Eight years ago, I worked for a payroll software company. Instead of having a ‘Christmas party’ at the end of the year, our boss decided to instead have an ‘extended weekend away’. Our boss paid for us, but we had to contribute for partners and children – which was entirely fair. (and we had to supply our own alcohol – the really funny part was that a whole trailer – similar to the one in the picture – was used for this purpose! – and there were only 11 of us adults on the trip!)
Photo credit : gccaravans.co.za
We stayed on a large farm – 9 of us in the main house, and the rest in a smaller second house on the property. A swimming pool and entertainment area separated the two houses. We had the run of the lot.
The place we stayed at is called ‘Thomas River‘. It was a time of lots of walking/hiking, riding horses for those who rode, visiting neighbouring farmers who opened their homes for us to have drinks on their patios, or just to appreciat the beauty of their lands.
Early evenings were spent at the pool table, competing against each other. Later in the evening, we’d all sit around the fireplace with our wine, and just wind down.
No cellphone signal. No television. It’s still hard to believe that we were only there for three nights and four days – we packed so much fun into our time there, it was amazing.
My favourite was the morning we spent in the historical village. I am not a person who is particularly fond of history – but this place? It had an eeriness to it, almost deserted – so rich in history that I couldn’t help but be taken in by it all!
My reason for telling you this is that I found some old photo’s that I took of our time there. So I thought I’d share them 😉
The last one is a picture of me (my hair was dyed with a red tint those days) – it’s one of my favourite photo’s of me. We’d hiked to the neighbouring farm, where the children were given a chance to ride a pony. Everyone was sitting on the big porch and stone steps, sipping on Gin and Tonic’s. I don’t like gin, so I declined the offer. I propped myself up on the stone wall, and still took part in their conversations. I can even remember now how very relaxed and happy I was that day 😉 (despite not sharing in Gin time 😛 )
Enjoy the photo’s, (photo credits all me, but can’t remember who took the one of me) and stay well, my friends.
nopassingfancy 
Great post 😁
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Really good to see you can focus on something other than the current situation. These sort of days will return.
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Hi Meg,
Thank you so much for sharing the nature in your area and it looks so idyllic especially in these most difficult of days.
My 1st wife and mother of my 2 now grown up daughters Zoe 35 and Zara 34 in July once suggested we went on a canal barge trip of the Norfolk Broads, a beautiful landscape and very flat the only problem for me was that we did not have cellphone coverage, nowadays I think that we have too much and sometimes I wish that we could just have time for ourselves.
I hope and pray that once more you and your family will remain safe and well. xx
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