Barrydale Online

(This article by Charles first appeared in "South African Wine")

17th November 2009 - I am sitting in the "holding room" at Guangzhou station, where I have been for the last two hours, and will probably be for the next two hours.
How, might you ask, did I end up in this predicament! Well, I arrived here and was asked at immigration for my visa. Having had it confirmed by the travel agent as to visa requirements both telephonically and in writing that I did NOT need one, I have now discovered that I do. To say China is different is an understatement - arrive there on your own and by train, and suddenly you understand the true meaning of "moving outside your comfort zone". But, like they say of the Free State, you cry on two occasions, the day you arrive and the day you leave!

Here follows my guidelines when visiting China - a really difficult place to get into but once in, known for their super hospitality.

Lesson One - Do visa research YOURSELF

"The change is in your pocket" is the slogan used by The Big Issue magazine. For those of you not familiar with The Big Issue it is a social development initiative which helps put people to work (vendors purchase the magazine and sell it at a small profit). It helps people to be proud to be working rather than begging. Barrydale's own Big Issue vendor is Mowen Jansen from Smitsville. Mowen has been selling The Big Issue door to door for two years and he says that he averages sales of about 25 issues per month though he believes that there is potential for sales of 80 issues per month.

Mowen has a matric certificate but says that he decided to become a vendor because it is very difficult to find employment in Barrydale and he needs to put food on the table for his family. He has two children aged 8 and 12. In spite of the fact that it is difficult to walk door to door in the heat of summer Mowen is always positive and polite. At a cost of only R14 per issue, The Big Issue is certainly worth the change in your pocket. "Change" in more ways than one. Contact Mowen Jansen: 0715491114 to order or buy from him on his rounds.

The Annual General Meeting of BADS will be held on 8th February at 18h00. Details on "Community Calendar" on the right of the website.

The Craft and Produce Market is going from strength to strength just over one year after inception. Carel and Denise Strydom encouraged others to join them on the last Friday of each month and stalls now include; Carel and Denise selling organic cheese, home grown vegetables and jams with Carel also making picture frames.

Merton Olives - Eve and Clive McDonald (with the help of Daphne Goodall) selling produce from their farm in Barrydale - olive oil, olives, tapanade, various olive spreads and olive pestos as well as olive marmalades.

Mary O'Molony of Country Home selling "boozy" marmalades and jams, cordials and mustards. Klei' n Karoo Ceramics - Jean Bittkau selling beautiful handbuilt ceramics, pottery bird feeders and mobiles as well as home made yogourt. Lavender Farm - Choppie Kotze has a range of lavender products on offer. The NGK with their popular range of cakes, pies and breads (they can't keep up with demand!) and Basket Work by Johan Majola. Piet and Hester Botha of Xairu from Suurbrak selll rustic garden furniture (quite unique!), Netti Dierks of Crysalaine Creations has custom jewellery design as well as Sieward Killat who creates silver jewellery and Cor Le Grange who makes doll furniture.

The December pre Christmas market was held on the 18th December and the next market will be held on the last Friday of January.