Cold weather is great for warm hearts 💌

Dear Kuierkos Family 🌞,

My goodness, am I grateful that we’re getting a bit of sunshine tomorrow. These grey skies and snow are not for me. I need African sun. Not full-on South African summer, but a Joburg winter: crisp, dry mornings, blue skies and that perfect 18°C. Or even better, bushveld winter temperatures. Add a hint of that dry bushveld smell: sand, grass, no rain. That alone would make me very happy.Luckily, memories can take us there.

I still remember the first weekend getaway Andreas joined me and my family in the bushveld. Poor guy. I think he’s still recovering, even after 21 years of marriage.Picture this: a huge extended family and, of course, my four big rugby-playing brothers meeting my first boyfriend. Everything was planned before we even arrived. Sleeping arrangements? Absolutely no sharing. I slept with my parents, while Andreas shared a room with two of my brothers, as far away as humanly possible, on the opposite side of the camp. His whereabouts were monitored at all times.

That first night, only Andreas and I lingered by the warm bushveld fire, young and in love, and very aware of being watched. Sitting as close as possible. Very romantic. Just when we thought it was safe to steal our first kiss of the weekend, Andreas lean over, whispered softly in my ear...and broke the armrest of a plastic chair…was too eager...and he ended up with a bruise that lasted weeks. We had to explain a broken chair. Not ideal.The next morning brought endless comments. Who broke the chair? How did it happen? And why was he holding his arm like that? The teasing did not stop.

Now, every Afrikaans family has nicknames. My aunt Marietjie is known as Hattie. Andreas, nervous and eager to impress, spent the entire breakfast calling her “Hottie.” I completely lost it. Thankfully, my family has a great sense of humour, and after all the teasing, we actually had a wonderful weekend and Andreas was accepted in the family...brother, uncles and "hot" aunties.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I hope you get the chance to revisit your own first dates and moments that still make you laugh today, while enjoying a lekker South African wine and warm Kuierkos food, shared with love.Because some memories stick forever, like young love, winter sunshine, bushveld air and broken chairs.

Still in love,

Marnella & Andreas