Blazing saddles

And we’re back! It’s already half way through the first month of this new year, 2026. We hope that you were able to take some time off, maybe away, over the December/January period. Hopefully you were able to disconnect from the busyness of life, rest, recover and re-enter the “real” world rejuvenated and ready for another year of life.

We usually spend the time at home in Linden. While many of the residents pack up for the sea, bush or other breakaway, we bask in the quiet and slow flow of summer days. Not this time. This December we spent a week in the Drakensberg. We stayed at a family run hotel tucked into the northern berg called The Cavern.

In the days running up to our departure the weather was grey and wet. It rained and rained and rained some more. It’s not that we don’t like rain, we have lived through many droughts and are grateful for the life-giving heavenly liquid. We just also like the sun. We like the warmth it brings and there was not a great deal of that.

“It’s not like we are living in the UK,” complained Chantal, “We live in Johannesburg, which has the best weather in the country. Except now it doesn’t. Where is the sun?”

“Exactly, where is the sun?” replied Matthew, “It’s cold. Where is our summer?”

“If the weather is the same at The Cavern, then when we get back I’ll look for a place with sun and we will go there,” said Chantal.

Luckily we didn’t have to. The weather was great. There was sun and warmth in the morning. Enough to go for walks and spend some time in the pool. The rain showers visited in the afternoon and evening to cool things down.

Ate too much, laughed more

We ate too much, and laughed more. We had Leah as our daily entertainment as she clamored and climbed, swam with her dad until their skin wrinkled, and discovered all kinds of new tastes and treats at meal times.

We watched as she sat unperturbed on a horse that was slowly walked around the expansive gardens. The stirrups were pulled up to the saddle and still not quite short enough for her. The black riding helmet wobbled on her head, dwarfing her face as she held on to the reins as if this was something she did every day.

The guided walks tested our fitness levels. We walk quite a bit but Linden is not exactly hilly. Walking up the mountains, no matter how slowly quickly got our heart pumping and our breath rattling.

Matthew, on a lone stroll in brand new walking shoes, slipped on unstable rocks in a small stream. He landed heavily on his back, hitting his head. His glasses went flying into the stream. He splashed and stumbled through the water, dazed and confused in an attempt to retrieve them. They were long gone, never to be seen again.

He managed to find his way down to the hotel bruised, dripping and squinting. Chantal’s mom offered to lend him her readers, which he gratefully accepted. He got little comfort from Chantal.

“You could have been knocked out, fallen face down into the water and drowned,” she said dramatically.

The rest of the week passed by without incident. We were able to laugh about it later, even though bruises still stung.

Determined to stretch out the holiday feel

We had such a wonderful week with family in the berg that we were determined to stretch out that holiday feel when we returned home. Both of us caught a summer cold on our return so we were forced to continue to take it easy. And we did.

We rose slow in the morning to birdsong and sunshine. Yes, the weather had turned and the summer had made an appearance at last. We completed two puzzles, read several books, listened to podcasts, played Rummikub to a setting sun and watched easy movies that did not require too much brain power. And we never went into the office.

That’s the challenge when you work from home, the office is too close, the computers too easy to turn on. However, this time we were disciplined. The laptop stayed closed, the Google docs filed until the middle of the first week of January. We still avoided doing anything major for most of that week, sliding in slowly by clearing emails and checking accounts.

New years resolutions?

As December drew to an end we were momentarily enticed to set some resolutions. 2025 was a tough year for us as it was for many. The idea of a “fresh start” initiated by the countdown to a new year can result in a dopamine rush that quickly depletes when actual sustained action is called for.

It’s fun to fantasise that things will magically change, that the ideal life will unfold softly as we are invited to a soft bed of opportunities. Hah! Not likely. We didn’t make any commitments as we heard, more than saw, the popping and flashing fireworks go off all around us.

As we stepped into 2026 we knew that many changes awaited us. Some we were aware of and some that will confront us as we journey through the coming days, weeks and months. We have some serious thinking, planning and deciding to do. It’s as exciting as it is scary as hell.

The year of blazing saddles?

The one thing we do know is that we need to get out of the office more. Last year we spent far too much time stuck inside in front of our screens. We have had enough of that. We want to shake that old solitary lockdown sensation off us and reconnect with the outside world and real flesh and blood people.

We feel the need to move, take action and pursue with passion our individual and collective purposes. The messages are all around us.

According to the Chinese zodiac calendar we transition to the Year of the Fire Horse on 17 February 2026, which happens to be Chantal’s birthday. The horse stands for strength, independence and hard work. The fire element adds passion and urgency. The Horse year is all about movement. More action, less doubt and hesitation.

So maybe not too much thinking and planning after all? If we dither we may find ourselves being dragged along kicking and screaming, bouncing from the saddle like a crazy Don Quixote. As we said, exciting and scary as hell. Possibly we all need to be a little mad too?

Our madness is more about mirth and not taking life too seriously. There is plenty to remind us of the heaviness and strife in the world. We would like to bring more light. We hope you’ll join us on the journey, blazing saddles and all.

Until next time.

Yours in feeling,
Chantal & Matthew

Credits for this issue — Images: 5th Place