Another very loud, bright wet storm last night that woke me up. I love it – pours at night and then today was beautiful. It was a busy day. Mick has decided he is going to do car restorations again and so bought three Renault 10’s – one that runs and the other are parts cars.
So we were up early to go and pick up a car trailer and headed out to Thornville, about twenty minutes from his factory. On the way, we stopped to pick up Vincent, an Indian employee of his who would help with the onloading and offloading.
The house was down an extremely rutted, dirt road and the trailer bounced all over the place. It was a typical block house, with a lot of trash around – and two undernourished dogs, a mongrel and a Jack Russell. A young Indian man came out and I had to fend off the mongrel that wanted to jump on me and then when I pushed him away, he started to growl. Finally, the kid got the message and put him in the house. The poor little Jack Russell’s front foot looked like it had been broken and never taken to a doctor and was all twisted under. I don’t understand why people have dogs they don’t care for.
Anyway, we loaded up the cars on the car carrier – two trips – back and forth to the factory where they are being stored. Debbie was not thrilled about having them at the house – and I don’t blame her. So they will be parted out, the best body parts sent for sandblasting. As Biff is in the classic car restoration biz, he has all the contacts for the bits and pieces Mick will need.
Next it was pick up furniture and take it down to Zoze and Bryan in their new place. It’s a cute little place, but still needs work that should have been done before they moved in but they didn’t want to wait. It has a wonderful view across the valley and lots of windows and light, and small enough to easily take care of. Zoze will probably have Nesta come one day a week to clean and iron. How I miss that luxury – what is common place here. Mick and Debbie have Sibongele who comes to them four times a week, and a gardener one day a week. So you NEVER have to do housework. I can get used to that in one day – or less. I know you want to know how much she gets paid – R110 a day = about $10 a day.
Tonight, I cooked dinner and all the dishes are left for Sibongele tomorrow. I almost feel guilty – almost! She is happy to have the job, she gets paid well by South African standards, and Mick and Debbie live comfortably without having to deal with the boring, humdrum, tedious house work. That in itself is almost enough to make me stay here.
These evening thunderstorms are wonderful. The weather forecast said sixty percent chance of rain today. The sun was out all day and it stormed and rained and thundered on our way home late this afternoon. I was glad I had unplugged my computer.
As we drive around, I don’t see a whole lot of change – but I sense an easing of the fear that was really prevalent last time I was here. Whether it’s for real or my imagination I don’t know.
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