Elements of an Endless Past

Have you ever stepped into a place and  felt like the past has just begun? This morning I took a trip through time and that's why my "E" letter post is called what it is.I apologise upfront for the length of this post, all is too scrumptious for me to leave anything out.

After dropping my son at a soccer clinic this morning I stopped at a place I've always seen in passing and thought of as perhaps some sort of tea garden hidden amongst all that greenery (actually its right across the road from my old townhouse / condo to some I think). Little did I know that there was a piece of the 1900's hidden right in the middle of cosmopolitan Johannesburg. 

I'd frequent anywhere where fairies abound.

Driving through the gate you feel like you going into an indigenous forest and yet a very busy main road (John Voster) is a mere 100 steps away, with only a facebrick wall, trees and and some plush vegetation separating the two of you.

Sounds of chirping birds, mewing of cats (and if early enough)cock 'a doodle doos of cocks crowing confirms your return to nature.

I have no details of the book store as owner was not there but I did get a very
fine leather bound collection of Oscar Wilde's works. 1971 edition, 2nd reprint.

My intentions for the visit were to find a book store I had been referred to but was too early so I had to pass the time. Conveniently an outrageously quaint coffee shop aptly named "The Second Cup" for I had 4 cups _ was open. Walking into this delightful eating establishment galvanized me into a blogging frenzy, I could hardly contain my excitement long enough to grab my phone. (I apologise for poor quality of photos, I was not equiped).

Patrons of 2nd Cup enjoying sumptious breakfast.
Email: secondcup@absamail.co.za / Telephone: +27 11 679 4665 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +27 11 679 4665      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Owner of 2nd Cup (Ivan) is never too busy to have a little tête-à-tête  with his patrons.

As I frantically clicked away all I could see in my minds eye were my high school history lessons coming alive. Oh how I hated those periods of theory upon dreadful theory about a group of people who named another group of people after trees when they couldn't pronounce their names (e.g Grootboom / Bigtree). In those days of cruel and unusual punishment my mind oft times felt  torturously crowded with "insignificant" details of the Dutch East India Company, the Great Trek and the Battle of Blood River amongst other frightfully life sapping events for a 15 year old. 

Just to put you in the picture:

 In 1652 a small company of employees of the Dutch East India Company were settled on the southern tip of Africa in order to establish a refreshment station for the Company’s ships en route to the Far East.  From this group of Dutchmen the Afrikaners were to develop. (Orville)

Antiques and things

These are the Afrikaner people (aka) Boere _ whose past I say came to life for me today at Weltevreden Farm (aka) The Colony. I shall let the pictures speak for themselves concerning what I saw. I think history does not spend enough time talking about life as  it was, certainly far less than it does about events which are but a small part of life (yes... I understand that they do shape life). I find it a great pity that there is so little reference made to people's way of life compared to the multitudinous records of events, that are readily available.

Antiques and things I need to have.......(sigh)

Today I came away thinking, "well in that period life cannot always have been about assagias, powder guns, treachery and bloodshed". There was vibrant living, love, laughter, industry, creativity as would have been shown by painters, writers, musicians, dancers, fashion (tailors and seamstresses), family......and so much more..............and I would love to know about it.

Student at The Potter's Place
Potter's can be reached at: mail@spine.co.za or pottersplace@vodamail.co.za
or +27 824224927 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +27 824224927      end_of_the_skype_highlighting +27 825734645 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +27 825734645      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Shopaholic @ The Belly Button falling for coat.....you'd be one too if
you saw this place, I left with the most divine ring. 
Contact Belly Button @ +27 83 440 7276 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +27 83 440 7276      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Forgive me I forgot to mention this cute idea to serve the bill from 2nd Cup.

With all that being said, I want to thank the delightful people I met today at Weltevreden Farm who keep a small but beautiful part of a period in my beloved country's history alive. I hope many people will find a moment to take a country fresh breath in the heart of Johannesburg and reflect on life as it should be. 

I would have loved toinclude all the fabulous photos I took but there are 69 of them after editing so I shall add a presentation to the sidebar soon.

Here are some of the fabulous people I met today.

The gentleman makes the most fantastic amellete

Gerda owns Portter's Place

Angela owner of this beaurty spar, you can reach her at: 27798746267@vodamail.co.za
or cell +2782 854 1371 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +2782 854 1371      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Ruth from The Belly Button

Vina. Owner of Belly Button hard at work.

Another hot art student....I should mention that this place is brimming with hot people.

Embroidery team. They do such fantstic work. You have to see it to believe it. it would
be best captured in 3D for you to even get an idea of what I'm talking about.

Another member of the embroidery team and I had to put her in to tell you that she and two others were in the
throws of a laughing fit over a sex joke when I entered. Creative minds run a muck at all ages apparently.