PHOTOTROPICAL
by Valerie Biebuyck
The story behind the Red Barn
When my husband, Pierre was offered a job in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, I was very distressed about having to leave my family and friends behind in Cape Town, South Africa. Pierre left immediately after the offer was confirmed. I reluctantly spent the next six months selling our home and packing our furniture and goods for transportation to Canada. I said goodbye to family and friends but did not easily accept that I would be leaving behind my loved ones and the country I loved.
Pierre did not enjoy his lonely life living in a hotel and decided to buy a property in Saint John. The plan was that I would help him choose a home during my December vacation. In the meantime Pierre emailed me specifications of properties on the market that he thought might be to my liking.
Among the photos Pierre sent was the picture of a Red Barn on a large field with a forest and a river in the background. He also sent a picture of a cedar wood ranch style home. I replied to him saying that I liked the property with the Red Barn and please could he send photos of the house. I also told him that I did not like the look of the cedar wood home. Being a wise man and knowing me well, he ignored my frequent questions about the house associated with the Red Barn.
During my December visit Pierre took me to see various homes that were for sale. I rejected them all and kept asking him to show me the one with the Red Barn. At last he agreed to take me there. It had snowed the night before and the views on the drive through the suburbs of Saint John and outbound to Darlings Island were mesmerizing. However I was more than a little irritated when Pierre stopped the car outside the cedar wood ranch style home that I had rejected. Pierre asked me to humour him and look at this house while we were in the vicinity of the Red Barn.
Pierre suggested that, while we waited for the agent to arrive, I take a look at the view towards the river. I grumpily trudged through the light spattering of snow, and rounded the side of the house. There was the Red Barn, looking even more attractive in its snow-covered field than the photos Pierre had sent me. I hurried back to Pierre who had waited in the car and told him that even if the house was a shack, this was the property I wanted him to buy. As it so happened the house had great potential with a sound structure in good condition and a view from every room looking out onto the Red Barn, the forest and the Kennebecasis River. We put in an offer to purchase and within weeks were the pround owners of this beautiful property.
That holiday season I experienced first hand the horror of my flight back to South Africa being delayed overnight at Halifax due to a snow storm. Instead of the trip to Cape Town taking 32 hours, it took 41 hours. On top of the long hours of travel I also had to cope with the seven hour time difference between Saint John and Cape Town. Even without delays, it is a truly grueling trip. I knew then that I didn't want the man I love to be so far away with a stressful journey between us.
Eight months after Pierre arrived in Canada, the two Border Collies and I joined him in the cedar wood home on the property with our own little forest, the Kennebecasis River moving lazily past and the Red Barn asking for attention. The Red Barn is currently in the process of transformation into a studio.
I do deeply miss my family and friends in South Africa but being here with my husband and ejoying the beautiful ever-changing natural environment that surrounds our home is balm to my soul.
Return to: Home
Pierre did not enjoy his lonely life living in a hotel and decided to buy a property in Saint John. The plan was that I would help him choose a home during my December vacation. In the meantime Pierre emailed me specifications of properties on the market that he thought might be to my liking.
Among the photos Pierre sent was the picture of a Red Barn on a large field with a forest and a river in the background. He also sent a picture of a cedar wood ranch style home. I replied to him saying that I liked the property with the Red Barn and please could he send photos of the house. I also told him that I did not like the look of the cedar wood home. Being a wise man and knowing me well, he ignored my frequent questions about the house associated with the Red Barn.
During my December visit Pierre took me to see various homes that were for sale. I rejected them all and kept asking him to show me the one with the Red Barn. At last he agreed to take me there. It had snowed the night before and the views on the drive through the suburbs of Saint John and outbound to Darlings Island were mesmerizing. However I was more than a little irritated when Pierre stopped the car outside the cedar wood ranch style home that I had rejected. Pierre asked me to humour him and look at this house while we were in the vicinity of the Red Barn.
Pierre suggested that, while we waited for the agent to arrive, I take a look at the view towards the river. I grumpily trudged through the light spattering of snow, and rounded the side of the house. There was the Red Barn, looking even more attractive in its snow-covered field than the photos Pierre had sent me. I hurried back to Pierre who had waited in the car and told him that even if the house was a shack, this was the property I wanted him to buy. As it so happened the house had great potential with a sound structure in good condition and a view from every room looking out onto the Red Barn, the forest and the Kennebecasis River. We put in an offer to purchase and within weeks were the pround owners of this beautiful property.
That holiday season I experienced first hand the horror of my flight back to South Africa being delayed overnight at Halifax due to a snow storm. Instead of the trip to Cape Town taking 32 hours, it took 41 hours. On top of the long hours of travel I also had to cope with the seven hour time difference between Saint John and Cape Town. Even without delays, it is a truly grueling trip. I knew then that I didn't want the man I love to be so far away with a stressful journey between us.
Eight months after Pierre arrived in Canada, the two Border Collies and I joined him in the cedar wood home on the property with our own little forest, the Kennebecasis River moving lazily past and the Red Barn asking for attention. The Red Barn is currently in the process of transformation into a studio.
I do deeply miss my family and friends in South Africa but being here with my husband and ejoying the beautiful ever-changing natural environment that surrounds our home is balm to my soul.
Return to: Home
