So who & what are we?

We are Afrikaans South Africans living in the village of Griomsiader (anglicized to Grimshader; pronounced "grimshudder") on the Isle of Lewis, part of the Outer Hebrides, a place of great scenic beauty and wild, changeable weather.

We have been living here since March 2001. People often ask us how we ended up here and the simplest is: Wanderlust. We left South Africa in 1998 in pursuit of other pastures (not necessarily always greener, I hasten to add...) and since then, had also lived in Norcross, Georgia in the USA, as well as Rainham, Kent (Southeast England.)

Sonja calls herself a Cape Townian & though I lived there as well, I didn't spend (read: survive!) the prerequisite four winters to be able to wear that badge. I'm a "Valie" (from the old Transvaal province) but these days, with South Africa's nine provinces, the word doesn't mean much anymore. So I guess now I am a Mpumalangaan from the town of Graskop. (Afrikaans for "grassy hill")

Karmiena is, well, an Afrikaans Scottish girl, being born and brought up on Lewis. She is also the pride an joy of Mum & Dad!

Sonja is an Occupational Therapist (OT) working for the Scottish National Health Service (NHS) and is a Neuro Specialist OT. That means she works mostly with people that has some form of neurological problems. I am amongst other things, a Computer Technician; also working for the NHS. Back in South Africa I still hold a commission in the Cape Field Artillery, the oldest artillery regiment in the South African National Defence Force.

Sonja and I both like hiking & camping and our current surroundings is just the right place for an outdoors lifestyle, although that is is seriously curtailed by Karmiena at present.