home is where the heart is

I miss Nyandarua.

For a number of reasons; and a number of months, i have been quite a number of miles away. In another home, yes. One many would even consider to be more comfortable, with many earthly creature comforts. In the suburbs of the Big City.

Private space, tick; flowers, shrubs in the gardens, tick. I could go on, but you get the point. Yet none of it all can quite touch that part of the soul that only a truly pristine natural environment brings to the fore.

I felt it once more; I felt that peculiar pull when i visited last week. It really is indescribable. It creeps up on my soul, quietly, imperceptibly… the realisation that i have been ensnared only manifesting when i start to say my goodbyes.. I struggle with the heart-wrenching desire to stay put…. to simply ignore whatever else takes me away from there.. whatever they describe as life happening. No, with me, Nyandarua Getaway is home; a home sustained by the Farm; the soul of which is the Cottage.

Rustic, high roofed, with cosy yet deceptively spacious Attic rooms; unprocessed timber furniture, internal hanging balcony overlooking the fireplace; with rough-hewn timber balustrades; bare roofing exposing huge logs providing the support; external private balconies adjoining the Attic rooms…

My personal favourite is wrapping myself up before the open fireside, after a blistering hot water shower to counter the chill of the night. Even better when it rains.. to listen to the patter of the rain-drops on the exposed iron sheets. . . there is no better lullaby!

Imagine breathing in the scent of eucalyptus as i take a leisurely walk through the forest at the edge of the property; watching wild geese as they glide in the small dam in the still atmosphere. . . then sitting with a book on the sole bench in the trees; or lying on the grass and listening to the birds.

The compound is filled with shrubs, and all kinds of flowers; bringing the built spaces to life!

The freshness is palpable!

Like always, leaving was a painful process. I had to trick my consciousness into believing that i would travel back there this week, ‘to spend a few days’. I even said it out loud to those who have the privilege of living there, by virtue of their work. Some actually seem to realise their luck in breathing that air, experiencing the peace and quiet of that little piece of heaven.