stoep talk

Watershed rocking the Hills

Watershed started their ‘short, and very sweet’ April Road Tour on the lawn of the Tasting Room at Stanford Hills Estate on Easter Sunday. Easter is traditionally a day spent with family; in my family, we don’t go beyond the garden perimeter which is scoured for chocolate in the early hours, and casually rescanned throughout the day for any escapee eggs. This year, Easter Sunday also fell on April Fools Day. These factors might have made a live performance, in the late afternoon, a fairly hard sell for a live concert. Was it all a joke? We know Sunday concerts work in Kirstenbosch, but life slows down when you come to Stanford, even more than it does when you pop out of the city bustle, and into the Mother City’s botanical gardens. And over the Easter long weekend, would anyone make it out of pyjamas by mid-afternoon in Stanford, let alone into a car and up to a wine farm with sugared-up kids?

Watershed frontman, Craig Hinds, admitted to being unsure whether a Sunday was going to work in Stanford. But luckily for us, it worked a charm and hoards of people turned up to listen to the dulcet tones of one of South Africa’s favourite acoustic bands that has been weaving magic since 2000. Bedouin tents provided shade as people lolled and lounged on picnic blankets and deckchairs, and kids cavorted on the jumping castle and paddled around the waterlily dam. It couldn’t have looked more idyllic – a ‘perfect day, with perfect people,’ Hinds called it. A neighbouring farmer pulled up in a tractor loaded with couches, kids perched on the top of the sturdy swing, and I hastened to spread out my blanky in one of the last remaining central spots. I quickly realised the reason why it was still available was because some early birds had marked out their spots with camping chairs, and were going to partially block my view. But my heart was filled with good vibes and an overriding sense of South African good will – nothing a gentleman’s Panama hat could obscure.

My goodwill faltered when I saw the length of the beer queue, but the peppy team of Stanford Hills barmaids made quick work of it, keeping my good mood intact. And the food trucks handled the crowds with ease, serving tornado-tatoes and other delicious festival-style food.

Watershed kicked off their performance with ‘Close my eyes’ – a solid favourite from the 2006 Mosaic album. Everyone was swept away with the melody, singing along and swaying to the familiar tune. The 1000 strong audience was made up of a delightful mixture of young and old, glamourous and casual,  and the band engaged warmly with the crowd, getting cheers from those from Hermanus, Cape Town, Stanford and even a contingent from the middle of the Free State.

The line-up included a sprinkling of original songs from all the Watershed albums, including Watch the Rain, My love is gone, Nothing about you is the same and Letters, glittering and perfect on a balmy afternoon. And as it was Easter Sunday, a pucker Watershed rendition of Leonard Cohen’s epic Hallelujah seemed fitting. A rhythmic cover of the Waterboys’ Fisherman’s Blues and Counting Crow’s Mr Jones nailed the brief as those audience members who came of age in the 90s sang along. A few couples were spotted busting out some langarm moves on the bank of the dam – always a good sign.

The variety of instruments from the bass and acoustic guitars, drum and violin to the ukelele, tambourine, and harmonica, along with resonant lyrics is what has earned Watershed wide respect and a loyal following across generations. Guest artist Renata Riedemann’s violin added a sound reminiscent of Irish moor mists as well as the jaunty sound of a fiddle. And they saved their first hit, Indigo Girl (2000) for last, delivering it loud and true to the fans. What a superb Sunday afternoon! Step aside Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts because Stanford Hills Estate delivers a top notch open air concert. And we have it on good authority that the team from the Hills is going to keep building their live music line-up, keeping it fresh, proudly South African and strictly full of good vibes.

Thank you to Stellenbrau, sponsors of this Watershed April Road Tour. The beer and the gees was lekker.

Words by Phil Murray

Stanford Retail Therapy – with a Difference!

Choosing a favourite pass-time in Stanford is surely impossible because you are spoiled for choice with all the world-class attractions right on our doorstep.

However, one of my favourites is to indulge in retail therapy – with a difference!  Simply taking a walk through Stanford village in search of delightful and interesting antique shops, galleries and gift stores where you can browse and buy.  And then it’s so true…

“We don’t mind if antiques is old and chippy, we don’t care if it is faded, rusty or worn, we simply love the story behind it, the history within it and the patina on it!”

-Anon

Photo: #stanfordcountrycottages

And whilst browsing, I always ask myself…is it Vintage, Antique, Retro…or is it just out of style? When you buy something how do you know if it’s vintage? Or just someone’s old clothes that went out of style, like the chunky square toed heels your mom used to wear in the 90’s? What is the difference?

Some shop-owner even told me once that cars only need to be 25 years old to be considered antiques – I was stunned because according to that definition I am already an antique!

The words antique, retro, and vintage still leave collectors in open combat as their meanings and their proper use. Our language is ever changing, and we continue to redefine words and use them in different ways.

Photo: #stanfordcountrycottages

As per a resident Stanfordian, modern conversation has attributed these definitions to the following words:
Antique. Something that is really old, dusty, possibly made of carved wood… maybe it came from your grandma’s parents attic or basement.  My niece equates antique with old and ugly, i.e. “That dress is practically an antique!”…but vintage is old and totally adorable…or “totes amazeballs.”
Vintage. Old but cute enough to charge double the price for it. Usually nostalgic in some way or could be useful as a movie prop.
Retro. Either something that is in the style of something from the past and its brand new or it’s something that is outdated and coming back into style.

As you can see the above definitions is totally inconclusive.  Easily interchangeable in common conversation their true meanings have been lost except when we look in the dictionary.

But although antique or vintage or retro…if you love it and you like the excitement of taking something old and giving it a new life – then look forward to happy hunting days in Stanford village.

Photo: #stanfordcountrycottages

A few useful tips for Antique & Collectibles Hunting

Trust your gut

If something calls out to you, don’t ignore it. Often if you decide to wait on purchasing an item, someone will beat you to it. Don’t risk the chance of letting something you really love slip away from you. If you’re not entirely sure, write down the booth number and come back to it later.

Value the structure over the colour

When looking at things like chairs or tables, remember that they can be reupholstered or repainted. The shape, engravings, and style are more important than the colour. Try to imagine the chair you’re looking at with a fresh coat of paint and new fabric. Sometimes an ugly chair just needs a little work to be perfect.

Picture the piece in your home

Sometimes it’s hard to visualize what a furniture item will look like when it’s not surrounded by an odd assortment of flea market goods. When looking at your potential new chair or armoire, try to imagine it sitting in your living room. The piece of furniture’s potential might be hidden when it’s surrounded by rusty buttons and old baseball cards.

Browsing or buying in Stanford – you will love all the vintage and antique things that spark nostalgia.  Several collectors of decades and promoters of antiques is on offer in Stanford village.  They are time travellers, hunters of history and builders of memories.  Come see for yourself and happy hunting folks!

Toodles

Shops to visit in Stanford: *Stanford Trading Store *Stanford Upcycle *TAT Antiques & Vintage Décor*De Kleine Rivers Valey House *The New Junk Shop

Photos: #stanfordcountrycottages

 

Photo: #stanfordcountrycottages

 

Amazingly Awesome Things about the Stanford History

“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything.

You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree. ”
― Michael Crichton

I recently joined the Hermanus Historical Society on a Historical Stanford on Foot Tour.  It was an absolute source of delight to me.  And no, it does not make me feel old.  It makes me feel special to be living in history that others will one day read about.

There’s a particular joy, for me at least, to rummage through articles, books, websites and more to cure my need for more information on history and heritage.  And only like-minded people who have the same interests as myself will connect with me on that point.

And further reading brought me to the following amazingly awesome things about Stanford that I never knew about:

Charming Architecture

The original layout of Stanford dates to 1857 when De Kleine Rivier Valey Farm was subdivided into a typical rural village layout: a simple orthogonal (right-angled) grid with large erven and a central public square. This simple layout remains today.

Stanford’s architectural styles range from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, and include the following: the simple cottage; the Victorian barn (simple or adapted, and thatched); and the eclectic villa or gabled house (either Victorian or Cape Dutch Revival).

Stanford Architecture (Photo Credit: Stanford Conservation Trust)

Did you know?

In 1919 a municipality was formed in response to a threat to the village’s water supply.  The village received its water from “Die Oog”, a freshwater spring issuing 1 250 000 gallons (4,7 million litres) of water daily on the farm Oogbosch of Hendrik Taljaard, who lived in Caledon Street where he grew grapes for the making of wine and for distilling witblits.  When Halley Moore heard that Taljaard was planning to sell Oogbosch to a certain Mr Swart from Uilenkraal, he realized that something had to be done to retain the town’s water supply.  A municipality was formed, Halley was elected mayor and Oogbosch with its spring was bought for £2 000.

Born an Anglican

St Thomas Anglican Church proudly sits on the corner of Stanford’s heart – the commonage, or the “market square” as it is referred to by Stanford residents.  It is the oldest church in Stanford and was built around 1880.  The small building next to the church served as the St Thomas Mission School.  By 1914 the school had two classrooms and more space was needed.  In 1939 the school was moved to the present site of Die Bron primary school in Stanford South.  The building was still used as two classrooms for Sub A & B until 1983.

St. Thomas Anglican Church, Stanford (Photo Credit: Stanfordinfo.co.za)

St. Thomas Anglican Church, Stanford
(Photo Credit: Stanfordinfo.co.za)

A long juicy tale

The Long House in Queen Victoria Street was purchased by Michael Walsh in 1903, and he converted the original cowshed into a house.  Mr Walsh’s parrot, kept on the front stoep, would often bring a passing horse-cart to an abrupt halt with his shrill, “Hokaai!”

Birkenhead survivors at De Kleine Rivers Valey house

The farmhouse on de Kleine River Valey was built by Christoffel Brand in the late 1700s.  Lady Ann Barnard stayed here in 1798 when she conducted her tour from Cape Town to the interior.  The house belonged to, among others, Sir Robert Stanford who leased the farm to another British officer, Captain Thomas Smales.  Ensign GA Lucas, one of the survivors of the troopship Birkenhead which was wrecked off Danger Point in February 1852, in a letter to his father from “Smails farm on the Kleyne River”, said that he could “never say enough of the kindness…where they were put up and cared for.  Had I been their own son better care could not have been taken of me.  Twice a day I was put into a hot bath and then rubbed with coconut oil…”

De Kleine Rivers Valey House (Photo Credit: Portrait of a Village by Annalize Mouton)

De Kleine Rivers Valey House
(Photo Credit: Portrait of a Village)

Alan Bennett of the ‘History Boys’ sums my curious nature up beautifully:

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.”

Toodles

#stanfordheritage #overberghistory #visitstanford #capewhalecoast

Sources:  Stanford Conservation Trust;  A portrait of a Village by Annalize Mouton

 

A Country Fare Christmas

The upcoming Festive Season allows many of Stanford’s restaurants the opportunity to put their best foot forward with innovative Christmas Menus and merry delights. This also highlights what is, viagra 60mg for many Stanford food creators and lovers alike, the philosophy of food itself – from farm to table. Perhaps it’s the setting of the village that lends itself to this attitude – rolling farmlands and vineyards side by side, a quaint historic village boasting weekly fresh produce markets (both Graze Slow Food Café’s Wednesday morning market, and the Saturday morning market on the stoep of the Stanford Hotel are great for weekly greens and delights), and a monthly Stanford Sunset Market that also tickles taste buds.

Many local wine farms are also represented at the market so guests looking to explore the flavours before heading out to the farms can do so on the village green each month. A group of foodies have formed a collective called the Stanford Food Heroes, who work to promote and “increase community access to fresh, sustainably-grown foods.” Members can be spotted at the Saturday Morning Market or contacted via their website.

There is no shortage of restaurants in Stanford – here you have lots of options ranging from a quaint coffee shop to award-winning country restaurants in the middle of ‘suburbia’, or a lazy lunch at one of the nearby vineyards or farm-style restaurants. On the road leading out of Stanford towards the beach you can find a Michelin-star chef’s restaurant, and beyond that, a daytime café on the banks of the Hermanus Lagoon. No matter the location, farm fresh produce, with a small footprint, is top of mind for many of the village’s dining establishments.

Food should be fresh, plentiful and shared at a table with lots of laughter, friends, family and wine. – Jami of The Tasting Room, Stanford Hills

Join the merriment this Christmas with the villagers of Stanford and dine on local cuisine while soaking up the sights and sounds of one of the Overberg’s best-loved villages. Read about Christmas specials HERE.

Stanford Wine Route is open

This September the wineries in the Stanford region had the privilege of launching their very own, viagra now publically recognized, sales Stanford Wine Route. The 8 farms that form the Stanford Wine Route are Boschrivier, Misty Mountains Estate, Raka Wines, Sir Robert Stanford Estate, Springfontein, Stanford Hills, Walker Bay Vineyards and Vaalvlei. They pulled out all the stops to showcase what they had to offer in a 3-day long media launch. With the financial assistance provided by the Overstrand Municipality, for which the Wine Route members are deeply grateful, the launch was a roaring success.

by Lela Stubbs Continue reading →

Stoep Talk August

Well, tadalafil it looks as though – dare I say it – spring is slowly showing up after a long winter.  Already blossoms are bursting forth and the tell-tale scent of jasmine is signalling that the season is turning. In step with Spring, we are also waking up and shaking off the winter cobwebs. We’re getting ready with some exciting events to help you come alive, revive and put a little spring in your step. It’s time to come out of hibernation mode and visit our lovely village of Stanford!

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