Marchy stated didn’t like how he was “portrayed” by the main site. I don’t believe I addressed his concerns 🤔 He distracted me by following up the text with a couple of pretty trucks. Or bakkies. So naturally I just zeroed in on the pretties and nothing else. It was his own fault and now I’ve completely forgotten all about his dismay. Oh well…

How shall we begin? Let’s start in the middle and with little context!

I do however like knowing that I am now the proud owner of a Key Ring that would rival that of a Warden in a Super Max facility. That kinda makes me feel all tingly and such 😁 (We had originally been referring to them at Ms. Minchin Keys, but I’ve since upgraded their severity. It was a necessary evil that needed to happen.)

That being said, yes, we have finally changed all the locks that open doors that lead to outside (and there are a lot) and changed the padlocks to all the things that were locked outside. We have also copied, or changed, keys for doors that only had one key. (There was one room, a future guest room, that only had one key. I saw it all unfolding before me like it had already happened; one of the kids would lock the other inside, claiming it was an accident. The key would go “missing”. The child locked inside would be screaming. The other would be insisting that they had no idea what happened! It was all “just a joke” they “were just playin’” and they didn’t know why we couldn’t just unlock the door and let the other child out. At which point I would be trying to convince a child that, yes, they could fit through security bars that had been drilled into the frame of the window if they just twisted enough and did it just right.) Needless to say, yes, I have become very proficient at changing the locks in South Africa. Hell, I could start a side hustle or earn some money doing it timed on the side.

Security is a big thing around here. Especially where we live. There are gates, fences, compounds, electric wires, alarms, armed response teams – the works. Personally, I think the army of hadeda’s are enough of an early alarm system and deterrent, but I guess I’m in the minority 🤷‍♀️

Among the other things that are of vital importance to ones such as us – we have found the following store equivalents:

• Wal-Mart/Target/Costco – Makro
  • Makro is owned by the same company that owes Wal-Mart however is run and set up more like a Costco. It is DEADLY to walk into unprepared. It is highly advised that you have a set game plan when you go here. Have a list. Know what you want and what you are looking for. If not, well, you have been warned. You will, like with the stores as it’s equivalents, wander into this Rabbit Hole and not come out the same person that you went in as.
• The Dollar Store/Dollar General – Pep/The Crazy Store
  • Let’s talk about The Crazy Store first, it’s a bit simpler to cover. This is a straight up one stop shop dollar store. It’s got it all. And a few things you didn’t know you needed. Just like any great dollar store 🤣
  • Pep is a little bit more involved as it’s actually broken up into different stores because all of it’s greatness couldn’t be contained into one store. There’s a Pep Home and a Pep Clothes. Both names are pretty self explanatory, but it’s Pep Home that I want you to focus on. This place is magic. It’s not just a great place with amazing Kohls level stuff, it’s all available at dollar store prices! Yea- Mind. Blown. 🤯
• Lowes/Home Depot – Builders Warehouse
  • This place is like Disney! They have EVERYTHING! Home improvement, lumber, hardware, tools, plumbing, plants (though not like Plantworld!), appliances, some furniture, even designs and some art depending on which one you go to! I have spent… a lot of time here.

Finding the best/right deals for other things has been a big of a challenge. We managed to get new mattresses. And a couch. I got a badass monitor from some legit geeks and I’m excited to go back to their store for more of their stuff. But other than that it’s been mostly trial and error.

The people here are creepy nice. I found an online site to order some clothes from (cause it’s very peoplely outside) and next thing I know I’m in a 3 day text conversation with the owner and designer. She’s amazing by the way and totally spectacular. 10/10 would recommend. https://www.rozecollection.co.za/ (Seriously, she’s epic)

Ok, so we just killed tripped the power (praise the gods for autosave features) so I’m not going to test this any longer than necessary and I’m going to end this on that positive note.

Until next time!