Taking back my life

In August 2022 I received a comment on Laura’s website from a mother who had also lost her daughter, who also remembered every detail of her death, but as she said, “It doesn’t change anything and those of us left behind have to go on living. It’s okay to grieve but at some point it quits helping and simply consumes you.”

She was right of course. In May 2022 I took the first steps in taking my life back from Laura, going on my first hike in Cape Town, in the company of like-minded people. It was very hard at first and I battled to be around people after being semi-reclusive after Laura’s death. In October I went on my first camping trip near the Winelands in the Western Cape, in a basic tent with no frills. Again I found it hard to be around so many people, over 30 people, and I would sometimes retreat into the tent and to my solitude.

Things changed dramatically at the beginning of January and up to now my life has been quite hectic, filled with hikes, some really challenging, and I’ve also been doing quite a bit of camping. In August it was a long trip, first to the Namaqua National Park to see all the beautiful flowers that flower for a short period at that time of the year, and then on to Richtersveld Transfrontier Park on the mouth of the Orange River bordering Namibia. Stunning rock formations and even more flowers. Unfortunately there is also diamond mining within the park which I feel should not be allowed. We encroach enough on nature as it is and some areas should be left alone without human exploitation.

On the way back to Cape Town we stopped at Gifberg, doing two hiking trails and enjoying the flowers once again.

I feel more alive than I have for a very long time and I have rediscovered my passion for nature and for photography. I know that Laura would approve and if she had been alive, she would have been with me.

The books will be written and published in time and the cover-up of Laura’s death will never be forgotten. The question as to why the government of Dubai chose to conceal and cover up her death will never be answered but the books will bear evidence of their lies.

I’ve included some pictures from my hikes.