Tackling the Essentials at Brandvlei

Our ongoing efforts to improve the Brandvlei property continued in August 2007, with a dedicated trip focused on establishing some key foundational elements for our "Base-camp," the self-contained outbuilding. From August 9th to 11th, we concentrated on practical upgrades to enhance comfort and functionality.

Timeline:

• 04:00 Thursday, August 9th: We set off early from Cape Town with a smaller trailer, heading to Brandvlei.
• 10:04: Arrived in Brandvlei. The weather was milder than expected—surprisingly tolerable.
• 10:30: After unpacking, work commenced immediately. The main task was replacing the pressure relief piping on the granny flat's hot water cylinder—a vital safety update. The team was in good spirits, despite my wife being six months pregnant, she managed to tidy up the flat and prepare a much-needed meal. The long drive had taken its toll, so some downtime was in order.
• 08:30 Friday, August 10th: A major milestone was achieved! We connected the main electricity line from the main house’s distribution board to the granny flat’s panel. This allowed us to power the geyser and install a power socket in the kitchen—small but significant steps forward. We also brought in local help who installed a manhole for the septic tank. Although we didn’t get around to fixing water leaks or installing additional lighting and power points, getting the electricity and hot water operational was a big win. We powered up the hot water cylinder, officially energizing the granny flat with hot water and electricity for the first time. However, this revealed an issue: the main house’s aging electrical distribution board was struggling with the increased load, indicating that a full replacement is now necessary. My dad, the trooper, without his calmness and willing to find solutions and just his knowledge is incredible.
• 08:55 Saturday, August 11th: As the weekend wrapped up, we packed up and headed back to Cape Town, arriving around 15:30.

This trip brought both satisfying progress and unexpected challenges. Getting the granny flat’s electricity and hot water running significantly improves future stays. At the same time, the problems with the main house’s electrical board serve as a reminder that older properties often come with unforeseen hurdles. Next on the list is addressing that. Each visit brings us closer to transforming our Karoo base-camp into the vision we have for Aidan House.