It’s been too long since we’ve updated this blog! Since the last blog entry we’ve had an interesting time reorganising our lives here in India with Kara and making the new house our home.

Our staff and Alexandra

Theo already wrote about Alexandra, our first au pair, in the previous entry. Well, our staff liked this blonde, attractive girl who moved into the house. Especially Raju. He constantly tried to feed her, telling her that she was too skinny and that picking up weight would mean that she had lived the good life in India. He thought nothing of entering her room unannounced for chats and once even thought it appropriate to stand outside and knock on her bedroom window (which was on the top floor of the double-storied house) with a broomstick. Suffice to say she became very quickly very annoyed with him.

Then Alexandra got a bad flu, and Nurse Raju stepped in. Every hour he would take her “Afrika tea” (Rooibos tea, which I brought from SA) and try and force her to eat something. On the third day, he decided it was time for the steam treatment. He took a pot of steaming water, a strong menthol balm and a towel up to her room and forced her head over the pot with the towel over her head. Not used to this flu treatment, Alexandra was convinced he was trying to finish her off. “Raju, I can’t breathe!” she would say to him. And Raju would just keep her head down, shouting, “Breathe, Madam!! Madam, I don’t hear you! Breathe!” And then Alexandra would try again to escape, shouting back, “But I AM breathing!”

It was probably a combination of shock and steam, but Alexandra recovered rather quickly after that night.

Family visit & trip to Bangalore

Theo’s parents and his brother, Hein, visited us in India.

Kara & her grandfather


They went to see a Champions League Twenty20 match that was played in Hyderabad.

At the end of October all of us (including Alexandra) set off to Bangalore to explore India. We stayed at the beautiful Taj West End. Kara, Theo and I stayed behind in Bangalore, while the others visited the wonders of Mysore. This was Kara’s first Indian expedition outside Hyderabad and she was an absolute angel. We think she really enjoyed the getaway.

Kara’s christening

When we arrived in SA in December, we only had one day to prepare for Kara’s christening, which included her first hair cut! We also had to fit and adjust her clothes for the christening and the tea afterwards. First worn by my grandfather and, among others, also my father, Kara’s christening dress was exactly 100 years old with a proud history. She looked adorable.

Christmas in SA

In December we spent most of our time between Bellville and Durbanville and for Christmas we went to Jongensfontein. Kara had a blast on the beach.

She also enjoyed taking long walks with us to explore Jongensfontein.

We visited Willie, Corlia and Tiaan (a month older than Kara) in Stilbaai and Kara had her first playdate. It looked as if they both enjoyed playing together.

Kara also enjoyed her first Christmas and had a great time opening all her presents!

Back in India

Alexandra went back to America on the same day we went to SA for the December holidays. Her stay with us was over and she was going to resume her studies. Our flight was early that morning and hers that evening.The arrangement was that she would leave the front door key (of which we had only one) in the car and that we would get it there once we return to India.

On our return to India we found that our front door key was not in the car, but in America with Alexandra … We went through the whole of January without a front door key, leaving the door open with only the dogs to protect the house when we went out, and using the back door when we went away for the weekend as we waited in vain for the key to arrive from America. We never realised how a front door key (or the absence thereof) can affect your life! Yesterday we finally gave up and changed the lock – but not just any lock … here in Whisper Valley they use special locks with special keys which cost special amounts of rupees! Anyway, our lives are much more convenient again.

In January we took a quick trip to Delhi to visit Gerhard and Jolene Joubert. The trip back was already Kara’s tenth in an aircraft (and she was not even 9 months old at the time.) Is this a good thing? Hopefully it kindles a spirit of adventure in our little girl.

Two days ago our new au pair arrived. She is Afrikaans and her name is Shaneen. It looks as if Kara has accepted her into the family, although a little separation anxiety has kicked in, causing our little one to favour her mommy at this stage. However, I am grateful that Shaneen is here to help with the little bundle of energy.

We are really enjoying our little girl now. She has started to wave at Raju – to his absolute delight. She is also crawling through the whole house and regards nothing as off limits. She is standing up against cupboards and yesterday started climbing stairs. All of us are getting plenty of exercise, running after the little missy to make sure she doesn’t chew on wires, suck on the floor cloth, slam her fingers in drawers or eat the carpets. At this stage everything is going into her mouth, which boasts an impressive set of six teeth now. She is also starting to say little words after me and then looks very pleased with my delight.

I’ve started taking small trips with Kara to the grocery store and one of the quieter malls and she seems to enjoy it, as long as we keep it short. We also take a stroll around Whisper Valley everyday and she loves being outside. She adores the dogs. Whenever she sees them, she lets out a loud, low-pitched “Whooooo!” and launches for them. Then you just see dogs fly. The dog children seem to be a little weary of this little creature, as she likes greeting them by grabbing them by the upper lip. “Gentle” or “saggies vat” doesn’t make an impression on her at this stage.