The Slagtersnek Monument near Cookhouse

Driving along the N10 between Port Elizabeth and Cradock there is a memorial next to the road near the town of Cookhouse.  Driving back from Cradock the other day I decided to stop and have a closer look.  The Slagtersnek Monument remembers the Slagtersnek Rebellion and the subsequent hanging of 5 of the rebels, an event that changed the area forever and possibly had a big role to play in the start of the Great Trek.  The museum in Somerset East has a great exhibit about the event which includes the beam the rebels were hung from.

 

I got the following information from Somerset East and Blue Crane Tourism

 

In 1815, a farmer from the eastern border of the Cape Colony, Frederik Bezuidenhout, was summoned to appear before a magistrate's court after repeated allegations of his mistreating one of his Khoi labourers.  Bezuidenhout resisted arrest and fled to a cave near his home where he defended himself against the soldiers sent to capture him. When he refused to surrender he was shot dead by one of the soldiers.

One of Bezuidenhout's brothers, Hans Bezuidenhout, swore revenge. Together with a neighbour Hendrik Prinsloo, Hans Bezuidenhout organised an uprising against the British colonial power, believed by them to be hostile towards the Afrikaner farmers. On 18th November 1815, a commando of rebels met an armed force from Landdrost (magistrate) Jacob Cuyler, the military commander on the eastern frontier, at Slachter's Nek. Negotiations failed and the majority of the rebels left without any shots being fired. Twenty rebels surrendered, followed by several more over the following days. However, some of the leaders, among whom was Hans Bezuidenhout, refused to turn themselves over to the British authorities. On 29th November 1815, they were attacked by colonial troops. Everybody but Bezuidenhout surrendered and, like his brother, Hans died while resisting arrest.

The rebels were finally charged at Uitenhage. Some were cleared, others imprisoned or banished. Six were sentenced to death but one of these was pardoned by the Governor, Lord Charles Somerset.   On 9th March 1816 the remaining five were hanged in public at Van Aardtspos. Four of the nooses broke during the procedure as the hangman who came to perform the execution had not realised there were five to be hung, and old ropes had to be used. The four whose ropes broke, as well as the public, pleaded for their lives but Culyer ordered that they be hanged a second time and they were hung one by one. The names of the five who were hanged were Hendrik Prinsloo, Stephanus Bothma, Abraham Bothma, Cornelius Faber and Theunis de Klerk.

 

Weekend Sho't Left in Hankey

I have a very special spot in my heart for the Gamtoos Valley west of Port Elizabeth, having visited there quite often while I was working as a tourist guide.  Since then we try to get out there every now and then for things like the Gamtoos Citrus Festival, Patensie Boere Basaar and the Gamtoos Adventure Drive and then usually stay in the Patensie area.  A little while ago Carol Pearson of The Milkhouse Farmstyle Bar dropped me a line and invited me to bring the family to stay at their self catering farmhouse for a weekend and explore the Hankey area for a change.  Although you drive through Hankey to get to Patensie I've never explored the area further than the one or two main historic sights around town so jumped at the opportunity. 

 

We made a conscious decision long ago to give the KidZ opportunities to explore and experience places and things that most people probably never do or show their children and that is why I would never say no to an opportunity like this.  The Milkhouse is situated on a farm and is surrounded by citrus orchards.  The accommodation is a 4 bedroom farmhouse that can probably sleep about 10 people and can be booked for individuals or as a whole.  The Milkhouse Farmstyle Bar is situated right next to it and is open to private functions, special events and guest house patrons.  We had dinner there the first evening and the home made burgers and hand cut fries were out of this world.  I will do a more detailed post with more photos of the Milkhouse soon.

 

Our weekend in Hankey was mostly spent being lazy but not without exploring the area thoroughly.  Climbing to the top of the berg window at Vensterhoek was definitively the highlight with the stunning view to both sides of the mountain making up for the effort to get there.  Visits were also made to the biggest sundial in Africa, Saartjie Baartman's grave and the historic Phillips Tunnel.  The KidZ also loved watching the local farm workers fish in the river with nets and Drama Princess even jumped in to help throw back the little fish that got caught in the net.  Our time in Hankey made me realise once again that one often overlooks little places like this and bypass it on the way to more glamorous and well know destinations.  Is there a lesson to be learned?  Look at the destinations in your own back yard first.  Its here where you will find the perfect weekend getaway that won't cost you a fortune in fuel and other expenses. 

Disclosure:  The accommodation and one dinner was courtesy of The Milkhouse Farmstyle Bar

with the remaining expenses on our Sho't Left weekend being at our own cost

Time for a pitstop

Farm stalls all have their unique points and quirky bits. 

Daggaboer Farm Stall outside Cradock has this sign by the gents.....

Malva Pudding recipe

Over the weekend the Damselfly made malva pudding and I decided to nab her recipe for a post. 

Malva pudding is a sweet baked pudding of Cape Dutch origin, usually served hot with custard, cream or ice-cream.  My mom always made a double portion of the sauce and we would then eat it with the sauce poured over (like I did this weekend as you can see in the picture).  It is made with apricot jam and has a spongy caramelized texture. It is often found on the dessert menu of South African restaurants and is a very traditional South African dish.

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The pudding's name is derived from Malvasia wine from Madeira.  The dessert and dessert wine used to be served together after the main course at Cape tables.  It is of distinct Cape Dutch origin with many unique additions which may differ from one area to the next, e.g., ginger or apricot jam. There are also many variants of this dessert, namely, the Cape Brandy Pudding which also includes brandy and dates and the Tipsy Tart which contains only brandy. 

So here is the Damselfly's recipe:

Cake
5ml bicarbonate of soda                        
125ml milk
375ml self-raising flower
1/2 cup of sugar
2 eggs
30ml apricot jam
25ml soft margarine
1ml salt

Sauce
1cup water
1cup of cream (or 1/2cup cream + 1/2cup milk
250ml margarine
250ml sugar
5ml vanilla

Use a 2 liter size baking container. Spray with a non stick spray.  Mix the bicarb into the milk.  Mix the rest of the ingredients separately.  Now stir the bicarb / milk mixture into the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Put the mixture into the baking container and bake for 20 - 30 minutes at 180C.  Take out and punch little holes in it.

 

While the cake is baking heat the sauce ingredients in a pot and mix together till all melted and mixed.  Pour sauce over cake.

 

I hope this all makes sense.  Enjoy!

Rain Spider nest

Spiders are commonplace in live and everybody have had flatties in their homes that sometimes (not always) get ignored as they are totally harmless.  But every now and then one makes their way into the house you just can't ignore, even if they are relatively harmless.  Who has never found a rain spider in a corner or behind a curtain and not just about freaked.   The Common Rain Spider (Palystes superciliosus) is a species of huntsman spider commonly and widespread found in South Africa.  But this post isn't really about the actual rain spider but rather its "nest."  I have often found people see a rain spider egg sac and not know what it is. 

 

After mating in the early summer, the female rain spider constructs a round egg sac about 60–100 mm in size made of silk, with twigs and leaves woven into it.  I've even found one in Addo with a sugar packet woven into the mix.

These egg sacs are commonly seen from about November to April. The female constructs the sac over 3–5 hours, then aggressively guards it until the spiderlings, who hatch inside the protective sac, chew their way out about three weeks later.  Have a careful look at the first picture and you will see that the baby spiders have exited the egg sac  Females will construct about three of these egg sacs over their two year lifespan. 

"Reconsider South Africa" and experience it with all your senses

"What is beauty?

Is it a view that's been waiting for you for centuries?

A setting that gives you goosebumps when you see it for the first time?

A scene so striking it remains in your memory forever? 

Is it a moment that stops you in your tracks and leaves you in awe? 

Some people spend their whole lives looking for them. 

When you open yourself up to it, suddenly you find yourself in a place where true beauty isn't something you'll ever see

Cause in this place, beauty has a much deeper meaning which is why when you meet South Africa, you'll reconsider what you think you know."

South African Tourism has just released their latest destination marketing video for South Africa and it's really thought provoking.  Its not just about seeing South Africa's beauty, but also how you experience it using all your senses.

Nature's Valley panorama

A panoramic view of Nature's Valley and its surrounds from the top of The Point looking west