We have DSTV

We have finished at the old house and all our stuff is here.  And so we are on the path to settling down.  The unpacking of boxes and sorting stuff and putting up shelving is a tedious process but we are muddling through.

Dick arrived today with his spectrum analyser and found the satellite for us and now Liz is overjoyed that she can watch her favourite programs.

We are here!

Well here we are at the cottage.  The name of the cottage is "Droplet" and is situated on Watermead Farm.  We managed to get all our stuff moved on Saturday and are now busy with opening boxes and getting the house up and running.  I feel about thirty years older and have found muscles and bones where I never expected them to be, and they all hurt.  Retirement is not for Sissy's.

This Sunday we will have the Drak Challenge canoeists paddling past our house.  We are expecting quite a few spectators here at the river.  Hmmm, I wonder if a couple of cases of coke and wors rolls will sell. This could help pay for our move.

We have a lot of work to do here at the cottage and I have already managed to get a lot of stuff done.  Electrics and shelving and suchforth, but I cannot aim the DSTV dish.  My compass is very attracted to the tin roof and has no idea where north or east are.  So Dick will have to get it set up for us.  He is our local TV guy and knows his stuff.

Saturday, the target day

With a bit of luck and weather permitting, we will sleep at our new home this coming Saturday.  We have arranged for a friend to help over the weekend and, if all goes well, we will spend our first night at the new home.  Oh boy!  There is a lot to do.  So, as a retired gentleman in the country, I shall be busy sorting my spot in the world.  I fear a lot of back ache and exercise.  Well and good, this is bound to keep me fit.  Don't let anyone tell you that retirement is a gentle and relaxed thing.  But I would not change it for the world.

Another two loads delevered to the cottage

We are very blessed with great friends.  Two Robins took a large amount of stuff in boxes to the cottage today.  As I said to Robin after we had unloaded things, "Not bad for two old gentlemen".  It is quite a thing that, at sixty, I can still load and offload stuff from LDV's.  We really appreciate the wonderful and selfless help that we are getting from our friends.  Aren't we so lucky?  Oh yes.

So the move is progressing.  The stress level has been lowered as we know we have good friends to help and we have made a start on the move.  I think, once we have settled, good wine and better dinners will be the order of the day for our special friends.  We thank you so much.

First Load To The New House

This morning my friend and I took two bakkie (LDV) loads of boxes and bookshelves to the new house.  Fortunately there was not too much rain and we got the lot delivered safely.

Packing goes on and we have several loads more to take.  With a bit of luck we will be moved by the end of next week.  Then Liz and I can take a trip to PMB to see the taxman (Yuch!).  At least we will be half an hour closer to PMB so the trip will be a little bit less taxing (excuse the pun!).

The water is receding and so we may have our river back looking like a river.  I heard last night that the caravan camp at Drakensberg Gardens Hotel was flooded and some of the caravans were washed away.  The valley was flooded and a lot of damage was sustained.  It is not a good idea to build anything on a flood plain.

The move progress

We had rain all of Monday, yesterday afternoon and all through the night.  Liz is supposed to be working in town today but she cannot get there as the road is flooded just near the turn off to Underberg.  She is on her way back here now. 

The packing is underway and so we are getting on top of our move.  I was told that at the weekend a whole bunch will take the tractor and trailer to the new house and remove all the furniture that is there.  So after that we can make our proper move.  The sooner the better.

The little kitten, Ali was almost trodden on by the horse, Billy.  He got an awful fright and is inside now with me.  So I suppose that is one life gone for the little chap.

More packing of boxes coming up for today and hopefully it will be done soon.  Move number 28 is now in progress.

Our Alfie was attacked and killed by poaching dogs from the farm across the road on 28 November 2010

 

 

A TRIBUTE TO A BEST FRIEND

By Rob Stayt ©

Dear Alfie,

A while has passed since your untimely death.  During this time we have spent many hours grieving your loss.  There is a huge empty space in our lives as you were taken from our family.  Death is inevitable but we don’t think it was your time to go.   You were only four years old.

Bereavement is a painful process, as well we know as we both have endured this pain before.  A similar loss was the death of our Clawed, your brave and adventurous brother.  Clawed was also a joy to us and we know that he was your best friend.  And we saw how deeply you felt his loss.  He was only two years old.  The same poaching dogs that took your life took his.

When we heard the growling and barking of those hideous dogs we rushed to your aid, but you had been so gravely injured that all we could do was try to save your life.   We hurried you to Underberg in a frantic attempt to get you to the vet and save you but you cried and let go this life in my arms while your mum drove us.  You knew that I was holding you and you felt it was safe to go.  You knew that I was crying and trying to comfort you.  We knew you were in a great deal pain but we know now that your spirit is safe from those wicked dogs.  We believe you were trying to protect your little sister, Ruby, from the same fate and we recognise you as a courageous boy.

Alf, you were a gorgeous friend and so intelligent.  You were fine company during your time with us.  You had an amazing sense of fun.  Some folks may think it weird that you spent quality time with me in the loo but we were together, us philosophers.  Your morning sips of hot water in my cupped hands from the bath helped you start your day, especially in the winter.  You were a comfort to us sleeping at the foot of our bed.  When your mum brought home a little rug for the bedroom, you claimed it as your own and spent many hours sleeping on it.  You were always “at home“ with us in our little house.

Your company in the workshop was a blessing to me while I worked away making toys and covering you with sawdust.  Not many cats would have been courageous enough to snooze under the bench saw while I cut wood to size.  During the wagon building adventure you were my constant companion.  You kept an eye on the progress of the wagon and watched over me, never criticising but just being good company.  Our walks with you on the farm were so wonderful to us and intrigued many folks.  You were an avid explorer of the outdoors, sniffing and probing the grasslands and rocky outcrops.  Not many people would believe that you had walked so far in the hills of Eland Valley with me. 

You sat on the bonnet of the truck while I drove on the farm to fetch firewood.  You were a good passenger while sitting on the seat of the truck with me.  We were extremely concerned when you were on your way to the gate on top of the Telkom truck after the phone was fixed.  We had to chase the truck and get you back.  You inspected every vehicle that visited our home.  I always told our visitors that you were doing a “security check” on their cars.

There are just so many memories.  We miss your company on our bed, on our laps, on the windowsill, in the bathroom, lying on your back inviting a tickled tummy and your presence in the family.  Our friends all admired you and were so impressed when I would lay your tail along your back, from bum to neck.  Not many of your fellow beings could do that.  We both think this ability came down to you through your ancestors.

Well Alf, we were so proud of you, even though you came from mixed parentage.  You were a blend of tabby and African black-footed wildcat.  What a mix!  You showed us that you were an unusual friend and you loved us without reserve, as we loved you.  Our Ruby misses you but continues to be our little girl.  She looks for you when I say your name.

So to you, our Alfie, our good friend, our brother, our family cat and wonderful companion, we say farewell.  We love you so much and are grateful you were part of our lives.  Big Al, our Fonz, you will never be forgotten, our boy.

Time to move again.

We are moving again.  We have found a lovely cottage next to the Umzimkulu River 13 kilometres from Underberg.  Well, cottage! It is in fact a three bedroomed house with a double garage.  The cottage needs quite a lot of work and we are planning improvements as we wait to move.  Hopefully we will be moved by the 15th of January.  Then the hard work will start. 

So watch this space, more stories of our new home will follow.