Pleased to meet you

The blur that was 2020 has left us, and not a moment too soon for many. Sometimes clichés really have some merit and so forgive me for this one - hindsight is a good teacher, some may even say a perfect science. In this time looking back over 2020 and its encompassing chaos, I have received so many learnings about my business, myself and my life that I count myself very blessed if a little financially challenged.

We made it through, with a little help from some ‘friends’ and a great deal of staying aligned to the dream that all will be well. We received relief from our bankers FNB, for our Business mortgage and a successful application for a soft loan, SAFT for salary support for our staff and the R50 000 grant from the Tourism relief Fund and have been super blessed with TERS payments for all of our staff. I have heard many naysayers about these support platforms, and I can only say a big thank you for what we have received. It has meant we have been able to keep our staff employed, our lights on and our sanity intact. It has not been easy though and February has been our toughest month – we made it through, March is close to the line and I think we will make it through… and then we will face each month head on and make it through.

The real heroes for us have been our South African travellers, both business and leisure. I feel as if I have met South Africans for the first time… I see them… all colours, all races, all income groups and I am super happy to be counted as one of them. I have felt at home among them, at peace in conversation aligned to a commonality beyond anything the politicians want us to believe. I have felt the humanity of a people who are looking for the joy and excitement of their lives, who speak with such depth and truth, who offer their insights and histories with such grace and humility and who are respectful, kind and caring. We are a beautiful people, we are multi-faceted mandala of courage, hope and resilience. Who would not want to visit with us in South Africa, who would not want to meet our beauty expressed in our land and people.

I for one am glad we had this opportunity to invite our South African family to visit with us. I am more than okay that we had to relook our rates and base them on the rand traveller and not the dollar or pound traveller. I know for us it shall remain that way, I love that we have localized and long may it last.

So pleased to meet you.

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