Thursday 9 June 2016

HDYGG - South Africa Our Second Home

Last week I posted photos of the first house we lived in, in South Africa, where we lived for 18 months. It was a much more glamorous house than this one, but in need of a lot of work, the large glass windows were starting to crack and the river flooded regular. The layout didn't really work for us as a family, so when this house became available, we decided to move. 
The garden was not as exciting but the pool was a big incentive and I really wish we had a pool now we are living in Dubai, with it being summer all year round.


The Braai area, sadly this wasn't covered like it was in our old house, and with summer in South Africa comes monsoon style rains.


We attracted some wonderful birds into the garden and had 2 green parrots nesting in the palm tree in the corner of the garden.

We did have a gardener in South Africa, but with the rain, we needed to mow the lawn at least twice a week. The boys earnt their pocket money this way.

Heavy rain would fill the pool and the storms would turn the water green, costing a small fortune and taking a week to turn the pool back to blue from green.

In our old house we could set the 8 sleeper tent up IN the lounge to dry it out, in this house we had to leave it set up for a few days to dry in-between storms.

The boys and the dog loved the pool and needed no excuse to go in there.

We entertained a lot in the 2nd house and held functions there.


I used to complain abut the heat in summer in South Africa, but wish I'd enjoyed it more, since moving to Dubai. However there was no air con in the house and the winter months the temps dropped to zero and below.

The grass was greener in South Africa than it is in Dubai but for different reasons. However, give me the choice and I'd move back there in a shot.

10 comments:

  1. what a lovely house ! and that pool does look very inviting

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    1. I'm longing now for our forever home, i'm fed up of moving and with it having to keep reinventing myself

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  2. I dream about having a pool again - it makes such a difference. In the US my kids would spend every spare moment playing in it when the sun was out

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  3. Loving this step back in time tour. Parrots in the garden would be amazing! Less so the monsoon rains though.
    I am going to Sierra Leone next weekend and bracing myself for the heat - stocking up on baggy linen trousers and sun cream!
    Thanks for joining in again lovely x

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    1. baggy trousers and loose fitting long sleeve tops, doesn't do much for the figure, but needs must

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  4. I can hear the wistful tone to your words. Oh to have a pool like that! #HDYGG

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    1. I'm back in SA in two weeks, but it's winter over there so no pool for me

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  5. I had never really thought what a house in S Africa would look like and this one looks almost European ... well until you see the parrots! #hdygg

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    Replies
    1. that's what we thought when we saw it, it felt more like a home than the first one

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