   |  Bernice MorellOwner : Morrells Boutique Estate Julie B Steynberg, Ambassador & Executive Director Difference Makers S.A. says: “One of the most Beautiful Stories of Making a Difference in your own life and in the lives of many to come; arrived on my desk. Bernice Morrell your story encourages me; and I am sure very soon will many women in the world be encouraged to understand: Life itself will safe you….. I adore you for this, and I know S.A. will adore you for this too. It is one of the most beautiful true love stories ever! Bernice starts writing in her own words: “To share intimately is no easy ask but when it comes to something you are so deeply passionate about it all takes on a greater depth and the sharing much easier. Morrells was not always Morrells but born out of a deep dream that lay buried under layers of hardship, abuse, pain and destitution. The dream of a place of restoration and escape, a place of beauty and peace for the tired and weary in a fast paced, demanding and often harsh and sometimes cruel world. A safe place, an oasis for the thirsty and worn to find relief, reunited with peace and to be refreshed was all but a dream. |
How foolish to dream such dreams when I found myself divorced and abandoned surrounded by lack with three children, bills, debt and nothing much left but faith in a loving God and a talent that had no way of giving expression other than teach flower arranging and other craft workshops to get by.
I did during this time find the value in the table and gathering those you love to sit and celebrate and sometimes laugh and sometimes cry but come together even if it is with dry bread and herbs. Taking what you have and make it special. To create an atmosphere of the valuing of others a sense of togetherness, thanksgiving of life and one another around the table.
Afraid of men betrayed by men and hurt by men I had said never another man however it's sometimes the very thing we fear we indeed need to overcome and in which we find healing. It was a man that walked into my life, a man who taught me to choose, a man who taught me to say no, a man who taught me the value of who I was and what I could become, a man who believed in me and my dreams, a man who gave me opportunity to give expression to my talents, A man who took my heart, brokenness, fear and debt. This man took my hand and said to this woman I will have you and hold you as long as I may live through sickness and health through richer and poorer in three weeks of our meeting and without realizing it put me back together again, he invested his life into mine and I into his with what I had and made me his wife and his Mrs Morrell.
This man the one I proudly call husband my Mr Morrell took me as his bride around the world and introduced me to so much beauty, drinking in the French countryside and experienced the taste of Italy the culture of Hungary and so much more. I was introduced to the Michelin star dining in some of the finest hotels and restaurants of the world where dining was a unhurried lingering and an un rushed journey to savor not just a way to fill a hungry stomach. Where service is is not just a job or a way to get by but rather a heartfelt vocation handled with great care. Where cooking was a passion and plating an art.
Oh how the ambers of my dream were fueled by this introduction of the art of service and dining of the way things should be and to create a sensory and culinary journey. A fire stirred within me to create what I had experienced so I could share the this delight with others.
We slowly acquired the neighboring properties acquired the various licenses and built over three years with many obstacles and challenges. We took great care and time in acquiring each window, door, light and switch. Painstakingly sourcing pieces with character and history. Of course the greatest pleasure was when we were able to place to soft furnishings and art in position and see the picture that had been in my heart as a reality quite unbelievable but so beautiful that words cannot quite describe the fulfillment was all much more than I could've ever hoped or dreamed.
My Mr Morrell had always said that building with me the beautiful Morrells was not only allowing me the opportunity to give expression to my talents and dreams but his gift to me, his Taj Mahal. It is quite incredible that Morrells was born from love and we now often host so many unions of love and we count that an honor.
Before we could officially open people had put two and two together and rang our doorbell that is now the Morrells Farmhouse that was for many years our home and requested events and one in particular was a wedding. Our very first wedding. A high end one to boot. The groom had his business listed on the stock exchange. I had no experience but led by pure passion together with the willingness of a man who had assisted in the building process who is in fact still in our employ now as senior management helped me carry and lay tables. I single handedly created all the floral decor and all was quite spectacular. The bride was in such ease of me however inexperienced she felt quite comfortable to pull down her top to show me her beautiful new breasts as gift for husband to be and so the wedding side of Morrells was born and since gained rapid momentum and reputation.
Over the last ten years we have grown organically moving from caterers to our own brigade of chefs. An onsite shoppe filled with ribbons favors, vintage jewelry and so many ch more. A pamper parlor and two boutique residences with expansions for more.
Climbing the hospitality mountain we have since found is relentless in its demands, with grazed knees and blistered toes, the sting of salty tears running down a sunburnt face one simply cannot focus on the struggle but rather the breathtaking view of the last ten years, years of witnessing so many brides eyes fill with tears taking in the flowers and breathing in her few moments before she steps into her wedding gown to walk down the aisle. The view of people around tables, exchanging business plans others reflecting over the years that brought them this far to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries while others gather for a simple natter and catch up.
I often stand in the tower entrance of Morrells with the crunch of gravel under my feet that takes me back to places visited in France and see the birds splashing and bathing in the fountains without care and gay abandon, the soft scent of lavender and rose dancing in the air, it is then that I stand on the mountain of hope looking into the beauty of the endless horizon that lays before me smudged with the mist of a new season and new day.
Nothing meaningful is easy or without challenge but are certainly worth every effort in fighting for. I do so love Morrells that the never ending fight for service excellence, the continual demand for the best is worth the struggle. We have put the suburb of Northcliff on the international hospitality stage and have done South Africa proud by winning many international awards. We believe the best is yet to come.
I did during this time find the value in the table and gathering those you love to sit and celebrate and sometimes laugh and sometimes cry but come together even if it is with dry bread and herbs. Taking what you have and make it special. To create an atmosphere of the valuing of others a sense of togetherness, thanksgiving of life and one another around the table.
Afraid of men betrayed by men and hurt by men I had said never another man however it's sometimes the very thing we fear we indeed need to overcome and in which we find healing. It was a man that walked into my life, a man who taught me to choose, a man who taught me to say no, a man who taught me the value of who I was and what I could become, a man who believed in me and my dreams, a man who gave me opportunity to give expression to my talents, A man who took my heart, brokenness, fear and debt. This man took my hand and said to this woman I will have you and hold you as long as I may live through sickness and health through richer and poorer in three weeks of our meeting and without realizing it put me back together again, he invested his life into mine and I into his with what I had and made me his wife and his Mrs Morrell.
This man the one I proudly call husband my Mr Morrell took me as his bride around the world and introduced me to so much beauty, drinking in the French countryside and experienced the taste of Italy the culture of Hungary and so much more. I was introduced to the Michelin star dining in some of the finest hotels and restaurants of the world where dining was a unhurried lingering and an un rushed journey to savor not just a way to fill a hungry stomach. Where service is is not just a job or a way to get by but rather a heartfelt vocation handled with great care. Where cooking was a passion and plating an art.
Oh how the ambers of my dream were fueled by this introduction of the art of service and dining of the way things should be and to create a sensory and culinary journey. A fire stirred within me to create what I had experienced so I could share the this delight with others.
We slowly acquired the neighboring properties acquired the various licenses and built over three years with many obstacles and challenges. We took great care and time in acquiring each window, door, light and switch. Painstakingly sourcing pieces with character and history. Of course the greatest pleasure was when we were able to place to soft furnishings and art in position and see the picture that had been in my heart as a reality quite unbelievable but so beautiful that words cannot quite describe the fulfillment was all much more than I could've ever hoped or dreamed.
My Mr Morrell had always said that building with me the beautiful Morrells was not only allowing me the opportunity to give expression to my talents and dreams but his gift to me, his Taj Mahal. It is quite incredible that Morrells was born from love and we now often host so many unions of love and we count that an honor.
Before we could officially open people had put two and two together and rang our doorbell that is now the Morrells Farmhouse that was for many years our home and requested events and one in particular was a wedding. Our very first wedding. A high end one to boot. The groom had his business listed on the stock exchange. I had no experience but led by pure passion together with the willingness of a man who had assisted in the building process who is in fact still in our employ now as senior management helped me carry and lay tables. I single handedly created all the floral decor and all was quite spectacular. The bride was in such ease of me however inexperienced she felt quite comfortable to pull down her top to show me her beautiful new breasts as gift for husband to be and so the wedding side of Morrells was born and since gained rapid momentum and reputation.
Over the last ten years we have grown organically moving from caterers to our own brigade of chefs. An onsite shoppe filled with ribbons favors, vintage jewelry and so many ch more. A pamper parlor and two boutique residences with expansions for more.
Climbing the hospitality mountain we have since found is relentless in its demands, with grazed knees and blistered toes, the sting of salty tears running down a sunburnt face one simply cannot focus on the struggle but rather the breathtaking view of the last ten years, years of witnessing so many brides eyes fill with tears taking in the flowers and breathing in her few moments before she steps into her wedding gown to walk down the aisle. The view of people around tables, exchanging business plans others reflecting over the years that brought them this far to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries while others gather for a simple natter and catch up.
I often stand in the tower entrance of Morrells with the crunch of gravel under my feet that takes me back to places visited in France and see the birds splashing and bathing in the fountains without care and gay abandon, the soft scent of lavender and rose dancing in the air, it is then that I stand on the mountain of hope looking into the beauty of the endless horizon that lays before me smudged with the mist of a new season and new day.
Nothing meaningful is easy or without challenge but are certainly worth every effort in fighting for. I do so love Morrells that the never ending fight for service excellence, the continual demand for the best is worth the struggle. We have put the suburb of Northcliff on the international hospitality stage and have done South Africa proud by winning many international awards. We believe the best is yet to come.
Telephone: (011) 476 9495
Email : info@morells.co.za
Website : http://www.morrells.co.za/
Social Media
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MorrellsBoutiqueVenues/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorrellsB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrells_boutique_estate/?hl=en
Interesting Article
https://www.leef.co.za/2018/01/31/na-die-lig/
Email : info@morells.co.za
Website : http://www.morrells.co.za/
Social Media
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MorrellsBoutiqueVenues/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorrellsB
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrells_boutique_estate/?hl=en
Interesting Article
https://www.leef.co.za/2018/01/31/na-die-lig/