Venue: Melkbosskerm Robben Road off Otto Du Plessis Drive) Melkbosstrand. melkbosskerm@gmail.com 084 734 3563
Saturday 1st April 2023
Saturday morning started much like any other Saturday morning, except that we – Sonja, Paula and I met at Trescatelli for 05h15 in order to tuck a 21km under our belts. Setting off in Tableview we ran 7km’s before returning to our home base to meet up with Mariana, Erica and Luna who had opted for a slightly shorter route. Once completed we stopped for a chat, a cup of coffee and a coke anticipating the day which lay ahead. Plenty of banter and conversation mainly regarding the Wild West Coast Annual Awards being held in the evening. What are you going dressed as? Have you hired an outfit? What time will you get there? Wow this was one busy chat!
Paula had been kind enough to collect Bron – my daughter visiting from the UK – and I. Bron chose to dress as a county sheriff where I had pinned a gold fringe down the side of her denim shorts. Topped off with a black silk shirt and a cowboy hat. Yeeha! I had decided to dress as an Indian squaw complete with a rather dubious looking coal black wig divided into pig tails and a feather headdress accompanied by a red feather. Good to go.
Bron chose to sit in the back of the car which left me no option but to sit up front with Paula. Yes. In full view of passing traffic hoping to high heaven that we wouldn’t have to stop at the traffic lights. But we did. Keeping my stare straight ahead I refrained from looking left or right just in case somebody, anybody happened to recognise me. This seemed to work although I must admit to have been wearing a skin load of make-up. Tribal style of course.
Hiawatha didn’t bother too much
About Minnehaha and her tender touch
‘Til she took him to the silver stream
Then she whispered words like he’d never heard
That made him all shudder inside when she said
On entering the Melkbosskerm we were met by our Club Captain Tamster plus a board of black and white photo’s which we had been asked to send in via Whatsapp for the purpose of the evening. A tray of intricately iced cup cakes were at the ready adorned with cardboard cactus and other paraphernalia all baked by our very own Mandy Marth.
On the back of the photograph was one’s table number which had been pre-selected. The tables had been decorated with numbers and corrugated cardboard place mats – each one made by our Treasurer Mary Langebrink. Little plastic cowboy hats had been made too complete with rings attached to be used as keyrings. Brilliant idea. So much thought and effort had gone into the entire evening. Red wine, white wine – take your choice as it was there for the drinking.
Wig-wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig-wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam bam
Heidi and Edwards. What a team. And this evening was no different. It must have taken absolute ages to get the dinner prepared and I’m talking about the first course! Trays of freshly baked bread, tomato soup, butternut soup, mussels in garlic butter and a good assortment of home made jams. All served in enamel mugs and/or plates. Perfect. The butternut soup was my choice of the day and it was truly delicious. There was no counting of how many times one frequented the table, just go on up and feed that belly! In the interim our Club Captain’s husband Bruce made his rounds with a deck of cards and a tale of three jacks. This kept the tables entertained as we watched in awe whilst Bruce performed his magic.
Running Bear never cared enough
About Little White Dove and her tender love
‘Til she took him to the silver stream
She told him all about what he couldn’t live without
And made him all weak inside when she said
Time for the first set of awards. Wow we have some amazing talent in our club hey! Crikey some folk went home with enough awards to fill a wheelbarrow. This interval was mainly to cover those receiving a bronze, silver or gold medal. So huge congratulations to those who received such recognition because honestly you deserve that and so much more. Well done to each and every one of you. Loads of photo’s were taken by our talented V who certainly had his work cut out for him. Music played throughout the evening ranging from good ol’ dance tunes to thumpy head banging stuff! But there was always one person a step ahead of anyone and everyone present – our Tam. Yup taking time out to visit each table checking to see that all was good leaving no room for complaints.
Wig-wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig-wam bam, wanna make you understand
time Just try a little wig-wam bam
And now on to round two. Aw this food! So much to choose from. Beef potjie. Veg potjie. Braaied chicken. Lamb chops. Yellow tail. Rice. Salads. And yes I’ve saved the best for last – the infamous never to be shared recipe for Heidi’s home made pumpkin pie. Like there is no other. It’s sometimes difficult to explain or describe delicious. But when I think of such a word, I think Heidi’s pumpkin pie. It’s head and shoulders above any other pie I’ve ever eaten. I know for a fact that if Heidi entered a pie baking competition, she would win it hands down. Yum yum and more yum.
Tam announced we would be taking on the second round of awards once the main meal had been eaten. Huge shiny silver trophies – most of them floating obviously – waited patiently to be taken up and photographed with a contestant. Carl and I shared a win and I took home a True Spirit Award for various reasons. One had to be there ok. Anele Bans took so many medals home I’m surprised he could carry them all. And oh my goodness, our gorgeous Lisl Grobler Evason collected more medals and awards that I could count. Good thing hubby was there to assist in loading them up. Now if you were unfortunate enough not to have attended the evening, Lisl’s outfit was that of a can can dancing cowgirl which was shorter in the front than it was at the back. With a bodice so taut it would absolutely have cracked one’s ribs! And I can’t think of any other that could possibly get away with wearing this jaw dropping outfit. Well done Lisl you looked absolutely amazing and congratulations on your many many wins.
Wig-wam, bam sham-a-lam
Wam bam, bam sham-a-lam
Wig-wam, bam sham-a-lam
Wam bam, bam sham-a-lam
The dance floor opened up as Billy Ray Cyrus crooned on with Achy Breaky Heart taking the floor to full capacity. From there on, happy folk danced the evening away only stopping for a liquid refreshment or the conveniently placed bathroom! But once again, and this time being the very last interruption, it was time for dessert. Koeksusters. Malva pudding with custard. Mouthwatering.
Hiawatha didn’t bother too much
About Minnehaha and her tender touch
‘Til she took him to the silver stream
Then she whispered words like he’d never heard
That made him all shudder inside when she said
And it was after our dessert we decided to call it a day. Or a night. Not staying until the bitter end was our choice as we were tired and ready to call it.
In finishing off then, I couldn’t possibly thank each and every single person who contributed to this wonderful amazing evening in fear that I’d leave someone out for sure. But oh my goodness Tam and her team certainly came to the party. In more ways than one. What a fabulous evening. The absolute right people for the job, and they delivered.
Wig-wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig-wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam bam, and she said
Thank you wonderful Wild West Coast Annual Awards peeps, this evening will be remembered for many years to come and viewed with fondness for certain.
Wig-wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig-wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam
Song by Sweet. Wig-Wam Bam is a song by British glam rock band The Sweet, written by songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, released as a single in September 1972.
As usual, this blog is in my very humble opinion. Take care out there peeps and be kind.
