| Notes |
- Jacomina Gertruida (Minnie) Constantinou neé van Dyk - Youngest Daughter
Our mom was a humble person who never raised her voice. Love was always streaming from her, I am sure she was an Angel sent by God to be our mom. When we were naughty she would only make 'Big Eyes' and we all knew to tow the line.
Mom was born in the Cape. They resettled to Betuanaland, now Botswana, and that is where she grew up. She learned to speak the mother tongue of the black people as well as they could. Her Mom died when she was 9. She was the eldest daughter and had to take care of her younger sister Hester and the household. The black people taught her how to cook as well.
Her father was the son of Genl De La Rey, who would often come and visit to see if the children were ok after their mom had passed away.
When moving out as adults her eldest brother Koos lived in Vryburg. Her other brother Pieter married a lady with the name Hester (Who was crazy about Stan, Maude's 1st husband). Hester and Pieter had a son Ronnie and two daughters Erin and Cecilia, who used to be a real little snip when she was small. Mom's younger sister, also Hester, married Lovey Schmidt. They never had any children and always wanted me to go and live with them.
Mom baked bread daily. When Jimmy was off in the navy it was the remaining 5 children, Mom and Dad and 2 of Dad's half brothers all had to be fed. Her food was always tasty. Friday nights she would make fish and chips. The rest of the week was real 'Boere kos' with veggies from our garden and meat and rice or mealie rice. Sundays was roast chicken and Dad would choose what pudding he would like to have. His favourite pudding Bottled Peaches with Jelly and Ice Cream. We had our own vegetable garden and our own chickens. Some to slaughter and others for eggs. I was only allowed to carry 1 egg at a time
Our Mom really loved Bing Crosby's music. She always used to say "Hy kan maar sy skoene onder my bed kom sit". We had a radio, but the brothers also played for our entertainment. Joe played a piano and pianoaccordian, Koos played violin, guitar and Hawaiian guitar. Invariably the violin was out of tune, because I would always 're tune' it for Koos.
Our Mom could make the most beautiful clothes. She once made such a stunning evening dress for Maude to go dancing in, a pink dress with silver stars.
When Mom was released from hospital, she told me that she had cancer. She had to take 2 tablets a day and the 2 of us would rest a short while in the afternoon.
Melinda (Lindie) van der Schyf neé Brooks - Granddaughter
Oumie passed away when I was only 2. So I do not really have a vivid memory of her. What I do have is a 'knowing' of sleeping behind her back when she came to visit in the house we were renting from Dad's brother Uncle Willy. Somehow I also have a 'knowing' of her soft gentle soul
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
What I can remember is that Ouma died when I was nearly 7. She used to safe guard me totally. The times I spent with her on the farm along with Shannie and Kosie were the best! I recall how she used to say that she always wanted to cut her hair shorter, when she had no choice to, after the Wicks Bubblegum I stuck behind her ears when I slept with her, got tangled in hair.
The times we use to go down the "voor" in the big bathtubs were awesom, best times on the farm. Then if you could just dip your hands in her tins of biscuits. She always had something for every one. She really loved my father and I think she was the only mother figure he ever had in his life.
Sometimes though I think he missed her more than what my mother did - my opinion only.
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.
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1906 - 1967 (60 years)
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