Father’s Day is fast approaching, and this year is the year to give dear dad the perfect day.

So please, skip the socks and tie. If you are stumped for ideas on how to spend this special day with your number one guy, Sean Granger, Granny Mouse Country House & Spa’s General Manager has some fantastic ideas. There are so many ways that will make him appreciate all your efforts.

Since Father’s Day falls on June 19^th, get into the car, crank up his favourite music, and head to the Midlands – the land of fresh country air – giving you memories of time spent together.

But before you embark on this road trip, ensure you have packed his favourite beverage of choice, and maybe some art supplies? This gives you an opportunity to either crack open a cold wine, or pour the beverage of choice, and immerse yourselves into painting together. Knowing how beautiful the Midlands is, it will provide you with the most amazing landscapes. Whether born artists, or not, you’ll have a good giggle while sipping away.

What most dads won’t expect is some much needed pampering. He may be shocked at first, but will definitely love a spa day at Granny Mouse. Why not end off the spa day with a hamper of goodies, featuring items like shaving creams, soaps and of course some chocolate.

For those dads who love to garden, and who have younger kids, get planting with him, choosing easy plants that don’t require too much hard work and maybe even incorporate planting plants that you can cook with further down the line. This gives you another opportunity to bond by then cooking with him using the ingredients you planted together.

If you are away for Father’s Day, instead of lounging around, why not go on a trail walk or jog in the area, especially if you are a family that is active. Gift your dad a homemade exercise voucher – it’s a humorous, but thoughtful gift.

On Father’s Day, if you are able to, it is important to spend quality time together, so bring out those board games to create a family game night, playing classics like Monopoly, 30 Seconds, UNO, Charades, and more. It’s time spent which will stay with him forever.

Another idea would be to surprise dad with a five star breakfast, brunch or lunch. The Bistro or the Eaves Restaurant, situated at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, is just the place to celebrate that special dad. The Bistro just recently updated their menu, which is sure to engage and delight even the most discerning palate. The splendid a la Carte menu covers every food fantasy; with its mouth-watering dishes, he most certainly will not be disappointed.

Hidden in a secret corner at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, you’ll find a cellar like no other. So for those wine-loving dads, why not book a wine tasting.

Constructed over 20 years ago, Granny Mouse Country House & Spa turned a room usually designed for simple wine storage, into a truly exceptional and unique space. This specially designed cellar was dug deep below the hotel to ensure perfect temperatures were achieved for the ultimate in wine storage, and boasts an impressive array of the finest award-winning wines suitable to any palate.

The Cellar showcases a number of superb South African wines combined with their Vintage Collection and Specialty Spirits. On offer is anything from Sauvignon Blanc to a host of White Blends, Pinot Noir to Merlot, and superb Dessert wines, and specially themed tastings that dad would not have experienced before, such as macaroon and wine tastings, gourmet wine tastings, and more.

There are hundreds of ways to spoil dad, but the most important part of Father’s Day, and one that he will truly cherish, is spending time together, carving out new memories!

After the recent devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal, it goes without saying that plants can help absorb much of the water in soil.

This effect ultimately makes it harder for water to wash away soil. They also help reduce erosion in many other ways, such as breaking the wind that may blow topsoil away.

Erosive force occurs when the top layer of soil detaches, due to wind or water. The choice of plants with strong roots in areas where the soil is crucial to the viability is key! And bountiful for you and embankments, there are several things you can certainly try to channel and the technique involves planting alternating strips of row crops establishes root systems.

The team from Granny Mouse Country House & Spa have some thoughts and observations worth sharing when it comes to plants & walls!

Planting vegetation is one of the easiest natural ways to prevent erosion. Mulching (a material, such as straw or bark, spread over the ground to protect the roots of plants from heat or cold, to keep soil moist, and to control weeds) is an effective technique that enriches the soil and prevents erosion. Retaining walls, interlocking concrete blocks, rock retaining walls, riprap (loose rock) areas and terracing. If you have wood, just make sure that the wood is treated with a wood preservative to prevent rotting, and ultimately any additional problems.

The issue of retaining walls is quite common, but in extreme flooding some walls did not handle the force of the water. Another thing to remember is that retaining walls are generally not covered by insurance, which is somewhat of a burden. To explain further, a retaining wall is any wall serving the purpose of holding back soil or other material on one side of the wall, i.e. where the ground or surface levels on either side of the wall differ in height.

Retaining walls are typically constructed as a sheer vertical wall or a block wall. By virtue of their nature and purpose, retaining walls are subject to different influences and pressures when compared with other walls such as boundary or load-bearing walls. As such, a specialised design and criteria apply when erecting a retaining wall. These criteria are determined and approved by experienced engineers to ensure the wall will meet the requirements of a particular environment.

It is not uncommon to see a boundary wall become a retaining wall due to changes within the environment surrounding the wall. At best, such a situation is an accident waiting to happen.

In terms of homes and buildings combined insurance cover for retaining walls under the storm, wind, water, hail, snow peril is specifically excluded. Due to the nature of retaining walls, the underwriter requires qualified intervention before cover will be granted. As such, the insurer will require an engineer’s stability report before they will agree to issue cover. When cover is issued, it is noted separately on the policy documentation with its own insured value, and will most certainly be subject to an additional premium.

While many insurers require the re-submission of an engineer’s report prior to issuing cover for each new period of insurance, some insurers may only require this every few years. It is vital that clients check the insurers’ requirements each year to ensure their cover is correctly renewed and not compromised.

Getting back to steep banks…If you have these, then planting grass and shrubs is very effective in stopping soil erosion. Another idea is to build terraces, or even create diversions to help with drainage of water.

Tree roots turn soil into a type of reinforced dirt to prevent soil erosion. They definitely help prepare for natural circumstances such as wind, water and floods.

Grass, in non-vegetative areas, is an excellent way to control erosion, as their root systems stabilize the soil and the turf protects the topsoil.

Consult with your local nursery to find the right plants for the right place. Also, try keep your lawn healthy and don’t mow it down to the root. Recycle your yard waste and look at reducing stormwater runoffs.

Do your bit to prevent soil erosion where ever you can.

Inspired by: https://www.arc.agric.za/

https://www.arc.agric.za/Agricultural%20Sector%20News/Simple%20solutions%20to%20combat%20soil%20erosion.pdf]