Hospitality

A minute to reflect on the amazing hospitality that Kim and I have been on the receiving end of, if you will.

The first person is Susan. No, the first are Tori and Al. Tori and Al took 6000 kilograms of our junk into their loft. That means that they will not be converting their loft anytime soon, unless the conversion is to a great big room full of my stuff. So thanks go to them for that and a special mention for Al for not dropping that box of books on my head. That would have been me dead and I could not have written this. Anyone want to comment on that?

Susan Lawlor. What a nice lady she is. We stayed in her lodger’s room for a week (she was away) between leaving our flat and leaving the country. And Susan didn’t mind. But don’t tell the lodger. In fact she tolerated us as we ran about stashing the last few bags in her loft space and generally being stressed out about visas, police reports and other logistical nightmares. We were not good craic, but it was lovely to stay with Susan, who is a very D L indeed.

Sarah, who is mentioned below, was so good to sort a taxi for us from Joburg Airport. And to take time out of work and then put us up. Fantastic. Then she paid for dinner on the first night out. Wouldn’t let us pay.

Alex and Electra then stepped in to make us feel really at home. Electra ferried us around from mall to car salesman and always with a smile and good chat. They gave us a time share next to Kruger National Park for Pete’s sake. So we thank them enormously.

Mike and Adriana and Errol and Janice looked after us really well in PE. They get the award for most beer donated to Kim and Pete. And they have really looked out for us, phoning for updates. You get the feeling that you have a friend at the end of the phone if you need it and that is priceless.

Thank you all so much for taking care of us. I hope you know how much we appreciate it and we would love to return the favour somewhere, sometime.

I am not going to go into all of the cool people in Zithulele just now, but needless to say it is a trend, South Africans are extremely hospitable in an effortless and selfless way.
If you come to see us in Zithulele, we offer you good HOSPITALity. I cannot stop laughing at that joke. Give me a minute. But really, this stuff is making me resolve to be a better host, so do pop round for tea or a braai. You can sleep in my new office (about which more later).