A look back over the last 12 months

After 3 decades, I returned to South Africa in August 2023

“The first step towards getting somewhere is deciding you're not going to stay where you are.” - J.P. Morgan.

In April 2023, I submitted my resignation as a lecturer, later Associate Professor (teaching) in Biochemistry at the University of Surrey, United Kingdom. I really enjoyed the teaching, including the continuous learning that is an essential part of teaching, and the interaction with students. However, I'd gotten a bit tired of the “we've always done it this way” dinosaurs. My last working day was to be Monday, 31 July, 2023. Three months to hand over my teaching materials, say goodbyes, and ship a few belongings to South Africa.

On 8 August 2023, I landed at Cape Town International Airport. I had left December 1991. I stayed with my brother's family and their beautiful dogs, at their much-appreciated invitation for the next few months, as I got settled after being away for far too long.

Some highlights:

Catching up with my brother, his wife, and their daughter, and long-lost friends. Some people I had last seen before leaving in ‘91. My brother would take me to work once a week, in the Strand, False Bay, with its long, sandy beach. Ella, his missus, would cook the most wonderful boerekos (traditional Afrikaaner soul food), including waterblommetjie bredie, a dish that I’d eaten once before, several decades ago. Not to forget the dogs, I’d take Leja, the Alsatian, for a walk most days, while Roxy, a Jack Russell terrier, would sleep at my feet most nights.

A drive around the peninsula, a visit to Kirstenbosch, the World Rugby Sevens, a Boxing Day cruise in Table Bay were some of the “Cape Town” highlights. Kirsten, Lars, Ouma, Opa, uncle Willy. Further afield, I toured Namaqualand and the Northern Cape to see the Spring flowers, which ended with a broken cooler fan that was fixed in Loeriesfontein. Another road trip, this time in a hired car, to the Karoo sheep farm of Gene in Williston, a few days in Loxton and a rather stupid crossing of the Swartberg pass from the Prince Albert side when the mountain top was covered in cloud (and the drive down the other side was in thick pea-souper mist).

In January, I moved to Bonnievale, which I was going to use as a base for travelling. A day trip on the Koo road, when I discovered the Leuwenboschfontein guest farm, and a road trip to Oudtshoorn were highlights. Alas, Bonnievale didn’t say Hello and I said Goodbye.

At the beginning of February, I picked up my shipped UK goods (six boxes) and drove to Namibia to visit my sister and her husband, those lovely folk, and everybody else in Kappsfarm and a few people that I had met previously in Windhoek. It’s rustig (peaceful) there on the plot, a good place to just “let go”. There was a road trip down to the coast to meet Janet and tour Dune 7 and the moon landscape. Then back to Kappsfarm through the Namib via Solitaire, Sossusvlei, Spreetshoogte pass, and my first tyre blow-out.

A few days later, I drove to the Etosha game reserve, where I spent six nights and met some incredible people and did some wonderful game viewing. In terms of animals, seeing a hunting cheetah flash past in the background, while I was talking to two photographers, was a highlight (it still plays as a “Kopfkino” in my head), as were the many elephants and rhino, and the last-day male lion.

Another visit to the coast, this time with U & L. Through the Khomashochland for a few days in Swakopmund, “Luft holen” (breathe). These two should take more breaks, I shall have words!

A flying safari with Skeleton Coast Safaris, what can I say! Henk, as a wonderful pilot and guide, showing us the beauty of Namibia from the air and then, at each camp, on a nature drive and geological tour. The campsites are absolutely magnificent, as are the camp staff. I want to write up this trip separately, better get onto it soon!

A two-month visa for Namibia meant that I had to leave Namibia at the beginning of April, driving down the B1 and then N7, past Springbok, Kammieskroon and Garies, eventually stopping in Nuwerus and camping at Hardeveld Lodge. “Are there any places to rent in this dorp (town)?”, and the tannie was on the phone. This is the platteland (countryside), everyone knows everyone else, including all the shenanigans. A few days later I moved into Toeka se Huis, and then slowly got to know Katja and her wonderful family. She started taking me out on their sheep farm, which I have detailed in previous stories. Oom Toekie and his son Jandre are also still to get a write-up, once I’m back on the plaas (farm).

For the next few weeks, I’m looking after bookings and the reception at Leeuwenboschfontein. Hospitality takes some learning, it’s a nice challenge. Then it’s back to Nuwerus to see the Spring flower show.

Some people have asked me why I returned to South Africa, with all its problems. There are problems, yes, as there were in the UK, but the problems are often exaggerated on social media, to my mind. “Vind die mooi” (find the beautiful), finding the problems is easy. Living on a farm in Namaqualand in a beautiful cottage, amongst wonderful people, being close to both my brother and my sister, discovering places like Leeuwenboschfontein, I couldn’t ask for more.

The best reason is the mooi mense (beautiful people) of southern Africa, their openness to having a chat and their innate ability to kakpraat (chinwag). No regrets - groete!