An afternoon driving down memory lane...

jaynie (74)in WORLD OF XPILAR • 22 days ago

As much as I love my tech as well as what I get to do “in front of it” with writing, creating etc… sometimes, you just need to take a breather and get out into the fresh air. Today was one of those days so we hopped into the car and took about a 15 minute drive from where we live to the most gorgeous little town called OnrusRivier. It is the most beautifully quaint little seaside village, holds so much childhood nostalgia for me.

An interesting name, yes… The word "Onrus" actually means unrest and is a reference to the wild surf against the rocks along the coastline of the town. The word "rivier" being rather self-explanatory and translating into "river". I have been visiting this lovely little place since I was about six years old when my dad built one of his first properties which also became our first "holiday house". We would go there pretty much every year for the December holidays as well as other long weekends and holidays throughout the year.

The place is a lot more developed now than it was 35 years ago lol, but it still has the most amazing charm about it. I can remember that pretty much nothing which is there now was there back then. On the block, we were literally the only house. I actually asked my dad today about the building of the house, because by comparison to the last house he built it differs greatly in style and well, professionalism haha!

The old house being a timber house - perhaps he was going for the "holiday house feel" and then the last house being a bit of a mixed texture approach - with face brick, plaster and timber. Way back then there was no wall around the house, it was just on open ground - and without looking like some kind of stalker, I tried to get a pic of it... but you really cannot see much.

The first pic being his first design and build (and holiday house I am referring to) and the second being the house in which he currently resides, his last build. Quite a contrast really, but I suppose all of us grow over the years in our creative talents lol. My dad always wanted to be an architect, but his parents could not afford to send him to college for that, so it became his hobby eventually.

It was super to take a little drive down memory lane! I was so young back then, and despite the fact that it was actually a really difficult time in all of our lives - because my mom and dad had recently gotten divorced, he did whatever he could to detract from that and bring happier days into our immediate sphere. For those of you that do not know, I am the youngest of four and the only girl... so whilst I was pretty young for most of the holidays spent in Onrus, my brothers weren't. I can remember all their parties and camp outs in the back garden and totally wild New Years eve parties on the beach. Those days were where I developed my love for UB40 as a band.

This post would also be completely incomplete if I did not share the "gnome house". Other than the fact that they have put a small hedge around their house and there are probably a few LESS gnomes than there were 30 odd years ago, pretty much NOTHING else has changed! No doubt the hedge was grown because people began to steal the gnomes. Its like so SUPER kitsch, lol - but I am sure this house must be famous on google by now lol - or perhaps not... Onrus is a bit of a secret gem really.

Once the tummies were full, we headed down to the beach. Onrus beach is particularly awesome because it is a pretty small beach as far as beaches in South Africa go, but it has not only ocean, but lagoon too... and the mouth is right at the entrance. It is SUCH a super beach for families because the lagoon is milder for the little ones and the ocean side is great for the surfers, bodyboarders, or as I like to refer... the lamp posts and the shark biscuits haha!