Sunday 10 april ....

Morning All.. Last week was a week of 'rest', at least, no work on the cottage or the land was planned.. but.. the digger loader was here so every morning up early discussing what needed to be done that day and on with it.. Monday  I looked op some clothes in the boxes that are stored in the 'garage' (without the doors) and noted that some boxes were opened by field mice and even found a nest of mice in one of them.. sorted that out a bit and coming week, all will be repacked and moved into the attic of the cottage where there are no mice.. better too because the rainy season is on its way, and have to make a plan for all the stuff that is still stored there, dust and  humidity are doing my furniture and everything else stored there no  good !

Halfway up the property with friends !

But.. first last sunday.. when it was Glenn's birthday, who came to visit with his bf  Mark and two girlfriends.. They drove along the coast route to Hermanus and from there took the r320 dustroad to the farm.. Arrived at 2 and we took  a nice hike up into the fynbos area of the farm.. but only after we had a nice white wine of course ;-))  After coming down the day proceeded with a lot of laughter,  bbq and white wine.. 

Their deadline of driving back before nightfall was NOT met ;-))))) thanks guys and girls, we really had a great Sunday, one to remember.. 

Then skipping on to Tuesday last week when I drove out to Stanford, a village only about 10 km from here 'as the crow flies in a straight line' but some 45 minutes away as the car drives around many bends.. Visited my friend Michael who is a real estate agent there and has a wonderful spot he calls home in the village.. another wonderful day and a lovely brunch, lotsa laughs and a great time..Thanks Michel for your hospitality ! From there on to Hermanus where my accountant was enjoying some days off work, but he was so kind  to make some time for me and  answer my many questions about things that were not very clear to me.. but now are.. Thanks Hylton !

Then WeDnesDay when I drove out to Cape Town, it was the meeting of the Brunch Club with the Girlzz from our old horse riding group, Theresa, Teresa, Lisa and Jana.. what a great time we had again and 3 hours were not nearly enough to catch up again on the past month ! We'll do that again next month of course.. something to look forward to again.. Tess.. hope your finger is improving.. Jana don't run too much (marathons), Lisa.. don't jump too high with your new horse and Teresa, great news you're managing to stay on the horses as always ;-))))) After brunch went to visit Annemarie and had some coffee and did some shopping, and back to Teselaarsdal again.. 

Thursday... Drove out to Rheebokskloof (2 hrs out, 2 hrs back) and visited  my friend Michelle who does horse trails (among many other things) in the area, as well as in Franschoek, has many horses and is scaling down a bit from the 120 horses she has.. She has lots of experience in that field and very good ideas so I  picked her brain on many things..  What one does not know, one can learn !!! We also rode two horses and I decided to buy them both, they only just came 'off the farm' where the grazing was not too rich, but their gaits were very nice and they are  both very well suited for my purpose later on.. herewith pic of one of them : 

"VOSSIE" my very first horse !

The other horse is black (pictures to follow when he has put on some more weight)  and they will both most likely come in 10 days from now, on condition that they are allowed to travel because African Horse Sickness and Rift valley Fever are doing the rounds and there is a restriction on the transport of horses in the area.. Michelle will then stay for a day or 2, and am very much looking forward to that indeed..

On the way back home I was given to understand that the stables in Constantia, where I used to have my riding lessons, were looking for a good semi retirement home for one of their ponies (which I have ridden on several occasions) and he may come to my farm.. How fab is that ! So went from zero to (almost) three horses in one day.. very excited indeed !!!!!

And Friday ?.. well.. that floor of mine in the cottage really started bothering me so googled 'earth coat hermanus' and found there was a branch of them there.. Drove out and with the very friendly help of one of the staff there picked the product best suited to my needs.. and prepared the floor in part of the cottage, and later that day the first layer of the coating went on ! So  I did work on the cottage after all, and the black ugly floor went from this 

 

to this sand color

which is a great natural color.. especially with the dogs running in and out and some of it blowing into the house by the wind from time to time. much easier and definitely a LOT nicer !

The digger loader in the meantime has been working like never before and most of the ground works I want to have done at this stage has been done.. 'Stompies' of trees that were felled years ago have been dug out and thrown on a huge heap, and we'll 'hide' them somewhere at the back of the property, out of sight, coming monday.. 

Stompies no longer.. more like a heap of wood !

Saturday afternoon/evening visited my friend Ashraf and his husband Kim near Hawston/Hermanus for a great supper with friends of theirs, professor Willem Hanekom and his friend Tupke.. again such a nice evening was had and thanks guys for putting up with me, the company, the wine and the food were excellent, again !.. Next week a braai with us all on my farm when Jan Hylke will be visiting,  all the way from Holland !!

Oh and last but not least.. Transfer of the house in Sea Point went through on Friday, so that is sorted.. most likely the farm will be transferred into my name during the coming week, so only then can I really proudly call the farm my own ;-)

So that was my 'week off'.. rather hectic but different.. ! Next week on with the renovations again, finalizing some stuff in this cottage. who knows tackling the bathroom and making a beginning with the renovations of the little guestcottage just 20 mtrs from the 'main' cottage.. I'll keep you all posted.. thanks for reading and enjoy the Sunday,,.. and the coming week!!!

hugs and greets.. 

Rick 

xx

PS... this morning the Nguni Bulls of my neighbor decided that the grass must be greener on my side.. and they are now here for a visit.. Max was very excited initially but now got used to them.. a good sign  ! Here he is sussing them out from the lounge, you gotta love this view ;-)))))