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January 05 2010 - A New Beginning
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Once again my apologies for the lateness of this blog, but SO MUCH has happened since last I wrote. My biggest news is that I no longer live at the sanctuary; I've moved into a house immediately behind the VMF from which I can still see the monkeys and have contact with them.
Why did I move? I realise that every major decision (and indeed, minor) in my life has been made from a romantic point of view; practicality never entered into it. And so it was with choosing to live in the bush, in a wooden shed, without gas, electricity, running water or sanitation. And in a climate to which I am totally unsuited. All I saw was candle light, warmth, and the adventure of living in the bush. I also forgot to take into account that I'm well into my seventh decade and perhaps not as equipped physically to handle the primitiveness of my existence as I would have been several decades ago. However, practicality finally reared its head forcing me to take stock of my situation. Could I handle another summer of 40 degree heat without at the very least, an electric fan? No, I couldn't. To find no respite from such fierce heat eventually leads to insanity - or certainly mine - so electricity became essential.
My sanitation habits which had certainly been rustic to say the least, also needed an overhaul. As I am a five minute walk from the nearest eco loo, the prospect of coping with a bout of diarrhoea and/or vomiting at 3am in the bush filled me with more that mild apprehension. It is possible of course, this I know from experience, but it involves copious amounts of baby wipes and hand sanitizer and takes an interminably long time; and the prospect of a flushing lavatory on the premises danced seductively before my eyes. Facts had to be faced, reality addressed; it was time to get myself a few basic mod cons if I wished to survive another summer en Afrique....
And so I moved, with a friend - Ev - into the house behind the VMF. It's a very nice house, with spectacular views of the mountains behind which the sun sets every evening, but I so miss living in my cottage in the bush. So I must focus on the advantages: hot and cold running water, being able to make a cup of tea without a ten minute walk to the house first, a wonderful veranda upon which I spend most of my time, and a FAN which whirls constantly above my head whenever I'm in my bedroom.
I also had to leave because of my habit of adopting any stray dog that appears at my door; well they don't even have to be strays, just mutts looking for a better deal than their existing one. Such a dog was Rusty - a Jack Russell - who appeared at mine one day, and continued to appear quite frequently. Dave didn't want any more dogs at the sanctuary and when he spotted Rusty he told him to fuck off in Afrikaans in no uncertain terms. Rusty kept appearing, I couldn't refuse him entry and Dave was adamant in his refusal to allow him to stay. I had two choices: to take him to the pound or move. I was incapable of doing the former, so I knew that if I wanted to save Rusty I had to leave the sanctuary. We had become so bonded by this time that he refused to leave me, and so I left, taking Candy, Snooze, Lux and Rusty with me. So I now have 4 dogs,,, Rusty turned out to belong to our neighbours, the ones Ev and I are renting our house from. He was well loved and treated, but he was an outdoor dog, who very much wanted to be an indoor one, so he was given to me and now lives the life of Riley, to which he has taken like a duck to water! He's only a baby - about eighteen months old - great fun, highly intelligent which I understand is the case with Jack Russells and sleeps like a baby curled up next to me at night in bed.
So, what do I do now? Well, the Lord doth work in extremely mysterious ways. I want to make money for the monkeys; they are still my focus, and I can help them far more away from them than with them. By this I mean, that because of my advanced years, as far as the monkeys are concerned I'm about as much use as a chocolate fire-guard in a practical, physical sense. That requires youth, strength and energy in abundance and those qualities I sorely lack! But as well as youth, the sanctuary needs money. If I had never met Rusty I would doubtless still be there despite the primitive conditions, and it would never have occurred to me that I may be able to help in a financial way. But I had a 'eureka!' moment the result of which is that I leave for Cape Town next month to check out the comedy club circuit: I want to do 'stand-up' and have for a long time, but could never quite get a handle on how to approach it. Now, I believe I have, so Cape Town Here I come! What fun! I shall keep you informed!
May I wish you all a joyful New Year from me and mine. x
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