Festive Season Fix-Up and Family Reflections

As another year winds down, we found ourselves back in Brandvlei for a working holiday, trading festive cheer for some serious DIY. Our mission? To tackle a pesky crack on the exterior sun room wall and give the sun room's fascia boards, barge boards, and guttering a much-needed refresh.

My son and I wasted no time. The day after we arrived, we were already tearing down the old gutters and fascia boards. He also got stuck into opening up that wall crack, getting it ready for a fresh coat of plaster. In just a couple of days, we had the new fascias and gutters up, and the wall looking spick and span with the crack sealed and painted. It's always rewarding to see a plan come together so quickly!

Once the work was done, the rest of our trip shifted gears. We spent our evenings soaking in the stunning sunsets on the Loeriesfontein Road – a perfect way to unwind after a productive day. Of course, the highlight was preparing our Christmas lunch. It was a smaller affair than usual, but a feast nonetheless. Yet, there was a bitter-sweet note to it all; I really missed my father, who was back home taking care of my mom.

Those quiet evening chats with my wife brought a more somber reflection. We talked about how frail my mother had become. At this point, she was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's and also bravely battling stage four breast cancer. We knew what was coming, and it was hard to ignore. She was in a tough spot, and Dad, at 78 and with his own health challenges, was doing everything he could to make her comfortable. It truly puts things into perspective when you see the strength and dedication of your loved ones in such difficult times.