As I was looking at a number of sites to build my boat, I selected Game Farm Melrose, the oldest Farm in Nambia, established in 1852 when it was given as a wedding present to James Earl Bassingtwaithe, a british wagon maker. Bassingthwaithe was the man who introduced the wheel to this part of the world. He arrived in 1844 and offloaded his tools from a ship  onto a stretch of desert where Walvis Bay is today.

His wagon and wheel making skills brought him respect from all the tribes and much wealth.

I was three years on one of the most beautiful farms, could do as I liked, game a plenty, meat more than one could eat, birds got tame and sat close to me. I like my own food best, so I built from scrap a gas stove with three burners, moved some jerry cans into a tyre shed, put a plank on top to make a table, on the opposite side I put up some shelves, covered some holes in the wall with old canvas and spare zinc plates, put a fridge in and a light above the stove. Outside was a fireplace and two camping chairs. And that was home while I built my boat. I left nature completely alone, if I dropped some food, I kicked it out of the door, 5 minutes later, some little friend had removed it. About a 100 love birds visited me daily, hornbills were tame, blue starlings loved cheese, and other species made sure I had no flies bothering me.

One day some joker hung up the sign NOAHS RESTAURANT.

Looking back, it was probably the happiest time in my life.

Because of my cooking skills, the owner of the 5 star Farm, often sat with me on my fire and enjoyed my food. So did the kitchen stuff every monday.