It was a cool May evening on a farm in the Northern Province of South Africa when my father had to rush my mother to the nearest hospital, 45 kilometers on a bad gravel road. I was born an hour later.

Grandpa lost his left arm in a shooting accident. it happened one late afternoon when he went hunting, as he tried to open a stubborn gate the rifle that was on a belt slipped from his shoulder, the force of the butt hitting the ground triggered the loaded gun. Grandpa decided to advertised for a Farm Manager, a hansome young man from a Polish background applied and became the Farm Manager. He fell in love with the farmers youngest daughter and they got marrried.

After my birth my parents decided it was time for them to make a life on their own. Father got a job to work as a cattle inspector for the Government in the Low Veld, next to the Kruger National Park where Lion and Elephant roamed wild.

Maboela my nanny who was my teacher and my friend. She taught me how to balance a clay pot on my head. She made a round ring from grass place the ring on my head then the pot on the ring. Clay pots were used to carry drinking water from the well to the households. I remember the orchard. In my child mind I was sure the Garden of Eden must have looked like Grandma's garden. At the main entrance of the garden the well, just like the one in the story of Jack and Jill. In the middle of the garden a large pond surrounded by large fruit trees, apple, pear orange, mango, and others, I remember the songs of the birds in the ttrees. I even saw a fairy once waving where she was sitting on a huge leaf in the pond. Maboela said she also saw her. It was a garden of fantasy. Most of the farmers and their families could speak the local language, towns were far away and the people, workers and employers respected each other. I wouldn't dare to back chat or be cheeky to any person older than me. My grown up years on the farm influenced me for who I am today. We can learn a lot about compassion from our African friends they stay close to each other. Every end of the month you will see thousands travelling great distances visiting their relatives. To give money and support to their families. We can do the same, we are so selfish we only think about ourselves. My Grand parents and my parents passed away a few years ago, I wish I could just have another chance to tell them "I Love You"