handing over the keys

We left Mom’s house in Modderfontein early to give ourselves some ‘alone time’ at the farm before the new owners arrived at 11 o’clock. Clive was driving the new Toyota Hilux D4D for the first time and enjoying it! We arrived, opened the house, checked the pool, pumped water into the jojo tank and wondered down to the dam. We were excited to see otter scat and two white-faced ducks. Walking down to the river the glorious spring green glowed around us in the early morning light. Clive and I spent some time pausing at the river where I have spent so many happy hours, took a few photos and left will full hearts. The new owners, Attie and Angie Maleka had also arrived early and we greeted them before Clive left to collect our garden manager, Able Mafa, to introduce him to the Maleka family who plan to keep him on for a month or two while they learn the ropes. I walked the family around explaining how to get water to the various jojo tanks, how to water the garden, where the pipes are underground, how to switch things on or off – the many details of life on the farm. The koi came to the surface of the top pond to feed delighting us all. We collected at the dam while Clive and Mafa went to turn the river pump on to demonstrate how the garden sprinklers worked. While we waited for the water I bent down to weed out Syringa  seedlings (http://www.invasives.org.za/legislation/item/279-syringa-melia-azedarach)  that had sprouted and Attie’s brother, who will be living at the farm for a while, recognized the tree and we companionably weeded these unwanted plants for a while discussing the menace of these and other invasive plants on the South African ecology. Later in the morning Angie and I sat on the step in the lounge discussing her work as a school nurse and her plans for decorating the farm. After Hatchiko had had a last swim in the dam and dried off we took our goodbye’s and drove out of the gate for the first time in over 17 years with no controller to close it behind us.