Thursday, February 19, 2009
Hands on Harvest Accommodation
The inaugural Hands on Harvest kicks off on Friday 27 February 2009.
This new addition to the Robertson wine valley experience promises to be an exciting family fun weekend.
This festival aims to introduce us all to the behind the scenes aspects of wine production and related activities.
One can harvest grapes, press them and get them into your own barrel or......
enjoy browsing the craft markets, live music and plentiful food.
For the active amongst us a horse back wine tasting tour may be just the ticket or a leisurely tractor trip through the vineyards might be just the thing to get your appetite up for a sumptuous afternoon tea on Saturday.
Some "hands on harvest" activities will be held on Estates that are not normally open to the public which makes this event one NOT to be missed
A good nights sleep in the tranquil valley will stand you in good stead for a traditional farmhouse breakfast on Sunday morning followed by a slow cruise down the Breede river.
http://www.handsonharvest/ has more details- book early to avoid disappointment!
This new addition to the Robertson wine valley experience promises to be an exciting family fun weekend.
This festival aims to introduce us all to the behind the scenes aspects of wine production and related activities.
One can harvest grapes, press them and get them into your own barrel or......
enjoy browsing the craft markets, live music and plentiful food.
For the active amongst us a horse back wine tasting tour may be just the ticket or a leisurely tractor trip through the vineyards might be just the thing to get your appetite up for a sumptuous afternoon tea on Saturday.
Some "hands on harvest" activities will be held on Estates that are not normally open to the public which makes this event one NOT to be missed
A good nights sleep in the tranquil valley will stand you in good stead for a traditional farmhouse breakfast on Sunday morning followed by a slow cruise down the Breede river.
http://www.handsonharvest/ has more details- book early to avoid disappointment!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Rigg's Church Bonnievale
I'm sitting here smiling like a Cheshire cat............, I really am blessed! My house is like a war zone, my kids are running amok.
Number 2 has just run past me at supersonic speed, popped a handstand on the arm of the couch, rolled on the seat and vaulted out the door. Number 3, close behind her, could not land the handstand and ploughed into the seat sending the cushions flying.......
I suppose I should be shouting but this weekend I had an insight into a different experience.
I pushed the large ornate key into the rusty lock, lifted the door handle and eased the heavy door open. Silence engulfs me as I step into the cool entrance of Riggs Church in Bonnievale, South Africa.
The only church known to have been built at the bequest of a child.
A story of love, devotion, sadness and appreciation.....
In 1894, at 33, Christopher Rigg married the 19 year old Lillian Moon, a young lady from the Robertson district.
Their first daughter, Mabel, was born in Johannesburg in 1895 and sadly died at the town of Lindley that same year. Gladys was born at Lindley and managed to survive for 9 months.
In need of change the Rigg's relocated to the Bonnievale area in 1900.
Some of the local farmers where attempting bring water by canal from the Bree River into the area. The first water arrived in Bonnivale in 1900 but the debris that washed down during the winter season kept blocking and destroying the canals.
Christopher Rigg had much experience as an explosives expert and used his skills to aid the community by blasting tunnels to improve the passage of the water. Unfortunately in 1906 financial problems dogged Christopher. At that point between 80 and 100 people were working on the project. In order to save the project a bank in Robertson put together a bail out package and the tunnels were completed .
The press hailed the Mr Rigg's accomplishment as the largest South African engineering project to be undertaken by one man.
In 1910 Rigg donated the canal system to the newly formed Zandrift Irrigation Board, with the proviso that he could be of service to the board.
In 1903, during this exciting period their 3rd daughter Mary Myrtle was born . Mary was a bright child and a delight to her parents and community. Mary loved to play in the Lucerne fields close to her home and it is reported that she was a very religious little girl.
Unfortunately, in 1911, Mary contracted Meningitis and passed away. On her death bed she asked her father to build her a church. Mary Myrtle was buried in her favorite Lucerne field close to her home and her distraught father began the construction of a small Norman church.
In the years following Mary's death Christopher Rigg travelled Africa on various projects and collected items with which to finish the church. Most notable of which are the impressive wooden entrance doors. These had been destined for a prison in Zanzibar and were rumoured to be 300 years old at the time of purchase. Stone was quarried some 100 meters from where the church stands, the domed ceiling was assembled from rocks collected from the river.
Progress on the church was slow, the Corner Stone is dated 1921 but the first service was held in 1924.
This beautiful church can be used for intimate weddings or baptism surely the place to remind you of the worth of children. A gift to us, to love, cherish and nurture.
I know I have been blessed......3 times!
(Much more information is available at the Bonnievale tourist office!)
If these stories have been of interest please leave a comment and I will inform you of new and interesting stories that we find as we explore the area!
Number 2 has just run past me at supersonic speed, popped a handstand on the arm of the couch, rolled on the seat and vaulted out the door. Number 3, close behind her, could not land the handstand and ploughed into the seat sending the cushions flying.......
I suppose I should be shouting but this weekend I had an insight into a different experience.
I pushed the large ornate key into the rusty lock, lifted the door handle and eased the heavy door open. Silence engulfs me as I step into the cool entrance of Riggs Church in Bonnievale, South Africa.The only church known to have been built at the bequest of a child.
A story of love, devotion, sadness and appreciation.....
In 1894, at 33, Christopher Rigg married the 19 year old Lillian Moon, a young lady from the Robertson district.
Their first daughter, Mabel, was born in Johannesburg in 1895 and sadly died at the town of Lindley that same year. Gladys was born at Lindley and managed to survive for 9 months.
In need of change the Rigg's relocated to the Bonnievale area in 1900.
Some of the local farmers where attempting bring water by canal from the Bree River into the area. The first water arrived in Bonnivale in 1900 but the debris that washed down during the winter season kept blocking and destroying the canals.
Christopher Rigg had much experience as an explosives expert and used his skills to aid the community by blasting tunnels to improve the passage of the water. Unfortunately in 1906 financial problems dogged Christopher. At that point between 80 and 100 people were working on the project. In order to save the project a bank in Robertson put together a bail out package and the tunnels were completed .
The press hailed the Mr Rigg's accomplishment as the largest South African engineering project to be undertaken by one man.
In 1910 Rigg donated the canal system to the newly formed Zandrift Irrigation Board, with the proviso that he could be of service to the board.
In 1903, during this exciting period their 3rd daughter Mary Myrtle was born . Mary was a bright child and a delight to her parents and community. Mary loved to play in the Lucerne fields close to her home and it is reported that she was a very religious little girl.
Unfortunately, in 1911, Mary contracted Meningitis and passed away. On her death bed she asked her father to build her a church. Mary Myrtle was buried in her favorite Lucerne field close to her home and her distraught father began the construction of a small Norman church.
In the years following Mary's death Christopher Rigg travelled Africa on various projects and collected items with which to finish the church. Most notable of which are the impressive wooden entrance doors. These had been destined for a prison in Zanzibar and were rumoured to be 300 years old at the time of purchase. Stone was quarried some 100 meters from where the church stands, the domed ceiling was assembled from rocks collected from the river.
Progress on the church was slow, the Corner Stone is dated 1921 but the first service was held in 1924.
This beautiful church can be used for intimate weddings or baptism surely the place to remind you of the worth of children. A gift to us, to love, cherish and nurture.
I know I have been blessed......3 times!
(Much more information is available at the Bonnievale tourist office!)
If these stories have been of interest please leave a comment and I will inform you of new and interesting stories that we find as we explore the area!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)