Richard Scott Blog - 11th August 2024

Hello,

Last Sunday I forgot to mention the 2nd part of the story behind the BMW. So after the car over heated and SMG Century City repaired the car with a new Coolant housing for R15 000, we then got a call to say the BMW  was still showing the same error and they did diagnostics and they discovered the Turbo was broken and needed replacing at a cost of R60 000.

So Joanne and I went in to SMG Century City and spoke to Madeeg the Service Assistant and he showed us a picture of the broken turbo. He then told us we may qualify for the BMW Save a Car campaign where they can give us the turbo at a reduced price.

I could feel something was wrong, so Joanne got the car towed from SMG the next day to a specialist mechanic, Faizel of  Multi-Tech Auto. He took one look at the car, drove it, did diagnostics and said there was nothing wrong with the turbo.

He proved it to us by driving the car home that night and driving it back to Cape Town approximately 50km.

We then picked the car up. Paid him R700 for his advice and proceeded to drive the car 180km to Greyton for the weekend. Then Joanne drove it to work and back all of last week and we ended up going back to Greyton 360km round trip with a perfect car.

I was telling a friend in the week what happened and he said he had the same situation with his Mini.

So please always get a second opinion.

Ok back to this week. Monday was as good as Monday's go. I focused on admin with Angelique and we planned our Tuesday -  Wednesday Joburg Trip.

A collector sent me this piece this week that he wants to sell on. I remember it fondly from one of my Studio Tour work sessions back in the day. Its a one off. ORGASMIC ANA. 75 x 75cm.

Well Tuesday came and I decided not to go. I was not feeling well and three clients cancelled due to the flu. So Angelique saved the day and moved our flights one week forward.

The rest of Tuesday, to keep myself occupied, I got stuck into the long TO DO list I created for myself on Monday. Galleries, Collectors, Leads, Projects, Charities, Workflow, Staff and Studio.

Breakfast. Mielie Pap with sugar, butter and Milk. NOM NOM.

Wednesday was no different. The gang came over early and the three of us sat around the table and had our weekly meetings.

Wednesday afternoon I popped out with Joanne to see a man about a dog. Dean had traded his Kia in for a Mazda, so Joanne was going to sign documents etc.

Whoaaa, check out this beautiful print from Ignatius Marx.

22crt GOLD CAPE TOWNS.

Thursday was a mini Friday as Friday was national women’s day and we all got the day off.

Joanne left early and I got stuck into selecting some items for a charity auction.

I then popped out to Bellville to drop off Deans old car and pick up his new one as he only finished university at 5pm.

He swapped out his Kia for a Mazda. Smart choice.

On the way home I popped in to see Richie to borrow his camera for the weekend in Philipstown with Ignatius Marx.

I then popped into Checkers to collect some goodies for Ignatius as Phillipstown is very remote.

Coffee and Cheese was on Ignatius’s list .

Then home to do a quick hours studio work and off to fetch Joanne in the Caddy to go to Beaufort West. Halfway to Phillipstown to visit Ignatius.

A Collector sent us a pic of his latest piece hung up. Its Beautiful.

The table is worth more as a piece of art than a table.

Finished stencils in studio.

And were off.

We decided to do it in two drives as it was 8 hours. We booked a nice little B&B in Beaufort West and were on our way. We hit a lot of heavy traffic out of Cape Town for the first 20km. Seems like everyone and their dog were taking advantage of Women’s Day public holiday on Friday.

The Drive to Beaufort West was as drives go. It was actually quite pleasant until it started getting dark. Driving on the N1 Highway in the dark, with all the slow huge 22-Wheeler trucks, was probably not a good idea. Yes, if we had power under my foot. The Caddy was designed to drive short distances and do deliveries in the city.

We arrived at 8.30pm, checked into the B&B and headed off to The local restaurant 4 Sheep recommended by Lisa our host. It was like going into Sale Pepe in Johannesburg with Andy where you have this simple Italian restaurant in a small shopping centre that serves the best Italian food. But this time it was past a petrol station shop, up some stairs to a simple small restaurant that serves the best Karoo Lamb.

After super we went home to our B&B.

Friday morning, we were up at 5am and getting ready to go to Philipstown. A quick plunger coffee and we were off. It was raining and so beautiful. The drive was only 3 hours. The Karoo is so different and oh so beautiful. A different beautiful.

Been a while since we have seen a sign like that.

Getting the pic outside the Church in Beaufort West.

We drove past the 3 Sisters and stopped over at De Aar for some supplies as there’s not much in Philipstown.

Baron, but beautiful. The Karoo.

Best lamb in the world. Karoo Lamb from the Butchery in De Aar,

Always get the picture.

We arrived safely and we caught up with Ignatius and Hestie and got the tour of the house and the bank next door that Ignatius bought. How many people do you know that own a bank. LOL.

How cool to own a bloody bank. Only Ignatius.

Robbing Ignatius's Bank.

Brass plate on the Safe Door.

Jems Jems Jems. Every good artist has them in a draw somewhere.

Look goats roaming the streets. Take a picture. But its only a goat. Let me take a picture of you looking at the goat. LOL

Joanne had chickens as a kid so picking up the huge Rooster was no biggie. Not me.

We devoured some yummy “Scottish Bread” that Ignatius got from the lady next door along with his awesome chicken Karoo Curry. It was delicious with a bottle of 2002 wine Ignatius pulled out. I decided to buy a 6-pack of LION Larger. When last did you drink a LION Larger. I remember my dad pouring it over the meet on a braai back when I was about 5 and we lived in Springs. We kuired till about 7.30pm and Joanne and I were both dead tired from the drive.

Going to bed early means……..You get you get up early. We were wide awake at 5am and up and about just after a nice Karoo Coffee.

I asked Ignatius where is the Pap and Wors Karoo Breakfast. That’s basically maize meal and traditional sausage. I made the Pap and Ignatius cooked the wors. We enjoyed that as well. Been 34 years since I had Pap and Wors back when I served my two years National Service up North in Phalaborwa in 7 S.A.I. (seventh South African Infantry battalion) I was a chef and spent 18 months in a camp close to the front line on the Angolan border.

Karoo Breakfast. Pap and Wors.

Strategy session.

After breakfast it was time to do what people do on a Saturday morning in Philipstown, you go count your sheep.

Sheep Counting.

We met the local farmers and helped them identify which lambs belonged to which mothers. It was fun. Then off to see Ignatius's small holding to forage for some vegetables and then back home to forage thorough Ignatius's jems of art. He has, like me, a set of draws with so many jems in that we don’t know what to do with them. Well Joanne does 😊

Oi, What you doing?

Foraging for Garlic and Cabbage

I took lots of photos and catalogued the art while Joanne and Ignatius got stuck into the draws.

We decided to stay the extra day and night and do the long hall back Sunday morning. That would give us some extra time to braai and see the stars Saturday night.

We had a lekker T-Bone Karoo Braai and a nice early night.

Sunday was Richies's 22nd Birthday. We wished him and headed hom to celebrate with him. It took us 9 hours. The longest we have ever driven together. 1650km in total round trip.

Until Next Sunday

r  i  c  h  a  r  d