* Bring your own drinks
* ONE plate of food per car…
* Spectacles!
* Oil the vocal chords!!
Hi Phil,
Just thought you’d like to hear news from Matumi....”heavens embroidered cloth”* as you described it – with which I have to agree.
It is now almost 9 months since we officially moved down here, and we are loving the peaceful tranquillity in such stunning surroundings. In the winter, I spent many enjoyable hours birdwatching from the verandah in the beautiful warm sunshine whilst the renovations were ongoing.
The Aloes viewed from the sink were a wonderful sight when they flowed early Winter. There always seems to be some breathtaking flowering trees year round and it was a delight to see some trees burst in to flower that we hadn’t expected! We literally “camped” for many months, but are now 95% finished in the house, and we are fixing up Nomsa’s house as I write.
Very little structural alterations – we extended the main bedroom wall out 2m (as you come up the drive) and this has become a walk-in wardrobe. We turned the garage in to an office/TV room (so Des can watch the cricket while he works!) and put in a gumpole/tongue & groove ceiling to match the rest of the house. The shed at the side has also been walled in for a workshop for Des. It has a lovely big window looking down the drive, the same height as the doors/windows of the office, so there are lovely lines as you approach the house.
The kitchen is looking amazing! (biased!!) We knocked out the pantry, chipped off the green tiles and put in a beautiful big window to enjoy the stunning view of the trees/bird baths etc. as you sit and eat at the table in the corner. Had new cupboards put in – lovely jacaranda wood, also an island where the gas stove is now, but still maintained the farmhouse feel, as there are no cupboards on the walls. I just love stirring the pot & never tire of the beautiful views.
The back bedroom near the kitchen has had a total makeover and it is now a stunning light and airy room. We lifted the ceiling to roof height so it’s at least 1m higher, and it’s also gumpoles/tongue & groove. Redid the shower, new tiles etc. A Perspex skylight goes right across near the door. So ‘sleeping under the stars’ takes on a whole new meaning!!
We now have an ensuite in our main bedroom – blocked up the door of the bathroom in the passage, and knocked through an opening where the wardrobe was. It had a complete facelift including a corner bath and I just love it. The bathroom in bedroom 2 is being redone as we speak – this is the last thing to do in the house. The other major thing we did was new flooring in the office/TV room, all the bedrooms and the kitchen. The guest cottage still looks the same, just lots of TLC etc. What is lovely is that we are painting the whole house a dark grey colour (‘elephant skin’ as Harry says) and it will blend in beautifully with the trees and bush. Windows will still be white. So far, the cottage is painted and some of the house, hopefully it will be finished by mid Dec.
Where do we park the cars? We have cut back in to the bank as you look up to the cottage and Happy (our builder, along with Hendrick, his side kick), has built a stone wall to reinforce the bank. We still have to complete the structure with gumpoles and a roof etc. giving it a wonderful rustic look and it will not impede the view to that side of the property. Next year, we hope to build a verandah right along the front of the house overlooking Little Serengetti and will perhaps make a minor change to the front door area, repaving and merging the whole area to the new garage.
We are fortunate to have had Ponani and Gezani to help where needed as extra hands. Gezani is such a wonderful gentleman, as is Happy, our builder. Hendrick is a delight, just like his father. Ponani...has gone walkabout a couple of times and is on a warning! But largely, I think he needs supervision and for the most part, is working well. Nomsa is always smiling and is very thorough. She has loved seeing all the changes and of course is delighted we are fixing up her place.
We have just had our first Aussie visitors (you did know I’m an Aussie I think?!) for the past month, and they helped with all the unpacking of boxes and hanging of pictures etc. I can’t wait to have Carols at Matumi on 20th (see attachement!) – I started this when we first got married and lived down the road, it carried on in Joburg and now we are resurrecting it here again. Will be doing it twice - I am going to Joburg to do carols at our house on 15th Dec as my boys and our friends there would be devastated if carols stopped (after 24 yrs. there).
It’s great to have Leigh and Harry as our neighbours again – Des (being the foreman on the job) has bounced a lot of things off Harry and he’s been a great backstop, especially when we have to make decisions we are not qualified to make! It is wonderful to feel part of a community here – we have joined the Heal group (environmental organisation in the valley) and go to a monthly security meeting up at Sudwalla. I’m sure you get the picture...we are very happy at Matumi and taking it to even greater heights, without spoiling what came before us. I think your mum and dad would approve!
Please pass this on to Chris and Andy ...can’t find their email addresses. Hope all your family are well. Have an enjoyable Christmas and we wish you everything we wish ourselves in 2012! Would love to have your dad’s ‘compleat guide to Matumi’ when you get the time.
Warm regards
Lori
Dear Lori,
It makes me happy to read your email. It was clearly all meant to be. It's nice to hear that the old place is buzzing again and that after the Nusseys and the Halls come the new house Martins.
I would love to come and visit one day, just to see how everything has been changed and renewed.
I do think of Matumi now, after Mom and Dad's departure, as a sort of launch pad to infinity. Do you feel their presence there at all?
I don't. For a long time I did, but it's as if they have finally packed and left. Waiting for us, no doubt at some place further on.
The abiding image for Matumi for me now is of the Milky Way. Of going outside and looking at the stars and seeing them in a surround.
Best regards,
Phil
I will pass this on to Chris and Andy as you ask
*That was William Blake, not me.
* ONE plate of food per car…
* Spectacles!
* Oil the vocal chords!!
Hi Phil,
Just thought you’d like to hear news from Matumi....”heavens embroidered cloth”* as you described it – with which I have to agree.
It is now almost 9 months since we officially moved down here, and we are loving the peaceful tranquillity in such stunning surroundings. In the winter, I spent many enjoyable hours birdwatching from the verandah in the beautiful warm sunshine whilst the renovations were ongoing.
The Aloes viewed from the sink were a wonderful sight when they flowed early Winter. There always seems to be some breathtaking flowering trees year round and it was a delight to see some trees burst in to flower that we hadn’t expected! We literally “camped” for many months, but are now 95% finished in the house, and we are fixing up Nomsa’s house as I write.
Very little structural alterations – we extended the main bedroom wall out 2m (as you come up the drive) and this has become a walk-in wardrobe. We turned the garage in to an office/TV room (so Des can watch the cricket while he works!) and put in a gumpole/tongue & groove ceiling to match the rest of the house. The shed at the side has also been walled in for a workshop for Des. It has a lovely big window looking down the drive, the same height as the doors/windows of the office, so there are lovely lines as you approach the house.
The kitchen is looking amazing! (biased!!) We knocked out the pantry, chipped off the green tiles and put in a beautiful big window to enjoy the stunning view of the trees/bird baths etc. as you sit and eat at the table in the corner. Had new cupboards put in – lovely jacaranda wood, also an island where the gas stove is now, but still maintained the farmhouse feel, as there are no cupboards on the walls. I just love stirring the pot & never tire of the beautiful views.
The back bedroom near the kitchen has had a total makeover and it is now a stunning light and airy room. We lifted the ceiling to roof height so it’s at least 1m higher, and it’s also gumpoles/tongue & groove. Redid the shower, new tiles etc. A Perspex skylight goes right across near the door. So ‘sleeping under the stars’ takes on a whole new meaning!!
We now have an ensuite in our main bedroom – blocked up the door of the bathroom in the passage, and knocked through an opening where the wardrobe was. It had a complete facelift including a corner bath and I just love it. The bathroom in bedroom 2 is being redone as we speak – this is the last thing to do in the house. The other major thing we did was new flooring in the office/TV room, all the bedrooms and the kitchen. The guest cottage still looks the same, just lots of TLC etc. What is lovely is that we are painting the whole house a dark grey colour (‘elephant skin’ as Harry says) and it will blend in beautifully with the trees and bush. Windows will still be white. So far, the cottage is painted and some of the house, hopefully it will be finished by mid Dec.
Where do we park the cars? We have cut back in to the bank as you look up to the cottage and Happy (our builder, along with Hendrick, his side kick), has built a stone wall to reinforce the bank. We still have to complete the structure with gumpoles and a roof etc. giving it a wonderful rustic look and it will not impede the view to that side of the property. Next year, we hope to build a verandah right along the front of the house overlooking Little Serengetti and will perhaps make a minor change to the front door area, repaving and merging the whole area to the new garage.
We are fortunate to have had Ponani and Gezani to help where needed as extra hands. Gezani is such a wonderful gentleman, as is Happy, our builder. Hendrick is a delight, just like his father. Ponani...has gone walkabout a couple of times and is on a warning! But largely, I think he needs supervision and for the most part, is working well. Nomsa is always smiling and is very thorough. She has loved seeing all the changes and of course is delighted we are fixing up her place.
We have just had our first Aussie visitors (you did know I’m an Aussie I think?!) for the past month, and they helped with all the unpacking of boxes and hanging of pictures etc. I can’t wait to have Carols at Matumi on 20th (see attachement!) – I started this when we first got married and lived down the road, it carried on in Joburg and now we are resurrecting it here again. Will be doing it twice - I am going to Joburg to do carols at our house on 15th Dec as my boys and our friends there would be devastated if carols stopped (after 24 yrs. there).
It’s great to have Leigh and Harry as our neighbours again – Des (being the foreman on the job) has bounced a lot of things off Harry and he’s been a great backstop, especially when we have to make decisions we are not qualified to make! It is wonderful to feel part of a community here – we have joined the Heal group (environmental organisation in the valley) and go to a monthly security meeting up at Sudwalla. I’m sure you get the picture...we are very happy at Matumi and taking it to even greater heights, without spoiling what came before us. I think your mum and dad would approve!
Please pass this on to Chris and Andy ...can’t find their email addresses. Hope all your family are well. Have an enjoyable Christmas and we wish you everything we wish ourselves in 2012! Would love to have your dad’s ‘compleat guide to Matumi’ when you get the time.
Warm regards
Lori
Dear Lori,
It makes me happy to read your email. It was clearly all meant to be. It's nice to hear that the old place is buzzing again and that after the Nusseys and the Halls come the new house Martins.
I would love to come and visit one day, just to see how everything has been changed and renewed.
I do think of Matumi now, after Mom and Dad's departure, as a sort of launch pad to infinity. Do you feel their presence there at all?
I don't. For a long time I did, but it's as if they have finally packed and left. Waiting for us, no doubt at some place further on.
The abiding image for Matumi for me now is of the Milky Way. Of going outside and looking at the stars and seeing them in a surround.
Best regards,
Phil
I will pass this on to Chris and Andy as you ask
*That was William Blake, not me.
