The Good Holiday

09/04/2023

The Netherlands visit Cape Town and we take (and ourselves) to the wide open best beach for inspiration 🤍

Swipe to see MERU’s best ‘I want my ball’ pose.

19/01/2023

Kosie Smit and I completed another postcard film, this time with Villiera Wines. In this heat in the middle of load shedding, I'm not sure what has me drooling more: their MCC or those majestic solar panels.

It's a great episode. I loved making it.

Enjoy!

We visit Simon & Xander Grier at Villiera in Stellenbosch and learn about their immense sustainability measures whilst sipping the beautiful Tradition Brut N...

15/01/2023

Meruschka Govender left us four years ago today. 15 January will forever be a difficult day for me. Commemorating her passing today, I reflect on how I can finally find ways of mourning her in less destructive ways, celebrating the memories we made and all the countless lessons she taught me.

When I named my Belgian Malinois () after her, I didn't anticipate just how much she would resemble Meru's personality. Much like her namesake, she inspires me to be braver, to be disciplined and to love. Unconditionally.

Meruschka was an incredible woman, and my Meru is a pretty incredible dog.

Today, I'm super grateful to just be here.

PS: I love this image I took of Meruschka a few months before she got sick. I love it because it was just an ordinary day for us, shopping for materials to make dresses. Today these small things are the big things, of course. And the picture of Meru patiently waiting for me to release her from the 'wait' command somehow feels like that. The smallest things are the biggest things.

13/01/2023

EP 1 -

Jasper Wickens from Swerwer by JC Wickens Wines and his award winning SWERWER RED BLEND

For English subtitles, please visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7DTgtNh94

01/12/2022

Do it!

01/12/2022

I AM CAPABLE

Amidst all the chaos of my new pup, very little sleep with her potty training, some serious personal reflection and the end-of-year frenzy we all experience at this silly time of the year, daily yoga and returning to my mat every morning has been a lifesaver. During this morning's practice, I set my intention as "I am capable."

Throughout the class, this grew to specific things:
I can raise Meru to become a beautiful dog, even if it daunts me daily.
I can meet many deadlines and make time to stay energized by Christmas.
I can make better choices in my relationships with people and things and closely but gently look at my attachment style in all aspects of my life.
I AM capable.
I can do this.
I am more than capable of choosing what's best for me and my future in every situation.
I AM CAPABLE OF DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR ME.

Pictured here is the ever-fabulous Kayla - - in poses of strength and balance, which I need quite a bit now.

I'm excited to announce that my and ’s new collective venture, will host our first official wellness and self-esteem retreat in Winter 2023 in the Swartland. Stay tuned for details here. It's promising to be fabulous. We are also working on a beautiful fine-art yoga calendar.

Love from here, and stay strong!
Dee
###

🔆
🔆
🔆

🇿🇦

23/11/2022

Frederico and I stopped over for lunch at last Friday.

Albert and Anmar van Niekerk treated us to a whole fleet of wines from the collective.

It was incredibly special to finally taste the fruits of their love in ’s SONWATER and REBELLIE.

SONWATER, really stole our hearts. A blend of 90% Chenin 10% Clairette Blanche and based on the Lieberstein blend of the 1960’s, this dry, naturally fermented beauty is one of my new favourites.

REBELLIE is a 100% Grenache Noir from Botrivier with a surprising light playfulness. Keep an eye out for this episode in the new year.

Dankie vir julle ongelooflike gasvryheid, duifjes van de Overberg, ek sien julle binnekort! Volgende keer bring Ek vir saam om tussen die groen koringlande te baljaar.

20/10/2022

I took this photo of sphere, one of my teachers at , in WARRIOR III earlier this week.

I love them and it’s wonderful to play in monochrome some more.

When I asked what this pose is good for, she said ‘almost everything. I could not help but smile.

‘It creates stability in the whole body and strengthens the small stabilizing muscles in the feet and ankles, the legs, back, and abdomen. It improves balance and body awareness as you learn to adjust your position in space, she continued.

I’ve got a long way to go, but it’s a wonderful journey.

19/10/2022

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF

I’ve known the beautiful Juan for a few years, but today we flew, and we both transformed. What an absolutely invigorating experience to attend my first aerial class with him. Those hanging silks will definitely see me again!

07/10/2022

A beautiful memory of early sunrise coffee with one of my dearests. Marelise Niemann: winemaker and woman extraordinaire.

05/10/2022

Meet yourself where you are.
Take small steps.
Be kind and gentle.
It all takes time.

03/10/2022

Elsa van Niekerk and I took some portraits at her beautiful and welcoming studio in Vredehoek this afternoon. I’m really so fortunate to have such incredible teachers in my life, guiding my journey on and off the mat. I’ve got a long way to go, but find comfort in the fact that I think we always will. We never really arrive.

Also, I’m curiously excited to see where my visual journey in Yoga takes me. This is but the beginning, so stay tuned for more. What a lovely new subject matter for my lens.

02/10/2022

Dog. Mom. To. Be.

29/09/2022

WATERBLOMMETJIES, little water flowers in the Winelands.

I found these little beauties while shooting media on Leeu
Estates in 2020 🥰
•
•
•
•
•
•

27/09/2022

Happy World Tourism Day!

May we always wander, learn, explore and remember to treasure this great but fleeting privilege of being alive.

Pictured here the late at Victoria Falls on our trip 5 years ago and the two of us on the Chobe river after possibly my best elephant sighting to date. I wish I knew then just how precious this memory would become for me.

Forever in my and many other a heart.

27/09/2022

Happy World Tourism Day!

May we always wander, learn, explore and remember to treasure this great but fleeting privilege of being alive.

Pictured here the late at Victoria Falls on our trip 5 years ago. I wish I knew then just how precious this memory would become for me.

Forever in my and many other a heart.

27/09/2022

I was first introduced to Yoga at theatre school and have since returned to my mat sporadically, far less than I should have, to be honest. 

I'm excited to commit to my practice with a newfound sense of wonder and commitment. I'm grateful to teachers at various Cape Town studios who have carefully guided the process in the last few months. 

Juan van Deventer is one of these teachers. Here he's pictured in the Eka Pada Koundinyasana II or Hurdler Pose, known for building muscle strength in the arms, shoulders, chest, abdomen, core, hips, spine and hamstrings. This pose works well in activating the internal organs while strengthening the abdominal muscles. 

It is not clear to me yet how my rediscovery of Yoga will fit into my professional career. Still, I'm delighted to embark on this journey of rediscovering my body and a new subject matter for my lens, storytelling and experiential design. 

Love from me,
Dee

•
•
•
•
•

 

26/08/2022

WINTER IN THE PAARDEBERG with

I value sunrises spent with Chris Mullineux in the many vineyards they make their beautiful wines. I learn something new from him every single time.

Pictured here is a Chenin Blanc block if filmed, planted in the super deep decomposed granite soils of the PAARDEBERG. Their acclaimed GRANITE CHENIN BLANC hails from this very place.

The most decisive factor in terroir in the Swartland is the soil. Wines from these particular ancient soils have excellent acidity, and they build a bit more floral, spicy aromatics in the reds and more citrus and flinty characteristics in the whites.

Chris, Andrea and I have released our short films on their YouTube channel, filmed over four seasons. I’ll link it to my stories - it’s so wonderful to finally share these films with everyone.

Happy Friday! I hope you are all madly in love with somewhere, something or someone. Or all of the above.

Ja vir die lewe.

🔆🔆🔆

21/04/2022

I've always appreciated a good story, and last night, I realised with a sense of disbelief that it had been a year since I wrote down the initial concept of what would become the project a few months later.

I've since come to appreciate a good wine, as much as a good story. They are, in many ways, pretty much the same thing.

So here's a proper throwback to my second postcard with .jordaan in the Paardeberg. To pink yoga mat gear stations between bush vines; one too many attempts to capture the surrounding granite koppies; the many mysteries of the Bosberaad Amphi-theatre and its ancient soils, to finally sharing some of these memories on my feed, but mainly to this man's unwavering patience, even when I broke his Zalto(s).

Dankie, Paulus. Vir 'n ou wie skynbaar kamerasku is, was jy 'n donnerse natural.

You can watch Paul's tale of his Chenin through the link below. He tells a fantastic story and pours an equally incredible glass of wine.

Paul Jordaan’s BOSBERAAD Chenin Blanc, Swartland, South Africa:
https://youtu.be/gG28u7h586c

Cheers en groot liefde,
Dee
•
•
•
•
•
•

12/03/2022

In 2022, our clients TrueAfrica - The Safari Company and Planet Africa Safaris are working alongside NGOs on the ground to distribute 50,000 Seedballs in key biomes in Kenya, all in desperate need of reforestation.

Of these Seedballs, it’s estimated that at least 33,000 trees will grow to reach full-term!

04/03/2022

Life just got infinitely better. My Heather came to visit ♥️

21/02/2022

If you know me well then you’ll likely know that two of my favourite things are swimming pools and a long stoep. Add some Mullineux Wines, Swartland sunshine, a friendly braaier - Vince himself - and the 100 year old Merindol Manor filled to the brim with stories and treasures … and this mermaid is smitten.

I had so much fun shooting and playing with you, Vincent! Thanks for trusting me with your summer pictures. Next time I teach you how to braai a proper Dee-certified braaibroodjie.

Here are 10 of my favourite images of our adventurous 24hours.

17/01/2022

When was the last time you received a postcard?

Join young winemaker Kayleigh Hattingh for a picnic in the mist, as she sits down in the extraordinary vineyard block from which her remarkable 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 – planted in 1986 – was produced!

"The special thing about old vines is that every individual vine has character, and it's only after being afforded the opportunity to make wine from an old vine that one realises just what these vines are capable of giving back."

Enjoy this heartfelt video by The Good Holiday and Kayleigh from Rebel Rebel Wines – wherein they highlight the beauty of the Bottelary and natural winemaking – by sending you a Postcard from a vine: https://youtu.be/pK03qK5P1SM

WineLand Magazine Wines of South Africa Felco Amorim Cork South Africa Visit SA Winelands Savesawine.co.za wine.co.za

09/01/2022

31/12/2021

You know that game 'never have I ever?' Well, 2021 broke me. Wide-open.  

So, here’s to 2022! 💪🏻

I'd like more of all things mermaiding, kayaking and wine to start, please - with a generous dash of creative breakthroughs and mountains without vertigo on the side. Then I'd love to try a seasoned Holland with a sweet 'bakfiets' to go. Thanks.
 
P.S. I'm not covering any more breakages! Handle with care!

09/12/2021

03/12/2021

Paddling with penguins 🐧

30/11/2021

Thanks for having us! You have a special place up on that mountain.

29/11/2021

Some behind the scenes, leading up to premiering this Sunday.

While shooting my new series, for Johan and Anri Meyer on Piket-Bo-Berg earlier this year, we visited the Farmers Market and afterwards lo...

26/11/2021

Who wants to rub my belly 😉