Author: Collins Rex

Neil Diamond wrote:

“… nowadays, I’m lost between two shores
LA’s fine, but it ain’t home
New York’s home but it ain’t mine no more”

There is a moment that always gets me …

It happens somewhere over the Indian Ocean, somewhere between the fading familiarity of one country and the approaching familiarity of another. Two homes. Two identities. Two versions of myself. And somewhere in the middle, suspended at 35,000 feet, I realise I no longer belong entirely to either.

I recently returned to South Africa after a work trip back to Australia. Presentations. Meetings. Coffees. Airports. Familiar roads. Familiar accents. Dear friends. The strange comfort of routines my body remembers, even when my mind has moved on.

And now I’m back in Kosmos, with my gorgeous man, recalibrating my internal compass …

There is enormous privilege in being able to move between worlds, to maintain deep ties to both Australia and South Africa, and to understand each country from the inside rather than from headlines or stereotypes.

But we think about the emotional dislocation. The quiet psychological whiplash.

Australia still feels like home; 28 years is most of my adult life afterall! South Africa also feels like home, particularly since it’s the land of my birth, and imprinted on my soul. Yet both sometimes feel slightly out of reach, at the exact same time.

In Australia, I slip back into old rhythms almost immediately. I know how things work instinctively. The systems are familiar. The social codes are familiar. The humour is familiar. There is a predictability to daily life that settles into the nervous system almost unconsciously. Catching up with old friends and family feels as though no time has passed at all.

Until suddenly it has.

Because beneath the comfort sits another reality: life moved on. People evolved. Friendship circles shifted. Absences have slowly became normal. The embraces are warm and very real, but one is no longer woven quite as tightly into the fabric of everyday life.

And then there is South Africa, where my beloved husband, and my wonderful thatched home wait to welcome me back to the Africa of my heart.

South Africa gets under your skin in a completely different way. It is louder, more volatile, more emotionally intense. The contradictions are sharper. The inequality more visible. The politics more immediate. The energy more raw. South Africa can exhaust you and inspire you in the same afternoon. There is something deeply alive about it!

The conversations are different here. More layered. More conscious of history, identity, race, resilience, survival and reinvention. South Africans carry complexity differently. Humour becomes armour. Cynicism and optimism coexist in bizarre and fascinating ways. And despite all the frustrations, there is a humanity here that can be difficult to explain to outsiders. And here, of course, are lifelong friends, close family.

So I move between these two worlds carrying emotional residue from both.

In Australia, part of me misses the intensity and unpredictability of South Africa. In South Africa, part of me misses the order and familiarity of Australia. In both places, there are moments where I feel entirely at home. In both places, there are moments where I feel strangely foreign.

People still ask me why we returned to South Africa. After more than a year of living here, some ask the question for the first time. And with each asking I realise the move wasn’t a single decision made once, it is an ongoing negotiation of identity.

Every return flight reopens old emotional files. Every reunion both elates and saddens. I guess that’s the price – and the privilege – of belonging to more than one place.

Somewhere between Melbourne and Johannesburg, between memory and reinvention, between familiarity and distance, I’m learning to live with carrying two homes inside me at once.

And I’m so prepared for the lesson!

Sawasdee ka!

I don’t believe in reincarnation, but if I did, I’d believe that I lived in this remarkable city in a previous life. My first trip to Bangkok was around 1990. When I stepped off the plane onto the tarmac (no aerobridges then), I felt I was home.

Now, almost four decades later, the feeling is the same …

Join me for a whistle-stop visit to the incredible place that is Bangkok!

Bangkok is a relatively “young” capital by global standards, but its rise has been rapid and strategic. Originally a small trading post on the Chao Phraya River delta, it became the capital of Siam (now Thailand) in 1782 under King Rama I, marking the beginning of the Chakri dynasty that still reigns today. And the people love their royal family. The old queen, Sirikit, was particularly beloved; her recent passing will have the city in mourning for at least a year.

In its early years, Bangkok was a water-based city, defined by canals (khlongs) and river trade, earning it the nickname “Venice of the East.” Over time, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Western influence, infrastructure development, and modern medicine accelerated urban growth.

The result: a city where royal temples, informal settlements, luxury malls, and global finance coexist, often on the same street! (Or along the same river.)

To understand Bangkok, one needs to spend time on the Chao Phraya River, where life in many ways is as it has been for centuries.

Original houses sit cheek by jowl with industrial developments, modern mansions, and the ever-present wats (temples). People live on the water, grow food on the water, and fish. It’s a subsistence life, definitely not one of luxury, but by and large people are content to live in this way. On the river, enough is enough.

What I’ve always found really interesting is how people garden on the river. From fruit and vegetables to flowers, the tiniest plot is bursting with pots.

The river is still used to ferry construction material and other heavy goods that would otherwise clog the already crowded roads. Barges doing the heavy lifting (or pulling!) are a common sight up and down the Chao Phraya.

It was interesting – and encouraging – to see many homes being restored, and stunning new places being built.

Bangkok has clearly recovered from COVID. The city is thriving, and there’s an air of optimism about this megalopolis of 11 million people.

Religion permeates every facet of Thai life, and Bangkok is no exception. There are wats everywhere – in the city, in the suburbs, and along the Chao Phraya. Wedged in between houses, occupying prime real estate, you’ll find a wat – from the simplest to the most ornate. And it’s not just Thai Buddhist temples either, there are also Chinese temples, mosques, Hindu temples, and churches.

At Wat Chin Wararamworawiharn we were fortunate to see a good karma ceremony being performed – fish being released into the Chao Phraya.

One of the things that makes Bangkok so entrancing is its food. And, man, it’s everywhere! From street stalls and markets, to super high-end restaurants – there’s literally something to satisfy every taste.

Market food is cheap as chips, fresh, and so tasty. From ready-made to fresh produce, the range is extraordinary.

I had the great privilege of eating a very special meal at “Nahm”, the restaurant founded by Australian Thai chef extraordinaire, David Thompson. David has since moved on to a less refined, Thai street food-focused restaurant, but Nahm is still amazing.

Bangkok isn’t just a city you visit, it’s a city that overwhelms, absorbs, and constantly reinvents itself. It’s a place powered by migration, commerce, and an ability to hold contradiction without ever resolving it. And I love it!

My previous post was an observational one, so it’s salient to use the first day of our second year to give you an update of goings on over the previous month.

There have been a couple of notable achievements on the home front: we got a tenant for our cottage, and we’ve embarked on a project of updating/upgrading all the light fittings in the house.

Our new tenant, a sweet young fellow named Hendrick, moved into the cottage on 01 February. He was particularly excited to keep the rather funky furnishings!

The light fittings in our home have been a source of constant irritation, but with so many other things crying out to be done, they’ve taken a back seat. Not anymore!

In a previous blog I showed off pics of the new chandelier the man created for the lounge …

And now the remaining hideous old lights have been replaced with revitalised, and newly-created, specimens.

Next up, my resident lighting genius will be installing a vintage industrial “shovel” fitting in the dining room. Watch this space for pics of the properly restored fitting, appropriately installed.

For the rest, life has progressed at a cracking pace.

I’ve been reminded of the absurdities (and wonders!) of this place …

We’ve watched keenly as the water hyacinth that chokes our Hartbeespoort Dam is attacked by tiny bugs …

We’ve watched from afar as Johannesburg battles a water crisis. (Some suburbs have had NO water for almost a month.) We’ve been quietly thankful that Kosmos is currently unaffected, and we’ve been outraged that the Gauteng Premier brushed off people’s concerns by suggesting that showers in hotels are the answer to their untenable situation.

And, as always, we’re grateful for time spent with the people we care about.

Kosmos remains fabulous (especially when we haven’t spotted a baboon in some time!!), and we love our late summer garden.

Until next time, sala kahle!

And just like that, we’ve been in South Africa for 12 whole months.

Today some indulgence is required because this post will be more philosophical than usual; anniversaries do that to me.

Looking back over the past year, I see joy and sadness. I see frustration, contentment, trepidation, and excitement. I see achievements and failure. In short, I see a life taking shape and solidifying, and with each passing week, this place is becoming home.

The first few months of our time back in South Africa disappeared in a haze of activity. We battled with bureaucracy at all levels, we bought cars, opened bank accounts, took occupation of our house, did renovations, tried to maintain our professions, and so much more. We were so busy that we barely had time to breath, much less take time to just come to terms with the enormity of our move.

Now, as I write, I can take stock and share a few home truths:

• It’s been exhausting – emotionally and physically
• It’s been challenging and rewarding in equal measure
• It’s been scary, but inwardly fortifying
• It’s been humbling
• It’s been fun (and funny!)
• It’s been mind-numbingly annoying and gratifying at the same time
• It’s been lonely in the quiet hours

The list could go on almost endlessly, but here’s the reality: moving countries when you’re 60+ isn’t the same as doing it when you’re 30+, and we (particularly I) underestimated just how tough this would be. Changing countries somehow compresses the human experience. It strips away the invisible scaffolding you didn’t even realise was holding you up, and it takes time to re-erect that scaffolding and make it permanent.

Every reason we had for relocating is as valid today as it was when we made the decision to move, it’s just taken me a little longer to fully acclimatise to being in this place at this time, but I’m getting there.

I love our home, and our old and new friends. It’s wonderful being closer to loved family members, and being more engaged in their lives (and having them in ours). I love Africa and her people – the laughter, the music, the spirit. I’ve made peace with many of the things that frustrate me, and I’m learning to cut myself some slack and give it time.

Most of all, I love sharing this adventure with my gorgeous man. So – happy ZAversary to us!! And to you, dear reader – thanks for being on this journey with us.

Until next time, sala kahle!

I can barely believe I just typed “month 12”. The realisation that we’ll soon be marking a whole year in South Africa is mind-blowing to me.

The past month disappeared in whirl of family visits, special occasions (hello, NYD), work around the home, and managing uninvited wild guests.

And in between, we managed a few excursions, including brekkies out at one of our favourite stops – a Woolies cafe …

We celebrated 2+3’s 31 December birthday in a rather more low-key manner than has occurred in many past years, but this one was truly exceptional!

This year we walked with elephants!

About 10kms from our house is the “Elephant Sanctuary”, where rescued elephants are rehabilitated and – where possible – returned to the wild. There are currently four elephants at the sanctuary that can, for a variety of reasons, not be re-wilded. These magnificent animals live at the sanctuary and are comfortable to have limited interactions with visitors. They spend most of their days foraging in the mountains behind the sanctuary (accompanied by their keepers), but at night they sleep safely indoors.

It was such a privilege to learn about and interact with these gentle giants. And getting a kiss from Temba – priceless, albeit a little muddy!

One of the reasons we moved to South Africa was to be close to old friends and family. NYD delivered that in spades!

Joined by some of my cousins, my nephew, and old and new friends, we started 2026 on the best possible note. There was good food aplenty, bubbles, and enough laughter to last well into the new year!

After new year we welcomed a house guest. Urbain’s sister, Francet, has lived in the UK for over 20 years and she spent the last few days of her South African sojourn with us.

It was great having a few days to get to know one another again, having barely seen one another over the past years. And we also loved sharing a little of our African life with her.

No visit to Africa would be complete without wildlife! With limited time, we couldn’t get to a proper game reserve, but we did manage to visit a conservancy close to home where they care for injured animals that cannot be re-wilded. There are wild dogs, cheetahs, hyenas, antelopes, and these fine creatures …

Now, our little part of the world is home to many wild critters, some less welcome than others.

We love our regular bird visitors, adore the neighbourhood squirrel, and even find the monkeys cute, but we draw the line at baboons, especially when they make their way into our home. We’ve had two visits in the past 10 days, and replacing all the fruit, chocolates and snacks, and cleaning up after them is wearing a little thin. We also do not appreciate their wanton destruction of things we value and love.

Mercifully, the baboon visits made up a small part of our African life over the past weeks!

We also finally got around to replacing some of the really ugly light fittings that have been annoying the bejesus out of me.

Urbain crafted a fabulous chandelier that has true provenance. The wooden frame was made from a recycled outdoor bench, ripped out when Monash University had landscaping done. The ceramic pieces were cast by ceramist, Jack Latti, from floodlighting lamps (globes) and a reflector that Urbain has used in his career as a lighting engineer. These pieces were fired in Jack’s anagama wood-fired kiln, and are hanging from bits of rescued and recycled fascia board rescued from our friend Dewetia’s house. The metal shades are IKEA fruit bowls.

We also made the acquaintance of spectacular looking bugs …

Had a tipple or two at newly-discovered haunts …

And found treasures in forgotten bits of our garden.

Here’s to the 2026 we all wish for ourselves!

Until next time, sala kahle.

I’ve been tardy, but I do have a valid excuse – Day 1 of month 11 was Christmas day!

I’m sitting here, listening to Paul Simon’s remarkable album (does he have any other kind??), “Surprise”, eating homemade peanut brittle (a gift from Urbain’s sister, Yolande), and reflecting on the month just gone. It was another corker, with visitors from far away, an overseas trip, cultural experiences, Christmas, and much more. Strap in, folks, here we go …!

Even though I stepped down as Co-Director of the South African Film Festival (ANZ), I still serve on the film review Committee. We reviewed the first batch of films and held our first review meeting. There are some great offerings, so be sure to watch for the launch of the final programme.

As has become the norm, we visited our favourite haunts, including a fabulous Mozambiquan dive bar, and a great breakfast spot that comes with wildlife.

Having grown up on the Highveld, I’m used to spectacular electric storms, but the ones we’ve experienced in Hartbeespoort have been a level above! We sat often over the past weeks just watching, in complete awe of the power of Nature on full display.

With Christmas around the corner, and Urbain’s family coming to lunch, I started planning my menu. And that led to the hunt for a Christmas ham. Imagine my surprise and utter bewilderment to discover that there is only a thing called ‘Gammon” to be had here. Even really good butchers looked at me as if I had two heads when I enquired about “a leg of ham”. For the record, this is the difference …

As it turns out, the gammon was delicious, but next year I’m making my own HAM.

For the past 10 years, I’ve served as a Judge at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards. The Awards move around the various member economies, and this year we were in Taiwan.

Over five days, there were meetings (I’m also member of the Executive Committee of APICTA), events, and – of course – the competition itself.

It was a delight as always to catch up with Australian colleagues from across the country, and also those from the whole APICTA family.

This year 2+3 had work commitments and couldn’t join, so I flew solo (as I had for several years before roping him in).

Australia had a bumper crop of 16 entries across several categories, and we took home three gold medals and a merit award. And along the way a great time was had by all!

Upon my return from APICTA, a real treat was in store for us; dear friend. Dewetia, had to be in South Africa for work, and spent a night. What a joy!

It was during Dewetia’s visit that we learned of the tragedy in Bondi where 15 innocent people, out to celebrate the start of Hannukah, were murdered by two gunmen in a terrorist attack. 39 more innocents were injured. The attack, however, also saw remarkable acts of bravery and compassion, and galvanised a community against anti-Semitism.

Bondi Beach Shooting: Everything We Know About Terror Attack Targeting Jewish Holiday Event | TIME

On a more positive note, we marked the annual tradition of giving “Christmas” to our refuse collectors on the last rubbish collection day before Christmas. After much deliberation, we also upheld the tradition of giving Christmas hampers to staff (in addition to any other gifts and bonuses). Our brilliant gardener, Goodwell Nyarenda, lives in the informal settlement close to our village and for him and his family, the hamper bucket is as useful as the contents.

In preparation for overnight guests (nine of them!), we furnished and equipped our cottage, and generally prettied it up.

Urbain’s sister, Louwene, and her daughter, Mekayla, were the first to arrive, a couple of days before Christmas.

Then it was Christmas!

The table was set …

Obstacles were overcome – like having no electricity for more than three hours until just before the guests’ arrival! A feast was prepared …

The family gathered … And a glass was raised to absent loved ones who will always be missed at times like these.

And just like that, it was 27 December and the house was just ours again.

I leave you with a video of Urbain being groomed by our friend Derrich’s cat. Until next time, merry belated Christmas, and sala kahle.

I’m a day late in writing this blog because life got in the way. And maybe I’ve also been a little distracted by the sunbird building a nest outside my office window, and the squirrel that comes searching for a snack every morning (and some afternoons).

I’m beginning to make Christmas and new year’s day plans, and getting ready to head to Taiwan in a week’s time. In between, there’s been gardening, and visits, and trips, and concerts.

Here goes – a quick recap of month nine (and a gratuitous sunset video) …

You know by now that we took a 3,500km road trip a few weeks ago. Since then, we’ve mostly been busy around the house.

Our thatch roof was in need of some emergency maintenance, and a team came out to do the necessary. It’s the first time I’ve ever really seen thatching being done and it was a treat seeing the guys work.

And thank goodness we had this work done when we did, because shortly after, the Mother of electric storms arrived!

From time to time we have visits from baboons. These are mostly harmless, but always unwelcome. Why? They go from harmless to destructive in moments! That’s why we’ve never photographed or filmed our hairy visitors; we’re too busy chasing them away! Until a couple of days ago …

Now that the rains have come, we’ve spent quite a bit of time in the garden. New lawn has been laid and is establishing itself (and can’t yet be mowed), I’ve planted lots of seedlings, and our gardener, Goodwell, is building little stone walls everywhere.

I’ve re-purposed soup cups, two of them 40 years old, and have started thinking about other redundant vessels that can be used to hold succulents.

Despite all the chores, we’ve time for the fun stuff. We had our monthly “Salieri” opera appreciation gathering (“Romeo and Juliet” was this month’s offering), and as always there was also great conversation and good food. We also saw the Mzansi Ballet School in action in a modern ballet, “Private Presley”. The performances may not all have been completely polished, but it was wonderful to see young people giving it their all in front of an appreciative, paying audience. And the highlight for us? Chatting before the performance to an old gogo (grandmother) who was there to see her great-granddaughter perform.

In a week I’m off to Taiwan for the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards where I – and three other Aussies – will be joining the international judging panel. This is my 10th outing and I’m really looking forward to it.

And now I’m going back to watching that industrious sunbird!

Until next time, sala kahle.

When dear friends invite you to their 50th anniversary celebration in the Cape (over two days, nogal!), you immediately programme the GPS and start planning a roadtrip!

It’s been years since we last drove to the Cape (largely) via the N1, and it was truly eye-opening. On the positive side – the roads are excellent overall, and the scenery is spectacular! The negative? Due to the collapse of South Africa’s freight rail system, the number of long-haul trucks on the road is mind-numbing.

There are, of course, always the road cowboys and cowgirls who do immensely stupid things, like overtaking on blind rises and driving way too fast (or slow) for the road conditions, but by and large people behave. And the skill of the truck drivers is awe-inspiring!

Once through the early-morning Jo’burg traffic, it was plain-sailing to Bloemfontein and then on into the Karoo. Now, for those reading this in countries other than South Africa, the Karoo is a vast, semi-arid region that stretches across much of central South Africa, known for its striking landscapes, big skies, and deep silence.

Once a prehistoric seabed, the Karoo holds a rich fossil record that provides key insights into early life on Earth. And did I mention that it’s vast? And mostly flat, apart from the occasional koppie (rocky outcrop).

Because it’s a long drive – around 18 hours in either direction – we did the sensible thing and stopped halfway to spend the night in Hanover, in the heart of the Great Karoo, and pretty much exactly halfway between Kosmos and Pringle Bay. The town isn’t as pretty and well-maintained as it once was, but our hotel – the Hanover Luxury Hotel – was funky and a bit out there (just the way I like my hotels), and staffed by fabulous young people. It was a great place to rest up from a long day’s driving.

I love flying, but the great thing about driving is the stuff you manage to see and do along the way! Like driving through the drop-dead gorgeous Meiringspoort (Meiring’s Pass) on the way to Oudtshoorn.

From Oudtshoorn we drove on to Mossel Bay to have a quick lunch with my cousins Derek and Elsa …

And then it was onto Pringle Bay in the Western Cape.

Along the way we watched the landscape change from arid to progressively greener, and eventually into fynbos-covered mountain sides.

The sun was setting before we reached Pringle Bay, and it was spectacular!

Before the start of Celebration Number 1, we availed ourselves of a walk through the Harold Porter Botanic Gardens in Betty’s Bay.

Pringle Bay is a small, picturesque coastal village located along South Africa’s Cape Whale Coast, nestled between the Kogelberg Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Part of a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve, it is renowned for its unspoiled natural beauty, and it’s wildlife …

Pringle Bay is located along a spectacular coastline that includes Gordon’s Bay.

Celebration Number 2 was at a venue between Somerset West and Stellenbosch. A great group of friends from all over came together to celebrate Pieter and Izak’s 50th year together, and their 10th wedding anniversary.

We love the Cape Winelands and it was wonderful having a few hours to just explore the area. As always we ended up in Franschhoek, one of the most beautiful towns in the Cape.

Before starting the journey home to Kosmos, we spent a leisurely couple of hours in one of my all-time favourite places, Babylonstoren.

Founded in the 17th century, the estate retains the charm of early Cape Dutch architecture with thick white-washed walls, elegant gables and thatched or tile roofs. With spectacular gardens, vineyards, amazing restaurants and so much more, Babylonstoren stands as a shining example of what can be achieved when second best just isn’t an option. And what’s more, this very special place is staffed by local people, many of them young and learning on the job, all of them amazing.

Leaving the Winelands and starting our homeward journey, we drove through the Hex River Valley, where most of South Africa’s table grapes are grown. It’s an extraordinary site!

En route back to Hanover, we stopped off at Matjiesfontein. Founded in 1884 by Scottish railwayman, James Douglas Logan, the town became an important railway stop and a fashionable health retreat for well-to-do tuberculosis sufferers in the Victorian era.

This National Heritage town also offers a glimpse into South Africa’s wartime history, having served as a British base during the Anglo-Boer War.

Just as Matjiesfontein was significant in the Anglo-Boer War, so too was Bethulie, the first Free State town reached by the invading British forces in 1900. It was also the site of a concentration camp, where Boer women and children were interred during the war in shocking conditions.

On a happier note, Bethulie is also the birthplace of celebrated actor, Patrick Mynhardt , who was particularly well known for his performance of the works of Herman Charles Bosman. Mynhardt’s biography is titled, “The Boy from Bethulie”. Bethulie is also the home of dear friend, Serena! And we made a quick coffee stop on our way home.

From Bethulie we made our way back to Bloemfontein via Smithfield …

And then home to Kosmos!

3500km driven, priceless memories filed away.

Until next time, sala kahle!

Christmas decorations and special festive goodies have appeared in the shops, and we’ve just started the 9th month of our African adventure.

We marked the occasion with brekkie at one of our favourite local haunts, the always-fabulous “Silver Orange”.

This past month we’ve had a special house guest, we’ve hosted family lunches dinners, we’ve attended concerts, and (as you by now know) we received the remainder of our goods from Australia. It’s been quite a ride, folks!

One of the highlights of our South African stay so far was my sister’s visit. Lucy lives about four hours away in Newcastle, a steel town like all the others of that name around the world. This visit was all the more special because Lucy seldom travels, and very rarely for as long as the 10 days she spent with us.

Amongst other things, we visited the Hunters Rest hotel in Rustenburg. While there we did a little family sleuthing and visited the graves of my great-grandfather, George Wellington Rex, and my great-grandmother, Sarah, born Collins.

We also just hung out, doing silly stuff and sharing many laughs!

Music is a vital part of our lives. Here we don’t have the wide choice of live events we had in Melbourne, but in all fairness, I really don’t think any other place compares. When we do come across a live performance, we’re there with bells on!

This past month we went along to hear “Die Vyftigers” (“The Fiftyers”) perform their unique style of rather avant garde Afrikaans music. The group was brought into being by Neil Sandilands, an acclaimed international actor-turned-muso.

I interviewed Neil a couple of years ago while he was shooting “Sweetmouth 2” and we’ve remained in touch every since. It was wonderfully rowdy, and fab to finally meet Neil in the flesh!

On a completely different note, we had the privilege of attending a live recording of the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra at the SABC.

Remember those 86 cartons, etc that arrived on 15 October?

They’ve been unpacked and their contents are now proudly part of our household once more. I have a proper, fit-for-purpose kitchen again, we have our beloved glass and ceramics collections, and so much more. Time for an official housewarming methinks!

We’ve also had time to just enjoy this magical place, and its inhabitants …

Until next time, sala kahle!

More than eight months after it was collected from our Park Orchards home, the last of our goods arrived from Australia today!

It’s an auspicious day, but in so many ways, just another one.

We’ve settled into our South African life, and I’ve learned to make do with the kitchenware, crockery, cookware, etc I’ve had since moving into our Kosmos house. With just 12 plates, side plates and pasta bowls, eight knives, forks, spoons and teaspoons, eight small bowls, and random (emergency-acquired) cookware, I’ve cooked wonderful meals for friends and family. Yes, I’ve missed some of my good pieces and struggled when I didn’t have a can opener or cake cooling rack, but the sky didn’t fall, and the laughs weren’t any less heartfelt.

My Camilla cupboard was largely empty, but I can’t say I desperately missed any particular garment just because it wasn’t here.

This weekend we start unpacking all the treasures I’ve almost forgotten about. Much as I’ve made do, I have no doubt I’ll be delighted to finally have a fully-stocked and properly equipped Kosmos home. And, of course, there’s that Camilla cupboard …

Watch this space for updates!

I leave you with a gratuitous shot of Hartbeespoort Dam because this is my blog and I can.

Until next time – sala kahle …