Our new world in South Africa

As you may have noticed by my recent posts, there is a new member in the Hedges family. Rina, who's husband died from malaria while in South Africa last year, and whom we've had visiting us when we go out on leave, has had to leave her rented home. At the same time, Emily, our house lady who's been with us for fourteen years, asked to go on pension.

Grant then asked Rina to step in and look after our home and pets. Rina moved from Parys, Northern Free State on 25th July, a mere week before we went out on leave. Of course, she had a house full of furniture, a garage full of Dick's tools and a garden shed full of garden furniture and equipment. All this had to fit into our already amply furnished house. And although we have four garages, one is Grant's well-stocked workshop; the second one houses the two motorbikes, leathers and biking  paraphernalia. Our large car only just fits inside the third garage and a trailer lives in the fourth.

Rina also has her own car. 

Mmm...

The boxes, bags and suitcases are stuffed into our formal lounge which is never used, although I've always kept it nicely furnished and tidy.   

 A collage of what my formal lounge looks like at the moment 

A double bed, more boxes, more bags, baskets and other stuff is standing wall-wall and floor-to-ceiling in my spare room. 

 My spare room also looks like a furniture storage room at the moment

Fortunately we're having another wall-to-wall cupboard built for the guest room, which Rina occupies. We're also having a linen cupboard installed in my bathroom. As soon as these are in the house, Rina will unpack all her boxes and bags. She intends that my house is "back to normal" when we go out on leave at the end of October! 

 As posted last week, the grandchildren live next door to our home. Joel and Abby have a grandmother in Rina while I'm out of the country. Amanda's mum is also in town, so they are two very blessed little children

 And to add to the mix, are two cats: Tipsy and Topsy who love life in Marquard! 

Oh, and Grant has absorbed lots of Dick's tools; Angus has received a workbench and a large crate of hand tools. It's also handy to have neighbors you know very well: our trailer is stored in a garage in Angus' back garden - he has a double garage attached to his house. And while we're using our teak garden set under the new awning over the patio, Rina's furniture fits beautifully on our front porch. 

And Rina's car has its home in the fourth garage with the dogs beds at the front of the car.  

I'm linking my post to Our World Tuesday which you can access by clicking here 

I hope  you're all having a wonderful day in your part of the world.