WITH her eyes on the stars and her feet firmly on the ground, retired Paarlite Clary Botha  began her journey into the unknown in 1961, when she moved to England to cater for royalty.

Nothing noble in life is done without risk and Clary certainly took her share of chances.

While working as a housekeeper for Mrs Torrens Gain, whose husband was an executive for the SA wine Farmers' Association based in London, Clary met and fell in love with Edward Friel - an Irish bachelor who worked as a chauffeur to a stockbroker, Major Dumas.

Soon after Clary became the new Mrs Friel, she went to work for Dumas and his South African wife in Godalming, Surrey.

There she got the opportunity to meet and mingle with Royals such as Prince George and Prince Henry of Denmark.

This cheerful little woman has earned lots of praise for her cooking and green fingers, with many prizes and certificates to show for it.

After her husband's death in 1984, Clary decided to return home - to Paarl.

At the age of 86 she is currently living in the Rusoord old age home with her sister, Siena Botha (87), who is now retired after working as domestic servant for the Grundlingh family in Paarl all her life.

Siena's recollections are fading, but Clary clings to the memories for both of them.

When asked if she has any specific favourites at Rusoord, Clary responds with a twinkle in her eye: "None to my liking!".

She chats away in fluent Afrikaans about the different activities she is involved in, and her fond memories of her Paarl "home" -  and one can hardly imagine that she's ever lived anywhere else.

 It's only when you give of yourself that you truly give.

After almost a lifetime of giving, the two sisters seem content while, for once, being served.