Calvinia's Blaze: Chapter 5

Wildflowers, whispers, and a shift in the wind.

If you haven’t yet read Chapter 4 - here it is.

Calvinia's Blaze: Chapter 4

August unfurls across the Karoo’s wide silence, where dormant earth bursts into a vibrant, painted canvas. Beneath the immense, cloud-sculpted sky, Namaqualand daisies, Gousblom, and vygies gather the scattered light, drawing quiet visitors to witness the desert’s bright, transient dream. They come to walk the paths, tracing the sudden, luminous green, held captive by the brief, brilliant resurrection of life, where even the delicate Sporries hold their own against the sun.

Calvinia’s Blaze: Chapter 5

August is such a beautiful time in the Karoo. Blaze was up early; chores completed; she cantered Bliksem through the veld. It was bursting with vast, vibrant carpets of wildflowers in brilliant swathes of orange, yellow, white, and purple blooms. Lindiwe was trying to teach her the names of the flowers, but the only ones she remembered were Namaqualand Daisies and Vygies. Each flower was different; their faces turned to the sunlight. She got off Bliksem and lay amongst the flowers, looking up into the sky.

Her happy place. She played a game with herself, looking for animal shapes in the clouds. Bliksem snorted and grazed on the dry bushes.

Blaze was happier. The dark, lonely days of heated voices, moods, and “nie nou nie” (not now) were over. Somehow her parents seemed in a better mood. When they told her Oupa and Ouma were coming to live in the run-down farmhouse, she wasn’t sure what to think. Her little mind went over things, and she wasn’t in a good place. She liked the idea but not really knowing her grandparents left her uncomfortable. Lindiwe said things would fall into place and she need not worry.

Pieter walked lighter, spoke easier. His Pa’s news not only surprised him immensely but brought him peace. He had been into Die Volkás Bank in Calvinia to arrange fixed deposits. He didn’t want such a considerable sum of money lying in his account. He paid off his debt for the Dorpers and others. He felt a burden lift from his shoulders. Two of the fixed deposits were for his children - a trust fund for when they finished school and chose their paths. His mind turned to the Boerevereniging in a few days. Time passed quickly, but he was ready. News was that they were choosing a new chairman for the Vereniging, which intrigued him. Danie was a great guy and had done well for the community.

Sonja was with Lindiwe in the kombuis. She had made some material doilies to go over the konfyt jars - different coloured fabric to match the colour of the jam. Lindiwe clapped her hands in glee.

“Mevrou Sonja, I think these are beautiful. They are going to sell. If you put one more Rand onto the price, it will still sell and cover the cost of the material.”

Sonja smiled. More profit, she thought. “Lindi, wat ’n goeie idee! (what a clever idea). Now why didn’t I think of that? Dankie.” Lindiwe smiled. She liked it when Mevrou was smiling.

“I found some strong boxes to put the jams in. They can stay in the Melk Kamer until the Vleisfees.”

Sonja nodded and walked out of the kitchen to greet Pieter, who had just returned from town. They chatted on the stoep for a while.

“Ja, we are going to have a lot of people traipsing the veld in the coming weeks,” Sonja mentioned as she gazed out over the beautiful flower-filled veld.

“Ma, it is going to be a very busy period. Three days of chaos. How is the konfyt coming along?”

“Lindiwe suggested we put a Rand extra onto each jar. She is clever, that girl. Ja, danke Vader, die konfyt is klaar (thank the Lord the jam is finished).” She exhaled through her pursed lips.

“Skat, you seem tense. What is worrying you?” Pieter took her hand and placed it on his knee.

Sonja just shook her head. “Pieter, this thing with your parents… it doesn’t sit right with me. Your mother is an interfering queen.”

Pieter said nothing. He just continued looking out over the veld. He knew that the imminent arrival of his parents was going to throw a huge spanner in the works. But he didn’t have time to dwell on the subject. Sonja would have to accept his mother, and his mother would have to toe the line. He would speak to his father, he thought. They sat in comfortable silence for a while. He took his leave as he had to finish his paperwork for the meeting the next morning.

Pieter was up and dressed before his alarm. His nerves were playing up this morning. He heard Lindiwe in the kitchen; the smell of koffie hung in the air. He picked up his faithful hat and walked to the kombuis.

“Môre, Lindiwe.” Pieter sat down at the kitchen table. He loved the smell of baking bread, and his stomach growled.

“Môre, Meneer. Koffie?” she asked with a lovely smile on her face. She knew that this day was an important one. Each quarter she felt the pangs of worry coming from her boss. She truly admired him.

She sliced and buttered bread, added apricot jam, and put it on the table with his trusted mug of boeretroos. He nodded and picked up his notes for the meeting later. Diederick was picking him up, and they were going in together. This was the young man’s first encounter with the Boerevereniging. It was going to be rather daunting for him.

Blaze came zooming in and hugged her pa.

“You are up early, Pa,” she smiled, sitting next to him. She knew today was an important day for him.

“Hallo, my kind (hello my child). Ja, today is the big day.” He laughed. “What are you doing today? I want you to be careful. You know many people come to visit the Karoo for the flowers.”

Blaze assured her father he had nothing to worry about and that she would stay close to the house and keep Boetie company. She also said that her seedlings were doing well and she was going to help put them into the beds.

The turnout at the Hantam Municipality, which was hosting the meeting, was unbelievable. Pieter thought this was the biggest yet. He and Diederick made their way to the large hall and found a place near the front. He greeted the other farmers and exchanged pleasantries. He was nervous. Today it was his turn to deliver his accounts, share his experience with his new Dorper sheep, and discuss the local increase in sheep theft.

Danie du Toit, the chairman of the association and a government official, headed up the meeting. It was a long, drawn-out affair, but no one had time to be bored. These meetings were a forum for sharing valuable information on farming techniques, market trends, and new agricultural technologies to help members improve efficiency and profitability.

The part about sustainable resource management, delivered by David Marais - particularly the section regarding water rights and soil conservation - was most impressive, and Pieter and Diederick exchanged pleasant smiles. Water was an issue in the Karoo, and the farmers were always looking for resourceful measures. Sharing resources between farmers was a critical issue and went down well with the group.

While the meeting was going on, a group of Municipality workers opened the ballot box and counted the ballots to see who the new Chairman would be. At the end of the meeting the ballot was discussed by the current Chairman of the Boerevereniging. Danie had been a tremendous Chairman, and he was happy to give up his position. When he glanced down at the name on the paper he smiled. Refolding it, he was pleased. This person was such a community-focused man and many farmers admired his tenacity and strength.

“Now comes the important part of the meeting.” He smiled and unfolded the paper.
“It is with great pleasure that I now announce the new incoming Chairman.” He glanced at all the members in the hall. He could see the expectation in some of their faces.
“Pieter van der Westhuizen! Please come up and take your deserved place.”

Gasps and clapping.

Pieter sat bewildered. Diederick clapped him on the arm. Pieter put his hands over his face. He got up and walked onto the stage.

Danie shook his hand. “Congratulations, Pieter. You got an overwhelming vote! Well done, boet (brother). So deserved.”

The farmers stood, clapped, and whistled. Pieter’s heart was full.

After the meeting everyone was invited to the braai in the grounds of the Municipality. This was an opportunity for the farmers to mingle and talk about their farms and projects. Pieter was overwhelmed with handshakes and congratulations.

Pieter and Diederick drove away from Calvinia in high spirits. The conversation in the bakkie was heaving with possibilities, and Diederick couldn’t thank Pieter enough for this chance to meet the other farmers and gain insight into the Boerevereniging. He congratulated Pieter again. They laughed and punched the air. He dropped Pieter off and drove home feeling very happy.

The farmers’ meeting was a success, laying a path for the future. But Pieter knew the following weekend — the Vleisfees — would be a different kind of challenge altogether: three days of chaos and a thousand eyes scrutinising his life.

Pieter walked into the kitchen; Sonja came rushing in.

“Hoe was die vergadering? Vertel my alles. (How was the meeting? Tell me everything.)” She already knew he was the new Chairman. The Telefoon Sentraal had been ringing its lines off from the moment the announcement was made. Sonja heard the different trings and wondered what was happening. She eventually got through and was told the great news.

“Ja, skat. Ek het nuus vir jou (I have news for you).” Before he could speak, Sonja screamed with joy and hugged him.

“Ja, ek weet! Die foon was so besig die hele tyd (I know! The phone was so busy the whole time).” She gave him a kiss.
“Congratulations, Pieter. So well deserved. You are the talk of the farming community. Some are very pleased and others… ja, disappointed. Hester Rautenbach is annoyed her husband wasn’t chosen.”

Pieter and Sonja discussed the meeting, and that evening they had a quiet celebration together. Blaze sat bewildered. She knew this was an important step in her Pa’s life.

The days leading up to the Vleisfees were so busy. Farmers met to discuss their parts. Sheep were being washed and trimmed for the showcase. Rascal the Ram was getting his fair treatment too. Pieter really appreciated his father’s input for showcasing his sheep and ram. His Pa had won many showcases, and the medals in his office showed his expertise. He showed Pieter how to walk Rascal and even gave him the beautifully tied rope that had been given to him by his faithful Khoisan servant who was no longer with them. The coiled rope was made of different coloured grasses which gleamed with continual use. Pieter felt honoured. His Pa was a remarkable man, and any help from him was a bonus.

Sonja was preparing the outfits for herself, daughter, and son. This was her year and she wasn’t going to let a thing mar her days at the Vleisfees. Three days of busyness, three days of showcasing, three days of keeping face. Each outfit would be fitting. She decided they would all be colour coordinated. She overheard Mimsie and Sarie discussing her dresses and decided that this year would showcase her style.

These pages carry the dust and colour of the Karoo, but they also carry the people who shaped me. Blaze lying among the flowers, Pieter with his pa and the old rope - these are not just memories but the quiet anchors that remind me where I come from.

I write them down with gratitude, aware that a childhood is never a straight line but a landscape - sometimes harsh, often generous, always forming us in ways we only understand years later.

Thank you for stepping into mine for a moment.

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