Taming the Water Gremlins in Brandvlei

by Marco Renovations

Our end-of-year trip to Brandvlei in December 2007 focused on addressing some persistent water issues in the granny flat. This was all part of our ongoing efforts to make the Karoo base camp more functional and comfortable, step by step.

Timeline: 14–16 December 2007

  • Friday, 14 December, 22:25: We set off on a night drive from Cape Town to Brandvlei, aiming to avoid some of the summer heat.
  • Saturday, 15 December, 05:30: The drive was surprisingly smooth! The new road markings and cat’s eyes between Vanrhynsdorp and Brandvlei really enhanced safety and made the journey easier.
  • 05:45: Arrived in Brandvlei and took a few hours to unpack and relax after the long trip. Dad immediately started working on the bathroom taps, while I caught up on some much-needed sleep. Aidan was exploring the house with plenty of energy. The temperature was already rising—around 34°C in the shade by 10:30 AM, and it likely climbed higher later in the day.
  • 11:00: Success! Dad replaced the tap washers and jumpers in the granny flat bathroom, hopefully ending those annoying drips. I fixed the loose kitchen sink waste pipe and secured it against the rear wall of the granny flat. The big win? The granny flat now has a fully functional hot water supply in both the bathroom and kitchen. We also managed to stop a stubborn toilet leak—small fixes that really boost comfort.
  • Sunday, 16 December, 06:25: With the water issues largely sorted, we packed up and headed back to Cape Town, arriving around 12:30.
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This short but productive trip was all about ticking off those essential creature comforts. Fixing the taps, securing the sink, and finally having reliable hot water and a leak-free toilet made the granny flat feel much more like a home away from home. Each visit brings us closer to having a fully functional base from which to tackle larger renovations of Aidan House. Despite the intense Karoo heat, the progress on the water systems made it all worthwhile!