Sunday, 18 November 2012

A Kleinbaai Collection


A Kleinbaai Collection
17 November 2012

I was going through some old photos on the computer and I came across this little pocket of pics.  A magic collection of memories captured forever more.  And just like that I was transported back to this time again – June 2006.  A Kleinbaai holiday.  One of many.  The whole family goes down to Kleinbaai, collectively a few times a year.  Roughly for a portion of most school holidays, and thus we get to experience Kleinbaai in all of her outfits.  In summer time she is glorious, and we all sit on the stoep and on the front terraced lawn – watching the waves, braaing, enjoying sunrises and sunsets, slops, t-shirts, walks on the beach, trips to the caves, exploring rock pools, even a bit of swimming for those brave enough.  Easter holidays are fabulous, as winter is approaching.  Days are getting shorter and there is always a chill in the air.  In the September holidays, she shows the promise of spring and summer just around the corner.  But on this particular holiday, Kleinbaai was wearing her winter warms.  When the kaggelvuur burns twenty four seven.  The boys all carry firewood to the fire all of the time.  Huge big logs burn right through the night.  We all huddle together inside the home – playing games and doing little projects.  Stories are told, people read books and magazines, cooking is king, eating even more so.  Walks along the beach involve layers of clothes, scarves, jackets, beanies and even gloves.  Followed shortly thereafter by hot cups of coffee or tea and hot chocolate too.

During this particular holiday there was a continuous ebb and flow of people.  It’s actually the case with most holidays.  People come when work allows them too and when they don’t have other commitments.  Maggie is the project queen – orchestrator of all.  In fact, she is like a big project manager, and guides us all.  Not bossy about it in the least, just like a big mother hen if you like.  Everyone runs everything past her first.  She’s mother to all and friend to even more.  This is a role that was thrust onto her and not a self-chosen one, yet she does it all so exceptionally well.

And this holiday was a holiday filled with many activities.  My little sausages were all still quite small.  Luke was just eight, Amber was four and Colekie-Molekie had just turned two.  Just wee little kids.  At that age, everything is an adventure.  And Kleinbaai is just the best place in the whole big world for all of us.  Maggie brought her whole large and very extensive bead collection and everyone made bracelets and necklaces.  My kids made me many treasures, that I still have to this day.  The kids played Monopoly and Cluedo – an old favourite.  There were walks on the beach.  A giant big felt board and felt scraps galore – the kids all cut little bits and made dress up dolls with clothes, cars and garden scenes too.  But the main focus of this particular holiday was…..wait for it…..wait for it…..KNITTING!!!  I know, who would have guessed.  Maggie brought all of her wool and loads of knitting needles.  Yet we made frequent trips to the wool shop in the little town of Gansbaai, to replenish supplies.

Every single person knitted, except for the men.  All of the grandchildren and cousins.   Siblings, mothers, grandmothers, aunts too.  And what fun we had.  The order of the day was scarves, what with the cold weather.  Also it is a quick and relatively quick project to complete.  Thank heavens for help from the older generation, as they are all pro’s at the whole knitting thing.  Because amongst all of the kids, and I count myself in that category too, it was all dropped stitches, and accidently gaining stitches too.  Maggie never knitted her own creation, instead she was teacher to all – fixing many a mistake.  The knitting styles were all so unique.  Stripes were popular and fluffy wools as well.  Attie’s knitting was so tight, watching him knit was quite a rare treat.  Each stitch that he got on his needle, put on with force.  A testament to his perseverance, because he never gave up.  Alex on the other hand was so funny to watch.  She lay about knitting, virtually melting into a chair and every few minutes her little voice would pipe up. “Uh, Maggie.  I’ve got a bit of a problem.  I think I started with 20 stitches and I now only have 13”.  And then shortly after Maggie came to the rescue, to find the lost stitches, you’d hear her again “Uh, Maggie.  I don’t understand.  I used to have 20 stiches and now I’ve got 23”.  Our darling dear Cory, who was about 11 at the time, was knitting a fluffy red masterpiece.  And on one day, Robin indulged in a bit of fishing – one of his all-time favourite pastimes.  And eagerly hoping his boy would like to join him and try his hand at fishing too, he invited young Cory along.  Cory eagerly accepted of course, but instead of sporting a fishing rod on the rocks, he sat next to his dad, knitting up a storm.  Robin said that he got the funniest looks of deep sympathy from fellow father fishermen, shaking their heads. 

This was also during the time that Robin and Katrine were desperate to have their very own baby.  I believe they had been having auditions for quite a while.  So, while we were there, Katrine whispered in my ear.  And on the pretext of going into town to get food supplies, we snuck off to the pharmacy instead.  We walked boldly up to the counter, and asked the pharmacist for a positive pregnancy test please.  Holding thumbs that this would be the one and that they would indeed be pregnant.  We were giggling like kids all uber excited.  And when we got back to Kleinbaai once more, Katrine dealt with the nitty gritty and we waited for what felt like the longest five minutes.  And after it all?  We got a little stripe.  Celebrating our good fortune in buying a positive pregnancy test.  Such joy all around.  Hugs and kisses and tears of joy.  Phone calls and sharing of the news to all.

And shortly after finding out that Katrine was indeed with child, it was time for the Aulds to pack up and head back on home.  So, as is the norm and tradition of Kleinbaai, all gathered around the car and shared fond farewells.  Then walked down with them to the road while some stayed on the stoep and waved goodbye.  And for no particular reason, two year old little Cole had a complete meltdown when they drove off into the sunset so to speak.  He screamed and cried, calling for Katrine and even dramatically running after the car.  So peculiar.  And a short while later, putting a little theory to the test when I quickly had to head off to town again, he couldn’t care less, that I left him behind.  It was very, very funny.

So, I leave you with these.  A few magical pics of yet another awesome Kleinbaai holiday.  It is the home of my heart and the place where my soul knows the most peace.  And though it is the wonder of Kleinbaai itself that helps to make it so great, I also know this – Kleinbaai without my family is just not Kleinbaai at all.
 
 
The lovely Kati Auld, just a teenager then, in a very familiar pose - engrossed in a book
 
 
My little Berry - the cuteness!

 
Katrine knitting her colourful creation - a beautiful scarf - what a surprise
 
 
Cutie Katarina - such a sweetie little gal - my very favourite bonus sister in the whole wide world
 
 
Alex and Katarina - the bestest of buds
 
 
Luke doing some French knitting and Cory with his red fluffy scarf - still in mid creation
 
 
Kati succumbs to a wee little nap
 
 
Tiny little Cole about to roast a marshmallow in the kaggelvuur
 
 
My most beautiful Ouma Helene working on her putie
 
 
Oupa and Ouma were sitting on the stoep, and then they decided to go for a little walk
 
 
Ag jinne! They're just so cute. And always accompanied by the ever faithful Buddie and Jessie.
 
 
The view from the stoep - this just makes my heart melt
 
 
Rock pools at low tide - perfect for exploring
 
 
View to the left, also taken from the stoep
 
 
 Mom and Amber going for a walk
 
 
Daya with his boy, Cole
 
 
Katrine and Amber, with Robin looking on
 
 
Robin with his lovely eldest sprog, Kati
 
 
Stoep kuiering
 
 
Sticky boy Cole, devouring a lollipop
 
 
Katarina and Amber painting rocks - a favourite pastime
 
 
Beautiful Elaine - the fad at the time was Mxit
 
 
Foefie looking ever so dashing
 
 
The knitting has begun - Buddie modeling Alex's scarf if memory serves
 
 
 Buddie sporting a purple ensemble
 
 
Even Ouma Helene was busy - but for her it was crochet work
 
 
Alex knitting away - a natural she was not
 
 
Mom busy fixing and ending off the teeny tiny baby little scarf I knitted for Amber's doll/baby - Bella
 
 
One of my favourite pics - Alex's face just says it all
 
 
It was like a production line - in the back is Charmaine and Elaine and in the front is Oupa, me, Luke and Jaco
 
 
Luke and I
 
 
Crazy Katrine - a self portrait
 
 
Elaine, Jaco and Attie
 
 
So sweet. And now Elaine and Jaco are both at varsity and Attie is head boy at Durbanville High next year.
 
 
Concentration and complete absorption
 
 
A cracking game of Monopoly
 
 
And just for fun, a bit of beading too
 
 
Ouma Helene joining the fray
 
 
Jaco was a natural at the knitting thing
 
 
 Jaco amazingly had the ability to make knitting look way cool!
 
 
Katrine showing off the postive looking pregnancy test we had just bought
 
 
Uber excited!!!
  
 
Cooky Katrine showing off the test - never looked forward to a test this much
 
 
We sat in the car outside the pharmacy and took like a million pics - we're a bunch of weirdo's
 
 
Celebrating already and we haven't even taken the test yet!
 
 
 Katrine practicing holding a baby with the flowers we bought for Mom
 
 
Yip, we're still taking pics in the car
 
 
Back at Kleinbaai again, and everyone is relaxing, completely unaware that Katrine is busy cooking up a pregnancy test in the bathroom
 
 
 The impressive wool collection
 
 
The kids having a TV time-out
 
 
 
We're pregnang! Just look at those faces! Katrine on the phone, sharing the news
 
 
Such happiness!
 
 
 Yet more calls - telling all
 
 
Ouma knitting with a view
 
 
Robin and Katrine, about to leave - absolutely glowing with joy
 
 
Robin visibly showing his pride - something to do with "strong like bull" and "hung like horse" I'm sure
 
 
My sweet boy, Luke
 
 
 The cutest little gal in the whole wide world - for sure
 
 
They've left!!! Moenkie having a meltdown, sobbing for Katrine - he even ran after the car, screaming blue murder
 
 
Daya to the rescue to distract poor Cole
 
 
Mom and her Berry-Belle
 
 
Oupa en Ouma sit op die stoep - well sort of
 
 
A celebratory drink of champagne in honour of tiny baby Honey, who is still but a bean in Katrine's belly
 
 
Chocolate solves most problems
 

But sometimes it creates some
 
 
 Anyone for a kiss? Cole with the evidence
 
 
Daya - the only one brave enough to go in for a cuddle
 
 
Felt fun
 
 
Our beautiful Charming
 
 
View of Kleinbaai from the rocks
 
 
Luke rock hopping
 
 
Heart meltingly cute!
 

 
Mom and Charmaine having a chat at the sea
 
 
Low tide rock pools - the absolute best
 
 
The cuteness
 
 
Cuddling with the littlies
 
 
Aaahhh!
 
 
 My three favourite kids
 
 
Doing Blue Steel with Alex
 
 
Big gal time with Charmaine and Mom
 
 
Fabulous pics of a fabulous holiday
xxx
 

3 comments:

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  2. The best place in the whole world - such lucky fishes we are to have so many memories and holidays at Kleinbaai. Miss it so very much being so far way!! Sniff!

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