26/03/2026
I sat and chatted with Mr and Mrs Bardien today — frail in body, but with spirits high as they recalled the journey that brought them to this moment.
Mr Bardien, now 80, shared how he walked into the bank years ago to make his final bond payment and told his wife, “Nobody can ever take this home away from us.”
Married at just 20 and 21, they built 60 years of life together in this home — raising 5 children, growing into 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren...blessings.
By day he worked an 8 to 5 job. By night he worked again.. hustling a side job making gates.
He recalls how the couple and their kids also made their own moulds and bricks to build a separate entrance at the back, always finding a way to provide for his family while making time for them.. family time was always first then the hustle continued.
For me too this home and family became a safe zone. As a teenager, when life was uncertain at times and I had nowhere to go, this home became a refuge. Mrs Bardien always made sure there was a warm meal waiting for me and a bed — no questions asked, just love and care.
Today as I handed the home to the next generation — his son-in-law, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of a lifetime of love and sacrifice.
This home isn’t just property. It’s safety... it’s family... it’s legacy.
And the best part? It stays in the family, exactly where it belongs!!
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Samaai! 🎉
As you take the baton to the next generation, you not only purchased a home ...you inherit a legacy.