Adventure is out there.

Our stuff has arrived!! We got back from Joburg and met with a very, very large truck delivering all of our things from Moz. It felt like Christmas day opening boxes and rediscovering things we had not seen in nearly two years! Our house is most definitely full now and it might take us another ten years to unpack everything, but we finally have our stuff. We quickly attempted to set up the living room area and just having things makes this place feel truly like home.

Sig is a true terrorist of a puppy and is fully enjoying all of the boxes and wrapping paper to chew on and attack. Ryno is the bestest boy and so far is mostly just pretending that the new puppy does not exist, but is tolerating the puppy’s constant biting at his face.

We took Sig and Ryno down to the dam to see if Sig would love water as much as Ryno does. Ryno and I went a little into the dam and Sig decided to just superman straight in – he full out leaped, all four legs straight out and ended up plopping completely underwater. He was absolutely not impressed and spent the rest of the time sitting on Ellery’s lap questioning his life decisions.

I have started to work on finishing my office. It used to be the sunroom area that the previous owners housed their pet parrots. The floors are not finished, just bare wood and the walls and ceiling all desperately needed a deep clean. So I scrubbed the walls then painted the ceiling and walls. I learned that I am not a great ceiling painter as I ended up with white freckles, white hair, pretty much white spattered everything. It is a good thing the floors are not finished. I do order flooring and hoping it will be in next week. Then it will be lots of YouTubing trying to learn how to install laminate flooring and seeing if I can unlock a new skill of floor master. Ha. Ellery did unlock a new skill this week – he learned how to put up drywall and drywalled his whole office. Look at us. Homeowners and renovations! In South Africa most homes are build with brick and cement so living in a steel frame dry wall house is a very new concept to Ellery. I am just happy that I can hammer in a nail and hang a picture in about 30 seconds instead of drilling through concrete to hang something.

On Saturday we went back to our old haunt at La Roi Estate to have a farewell dinner with the Pollards. Holy crap I am going to miss them so much! Watching Donnacha and Mason grow up as their auntie has been such a huge privilege and they have truly become family. I do not know what I am going to do without Zoë being around all the time. I am excited for them for their new adventures, but its always hard living so far away from family.

Well… I guess it is back to the boxes.

Okay back tracking here because I am already failing at this whole weekly update thing…

Zoe kidnapped me and took me to Dullstroom where we met up with Jo and Kelly for an absolutely fantastic girls night. We stopped and grabbed some pizzas for lunch then headed to the Dullstroom Raptor Centre. I met Magdali and Frith in 2023 when they came out to Karingani for a veterinary workshop we hosted on the procedures for handling vultures after a poisoning incident. Ever since then I have made it a point to visit the Dullstroom Raptor Centre anytime I am in the area. If you have not checked it out, then put it on your list. They do absolutely incredible work and its always fun to see their bird ambassadors!

We stayed at this incredibly gorgeous accommodation situated on a trout fishing dam. It was quite chilly and rainy so we didn’t get much fishing in, but took full advantage of the wood fired hot tub! We had so much fun and it was really great to be together with some of my closest girl friends!! I did not realise how much I needed it.

Akira has become an absolute cuddle bug. She is so clever and using R+ training, has been picking up new tricks so quickly. I taught her “kiss” where she raises the side of her nose to your cheek so you can give her a kiss (I think this is her favourite one), and also “hug” where you stand to her side and she wraps her head around you for a hug. Also, more practical ones like working on “back up” and lifting her legs when you point at them. Every day I spend with her I just fall more and more in love with her. She truly is such a special girl!

On Friday, Ellery and I drove up to Joburg – I had my first wedding dress fitting (holy cow it’s getting real) and we picked up the newest family member…..

World, meet Sig! He is an 8 month old velociraptor, aka Belgian Malinois. Sig is Ellery’s new puppy (since I stole Kheta from him, he was due for the next dog) He is fully of bitey needle teeth and is beyond adorable.

We stayed the night at Jono and Emma’s and then had to rush back home because we had exciting news that our stuff from Mozambique was finally being delivered!! We are finally going to have furniture for our new house!