Kameel Stoepstorie: Project door handles

Door handles can some times be a bit on the boring side. 

We were looking for something different to use as door handles on the sliding doors of our walk-in cupboards. 

A pair of shoe forms came to mind. I called them the clown shoe forms.  

It was time to change the appearance a little bit. Sanding down to the wood but leaving a lot of patina in tack.

 

The beauties were ready for a change of life. 

The right-hand door handle

Left-hand door handle.

 I just love this little new addition to our cabin. 

Till next time 

Sandra

#Day29ofLockdown

Kameel Stoepstorie: Wanneer 'n lokomotief 'n hulproep gee

So op ‘n snikhete dag hoor ons ‘n trein aankom. Dis ‘n vriendelike treindrywer, want soos hy aankom word die toeter (of is dit nou ‘n fluit) geblaas. Niks ernstig, so ‘n versigtige toet toet. Dit het my nogal aan die tjoetjoe laat dink.

Ons nuuskierigheid kry die oorhand, want alhoewel ons langs ‘n spoorlyn woon is treine nogal skaars. Soms twee per dag. Anderdae minder.

Die trein kom so stadig nader. Kan ek maar sê hy bekruip ons huis, so amper hinkepink kom hy nader. Dis net die twee lokomotiewe. Die een aan die voorkant is blou en die ander ene is oranje. Julle weet amper soos die ou landsvlag.

Die engineer en sy assistent het omtrent uitgebraai in die kajuit so in die hitte van die stryd. Geen instrument werk nie. Hennie lag, want toe hulle vra vir water gaan haal hy ‘n bottel koue water met glase uit die yskas. Dis toe dat hulle van hul delema vertel.

Nee hulle soek meer water – vir die lokomotief. Die lokomotief het hulp nodig. Die dieselengin kook – julle weet soos wanneer ‘n kar se waterverkoeler lek en die motorengin te warm word. Die vrag met die mielietrokke is afgehak duskant die kruising. Die dieselperde het baie water nodig.

Die tuinslang word nader gesleep en op die drukpomp gekoppel. Hennie raak bekommerd en wil weet hoeveel water die kragtige masjien nou nodig sal hê? Daar word geskert en gelag stastieke word uitgeruil. Die drywer vertel dat die vrag agtergelaat is en hulle dit weer gaan hak wanneer die lokomotief ‘n bietjie gelawe is.

Deure soos groot soos hekke word oop gemaak. Die lokomotief sluk lustig aan die koel boorgatwater. Dan word die engin aan geskakel en die aarde maak so ‘n trilling onder ons voete. Nog water word gesluk deur die blou monster.
 
 Dan kom die teken dat daar nou genoeg water in die tenk is. Die tuinslang word weer terug tuin toe gestuur. Die pomp word afgeskakel en die dag se opwinding is verby.
 

Die trein het sy vrag gaan hak en met die tweede verbykom slag het dit vriendelik gefluit en verby gegalop.

Groetnis tot volgende keer.

Sandra en Hennie

Sunrise at Kameel

Kameel Stoepstorie: The Yard at Kameel is showing promise

DeOudeHuize

Testing the irrigationsystem.
We are fortunate to have enough water at Kameelhuisetussenspore. Looking forward to grow our own vegtables in our vegetable garden. The fruit trees are showing lots of promise. There are apricot, pear, apple, fig, quiche, orange, lemon and pomegrande trees growing in the Yard. We will be happy if the grapevines produce a crop this year. The blue berry bushes show promise.
NorthWest livingwithplants in an ecofriendly and sustainable living
at Kameel

Kameel Stoepstorie: Ouma Barlow en die dorp Stella

 

 Die dorp Stella het wonderlike kinderdae herinneringe vir my. In besonder Brandstraat.

Brandstraat

Brandstraat 10 soos dit vandag daaruit sien.

 Dit was die straat waarin Oupa Jimmy en Ouma Sannie se huis was. Nommer 10. Vandag lyk Brandstraat heel anders dan wat ek dit as kind kan onthou.

Die Klipsaal word vandag as stoorplek vir die Munisipaliteit gebruik

Brandstraat se huise het elkeen sy eie styl gehad. Almal was wit geverf. Almal naby die straat. 

Die water in Stella is brak want die soutpan lê naby die dorp. Vir baie jare is hier sout ontgin. Ongeag die brak water was daar heel party windpompe in die dorp, want almal het groentetuine gemaak. Ouma Sannie het ‘n Lemon Verbena by die agterdeur gehad. Dit was ‘n fees om die blare tussen ons hande te vryf en dan die reuk vir die hele dag saam te dra. ‘n Lekker vrugteboord was oupa se pride and joy. Die ingelgde geelperskes met dik vla, was ons kinders se gunsteling.

 Die Soutpanne na goeie reën

Oupa en Ouma was altwee kinders van die Willowmore, Patensie en die Gamtoos, soos Oupa het altyd na die Kolonie verwys as sy grootword wêreld gepraat het. Hy en Ouma het mekaar van kindsbeen geken. Hy het die plaas Langverwagt naby Kameel gekoop. Op hul oudag het hulle op Stella afgetree.

Ouma het geduld gehad met ons. Sy het die fynste kant hekel met sulke fyn gare en ‘n blink hekelpen. Dollies was ‘n groot gunsteling. Elkeen het die mooiste glaskrale gehad. Dit het geklingel wanneer sy die koffie ingebring het en dit oor die melkbertjie daarmee toegemaak was. Sy het geduld gehad om my te leer hekel – hotklou en al.

Die kombuis het ‘n houttafel gehad. So wit geskrop naby die koolstoof. In die eetkamer was ‘n bal-en-klou tafel wat ‘n verlengstuk gehad het. Op Sondae was die tafel gedek met ‘n gehekelde tafeldoek en haar beenhef eetgerei. Sy sou op ‘n oggend bel en sommer so terloops sê dat sy my pa se gunsteling skaapboud gaar gemaak het en ons moes oorkom vir ete. Sy kon selfs haar skoonseun onder ‘n wip vang met haar kos wat altyd vol verrassings was. Wanneer dit vetkoekdag was, was dit wonderlik om die vormpies van die vetkoeke in die olie te probeer assosieer met ‘n diertjie. Eendjies en hasies was altyd ‘n reg raai.

Ouma het lang hare gehad. Sy het dit in ‘n lang vlegsel aan die eenkant van haar kop gevleg en dan om haar kop gedraai. Na Oupa oorlede is en Ouma by haarself gewoon het, het die dogters op ‘n dag besluit – Ouma se hare moes kort geknip word. Wat ‘n tragedie was dit. Ouma kon nooit met die kort hare vrede maak nie. Ek het baie dae my tas gepak om by ouma te gaan bly maar het maar elke keer weer terug gekom huis toe.

Ouma Sannie het ook die swaar van die lewe geken. Haar een dogtertjie is oorlede en twee van Ouma se seuns is tydens WWII oorlede. Ek het altyd gewonder hoe sy dit oorleef het want daar was altyd ‘n glimlag op haar gesit. Oupa en Ouma met hul kinders op hul 50ste huweliksherdenking

Ouma het nog in die tyd van briewe skryf gelewe. Onlangs het ek hierdie stukkie kosbaarheid van ‘n niggie ontvang. Die brief is gerig aan haar suster, Tant Pollie, wat in Uitenhage gewoon het. Die inhoud is kosbaar!

Tot volgende keer

Sandra en Hennie

Kameel Stoepstorie: Travel companion

Wanneer ek ‘n Volkswagen Beetle op die pad raakloop dan kyk ek altyd waar sy flikkerligte sit. Julle weet daardie armpies wat so uitgeskiet het langs die deure wanneer daar gedraai word. In Engels is dit semaphores.

Wanneer ek ‘n Volkswagen Beetle op die pad raakloop dan kyk ek altyd waar sy flikkerligte sit. Julle weet daardie armpies wat so uitgeskiet het langs die deure wanneer daar gedraai word. In Engels is dit semaphores.

Pa was die “traveler” in ons familie. Hy sou niks daarvan dink om ons in die kar te laai en êrens heen te ry. Ons eerste kar was ‘n Borgward – ‘n besonderse motor wat op voco-paraffin kon loop.

Daar was die oranje VW Beetle met die “dog-box”. Ek onthou die reis af Jeffereybaai toe – die bagasie is in die neus van die Beetle gelaai en dan het Pa die neus van die motor in die regte rigting gedruk. Ons plek was bespreek in die Jeffreys Bay Hotel. As ek reg is is dit vandag die Savoy Hotel. Pa het op gevoel gery so het ons Jeffreysbaai ge”overshoot” en in die destydse Ferreiratown gestop. Gelukkig was daar ‘n vriendelike man wat Pa in die regte rigting gestuur het.

Dan was daar later die bootvaart op die Knysna Lagoon en die gety wat ons wou intrek. Janboel en Julian wat moes stoot dat hulle bars om die boot op droeë grond te kry.

Al die kere wat ons gaan springhase jaag het met die Willy’s Jeep. Dit was ons Saterdag-aand uitstappie op die plaas. Menige aande het ons met Jeep en al in ‘n gat te lande gekom. Dit was pret om met ‘n groot gesukkel weer huis toe te hinkepink.

Die Nuwejaar kamp by West-end dam met pa se 8-ton lorrie en die wit Engelse tent. Die blou lorrie sou die naweek van Nuwejaar gelaai word met onder andere beddens wat kon opvou in sulke oulike amperse tafeltjies, die nodige potte en panne en natuurlik die wit tent. Daar is visgevang en geswem. Later van tyd was daar ‘n bootjie waarmee die vissermanne se hoeke die water ingeneem is. Dit was in die tye voor sonbrand beskerming en gewoonlik was daar ‘n paar erg verbrande rooi lywe.

Die Engelse tent het ‘n spesiale plek gekry by Kameel Rust & Vrede Bed en Ontbyt 

Die kuier by tant Meraai in die Gamtoos en die tabak-vlooie wat ons byna opgevreet het. Ma het so in ‘n fluister stem vir Pa vertel van die vlooie maar ai, met Tant Meraai se ore was daar geen fout nie.

Dan onthou ek ook die kuiers by oom Salmon en Tant Pollie op Uitenhage. Tant Pollie was my ouma Barlow se suster. Vandag nog is Tant Pollie se appeltert deel van ons lewens en okkasie spyskaart. Ek onthou die tafel in die kombuis waar ons almal saam gekuier het en stories van die Kolonie vertel het.

Daar was die tye wat ons laat-laat middag by die huis weg ry om by Popeye, soos my Pa my Ma genoem het, se familie in Skurweberg te gaan kuier. Tant Madeleine en oom Was het by Skurweberg gebly. So lekker teen die klip koppie. Daar is gekuier om Grand-cru en roomys.

Soms het ons 21h00 van die plaas gery om op Cypress in die Steynsrus distrik te gaan kuier. Dit was waar Fritzie en Rhoda geboer het. Ontbyt aan die tafel in die voorhuis was altyd ‘n ondervinding met Fritzie wat vir elkeen ‘n snybrood gesny het. Nooit meer as een sny op ‘n slag. Vir ons Finchams was dit nogal vreemd want dit was ons stapelvoedsel. Ek onthou die uitstappie met die Bluebird Datsun in die Golden Gate. Daarna was Pa Gerald nooit weer gretig om Golden Gate te besoek nie.

Op ‘n ander toer is ons na Francistown in Botswana, daardie kuiers in die destydse Suid-Rhodesia. Die Vic Falls, waar ons op ‘n bootvaart op die meer was. Een van die passasiers se kinders het ‘n aap geterg en is gebyt. Toe moes almal terugkeer wal toe. Pa het ons die Valley of Ruins en Matopo Hills gewys. My gunsteling plek was Leopards Rock omdat dit so ‘n pienk kleur geverf was en ek het aan Monaco gedink.

Daar was al die rally’s saam met Cecil en Paaijapan. Persoonlik dink ek daar is klein-kinders met Av-gass in hulle bloed. Pa en Ma het een aand in die middel van die winter by ons oorgeslaap. Juis met die hele Rally konvooi. Pa het voorgestel dat die manne buite sou slaap maar het nie rekening gehou met die Vrystaatse koue nie. Die nag het die manne voor die kaggel geslaap. Dit het nogal ‘n gesnork uit die boonste rakke gewees.

Pat en Pa wat “flips” in DVZ ZA oor Kameel geneem het. Dit was vir Pa groot vreugde en hy het later jare vertel hoe Kameel en die omgewing uit die lug lyk. Daar is later ‘n langer aanloopbaan deur die mielielande gemaak. Later jare sou Pat, Ma, ek en Hennie gaan blomme kyk in Springbok. Ons het 'n landing op Halfweg gemaak en toe weer optestyg na Springbok. Op Springbok was die dorp toegetrek onder mis. Ons is onder 'n juigende alarm weer die lug in, en ja ek kan ‘n noodlanding aftik op my lys.

 

 Daar was die kuier in Namibia by Susan en Derick. Die plaas was op Gobabis en toe die terugrit aangepak moet word was die motor se battery pad en al genade was die Landdrover. Nodeloos om te sê, Derick het ‘n plan gemaak, ‘n matras is vir Ma en Susie agter op die Landdrover gesit. Hulle moes darem in gemak reis. Ma kon nooit uitgepraat raak van hoe sy en Susie die hele pad terug Windhoek toe gegiggel het.

Daar’s al die kuiers by Mike en Hes in Bloemfontein en Mike wat Pa na elke “scrapyard” in Bloem moes neem. Dis seker waar ek my liefde vir ‘n skrootwerf gekry het.

Daar was kuier in Harrismith en pa se woorde aan Hennie – “Hendrik ek weet nie wat jy betaal het nie maar ek is seker jy het te veel betaal”

Oupa wat Pedri geleer het van toast, bacon en eiers – sy gunsteling!.

 Wat ‘n lewensrit was dit nie!

When you give your children knowledge, you are telling them what to think. When you give your children wisdom, you do not tell them what to know, or what is true, but, rather, how to get to their truth.

Tot ‘n volgende keer

Hennie & Sandra

Kameel Stoepstorie: A farm school in Kameel

This farm school opened its doors in 1934 in a room in my grandparents' house. My Granny – Hester Fincham was very involved with the day to day issues of the school. My parents and family also attended the farm school

Growth was evident and soon my grandfather – Victor Fincham built a school. Till today it is fondly remembered as the ‘Wit Skool” because since I can remember it was painted white.

Mrs Vic (Granny Hester) as she was known in the community was still seeing over the day to day running of the school. During a break, the learners would go to the post office to get the mail. En route to the post-office was Mr Mackay’s shop and here you could buy to huge Wilson toffees for one penny.

Fifty-seven years ago, my brother, Julian headed off to school. This was a huge family celebration as he was the eldest grandchild of Mrs Vic

Front Douglas and Julian. Middle Patric and Francis on Granny’s lap. Back Myself and Elaine

It looked like great fun and he even got to make sandwiches every day too! He had a smart suitcase, BOOKS, CRAYONS AND PAPERS! After not too much persuasion, I went off to school with him. I must have been the first 4-year-old in “Grade 0!”

  

Our teacher – I can’t remember if it was Miss Betsie or not, but she let me practice writing with the left hand and when that was tired, with the right hand. My mum would come and pick me up at break time soon after all the sandwiches had been devoured.

Front Riana, Maggie, Rita and Amanda. Middle Mariette, Elmarie, Elize, Myself and Ansie Next row Analize, Heila, Marieta, Velmay, Elaine and Ria. Roux, Hanelie, Anina, and Martjie (So sorry I have lost a name) Miss Betsie. Miss Betsie travelled by horse cart to school.

The most memorable thing from that first school year was Julian’s speech about what happened at home just before his leaving for school. I have never quite understood why children must always write a speech or composition about their holiday or what happened at home on a particular day.

Getting back to the story – like most farm children of the day, Ouboet (Big brother) was quite capable of driving the Ford. Hennie says it was a Ford 100. We would catch Uncle Koos’s bus to school. With Ouboet behind the wheel, we would drive to the farm gate and then get onto the bus.

His speech went as follows, “Miss, this morning on the way to school, Ford’s clutch slipped and the gears locked which nearly resulted in us being late for the bus.”

The following year, the school began and it was serious business. I recall Maggie and Elmarie who had the most delicious peach jam sandwiches. The sandwiches were later replaced by the most delicious chocolate cake. Elaine could go home whenever she felt like it. She was also my cousin and I would accompany her home during many a break time. She could run like a streak of lightning. Then there was Marieta and Mariette who could both sing so beautifully. Years later they would even get to sing the Drummer Boy song in the NG Church’s gallery. The clever girls were Heila, Riana and Amanda.

 

Still remember some of the boys' names Koos Swart, Johan, Evert, Karel, Kosie, Julian, Hennie, Pieter, Henry, Douglas, Patrick, Gertjie, Theo, Pookie, Johnny, Pierre, Diekie, Johannes Mr Olivier is the teacher. Ouboet is standing in the second row from the top just behind Gertjie with the black blazer. Next to Ouboet is Kosie with the badge on his lapel.

It was during this time of my life that I came to meet a certain school inspector. As he walked between the desks, he stopped at my desk. I think it was quite unusual at the time that a child could cope quite well writing with both their left and right hand. Perhaps he had not yet heard of the word ambidextrous! Who would have heard of such a thing back in 1963!

With the following words, “Miss, you had better decide which hand you are going to use to write with!” I got such a fright, I decided to go with the hand in which the crayon was held at the time – it was my left hand. Fortunately, all left-handed people are seen by myself as somewhat special, many of whom happen to be in our family.

 I remember Mr Basson – he had his classes in the old white school building. We sat according to our classes. The standard 3’s in front, then 4’s and then the 5’s. As the standards progressed each year, we would move further back too. The thing I remember the most about Mr Basson were his essays. He taught me to write about the mountains. He would write key words on the blackboard and we would have to create a story around them. I always wondered if he were missing the mountains of the Cape Boland as he would spend so much time teaching us about these majestic blue giants. I must say that from where I sit right now, living at the foot of the Platberg, I could even wax lyrical about the colours of this beautiful mountain.

 Later on, Andrew would arrive at school with his bandy legs. Like Elaine, he would run so fast you would just spot him disappearing into the distance!

And so, the years marched on. Many of our, “clutches,” would slip and our, “gears,” would jam but at the same time, we learned of the Majesty of God’s Grace and Mercy.

May God’s blessings always fall on the Kameel Primary School like soft and gentle rain.

Till next time

Hennie & Sandra

Kameel Stoepstorie: The Old typewriters at Kameel

I credit my love for typewriter to Mr. Meyer who was the typing teacher during my school days. 

In those days you have to be able to type 100 words per minute without mistakes. 

Today we call our little collection the Grandmothers of Computers. 

Similar models used by Ernest Hemingway,  John Steinbeck and Tennessee Williams

Typewriters are such a cool collectible and you'd be hard pressed to not to find an antique or vintage typewriter displayed in even a modest collection. 

 The collection started when we were given a Remington.  

In the early years of De Oude Huize Yard Bed and Breakfast we thought it would be wonderful to display the typewriters in the guests rooms. Needless to say they were taking a lot of abuse and we had to remove it. 

These American made machines were among the most popular and widely produced typewriters in history started production in 1878. 

The shift key is an example of an early feature in the typewriter business, created by Remington, that has stuck around even to this day on computer keyboards! The Remington Portable first appeared in the market in 1920. It was the first portable to use a 4-bank standard keyboard as well as other principal features of the office machines. 

The Remington Portable has a unique method of raising the type bars to a printing position by means of a lever on the right side of the typewriter.

We received our Remington from Hannes and Tina Jordaan. They knew that it look cool, but were not sure what to do with it.

 We then move over to the L.C. Smith & Corona Typewriter Inc. 

Manufactured in New York in 1924 by Corona Typewriter Company. 

In 1926, Corona merged with L.C. Smith to become or the familiar Smith Corona.

  Next in line is the Remington Rem-ette

It is the Travel Typewriter and manufactured round 1942.

This little lady was given to us by Annatjie Kuhn and is still complete in the travel case.

It is in an beautiful vintage case all complete.  

Hermes Baby of the 1950's 

What is there not to love about a typewriter called Baby? 

Never mind all the references you find to Hemingway/ Steinbeck/ insert-famous-author having used this typewriter, but the name alone, and the beautifully-rendered logo, is enough to get this machine a second look.

A look at this machine's profile shows how flat it is - truly an ultra-portable, traveling typewriter. In its case, it is barely 40cm high and 10cm wide - its narrow profile and compact body means that it is never too large to take home. There is gull-wing that covers the ribbons.

It has and industrial look. The Baby was reputed to be the typewriter of choice for Ernest Hemingway. 

Swiss made. Marked: HERMES MADE IN SWITZERLAND BY paillard s.a. YVERDON.

Olivetti Underwood Studio 44 (circa 1965)

This one has a sad story 

On a bright and sunny day a lady came into our establishment with a little red case. 

She asked us to hold the typewriter – you know like in a pawn shop 

She needs R400 and will return the next week with the money and collect the typewriter. 

Needless to say she never returned. 

After about six months we opened the case and find that the top lid was missing.

 Made by the Italian company Olivetti in their Barcelona, Spain plant. The Studio 44 was the favorite typewriter of American playwright Tennessee Williams. The architect Marcello Nizzoli designed it and was introduced in 1952

This one shows the following

 Made in Italy and assembled in South Africa

Thanks for visiting our collection of typewriters 

Till next time 

Sandra