2016 was a tough year. Lots of late nights working, very early mornings on travel Mondays and late returns on travel Fridays. What was supposed to be a 6-month project was extended twice and ended up being 11 months, including the support period. I was tired and needed the tranquillity of the bush and the rejuvenation of being creative. That made our decision easy: we will go to Marloth Park for my birthday this year. Roger had three days ‘requested off’ and three days leave. What a treat; a full six days!
We left home rather late on Thursday, 12th January. The Hilux was heavily laden with everything we needed for the projects we had planned for our visit. The weather was overcast and cloudy, and thanks to the recent rain everything looked clean, fresh and very green. A pleasant drive! When we approached Mbombela (formerly known as Nelspruit) we decided it would be too late for a braai once we got to Marloth Park, so we stopped for a Nando’s supper and eventually arrived at MP at 10 pm.
The Lowveld is almost unbearably hot at this time of year so we were very pleased when we awoke to a grey sky the next morning. It was not long before it rained. And it rained. And it rained some more; on and off for just about the entire time we were there. What a pleasure!
It was pleasantly cool and very conducive to getting stuck into our respective projects.
When we had Ufudu designed and built we included a gas oven, thinking that it would come in handy during our travels. It turns out we used it very seldom, and when we did it was not all that successful as the door continuously rattled loose and thus did not seal properly. We therefore decided to remove it and rather increase our cupboard space. Roger advertised it on OLX and when that did not yield any interest we suddenly had a brain-wave: we would install it at Marloth Park. This was Roger’s project.
We decided to create a mobile, island-style installation so Roger immediately immersed himself in the planning; measurements, cutting list, fittings, checking, measuring again, and so on… Eventually everything was bought, cut, collected and loaded. Building/assembly happened ‘on-site’ and after two days we had an oven!
Besides the oven there were a number of maintenance and ‘renewal’ projects happening at the same time. Now, as much as this sounds like work, it is very relaxing to do things, then sit back with a beer/glass of wine and admire one’s handy work…
My project for this trip was to ‘lighten up’ and refresh the furniture in the main bedroom. Annie Sloan paint was the answer, and I came well prepared for the task. So, after two days we had a new look in the bedroom.
On Sunday, our projects done, we had time to just relax. Among other things, we used the opportunity to put Roger’s dad in his final resting place.
Marloth Park was Roger’s dad’s favourite place. He simply loved coming here and would often go walking around on his own, armed with a fence dropper as his weapon. Said dropper, much to Roger’s dismay, was taken from one of our property’s corner posts. Dad passed away in 2010, 2 days before his 90th birthday. With Mom’s agreement we brought his ashes with us on this trip and buried it under Roger’s favourite tree, a Tree Wisteria.
To mark the spot, we took two rocks from a nearby pile and, lo and behold, they were marking / protecting the dropper of another corner post. Most apt, we thought…
Monday was my birthday. We were up early and entered the Kruger National Park through the Crocodile Bridge Gate half an hour after opening time. Again, it was cool, over-cast and drizzly; blissful!
We stayed in and chilled on Tuesday, only venturing out for a drive through Marloth Park in the afternoon.
In the evening we visited Don and Trish for a beer and a chat. They are permanent residents and it is always a pleasure going to their place. They have a feeding station for bush babies and this time we had the pleasure of watching these amazing little creatures coming to fetch their evening treat!
O, I almost forgot to mention our very own ‘Bush Tokoloshe’ or ‘Scary Man’, as we had christened him.
It all started at the end of October last year. One of our neighbours, who collects African Art, had left him in the rubbish bin area at our complex in Rosebank. Soon after we started our holiday trip Roger received a WhatsApp message from another neighbour complaining about ‘that scary thing that has been there for two weeks and why has it not yet been removed?’. We both looked at each other with that ‘aha’ look and decided that we would take him to Marloth Park. He is now our official guard and, dare I say, I don’t think we are about to have any house invasion issues…
All too soon it was time to leave again. Wednesday morning was pack up and go; back to city life…
BUT, watch this space. We have lots of plans for 2017…