A Catch Up
To all our friends and guests,
We hope 2023, the year of the rabbit, is treating you well so far, especially after the seemingly endless upheaval of the last few years. We have been plodding on but now have a spring in our step; it is heartening to see tourism building up again and we hope more of you will be able to return. Until you can get here, we have this letter to update you with our news from this little patch of paradise. As even here, where time seemingly stands still the world still turns.
On a personal note, the pitter patter of tiny feet are making lots of footprints in the sand at Four Twenty South. John and I now have three grandchildren – Isabella and Mike's Eliza and Clover and Samantha and Colin's Caidan – all living in the UK currently but visiting when they can. It is not in a small part thanks to them that we have been thinking of how to improve Four Twenty for its littlest (yet arguably most important) guests.
We finished the new pool in front of Dzumbe in September and it has made quite the splash.
With seating around the edge it is ideal for children or for adults to relax with friends or family and a glass of something cold. We recommend a Fruity 420 - a pineapple and basil concoction, with or without the white rum.
We also added a swing set so now the monkeys aren't the only ones who can swing in the trees! A wendy house is on the way.
Heartily fed up with broken plastic, we have introduced wooden buckets and spades from Hai Kenya. They have been beach-tested by our 420 resident beach baby Indi. As well as using micro-plastic-free sustainable materials, Hai Kenya also plants a tree for every set sold.
Tracing back through the generations, the picture above is of me and my brother Dominic when our parents first bought Four Twenty South in 1966. He and his wife Carol have recently taken over the administration of their half of the property allowing John and me to take things a little easier. This stunningly beautiful situation has its challenges since nature seems irritatingly contemptuous of efforts to bend it to man's wants. The balmy sea breezes and tropical heat, though friends to the soul, are enemies to bricks and mortar.
We will, however, continue doing our best to adapt Kualuka, Chikore and Dzumbe to the needs of the 21st Century without destroying the authentic old-world character which makes this place so special.
We also endeavour to continually improve the other aspects of your stay at Four Twenty, including our great passion, food.
Head chef Akiba and I have been delving into the cookery books to find the best spice-inspired dishes. Living in the heart of what once was the Monsoon Empire where, for centuries, ships brought goods to trade across the Indian Ocean from China, India and the Middle East, spices are an integral part of our local cuisine. This book is quite fascinating and the unusual recipes have provided great inspiration to our kitchen and an eye opener for our chefs. 'Spice' is very much more than chillies.
We like to offer people the maximum freedom to choose what you eat. Many of you enjoy selecting your fresh ingredients while supporting the local vegetable, fruit and fish sellers who come to the door and planning meals with your chef, but we are aware that thinking about what to eat isn't what everyone wants to do on holiday. We can now also offer a catered option with a bespoke daily menu that takes into account your personal preferences (and any allergies) on a half or full board basis. Please just ask if you'd like any more information.
A Swahili feast
Finally, while in the library, we were struck by this description we stumbled on in a book by Awkaeke Emezi...
"It looked like a dream....a long driveway ... filled with pink and white flowers, hummingbirds darting through the air, monkeys peering between the leaves, and the sun washing gold over everything."
Akwaeke Emezi
'You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty'
Remind you of anywhere?
We so enjoy welcoming all of you and hope many more of you will be able to visit us again soon.
With our warmest wishes to you,
John and Hilary
