Coming down to earth

I still have no regrets about moving here and my feelings of wonder and awe at this beautiful place have not diminished, but I guess I am realizing that life follows you wherever you go and that there is no escape. The only difference being that one can tackle everyday issues more easily in pleasant and relaxing surroundings. For example I discovered that I have somehow stupidly lost my ID book, which in South Africa is needed for just about everything. Now I don't normally do stupid things like that( oh no says someone who knows me well?) and after having searched everywhere have now resigned myself to the fact that I will have to go and queue at some government department in order to get a new one in about three months' time. The difference being that if I were still living in Jo'burg a) I would be frantic, and b) I would be cursing the fact that queuing at the Dept. of Home Affairs in Randburg can be a long and frustrating exercise, whilst now I am quite relaxed about the fact that we will have to take a leisurely drive to Plettenburg Bay where the nearest Home Affairs office is situated and that I can easily live without my ID book till then. Maybe I'm finally learning about getting my priorities right?
Then my beloved car decided not to start. Now there are two very important things in my life without which I cannot live (ok maybe I can think of a few more!) -one is my car and the other is my cellphone. So after a few phone calls to the AA and the 24hr emergency service car dealership, I am told that Knysna being such a small town, there is no technician who can come out to fix the problem. The car has to be put on a flatbed truck and towed into Knysna! After reluctantly allowing Peter to look under the bonnet, he comes to the conclusion that the battery is flat, takes it out, goes into town to have it recharged, and 24hours later my car is well again! Now not once during this period did I lose my rag, whine, moan or complain, which for those who know me is highly unusual! Maybe Knysna fever is taking over or, as they call it here, "Outeniqua rust" is settling in. I hope it lasts!

Settling In

We have finally done it- packed up and moved to a place we always dreamed about but never thought would actually get to. Knysna is where we want to be and we wake up evey day wondering whether we are deaming or actually here. Our view is spectacular, the peace is soothing and only interrupted by the various bird sounds. What a change from the constant noise of traffic, ambulances and police sirens in Johannesburg.
In the four weeks we have been here, we have managed to get the house re-painted by an amazing man called Welcome and his female assistant Vanessa. We have also found a brilliant gardener called Washington who knows and understands plants, and an industrious and smiley domestic called Belina who unfortunately suffers from BO.
We have also managed to organise new curtains and blinds and are getting our couches re-upholstered. The plumber is coming to fix the toilets which for some inexplicable and costly reason flush hot water intead of cold, and Peter has discovered a till now well-hidden DIY talent which he is putting to good use.
We've had a banana stealing baboon in the kitchen who very politely left the banana skins in the garden, a couple of small live snakes in the garden, one dead snake who was unknowingly killed by Welcome as they were both trying to get out the kitchen door, and an assortment of spiders and frogs. For someone who claimed to be an "outdoor girl" I guess I now have to get used to all these creatures!
Town is five minutes away and in spite of the road works it is a pleasure to drive past the lagoon in its various moods. The locals are friendly and helpful and although the town is small it has everything we need so far. Jo'burg is and feels far removed from this relaxed and peaceful lifestyle and we haven't missed it once since moving here.
This is now "home" and we love it.