Rustenburg 28-7-2021

 

We’re back in Africa and, in part, on vacation. What happened after the last contribution in 2019?

 

Well, a lot!

 

First of all, Lisa’s father died at the end of 2019 after a long illness. Of course we were at his funeral at the beginning of 2020 and, although sad, this was a reunion of many family members. Probably Lisa and I took Corona to the Netherlands because the whole family has been very ill in January just like my sister’s.

 

Corona mainly hit us business at first because 80% of the order fell away and the salaries had to bepaid. We were very concerned about whether the company would survive this crisis in this way, but to our unspeakable relief we got a huge project that dragged us through it. It did make a change on the health of my business partner and mine. They were big mountains and very  deep valleys and that’s all said. But, the result is fantastic and something to be proud of because 25 people have jobs.

 

We thought it was time to go on holiday again.

 

Last time I bought a Landcruiser, second hand, via Bushlore and that was very good. After six months the car was bought back at an agreed price and during the trip we could always ask for advice. They have had a very tough time over the last 18 months but have been able to keep their entire workforce even though a large part of their cars had to be sold.

This time I opted for a Hilux because this is a bit less basic than a Landcruiser. For those  interested, on bushlore’s website  it is the  HilCam. The car is 3 years old and has done 80000 km and is in perfect condition with a solar panel, 3 berths, gas stove, full camping equipment etc.

I was supposed to pick up the car in April but then the Dutch government decided to ban all trips to South Africa so that we had to postpone the trip until July. That worked out well given all sorts of business problems…..but it was a bit of a bud.

 

We have planned the trip for Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

 

On Tuesday morning I had arranged a taxi via Taxi Centrale Schiphol. They would pick us up at 7am with 4 suitcases and 4 pieces of hand luggage. Why so much? Well, we are here for the exchange of clothes between the young children of the cousins!

When the taxi didn’t show up at 7am, I called the head office and I was told that the driver was not there and that I had to figure it out for myself. Fortunately, Tom, our son, was willing to take us to Schiphol airport in a fully packed car.

 

There is little to tell about the flight other than that it was comfortable and that the plane was only 30% full.

 

At Johannesburg airport it was completely empty and there were extensive security checks for Corona, health and so on. There’s a curfew here between 10:00 and 4:00 and everyone’s walking around wearing face masks.

 

I got up very early Wednesday to exchange money and buy a SIM card for South Africa

 

This morning we were picked up by Bushlore  (what a service) and dropped off at their headquarters in  Midrand. After an extensive check of the car and the new possibilities, we were led out by the staff with a large pack of paper (the car is now 100% my property).

 

Around the corner I then stopped to set up the TomTom and look up where a shopping center was because we were missing some stuff (plug South Africa, SIM card setting, small padlocks, duvet for the camper and, above all, food for the next few days).

 

Soon after we made our way via Hartbeespoortdam  to Rustenburg where we now sit on a simple campsite and long for our bed. Tomorrow we head towards  Kuruman  on the N4. It is our intention to stay in South Africa this time because we want to see and speak to Lisa’s mother and the rest of the family. My brother-in-law told me yesterday that his mother is in Cape Town, kidnapped by her grandson! Way to go Zephi!

 

I just received an email from KLM that our return flight is no longer going. Really….. Fortunately, an alternative was offered on 30 September!