Showing posts with label Route377. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Route377. Show all posts

Thursday 25 January 2024

Kameel Stoepstorie: The regenerated Post Office building

 We visited the Old Post Office at Kameel some time ago. Telkom rented it for years. The building was where the villagers would pay telephone accounts, collect mail, send telegrams & have a chat with Glen. Aunt Glen knitted the most beautiful socks for her children while operating the exchange. 





On a blue day, Rulandi asked Patrick if she could rent the old Post Office building and change it into a little house. She aims to shape the old building and, thereafter the building will shape her and her new beginnings.

On her own time, RuIandi and some help started the change. Today we popped in and are sharing with you her process. 

She changed the structure into a cute cottage into a one bedroom, a bathroom and a huge living area with the kitchen. The old entrance became a bathroom, the reception area is now her bedroom and the second entrance is her laundry. 





She is eager to start a garden to brighten her new home. We wish Rulandi the very best and we are watching her progress.



Till next time 
Sandra 




Saturday 13 January 2024

Kameel Stoepstorie: Ma Floss se Vrugtekoek

 

Ma Floss op haar troudag

Hierdie resep het Ma Floss, as jong getroude vrou, by ‘n baker op Mafeking gekry. Die bakery was Dick’s Bakery en was in Stationweg. Ma en Pa het in Carrington Road gebly.  

Elke Oktobermaand het Ma hierdie resep uitgehaal en dan was dit vrugtekoek tyd. 


Die vrugtekoek het  'n familie tradisie geword. 

Die resep is aangepas by metrieke mates. 


Die droeëvrugte is twee dae voordat die koek gebak word, voorberei. In daardie dae moes die vrugte gewas word, die rosyne ontpit word en die dadels ontpit word. Dan is die vrugte op 'n skoon doek op ‘n sifdraad uitgegooi om droog te word. Daarna is die rosyne en dadels gesniper. Daarna is die meeste suiker van die verskuikerde skil afgekrap en is dan fyn gesny. Die kersies word deur gesny, die groenvye word grof gekap en die gemmer word ook fyn gesny. Die neute word gekap. 


Die vrugte is die aand voordat die koek gebak word gemeng in 'n skottel. Brandewyn is daaroor gegooi en die vrugte is dan bedek 'n deksel of ‘n bord. Die vrugte mengsel is dan geoornag.  


Vrugte 

1 lb rosyne;  1 lb sultans;   1 lb korente;   ½ lb dadels ; ½ lb versuikerde skil; ¼ lb kersies;  ½ lb groenvye;  ½ lb heel ingelegde gemmer; ½ kop brandewyn;  1 kop van 1 lb suiker en 'n ½ lb neute



Gebruik 1 kop suiker van die koek se bestanddele en verhit dit in ‘n pan tot dit gesmelt en ligbruin van kleur is.  Moet dit nie laat brand nie want dan sal dit b itter wees.  Voeg ¾ kop kookwater daarby en roer tot alles smelt is. 

Laat dit goed koud word om later te gebruik. 


Deeg

1 lb meel;  1½ teel fyn naeltjies;  ½ teel fyn gemmer;  1 teel sout; ½ kaneel 

1 lb botter;  1 lb suiker – 1 kop wat reeds gebruik is;  

10 eiers 

1 teel koeksoda;  2 eet appelkooskonfyt;  2 eet kitskoffie;


Koekpan

Voer die koekpan met drie lae bruinpapier en een lag botterpapier uit. 

Sny ook 3 stroke bruinpapier en een botter papier 1 duim wyer as die diepte van die pan en maak met ‘n tou om die koekpan vas.

Smeer die botterpapier met vet en voer die kante en boom van die pan uit.  


Metode

Sif die droë bestanddele saam, behalwe die koeksoda en die suiker. 

Klits die botter met ‘n houtlepel en voeg die suiker geleidelik by. Klits tot romerig is. 

Klits die eiers goed en voeg dit bietjie-bietjie by. Meng goed na elke byvoeging. Voeg ‘n bietjie van die meelmengsel ook by sodra die mengsel van botter en eier te loperig word, sodat dit nie kan skei nie. 

As al die eiers en meelmengsel met die botter en suiker gemeng is, voeg koue karamelstroop by.

Voeg die vrugte waaroor die Brandewyn gegiet is, by. 

Los die koeksode in ‘n bietjie warm, sterk koffie (omtrent 1 eetlepel), voeg konfyt by en voeg by die mengsel 

Voeg die neute by en meng alles goed. 

Die beslag moet styf genoeg wees om in stukke van die 

Voeg die neute by en meng alles goed. Die beslag moet styf genoeg wees om in stukke van die lepel af te val. As dit te slap is, sal die vrugte afsak en as dit te styf is, sal die koek bars. 



Skep die deeg in die uitgevoerde koekpan en druk die mensel na die kante van die vorm om effens ‘n holte in die middle te maak en so te voorkom dat die koek nie in die middle te veel oprys nie. 

Bak 4 – 5 uur land in ‘n stadige oond by 300ºF.  

Laat die koek ryp word vir ongeveer ‘n maand of langer in ‘n digte blik op ‘n koel plek. 

Sprinkel met ‘n bietjie brandewyn tussen deur.  



Tot 'n volgende keer 
Sandra 



Saturday 18 April 2020

Kameel Stoepstorie: Rovos Rail and Kameel Railway Station

When Rovos Rail – The Pride of Africa stops at Kameel it is always a special occasion.
For those that are still wondering Rovos Rail is a train-hotel. The trains consist of restored coaches with lounges, dining cars, private sleeping compartments, each with private ensuite facilities. Then there is the observation car which is like sitting on the stoep of the train.
The train has different types of accommodation on board. With names like Pullman. Delux and the Royal Suite, which is half a train car
The company was started in 1989 by Rohan Vos and is family owned and Rovos Rail has its private station at Capital Park in Pretoria.

The dining car reminds of Edwardian train travel with beautiful pre-1940 and is characterized by the carved roof that is supported with pillars and arches. The button leather seating, crystal glass and branded cutlery is all enhanced with the beautiful light fittings. The fans add to the glamour. This car is referred to as the Pillars.

The lounge car is fitted with deep sofas and wing back chairs and seems like the ideal place for an afternoon snooze as the train makes its way over the plains of Africa.

Even the the train is air-conditioned the windows can open and you can enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of Africa.


The Observation Car is like the stoep of Africa.




Till next time
Sandra


Friday 3 January 2020

Kameel Stoepstorie: De Oude Huize at Kameel


 We, Hennie and Sandra invite you to visit the village Kameel, on the R377 in the North West Province. Situated between Delareyville and Stella
Kameel is the perfect stop-over for travelers en route to Upington or anywhere else in the top half of the Northern Cape, Namibia or the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

De Oude Huize at Kameel
 

The cottage that, we made available for guest accommodation, is situated in Kameel and was originally built as the Stationmaster house in 1945. It is a two-bedroom one-bathroom cottage fitted with wooden floors. The foyer serves as a photo gallery of the Fincham family that was involved in the lives of Kameel from the early days of the railway station. 


You will find the bedrooms very comfortable. The first bedroom is furnished with a king bed and the second bedroom is fitted with a queen bed. Our bedroom linen is percale and you will love the sheer pleasure of sleeping in cool sheets. We love the handmade quilts that add charm to the beds.
King bedroom 
 
Queen bedroom

 The lounge/dining area is fitted with comfortable vintage and antique furniture. There are railway memorabilia and vintage cameras on display. We have filled the bookcase with old books for reading during your stay. 



The music room will charm you 

The delightful kitchen

 The bathroom is fitted with a bath, basin and toilet. We offer white cotton towels and gowns for your stay.

There are two stoep areas to enjoy the outdoors. The front stoep, with an old church bench, is wonderful to enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunsets or spot the occasional freight train going through the village.



The back stoep is ideal for bird watching and early morning coffee with rusks. You will find an antique pair of binocular to watch the birds close up. We have spotted plus-minus 100 species of birds and for your convenience, you will find a bird list in the cottage. Kameel is a wonderful place for star-gazing. 


 The garden is there for you to enjoy. You will find the recliners ideal for an afternoon nap. 

The kitchen is fully equipped with a fridge and gas stove.

The little TV/music room is fitted with a piano. There is a very special display of vintage hand planes. 

 We offer a Webber braai should you want to enjoy an outdoor meal. 

There is one shade cover parking area. 


Things to do
Go for a walk and visit the site where the old British Blockhouse used to stand. You will also find the trigonometrical beacons of the area. There are also a lot of veldt plants that you will find on your walk. 


 We can arrange for a little tour to show the Sociable Weaver nest nearby. 

A self-drive outing to the Anglo Boer War site at Kraaipan is an interesting site to visit. You will find a book in the cottage telling you more. 

Please note that you can book for a special dinner at R250 per person. You need to book in advance!

The cottage, sleeping 4, is available at R1300 per night. 

In case you were wondering – yes we are the previous owners of De Oude Huize in Harrismith. 

Directions
We four hours from Johannesburg and 25 minutes of the N14 highway which connects Gauteng with Namibia and the South Africa's west coast.

See you soon 
Hennie and Sandra