Category Archives: Building a house on a mountainside

55 is Alive!

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Helga

Tuesday My 55th birthday. 54 is so yesterday! Somehow 55 has a great ring to it. Looking at 55 when you are 20, it’s really old, but looking at 55 when you are 85, it’s really young. It just depends … Continue reading →

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Formidable!

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Helga

Monday Formidable. That’s the word we have heard to describe our build! Our house will be large but not huge. It is formidable in that it inspires fear! We often wonder how we got into this position. The property came … Continue reading →

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Home From Swellendam + a Video of Echo

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Helga

Sunday I did not sleep too well last night. It was hard to ignore the vibrant serenade of Swellendam toads. They produced a strange combination of what sounds like the squawk of an Egyptian goose followed quickly by a regular … Continue reading →

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A Frenetic Day

Posted on October 31, 2019 by Helga

Thursday I suddenly had a lot happen today. It started off as the normal relaxed day and then turned into a number of busy, hours with lots of work, interruptions and additional chores. Later in the afternoon it calmed down, … Continue reading →

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Rocks, Rocks and more Rocks

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Helga

Wednesday Today unfolded as it usually does. Mike went to Echo to meet with the builder and the land surveyor so he could get some important measurements. There had been a discrepancy and Mike wasn’t sure if he would have … Continue reading →

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Ups & Downs

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Helga

Tuesday Today was quite a busy day. We woke quite early, badgered by a fully recovered Truffles who pleaded persistently for food. I did some work and then went to gym. When I got home, Mike was on the phone … Continue reading →

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Back to the Grid

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Helga

Monday Today has not been a bad day. I woke up quite early and started working. Yesterday evening, I did quite a lot of work, so this morning just had a couple of emails. As I was up to date, … Continue reading →

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Visas for Egypt

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Helga

Friday Today’s main job was to organise the paperwork for our visas for Egypt. South African passport holders need a visa, arranged in advance but it is free.  I dusted off my SA passport and Mike’s and jumped into action … Continue reading →

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Great Work Day

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Helga

Wednesday Today was a great work day. I got several hours done after last week was painfully quiet. It was a chilly spring day with a number of showers. Mike had an appointment to meet Werner and Paul which he … Continue reading →

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Cholesterol Testing Day

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Helga

Tuesday We woke up late this morning, largely because we decided to go and get our cholesterol tested. Mike needed more medication. These were to be fasting blood tests so going back to sleep was a good idea. I got … Continue reading →

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Truffles Lives Another Day

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Helga

Monday I was up in the night tempting Truffles with chicken and water. When we woke up this morning, she seemed a bit better, even having a few sips of water on her own. By 8am I was sitting in … Continue reading →

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Out and About Day

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Helga

Saturday We had a slow start today. I got a bee in my bonnet after waking up that Mike’s shirts needed ironing. My ironing life really began when I arrived in Cape Town in the final days of 1982. My … Continue reading →

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Plot Clearing

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Helga

Friday Weekdays are becoming a little exciting. Each day there is activity and movement at the building site. Things are in full swing and there is an air of excitement. This afternoon David sent me a whole batch of photos … Continue reading →

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Scrutiny Fees!

Posted on October 17, 2019 by Helga

Thursday This is a red-letter day! We received and paid our scrutiny fees. We were told many months ago (maybe a year ago) that once we paid scrutiny fees, we could start on the foundations. It’s a huge step towards … Continue reading →

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Ridiculous Obsession

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Helga

Wednesday That’s what’s happening now. Our building on the side of a mountain has become a ridiculous obsession. Today Mike and I walked the 5km to Echo. Our conversation peppered with discussions of where toilets should go and how the … Continue reading →

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