2011 has arrived, and with it new goals to reach, a few resolutions to fulfill, and looking back... we can say we’ve grown.
The year passed, Vaalnest had three major goals we wanted to reach.

 •  Increase our online traffic/presence
 •  Increase our room occupancy
 •  Train all our front line staff to increase customer service levels

By the grace of God our leisure room occupancy has been on the increase. All our waiters has gone on SA Host, and Senior Management has started with a Business Management Course.

In the cyber world, we’ve seen the same trend since the beginning of 2010, an increase in our presence and online traffic.

Our Website has been updated to incorporate video of our rooms and of the area

www.vaalnest.co.za

Thanks to our web hosting team at Webeasy and the guys at WSI marketing for making all this possible.

Thanks Guys

With the potential that 2010 brought with it, this year Vaalnest is looking at venturing into new markets and increasing in some areas. Thanks to you our loyal clients for the belief and encouraging words, we are always happy to hear your thoughts and feedback. Because of you, our horizons have broadened and we are grateful for your help and support in taking Vaalnest into a new challenge, we’ll overcome & enjoy together. 

 •  Avitourism
 •  Book Clubs
 •  Sailing
 •  Conference
 •  Hosting dinner dances & themed evenings (dates and rates will be sent once calendar has been structured)

Situated in the tranquil and scenic Vaal Marina, nestled on a hill overlooking the Vaal dam, surrounded by over 200 bird species, and with guaranteed access to the dam for all Vaalnest guests... Looking ahead into 2011 brings great excitement, motivation for the challenge ahead and open arms for 2011.

Happy New Year and may God richly Bless You

*** Remember to slot into SABC 2 on Jan 19th at 19-30,
Vaalnest Boutique Hotel will be interviewed on Pasella ***

Remember Vaalnest Boutique Hotel can host your next conference or function in one of our dam facing venues listed below

The Boardroom:

Hosting up to 17 delegates, the boardroom overlooks the Vaal Dam and is perfectly suited for small Corporate or Government meetings.

The Pelican Hall:

With a seating capacity of up to 120 people, the Pelican Hall is our function venue, and has been a host to
 •  Birthday Parties,
 •  Couples counselling workshops,
 •  Corporate conferencing
 •  Government conference
 •  Workshops
 •  Banquets

The Cormorant Hall:

Seating up to 250 pax, this function hall will be utilized for all big conference requests, wedding receptions, and big venue functions.

With this venue still under construction and in completion soon, The Pelican hall is available for your perusal.

Let our professional staff take care of all your conference needs.

Audio/visual equipment is available at your request.
Tel: 016 372 1075
Email: info@vaalnest.co.za

Red - Worldly Desires and Approval
Purple - Unpredictable and Opposing
Pink - Symbol of Mother's Day
White - True and Pure Love

Good Luck Gift to a Woman

The first mention of carnations was when the Crusaders were stricken with plague, in the thirteenth century, near Tunis. They mixed the leaves of carnations with wine and drank it to control the raging fevers. In his sixteenth-century herbal, John Gerard wrote that the flowers of carnations and sugar, mixed to a conserve, was used to expel fevers and poison and was good to "comfort the heart." Carnations were used for black hair dye, and to flavor beer, ale, and wine.

According to a Christian legend, Mary began to cry when she saw Jesus carrying the cross. Where her tears fell, carnations began to grow which may have been why the Pink carnation was chosen as a symbol of motherly love.

Margherita, according to an Italian legend, was a young woman who fell in love with a knight whose name was Orlando. Margherita gave Orlando a white carnation, which he carried with him, when he was called to war. Orlando's blood stained the center of the white carnation when he was mortally wounded. The white carnation was returned to the heartbroken Margherita who planted the seeds. Every blossom that came from the seeds was white with crimson centers. Margherita remained true to Orlando forever and never married. It became a custom in Margherita's family to deliver to each baby girl born into the family, a vase of white carnations with crimson centers.

Birthstone Color: Deep Red

One glance at the deep red seeds nestled inside of a pomegranate fruit explains why the word "garnet" comes from the Latin word "granatus," meaning "grain" or "seed." This name was given to the garnet because of its close resemblance to the succulent pomegranate seed. But don't bite into a garnet, because at Moh's hardness 6.5 to 7.5, it will definitely damage the teeth!

There are many myths and legends surrounding the garnet. One Biblical legend is that Noah hung this gem on the ark to light his way through the dark and stormy nights of God's wrath. A Greek myth linked to the garnet is the story of the young goddess of sunshine, Persephone, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld. Hades eventually released Persephone, but not before he offered her some pomegranate seeds, which guaranteed her return to him.

The garnet continues to be the protective gem of journeyers. A gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love and the desire for a loved one's safe travel and speedy homecoming. It is January's birthstone, but far from being only a winter gem, the garnet, with its brilliance and multitude of colors, is truly one for any season.

Here's a bait recipe to chum catfish! Chicken Liver, Beef Liver, catfish dynamite, and two cups of water...

 •  Chicken Liver
 •  Beer Liver
 •  Catfish Dynamite
 •  2 Cups of Water

Put all the ingredients into a blender, mix together, and put in sock and cast into the water to chum catfish.

Make 2 scoops per sock. Servings

Prep time: 5 minutes.
Cook time: None.

Like Vaalnest nested on a hill overlooking the Vaal dam, so was the Vaal Dam overlooking the Vaal river this past week.

Due to the heavy rainfall we’ve been getting, our dam has been filling up and had to open up it’s gates to release the overload into the Vaal River. Unfortunately the guys on the lower end suffered dearly with flooding, but everybody kept safe and gratefully no casualties were reported.