February 2000

Dear Friends of the Museum

Hundreds of visitors, tons of fresh fruit, long warm days and nights created a wonderful "special season".

Our lovely town has sadly had water restrictions imposed.  Fortunately we have "leiwater" on Wednesdays and this is now being used to sustain our garden for a week at a time.  An irrigation system has been installed at our small nursery and our farming activities are now coming on stream:  we have a rose garden and large lawn at the "Sendingkerk", an English and medicinal herb garden at Joubert House and behind the Information Office our apricot orchard is flourishing.  Graham and Ann English of Church Street granted us half of their garden including their "leiwater".  Indeed a wonderful and practical gift.  Our first gooseberry crop has already been harvested.  Our good Museum Friends, Koos Joubert and Jurie Lombard regularly assist us with advice for these projects and the rubble is regularly removed by Rocco, another active Friend of the Museum.

Early April sees the start of the restoration of Joubert House which will require hard work and determination.  Are there any of our new Friends whose talents we have not yet discovered?  We would like to make this a community project.

Our Society has gained numerous new members including Perry and Veronica Feldman from Parys in the Free State who enrolled after enjoying herbal tea and melktert at Joubert House.

We have received a large heavy item donated by Christel and Wally Whitehead, being the old monetary collection system as used by Brink Broers Ltd.  This was transported to the KWV store compliment of Jurie and his crew.  The idea is to install and use the system to demonstrate to our children and younger grown-ups the unique way in which monetary transactions were handled in a departmental store in days past.

Our new photographer in town, Hassner Pepler of Swakopmund, is preparing a range of photographs for an exhibition in our Musuem named Toys of Yesteryear and Now.  Do you have any unique or handsome toys? Hassner would love to photograph them.

We are hosting a Bread Day on the 25^th March which will be presented by Madeleine van Biljon and Phyllis Soekoe.  This promises to be a most interesting day with demonstrations and herbal exhibitions.  The cost is R60-00 per person which includes a wonderful meal.  For reservations phone Phyllis (614 2717), Jeanne (082 552 4545) or yours truly (614 1774).

Talking of food, one of our new friends David Yam, is a top chef.  He would like to market fresh soya milk as well as sweet and sour sauce through Joubert House in aid of our restoration fund.  Please contact me should you be interested in these products.

In conclusion many thanks to Peter Joubert of Strand, Mimi Epsie's son, who phoned me on Valentine's day because he thought of someone "specia".  You made my year!

Till next quarter - herbal greetings



Blackie