Braaing in the rain is an experience not to be easily forgotten. It was a bit unseasonably cold for mid July but also am starting to believe that its not really going to ever be hot here so a warm drizzle while braaing was fine. These Zimbos that we braaied with last night are good people it seems and determined to hang onto their traditions. I respect people like that, they escaped Zim, with not much, at its worst time - 3 years ago - arrived with almost nothing but are establishing themselves bit by bit.
Also met a bunch of people as different from each other as I think possible. One, a local farmer and his wife and kids, farming on land that has been in the family for generations, beef and potatoes I think - all sold to McDonald's he tells us. A bit quirky and quintessentially English but a good bloke, another a tattooed covered truck driver who looks as hard as nails, also with his wife. What a genuinely nice guy, There may well be a back story there but he chooses to be part of the countryside and is very into Falconry - having his own red tail American buzzard (I might be wrong about the name of this bird thing but I think that's what he said) that he uses to hunt for rabbit and hares and when its finished it comes back to sit on his arm, with its meter and a bit wingspan. Can't wait to see it!
Then the lecturer couple who live behind the pub across the road from me, who have to fold their car's wing mirrors in to get through the arch to their house - the arch was originally built for carriages you see. They look a bit studenty and all new world but also good people wanting the best for their kids and future I suppose.
And Rory the Zambian (who years ago won a green card in a US green card lottery) who went o school in Pietermaritzburg and who works on 200 ton luxury yacht in the Caribbean but is now in the UK as he injured his back and is waiting for an a NHS op.
And I did this without even a drop of the golden liquid touching my lips. I managed to hold intelligent and sparkling conversation with strangers in a stone cold sober state. It was tough but I handled the copious stress way better than I handled the booze of the night before. I must truly be getting old or at least soft in my old age!! I really couldn't do it again. Honest.
T minus 4. Staff training today. Think we may be a bit different to this lot over here, certainly more madder than they are but that could just be because we have spent 20 odd years selling beer and burgers. I suspect that the entire village will know this afternoon everything about us too. And what they don't know they will make up anyway. Our staff seem a decent bunch, hopefully they turn up!
Car park is level, the crusher is down and been compressed. The tar people come on Monday to make a noise and put the black stuff down. And then its done and we shall be ready to open. Can't wait now!
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