A morning on the rocks

Click here for more photos. 

Ewige Inwoner

Gister het ek gehoor Tannie Liz is oorlede.

As jy nie weet wie dit is nie, sy was die laaste inwoner van De Mond Karavaanpark. Sy en haar yorkie, Jody.

ʼn Paar maande gelede het ek na die karavaanpark se hek toe gery om te kyk hoe dinge lyk en gaan. Die wag by die hek het gesê dat niemand verby die valboom mag kom sonder ʼn afspraak nie. Maar, ek kan vir Liz bel en uitvind of sy my sal sien.

Sy het onmiddelik ja gesê, al ken sy my nie. Dalk was dit vir die geselskap.

Die wag het die valboom maar stadig gelig en selfs saam met my na Liz se huis toe gery.

Jody was eerste om my te kom groet, en kort op sy hakke was die tannie in die wit polar fleece trui.

Groot was ons verbasing toe ons altwee mekaar erken.

Ek moes verlede jaar ʼn foto van iemand neem vir ʼn fotojoernalistiek-klas. Na ure se rondry en loop kry ek die witkop-tannie by Voëlklipstrand. Sy was besig om die Rapport te lees en Jody het agterop die kar se sitplek gelê. Rustig en onbewus van die slegte nuus in die koerant.

Liz en Jody Foto: Dayne Nel

Sy was geduldig toe ek die foto neem. Terwyl ek alles probeer onthou wat ek in die klas geleer het van raming en komposisie. Kliek en totsiens. Ek het gery sonder om haar naam te vra.

Maar, ʼn paar maande gelede staan sy weer, hier in De Mond Karavaanpark, voor my. Haar naam is Lizette Theron, laaste inwoner van De Mond Karavaanpark.

“Ek het altyd gewonder wat van daai foto geword het,”sê Liz terwyl ons in die klein vakansiehuisie instap. Iewers blêr RSG, en ek wag maar tot sy dit sagter sit voor ek verder praat.

Haar huis was netjies. Daar was geen vuil skottelgoed, die beddens in die twee slaapkamers was mooi opgemaak en nie ʼn krummel in sig nie.

Ons het deurgeloop na ʼn sonkamer toe. Daar staan ons saam in die houthuisie met dié mooiste uitsig oor die lagune.

Hiér is dit stil. Dit was laatmiddag toe ek die eerste keer ʼn draai gaan maak het. Die son het op die lagune weerkaats en van waar ons gestaan het kan mens die muggies se kringe op die water sien.

“Ek kan sien hoekom tannie wil bly,”sê ek vir haar.

“Waarheen anders moet ek gaan?” antwoord sy.

Ons sit en praat toe ʼn hele ruk oor haar huis en hoe die pad vorentoe lyk. Want kyk, sy moet Augustus uit.

De Mond Karavaanpark was in Desember 2012 ontruim. Na ʼn skikking in die hof kon net drie mense daar bly. Liz Theron, Hanna Auret en Keith Hampshire.

Keith bly nou by sy dogter in Durban, en daar was al by sy huis ingebreek, Hanna kon na ʼn berig in Die Burger haar huis verkoop, daar was ook al ingebreek, en toe bly net Liz oor, met ʼn vrees dat hulle ook by haar sal inbreek.

Soveel soos wat haar huis vir haar ʼn toevlug was, was sy vreesbevange.

“Ek slaap nie in my kamer nie, ek slaap op die bank, want ek is bang die boomtakke val op my dak,”vertel sy.

“Die wag by die hek patrolleer ook nie die park nie, hy moet net seker maak die mense bly uit.

“As mense weet dit is net ek wat hier bly, kan hulle my kom doodmaak en niemand sal weet nie.”

Liz het later met ADT gereël om daar verby te ry. Hoewel sy nie ʼn kliënt was nie, het hulle goedhartig ingestem.

My kuiertjie by tannie Liz daardie eerste keer was kort, maar ek het belowe dat ek sou terugkom. En ek het.

Terwyl ons oor die volgende paar maande gepraat het, het ek van De Mond se hey day gehoor.

Naweke was veral lekker, want almal het saam gekuier.

En nou, nou is naweke pynlik eensaam.

Sy vertel hoe sy spesiale toestemming moes kry vir kuiergaste om later as 17:00 in die park te bly of oor te slaap.

Om haar is net die oorblyfsels van gelukkiger dae.

Als is gestroop. De Mond Karavaanpark lê op ʼn hoop. Op-ge-hoop. Geen hoop.

Binne Liz se huis is foto’s van haar stiefseun, Jody en haar man.  

Tydens my laaste kuiertjie, het ons vir lank gesit en praat oor die toekoms. Ek het haar gevra waar sy sou wou bly.

“Ek wil net in Hermanus bly,”sê sy terwyl ons na die lyste kyk wat die munisipaliteit vir haar gegee het. Alternatiewe akkommodasie, nie een in Hermanus nie, en nie een wat sy met haar staatspensioen kan bekostig nie.

Toe ek daardie laaste keer ry het ek nie besef dat ek nooit weer vir tannie Liz sou sien nie. By die valboom sien ek die groot glyplank in my spieël en wonder hoe dinge gaan eindig.  

Tannie Liz het vir haar reg om in haar huis te bly geveg. Min sal haar onthou, maar meer is bly sy is weg.

Jy wen tannie, jy het toe nooit getrek nie.

Lees meer hier:
Laaste inwoner van De Mond-park sterf
Laaste drie verlaat woonwapark
De Mond staan al twee jaar leeg
Gevangene en 'n banneling
Herontwikkeling van De Mond nog nie gefinaliseer

Huisgenoot Brief: Groot voete RE: Ina se Brief

Liewe Ina

Ek antwoord op jou brief laas week (Groot Voete).

Ek is nou 26 en dra tussen ʼn 9 en 10 grootte skoen. Ek onthou hoe ek ook hoog en laag moes soek vir skoene vir al die groot hoërskool mylpale. My ma moes deurskiet Worcester toe en met winkelassistente praat terwyl ek skaam-skaam in die hoekie van die skoenwinkel vertoef.

Ek het twee pare skoene vir matriekafskeid gehad, want nie een het eintlik perfek gepas nie.

En, op ʼn stadium het ek net tekkies gedra.

Wel, hier is ʼn paar plekkies waar ek deesdae skoene kry. Hoewel, nou nie mooi dun silwer skoene nie.

Woolworths dra wel ʼn nommer 9, maar dit is soms so ʼn  dun skoen, dat dit nie vir my pas nie. Veral nie die toe skoene nie. En, hul groot nommers vlieg van die rakke af. Wanneer gaan winkel leer dat daar meer mense is wat groot nommers dra?

Ek vind ook dat die kwaliteit van die skoen nie goed is nie. Mens is seker nie veronderstel om daardie skoene 24 uur ʼn dag te dra nie, maar as dit al is wat pas het mens nie ʼn ander keuse nie.

Crocs verkoop ook groter skoene. En, hulle skoene is baie mooi deesdae. Ek dra hulle nommer 11, so ek skat jou dogter sal dalk ʼn nommer 10 by hulle dra.

Crocs is gemaklik, maar wel ʼn bietjie duur. Maar, moet nie dat die naam jou afsit nie. Hulle het pragtige fyn sandale.

Laastens, in Hermanus is daar ʼn winkel met die naam Ally Shoes. Hulle het ook groter nommers. Dit is wel ook ʼn bietjie duurder, maar baie goeie kwaliteit.

Op die stadium is ek gelukkig met ʼn netjiese swart skoen, maar ek skat dit is die laaste ding wat jou dogter soek vir matriekafskeid.

Ek was baie skaam oor my groot voete op skool, totdat een van my klasmaats eendag vir my gesê het, “Weet jy, jy sou darem vreemd gelyk het met klein voete. Dit sou nie by jou pas nie.”

Ek het klaar vrede gemaak dat ek eendag in ʼn Croc gaan trou of kaalvoet op die strand. Net nie in netjiese swart skoene nie.

Sterkte.

Dayne “Grootvoet”Nel

We are so small (Photos)

These photos of the Marine Pool were taken in Hermanus. 

Photo: Dayne Nel

Photo: Dayne Nel

Photo: Dayne Nel

Scratch me (Video)

Lucy, the wire-haired fox terrier, has a spot on her neck which I must scratch. When I move my hand away, she drags it back. Here is what she does . . .

@Food and Wine a new favourite

Hermanus has a new hotspot and it is worth a visit. 

Situated conveniently in the new Carriages building, an evening out now means no looking for parking and no driving too far out of town if you come from Eastcliff’s side like me.

I have to pause for a moment though and add that the Carriages building is opposite Woolworths. I have spoken to so many people who have not seen a whole new building going up in the Main Road.

So here goes, here is what I thought of @Food and Wine:

We arrived to a very warm welcome. 

I must admit, my first impressions were that this is different. Very different. Every effort has been taken to consider every detail. From décor to dining, @Food and Wine is here to impress.

Within minutes chef Edmund Viljoen was greeting diners and making everyone feel at home.

Our very first impression of the menu is that it is very well priced. Especially when you are considering a three-course meal, you don’t always feel like a huge starter or main, so the smaller options are a fantastic addition.

Before we got started with our food, a small amuse-bouche was served. It was a small potato soup with truffle oil. Give me more please! Buckets more!

I opted for the wild mushroom risotto, which was pure perfection and my partner went with the skilpadjies. Yes, they have skilpadjies on the menu. But, do not be scared. I had a taste and it was amazing.

But, the mains were truly what blew us away.

I had the rump steak with triple cooked chips and some roasted vegetables. My partner had the sticky ribbetjies.

Where do I begin. In my mind there was only one restaurant in Hermanus that could serve proper steak. Well, now there are two.

You could choose between a pepper crust or a basting, and I chose the basting. It was done to perfection. Every bite was a pleasure.

You know that taste you crave when you crave a good steak? You know the one, a mix between the black charcoal of a braai and the red juiciness of the steak? This is what @Food and Wine delivered. It was so good, I was considering skipping dessert and ordering another steak.

My partner’s ribbetjies were also out of this world. Every bite melts in your mouth. And, this includes the softest and smoothest mash you have ever tasted.

All throughout the service was impeccable. There is really a sense of camaraderie among the staff. Everyone serves, takes away dirty plates and tops up your wine.

So yes, I was considering skipping dessert, but boy, am I happy I opted for the dark chocolate mousse. Don’t expect one of those mousses that come out of a packet and are served in a huge milkshake glass. This mousse is much more special. It’s a quenelle of the darkest, yummiest mousse, a dollop of ice-cream and two gorgeously toasted marshmallows.

So that was the meal.

I’m going to have to go and make a cup of tea before I get to the negatives . . . because there are none!

If I have think long and hard about the things I do not like, there really are only 3. And these are a matter of personal taste and not really any reflection on the restaurant itself.

We had to ask for the wine list and later in the evening I noticed that another table also had to ask. I was wondering whether I didn't get the memo about bringing my own wine or something, but we nevertheless ordered an awesome Gabriëlskloof red blend.

For a place that has the word ‘wine’ in the title, I was expecting more of a variety of it. 

But, do you see how I’m nit-picking here?

With the sticky ribbetjies I also expected to get a little finger bowl or even a wet wipe. Perhaps it is not the type of place where you sit and eat the meat off the bone, but, it is so good, how can you not?

Those are my only criticisms, but please, do not let those few aspects keep you away from @Food and Wine. Those few comments have no bearing on the warm and friendly atmosphere that both chef and staff create.

Remember to book. They fill up quite quickly. 

Winter is upon Hermanus, and restaurants cannot afford to alienate their customers with bad service and exorbitant prices anymore. They also can’t freeze customers over with an unwelcome experience and icy stares.

@Food and Wine strikes the balance between a great quality product and reasonable prices. The hospitality of all the staff will warm any cold wintery night.

Can we talk about wine?

On Thursday we visited a local restaurant. It was the first time I went there in a very long time.

A bottle of Caresse Marine cost R95. I’m going to repeat that so that you know what my problem is: a R32 bottle of Caresse Marine cost R95 in this restaurant.

My jaw dropped. This restaurant tripled the price of this wine.

I’m not a wine snob.  I even have a stack of Caresse Marine at home, white and red. In fact, I think Caresse Marine is a fantastic house wine, but R95?

And on the topic of house wines, why are we settling for Chateau Libertas and Tassenberg? A house wine is where a business owner can flex those sommelier muscles and find that jewel among the cheap wines. Here too, local wineries can produce cheaper labels, like Caresse Marine, that are still of a higher quality than the vinegar some restaurants are serving as their house wine.

And, why must a glass of house wine cost R35? As much as a bottle?

Show me that you have made some attempt at negotiating your wine prices with the producer. Show me that you do not want me to have a headache the next morning.

One local business who is getting this balance right is Piccolo’s Pizzeria. The house wine is R25 for about 250ml and it is always good and the owner never hesitates to let you know what you are drinking. There is no need to hide cheap bottles and boxes, because there are none.

He makes the greatest effort of including great local wine on the menu at affordable prices. And, when we take our own bottle, we do not hesitate in pouring him a glass. Wine is there to be shared and talked about after all.

At Piccolo’s Pizzeria you can get a Gabrielskloof wine for R85.

And again, I will write this out so that you know what my problem is.

At Piccolo’s Pizzeria I can get a R65 great, local wine for R85, but at the other restaurant I get a R32 bottle for R95.

I understand the model of doubling the price of booze, I just don’t understand why you have to extort your customers?

We are not all tourists. We are the one who carry you through those dry seasons. We are the ones who brave the cold to visit you. We are the ones who also pay tax in this town, bring feet through your door and choose to spend those special little celebrations around your table. Our hard-earned, ever-weakening rands go into your cash register.

Please don’t only recommend the R360 bottle of wine when I ask what your recommendation is. A good waiter and manager should be recommending a cheaper wine and a more expensive wine. Who knows, maybe one night will call for the Hamilton Russel Pinot Noir, but hunny, that sure isn’t when a bottle of Caresse Marine already costs R95.

While voicing my concerns, some friends of mine spoke about a sliding scale at a wine bar in Cape Town. No, not like refill coffee where the second one is cheaper (although I quite like that idea), but where cheaper wines are sold at a 100% mark-up, but the more expensive the wine is, the less the mark-up is. This means that a R200 bottle of Newton Johnson will not be R400 on a menu, but rather R360. A Caresse Marine will be R64. Does this make sense? 

We live in the most wonderful wine region. It is such a special commodity.

Restaurant owners and managers should be getting excited about tasting, swirling and smelling this red elixir that people come from far and wide to taste. It should be exciting to introduce customers to a new wine which they have never tried before, even if it is the cheap one.