Ed’s letter

HOLIDAYS… They will forever remind me of Scottburgh. And Benoni.

Scottburgh, on KZN’s South Coast, was about the Blue Marlin – the quintessential South Coast family hotel, back then it was all kinds of faded ’50s glory with huge mealtime buffets and tons of organised activities for the kids. Most of these involved the big hotel pool … which was also the focal point of Decembers in Benoni.

During the school holidays, I’d travel up there from Cape Town to see my dad. Like those described by our columnists this month, they were days spent at the pool, either with mates, swimming in it, or – suddenly with no mates around – cleaning it. Smith the Elder did not believe in those newfangled Kreepy Kraulies.

Swimming pools, as you’ll notice, are also something of a thread through this issue. From the cover image and its reference to the outdoor furniture feature on page 38, and the variousshaped pools of the homes and hotels we shot for this issue, to very cool locally made swimwear you can wear while lounging poolside (page 170) and some delicious French champagne you could be sipping on (page 180), this issue of VISI brings the sunshine.

Happy holidays!