a place of peace and history,
by..........

Well dear diary........(nearly time for THAT
birthday again!) Having started to really settle in......so to speak, into
the community and the village in general. We have now started to explore
the surrounding villages. This is of course, a two-fold exercise as to
"feel" as well as note the historical buildings and stories that
go with them.
Our trek this past weekend, was to the village
of Salem. Having passed through it on one or two occasions, we decided
that a good "nosy round" was the order of the day. Setting off
last Sunday, mit three Yorkies, his Lordship, Cynthia and Ted, (they of
the noble occupation of ....horticulturist, teacher, genealogist AND anthropologist!......err........retired).........is
enough to give one an inferiority complex at best!....(we met, some
30 years ago, flower children? yeah I guess).....and suitably laden
with comestibles, crystal glasses etc.......(all the necessary items that
the landed gentry need for a picnic?) we sallied forth.
Ah the countryside! so gloriously "dressed"
in a cloth of autumn grasses, Indigo
Blue Plumbago.....(an
in indigenous shrub to the Eastern Cape)..........vibrant Orange
Tecoma and twinkling Yellow "Canary "creeper.........magnificent
Orange and Yellow Gazanias.. and Purple
Lantana........... creeping along the verges at the side of the road.
Such a "happy" sight .........which makes one feel so close to
the land............. Oy! and the breathtaking Aloes? their huge Orangey/Red
flowers, like giant Candelabra...........nu? we arrived.
The village of Salem, was an important site.......
the 1820 settlers that landed here from England, Scotland and wherever.......and
set up "shop" so to speak. They built the village in the true
English way, with churches, school, cemetery, forge, trading store, community
hall, tennis pavilion and jail! Bakery, and cottages. Time has stood still
there.........the wonderful White buildings, surrounded by hand-hewn-stone
walls, are almost untouched. The village green, is now a cricket pitch,
but the setting? in a tiny valley, surrounded by hills ablaze with flowers
takes ones breath away!
We set off to explore, first having investigated
all the old graves...........oy! they lived to such a ripe old age! Graves
stones showing families having passed on at ages varying from .......the
youngest at 81.......to 99!!!!!!!!! the graves became, once again, the
source of animated discussion..........as with the discovery of all these
beautiful, historical cemeteries, I cannot decide where I would like to
rest......(when finally I have the chance)!
Ted and Cyn., were a RIOT! at these aged grave
sites, reading all the 'stones' and finding believe it or not, actual family
of Ted's.......not that he knew them of course......but Cynthia has been
'doing' the family tree for years, and has done hours and pages of research
into the "Septhton" branch of family.....Ted's grandfather was
one of the original settlers who discovered Salem in the eighteen hundreds.
The church was unlocked, so we helped ourselves
to a booklet, and left a donation.........(such glorious stained glass
windows)......his Lordship remarked that God was smiling when he saw a
Jewish ageing lioness in the Methodist church.............. dunno why?....after
all, I usually hum Amazing Grace, when confronted by divinity..........and
the Yorkies were intrigued by the interior of the church.........a first
for them............oh! did I tell you they met a tortoise??? This really
puzzled them, a moving smelly animal that wouldn't run away when barked
at? "Louie" peed on it. One feels as one ages, that pets opinions
are important........don't you think? "Bambolina" regarded this
"thing" with an air of disdain. She much preferred the friendly
horse that she met up with later in the day.
Walking around the village green, we spied some
cottages, and at the first, we made life- long-friends with the German
lady who lives there. Coffee, was the "ice-breaker" and comfortably
ensconced in her garden, we offered to share our lunch with her........later,
beers and wine........delicious repast of cold chicken, salads and fruit....all
consumed, having invited her to live with us all.......we wandered down
to the next cottage.
This turned out to be a veritable "find"!................huge
"Croft type" house, ancient trees, the original "forge"
set in the garden, unbelievable trees and wild flowers, the owners discovered
us setting out our tea and cake.....on a patchwork blanket..........err.......in
their garden. Quick introductions all round, Cynthia impressing them with
her knowledge, and I guess our irresistible friendliness...........? they
joined us. His Lordship found a "kindred spirit" in John, and
they talked for hours about woodwork etc. His wife Penny, was fountain
of local lore, and only at the darkening of the day, did we realise that
it was time to bid farewell to our new found friends.
Sadly we packed up and left.........I always
wonder if one can "encapsulate" these unexpected wonderful days?
Such a treasure-trove of memories? Such unexpected "finds" of
wonderful, interesting people?....................ahh.
Driving home found us pensive.....I love this
time of the day, when the sun is almost down and the colours soft and serene.
The river intensifies everything, making it more beautiful, heightened
somehow. In the quiet of the dusk you can hear the birds, their last plaintive
cries echoing over the river, insects droning, and the slap of the water
as the boats cruise by. It is the time of the day when you pay attention
to beauty. I let my hand hang out of the window in the wind rush. Or was
I trying to hold onto it all? I am going back, afterall, we haven't investigated
the rest of the cottages.........or their owners.
IN MEMORY OF DARLING TED GIDDY. WHO DIED
TRAGICALLY MAY 1998.
REST IN PEACE DARLING.
As I add this to the page,
we are waiting to hear if Cynthia, will be with us shortly
she is in intensive care
......her 4 daughters and all her friends are here, waiting.
PLEASE Cynthia!!! we
were the best "misfits ever"........TRY DAMIT!
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