One thing was very noticeable - it was freezing. Mid September in South Africa is usually well into Spring. Not here! At about 1600m above sea level, the winters are long, very cold and frost is a regular visitor until mid October. Many a farmer in the area has been caught out by a sudden post-shearing cold snap, leading to many deaths of sheep and goats. Suprisingly lambs born in such weather are not seriously affected by such cold, unless it is accompanied by strong wind and/or rain.
We had an appointment with the owner of the farm for sale the following day, so that afternoon we settled in did the usual 'tourist' thing. We had lengthy discussions with the cousins about the relative merits of property for sale. By all accounts it was a prime farm, well maintained, well watered and had great potential.
It was an interesting proposition from my point of view, both as a 'safe haven' for the Zim family, as well as a 'lifestyle asset' for myself. The prospect of having a second home did not, and still does not, appeal. Forays into rental properties have proved that a holiday home is a fun idea, and a nightmare reality.
This was hopefully different - a lifestyle asset that could be a real business proposition. More importantly, the realisation that Zimbabwe would never again, in the forseeable future, be a viable country meant that the necessity of the family leaving Zimbabwe, might also be an interesting and lucrative thing to do.
We had an appointment with the owner of the farm for sale the following day, so that afternoon we settled in did the usual 'tourist' thing. We had lengthy discussions with the cousins about the relative merits of property for sale. By all accounts it was a prime farm, well maintained, well watered and had great potential.
It was an interesting proposition from my point of view, both as a 'safe haven' for the Zim family, as well as a 'lifestyle asset' for myself. The prospect of having a second home did not, and still does not, appeal. Forays into rental properties have proved that a holiday home is a fun idea, and a nightmare reality.
This was hopefully different - a lifestyle asset that could be a real business proposition. More importantly, the realisation that Zimbabwe would never again, in the forseeable future, be a viable country meant that the necessity of the family leaving Zimbabwe, might also be an interesting and lucrative thing to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment