Family

Eight years ago my family exploded after a series of heart-breaking tragedies. Within a few years most of us had moved from South Africa to the four corners of the universe: One to a remote mountain-side in New Zealand, one to the very outer suburbs of  Melbourne, one to Far North West Ireland to a tiny surfing village, us to a tiny dot in the Caribbean - with another on an isolated farm in Kwazulu Natal - and a few 'normals' in Cape Town and London.

It's sad that we are all so far apart. I almost envy the Kennedy's their Hyannis family compound, though in reality it's probably hell and the kids detest going there and it's all drama.

When we do get together it's a Big Treat, much anticipated and looked forward to. We've been counting down to seeing my nephew Myles and his wife Jane who visited us from Ireland this past week.  Myles & Jane run a very successful café bakery called Shells in Strandhill, Co. Sligo and more recently a deli/ gift shop. They've also just finished writing their second cookbook and are winding down from their Summer season.

Although we don't see much of each other, we get along famously due to our shared interests and history. So in amongst surfing and beach trips and restaurants, we chatted for hours and hours about lives, our families, recipes, children, our dreams, our frustrations, our fears, our hopes and everything else under the sun. We laughed hysterically at silly jokes, teased each other mercilessly, sang a lot and had a ton of fun.

Nothing is more important than family, surely? The feeling of being part of a clan is something almost primal and the sense of continuity and security is both self assuring and re-energizing.

This past week was truly a very happy week and we loved showing the island off as well - but all too soon it was over unfortunately, as we all get back to our busy lives.

We knew this was going to be our one small respite before the Season starts to take hold again, and we made the most of it.

In true family style.