For a farmer ‘Hartseer’ (heartsore) and ‘Blydskap’ (happiness) are very close together and in a matter of years both can be equally experienced.
Happiness may be the euphoric feeling when a farm is purchased, and later on if there is a drought or he is unable to make a success of it ‘hartseer’ can soon follow. I found these two signs in the stretch between Khorixas and Kamanjab and realised that two such opposing sentiments aptly convey the joys and tribulations of a farmer’s life, from one extreme to the other.