Stoep Talk: May 2014

‘Villages have always been a mystery to me. Most of my information came from the television series “Nommer asseblief?” and “Koöperasie Stories”.

I’ve had the privilege of living and working in three big cities in South Africa: Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. During my travels, I have visited London, Paris, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin and marvelled at the neon lights, boutique shops, and throngs of people.

But one soon tires of city marvels and last year I decided to move to the dorpie, Stanford. Villages have always been a mystery to me. Most of my information came from the television series “Nommer asseblief?” and “Koöperasie Stories”. I had visions of people sitting on their stoep, looking at the dusty road and colourful passers-by, smoking a pipe, and uttering eloquent truisms about human nature. Of course, the gossip is rife too with Tant Lizzie listening in on people’s conversations and Mietie and Veldsman having a big skinder about Genis. “Ja, so is die mensdom, Mietie!”

The Grapevine was started by Stanford Tourism to let locals and tourists know what is happening in the village. Unfortunately we can’t all meet on someone’s stoep but we are still a village so allow me to share our village news (and perhaps gossip as long as it is good-natured!) with you.

Let me start off with some great news, Hennie is back! Hennie’s Pop-up Grill is popping here and there, and everywhere! First at The Vine on 1 June and then at The Stanford Hotel on 13, 14, and 15 June. To book, please contact the restaurants directly.

We also have our regulars: Saturday Morning Market every Saturday morning on the stoep of The Stanford Hotel; and the Sunset Market on Friday, 30 May where everyone gets together to buy delicious eats and talk about the month’s ups and downs.

And have you heard the latest? Stanford will have a Wild Cat Sanctuary moving in, Panthera Africa, on the Papiesvlei Road. Now Gansbaai, Hermanus, and Betty’s Bay can eat their hearts out because soon Stanford will have wild animals to draw tourists.

That’s all for now, folks. And remember, if anyone asks where you got your news, tell them you heard it through the Grapevine!

Chantel, Stanford Tourism