Joseph John (Pollie) VAN DYK

Notes:

Jacomina Gertruida (Minnie) Constantinou neé van Dyk - Youngest Daughter

Our father's mom died when he was still a baby. He was the youngest of 4, having 3 older sisters. His father remarried Ouma Battie neé Louw. She had 6 other children when marrying Dad's father. Ouma Battie's mom was 106 years old when she passed away on Shannon's birthday.

When my dad was still young, he would take his horse and travel about a hundred miles to his favourite place in the world ... the Kalahari. He said that was the best place to look at the stars and moon at night. This he stopped doing once he got married. He was also a strong swimmer who loved swimming in the Vaal River.

After getting married, our parents lived in Lichtenburg and worked on the 'delwery'. Both Jimmy and Maude were born there. From there they moved to 57 Lancaster Avenue Craighall Park. The house dad built, he built right at the back of the property so that there was place in the front of the house for the boys to play with a ball.

Dad was also very artistic. He once moulded a horse for a horse owner, but then did not want to part with it. The last time I recall seeing it was in Maude's home. He also made little 'play-play' stoves for us, in which we could make real fires and really cook on.

He worked at Mandy's Engineering which was a foundry. Regardless of how dirty the job was, when Dad left for or returned from work he was always neatly dressed in a trouser, shirt, collar and tie ... and always with a hat.

On his way home at night, he would stop and buy the 'The Star' newspaper. Every night he would read 'Curly Wee' to Dot and I, in English, and then explain it to us in Afrikaans. Then we would each have to re-tell the story to him, first in English and the in Afrikaans, so that he was sure we fully understood it.

Dad loved fishing, and every second month he would load us all up into his big Diamond-T truck and take us fishing somewhere near Krugersdorp where there were caves and a little river. Was a trip we always looked forward to and enjoyed so much.

Times were tough, and as soon as the children were old enough to work, they had to leave school so that they sould help support the family.

Our Dad's favourite food was the Sunday meal. He would always choose what he wanted our Mom to cook, and more often than not it was roast chicken, rice, potatoes, beans, pumpkin etc. All grown and reared ourselves. His favourite pudding was Jelly and ice cream.

After Our Mom died his Life Partner was Lorraine Fester (Mother of the wife of our youngest brother Koos van Dyk) They lived in a flat in Mayfair for quite a while, from where they then moved to a flat that Koos built at their home in Alberton. There they stayed untill Dad died.

Lindie van der Schyf neé Brooks - Granddaughter

We often visited Oupa in the flat in Mayfair. He would tell me if my parents wanted to give me a hiding, I was to pack my suitcase and live with him. It was always fun visiting him and Aunty Lorraine. First of all, we always got such delicious food to eat. Then when going home, down would come the old coffee tin and I would get to choose three or so sweeties (From the Checkers Pick 'n Mix).

No child ever really wants to make tea and coffee for their parents ... BUT ... it was ALWAYS a pleasure when visiting Oupa. Why ... ... ... well the was a honey bottle (With a big yellow bee on) filled with condensed milk next to the kettle ... ... ... that really worked for me. How I though no one ever noticed that once I had been to visit there was always a substantial drop in the condensed milk level. They pretended not to notice.

I have memories of sitting with Oupa on his bed singing with him to Mississippi (A Pussycat Hit). He really liked that song and when it came on he would turn that little radio up loud. He used to use snuff, and on the odd occasion gave me some. Yes, I sneezed myself silly, but never learned the lesson. Maybe that is why I love sneezing today.

When I was in boarding school, on one occasion I visited with Oupa at the Johannesburg General Hospital, and he made me vow that I would never become a nurse. He did not want me exposed to working with or seeing naked men. He was very adamant about it and I had to make a solemn promise that I would never become a nurse.

Christina Ellen (Stienie) Blom neé van Dyk - Oudste Kleinkind

Vanaf 1963, sovêr ek kan onthou, het ek baie goeie tye saam met Ouma Mynie gehad toe ek by haar op die plaas gaan kuier het.

Eerstens, die plaashuis anderkant die populiersbos ... ... ... Daar het ek en my sus Bettie, en soms my boeties ook, gekuier. Voor die huis het 'n diep watervoor verby gevloei. Aan die kant van die huis was daar 'n groot poel wat met tyd gevorm het waar die trekkers deurgery het na die lande verderaan. Daar in die poel het ons altyd te lekker baljaar.

Soggens het die kombuishulp die lekkerste pap gemaak waarby Ouma eiers gebak het en oor die pap vir ons geskep het. Dan het Ouma vir ons uit die Bybel uit voorgelees en ons het hande gevat om saam te bid. Ouma het dan brood geknie en ons het uit die huis gegaan om te gaan speel. Ouma het die brode in die buite oond gebak, die lekkerste was die egte plaasbotter op 'n sny warm boere brood. Somtyds het Ouma vir ons eiervrug (in dun skyfies gesny) in botter gebak en op die brood was dit 'n heerlike lekkerny. Ook was varkvet op brood met sout en peper vir my konings kos.

Klokslag, elke dag voor 10h00, het daar 'n groot likkewaan in die watervoor afgekom. Ons het buite gespeel en as dit warm was het ons in die water baljaar. Ek onthou nog eendag, toe Oom Sidney nog by Tannie Minnie gekuier het, dat hulle saam met ons buite was waar ons geswem het en in die son gelê het. Ewe skielik was die kombers waarop ons lë oor my kop, en Oom Sid sê ek moet nie koekeloer nie, want ek mag nie sien wat grootmense doen nie, maar ek het geweet hy wil weer 'n soentjie steel.

Ouma was baie lief vir naaldwerk. Destyds was die meel sakkies van wit linne gemaak met patrone op gedruk. Sy het die sakkies spierwit uitgewas en dan die patrone uitgeborduur en vadoeke en voorskote gemaak. Van die groot sakke het sy kussingslope gemaak. Sy sou op die stoep in die koelte sit om ons dop te hou terwyl ons in die water speel. Altyd besig met die een of ander naaldwerkie.

As Oupa op die plaas was, het hy altyd saam met Oom Koos buite gewerk. Op 'n dag in 1964, terwyl Oupa aan sy kar gewerk het, het ek amper op 'n groen boomslang getrap wat uit die boom in die water geval het. Toe ek gil was Oupa dadelik by en gooi die slang met 'n moersleutel wat in sy hand was. Daardie dag was oupa ook amper gepik toe hy en Pennie (die jong bediende wat na ons gekeyk het) tussen die water plante gesoek het vir die slang. Skielik roep Pennie dat Oupa moet stilstaan, want ta se kind lê op 'n blaar van die waterplant digby Oupa se gesig. Sy het die slang toe doodgemaak. Daardie nag begin ek nagmerries kry en Oupa het gery van die plaas af na 'n noodapteek in Johannesburg om vir my medisyne te gaan kry.

Daar was ook familiebyeenkomste op die plaas gehou. Dan word daar geslag, bees, skaap en vark. Almal het dan hulle deel gekry om saam te neem huis toe. Ouma het 'n groot kole yskas gehad net buite die agterdeur waarin sy al die vleis, groente en eiers in gebêre het. Sy het ook vet uitgebraai en frikkedelle ingelê in flesse.

Kerstyd was die familie ook almal weer bymekaar. Die groeter kinders, ek en Shannon, het dan met al die kleintjies gespeel. Die plaashuis was baie groot en ons kon lekker wegkruipertjie speel in hom. Oom Joe en Oom Sid het altyd vir die kinders poetse gebak.

Jare daarna, by die plaashuis met die grasdak, was daar ook goeie tye gewees. Daar het ons lekker gespeel en ook in die besproeingsdam agter die huis geswem. Gereeld in die vrugte bome geklim, veral as die vrugte ryp was. Soms het ons ook gaan kyk hoe die werkers boontjies verpak vir die mark, of saam Oupa gery om vir Oom Koos kos weg te bring na die buurplaas waar hy op die tabaklande gewerk het.

Ek sal die plaashuise vir altyd onthou. As ek kon skilder, sou ek dit wat ek voor my geestesoog sien, op doek wou vas lê.

Die hartseerste dag was toe ons in die Kaap met vakansie was en die tyding gekry het van Ouma se afsterwe. Ons het dadelik gepak en teruggekom vir haar begrafnis. Dit was net so hartseer toe ons vir oulaas plaas toe is om al Ouma se goedjies op te pak. Daar het ek besef dat dat dit 'n deel van my lewe was wat afgesluit is.

Na Ouma se dood het het Oupa Mayfair in Johannesburg, Transvaal toe getrek. Ons het daar vir hom gaan kuier en hy het gereeld vir ons kom kuier.

Oupa en Ouma was twee groot ouers wat enige kind trots en geliefd laat voel het. Hulle was die sout van die aarde.

Rhonél Winnifred Woodford neé De Wet - Granddaughter

I never saw Oupa not dressed well. I had an amazing opportunity to spend time with Oupa just before his death. I had to drive his car from Alberton to town and he took me along to all his friends, from the Chinaman right through to the last one. He introduced me to them and said he is busy teaching me to drive. It was only later I realised he was saying goodbye to all of them.

Then on the return back to Alberton I had to manoeuvre the car at that very steep downhill at a robot in Southcrest near where Uncle Joe and Auntie Lettie stayed. Getting closer to the red robot Oupa told me the breaks not very good I should try the handbrake. WOW!!! That was a scary revalation, I can still feel my heart beat. Oupa did not die that day, but I am sure that trip did cut his life short at least by one day. Although Oupa never taught me to drive, I was so proud when he declared that I had passed his tests. He used to chain his car to the tree, it was a green Peugeot station wagon.

When he was in hospital for the 2nd last time I had the opportunity to spend it with him every day and I realised then what a proud old man he was.

I was very lucky to spend time with both my grandparents shortly before their deaths and there are memories I will always treasure, even though we lived far away in the Free State.

Family/Spouse: Jacomina Gertruida DE LA REY. Jacomina (daughter of Jacobus Herculaas (Koos) DE LA REY) was born on 20 Apr 1906; died on 9 Jan 1967 in Johannesburg, S A. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Joshia (Jimmy - Jim) VAN DYK was born on 1 Nov 1925 in Christiana, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 12 May 2002 in Parow, Cape Town, South Africa.
2. Maude Esther VAN DYK was born about 1928 in Christiana, Transvaal, South Africa; died about 1970 in Edenvale, , Transvaal, South Africa.
3. Joseph John (Joe) VAN DYK was born on 13 Dec 1933 in Christiana, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 5 Feb 2005 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
4. Jacobus Herculaas (Koos) VAN DYK was born on 23 Aug 1935 in Christiana, Transvaal, South Africa.
5. Dorothy Jemima (Dot) VAN DYK was born on 7 Sep 1938 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 6 May 2005 in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
6. Jacomina Gertruida (Minnie) VAN DYK was born on 18 Nov 1940 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa.

Family/Spouse: Lorraine FESTER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]