CHANGES HAPPEN IN A FLASH

Thank goodness we don't own a horse!

On the 15th of July we followed up on an invitation from Noel Andrews to visit him, his brother Norman and sister Elaine, along with a couple of their friends up at his holdings in the Kudu Private Nature Reserve just outside Lydenburg. 

The drive there is even more spectacular than I remember it, through the myriad hills and valleys of Mpumalanga (what used to be the Eastern Transvaal), with the highlight being the final section over the Long Tom Pass - South Africa's highest pass at 2150M above sea level.

I did stop to take a whole host of photographs of the spectacular views from the Pass, only to find when I wanted to download them that my card had 'died'. No matter - I will get more, and there is one here that Pat managed to get with her phone.

A TYPICAL VIEW AS ONE MOVES UP THE LONG TOM PASS

We spent a really wonderful couple of days there - good food and great company - with everyone pitching in. 

As mentioned, thank goodness we don't own a horse, because Noel made us an offer we simply could not refuse: to move into the cottage we stayed in up there on a permanent basis or until such time as our Irish issues are settled ......... making this all even more attractive are this very generous man's terms of agreement: Just cover the electricity and water and provide a few maintenance services along with a bit of gardening - no rent!!!!!!! What a pleasure! Thank you Noel, you simply have no idea how much this means to us, particularly at this stage of our lives - and while we do enjoy the Van life, what could possibly compare with the natural beauty and access to wildlife in this amazing Nature Reserve. Somehow / Sometime, your amazing generosity will be rewarded.