The Joys (?) of Living in the Bush

Having arrived back from the sophistication of having electricity, running water and an adsl line in the Swiss apartment it's a bit of a rude shock to come home to "snakeville", about 30 minutes from the metropolis of Rustenburg (other name: Thicksburg). Utopia (or Dystopia as us permanent residents call it) is undergoing massive changes and yet, in the past 15 years, nothing changes! Today is my wash day - washing is done at the main buildings on Dystopia where there is Eskom power (sometimes) and running water (sometimes). But last week the pump which sends the water from the Sterkstroom river to the reservoirs on the hill, broke, couldn't be fixed and, of course, Dystopia's spare pump was also broken!! We have a new manager - the last 10 have been fired for drinking on duty, abusing the black staff, and being total wankers (pardon me). This poor chap, Andries Pretorius, (yes, I know, but give the poor guy a break!) has only been here for 3 weeks and in his short time the road across the dam has almost collapsed, a chalet burnt down while he stood and watched (unable to believe his eyes that it happens so fast) and now no water in the reservoirs. The weekend was a busy one too with lots of people coming out to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of our little bit of heaven! Anyway he managed to talk the Board into buying a new pump and it was installed yesterday and pumped all night but when I came to the laundry this am there was still no water! I had a 20 litre and a 5 litre container so slogged back and forth to the nearest working tap (being Dystopia there is no logic in why some parts of the property have water and some parts don't) filling them and pouring it into the machines. It took me 3 hours to get 2 loads done by which time Andries had discovered a little known (to him) valve that allowed the water to flow to the laundry. He turned it on and lo there was water, although it looked more like chocolate malt for the first 15 minutes. Luckily with the white wash safely on the line and only darks and khakis in the machines it doesn't really matter.
Weekly wash is now done and I have clean (if a nasty shade of khaki) knickers to wear again! That's what makes it so nice to travel overseas once or twice a year - things which are almost insurmountable here are so easy there!
Our other problem is our solar power - it worked perfectly before we left and now is as temperamental as a prima ballerina. We are watching the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin on DVD in the evenings as our telly was stolen in July and we haven't yet replaced it. We can only watch for an hour before the Computer loses power and our solar system seems to battle to recharge. So each morning I schlep the computers to the main buildings and plug them all in for a charge. Meanwhile OAP is manfully trying to sort out the problem.
Eldest Daughter and Favourite Grandson are travelling with me to Switzerland for a spot of snow and Paris for a spot of Disney in February. We are all so excited and in this tremendous heat I can think of nothing better than snow. When I am there I can't wait to get back to the heat! Must be my age - there is no pleasing me!