The Famdamily again

A cousin, twice removed (my grandfather was her great-great-grandfather), who now lives a thousand miles from here, called me the other day. She asked if they (her husband and three children) could spend a few days with me when they visit Cape Town during the school holidays. I am very fond of her, so naturally, I said yes.

Then came the second request. Will it be a problem if her husband’s twin brother comes along? I started seeing problems. He is also married with three children. I already have misgivings about her husband and if I have to put up with a look-alike as well, it was not something to look forward to. After a moment of doubt, I reluctantly agreed.

But it was still not the end. They will be coming to Cape Town by bus, she explained, and will need transportation. It will be ‘very much appreciated’ if they could use my car while they are here. I made such a mistake before; I was certainly not going to do it again. I suppose I could have offered them the use of my dilapidated one-ton pick-up truck, but I curtly refused the request. She sounded a bit disappointed but promised to make another plan.

Well, a plan they made. I expected them on Monday but they arrived out of the blue earlier today in two shiny white Japanese cars. The terrible twins, their spouses and six children between them, their ages ranging from two to eleven. Mercifully, they will be leaving for another family member on Tuesday or Wednesday. I’m hoping for Tuesday rather than Wednesday.

Six little angels.

They have only been here for only a few hours and already I’m up the bend. I politely excused myself with the story that I have important work to do and withdrew upstairs to my playroom. The kids are up and down the wooden staircase driving me mad. I will have to stop it before I go completely nuts. I wonder if one can buy nerve gas at the pharmacy.


Enjoy your weekend; I won’t have the opportunity to do that.