Where Wild Roses Grow

 It is quiet, but not the bad quiet that scares one but that comfortable silence in which you can hear the chirping of birds, bees buzzing in the lavenders and in the distance, the sound of people.  Life here at the River Cottage is slow, but good.  We spend time just being.  Waking up in the mornings, help the kids off to school and since it’s freezing outside – and still almost dark, we mostly jump back in bed for an early morning snooze.  Once the friendly rays enters the room in the colours of the happy door’s stain glass panels we get up, have breakfast and go for a walk by the river. 

John and Marie-Louise are the greatest hosts, almost fay-like in their ability to be away when one needs to be alone and present just when one needs company.  John is an Italian Kenyan – one of those blond, blue eyed Africans with the wide openness of Africa, visible not only in their eyes, but also in their hearts and minds.  Marie-Louise grew up as a citizen of the world with a wine exporter as a father.  She did her law degree in France and after many winding roads ended up here in Hopefield with John– creating beauty. 

This is actually true of everyone here, while we were in this storm of uncertainty and fear I had the feeling that everyone here in Hopefield were standing with wide open arms, houses and hearts, ready to welcome us back.   Eugenie offered to move out of her house (she rents the house from us) so we can move back in there!  

The darling dear Merry Widowers said it goes without saying that we can stay there for as long as we need.  John and Marie-Louis have only recently decided to make part of the River Cottage available as an overflow for the Merry Widow and Tinus decided that this would be the perfect place for us to rest and regroup.  I could see the combined effort everyone put in to make the place beautiful and comfortable and it makes me feel so loved and cared for.  The Antoni’s (John and Marie-Louise) market the space as an artist’s retreat, and it is absolutely perfect for that purpose.  The peace and quiet one finds here is the perfect space to heal and grow.

Marie-Louise’s company – ‘Wild Roses Grow’ supply interior design and décor items in natural fabrics to various clients throughout South Africa.  She has only recently decided to open a small shop at the River Cottage, called ‘The Trading Post.’  Her opening will coincide with the Hopefield Flower festival – only two weeks away!  They are working very hard to get everything picture perfect for the great day.  

In the mean time Tinus is so much better that I can see my dear husband chafing at the bit to get back to work.  He spends most of his day emailing and getting himself up to speed with the new job lying ahead for him.  He will be leaving for Dubai as soon as his visa has been arranged and the kids and I will follow on the 26^th.  I am so sad to think that we have only two weeks left here.  On the other hand it would be great to get settled and have a home of our own.  I love travelling, the in between bits, on the train or the plane or in a car on a road to somewhere or nowhere, where you can do nothing immediately but be where you are right at that minute.  But we have been in between for almost two months now; it is time to reach the destination.