Our SA menagerie...

and Emily.

Yesterday was the official beginning of our holiday. It was bliss to stay in bed (on electric blankets) sipping my tea and easing myself into the day.  A far cry from my hectic schedule of running the company Guest House in Mwadui! 

Emily, our house-lady duly arrived at 8am and many hugs and greetings all round. She and the two gardeners always receive an extra [cash] bonus from Grant at this time.

As usual Emily had taken good care of our three dogs and three cats in our absence. She also keeps the house clean and tidy, while John and Simon keep the garden neat. There's nothing nicer when you have been traveling Intra-Africa, to arrive home to a neat patio and spring annuals already blooming; with fresh bed linen, shiny floors and clean-smelling rooms indoors.   

 Emily smiles for the camera as she completes her last tasks before leaving work

Shortly after lunch,  I wandered out onto the patio to photograph the animals. Tigger and Chip are our oldest cats (and pets) at 16 and 13 years old respectively.  Felix is nine years old and my friendliest cat. He also has the loudest purr that I've heard in a cat! 

 16 year-old Tigger

Tigger, my 16 year-old cat still has a very healthy appetite. is eyesight and hearing still seems to be good but his voice is definitely croaky! All three cats sleep indoors on their own blankets or in their own igloos and as soon as they've had breakfast in the morning, they wander out onto the patio where they soak up the warm morning sun! 

 The cat - books say that cats sleep for about 22 hours per day. Well, Chip, our 13 year-old cat [above] proves this and more! 

Felix at nine-years-old, is very laid back and has the sweetest nature I have ever come across! 

The cats took a little while (until evening snack time, in fact!) to accept our presence but the three dogs were ecstatic and greeted us with great enthusiasm as we arrive home on Saturday.

Angie, our rescue dog is almost five years old. She is the sweetest dog with friends, family and all the pets on the yard but is a brilliant guard dog when the need arises! 

  Megan, who needs a haircut, is almost thirteen years old. Her favourite thing in the whole world - apart from her bone-shaped nighttime treat - is to go in the car with us to the city to be clipped! 

Eddy, our long-haired fox-terrier, used to be John and Debbie's dog. When they left Marquard, she stayed with us while they built their new home. Eventually though, it was decided that Eddy should remain in the Free State, where she was born. She and Angie are wonderful friends

I hope you're all having a wonderful week. 

For more posts of other people's worlds, click here