(fltr) Sylvia Krause, Gaye Day, Sandra Bowker, Sue Shaw, Theresa vd Merwe, Marianne Meijer, Gloria Peniston, Tanya vd Merwe, Sharon Landman, Meredith Kraut & Joan Tinker
Tuesday 26th January was the first book club get together of the new year for the prolific readers of Aberdeen. The venue was the farm of Henry and Tanya van der Merwe, who kindly hosted the event. The luncheon was an inspirational idea of the club members, who all traveled out to the farm ‘Badsfontein’ in the Camdeboo region. This wonderful farmhouse with enormously large rooms, wide verandahs and special views of the misty Camdeboo range, was a peaceful backdrop for a delicious luncheon and a selection of wonderful new ‘reads’. On the drive to the farm, Angora goats, Merino sheep and Boerbokkie, all in wonderful condition, were seen grazing in large fenced areas.
Garden of Middle Plaas with old Slave Bell in the background
After lunch and book choices made, the members drove to a nearby farm, 'Middle Plaas', where Tanya van der Merwe, showed the members around her colourful garden. The most interesting aspect of the day was meeting the beautiful little Kudu named Giselle, that had been abandoned by her mother and that Tanya was rearing.
Sharon Landman sharing a special moment with a tiny dassie and 'Giselle' the Kudu
Next was an introduction to Tanya’s little Dassie, that was extremely friendly and outgoing, but it was her sheepdog, ‘Smiley Milie’, - that genuinely smiles when spoken to - that completed an extremely interesting and different book club happening.
Tanya's Sheepdog 'Smiley Milie'
Article By: Joan Tinker