Cyferfontein Pretorius
/ Van Dyk Family Weekend
16 – 20 February
2012
(Feel free to check
out more photo’s on this link at photobucket.)
My parents and parents-in-law haven’t seen each
other a lot over the past 20 years of our marriage. No reason specifically, just logistics. My parents used to stay in the Cape – Hein’s
parents in Pietermaritzburg, Natal.
A while ago my parents moved to Pretoria, close to my
younger sister Sanet and her hubby Eben and kids, Deirdre, Llanda en AJ. For
the past 2 weeks, Hein’s older brother, Deon visited from England. So Deon and their dad, Carel, stayed in
Centurion Golf Estate with Hugo, the youngest brother.
I asked dad-in-law when we can arrange a braai
with my parents and Sanet - Hugo invited us to his partly-owned private holiday
home in Cyferfontein, next to Mabalingwe, 50 km outside Bela-Bela
(Warmbaths.) I asked my sister and we decided
to keep it a surprise for my parents. Sanet
and Eben told my parents they were going to sleep in ‘tents’ and rough it a
bit.
However, we found out that lightning struck the
house and the aircons (a necessity in the Bush), TV and fridges were damaged.
It was a bit daunting – we were going to be 13 people. Luckily, the aircons were completely fixed,
we had enough fridges but the TV was still damaged – oh well.
The house has 2 floors – top floor has 4
bedrooms, 1 en-suite bathroom, plus another full bathroom. A small kitchenette
with cabinets, sink, fridge and counter made it almost a separate ‘flat’. Comfortable leather couches and a pool table
are in the centre of 2 big balconies – 1 overlooking the sunset, 1 overlooking
the sunrise.
Downstairs are a fully equipped kitchen, dining
room table with 10 chairs, TV, leather couches, 3 bedrooms (2 en-suite) and a
fully equipped scullery with dishwasher, washing machine & tumble
dryer. (Some of them were also damaged
during the storm.)
A nice covered patio is next to the small, but
adequate pool with 8-10 chairs and 14 camp chairs. Also an undercover braai. An open boma is a few metres away, ideal for
big fires. Everything is surrounded by
trees and bush. Sometimes buck come to
visit.
Hein and I decided to start our weekend on the
Thursday. I bought most of the meats and
other groceries the Wednesday and packed the Thursday morning. Yes, I did manage to pack loads and loads of
unnecessary clothes – but hey, that’s me.
Got the space, fill it. I bought
some mince vetkoekies from Woollies and mini chicken burgers, heated it and we left the house at 13h45. Filling up on diesel, beer and ice we were
ready for the weekend.
On the other side of Bela-Bela, we stopped at a
lovely road stall and Hein bought a few bags of really dry wood. I had a yummy Café Latte Ice Cream. Pulling
in at Cyferfontein around 4pm, I opened the house and set of the alarm. We quickly unpacked everything, I unpacked
all the clothes and groceries and then we relaxed with a cold one. Hein was very tired, cause the previous night
he only had a few hours’ sleep. A fire
was lit (Day 1, fire no 1) and we braaied Peri-Peri marinated chicken thighs.
I steamed some vegetables, but Hein barely
ate his food when he had a shutdown. Early night for him, I read for a while longer
in bed.
Friday, 17 February
2012
The rest of the family would arrive later that
day. Coffee was made and we enjoyed the
silence of the bush and the amazing bush smell.
Hein lit the fire – Day 2, fire no 1.
Of course we had to braai a boerewors – Chilli Rump. What a feast!!
The house also has its own game viewer
vehicle, but we discovered it had a flat tire and no key. Luckily Hugo had to fetch a new MNet from
another of the owners and got the key. The
rest of the morning we read, napped and relaxed.
After lunch Hugo, Deon & their dad
arrived. Important thing was to install
the MNet (Deon trying to fix it) – but alas, some cables were damaged.
They unpacked all their stuff and we chilled
outside.
Sanet, her family & my parents were due 16h30. My dad was very curious and kept on asking
them questions, but apart from telling them a load of ‘white lies’, they didn’t
say anything. With them being 7 in a Hyundi
7-seater, they needed a trailer for their stuff. And boy, did they have a lot! Food coolers, baggage and a heap of dry
wood. While they unpacked, I got into
the pool with their 4-year old, AJ. Water
was lovely. Here the whole family is enjoying the pool.
A fire was lit at the boma pit (Day 2, fire no 2). It
was a good time to go for a game drive, so most of them piled onto the vehicle
and left. They saw a lot of different
animals.
Because of the big group of people, we made a
schedule of meal turns. Friday night was
the turn of Hugo, Deon & Carel. They
lit a fire in the braai (Day 2, fire no 3) and had some lovely lamb chops and
sausage. Deon made us some yummy stywe
pap and tomato-onion relish. A while ago
my 1 friend, Jewls, gave me a ‘bug racquet zapper’. We had so much fun testing it.
The 2 girls, Deirdre and Llanda were busy doing
homework, we had a lovely dinner and everyone went back to the fire – the stars
were absolutely fabulous! Hein, myself
and Deon went for a swim and later we all retired to bed.
Saturday, 18 February
2012
Everyone made coffee and Sanet, Eben, my dad
& AJ tackled the pool table. Carel
started a fire – Day 3, Fire no 1 in the boma centre.
Then Hein made a fire in the braai for our breakfast
(Day 3, Fire no 2). Another game drive
was in order, I tagged along. We saw
loads of animals, including a zebra with no tail and a gash on his side. Wonder what hurt him?
Arriving back at the house before 9, everyone
was starving and Hein quickly stoked the fire. Although we’ve arranged for
cleaning ladies, Sanet was worried they’re not going to pitch – so she donned
my gift (sponge rubber gloves) and washed the dishes. She’s recently started to French Manicure her
nails and is quite proud of them.
What’s for breakfast you may ask? Rib Burgers – Woollies. Pork & Beef variety. They look like a piece of rib without the
bone. We all tried to guess if it was
the real meat deal or just minced meat processed to look like a rib. It was fantastic!!!!!
Everyone went their own ways after that. Hein and I went for a nap, while Hugo cooled off in the
pool. His lady friend, Karen arrived
around lunchtime. Everyone just made
themselves a sandwich or had more of the rib burgers. It was very hot outside, but luckily there
were aircons in every room and the living areas. Bliss!
Around 2, we decided to go for another game
drive, since Karen hasn’t been yet. Once
again we saw loads of animals. Arriving
back at the house, Hein started his pot.
This pot is a no 6 – belongs to the house and
is huuuuuuuge! Dinner is our turn. First he fried some onions, then he removed
the onions. Oxtail pieces were spiced
with Woollies’ meat rub seasoning and fried in oil. The onions, chopped tomatoes and a bottle of
red wine were added. After a while, lamb
knuckles and pork rib were added.
Everything simmered gently.
My dad has been looking for dried buck
droppings, but I thought he was joking.
Next thing, he and Sanet pitched up and they’re going to have a ‘spit
competition’. They did jolly good, but
eeeuwwww!
With the pot still a few hours to go, the rest
of the family went for another game drive.
The game viewer tank has to be filled up first and they were off. Hein wanted to shower and we realized there
was no water! The tanks weren’t filled
up. In a house with 13 people, that was
bad news. Luckily the pool was handy ……
Hein added celery, carrots & baby potatoes
and marrow bones to the pot. Green beans
were added during the last 40 minutes of the pot. The older people were anxious for the pot –
but we warned them it would be ready by 9.
I made some couscous and we all sat down for a feast. And it was!
The beauty of the pot were the 3 different meats as well as the marrow
bones.
Everything was tasty, seasoned well, meat soft
and juicy and enough bones filled with marrow to suck out. Some of the potatoes were a bit ‘glassy’, but
overall yummy! That pot was filled to
the top! And we managed to polish off
2/3 of it! Deon just sat back, rubbed
his tummy and said he’s had enough. The
fire outside was stoked again, coffee and tea were made - we watched the stars
and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the bush.
Sunday, 19 February
2012
Awoke early, quickly and silently made coffee
and went to sit outside – savoring the fresh morning bush smell and quiet. One-by-one the other joined us. Hein started a fire in the braai (Day 4, Fire
no 1) and opened his 1st beer of the day.
AJ was already in the pool, showing us he can
swim quite well.
Everyone had to bring their own sausages and
buns. I’ve bought us another packet of
Chilli Rump Boerewors and while we braaied the wors, Eben en Sanet drove off
looking for the Sunday newspaper.
By the time they were back, the breakfast was
ready. Some preferred to have cereals
for breakfast, but we had a fantastic time munching away on our sausages.
Hein and I decided to go on a game drive – we
‘crept’ out and once again, saw loads of animals. Including a turtle. It was lovely to be on our own for a little
while.
Everyone did their own thing for the rest of
the morning. Deon tried to fix the pool
light and had quite a time opening it. The
plumber arrived and Deon could tell him exactly what the problem was with the water
tanks. After a while we had water!
I read in our air-conditioned room and then the
fire in the braai was stoked – (Day 4, Fire no 2) for the Sunday lunch.
Eben & Sanet were on duty –
margarine-basted chicken pieces, cooked baby potatoes and pasta salad. It was already quite hot, so we stayed mostly
in the shade.
After a lovely lunch, Eben & Sanet, their
kids and my parents packed up and drove back home. The rest of us were staying till Monday
morning.
Early evening another game drive was planned,
but I decided to stay put. I read my
book and was told they saw some lovely wild and took amazing photos.
Day 4, Fire no 3 was made in the boma pit –
with effort, since there was a breeze.
But once the fire was going, there was no stopping it. A lot of wood still had to be burned. Hein and Deon toasted each other with a beer.
A few packets of boerewors and a Rump Espetada
were waiting to be grilled – some just grabbed some left-over chicken, but we
lit a fire in the braai (Day 4, Fire no 4) and enjoyed our last meal of the
weekend with steamed veggies and left-over pasta salad.
Savoring the last evening, the flames entertained
us till we went to bed. Deon had quite a
time dosing the fire – it sizzled and spat.
Monday, 20 February
2012
Our alarm clock went off at 5, but we pressed
the snooze button. Karen had to work, so
decided to leave at 5h30 – big mistake.
When she entered the Pretoria
highways, she was stuck for quite some time.
A last cup of coffee was enjoyed outside, then
the packing started. By 8 we were all
ready to leave. Hugo, Deon & their
dad grabbed some take-away coffee at the Wimpy in Bela-Bela. Hein and I drove to Greenfields coffee shop,
just outside Bela-Bela and although I had a sandwich at the house, I had a
waffle and Hein a full breakfast. Our waitress
was witty and funny and we had a lovely time.
Leaving Bela-Bela around 9h30, we made good
time and arrived back home in Randburg at 11.
After everything was unpacked, I quickly went to Woolworths for a
‘goodie basket’ for a friend’s birthday party that night. The rest of the day I spent washing, sorting,
drying and unpacking.
It was a lovely weekend … 4 more nights and
we’re off again to Parys, Free State with 3 other couples.
No comments:
Post a Comment