I worked really hard to finish the inside walls of my little house, but encountered a lot of problems with the inside walls that almost disintegrated when I chisseled off some ogf the plaster that was still clinging for life, In the end I took the hose, opened the tap at its strongest, and blew all the bricks that were only really a lot of red dust, away. I then struggled up and down the property collecting stone that I plugged the holes with. But at long last that was done, and I felt really proud of myself, although my poor hands were rough and sore!
The next week-end Irma and kids, and Hannes and Manda came, and I was again amzed at Hannes who could fabricate the most fabulous things out of nothing. As there was such a lot of young poplar trees that had to be removed, he cut some down and made some lovely gates and also a fence in front of his house. I will put some photo's on tomorrow.
I was again onto my new built, but it was still hard going, as the creosote fumes were still the same, and I had to plug up my nose and use a mask to be able to stay in there for more than two minutes. I gave the walls another coat of paint, and this time the creosote marks almost disappeared, and I was one jubilant woman. I was still looking for someone to help, but were beginning to realise that I was not going to get lucky!
That night we were all tired, but we made a fire and had a barbeque, where-after we stoked the fire up again, and sat around this bonfire until very late. The night was still and clear, and we lay on our backs on the grass after the fire died, and tried to identify the stars that were shining down so bright!
Next morning we were up before the cocks started crowing, as we had to get Irma's place into some kind of  order and cleanliness, as we were getting guests. And this guests were no-one but my very clever diy friend Jaco was coming to see what we were up to, and he was bringing his fiance, recently aquired! I have met her,  and when my eyes dwelled over the yard that was strewn with broken bottles, relics from the previous people that would take weeks to collect and take away, and the cow and horse dung that were steaming in the early morning sun, I had grave misgivings about this visit!Adri was not the kind of girl who would be able to see through the mess, as she was a very refined and dolled up woman! Anyway, we scrubbed and cleaned the veranda where we would serve the tea, and cleaned away most of the rubbish, like old tins, wine bottles, and plastic bags that were just stacked in one corner, ready to be removed when we could get a small truck to do it for us. Took the kids the whole morning to take this to the outbuilding.
By the time our guests were to arrive, we were ready, the improvised tea-table clothed in one of Irma's beautiful Indonesian cloths, and as Irma had brought some decent cups for the occasion, all looked quite civilised. Or so we thought.
We were all waiting outside, very excited to show off our plots, but I must say, the excitement waned a bitty when Jaco came to a halt at our gate, and we noticed Adri's face! It was all scrunched-up, as if she was in pain, or maybe smelling something terrible! Jaco also looked a bit strained, but he got out at least, and after huggings were done, he opened Adri's door, but this lady did not move, and as her eyes roamed across our yards, shiver after shiver shook her body. Jaco, a very suave creature, told us to go in, as he would have to talk her out of the car. We stood watching as, after a lot of hard squabbling, Adri gingerly put her one high-heeled-shoe on the ground, then some more talking, and at last she was at least standing! Her hair that was beautifully coiffured was immediately grabbed by the fresh always blowing Haarlem wind, and playfully tangled into a quite awesome mess! Then the walk to the house began, and poor Adri, who we could see was near to screaming hysterically, had now to try and miss the dung that was by now nicely steaming and perfuming the fresh air, and this was not the easiest thing on that about five inch heels, and the broken glass did not make it any easier!
But after a lot of softsoaping from Jaco, she made it onto the veranda, where she would not even sit down, refused any refreshment, and that after all our work, and expense, as we bought some nice eats from the deli in George!
But when Jaco, who had gone for a sight-seeing walk came back, very impressed, and he asked Adri to accompany him to look around, as he was interested in the other river property, I thought she was going to expire there and then, and with a last horrified look across Irma's yard, she gave a wild cry, and trying to miss the dung, but on an unguarded moment when calling for Jaco she stepped into a small lot, she started crying hysterically. The kids were wide-eyed, but I think we were too! We all went to say our goodbyes, but Adri was inconsolable, and told Jaco that he could by all means buy a plot, but he would stay there alone! Some people are just not made to lead a rural life!