Annatjie lives in her own little cottage in Rynpark, Benoni. She is in her 89th year now and though still capable of looking after herself she admits that some days it is more difficult than others.

It is now 12 years that Annatjie has been without Riaan,her husband, life companion and soul mate! They did not have any offspring but they certainly had each other!

She is so eager to talk of the last year of Riaan’s life and without prompting she says she will never forget Hospice East Rand!

When asked what word would encapsulate her experience she thinks for not more than a second and says …KINDNESS quickly following up with the words VERSORGING and OMGEE!  She further goes on to describe the relief of having someone to share the responsibility of looking after Riaan and helping him with his pain as well as attending to the massive surgical wound that had been a complication of the cancer. These two factors on their own had literally been lifesaving!

At one stage during the journey with Hospcie, Riaan had recovered sufficiently to be able to attend the daycare on a Wednesday.In Annatije’s words “ Riaan and I lived for Wednesdays! “

Riaan had a great sense of humour and had an amazing repertoire of jokes! Annatije recalls the banter between Riaan and the Hospice Sister! She recalls also the time the Sister presented Riaan with a plant for his birthday saying  “you’ve earned this cause you’re ….. ‘bloomin’ good!”

As Annatjie reviews her own life, struggling with a major life decision she must make, she feels the loneliness of that space, but despite that she is extremely  grateful for the few relatives who are very concerned for her welfare!

She dips into her bible and brings out a note, words of encouragement from the Hospice Sister, written to her in these difficult times and now equally pertinent for these present days! She smiles!

This story has an addendum! Since the above was written Annatjie was transferred from her little cottage to the frail care at Rynpark. Annatjie is adjusting very well to her new environment! She is feeling a lot safer and being freed of the responsibility of caring for herself she admits, is a tremendous relief .Of course she misses the familiarity of her old ‘space ‘but she has surrounded herself with wall to wall photos and proudly shows me a beautifully illustrated biographical story of her life created for her by her ‘grandchild ‘.

A change of environment maybe but Annatjie’s indomitable spirit lives on!