It was a dream of mine that my son and daughter experience the true essence of farm life. I googled the words ‘farm’, ‘feeding animals’ and ‘children’ and up popped “Florence Guest House”, Chrissiesmeer. None of us had previously heard of Chrissiesmeer, but having done some research, it is mentioned in numerous articles about travelling in South Africa.

Ane was very quick to respond to my enquiry and confirmed that they indeed were a ‘working’ farm and welcomed kids and recommended which accommodation would suit the four of us, my brother and sister and their families and my Mum and Dad. We were 7 adults and 7 kids in total. The rooms were all lovely and the Waenhuis – the larger of them – provided a perfect area for us all to get together. We booked on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis, and we enjoyed our meals at a beautiful table under the trees or in the cosy lounge beside the log fireplace.

Nico took us with him in the early morning as he checked on all the new Mutton Merino lambs and the children helped feed the ‘hand reared’ lambs back at the farm – what a wonderful experience. They assisted in milking the cow each morning (the milk you will find in your fridge) and fed the horses which came galloping in response to a whistle.

I had asked Ane to arrange for the children to collect eggs and they had such fun doing so on a neighbouring farm as well as learning the art of soap making and seeing electronic milking of cows at a dairy farm. The hospitality from the farm folk was extraordinary as we tucked into home made koeksisters and melktert. The only thanks they would take was a jar of Ane’s Moroela jam

Nico had kindly taken the children to the reeds to do some frog hunting one evening, but the highlight of the trip for them was when, following some rain, the grass literally starting ‘hopping’ the following evening as we were invaded by the common platanna frog. In between all this activity, the children were on their bikes and playing at the dam with the ducks. We in fact also celebrated my Son’s 3^rd birthday on the farm and I am not sure how we will top that for his next one.

It was lovely for us to share in Nico’s passion for organic farming and he kindly let our ‘men’ interrupt a rugby filled weekend to watch an important football game too. Ane and Nico made my wish come true!