It’s a Land of Beauty: Becoming Hamburgers Chapter 3

10 Signs We’ve Left the City

Number 106: The past two weeks have stumbled by in a blur of tick-bite fever, temperatures and tummy bugs, but thankfully we’re all healthy again.

In that time we’ve explored the province and got to know more Hamburg locals, while Lim has started attending a local creche. Recently, Deb’s mom has come to visit and the girls are thrilled to have their Gogo here.

Dirt roads near Nqamakwe, north west of Butterworth

Villages on hilltops near Dlepu, between East London and Butterworth

Endless fields and rolling hills

Having now been here a month, we’re starting to feel a lot more settled. While we still have lots to learn, we’ve taken the big adjustments in our stride. In no particular order, here are 10 clear signs that we’ve left the city far behind:

Municipal water is very unreliable so we largely depend on rain and our three tanks.
Four wheel drive mode is engaged most of the time.
It’s 80km to the nearest shop and two weeks between visits.
The girls chase each other up and down the hills in our enormous garden.
We’ve planted a vegetable garden and take pleasure in watering the plants.
We’ve eaten all our dinners on our covered stoep while watching sunset.
With a heated outdoor shower, we haven’t yet showered indoors.
We regularly have to chase cows out of our driveway.
Animals stopping traffic is a common occurrence.
The river, beach and hills are on our doorstep, and we enjoy them daily.

Profiles of some of our four-legged neigh-bours

The incredible beauty of our surroundings is a constant source of inspiration. We hope to welcome you here over the year, Covid-permitting, so you too can get a taste of life on the banks of the Keiskamma River.

Sending love

Yair, Debs, Limkhitha and Mihle