Tuning in: Book on Botha House is a step back in time
Read about a local book launch and the story of a rescued dassie in this week's column.
The first publication of July – the seventh month. Time flies when you are having fun!
A book was launched in Pennington last Thursday.
The author is Mary Mckenzie who has lived in Pennington since 2007. The book is titled ‘Botha House: Its History and its People 1920 – 2020’.
Mary relates how, when walking on Pennington’s beach early in the morning, she often wondered about “…that beautiful white house bathed in morning sunlight overlooking the sea.”
Some years later, Rynardt Crous, Umdoni Park’s general manager, afforded Mary the opportunity to work at Botha House, currently operating as a bed and breakfast, and her love affair with the house began.
ALSO READ: Tuning in: Water woes brought about unity
The history of this stately, elegant home is lovingly woven together in a series of stories. There are copies of documents, the original plans, newspaper clippings, letters and anecdotes from employees, visitors and even General Louis Botha’s grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great children who recently visited the house to meet Mary.
It certainly is a step back in time. A copy of the book is available locally in Pennington.
The Scottburgh Methodist Church is holding a fete this Saturday (9th).
My dancing partner, Thando Dube, who works at Malanda Halfway Toyota phoned me concerned that a creature had been found in a car belonging to Matthew Masoka and they couldn’t get it out. I contacted Linda Theron and she rushed over together with Anthony Ferreira. I also contacted Fran Reynolds who raced down to get involved and save this creature. It was a dassie! Saved by these wonderful people, transported to the safe house by Nigel and Laura Wright, and it will be released soon after ensuring it has recovered sufficiently from its ordeal of travelling in a car from the Eastern Cape to Pretoria and then to Halfway Toyota in Widenham!
A well-travelled dassie! Grateful thanks to all involved in the saving of this creature.
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