Season’s Greetings from Bukkenburg in Swellendam
Our Best wishes for 2023
Our interesting winter journey mentioned in the last newsletter has continued to provide ongoing interest and some drama into summer.
The Swellendam Garden Expo and Open Gardens Weekend in early November was fantastic.
The organisation of the weekend was really superb and the event was so well supported by local residents and visitors to the town. All gardens that were on the program and open reported a bigger than expected turnout.
Well done to all involved – organisers, those who presented workshops, The Gardener’s Market, and all the participating gardeners and their gardens.
We thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and we’re looking forward to all the preparations involved in getting our garden and studio ready for the open gardens next spring.
And also very importantly, as a fundraising effort, the weekend event raised a substantial sum for Swellendam SPCA.
All participating gardens had a scarecrow at the entrance to identify their participation – this is ours.
Barista from Wimpey Swellendam.
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The ongoing nation-wide power cuts have intensified recently and are causing such havoc throughout the country – affecting even us in our small home studio in rural Western Cape.
As mentioned in an earlier post, we need at least 14 hours of uninterrupted power to run the three phase fan on either of our oil kilns and the increased frequency of power cuts since the end of November means that it is just not possible.
We have an electrician working on a system right now to run the fan from our backup electricity supply and free ourselves from the ongoing power cuts on the national grid.
It’s taking longer than we hoped and is further complicated by the difficulties of getting things done in the service industry during the end of year pressures.
Progress?
Here’s hoping that the kiln will be in operation again very soon.
We’ll begin with the restart of an interrupted firing from a few weeks ago when it had to be shut down due to a sudden increase in the frequency and duration of the power cuts.
The power situation in the country has become untenable and we’re having to resort to extreme and very expensive measures along with everyone else to try and remain afloat.
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There have also been disruptions in our fuel supply recently and it’s now very difficult getting paraffin locally. We have been using paraffin to fire the kilns since moving here in 1996.
Thanks to a suggestion from a friend on Facebook, we have been able to buy Jet A1 at the local flying club as an alternative; it is essentially paraffin with some additives.
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Glazing and decorating continues in anticipation of the power supply to the kiln being sorted and several glaze firings to come.
As soon as things stabilise our outstanding commissions and orders will be fired and we will again have a refreshed display of new work in our gallery at the studio.
Thank you to all who are waiting for pots from us for your patience and understanding!
Also some pictures of the kiln being loaded.
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Our most recent adventure appeared on the morning of Saturday 17 December when we went into the studio and found that it had been flooded during the big rain that had fallen overnight.
On further inspection we found that the brick wall between us and our neighbour had come down during the heavy rain and the water that came in behind it had washed through the studio leaving a deposit of fine silt throughout.
Thankfully there is no further damage to work in progress or the building, just a mess to clear up, which is almost done now, and re-building the wall in the new year.
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Swellendam – On The Way To Everywhere
For the past few years Swellendam has been without an organised, co-ordinated tourism plan or strategy, and we appreciate what is being done by several hard working individuals in their efforts to keep the profile of the town and region visible and prominent.
Our self-catering guest cottage, shown above, is available for an overnight stay or longer.
Details and pictures on the ‘Accommodation Page’ Click Here
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The studio and gallery will be open and working throughout the holidays and beyond, and visitors are always welcome.
Please call ahead if travelling from afar, we’re hoping for an occasional outing to the beach if time and weather allow.
“May you be surrounded by friends and family, and if this is not your lot, may the blessings find you in your solitude.”
~ Leonard Cohen ~
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With our very best wishes for the festive season and 2023
David and Felicity
Bukkenburg – December 2022
Mobile & WhatsApp: +27 (0) 82 342 5453
E-mail: david@pottery.co.za
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Please visit and ‘like’ our various Social Media pages:
Facebook Studio Page
Facebook – Bukkenburg Pottery
Facebook Accommodation Page
Facebook – David
Instagram
