Wow what a year. One in which our kids have fully transitioned from the shy, new-kid, “engelsmense” at the school, to confident, settled and speaking Afrikaans with astounding ease. A few weeks ago the family was in conversation & I drifted out briefly. I noticed Andrew switch into Afrikaans and immediately asked him to repeat, thinking (with my old mentality) that he was trying to tell me something he didn’t want the kids to understand.
Ha! He was actually talking directly to them!
I have become so accustomed to the Nature on Steroids all around us, that I didn’t even panic when a python was found coming in our front door last week (!!) and the summer onset of cicadas (5cm long, shaped & fueled like a fighter jet) was met with excitement by the dogs, but almost casual nonchalance by the rest of us.
This year I have taken on the challenge of organising the Hoedspruit Farmers Market, and what a learning curve that has been!
I LOVE a good market and we were regulars at the Karkloof Farmers Market in Howick. So while the monthly Hoedspruit Farmers Market brings a healthy dose of tension (ok sometimes wild anxiety over some unexpected wild-card thrown my way), it brings belly-laughs with my colleagues as we problem-solve the wildcard, great chats with the vendors who have become friends and the chance to shop the freshest local produce, exquisite hand-made products and delicious street-food.
Only if you have worked in events, can you know the craziness, the stress, the unpredictability. All of which a good friend pointed out to me is at complete odds with my personality…but I am always learning, finding new ways to manage the parts of myself that find it hard, and damn is it addictive! Nothing beats the satisfaction of pulling off a successful event!
Speaking of which, Kruger2Canyon Challenge 2024…What can I say.
With Andrew fully focused on WildSide Trails, K2C became fully “my baby” this year. Organising it from within the community is such a joy. Although the buck stopped with me, it felt like a community effort with people jumping in to help wherever a gap appeared. It makes all the difference to how the pressure feels as the organiser, but I am certain translates to the participants as well, who could sense that a whole community were For this event.
I am so grateful and can’t wait to see what we can do together going forward…2025 entrants – you are in for an absolute treat!!
Our move to the Lowveld was driven by Andrew’s career-shift from Trail Running Event Organiser, to Trails Guide. Many people must have thought “What a crazy risk”. I know I sure have!!
But what a joy to see him flourish in this new space where he has come home to himself. While his company has changed shape a lot in the last year, it has evolved so beautifully, the way it was meant to. Without being forced. Opportunities are coming his way and his trails are filling up with clients who really crave the unique experience he offers.
While I don’t get out into the bush as much as I would like, this crazy career of his has lead us all into amazing places and experiences. Maybe I should book myself a WildSide Trail??
A year of new challenges has passed, with another one on the horizon. Will we nail every one of them? Absolutely not! But we sure will learn along the way!