BIG step, SMALL town, AMAZING feeling.

[Bertie Horak]

As most of you probably know or picked up through my posts, I've been planning to move to the "platteland" eventually.  Well, it happened at last.  I haven't sold in the city yet, place still in the market, but took the big plunge anyway.

I'm now living in Bonnievale - beautiful little town, surrounded by every fruit/vegetable farm imaginable, mountains, rivers (Breë River), and great old homesteads.  The smallholding is on the edge of town, and situated between the water scheme canal and the river.  It is absolutely great to be woken up in the mornings by chickens, turkeys, horses, and all the other animals and wild birds you find here in abundance. 

Then there's the people - they are just different to city folk.  Sorry to my city friends, but here you will still find good neighbors who offer to help when they see you're struggling with work, offers a ride to town, bring some of his grapes in exchange for a few tomatoes, etc.

Oh, and here most businesses close for lunch - something I just love.  I'm renting an old shop just 150m from my plot, on the main road and set up practice here.  So, I can walk to work/home in 4 minutes!!  A lot of people from the town popped in just to say: "Welcome to our town, and wishing you all the best" - sometimes it's difficult to get rid of the well-wishers - they just LOVE new conversation....  Ah yes, I'll have to get online often to keep the English language alive - you seldom hear English here, biggest part of the community are farm workers, fruit packers, dairy workers, etc, and almost everybody speak Afrikaans only.

Well, I'll be getting wireless internet here soon, so then I'll be able to go online more often.  My 3G not very effective here.  I'll post a picture or two of the area for you guys to see...
Great 2010 to all!

[Bertie Horak]

Two pic's of my new life. 
First one of my tomatoes which dry outside within 5 days.  I don't have a market for the fresh tomatoes - didn't plan on getting so many - so I decided on sun-dried tomatoes. I made my own salt & herb mix which I sprinkle over them before drying.  Herbs from my tunnel - mix of oregano, marjoram, basil, rosemary. First lot turned out lovely.
Second pic of my Mom with some Feverfew flowers she harvested in the tunnel when she visited - the folks make turns to come and stay on the plot - it's turning out to be quit a nightmare, they both love it so much on the plot, and Mom didn't want to go home last week!  Well I'm going to pick her and her twin sis up in Malmesbury tomorrow - they will be visiting for a week or two, then it's Dad's turn again.  Unfortunately somebody has to stay in Malmesbury to look after all the birds, dogs, etc.  Until their house is sold, then they'll be joining me on the plot for good!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Hi Bertie

That sounds like just the right place for you   

Wish you good luck there

Georg

[pam spackman]

 

Glad to see that you re getting better Georgeswa

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Hi Bertie,

It sounds as if things are are looking very rosy for you and we wish you all the very very best in this new adventure. We are both certain that you will make a success of this "farming" lifestyle....

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Glad to see that you re getting better Georgeswa

Thanks Pam, its all in the mind what the body cant fulfill LOL

[Michael Alexander]

Great Stuff Bertie, There's farming blood in you boy!

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I'm very happy for you Bertie. Bonnievale is a beautiful area. Nice to see a pic of your mom.

[SandyB]

So good to  hear you happy  with your move Bertie ... indeed  Bonnievale  a beautiful place ...  incentive  for me to  do a visit  there again ....

[Bertie Horak]

You're all welcome to pop in!  Will keep the tea pot brewing, Sandy!

Have 5 dental and 2 phytotherapy patients booked for today - not bad for a start, I'd say.  I have a suspicion I'll pick up quite quickly through word of mouth.  My first patient came in for extraction - when I asked him to bite on a small cotton roll after I extracted his tooth, he asked me if he had to come back later so we can remove the tooth - he didn't know the tooth was out already....  when I showed him the tooth, he had a look of total amazement and told me I'm a magician... promised he's going to tell everybody.  Most of the locals had to go to clinics their whole lives and simply aren't used to the way treatment should be...  totally new experience.

Well, let's hope that I'll be very busy soon, I have to buy cat food....

[Michael Alexander]

Hehehehehe! Plenty of Bertie's patients in the Cape.....

[Bertie Horak]

Yup... definitely two of mine....

[Michael Alexander]

Nay my bra!... tweee Tande vir homemade Tamaties by Farmer Bertie....

[Bertie Horak]

The front one had 3 dentures made to fill the gap:
1. Plain set with very small gold slit ---- for church.
2. One with a golden dollar sign, a dagga leaf, and a full gold tooth ---- for the gangsta meetings.
3. One with a "Nike" sign, a star, and a ruby ---- for the dance jol....

[Michael Alexander]

Oooh! Me Likey a lot..... do you do Cheetah motifs on teeth, I might have a market for you.....