If you've been paying attention, you'll know that yesterday I attended a Celebrate South Africa event in Frome, Somerset. I wasn't sure what to expect, especially when the weather behaved like British weather with rain chucking down all the way there. The market was held at the Cheese and Grain, so I knew it was indoors and my precious books wouldn't get wet, but I was a bit concerned no one would arrive.
How wrong could I be. It was swarming within minutes of the doors opening, the aisles between stalls congested and up to six deep in places. I don't know the official numbers, but thousands attended. I was surrounded by South African accents and the smells of braaing wors and vetkoek and mince wafting in. Stall after stall was packed with African inspired goodies, from crafts to food, to Nguni hides and Shweshwe teddy bears. Energy drinks, braai wood, Venter trailers, beaded wire jewellery, Ndebele patterned pots, koeksusters, peppermint crisp tart and South African inspired fabrics and cushions. Lucky I was so busy or I'd have spent all my profits.
I was next to the Kalahari Moon shop, from Bristol - surely the day's big 'winner' as South Africans from all over the country queued to buy their favourite foods and snacks - Cross and Blackwell Mayonnaise, Black Cat Peanut Butter, biltong, Simba chips, Peppermint Crisp and Tex chocolate bars, more biltong, mango atchjar, Fizz pops and so much more. The tastes of lives left behind were there to savour one more time, to remind our taste buds and jog our memories about what we left behind when we emigrated.
People munching on biltong and koeksusters, Springbok rugby shirts and the music of Mango Groove along with some Mama Thembu's Wedding and Daar Kom die Alibama had an unexpected effect on me. When a beautiful singer, whose name I can't remember, sorry, sang Another Country, made famous by Mango Groove, I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Thankfully lovely Lizette from Dadacraft was there with a handy hug.
I've written before about how hard being an 'alien' is, and yesterday I was surrounded by aliens, all speaking the same language, sharing the same memories and understanding the sacrifices made to start a new life on a new planet. And it was wonderful. I expected to enjoy the day. I didn't expect to feel so emotional or to so easily slip back into that old alien skin. That feeling of making an instant best friend with someone you've never met before is hard to explain...Bianca Goss, photographer, thinking of you...
I don't think Frome knew what had hit it. The food stalls ran out of food, the Cheese and Grain coffee shop had to close for a while to 'regroup' and wash the cups and dishes as they'd run out and the hall was packed to the brim the whole day. My English friend Mary, who accompanied me, told me this morning how warm and friendly she'd found everyone. And I must concur. There's something alive and vibrant that happens when a group of Saffers get together. I know this thanks to my 'Poppie' bookclub, but yesterday was on a much vaster scale. The organisation by Dawn and Brendon was sublime and I have to express my thanks and awe at how smoothly everything went, from the very first email to the moment I dragged my weary body out the door. Oh, and I sold a nice lot of books too. Bargain.
I sincerely hope this event will happen again, and judging from the enthusiasm of everyone who attended, from shopper to stall holder, 2017 is going to be even bigger and better. Apart from my sat nav, which took us to Frome easily, taking us on a magical mystery tour through rural Somerset on the way home, it was a lovely day. I've run out of superlatives.
How wrong could I be. It was swarming within minutes of the doors opening, the aisles between stalls congested and up to six deep in places. I don't know the official numbers, but thousands attended. I was surrounded by South African accents and the smells of braaing wors and vetkoek and mince wafting in. Stall after stall was packed with African inspired goodies, from crafts to food, to Nguni hides and Shweshwe teddy bears. Energy drinks, braai wood, Venter trailers, beaded wire jewellery, Ndebele patterned pots, koeksusters, peppermint crisp tart and South African inspired fabrics and cushions. Lucky I was so busy or I'd have spent all my profits.
I was next to the Kalahari Moon shop, from Bristol - surely the day's big 'winner' as South Africans from all over the country queued to buy their favourite foods and snacks - Cross and Blackwell Mayonnaise, Black Cat Peanut Butter, biltong, Simba chips, Peppermint Crisp and Tex chocolate bars, more biltong, mango atchjar, Fizz pops and so much more. The tastes of lives left behind were there to savour one more time, to remind our taste buds and jog our memories about what we left behind when we emigrated.
People munching on biltong and koeksusters, Springbok rugby shirts and the music of Mango Groove along with some Mama Thembu's Wedding and Daar Kom die Alibama had an unexpected effect on me. When a beautiful singer, whose name I can't remember, sorry, sang Another Country, made famous by Mango Groove, I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Thankfully lovely Lizette from Dadacraft was there with a handy hug.
I've written before about how hard being an 'alien' is, and yesterday I was surrounded by aliens, all speaking the same language, sharing the same memories and understanding the sacrifices made to start a new life on a new planet. And it was wonderful. I expected to enjoy the day. I didn't expect to feel so emotional or to so easily slip back into that old alien skin. That feeling of making an instant best friend with someone you've never met before is hard to explain...Bianca Goss, photographer, thinking of you...
I don't think Frome knew what had hit it. The food stalls ran out of food, the Cheese and Grain coffee shop had to close for a while to 'regroup' and wash the cups and dishes as they'd run out and the hall was packed to the brim the whole day. My English friend Mary, who accompanied me, told me this morning how warm and friendly she'd found everyone. And I must concur. There's something alive and vibrant that happens when a group of Saffers get together. I know this thanks to my 'Poppie' bookclub, but yesterday was on a much vaster scale. The organisation by Dawn and Brendon was sublime and I have to express my thanks and awe at how smoothly everything went, from the very first email to the moment I dragged my weary body out the door. Oh, and I sold a nice lot of books too. Bargain.
I sincerely hope this event will happen again, and judging from the enthusiasm of everyone who attended, from shopper to stall holder, 2017 is going to be even bigger and better. Apart from my sat nav, which took us to Frome easily, taking us on a magical mystery tour through rural Somerset on the way home, it was a lovely day. I've run out of superlatives.