19th April

19 April 2017

It has been some time since I contributed to the blog. So much has happened. We are really loving staying here at San Cha Len. The name doesn’t mean anything, it is made up of the first three letters of the original owners children’s names. People like to believe they are creative when they make up names. Not always with success!

The park is situated about 13 kms from Warmbaths, 10 kms good tarred road which leads to the N4 highway to Pretoria and then 3 kms of good sand road. Just 500 m down the road after exiting the ground road on the way to Warmbaths there is a restaurant/roadside stall which has so much character. A truly South African experience. I am so fascinated by the decor, so I have included some photos for you to check out. They also have a very good menu with a wide choice of meals and snacks. Their trading hours sign reads: “When we get here”.

There is a warm and a cold swimming pool here at San Cha Len. Tom and I try to swim at least 3 times a week. The days go by so quickly that when we are settling down for the night we remember that we didn’t swim. I can’t really say what we keep ourselves busy with, but every day seems to fly by.

Tom and I were comparing the two parks we have been in. Both had a charm all of their own with pros and cons to each. We definitely prefer this park as there are fewer bugs. At Drie Berge we had a problem with a wild cat which kept spraying our tent, etc. Here I have a couple of bunnies which wait patiently outside the tent for food. I went and bought a bag of bunny food and feed them in the late afternoon. We also do our shopping at a mall which is very conveniently situated just outside Warmbaths. We also go to a really nice coffee shop in this mall.

We have attended the local Methodist Church here and have become regulars. Tom preached there a couple of Sundays ago and was really well received. The little church is battling financially and it seems that they will not be able to afford their minister next year. She is in her third year of a three year invitation and they would have liked her to stay on, but it seems that there are not sufficient funds to make this happen. The facilities at the church are very well maintained and in beautiful condition. On the Sunday before Easter we were invited to lunch at one of the ladies in the congregation’s home. She lives on a farm just outside Warmbaths. We were so blessed to be there and had a lovely day with her and other members of the congregation who were also invited. We are quite at home.

When we were in Pretoria, Pierre Naude, the minister at Valley Methodist, asked us whether we were retiring to Pretoria. He was so hoping to make use of Tom’s years of experience. We do get involved where we are, so when we get to Scottburgh we will be ready to serve there to the glory of God. I sometimes feel that we are wasting a year, but then when I see that the Lord uses us where we are at the moment, I know that this is also part of His ministry.

About two weeks ago we went to Benoni to spend some time with Tom’s dad. He has now been moved to an assisted living section of the retirement home. Dad is becoming quite frail, although his health is still very good. We thank the Lord for His goodness to us for allowing us so much time with dad.

Tom’s brother Leonard flew up from Port Elizabeth for a couple of days, so we spent some time with him as well. Tom took Leonard and I to a roadhouse which they used to frequent when they were teenagers. It was such a treat - we had toasted cheeseburgers and milkshakes with the tray clipped onto the window. Both Tom and Leonard kept reminiscing about the many times they had come to the same roadhouse and that the food was exactly the same. Very little in South Africa has stood the test of time - but the Fireplace is still the same.

We will still be here at San Cha Len until the 18^th May, when we pack up and go to Elaine in Pretoria. Tom will be preparing for Thalia Durr’s wedding on the 27^th May. The following week we will be leaving and heading for Scottburgh to spend June and July in the caravan park there. I am so looking forward to being there again. It is a super caravan park and when we are living in Scottburgh it would be stupid to camp in the park. So, this will most probably be that last time that we will camp there. At the end of July our journey continues when we take to the road heading for Clanwilliam for the whole of August. We are planning on breaking our trip into 5 overnight stops en route. Another great part of our adventure, God willing.

Well, until next time, may God bless you all.