27 Oct 2025 ~ UNINSPIRING

I’m sitting in the restaurant at Stonehaven on Vaal. I stopped here after dropping off Joné in Potchefstroom. It is such a beautiful spot on the Vaal River. We used to come here often to have breakfast or to celebrate special occasions, but more than a decade has passed since our previous visit. I guess I hoped to find some inspiration for a painting while walking through their garden and spending some time near the river. 

As I sit here, staring at my Coke while stirring the ice with a straw, I cannot help but feel a little bit disappointed. Although the garden at the entrance is beautiful, the atmosphere changes as you walk through to the riverfront. I have to admit, my memory is definitely not what it used to be, but I do not remember it to be this commercialized. Even the menu changed. There used to be a section at the back that shared something about the family who owned the property as well as the history of Stonehaven. Now that part has been replaced by, what seems to be, an endless list of activities and advertisements.

Change can be good or bad, inspiring or disappointing. Change can build up or it can tear down, it can add joy or it can cause misery.

All I know about change is that it is most certainly inevitable…

All I can say about the changes I witnessed today is that it will most definitely not inspire any art…