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Nestled in the heart of “old Langebaan”, less than 200m from the beach and a stone’s throw from the Langebaan Yacht Club, at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac you’ll find 5 Oostewal.



North and west facing, sheltered from the South Easter


Large living area opens up onto patio


Spacious open plan design


Fully equipped kitchen


Less than 200m walk to the lagoon


Brief overview:
- open plan design
- spacious living area
- north & west facing
- totally sheltered from prevailing winds
- great for indoor-outdoor beach living
- fully equipped kitchen (including dishwasher)
- 2 large bedrooms (queen size double beds)
- 1 bathroom with seperate toilet
- short walk to the wind sheltered SandBay beach
- play park for children around the corner

For sailors:
- hot water shower outside
- large area for rinsing & drying equipment

5 Oostewal - JUST 4 FUN!

friends

I'd like to dedicate a section of the blog to the Friends of 5Oostewal - people who've visited, and inevitably have a pic & an experience to share.

Rajesh & family visited amidst the DIY week. They had a real rough time AND cought the worst weather thinkable - was just as bad as being back home in the UK! We did manage to go for a Hobie sail and had great fun. And then, despite the continued downpour we braai-ed a Geelstert - true West Coast style. Thanks for a great time, Senniks. Group photo to be submitted...


Willemien and Jason arrived just as I was installing the new lights in the lounge. It was a short visit, however great to catch up. And we tried the new outdoor Teak furniture - great cheese & wine lunch on the stoep.

Willemien and Jason enjoying lunch on the stoep

Since then Deon & Marthie the assistant DIY-team (also known as Mom&Dad) spent a night at the house - no pic here as all they did was work work work. Thanks!

2do

Here is a couple of my favourite activities in this paradise:
- surfski
- wakeboarding
- Hobie sailing
- kiteboarding
- mountain bike in the West Coast National Park
- leisurely walks along the beach

- sunsets from Seeberg lookout in the West Coast National Park

Sunset with a glas of vino (after awesome surfski wave riding) from Seeberg lookout

Flower season (Aug / Sept) is a great time of the year to visit Langebaan when brilliant windless days allow for enjoying the natural beauty of the West Coast. Whales visit the Saldanha Bay every year in this time and if you're lucky enough they can be seen from the beach.

Taken in the neighborhood!

This is what empty plots looks like in flower season!

Descending into SharkBay this flower spectacle welcomes you - in summer there is as many kites on the water here. And when its really windy the sand bar is the perfect spot for speed kiting.

Although sailing is possible throughout the year, summer season brings the South Easter which fills the lagoon with whitecaps and a coloured spectacle of Hobie Cats, Kiteboarders & Windsurfers.

DIY

Being a perfectionist and capable of doing some DIY (sometimes attributable to having Dad’s number on speed dial!) gets you into more trouble than you thought - and wanted to be in. Now add a bit of ambition and an unhealthy appetite for getting everything done – yourself… and you have the perfect recipe for an entertaining story!

The previous owners added “renovated” in marketing the line. Sure, its noble to slap on a coat of paint, however being a fundamentalist I believe in doing things r-i-g-h-t, irrespective of the repercussions. The result? Hennie inspects the future view from the rooftop and realises that the parapet walls need to be sealed. We procure 10 liters of Nuclad, because Neutron reckons we need 10 liters… 30 liters and lot of bidem later we now have water tight parapet walls – finally! So give it a couple of months and the damp on the inside should dry up and then we’ll re-paint the inside, not to mention the outside where the paint is flaking off the walls in places. Fact is: its dry now – very dry, ‘cause I did it myself (with the help of a couple of friends – obviously!)

It did take close to a day to clean the parapets with a high pressure washer - and another 2.5 days to clean the roof... see, after removing the dirt and moss from the parapet walls (in preparation for the sealing episode) I cleaned a small piece of the asbestos roof sheet and... well being a fundamentalist and a perfectionist, I realised that I might as well clean the roof and re-paint it! Was shoddy looging anyway.

Then, just as we're about to finish sealing the walls, Steve accidently fall through the roof... oops! So we patched that - after all, not a major setback! And then, just as the two of us had painted about 20% of the roof (1st coat, diluted with 50% water) the cold front bring the biggest downpour in recent history. If it wasn't for Steve's support (and presence) I would have sat in the middle of the wet paint and rather cried until my tears washed off the paint, than see the rain wash it off. Upside: we went for a great kite boarding session!

Ready to cry...


Ever so slightly damp - perfect for DIY... NOT!

Being an avid sailor, my beach house MUST have an ouside shower. Check. However, a hot water ouside shower is much nicer - especially in TheBaan (ever sailed in a North Westerly storm until you can't feel your fingers?). So we installed one. QED!

Beacuse every beach house needs one!


The "workshop" during DIY

So what's been done?
- sealed parapet walls, hence soon no more damp inside & outside (1st step to re-painting)
- hot water ouside shower installed
- plumbing for washing machine and dishwasher in the kitchen (an absolute non-negotiable)
- new lights and power sockets (the previous ones were plain hideous) - new light switches currently on order, but its custom thus might take some time
- new bathroom fittings (okay partially - I ran out of time and was short a pair of hands to install the new towel rails)
- replaced the glass in the front door (desperately needed to be modernised) - thanks Deon!

Next on the agenda?
- complete upgrade of ligths, power sockets, light switches and bathroom fittings
- balau deck for outside shower & equipment rising area
- re-do the garden to conform with Hennie-style!
- replace front deck with balau

One day...
- re-paint
- re-do bathroom: add another toilet, create wet-room shower, sunk bath and his-and-hers basins
- get rid of the oh-so-not appealing novilon flooring and replace with tinted-concrete (complete with underfloor heating)
- upgrade kitchen
- build massive garage for all the toys and add multiple doube ensuite rooms on top with amazing views, leading out to the deck on top of the current house!

However, until then... we'll enjoy every moment at 5Oostewal, because in Langebaan its NOT about WHAT you have & what it looks like or what you wear - its about WHO you are (and how many water-toys you have!)

Pics - 1st weekend

The "deurmekaar" kitchen

The lounge: pre-lunch snacks

Braai with a view

View from the stoep - Hennie skippering H16 on far left

1st morning

Yippeee ! Waking up in your own house for the 1st time is quite nice! First thing I did was taking this pic.

Today is the day of 33s18e’s first regatta with Hennie at the helm and Steve as crew. Some repairs, a late start, too little wind, a general recall and we’re off with quite a good start. Oi, the rags aren’t good – especially not the now slightly longer tear in the jib than before. We finished! Albeit last of the 16’s. Good fun and a great relax before the BIG party.

we're IN!

wow. its mine (well kind of...)!!! my friend steve and I managed to move all my crap from storage to Lanagebaan today and I'm currently sitting on a couch that I own in a house that I hope will one day be mine! just thought I should tell you. oh, and my kind sister unpacked all my stuff! nice!

packed & on our way

we're IN!

its very empty

Word is that 5 Oostewal is currently rather empty! Steve & Mads kindly did a walk through reporting live from the scene to the remote administrator (conveniently positioned at Moyo Zoo Lake at the time).

Friday is the day of the big move & the gr8 unpacking session... all help welcome!

And Saturday there is some DIY on the agenda, then some sailing and then... THE PARTY!

unofficially official

attorneys... you'd reckon that paying them their fee you could expect at least a word of communication informing you that it (finally) happened! nothing. anyhow, they told the agent that its all something of the past.

we're now awaiting a set of keys! soon I might have access, although... something made me think of Oscar (the great dane) - isn't he the guard dog?

for more pics, go to http://33s18e.blogspot.com/2007/02/my-place-in-paradise.html

unofficially

Received a note from the Bond Attorney that registration took place in the Cape Town Deeds Office this morning. Awaiting communication from the Transfer Attorney, however it seems like we have lift-off!

Chill the bubbly!

big day!

Cross your fingers and hold your breath - if all goes well, today is going to be a BIG day!

All indications are that registration will take place today. We have paid over mega moolah to the transferring attorneys, the bank agreed to see and raise that payment, exorbitant fees have been paid to various attorneys and now they just need to get on with it...

Its taken for ever... but hey, I remind myself that nothing that is worth it has ever been easy to achieve!

getting there

The bond registration attorneys just called - they're expecting payment for their fees... asap. Why? Well, registration is coming up in the Cpt Deeds Office tomorrow morning, 27.06.07!

This is why I come back for more and more and more...

View: from the balcony


Genuine sunset: 01.05.07 @ 18:28


Another great moment...


After an incredible day on the water, from LYC


Hennie and Steve, co-owners of 33s18e on the maiden voyage!

Welcome to 5 Oostewal, Langebaan!

Its been a process (understatement of the year), but finally Hennie is about to offer you snippets of his spot in paradise. We're expecting transfer by the end of this month, if the public sector strike doesn't result in an endless delay in transfer. I'm happy to report that the required documents will be lodged in the Cape Town Deeds Office tomorrow, Tue 12.06.07.

The purpose of this blog will be to share thoughts, pictures, experiences & good times at 5 Oostewal with its residents. You might stay a night, you may end up coming back for ever... who knows.

May life be one long weekend!