EUPHORIA!

On Wednesday, deep asleep in the early morning post-daylight-savings-time darkness, I was startled awake by the phone. My first thought was, “Oh no, something’s happened to Dad.” Then, I realized that Dad’s gone—but for so long, I’d been expecting that call that it’s still programmed in me three years later.

Fortunately, this was good news. There was a sweet South African accent on the end of the line calling to say that the real estate agent, who’d just been round, is fully confident that she could sell the Emmarentia house quickly at the right price! I could hear the joy in Glen’s voice as he said, “She gets my price and I’m outta here!” EUPHORIA!! After two months of slogging awake in the cursed house, could it all be over so easily?! The news just gets better: it would pull Glen out of the debt that his divorce has left him saddled with, we don’t have to live in the house he shared with his ex and the BEST news was the agent recommended against doing the extensive repairs! She mentioned that any buyer will likely gut the house. I just hope she doesn’t show the house during one of the classic Joburg downpours. There’s no telling where the roof might spring a new leak!

Simone, the estate agent, explained that the mosque in our neighbourhood has made our area hot in a relatively slow market. Muslim families who want to settle in for the long term are anxious to buy in Emmarentia. Property values drop just a few streets further away as they are too far from the mosque. We have already seen the benefits of the Muslim influx in our little local shopping area: there’s a fantastic spice shop, a halal butcher as well as a great Turkish housewares store.

I was surprised at just how open Glen was to letting go of the house. He’ll miss his large high-ceiling office with French doors opening to the patio that overlooks the pool, but not much else. I kept saying that the house was too big for the two of us—it needs a family to fill it. Glen thought it was fine, but now that he’s been alone in it for nearly two weeks, he agrees. More importantly, Glen is very open to change. As he mentioned, selling this house coupled with applying for Canadian residency opens all sorts of possibilities for our future……

2010 has been a whirlwind thus far: we moved into the Emmarentia house in January, Glen was divorced in February, I returned to Canada in March and the house is now up for sale! I LOVE this pace!

Two Countries, Two Lives

It's 6 am in Toronto on Monday morning and I start my new production job today. The challenge: let's shoot 10 hours of television in 6 weeks. I've done it before. I'll do it again. What astonishes me, though, is how simple and easy the transition is from one corner of the planet to the other. I arrived home on Friday afternoon after flying for 20 hours, stopped to get a few groceries on my way home from the airport and-- wham!, there I was as back in Toronto as if I'd never left.Air travel still astounds me! I have always dreamed of travelling more slowly by taking a ship to cross the ocean-- spending seven days instead of seven hours to travel from North America to Europe. I have wanted to really feel the distance, to see nothing but the vast ocean for days, to do nothing but read and think of our predecessors who took a month or longetr to make the same journey.

I am so acutely aware of my two lives: Joburg is happily focused around my relationship with Glen. We do most things together from the most mundane chores and errands to the really fun stuff like travel, movies and theatre. Here in Toronto, my social life is abuzz. I have been home one weekend and have already been out for dinner twice with friends and to a beautiful and moving French film about the plight of illegal immigrants in that country entitled, Welcome. Next weekend is already booked-- a housewarming and Sunday brunch. I feel totally comfortable with both lives and both worlds. I am not sure I am able or even want to choose one over the other. Yet, I want and need BOTH-- Glen is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with yet I need the charm wit quirks and liveliness of my dear friends. Eish! Have I just seen my bi-country future?

We do things three times in Africa

Yesterday, the kitchen was painted for the third time and finally, it's been done right. Yet another technician arrived today to fix the lock on the security gate. The count on that on is at least 3 x 3! Full of bravado, he is sure he is the expert who can sort it out. I can overlook the ego if he can just get the damned thing to lock!

I have three workers here today-- the housecleaner, the gardener, and the painter. That also means making sure that there's food here to feed everyone-- I rely heavily on frozen meatpies, lots of bread, tea and Coke-- the workers foods of choice. Although I LOVE always having a clean bathroom and neatly ironed clothes, I do find it mildly uncomfortable when everyone is working here. What am I supposed to be doing? I'm no good at being a lady of leisure. It's a strange situation for a Canadian! Completing my part (as Sponsor) of Glen's Canadian immigration application has kept me busy until now. It taken an inordinate amount of time and that is nearly done but I can't face even looking at it today. However, it will be fantastic to get that process started!

I leave for Canada in three days and that is weighing heavily. I like to just be alone and let it all sink in but instead as soon as the Master Gate Fixer has completed his work, I will likely head out and do three errands in my little car that has been to the mechanic three times!