Our friends have left…We’ll miss them but life is good as always. We’re off in four days to Madagascar…

This morning at 5:00 am, Di and Peter left for the next chapter of their adventures in South Africa. After spending almost a month with us, it was strange for them to head out into the darkness so early, especially after becoming so accustomed to having them here. For the next week, they will experience a bush horseback-riding adventure, followed by a few weeks of motorcycle travel from Cape Town along the famous Garden Route. They are truly adventurous, and throughout their stay, we enjoyed hearing story after story about their exciting travels around the world.

It was such fun having them with us. They were the perfect houseguests, and there was never a moment when we felt we needed a break from one another. Instead, the weeks seemed to fly by, filled with dinners out, Quiz Nights, game drives, a Kruger bush braai, a bush brunch in Lionspruit, a birthday celebration, wildlife sightings, lots of conversation, and plenty of laughter. Now, suddenly, the house feels very quiet.

Of course, it won’t be long before we have another adventure of our own. On Sunday, we leave for Madagascar, a trip we’ve wanted to take for many years. The timing of this trip is also important, as we hope to return to South Africa a week later with a new 90-day visa stamp. Our fingers are crossed that everything goes smoothly. There is always a little uncertainty when dealing with visas and international travel. Still, we are excited about finally having the opportunity to visit Madagascar and see how it all unfolds.

This morning definitely feels different without Di and Peter here. But, as is always the case after houseguests leave, it doesn’t take long to slip back into our usual routine. We are already spending the morning prepping for dinner, watching for wildlife in the garden, and working away on various tasks on our laptops. After several busy weeks of cooking, entertaining, and going out, it feels good to settle back into our everyday life in the bush.

Tonight’s dinner will be especially easy. Tom will enjoy the leftovers from Monday night’s dinner, including delicious rare roast beef, roasted baby potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and a new salad I made this morning. I am going to add prawns to my salad, turning it into a refreshing seafood salad that sounds perfect to me. I have enough prawns to enjoy the same salad again tomorrow. At the same time, there will also be enough roast beef and the accompanying leftovers for Tom to have another dinner the following night.

After all the cooking I did while Di and Peter were here, I have to admit that I am looking forward to a few nights of leftovers. We have always enjoyed preparing enough food to last for more than one meal, and it works especially well for us now. It saves time, reduces waste, and gives me a little break from cooking every day. After a busy month, that sounds pretty good to me.

Last night’s final Quiz Night with Di and Peter was a lot of fun, although our team, General Electric, only placed fifth. Once again, the questions were tough, and plenty left us scratching our heads and wondering how anyone could know the answers. Nonetheless, the enjoyment was superb, and that is really what Quiz Night is all about. We laughed, talked, and had a wonderful last evening together.

Now, Di and Peter are on their way to their next adventure, and we are back to ours. The house may feel a little quieter today, but before we know it, Sunday will arrive, and we’ll be heading off to Madagascar.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 2, 2016: