Many prompts recently have emphasised the need to write not only the stories of our ancestors, but of ourselves, for future generations.

Facebook recently presented me with a “memory”, a photo of me beside a car. Not very interesting in itself, but the memories came flooding back when I saw the date. I reposted it with the caption:

“Eight years ago – the obligatory ‘take a photo of the rental car so we recognise it in car parks’ photo as we left Johannesburg. That car took us many wonderful kilometres through Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, KwaZululand, and around Durban and the Dolphin Coast. Wonderful memories of family visits and laughter.”

Unbeknownst to me, the photo was not originally my post but one of my husband’s, Trevor Tighe, posted on 5 April 2017. And he included a wonderful story of our holiday, which had nothing to do with the African animals or beautiful scenery that usually absorbs our attention on such visits. Here it is, in Trevor’s own words, a gift from the past.

Have you got your jacket? Tales from a South African holiday…

Dining car on Rovos Rail.

One of the many arranged highlights of our trip to north-east South Africa was the Rovos Rail journey from Victoria Falls back to Pretoria, four days / three nights all-inclusive in a deluxe suit. Whilst daytime attire was to be smart casual, it was a requirement for gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie in the dining car for the evening meal.

In preparation for the trip I tried on a number of jackets I had, including a fairly new suit coat, only to find that I’d put on so much weight that none would fit. Losing 10-15 kg in a week was not going to work so off to the shop. I was really pleased with the new jacket all be it not budgeted for.

Jump to holiday – day one.

We had an uneventful, even enjoyable flight to Johannesburg. Good old QANTAS. No complaints at all, I just don’t get excited about being locked inside a steel tube for 12-15 hours. Our transfer to our overnight accommodation went smoothly and we settled into a nice room at the Peermont Metcourt Suites. In the morning our hire car will be delivered, and we’ll set off.

So, Sunday morning off we go, me driving and Char navigating (thank goodness as she is a great navigator and I’m hopeless.) Up the N1 we go on a 522 km trip to our first stop, Greenfire Lodge in the Balule Nature Reserve. We go straight there! How does Char do it? Amazing… At the entrance to Balule we are checked by the Black Mamba women who ensure we are not poachers; they give us our certificate to travel in the reserve and we drive 10 km where we are to be met and transferred over rough road to our lodge, a further 30-minute drive into the reserve. We transfer our things and set off. We arrive at Greenfire Game Lodge, which is very smart indeed. Unpacking for our four-day stay, Char says: “where’s your jacket?” Oh sh*t; it’s back in Johannesburg.

Char being the great organiser arranges to ring the Peermont, which is quite difficult as it turns out, as we are so remote. But she gets through and yes, they have it. Discussion. We’ll get it couriered to Char’s cousin’s house in Durban.

We have used our allocation of guest phone privileges so decide to wait until we get into mobile [cell] phone coverage to make the arrangements. The Peermont agree to hold the jacket.

Our next stop is a town called Hazyview, one of the many gateways to the Kruger National Park. We travel along The Panorama Route, following the Blyde River Canyon stopping to see the Three Rondavels and visit Burke’s Luck Potholes along the way. For followers of 10’s “I’m a celebrity get me out of here” this is where it is set.

We negotiate (well, Char does) between two courier firms; one is hopeless, so settle on the other. No problems, we’ll send you a quote via email; accept the quote, deposit funds directly into the courier’s bank account, and the jacket will be duly delivered. We wait. No email. Bugger, email is not working despite replacement SIM cards in both the phone and iPad. Slight panic… Ring courier. Can’t we just give you our credit card details over the phone? NO.

Arrive at Chestnut Country Lodge Hazyview; can we get an email sent to you for us please. No problems. Agreement received and signed and returned. Must now deposit funds; how! Try to use phone internet to complete funds transfer. No luck, national VodaCom network has failed, and no communication is possible.

Getting emotional.

We need some cash and hope that the ATMs might still work so go to a large shopping centre (told it is safer). Get some money from ATM outside one of the major banks. Inspiration! Char says this is the bank we have to deposit money into for the courier, so in we go, money deposited, but we can’t tell the courier. The phone system is still out. Eventually we make contact. By now Char and the person at the courier are best friends. No issue, the jacket has been collected and will be delivered in a day or two.

Two days later a text message from cousin. Jacket arrived. Phew.

Holiday continues without incident. Great time in Kruger, wonderful stay with cousin and family at Iniwe farm, then lunch with cousin and family at Salt Rock, then onto Durban and stay with more cousins. Genuinely, this was the reason for the trip in the first place and simply wonderful. People so generous and welcoming.

Trevor in the lounge, Rovos Rail

Our stay around Durban is at an end and now we must fly from Durban back to Johannesburg, then on to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Up early, drive to the King Shaka Airport Durban, return the rental car, proceed through security and sit down for a coffee while we wait for our flight to board.

Char says: “where’s your jacket?”

Oh sh*t.

Trevor ended his tale there.

He did retrieve his jacket from the back seat of the rental car, while I wondered how I would hold the plane until he arrived. We went on to have a marvellous trip on Rovos Rail and did not lose that jacket again…

Sadly, no photo of the jacket can be found.

Trevor died in 2022, but his humour and wit live on.