Spring rolls on…

Preparing for a drive around the country, CHRIS BENNETT was confronted with charm and courtesy on the South Coast.

THE first green, for which the Italians have the beautiful word ‘primavera’, and for which we use ‘spring’, is the most sparkling of all the splendid seasonal carpets that unroll across South Africa during the year.

Admittedly, on the South Coast this year we experienced a quick reversion to winter, with rain and low temperatures to dampen our spring enthusiasm.

I was delighted to find an outbreak of kindness and helpfulness in a number of businesses as I prepared to set off on a long and winding journey around the country to help a friend see the country he loves and will soon have to leave.

Padkos was a bit of a problem. I like to take things like liver patties, which are good eaten cold by the side of the road, along with coffee from the flask. My friend was not up to making the patties and I didn’t know where to begin.

However, the day was saved by the OK Grocers in Port Edward, which has, unsurprisingly, won the regional franchise of the year award this year. Those of you who have know the shop for some time will appreciate the work the Llewellyn family has put into it. The butcher made scotch eggs for us as padkos. They were quite brilliant and full of the joys of spring when eaten on a cold early morning in the middle of the Karoo.

On another occasion I was searching for two litre bottles of a ‘lite’ cool drink from the world’s biggest manufacturer. I gather deliveries in this part of the world have gone rather awry. But once again a local shop manageress, this time at the Spar in Manaba, took some plain Coke to her neighbour, a bottle store, and swopped it on my behalf. Service above and beyond the call of duty, I think.

The third experience was buying new tyres for the car. The man who has been in charge of my car’s well-being since I bought it more than three years ago, the excellent Sadah Govender, sent me over to the tyre shop of one Ahmed, a man of no mean mystique, who could talk the hind wheel off a Golf.

He sold me new tyres, gave me useful advice and offered his blessing on my long journey. Again, unsolicited, welcome and as fresh as spring, his thoughts were generous and kind. Spring was in the air.

My friend and colleague, Dave Holt-Biddle, came for a light lunch; he and Sue were bearers of tour guides and maps – more than enough, and again a kindness as fresh as the feathery tips of the native tree that the weavers turn into a sort of avian condominium block at this bright and cheerful time of the year.

So off we went on a Saturday morning bound for the deplorable Kokstad, the pretty Matatiele and the little town of Elliot, which appeared to be celebrating spring with the world’s most extravagant litter festival. Ah well…