Smithfield News

Smiffie Dames

NOT a Feel Good Story

Yes, it’s that Drum Project again! Driving through Smithfield early one morning this week we found one of the newly painted drums up-ended and damaged, yet again. Surely an insult to our efforts and one begins to lose heart.

Another early morning drive revealed that the newest and most visible drum outside Gariep Makelaars had been stolen and replaced with the oldest, tattiest drum in town. We surmise that it had to have been done by a "local" because no thief passing through town would have had the time or inclination to replace that drum with another. If locals have old drums and would care for a newly painted one and can’t afford the modest sum we are asking for repainting them, please just phone us and we will make one available.

We dislike complaining after many people have done so much towards the Project. For instance, we would particularly like to thank Grete Bighi for acquiring so many more drums and Haroon for transporting them to Smithfield, both free of charge; not forgetting Eimpa for supplying all the free paint. Thanks also to the two men who have been painting new and repainting old drums, after their working hours, in order to have them finished before the holiday season is upon us.

After so much effort has gone into it we are absolutely appalled and disgusted at the way the Drum Project is being abused, making a mockery of the wonderful effort put into it by so many people who are actually paying for the drums and flower pots outside their premises.

October Events

What a month full of social and other events. We never seemed to fill our days as interestingly in Bloemfontein or London, believe it or not! We had the Letsatsi Buffet Lunch and Luigi’s theme luncheon, enjoyed by many, and the Fun Walk reported elsewhere.

Early in the month a trip to the Eric Lamb Nursery was arranged by Hercules for Garden Club members and friends. What an amazingly informative man Dougie Lamb is. He knows exactly what plants, trees and shrubs do well in our part of the world and many were for sale at reduced prices. I will definitely visit him when the New House has to be stocked because he gives one a personalised, knowledgeable service, so hard to find these days

He also took us to several exciting small gardens in Bloemfontein, one in particular was a delightfully laid out indigenous garden with a super rock pond. Then on to the Botanic Gardens to round off the morning.

A Magical Garden Club Day

We have to admit that it was touch and go as to whether the weather would be kind to us but after a rainy night the day was "magic" and we were able to sit on the lawn at Pula House and enjoy the talk, the view and the garden, all of which were lovely. Fabrice and I had decided that we would make the eats just a little different. So instead of the usual accent on sweetness we provided mainly herbal savoury snacks to go with the talk by Marna Coetzee on herbal remedies and basically how unhealthy we all probably are. The Smiffie Dames were delighted with all the flowers from Freddie’s nursery in Rouxville.

Madeleine Lampbrecht, Hanlie Smith & Freddie Krugel

By the way, do try Fabrice’s Sushi takeaway. We did. It’s not expensive, is charmingly presented, and it doesn’t consist of raw fish! If you want a really different taste, this is a new and tasty way to have it.

Ons moet vir Anhesta van Die Opstal geluk wens met die baie interessante Ope Dag program wat sy vroeër vandeesmaand by die ou hotel aangebied het.

Mense het gekom en gegaan volgens hulle daaglikse skedule wat gesorg het vir ‘n informele en ontspanne atmosfeer. Daar was ‘n puik demonstrasie van grimerings-tegnieke deur Face-To-Face en Sue Lichtman het massering gedemonstreer asook ander demonstrasies.

Die aand se program is goed bygewoon en was groot pret. Twee jong dames van Goggabi in Aliwal Noord het onderklere en juweliersware aangebied. Net jammer die mans het die onderklere modeparade gemis maar hulle het doodgelukkig gelyk met hulle bier en braai op die hotel se stoep.

Swarovski Crystal Show

Debbie Rijns always has something interesting to offer us. The Swarovski crystal was lovely and so was the other interesting jewellery and beads on offer. I will definitely start making my own necklaces under Debbie’s guidance one day soon. (Something is coming up this month we believe). Linette, from Pigout, provided the eats and the multi-stacked strawberry pancake-cake was absolutely delicious.

Mayan Calendar

Michelle Serafino presented an interesting talk on the Mayan calendar and its effect on our lives at Luigi’s.

A Special Pork Recipe

This was a recipe given to me by Gerda, who owned the butchery when we first arrived in Smithfield ten years ago, did all meals for guests at our guesthouse and bought all our meat from Smithfield Vleismark. It became a Pula House "Special" and when we gave up dinners, was passed on to the Colony Room where it also became a "Special". Try it, enjoy it, and I’m sure it will become a special for your parties. It is delicious, goes a long way and can be supplied by our very own butcher. Certain ingredients are optional and in no way spoil the recipe if you want to leave them out:

Pork Neck (lightly smoked)

Marinade ingredients:

60 ml salad oil,

60 ml lemon juice and a sprinkling of five spices (optional)

120 ml sherry (OBS)

120 ml apple puree (in jars from super-markets or baby food puree)

80 ml light soya sauce

25 ml brown sugar

25 ml finely grated onion (optional)

Combine all the above ingredients. Cover the pork neck and marinate for an hour, turning the meat a few times. Bake in a moderate oven, basting the meat with the marinade occasionally. It takes two hours for a large pork neck, one and a half hours for a medium piece of meat. If more liquid is required during cooking process, pour in a cup of red wine, or just a cup of water around the meat to stop splattering.

This dish almost cooks itself and is wonderfully tasty. Leave to rest for half an hour or more and then slice thinly, covering the meat with the rich sauce from the marinade. If the liquid cooks away, make a little more in a separate pot with all the marinade ingredients. It is really good if served on a bed of mashed potatoes with peas or French beans on the side.

This recipe is specially for you, Christine, because you can supply us all with the really good smoked pork neck from the Smithfield Vleismark and because you have been nagging me for the recipe for some time! Enjoy…

The Alternative Smithfield News.