, it sits perfectly beside an antique chair, sofa, or even a bath. Its ease of movement creates height and visual interest while filling those awkward...

Spruce Up Your Space

If your interiors are feeling a little lacklustre, read below for some tips, tricks, and trends from one of our local décor store owners. We asked Hannah Keppler, owner of The Ruby Orchard in Howick, for her recommendations on seasonal décor tips and tricks. But if that’s not really your focus, there are also a few more timeless trends you can incorporate in your interior spaces. With over a decade in the running, The Ruby...

Through the Decades – Muirheads Hiring with Sherree Hamblin

We are proud to celebrate a few milestones achieved by our local businesses this year. Learn more about what the decades have taught them and continue to shape them to serve our community. The Beginning My late dad, Bernard, bought this hiring company in 1996 and was excited about the prospect of owning his own business after working in the banking industry for so many years. Dawn, my mom, now retired, joined him after selling...

Through the Decades – The Wine Cellar with Margaret Spowart

We are proud to celebrate a few milestones achieved by our local businesses this year. Learn more about what the decades have taught them and continue to shape them to serve our community. The Beginning After selling our previous business in the fuel industry, we took a much-needed break to the Cape. One morning, we had a wine tasting at the Van Loveren Family Vineyards in Robertson, in their beautiful garden setting, when their gran...