New residents in Bethulie

A warm welcome to the Bairds and Wilkens from Klerksdorp and the Perumaals from Gauteng. We sincerely hope that your move to Bethulie will be pleasant and enjoyable and all that you expected.
 
Who and why -

We "2oldbroads" in the prime of our lives just got fed-up with the hustle and bustle of city life and decided to chuck it all and reach for our dreams. We went on a journey to find the smallest town in South Africa to spend our twilight years.

In the process we stumbled upon an old church for sale in a tiny town called Bethulie. (meaning "Chosen by God")             

It took us 2 years of negotiations to finally own the church but in the process we discovered the rich history of the area and met the most amazing people - what a bonus. 

What -

It is our intention to convert the church into a home while researching and recording the rich history of the church thus preserving it for future generations.  

We are in the process of developing a mystical garden where the public can come for adventures and picnics. 

Once the restoration of the church is complete we intend keeping ourselves busy with our passions, woodwork & glasswork, however, new challenges lie around each corner and we intend making the most of each and every one of them.

 Where -

We are located in the old Methodist church on the northern boundary of Bethulie,  nestled between the Bethulie dam and the Gariep dam( previously Hendrik Verwoerd dam).

                                                                                                                                                                                       

We "2oldbroads" are looking forward to meeting you

Charlotte and  Aletta have not as yet relocated to Bethulie but will be doing so in the very near future. Metani Properties and the Bethulie community wishes them a warm welcome and hope that they have many great years to come, living in Bethulie.

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MAUD LILIAN HOLT

After school I have studied and lived in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and was used to living a hectic life.

But, as I grew older I was longing for the tranquility and peace of the country.  I knew all along that one day I will find the right place to retire, but I just never thought that it would be so soon.

One day in December 2010, as I was following the road to Bethulie, I saw this beautiful land, so wide and clean, no squatters.   I stopped at a stop sign and looked towards my left, and I saw this huge dam.  Water has always had a sort of calming effect on me.  As I sat looking at this dam, I thought to myself, “I wonder whether there will be any fish in that dam?”  I looked at this dam for another few seconds, because this sight you do not see every day. 

As I entered the town I thought to myself this is real plaas, nothing really happens here.  Here you can be yourself, no competition, just yourself.  There are no hooters driving you insane, no cars wanting to drive you off the road.  You do not even see any finger language here, and certainly no crime.  This was the start of liking this place, called Bethulie.  When I saw a certain house, I fell in love with Bethulie.  This is the place where I would like to spend my silwer years.

Maud has bought 23 Murray Street and will be relocating to Bethulie at the end of February 2011. Metani Properties would like to thank Maud for the opportunity to do business with her and offers her a huge, warm welcome to the Bethulie community

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FIONA McRAE

Why did I choose Bethulie? A simple enough question, but one without an equally  straightforward answer. Indeed, sometimes I think it was more a case of Bethulie being chosen for me. 

How do I relate the incredible synchronicity that played out in my life over more than two years, from the time Bethulie - with its captivating internet images of the quiet country life - first popped onto my radar screen in my search for a rural retreat, until I finally relocated to my house in the town at the beginning of this year. And how do I describe how Bethulie’s unique charm and peace slowly seep into your soul, causing you to shed your city stresses like a snake sheds its skin and to focus on the things in life that really matter?  Or how the laid-back pace of life here encourages you to live in harmony with Nature, rising and setting with the sun, sowing and reaping according to the earth’s rhythm, and marvelling at the ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours that marks the ebb and flow of the seasons?

Born and bred in Port Elizabeth, I had often described myself as a city girl with country life aspirations. Bethulie was not the first or only town I researched or visited in my quest  for a country property. But somehow this dusty little dorpie managed to captivate both my imagination and my heart from the outset. Bethulie seemed to offer it all, in a rich tapestry of  good old-fashioned small-town charm, warm hospitality, friendly and interesting people, a stunning natural environment and the related outdoor activity opportunities, history, art, tranquility … the list goes on.  And that’s not even mentioning the big-sky splendours of spectacular sunscapes, storms and stars.  

In my early days of visiting Bethulie, I was once advised by a local not to drink the town’s water if I ever wanted to leave. By the time I received that warning, it was already too late. And any remaining twinges of doubt I might have had about choosing Bethulie as my future home were laid to rest when I was inspired to check out the meaning of the name. “Chosen by God”: there’s simply no arguing with that!

Employed as a sub-editor with a Port Elizabeth-based English daily newspaper until the end of 2010, I am now working as a freelance writer, journalist and copy editor. But that is only part of the exciting plan for my future - Bethulie tends to unleash one’s creativity.

Welcome Fiona, it is hoped that your move to Bethulie is as great a success as you hope and that your stay will be an enjoyable and memorable one.