Small-town charm rocks

I love my village in the Cape. Every time I'm here I feel renewed, all barefoot, sun-soaked, capable, and freshly enamoured of this beautiful planet.

- JENNIE RIDYARD

Yes, despite what's going on in the wider world.

But this village of mine — you couldn't make it up.

Or maybe you could, because it's like a book by cosy Karoo author Sally Andrew, one of her wonderful Tannie Maria tales.

True story, as read in the valley newspaper: there's been a rash of twins on one street, which is curious enough, but their names are what's really fabulous — Bronwin and Ronwin, Aiden and Eden, Nazeera and Nazeema, Kaylin and Taylin and Romano and Romario.

It's like their parents want everyone, themselves included, to be permanently confused.