time to make plans for where to go and what to do, well we can't sit around
with our feet up all the time!
The plan, a few months ago, was to visit Namibia for 2 or 3 months, then
back to SA as we have some friends visiting from the UK for 4 weeks. Then
the usual problem time of summer here over December and January was to be
filled perhaps with a trip to Thailand and the far east. Back on African
shores we would then head to Botswana for a month or two before a possible
trip to South and Central America late in 2011 for many a month. Good plan
eh? Well it was for a while at least.
Things kind of changed a bit recently. On our recent trip to the Drakensberg
and the coast we happened to pass through the town of Underberg, not our
first visit. The area around is just like England, rolling pastures,
beautiful trees, tall mountains on the skyline. OK, so the mountain bit is
kind of different, but the whole area feels like 'little England'. We love
it. Underberg itself is not exactly picture postcard stuff but more than
pleasant enough. So as you do on passing thru such places you get drawn to
the local estate agents, just to see what is around and how much things go
for.
There were a couple of places that looked interesting, but we had to move on
to get down to the coast. Anyway, we could come back this way on route to
Joburg. So off we drove. About 20km down the road we decided to about turn
and take a better look as we were in the area, the coast could wait a bit.
The kind unsuspecting estate agent, Faye, showed us a few places in the
town. All very different, but the one place that got our attention was some
'staff quarters' on a fair sized plot of land. The property is just over
2000m2, the third part of a subdivision of a large property, and has a good
fairly private garden. The 'staff quarters' are small, 9.5m x 6m, but plenty
of scope for converting to a small home. All very interesting. However we
had to get going, but took some details to ponder over while down by the
sea.
Ten days later we were back in Underberg. We had done plenty of pondering,
drawing up floor plans of how we could make a home out of the 'staff
quarters'. It was time for another look, in the rain this time. Yes, very
interesting indeed. We stayed the night in Himeville just up the road in a
B&B, too cold and wet to camp. In the morning, yep another look at the
property, and finally our farewells and back up to Joburg. I even sacrificed
seeing the opening game of the World Cup as we only made it back in the
evening!!
Time to consider options, ponder some more, get answers to some questions,
decide what our plans were. This June it is 5 years on the road for us, yep
5 years of no work. I know we have had some down time recently but even then
we are living out of suitcases between family. So a new plan formed. How
about some real time off the big travels. Have a project, and SA is a good
place for a project like this, couldn't afford to do it in the UK!! There is
plenty to see and do in the Drakensberg, walking, mountain biking, Lesotho
on the doorstep, and it makes a good base for more local one or two week
excursions.
So, yep, we took the plunge, we made an offer. After a counter offer by the
owners, we had agreed to buy. Offers are legally binding here. That was all
a few weeks back. Now we are hopefully only two weeks or so from the
transfer going through. All exciting, and a bit daunting. An architect is
involved now to help with the design and plans. A builder will hopefully
soon be lined up to get start on the works. Fun, fun, fun. Spend, spend,
spend!
So what does the place look like? Have a look here
http://picasaweb.google.com/wooliesonline/poloway to see.
Watch this space for what happens next!
