“Amazing
Midlands!”
It is easy to become
disenchanted with our town – that's if you are in the habit of
looking “down”. You will see (and hit) the numerous potholes or
get hotheaded and bothered by the litter, because what you aim at,
you hit! I've made a choice – to “look up”, to see and embrace
the unique beauty and diversity we have. You see, I've travelled the
world – North, South, East and West. I've seen some remarkable
places, each with an appeal and attraction of their own. Yet
everywhere you go, there is always the grim realities of our world.
Here, they juxtapose and catalyze the goodness we have.
To love is a choice, yet
the reasons are many. I encounter constant reminders through the
multi facets of what constitutes us as a flourishing community. The
wonderful, diverse people made up of loyal, hardworking domestic
helpers; generous, friendly business owners; caring, committed
teachers; dedicated public servants and colourful characters from all
races.
We have everything a
small, country town should have, from a choice of amenities to
amazing scenery. The cry of the fish eagle reminds me where I am, on
the doorstep of breathtaking beauty, if I make the effort to “go”.
The sunrises and sunsets create crimson masterpieces on the canvass
of our skies. As a family we take great pleasure in being able to
walk or ride our bikes at the dam or through the neighborhood; and go
mountain biking in the surrounding forests. Innumerable farm dams
sparkle amidst rolling, lush Midlands Meander hills. Steep crags
overlook awe-inspiring valleys, spectacular vistas from “koppies”
and hills. I relish the numerous and assorted coffee shops and arty
retail outlets throughout our Meander.
Maybe it's because I feel
safe here, accepted and empowered to be who I am. It's a haven in
which to bring up our children, yet not too far from the “buzz”
of larger, cosmopolitan cities. Because of our size, I still have
the choice of how to “get around” - car, bus, taxi, bicycle,
scooter or by foot. Could it be because (if I try hard enough) I
could find a job here, or start my own (small) business as there are
so many opportunities for the creative, entrepreneurial mind?
Could it be the weather,
despite the irritation of too much rain, or too much mist, or too
much heat – it's generally temperate – cold enough in winter to
have lovely log fires while it snows outside, hot enough in summer to
laze around the pool or engage in some water activity at the dam.
It's a developing town,
with improvements in healthcare facilities, city services and
entertainment. People come and go, yet for those who have chosen
this as their home, they will not be disappointed to find there's
never a dull moment, often some challenging encounter, and always a
new face in town. So “look up” and soon you will realize there
are many reasons to “Love Howick”.
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