(Sien onder vir hierdie artikel in Afrikaans) . 

Bibliofilia in Woodstock

Situated in one of those beautiful old buildings in Albert Rd. (# 48 to be precise) you will find the bookshop Bibliofilia. Not an everyday joe bookshop. No Siree! Here you’ll find the latest books on contemporary art, graphic novels, design, street art and cult fiction. All displayed on zen-like white shelves. The being responsible for this eclectic shop is an inspiring individual. Xavier Nagel – the man behind Bibliofilia says, “Books are my life, I am book crazy.”

Xavier Nagel

I met up with Xavier on a rainy Friday afternoon. Cappuccino in hand he stares over the rim of the cup with a childlike sparkle in his bright blue eyes. His beard echoes his Afrikaner farmer heritage and reminds me of the refrain from the Koos Kombuis song Boer in Beton (Farmer in Granite/the City). He draws in a deep breath of air before answering my first question.

“My Ouma taught me to read. I could read before I went to school. But the only books to read were Die Afrikaanse Kinder Ensiklopidie and the Afrikaans Bible.”

Luckily, as soon as he went to school, he was introduced to the Library which quenched his thirst for knowledge and put him on the road to discovering unforgettable reading adventures.

“From a young age they allowed me to take out more books than was allotted. Books such as Groot Verlange, Sewe dae by die Silbersteins and Somer II are some of the books that still stand out – and that’s just the Afrikaans books.”

His passion has also spilled over into publishing. He has published three children books and one cookbook. All published by his publishing company Xlibris.

“It’s only later that I realized there’s an Xlibris publishing company overseas. It was actually a word game. “X” for my name and ‘libris’ for books.”

“Who would you say are your favourite hero’s in fiction?”

“Batman and Fritz Deelman,” he answers without hesitation, “And Betty Page as heroine.”

What are your future plans?

“I would love to write a book about the life of Alex van Heerden. He sang with the Gramadoelas. Also a book for teenagers. Naturally I would like the bookshop to be a success. I would also like to make a book on South African subcultures. Especially one that features street art. Just look at the streets of Woodstock. I’m in the right place.”

Visit the following website to find out more about Xavier, his publishing and his Woodstock bookshop, Bibliofilia on www.bibliophilia.co.za or visit the facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bibliophilia/176597462353152?fref=ts

Afrikaans version

Geleë in een van daai ou geboutjies in Albert st. (# 48 om presies te wees) vind ons ‘n boekwinkel. Nie sommer ‘n algemene hierjy boekwinkel nie. Nee, hier word boeke oor kontemporêre kuns, graphic novels, ontwerp, straatkuns en kultus fiksie juwele met ‘n sprankel uitgestal op wit zen rakke. Die siel van die eklektiese grys teëlvloer winkeltjie is betowerend. Die man agter Bibliofilia is Xavier Nagel en na regte erken hy, “Boeke is my lewe, ek is boek befok.”

Ek ontmoet vir Xavier op ‘n tristige Vrydag middag. Cuppachino in hand loer hy oor die beker met die helder blou oe van ‘n kind. Sy netjies geskeerde baard laat hom lyk soos Koos Kombuis se boer in beton. Hy haal eers diep asem voor hy my eerste vraag beantwoord.

“My Ouma’t my leer lees. Ek kon al lees voor ek skool toe is. Maar al boeke wat daar was om te lees was Die Afrikaanse Kinder Ensiklopedieë en Die Bybel.”

Gelukkig was daar biblioteke om hierdie honger leser se dors na kennis en avontuur te les.

“Van kleins af het hul my toegelaat om meer boeke as ander kinders uit te neem. Boeke soos Groot Verlange, Sewe dae by die Silbersteins en Somer II is van die wat uitstaan – dis nou net as ons Afrikaanse boeke praat.”

Sy passie het ook oor gespoel in publiseer. Hy het al drie kinderboeke en een kookboek gepubliseer onder sy maatskappy ‘Xlibre”

“Dis eers later dat ek agtergekom het daar’s reeds ‘n oorsese Xlibre. Eintlik was dit net ‘n woord speletjie. Die ‘x’ is vir my naam, en ‘libre’ vir boeke.”

“Wat sou jy as jou gunsteling helde in fiksie beskryf?” vra ek.

“Batman en Fritz Deelman,” antwoord hy sonder om te aarsel, “ Betty Page sal ek kies as heldin.”

Hoe lyk jou planne vir die toekoms?”

“Ek sou graag ‘n boek wil skryf oor Alex van Heerden wat gesing het vir die Gramadoelas. Ook ‘n jeug roman. Natuurlik wil ek hê die boekwinkel moet ‘n sukses wees. Verder dink ek ek sou ‘n boek oor Suid-Afrikaanse subkulture wou maak, veral een wat byvoorbeeld fokus op Straat Kuns. Kyk net om jou in Woodstock. Ek’s op die regte plek.”

Bibliophilia in Woodstock

Besoek die volgende webtuistes om meer oor Xavier en sy Woodstock ondernemings te wete te kom: www.bibliophilia.co.za and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bibliophilia/176597462353152?fref=ts

The least well-known of the three adjoining ‘bloem’ farms of Woodstock, Leliebloem was a narrow property that was situated between Zonnebloem and Roodebloem. It was granted as a freehold farm way back in 1692, but it seems there wasn’t a substantial house on the property until around a century later. However, a house can be seen on land surveyor and architect Louis Michiel Thibault’s map (circa 1814) of the farms along the Main Road from Cape Town to Simonstown (the farm was called Leliefontein on this map) and title deeds from 1821 mention buildings on the farm.

Picture 1. Arthur Elliott - Cape Archives

It’s likely that Leliebloem was originally called Leliefontein because of the proliferation of arum lilies on the property. There was also a natural mountain spring or ‘fontein’ (hence the second part of the farm’s name) on the higher reaches of the farm, which stretched from Victoria Road, Woodstock, all the way up to the uppermost slopes of Devil’s Peak, between the Queen’s and Prince of Wales blockhouses. This spring would have been an important water source for farming and so the top section of Leliebloem stretched high up the mountain slopes to include it on the property. Leliebloem’s old outer borders can be traced by following the course of the modern Mountain and Melbourne Roads, Woodstock.

An 1849 Cape Almanac list of properties along the Main Road shows Leliebloem as being owned by H.C. Voget. But by the time the Sisters of the All Saints bought the farm from then owner George Behr in 1868, only a few decrepit outbuildings remained. They built a large stone building called Leliebloem House, where the modern Garden Court Hotel stands today (previously the Eastern Boulevard Holiday Inn), which was built on the site in 1972. Though a gabled farmhouse  was originally on Leliebloem, it burnt down in the middle of the 19th century. American photographer Arthur Elliot did, however, photograph a gabled homestead on the property (Picture 1. Cape Archives), though was probably a surviving outbuilding or a copy of an earlier photograph, because he came to the Cape in 1900 and the house had burnt down fifty years earlier.

Picture 2. Upper Part of Leliebloem

Leliebloem was owned by Edward Searle and his family later in the 19th century and he and his brother William operated the toll at what is now Sir Lowry Road. The toll house still exists in Trafalgar Park bordering on Searle Street, which is incidentally named after this family. Searle’s son-in-law (the secretary of the Cape Electric Tramways, S. Edmond Smith) and his daughter also lived at the old farm. One can imagine the sweeping views of Table Bay, Lion’s Head and the West Coast they would have enjoyed from the house in those days, before Woodstock was largely built up and industry inevitably crept in.

The farm stood on a very exposed and windswept piece of land that couldn’t have lent itself to intensive crop farming. It was probably far more suitable for grazing, and may well have been a dairy farm for a time, while a saddler, Henry Crighton, (who was born in about 1815 and died there in 1870) conducted his business from Leliebloem. Like Roodebloem next door, during its history Leliebloem was also owned by the Laubschers, who planted vineyards on the slopes of Devil’s Peak. A massive old vine survives in the garden of a modern house at the very top end of Kylemore Road, which was close to the border between the two farms. There may even be some surviving Woodstock wine in a musty cellar somewhere!

Picture 3. Victoria Park

A fine stone building was erected in 1886 on part of Leliebloem called The House of Mercy, a correctional institution, which still exists today. From old 19th century maps it can be seen that not much subdivision occurred at Leliebloem until fairly late in Woodstock’s development. A map of 1897 informs us that the old property was still largely recognisable as the Leliefontein farm from Thibault’s time. But a 1901 map reveals that the usual pattern of subdivision had occurred and Leliebloem, like the other farms in the area, disappeared under a grid of modern roads and intensive Victorian housing.

One such development was a row of seven fine Victorian houses that was built in Melbourne Terrace, a subdivision of Leliebloem. This row of houses was proclaimed a National Monument in 1991 under old National Monument legislation. One of the last owners was Carel Michiel Traut, who died at Leliebloem in 1918 (the last year of the First World War).

The lower slopes of Devil’s Peak were once abundant with fynbos, including flowering Ericas and Proteas, and it’s sad that large tracts of indigenous vegetation were obliterated with the building of De Waal Drive in the 1960s. But if you stand on the corner of Premier Road and Upper Melbourne Roads, just below De Waal Drive, there is a small section of mountain land with scattered fynbos that survives; this was once part of the upper reaches of Leliebloem (Picture 2). A small portion of open land, once part of Leliebloem’s farmlands, remains lower down. This is now called Victoria Walk Park (Picture 3), just off Victoria Walk and bordering on Golder’s Green Road, a pleasant little surviving pocket of a once extensive estate.

Picture 4. Looking up Victoria Walk

Although nothing remains of Leliebloem, if you drive up Victoria Walk, you’re ascending the old avenue that once led to the farmhouse (Picture 4), so you can get a rough idea of where the original gabled homestead once stood, near the top of the present road. A solitary old oak tree in the grounds of the Garden Lodge Hotel and a few old stone pines below the Upper Melbourne Road bridge over the N2 are perhaps the only survivors from the days when Leliebloem was still a farm. The Leliebloem House institution still exists, although it has since moved to Athlone, and now caters for needy children: www.leliebloem.org.za.

Sources: MOOC – CT Archives, 6/9/1199; www.capetown.anglican.org; http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com; Woodstock – A Selection of Articles from The Woodstock Whisperer – Gabriel and Louise Athiros (Historical Media cc), 2007. Wagon Road to Wynberg C.Pama (Tafelberg Publishers).

Jim Hislop is the current Senior Copy Editor and Wine Writer for Pick n Pay’s Fresh Living magazine.

A long-time resident of Observatory, and current resident of Woodstock, he is also a committee member of the Vernacular Society of South Africa (www.vassa.org.za), is currently researching the history of the old farms and estates of the Observatory and Woodstock area, and is the founder of the Facebook group The Cape’s Threatened Buildings https://www.facebook.com/groups/125151067623190/.

Deep Sky Survey is the name of Lyndi Sales’s latest exhibition which runs to 14 July 2012 at Whatiftheworld’s impressive new location at 1 Argyle Road, corner Albert Road, Woodstock. “The body of work investigates the existential questions presented to us by science and its metaphors, man being a ‘symptom’ of the universe at large” explains the artist’s statement.

Sales has an impressive list of prizes and achievements, the most recent of which was appearing as one of three official representatives of South Africa at the last Venice Biennale. Whether one is happy about the transparency, or lack thereof, of that selection process, the current abstract works demand to be seen. Satellite Telescope dominates the main space, a multi-media installation of laser-cut radiant Perspex which is simply breath-taking. Swirls and whirls of iridescence snake through the gallery, suspended at chest level. The mirror-like material reflects us and makes us part of the work and the astrophysical world depicted.

More familiar, earlier works using paper laser traceries are upstairs but it is the six Perspex constructions on the ground floor which caught my eye. Highly finished, glossy and glitzy and very desirable, the large works seem designed to grace a Clifton architectural gem.

The constructions were influenced, we are told, by the blurring of the artist’s sight due to a personal eye problem. For me, this links their subject, infinite areas of space, with the intimate nature of personal vision. An exciting show.

Patrick Chapman is a seasoned art writer/collector and frequent visitor to Woodstock’s thriving arts hub.

Current exhibition until 14 July 2012

A few weeks ago a small team of us, residents of Chamberlain and Salisbury street, started cleaning up the servitude that runs along the back of our houses: Rainham Lane. It was pretty bad.

We could hardly open the door leading from our backyard into the lane, and everyone got covered in burs. The weeds by themselves were not so bad – home to praying mantises, crickets, snails, spiders and earthworms.  But there was also a lot of garbage woven in among the plants.  Plastic packets, chunks of concrete dumped after renovations, condom wrappers etc.

But there were also some pleasant surprises, like this gooseberry bush!

We ripped weeds out all along the lane, cleared doorways and the gutter  all along the lane, and caused a slow-motion panic among the snail population. We soon saw that there was far more rubbish than we could dump with our single bakkie. In the end after the first weekend we only managed to take out the weed forest and sort the rubbish into piles.

The following weekend of the lane angels, Liana, organised a truck to pick up all the waste we ripped out of Rainham Lane.  The truck just fitted into the lane!  The two men who came with the truck  pretty much picked up all the rubble, sand and weed piles while me, Dittany and Liana did our bit to help.  I did not get any good photographs of the guys, but they did a fantastic job.

In little over an hour the lane was cleared of most of the rubbish.

Here is the lane when it was clean and clear.

A few weeks later we continued our mission to clean Rainham Lane.  This time we were carting some of the rubble and soil we could not fit into the truck, into containers for plants.  It was heavy work!  Petrus and Liana carry a tub of soil while Ingrid adds more soil to the wheelbarrow:

Liana organised some large wooden crates, and Brendon found a lot of plastic milk crates to act as plant containers.  It took many trips with the wheelbarrow to fill up those crates, but thanks Pippin’s vigilant supervision no mistakes were made.

Next the planters were filled with whatever plants we had at hand, greening the space is an ongoing project!

Thanks Masha! Just look what the lane looked like before they started!

left: before; right: after

Well done Woodstockers! A great thing about community initiatives like this is that neighbours get to know each other and conversations get started that benefit the community in many ways. Check out the Rainham lane facebook group (a great way to organize something like this) and you will see there are lots of plans to green the space some more with veggie crates and vertical gardens. Lets face it, most Woodstockers lack space, and reclaiming the lanes as community space is a great way to fill this need.

Do you know of any more initiatives like this-  we would love to hear about it!  Contact us here.

Sojourn Natural Spa is an oasis of tranquility in Woodstock. The concept behind the Spa is to be all natural, environmentally friendly and holistic, and a sense of serenity surrounds you as soon as you walk through the door.

Put your feet up!

The Spa is located in the Upper East Side hotel was started by Diana Carolin about a year ago. Diana grew up in Constantia and when I asked why she chose to open a spa in Woodstock, she said that she believes that since Woodstock is upwardly mobile she thinks it is the right place to position yourself in the market. Many of their clients come from the hotel, but Diana would also like to attract more local clients from Woodstock and surrounds. (Stay tuned, a special offer only for ILW readers in this post!)

left: Diana Carolin, owner; right: Beauty therapist Rayhaana

Diana has an interesting background. She trained in London at The London College of Massage in Deep Tissue and Therapeutic Massage after which  she worked at the Dorchester Hotel as a massage therapist. Her superior skills quickly made her a favourite with the A-list guests visiting the hotel, and celebrities she massaged include Nelson Mandela, Angelina Jolie, Martin Lawrence (who reportedly tipped very generously), Natalie Cole, Shania Twain, Lindsay Lohan…..the list goes on!

She then worked for Unlisted London, for similar well-to-do clients offering massages in their own homes. But after 5 years in London she had had enough of the big bad city and moved back to South Africa and opened a Health and Wellness spa in the little town of Bredasdorp, before eventually relocating again and is now based in Woodstock. In all Diana has 13 years of massage experience, and has also trained in Aromatherapy, Traditional Therapeutic Chinese Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Indian Head Massage, Nutrition, Counseling and is a qualified Reiki Master.

Sojourn Natural Spa offers an array of facials, massages, manicure and pedicures, gel nails and overlays, waxing and tinting treatments. They also offer therapeutic deep tissue (sports) massages, corporate massage (they can come to your place of business) and pregnancy massages – a fantastic treat to spoil a mom-to-be if you have one in your life.  You can see their full menu here.

Tools of the trade

Sojourn Natural Spa earns it’s green credentials in many ways. All the products in use in the spa are locally made and mostly fair trade, vegan, organic and beauty without cruelty. For example they use Esse products for skincare and Milk and Honey for massages. The therapists uniforms and all the soft furnishings in the Spa are made from hemp fibre, a more sustainable cotton alternative.

Diana believes in keeping things simple and natural. She thinks anyone can look good naturally, and she clearly loves her job- she likes to empower people to feel good about themselves and believes that beauty comes from within.  With this philosophy it is not surprising that the spa is clearly a place where customers become friends – trust me if you try a massage once you will certainly be back!

WIN!!!: SNS is offering one lucky ILW reader a free massage- just think about it – have a relaxing massage by the hands that massaged great men like Nelson Mandela and A-list celebs like Angelina Jolie! All you have to do is  leave a comment on this post OR ‘like’ their facebook page here, leaving a comment on their wall that you are entering the competition. *

But wait there is more – they also have a fantastic special offer for June and July: Only R230 for a 45 min massage AND an express manicure or pedicure. On your way yet?

Quick facts:

Address: Shop No 9, Upper East side Hotel, Brickfield road, Salt River, 021 8016662

Opening hours: Mon to Fri 10h00- 18h30 Saturday by appointment only

Contacts: 021 801 6662

Email sojournnaturalspa@gmail.com to be included on their mailing list or to get their latest price list sent to you.

You can also connect with them on their facebook page or their website.

*Terms: By entering you agree to be included on the Sojourn Natural Spa mailing list. Competition closes 31 July.

1. What is the concept behind Side Street Studios?

Side street Studios is all about providing affordable space for the young up and coming artists in CT.

2. Why do you think art and design is flourishing in Woodstock?

The freedom of exploration. I think that originally a lot of the buildings were run down and derelict and the artists
were allowed to do their own thing that immediately improved the look and feel of the building. I think this freedom together with low rentals, amazing views and inspiring spaces are very attractive for creative people.

3. Do you think too much gentrification in Woodstock will drive artists away?

I do think we need to be aware and careful and we must learn from international experience. Although redevelopment is an important part of urbanization, it is essential to try to include the local community in this process and by doing that hopefully we will be able to hold on to this amazing creative community that has been at the forefront of the Woodstock upliftment.

4. How many studios do you currently have available?

Side Street Studios is the umbrella brand for all the buildings in our portfolio which have creative tenants in them.
We just purchased a new building on Albert Road which has space for 30 studios and shops, we are expecting to take transfer during April. At the moment we have 2 buildings which together accommodate about 10 creative tenants of which 32 William St. is one of them.

5. You had your first exhibition 2 weeks ago at one of your studios with a bunch of well known Woodstock artists including Senyol, Mackay, Justin Southey and Black Koki. How did that go and any more exhibitions on the horizon?

This exhibition was organized by the artists themselves and Side Street Studio played a supporting roll in providing the venue and coordinating the event. I am also involved in the #moonlightmass which is a night cycle ride through CT and it happens on the first full moon of every month. We have few big ideas for events later on in the year and will keep you posted.

6. Your previous venture the Woodstock Industrial centre, also previously an artists’ studio hub, has now been sold. Any idea on what will now be happening there?

The WIC is going undergoing massive redevelopment, there is a lot of money invested in this project and I am sure it will have an impact on the area and will fast-forward the development of Albert Rd and surrounding streets.

7. How can artists interested in studio space contact you?

Our website is www.sidestreet.co.za and they can always email me on info@sidestreet.co.za or call me on 021-4486511

All images kindly provided by http://www.revolution-daily.com/

Zonnebloem Farm

Picture 1. Zonnebloem House on the slopes of Devil’s Peak

Somewhat of a landmark on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak, Zonnebloem House (Picture 1), on the border of Woodstock and the Zonnebloem suburb, has witnessed the expansion of Cape Town, the tragic forced removals and demolitions of District Six and the slow rebirth of the area that took its name. It was also one of three estates in Woodstock that were named after flowers, Roodebloem and Leliebloem being the other two.

Zonnebloem’s beginnings date back to 1707 when a small farm (or market garden) was granted to Pieter Christiaans. There were numerous farms and market gardens on the slopes of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, and their original purpose was to supply the ships anchored at Table Bay with scurvy-preventing fresh fruit and vegetables for their long ocean trips. After a succession of owners, Zonnebloem (meaning sunflower in Dutch) came into the hands of Rudolph Siegfried Allemann in 1739. A man of some means – he was the leader of the Cape Garrison – he increased the property’s size two-fold and probably built the first house on Zonnebloem to accommodate his growing family, after relocating from the Castle. He died at Zonnebloem in 1762 and his son passed the farm over to Jan Hendrik Munnik in 1774.

Picture 2. Zonnebloem by Johannes Schumacher ca 1770s

Munnik is said to have improved the house, (possibly adding a wing or two to create an H-shape, a traditional Cape Dutch architectural plan) and to have added beautiful baroque gables to the front and back. It was around this time that artist Johannes Schumacher produced a panorama of Cape Town, where Zonnebloem house can clearly be seen on the slopes of

Devil’s Peak, with extensive farmlands and outbuildings (Picture 2). Incidentally, Zonnebloem is the only remaining H-shaped Cape Dutch house between the city bowl and Observatory. Observatory boasts two H-shaped Cape Dutch houses, namely Wrensch House and Westoe.

Although the land wasn’t particularly fertile, Munnik may have wanted to use the Zonnebloem farm and house as a showplace, a symbol of his status as Captain of the Cape Cavalry – status being highly important. The homestead also boasted one of the best views in Cape Town, of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head with vistas of the sweeping expanse of Table Bay, laden with sailing ships as it was in those days. At some point in its history, Zonnebloem was also owned by a slave trader, and the West African slaves were reputedly kept at the farm until being taken by ship to the Americas, where many would have died from disease and inhumane conditions en route.

Alexander Tennant took ownership in 1800 and made his own alterations to the house and farm. With the British occupation of the Cape in the early 19th century, the more restrained Georgian style of architecture became prevalent, slowly replacing the Cape Dutch style in popularity. And so Zonnebloem House was given Georgian sash windows and was sadly shorn of its fine gables (the gables that can be seen today have been cut of all their elaborate trimmings), while the farm was expanded from around 24 morgen (20 hectares) to 200 morgen (171 hectares). Tennant Street in Zonnebloem serves as a reminder of this owner.

Picture 3. Zonnebloem by George French Angas

During the first half of the 19th century, several artists including George French Angas (Picture 3) captured Zonnebloem in its various guises, but only after a succession of alterations. Later, the house was altered further, losing its thatch and gaining a corrugated iron roof. Dormer windows were added (to make the most of the stunning views no doubt!) and various additions were undertaken. A side door was also added to become the new front entrance.
District Six, the vibrant area where different races lived amicably, sprung up on some of Zonnebloem’s old farmlands in the last half of the 19th century. The remaining grounds and house were taken over to become the Zonnebloem College.

Zonnebloem College

Picture 4. Trainee Missionaries for the Anglican Church

Zonnebloem College (originally given the unfortunate name – the ‘Kaffir College’) had the distinction of being the first ‘African School’ in the Cape Peninsula, founded by Sir George Grey and Bishop Grey in 1858. The aim was to educate the sons of black chiefs (including Sandili, Moshesh and Lobengula), who were on the Eastern frontier, and to train young black men from privileged families to become missionaries for the Anglican Church (Picture 4). This education was also used to try and find ways of easing conflict between white and black people at the time. A teacher training college was opened in 1865 and in 1913 the Zonnebloem Teacher Training College was built, opening its doors to female students for the first time, while coloured students became the prime population of the school. Some of the old farm buildings were used to house the growing number of students, while an attractive chapel was built on the property – pic 2. Today, two primary schools occupy the historic Zonnebloem buildings of the original school, and the grounds were used as a voting station during the last municipal elections in 2011.

Figure 5. The Zonnebloem Chapel

Though much altered and in need of a restoration job, Zonnebloem still presides over Table Bay as it did in the 18th century (pic 3), but instead of looking out over farmlands, the current tenants look out over vast tracts of vacant, bulldozed land, the scars that must remind them of District Six’s tragic past. It would be wonderful to see Zonnebloem’s thatch reinstated and the baroque gables restored. Any takers?

Figure 6. The View from Zonnebloem

Sources:

The Old Buildings of the Cape by Hans Fransen (Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2004);

Woodstock – A selection of articles from The Woodstock Whisperer, edited by Gabriel and Louise Athiros (Historical Media CC);

Wagon Road to Wynberg by C.Pama (Tafelberg Publishers);

http://www.historicschools.org.za.

Note to researchers:

The Manuscripts & Archives department of the University of Cape Town libraries has a file called the Zonnebloem papers (catalogue number: BC 636), with extensive research on the Zonnebloem College.

Jim Hislop is the current Senior Copy Editor and Wine Writer for Pick n Pay’s Fresh Living magazine.

A long-time resident of Observatory, he is also a member of the Vernacular Society and is currently researching the history of the old farms of the Observatory and Woodstock area.

ILW met up with Berlin-based photographer Katrina James (originally from Australia) and who has been living in Woodstock for the last few months. It’s always interesting to see how others perceive the place we live in, and Katrina’s pictures of Woodstock have a gentle humility about them.

We asked her a few questions about her experience of living in Woodstock.

ILW: What brought you to Woodstock?

Katrina: I heard a lot about Cape Town when I was living in Berlin as many Germans I met had been there; so I decided that it sounded like an interesting place and was worth visiting. It was also good to escape the winter and return to the southern hemisphere without actually going back to Australia.

IWL: What was your first impression of Woodstock?

Katrina: It immediately felt more real (than Cape Town center), it definitely has a bit more grit, it is dynamic and there are many things to do. There is a raw industrial beauty here but real people are living within this. And there is a very strong community feeling here.

ILW: And how do you feel now that you’ve been here a few months? And constantly taken photographs?

Katrina: It hasn’t really changed. Cape Town itself has a lot of contradictions. There are lots of oceans but they are freezing. It’s either sunny and still or cool and windy. It can be hideously ugly but in the best way if that makes sense. I really love living here.

ILW: How would you describe yourself and your work as a photographer?

Katrina: I am fascinated with how we see, I think we really see with our brains and our eyes are just a channel to get there. I see my camera as recording what is happening on my channel. I strive to find beauty and humour in everything around me. My images are never contrived or setup they are exactly how my brain sees.

We’ve reposted some of her Woodstock pictures below. If you’re up for more, you can visit her site here.

She has a stall at the You, me and everyone we know market at the Labia today (Friday 2nd February) and then next month again. And ILW will be hosting a giveaway of one her prints (A3) next month, details to follow.

And here as promised are the images.

There is no slowing Woodstock down. This year has already seen much happening in Roodebloem Road, more tenants moving into the Salt River Arcade and the Woodstock Foundry opening its doors. The Deckle Edge has also moved to its new premises in Sir Lowry Rd. and the Woodstock area has been earmarked for a major upgrade as one of the city’s improvement districts.

Blooming Roodebloem

Frangipani & Jamaica me Crazy

Roodebloem Road is in the midst of a blooming revival. Frangipani had a huge facelift last year, Jamaica me Crazy made its balcony Southeaster-proof and a few business properties welcomed building teams that restored them to their former beauty, but with modern twists. Number 81 went as far as lowering the boundary wall, so that the beautiful facade can be appreciated once more.

Next to it, on the corner with Salisbury Street, Prinz Productions is renovating Number 79, which will also include a new wrap-around balcony. Their offices will be upstairs, but downstairs the new owners, attracted by the eclectic mix of people living and working in the area, are looking for a tenant “that will run a deli/café where locals will come for coffee, a quick bite to eat, or simply a take away”.

Roodebloem Rd

Yoga & new art gallery?

Across the road, the building that’s seen Hoodwinx as it’s most recent entertainment incarnation, is up for sale. According to the agents, the interested parties thus far are considering it for an art gallery, restaurant or office space. Whatever the case, visitors can always take a breather by going next door to the Yokai studio for yoga and massage, which opened its doors last year in another gorgeous Victorian house.

New Woodstock Lounge

Further up the road, Woodstock Lounge is being revamped by the new, local owner – and will be serving lunch and dinner. Opened up to let in more light, repainted and refurbished, the plan is to cater for “the new influx of young professionals”. Pastas, pizzas and tapas, as well as pregos, salads and other offerings are on the cards. The name remains, and it will still be the place for televised sporting events.

Madame Zingara & Simply Asia & Namaste Chandani

Just below Nelson Mandela Boulevard, the three corners of Palmerston and Roodebloem will soon cater for even more culinary needs. Madame Zingara has taken over Don Pedros, now to be called “Don Pedros and his wives”. The place has been gutted to make way for a “fabulous, more feminine and unforgettable interior”.

Across the road, the “other” Mr Parker is closing down, as Simply Asia, the people that “combine fresh and nutritious food in a sleek yet simple setting”, are moving in. The “authentic Thai, made simple” will have its work cut out, because the eyesore on the third corner is hopefully giving birth to Namaste Chandani before winter. This sister restaurant to Chandani, further down Roodebloem, will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offer a wide variety of different Indian cuisines.

West Street Café

The Woodstock Foundry

Located at the turnoff to the N1 (next to the Total garage), the Woodstock Foundry houses several venues. The brainchild of Alan West, who also runs the West Street Café, he plans to hold music events on Saturdays and other selected evenings. Already present are Olive which specialises in decor, Dear Rae, run by jeweller Karin Matthee who sells jewellery out of her studio, and a real honest to goodness foundry is in the works too.

Salt River Arcade

Following on from our previous article, we’re now entering the next phase with more stores opening in the ‘arcade’. The coffee shop run by Farhat Dolly and ably assisted by Julie is now open. They are still looking for a name and “Like My Father” or “Coffee at Salt Circle” are both in contention but she is still uncertain and some friendly suggestions or feedback are she assures us welcome.

The new coffeeshop in the Salt River Arcade

Also in the space is oh-lief, which makes and stocks its own natural baby and body products, run by Christine Buchanan and Louiza Rademan. Everything s homemade and totally organic.

Christine from Oh-Lief

Then we have a new kid’s lifestyle shop called Frekkle, run by Amanda Williamson & Sylvia Benoist which has everything from haircuts to boutique items under the new Frekkle brand.You may know them from their children’s clothing stalls at the Neighbourhood’s market.

Lexi Bechet has opened a confectionary which she describes as an old school sweat shop that uses only natural ingredients.  A very difficult shop to leave. The courtyard will also become a market (soon apparently) which should extend some of the success of the Biscuit Mill further outwards.

It’s an exciting time to be in Woodstock right now.

Photos by Ruan Benade, Thomas Mihal & Stefan Blank

And on another note, ILW wishes frequent collaborator Sybrandus Adema a well- earned one year sabbatical in India; though he promises to return to Woodstock next year. Let’s see how much Woodstock has changed by then.

Taking 2 weeks or more to decorate, villa Sancho glows and pulses like a bionic Christmas tree.

I took some pictures of the houses in December 2008 but never published the photos. This time I headed to one of the more impressive houses with the hope of a quick but late holiday feature. It turns out the house belongs to Ms. Maria Sancho, mother of estate agent Manny Sancho. Ms. Sancho tells me that it takes roughly two weeks to decorate the house exterior. Bits get put up at various stages and a family employee does most of the physical work.

Shrine detail, complete with paper rocks, lights, toys, plastic plants and various Christmas paraphernalia.

It doesn’t stop there as Ms. Sancho has her own glowing ‘shrine’ in the living room. This she constructs herself, even using paper and spray paint to create some of the effects. The level of detail on these shrines are astounding, a combination of lights, toys, plastic plants and various Christmas paraphernalia.

A religious scene plays out center stage on the shrine.

Ms. Sancho says there are a handful of people putting on this kind of display every year and she knows them all. More people used to do it, but rising cost of both the decorations and electricity has limited the tradition to the more dedicated. Costs aside… I enjoy seeing the twinkly houses up on the hill every year and thank the dedicated for keeping the fun alive.

Various festive houses in University Estate.