Author: Miriam Erasmus

Author

  • Miriam was born in Lewes, East Sussex, in 1948. For the last 76 years her life has revolved around the gift of music. At college in the 60s, she learned the guitar and became enamoured with folk songs, which led to a 4 year career as 'Miriam Backhouse.' The First Lady of Folk”. She still tours Europe every Summer. In 1977 she married John Erasmus and moved to South Africa. Miriam and John (who died in May 2023) shared a love of music and raised a family on these talents, playing music from Opera to Rock’n’Roll and Nursery Rhymes! Her life has trodden many paths: musician, sound worker, educator, model, seamstress, puppeteer, actress, wife, mother and grandmother. Now, Miriam is a journalist, and shares her adventures in South Africa and on her travels. YouTube link. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnpj8REUlOzHPXnPnULwpKg Facebook link. https://web.facebook.com/miriam.erasmus

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Cars, History, Sussex

Memories of an MG

William Morris set up Morris Garages in 1924, and the MG cars he and General Manager Cecil Kimber designed have been sought after ever since. Of course the most... Read more.
Entertainment, Further Afield

Fiddler’s Green International Festival at Rostrevor, County Down, NI

This was my second, and Tina’s 18th, visit to: The Fiddler’s Green International Festival at Rostrevor.  (click to learn more) Nestled below the Mountains of... Read more.
Entertainment, Further Afield, Historic Buildings

Dalry at Folk Festival Time

My singing travels have taken us to an idyllic little town called Dairy nestled in the Garnock Valley in Ayrshire. Whenever I visit places nestled in the hills,... Read more.
Celebrity, Further Afield

Sunny afternoon in Ayr

 My travels and singing schedule have brought me to Scotland, and Ayr.  There’s nothing I love more than a good Charity Shop browse, even if I buy nothing !! ... Read more.
Animals & Wildlife, Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Home from Holland

It’s always hard to say goodbye, especially when you hardly see these friends, but there is always a next time to look forward to. Karin and Maarten once again... Read more.
Entertainment, Further Afield

Folk in the Lounge at Karin’s

8th June 2025 It was Karin’s 152nd Concert, and it was my 4th visit to her lounge, where she has hosted these gatherings since 2012. Karin Pronk loves folk music…... Read more.
Further Afield, Historic Buildings

Falling for Scheveningen

Karin and Maarten always try to make my journeys to Den Haag about more than the music. This year we decided to go to the Panorama Mesdag in Den Haag…... Read more.
Further Afield

Jet plane jellywobbles.

By Miriam Erasmus Morning in Africa I am not a happy pre travel person. For the last 20 years I have spent most Summers in the UK visiting family and…... Read more.
Celebrity, Entertainment, Further Afield

Coming Up: Our Writer, Miriam’s Musical Tour The Netherlands

Because I do so few concerts these days, the time before a tour starts is filled with prolonged rehearsals to get my voice and fingers in trim again. I have…... Read more.
Forestry and Nature, Further Afield, Sussex

Poinsettias

Every May these showy shrubs start to bloom in our garden, here in South Africa. We just have the red ones, but they also come in a beautiful delicate yellow,…... Read more.
Entertainment, Further Afield, Uncategorized

Mim’s Musical Instruments Part 3

By Miriam Erasmus The Show.    St. Martins’ Pre Primary School in Durban invited me to show my musical instruments to their children on April 24th 2025.  As... Read more.
Art, Entertainment, Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Freedom of the Road

There is something about feeling as weak as a kitten that sends one’s mind soaring to stronger times !! We had 40C in January, and, like an idiot I forgot…... Read more.
Art, Celebrity, Entertainment, Further Afield, History

Mim’s Musical Instruments Part 2, 1977 – present

Now, fast forward 17 years when John and I were working together as full time musicians. John was a brilliant and versatile piano and keyboard player. Our repertoire... Read more.
Uncategorized

Mim’s Musical Instruments Part 1 1948-77

Over my exciting music filled life I have picked up many different instruments, both orchestral and those from different folk cultures. The instrument I have really... Read more.
Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Mudras (Yoga) by Moonlight

At the beginning of lockdown in March 2020 I was asked to film my simple yoga routine to help people keep supple. Our son, Sid, kindly offered to help and,…... Read more.
Food and Drink, Further Afield

Boerebeskuit – Rusks Recipe

  There is nothing like a dunking biscuit. We know all about leaving them in too long and fishing the goo out with a spoon. There is an answer –…... Read more.
Animals & Wildlife, Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Cows of South Africa

For hundreds of years, cows have roamed this valley. The hillsides are full of their paths as they have grazed their graceful way, heads down through the lush grasses.... Read more.
Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Treating Long Hair

  My hair has always been my ‘trademark’. I have had long hair most of my adult life. In the 2010s I got a bee in my bonnet to see…... Read more.
Art, Further Afield

Fashion-ing My Way

  I love watching fashion shows. Well, I did until designers decided to get really weird and make garments I wouldn’t be seen dead in. It was like watching a…... Read more.
Entertainment, Further Afield, Sussex

Lonely or Alone? Thoughts for Solo Travellers

May I offer up some thoughts about the subtle difference between loneliness and aloneness? I have been a ‘loner’ all my life. Always seeming to be out of step... Read more.
Animals & Wildlife, Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Beautiful Sunflowers

For my “lockdown garden” in 2021, I went to the local animal feed store and bought some sunflower seeds. I was warned that they were irradiated and may not flower.…... Read more.
Art, Entertainment, History, Sussex

Sentimental Clothes

My brother has just told us that his son deconstructed a ‘hoody’ to make another in fabric of his choice. It took him a weekend to finish. This brought back…... Read more.
Entertainment, Further Afield, History

Pulling in the Horns Month

  Being self employed in the Southern Hemisphere has caused me to regard January as a “Pulling in the horns” month. Here in South Africa our school year starts... Read more.
Coastal, Food and Drink, Sussex

Mim’s Favourite Article of 2024. Lewes Lass in South Africa on The Kings Hotel, Brighton

By Miriam Erasmus The Kings Hotel In June I was travelling throughout Kent and Sussex with a friend, and on our journey we visited my 96 year old Uncle in…... Read more.
Art, Further Afield, Sussex

Christmas in Africa

I love Christmas. In the Northern Hemisphere, where I spent the first 29 years of my life, it is Winter. Christmas here falls in our Summer, just after our Summer…... Read more.
History, Kent, Sussex

How 1820 Linked South Africa with Kent & Sussex

From Miriam Erasmus, our Lewes Lass in South Africa   As promised, I carried out further research regarding the events of 1820 and found inextricable links between... Read more.
Coastal, Entertainment, Further Afield, History, Kent, Sussex, Uncategorized

Events of 1820 Bonded South Africa and the UK

From Miriam Erasmus, our Lewes Lass in South Africa People have been relocating across the globe since the dawn of humanity. We hear of migrations by land and sea... Read more.
Animals & Wildlife, Forestry and Nature, Further Afield

Springtime in the South African Home of our Lewes Lass

It is 6.30 am, 29th October 2024 and a glorious morning here in the valley of 1,000 hills. The early air is cool and silky, and the sun is busy…... Read more.
Coastal, Food and Drink, Kent

Broadstairs, Dickens & the Canterbury Bell

Bleak House A phone call – “Would you like to come to a Pirate Wedding in Broadstairs ?” After the usual stop start journey round the M25 and over the…... Read more.