Straight paths and smooth rides are few and far between in life’s journey. There’s always an unexpected curve ball, a pot hole in the road, or a thunderstorm ahead. I guess life would be pretty boring if it was all smooth sailing!
As we entered into the second half of 2018, certain dynamics which dictated our sense of stability and guided our financial projections for the next phase of building spun hopelessly out of control. You can make all the numbers fit on a spreadsheet, but there are three dynamics over which you have absolutely no control: politics, economics and climate. If just one of these forces changes direction away from its original course, even the most carefully laid out plans can topple like a deck of cards.
Chaos on the construction site. Hard to recognize Pamarah’s elegant reception area in the early phase!
Two of these three powerful dynamics changed direction in August of 2018. Our carefully planned financial strategy, forecast and budget required major readjusting and some seriously big decisions had to be made under time pressure – we had little choice. Phase 2 of our building plans had to be brought forward immediately, otherwise we stood to lose a lot of capital investment. This required urgent planning approval for 2 new buildings; one for the proposed staff cottage (or our place of refuge if we became homeless!) and the other for the solo traveler’s cottage, each directly opposite one another on either side of the main building.
We also needed a concession to build within two meters of the municipal boundary line restriction. The staff cottage application was approved, the solo traveler’s one was rejected. Dealing with all the red tape was exhausting and demoralizing, but we soldiered on, purchasing as many building materials as we could before our capital lost all its value.
11 November is Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day owing to the tradition of wearing a remembrance poppy), a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states around the world since the end of the First World War to honor armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. It is a poignant day of remembrance for our family as my grandfather fought in the First World War. Walking through the Victoria Falls Rainforest in November, you will see dozens of red fire ball lilies scattered throughout the forest floor, our own African version of the remembrance poppy.
Remembrance “poppies” in the Victoria Falls Rainforest
Once again during times of crisis we turned to our extended family for strength and encouragement. We were blessed with some precious family reunions in Victoria Falls. The kids came home for some welcome African sun, and we in turn sought reprieve from the heat in cooler climes and snow in the UK!
Pondering and celebrating the beauty of the Zambezi River in the Zambezi National Park
The fascination with snow never diminishes for Zimbabweans!
Topped up with love, determination and grit, we were as prepared as we could be to face the turbulent weeks and months ahead in 2019.
