REAPING DIVIDENDS

If you scroll down through the “older posts” on this blog you will get to the entry posted on the 17th April, 2018 ……………. it starts off as follows:

My good friend Danie Nortje threw a curved ball at me a few days ago and I have been tripping over my thoughts ever since. I had sent him a short paragraph and a few pictures of the property we have decided to buy in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, and hinted that I would appreciate a bit of feedback. Well, feedback I got - in spades! First a very brief email saying simply, "Wow - have I got some ideas for you," followed by one of those intense phone conversations littered with enthusiasm that one can only have with Danie, the gist of which was, "This is going to be your 'Year in Provence', yada, yada, yada ........ be sure to keep a daily record of everything and everyone, and you can be sure that it will pay dividends."

Well Danie, I have done as suggested, and while perhaps not entirely fulfilling your brief, it has already payed dividends in spades - and in a great many ways that were never expected. I know that part of the idea is that I am supposed to build a book of sorts around this first year in “my Provence”, viz., Bathurst ………  perhaps that will come sometime down the line, but the dividends have presented themselves in so many positive ways in this remarkable little village, that they really are almost too many to mention. We have made so many good friends in a remarkably short time - the proprietors of all the various Bathurst institutions have been warm and welcoming without exception, people such as Lizz and Aubrey at Relix and Thingz, Annie at the Bistro, Gavin and Lucille and their staff at the  Pig ’n Whistle, Patrick and Michelle at the Ploughman’s Arms, Tori Stowe and husband Craig at the Corner Shoppe (our neighbors), Lihani and Kai from Hangar 572 on Route 67 (our other neighbours), Brian and Sandy from Just Off Centre Studio Gallery, Vaughn and Amy from Shangri-La and the Bathurst Butchery, Sheralyn the “Cheese Chic”, and a whole host of individuals who are all very special in their own way …………. Tom and Alison Barrett (the unofficial Mayoral couple), Howard Butler (what a Gentleman), Mary Riley the always positive Alpaca lady, Rob and Maggie Mears (the Doctor and his incorrigible Scottish wife),  David Forsdyke who is a mine of information both historical and otherwise, Soccer legend Roy Matthews and ‘solid as a rock’ wife Jeanne, Carl Penn (the Chef at the Pig and generally nice guy), Mike and Chrissie Craddock, Sybil and John, Maggie and John, Julie and Peter Wood (Proprietors of the Cheshire 5 Star Cattery - model clients and ‘all round’ nice guys in every respect), Jon and Yvonne Pieters (purveyors of all things ‘Blacksmith’ and wonderful anecdotes), Les Pook (you crusty old bugger), Barry the trombonist, Marius and Cornelia and their little one Alexa (our surrogate granddaughter), Henrik and Lisbet (the indomitable Danes), and so on and on and on and on ……………… 

So Danie - as you can see there is absolutely no shortage of characters to draw inspiration from …………… but like good wine, they need to be mulled - the first taste has been amazing, but I want to wait for all the flavours to present themselves - the berries and figs and other fruit - the herbs and spices and aromas that will inevitably enhance all these relationships and turn what for the moment we must un-presumptiously term good acquaintances into good and close friendships, and as we obviously have a pivotal role to play in all of this, here’s hoping we will ultimately cut the mustard and prove worthy.

A small portion of Pat's Autumn garden - can you believe it?

In the meantime Bathurst has welcomed the autumn with two quite remarkable events within a week of each other. The first, the Bathurst Bookfair on the 28th April , drew literally thousands of people back to Bathurst just three weeks after the Agricultural Show, and what a Fair it was, with book 'fare' of every possible genre on offer to an obviously discerning audience. There were talks and discussions and ‘open mike’ poetry readings, all at a variety of venues that encouraged the public to move through the village centre and make the very best of everything that was on offer.

The Bookfair - cars everywhere

Below: Some of the Bookfair patrons, hosts and speakers

The Marquee on the Village Green before the rush

Annie working the crowd at the Bistro

Then just one week later - Saturday the 4th May - the Agricultural Museum ‘Open Day’, which also attracted far more than its fair share of visitors. The Bathurst Agricultural Museum is a very special place that has been around for some considerable time now and which is looked after and maintained by some very special people without whom this country would lose a quite remarkable historical asset. The museum itself is a measure of man’s ingenuity in the face of often overwhelming odds at times when there was little or no clear way forward, and anyone visiting Bathurst would do well to ensure that they visit this national treasure. There was a great “Potjie” competition on a beautiful day plagued only by extra special weather and lovely warm temperatures…………………the Ploughman’s Arms was a great host for the event with good music, cold beer and an always ‘gesellige’ atmosphere enjoyed by absolutely everyone who was there.

Jon Pieters teaching a youngster how to fashion a 'Pig's Tail' at the anvil

Must've been a bad day at Wimbledon

Wagon Wheels

Wagon wheel rim

The Disco man and his helper at the Plough

Gesellige Tye at the Plough

Mary Riley taking a break

Kai in traditional outfit (we wouldn't recognize him without it)

The 'main manne' who maintain and manage the Museum

Roy Matthews in pensive mood

Who does that child remind you of?

Patrick the Ploughman Proprietor taking a little break

Andre - 4th place in the Potjie

Shane - 3rd place in the Potjie (Was it him or the girls we wonder?)

Odile - 2nd place and very proud

The "Guptas" - 1st Place with a really good curry

On top of all this it was really great to have Peter Davidson down from Pretoria at his house in Port Alfred for much of the past three weeks - popping in from time to time and staying over for the odd night. Lots of "When We's" as always ................ old friends are always "best friends". Keep the visits coming Pete.

And so we look forward to the next event …………. the Bathurst Dog Show, scheduled as far as I know for June 1st. This too will be another first for us, and we look forward to seeing how it all pans out.

This entry’s bird is what I am almost sure was a Steppe Buzzard (Buteo vulpinus) that visited briefly in late January - it gave me just one shot before lifting off and disappearing into the distance. If you think I’ve got it wrong please let me know.

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo vulpinus)