Anyone need a Petrol pump attendant?

Rather amusing, we grew up with petrol attendants, we don’t even get our car, we ask for PETROL , CHECK THE TYRES and water and oil. Well guess what, there are no attendants here, you the driver or passenger are the attendant, Sue ‘s first journey was interesting as she did not know how to pay or how to fill the car. She now knows!!! For those who know Sue, this is a big thing, well done ‘young wife’ – we progressing

How we miss our dear staff, back home I never knew about making a bed, doing washing, cleaning a house and all the domestic chores to keep a place neat and tidy! We have split up the jobs, my job is the bins, Sue does the beds and washing and the girls – Skye does the cooking, Savannah does the floors and the dishes and Troy does whatever we tell him to do. This for South Africas might be a huge change as we were spoilt that labor costs are far cheaper in South Africa, whereas here its a fortune so everybody does it themselves.

We had these staff (5 people) for over 5 years and in that time they became family, we love and cherish them. Leaving without looking after them would have been a sin, so we managed to get the Knott’s (a beautiful family that bought most of our land, who have a great vision for the future) to take over the bulk of the staff. The rest our Tennant in the main house kept on. I think if you leave people that work for you loyally without consideration of their future needs, it is wrong.

.We also believe that one day each and every human being needs to retire so we helped them buy homes in Malawi so they have an asset thats theirs forever. Giving brings as much joy as receiving,

Some 8 years ago we started the journey , with a plot of barren land, some junk and a tribe of people (our staff) who worked tremendously hard to achieve the most incredible result. A place we call home – no matter where we are in the world.

We owe this creation to the wonderful staff who helped us build it, and are ever grateful that when we left we did not sell this labor of love. It has so many happy memories and events, and I could not let it go. When a house is a home, and place that everybody gravitates too, it’s special.

Who knows what the future holds, – we at least have an asset in South Africa that will not depreciate but grow in value. I believe for us this is a wise decision, there are options an no door has been closed.

Mean-time, our AIRBNB came back and said they wanted 3’500,00 euro’s for June, July and August and then we could go back to our lower rental of 1’400,00. My heart stopped, just as we thought we had the accommodation sorted, everything goes back to ground zero. It can be a little frustrating finding rental properties, there are not a lot of good one’s, certainly not the standard we have become accustomed to in Cape Town, South Africa. We really do not want to compromise our living space as thats the place we need to call home.

On one of our walks we recalled seeing a for rent sign, an apartment opposite the Douro River, very prestigious, so we gave the agent a ring and went to see the concrete jungle. And we have made an offer which has been accepted. Nadine Christian, yes we have lost our marbles from classic country to modern cement. This is what happens when you stretch yourself out of your comfort zone.

So here is the challenge, we need to fully furnish this place from scratch. Its brand new, we the first people to shower there, to sleep there and make it into a home. This is Sue’s world, she is researching what can be bought on a budget to make a beautiful home. We have some idea’s. This really feels like we starting all over again.

& we bought the car – sorted the insurance for a year at the cost of 318,00 euro’s (paid upfront)

The journey continue’s – each day brings a new challenge, each day has a new resolve, in amongst all these adventures I am putting in a few hours each day reading scripts, making notes and developing new series which I believe will be on screens across the globe in the very near future.