I'm Staying

  < CONCLUSION African rain AFRICA When you have acquired a taste for the dust, And the scent of our first rain, You’re hooked for life on Africa, And you’ll not be right again. Until you can watch the setting moon And hear the jackals bark, And know they are around you Waiting in the dark.   When you long to see the elephants Or hear the coucal’s song, When the moonrise sets your blood on fire, Then you’ve been away too long. It is time to cut the traces loose, And let your heart go free, Beyond that far horizon Where your spirit yearns to be.   Africa is waiting – come! Since you have touched the open sky And learned to love the rustling grass And the wild fish eagle’s cry, You’ll always hunger for the bush; For the lion’s rasping roar, To camp at last beneath the stars And to be at peace once more.                    ...

  CHAPTER 26   ENGLAND   NEW ADVENTURES IN THE REAL WORLD Verrrrry cold!!!!! In our last week at the estate, we managed to find a holiday home in the village where my sister lives in Gloucestershire.   The owner, being a dog lover was happy for us to bring Paddy and we were able to rent on a monthly basis during the winter months. The Man with a Van transported our furniture to a storage depot in Gloucester and we settled in for the winter in our little country cottage. We decided to register for benefits and visited the nearest Job Centre where we were interviewed and approved for what is known as Job Seekers’ Benefits.   This meant that as long as we were actively seeking work the Government would pay us a small amount to assist with living expenses until such time as we were once again gainfully employed.   At this stage we were still confident that we’d find work quickly.   We had our earnings from our previous jobs and our benefits...

  CHAPTER 21   ENGLAND   THE MICE In our early days at the estate when we were bombarded with information, advice, and orders, we were instructed to set mice traps in the glass house to catch any mice who might dare to take a nibble out of Sir Duncan’s figs. We were to bait these traps with cheese and check first thing each morning to collect dead bodies and reset traps. At first I absolutely refused to have anything to do with this cruelty but I could see we were fighting a losing battle with people who like nothing better than to kill anything that dares to trespass on their property, be it moles, voles, squirrels, mice, rats, flies, wasps etc etc. John was too busy and needed my help and so I ended up with this unenviable task. Each little body I removed from a trap, I silently apologised to.   Meanwhile the figs were ripening faster than the Lord and Lady could ever eat them or the cook could turn them into jam and I felt so guilty killing these little ...

  CHAPTER 11   AFRICA   SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT JOB Absolutely all my possessions packed and ready to leave South Africa       More surfing on the internet began and browsing of job sites; applications were filled and CV's sent. We were beginning to think that our life in the UK was over before it had even started.   And then it happened! We spotted this advertisement on Gumtree. Couple sought for live-in position to look after gardens on private estate in North Yorkshire.   Good salary plus three bedroom cottage offered.   Horticultural experience essential. We had been told by those in the know that estate jobs were much sought after and extremely difficult to come by. We understood that they were the cream-of-the-crop jobs for landscapers and we were determined to land this one. John and I chatted on Skype. “This looks like a job we could do love” John said, looking a little happier for the first time in weeks. ...

  Chapter 10   AFRICA   LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS John and Paddy Goodbye Kelly's Beach At first we looked at Australia and New Zealand, the  favourites  for all South Africans not wanting to brave the cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere. However, it seemed that we had left it too late  and these countries were overflowing with qualified and professional people emigrating from Africa. Our professions weren’t in demand and we didn’t have the necessary funds required.   We considered our options and staring us in the face was our birthright. We were born in the UK and both held British Passports.  " What are you waiting for?” our friends asked. They informed of us our good fortune at holding these precious documents and we began some serious planning. We became professional surfers on the internet, job seeking and property seeking. We began the long and mostly unrewarding task of writing CV’s and filling in job applications. Long months p...