The Runaways

When you work in a family business, the tasks get divided up between the siblings and at times allocations happen because there is “no-one-better-suited”. Not because you’re good at it, but because the others would be dreadful. And so I have landed with the task of always talking to crowds of people (which makes me as nervous as hell!) and writing for our Cavern blog.

The writing thing is particularly daunting. My only submission into the school magazine was when I made an idiot out of myself by putting a comma in the wrong place and changing the meaning of a sentence which was just too good to ignore, and so the English teacher published it! Shock-horror, to have then landed up as the communicator and writer for the business. I’d like to be the Runaway! Unfortunately that just can’t happen!

So, I have really battled to think of something to write about to keep our blog updated and interesting…. And then on Sunday night, there was a runaway car which got the whole family talking. Our poor chef’s car ran away, and unfortunately the hills are quite steep here, but fortunately and very unfortunately it came to stop opposite my folks’ house, thanks to a rather large piece of sandstone. The sandstone split in two and the car is slightly damaged. Thankfully all the people were absolutely fine.

At The Cavern we have had a number of runaways. As children we had BMX bikes and a range of other hand-me-down bikes and Cath, our cousin, went flying down the driveway one afternoon, as you do when you are raised free-range. The brakes failed and luckily a strong gentleman, at the bottom of the drive, caught the bike and saved her from what would have been a very hard and horrible landing.

We have also had a runaway Chef. Yes. After too good a New Year party and a tiff with the wife, the chef decided to walk his way out of the valley. He reappeared a few days later with one very sunburnt forehead trying to deny and hide from the whole incident.

And, then there was Jerry. Jerry, the pony-ride-Jerry. Jerry moved around the valley for a time and eventually came to stable at The Cavern. He was incredibly cheeky and I remember him trying quite hard to toss our children in the early days. But, it is amazing how a wild spirit can be calmed with a few solid walks around the garden. He’s settled now and is greatly loved by the children. But, in his early days he tried to escape a few times. One day we were driving down the road and as we approached the Tugela Bridge, there was Jerry. We did what we could to stop him from crossing but the cheeky little pony outwitted the lot of us and in no-time was back grazing at The Tower of Pizza. Who can blame him? There is certainly good grub on that side of the Tugela!

At times runaways can be fast and then they can be slow. Thankfully the largest runaway was so slow that no-one seemed to notice. A great tour bus arrived one night, dropped the tourists, and parked safely just outside the gate. Very, very slowly, the bus rolled backwards….In the morning the bus was parked outside the folks’ house and we are just so grateful for another LARGE rock which stopped it from entering their lounge!

And then more recently we had a runaway trolley. Yip, it is not a good idea to load a trolley at Harrismith (that is the cold store on the driveway, which is so far from the kitchen, that it feels like you’ve gone to Harrismith!) and to take your hand off the handle to load the last box… thankfully it didn’t hit anyone as it picked up speed and headed towards the front lawn. Boxes flying, the lorry driver running…. Regrettably there was a car and it did get a brand new dent but the guests were very understanding…

Never dull in this neck of the woods!

13 thoughts on “The Runaways”

  1. Hello Megs, I remember many moons ago, Noah was also on a runaway bicycle down the driveway. The poor lad ended up with quite a few roasties!

  2. Great stories and great writing… loved the Cavern, and most of all the very personal touches that sets it miles apart from any other place I’ve been… and I’ve been to many places:)

  3. I think you do a great job, its always super to see something from the cavern pop up! and it is always a good read 🙂

    1. Megan Carte Bedingham

      Thanks Rob! I must say that our late Uncle David, who was a journalist, was always so good. After each Cavern Chronicle we sent out, he’d send an email encouraging and motivating us to keep writing. Thanks for your positive feedback too! Very best wishes, Megan

  4. Nice one Meegs.
    I was wishing to be a runaway this week, but as shown many a time, runaways are generally stopped by a large rock of some sort at some stage so we might as well face the drama head on!
    Thanks for leading by example and showing the younger cousins (especially this one) how to be brave.

    1. Megan Carte Bedingham

      Linds, how incredibly lucky are we to have this large family to prop us up and be there when we need them! And, yes, always a large rock to stop us from rolling completly away. Got to face that drama! Here’s to many more years in hospitality! x

  5. For someone who did not do too well in Competition you do an amazing job. Have you ever sent one of your blogs to your old English teacher.
    Audrey

    1. Megan Carte Bedingham

      Audrey, thank you for this very encouraging comment! I often wonder what the English teacher would think! Rather a good idea. Very best wishes to you, Megan

    1. Megan Carte Bedingham

      Hi Jason. Lovely to hear from you! Gosh, NZ! I didn’t know you’d gone but do hope all is well!
      Best wishes to the family,
      Megan

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