Saturday 19 April 2008: Visit Uncle Tim's

Every second Saturday morning two friends and I take the R 23 heading for Johannesburg International Airport, take the turn off to Benoni and arrive at about nine thirty at a favourite haunt - a cluster of Victorian stores housed on an old farm and its outbuildings. Uncle Tim's Cabin is a must for avid porcelain collectors.

As you drive along High Road, through the plots and small holdings, just look out for the blue-jacketed horse which announces Uncle Tims. Amongst the antiques stores, secondhand book shop, the store that sells vintage movies and stamps, there is a saddle shop with all else a mount might need. The Riding School is adjacent and the Shetland ponies might be taking a stroll through the parking lot.

The front porch of Uncle Tim's is usually a riot of colour. On Saturday the flower boxes were planted with new winter seedlings.

The garden shop is a treat and a great place for fairies and gnomes to add to your flower beds.

The official entrance to another marvellous antique shop - Auld Lang Syne, which specialises in Royal Daulton figurines.

Our actual destination is La Broiderie, the best little bit of real estate for miles. It is our source of quiliting and embroidery supplies and where we take a Saturday morning class.

Good Thyme is a little nursery selling indigenous plants at very reasonable prices. And the Victorian summerhouse is full of herbal remedies, packets of seeds and toiletries made from herbs.

The old bus signals the entrance to a self-help tea garden which is served by the deli next door. After class we stop by for quiche and salad.

Uncle Tim's is habited by an enormous Boxer dog who lives at the second hand bookstore, several cats who snooze in the sun amongst our embriodery paraphernalia and bantam hens and chicks which think nothing of popping in if they aren't shooed out. But Wilbur and Aggie, two rescued donkeys, who live at the riding school, call the shots. As soon as we are busy stitching, they aim for the window at the back of the shop, where we feed them carrots and apples before they return to grazing in the paddock.

Wilbur has the biggest mouth, rather yellow teeth but takes a titbit as gently as any wellbred gentleman.

Would you like to join me Saturday in two week's time? Just take a flight from any major city in North America, Australia or Europe to Johannesburg International and I'll be waiting for you. We'll load your luggage into my car, hop on the highway and be at the tea garden in ten minutes. After tea and cake - homemade chocolate mousse, baked cheesecake, apple tart - to name a few of the offerings, we'll begin to browse and you will find just the treasure you need to put in that empty nook. After shopping, it's just a 30 minutes drive back to Thatchwick Cottage where the guest room is waiting! Any takers?