I had planned to write this first blog of our beginnings at Kamberg Valley Hideaway last weekend, but I just didn't get round to it! Sorry about that! So now I have two weeks worth of "stuff" to tell you about!
In summary, our first two weeks have been busy, hard work and exhausting, but fun, exciting and a great new challenge! Some things, however, have been far from fun, such as scrubbing and cleaning all the cupboards, walls, floors and windows!
We arrived at Kamberg Valley Hideaway on the 31st March and the previous owners left on the 2nd April. This gave us one day to learn how the water systems and pumps work, how to use the tractor, lawn mover, brush cutter, log burners and a multitude of other new things. It was a huge amount to take in and as we have gone along, we've realised that we didn't manage to take everything in, but we have learnt through trial and error instead!
That first morning at Kamberg Valley Hideaway, we woke up (well we actually barely sleep, but not due to excitement, instead due to having to sleep on the world's most uncomfortable air bed!), but technically, we woke up to the most gorgeous day and went for a walk around our new home.
In summary, our first two weeks have been busy, hard work and exhausting, but fun, exciting and a great new challenge! Some things, however, have been far from fun, such as scrubbing and cleaning all the cupboards, walls, floors and windows!
We arrived at Kamberg Valley Hideaway on the 31st March and the previous owners left on the 2nd April. This gave us one day to learn how the water systems and pumps work, how to use the tractor, lawn mover, brush cutter, log burners and a multitude of other new things. It was a huge amount to take in and as we have gone along, we've realised that we didn't manage to take everything in, but we have learnt through trial and error instead!
That first morning at Kamberg Valley Hideaway, we woke up (well we actually barely sleep, but not due to excitement, instead due to having to sleep on the world's most uncomfortable air bed!), but technically, we woke up to the most gorgeous day and went for a walk around our new home.
Bryan had a few fun new toys to play with during the first few days (which were much more fun than my new toys of handy-andy, marigold gloves and numerous floor mops (that all seem to break within hours of using them!) He put his new toys to good use though and cleared loads of grasses around the dam, cut the lawn and the built the world's smartest compost area!
On the Sunday, Lori arrived with her poor kombi full to the brim of our "stuff". You could literally hear it sigh with relief once we had unloaded it all. Unfortunately for Lori, visiting us so early on meant that she was roped into some serious jobs! Monday was shopping day in Pietermaritzburg. Beds, sofas, linen, cleaning products (yes we needed lots) and anything else we could find, were on the list! We were shattered by the end of the day, but had a hugely successful day (as did the shops!)
Exhausted after our monster shop in Pietermaritzburg!
Since Lori and I were heading off shopping, we thought it only fair that Bryan should have a bit of fun too, so he headed to Highmoor for a spot of fishing. It was a good job he did too, because we didn't have time to buy food, so he caught us supper instead!
Preparing the Rainbow Trout caught by Bryan at Highmoor Nature Reserve
The following day Lori scrubbed the guest wing from top to bottom. Windows, floors, walls, bathroom, kitchen, cupboards! She was an absolute machine and a huge help. I don't know how to say thank you enough. It meant that I could continue trying to clean and sort out the main house!
New addition to farm life Our second week was spent mostly travelling backwards and forwards to Howick and Pietermaritzburg to have our new farm bakkie serviced and checked for road worthy so we can get it registered.
We almost achieved our goal, but have one more thing to do before it is finally in our name, and that is to sample our new Municipality! Wish us luck!
We almost achieved our goal, but have one more thing to do before it is finally in our name, and that is to sample our new Municipality! Wish us luck!
So that's an update on our first two weeks at Kamberg Valley Hideaway.
We have also had builders; insurance brokers and carpet fitters come by to give us quotes, so next week will be bringing some new adventures. The builders start tomorrow morning. They will be knocking through the second bedroom to the guest wing, tiling the bathroom and shower in the guest wing and painting the roof and outside of the entire house. Before we arrived we had wild notions of doing all of this ourselves, but fortunately sense prevailed and we have a builder and his team coming to do it for us instead!
We have had some fun at the weekends and my next blog will bring you some news and pictures of that! I'll sign off now with a quick photo from one of our mornings enjoying a coffee in the sunroom. This is our wide screen TV!
We have also had builders; insurance brokers and carpet fitters come by to give us quotes, so next week will be bringing some new adventures. The builders start tomorrow morning. They will be knocking through the second bedroom to the guest wing, tiling the bathroom and shower in the guest wing and painting the roof and outside of the entire house. Before we arrived we had wild notions of doing all of this ourselves, but fortunately sense prevailed and we have a builder and his team coming to do it for us instead!
We have had some fun at the weekends and my next blog will bring you some news and pictures of that! I'll sign off now with a quick photo from one of our mornings enjoying a coffee in the sunroom. This is our wide screen TV!
The view from our sunroom
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