Afrikaans Rock

Gepubliseer ROOI ROSE Mei 2012

Ek sit onder 'n boom met 'n koppie boeretroos en lees mooi Afrikaanse woorde uit rooi rose. Ek begin dink aan al die lekkerte van Afrikaans wees.
Koeksisters, biltong, bobotie en bokkoms is net 'n paar lekkernye wat so eie aan ons Afrikaners is. Die boeremusiek speel op die agtergrond by die onlangse kerkbasaar terwyl die mense smul aan parmantige poedings en ander weer hul sakke vol koop aan melktert, ingelegte vrugte, konfyt en boerebeskuit. Lekker boerewors braai, potjiekos met skaapsterte en gesellige vure is die meeste Afrikaanse mans se gunsteling-tydverdryf. Hertzoggies, gebakte brood met plaasbotter en moerkoffie is bederfdinge wat voorgesit word wanneer ek vriende wil beindruk.
Ons taal is so vol beskrywende woorde en passievolle uitdrukkings en bring die trots en genot van Afrikaans wees in my uit.

Desember Vakansie

Gepubliseer in VROUE KEUR Februarie 2012 Heleen Niere

Ek het nie die Desembervakansie by 'n eksotiese bestemming deurgebring nie, maar doodgelukkig by my huis. In my tuin onder die boom het Vrouekeur en ander lekkerleesboeke se woorde my bekoor terwyl ek geurige filterkoffie en gebakte beskuit daarby geniet het. In my tuin het ek gesaai en met my hande in die grond gewoel. Ek kon voel hoe dit my stres verlig. Saans het die braaivleisvuur en die gesis van die ribbetjie oor die kole my vermaak. Sommige dae het ek soos 'n ware kunstenaar ryk nageregte en soetgoed in die kombuis optower en ander dae bosse laventel gepluk om my huis skoon en vars te laat ruik. Ek het deur die jaar die nodige inkopies gedoen sodat ek die Desember-gejaag in die besige sentrums kon vryspring. Salig en onbewus van al die geskarrel, het ek en my diertjies ons in die stilte van die agterplaas verdiep.

Voeltjie verander ons lewe

Gepubliseer ANIMAL MAGAZINE 2012
Geskryf onder my nooiens van
Heleen Koen

Ek was nog nooit iemand wat geglo het aan 'n voeltjie in 'n hokkie nie. Die dag toe my skoonma die klein ou blou voeltjie onder haar geparkeerde motor vind, het ons lewe verander.
Vinnig het ek die Budgie in 'n kartondoos gedruk, om hom so vinnig moontlik troeteldier winkel toe te neem. Wonderbaarlik ontsnap hy en word toe amper katkos. My man hoor die geskree van die benoude voeltjie en gaan kyk wat aangaan.
Die oomblik toe die voeltjie my man gewaar, vlieg hy na hom toe en gaan sit op sy skouer. Die twee het dadelik 'n verbintenis gevorm en was onafskeidbaar. Die kleine ou voeltjie wat minder as een tamatie geweeg het, het ons ure se plesier gegee. Hy was versot op roosterbroodkrummels en is Krummel gedoop. Saans is Krummel toegelaat om uit sy hok te kom. Sy gunsteling tyd verdryf was om op die bed se kopstuk te sit, waar ons vir hom 'n vergrootglas spieel gesit het. Hy was alewig kwaad vir die groter voel in die spieel en het hom vreeslik gepik en geskel. Raak jy net aan die spieel dan word jy ook gepik. Krummel het my vele oggende uitgeskel as ek verby hom stap sonder om hom buitentoe te neem.
Ons het een oggend die voelhokkkie se deur oop vergeet en Krummel het verdwyn.
Ons harte was seer en ons het getreur. Die kleine ou voeltjie het 'n groot leemte in ons lewe gelos en ons mis hom vreeslik.

Kerkbasaar en Kind Wees

Publiseer in ROOI ROSE Mei 2012
Heleen Niere

Vandag loop my gedagtes ver en wyd. Hoe lekker was dit nie om as kind die jaarlikse kerkbasaar by te woon nie. My opgewondenheid was groot wanneer ek die saal binne stap met 'n tien rand noot wat ek styf vas hou in my klein sweterige handjie.
Lywige tannies het hulle sakke vol gelaai met koeke, beskuit en die bekende basaar poedings ens. My eerste aankoop was gewoonlik die sappige koeksisters met baie stroop. Daarna het ek by die pannekoek tafel gaan mense tou staan.
By die "wit olifant"-tafel het ek 'n present vir my pa uitgesoek. Hy was altyd vreeslik trots op wat ook al hy van my gekry het.
Laaste, maar ook die lekkerste was die basaar poeding wat ek buite op die trap gaan sit en eet het. Rondom die ruik van braaivleis-vure het die mans besig is om boerewors rolletjies gemaak en moer koffie gedrink.
Hier staan en nou en wens dat Aspoestertjie se towertante my terug neem na 35 jaar gelede sodat ek nog een keer die lekkerte van kerkbasaar en van kindwees kan ervaar.

In Kammaland

Soos in Junie 2012 Rooi Rose gepubliseer
(Skuilnaam gebruik)

My storietjie strek so 25 jaar in die verlede in toe ek jonk en baie arm was. My voertuig was 'n gehawende, geroeste verwaarlooste Ford bakkie. (Destyds 'n gewilde voertuig by die manne wat langs die pad snoek verkoop het) Die gasse en rook binne die bakkie het ons gedurig laat vensters oopdraai om asem te kon skep.

Ons was jonk, maar tog vreeslik lief om na "grand" plekke toe te gaan. Sodra ek en my vriendin 'n randjie in ons sakke het, het ons op getof in ons high pofaais en met groot "diamantringe" aan die vingers is ons reg om stad rooi te verf. Die 20 km roete van ons huis na die vyf ster hotel wa vol hindernisse wees. Ons moes voor die wegtrek 'n klomp 2L. Coke bottels gevul vol water vir die lekkende radiator en moes maar elke 2O minute stilhou om die verkoeler vol te maak. So tussen die rook walms en gasse het ons darem ongeskonde daar aangekom, maar die bakkie dadelik erens versteek.

Dan kom die groot oomblik waaneer ons die vyfsterhotel se eetvertrek inloop. Dit het so goed en reg gevoel. Ons het ure bestee by die "buffet" ete. Elke oomblik was kosbaar en wonderlik. Ons het tee gedrink en pinkie in die lug gehou soos regte sosiale vlinders. Ons het stadig geeet en koerant gelees totdat die ontbyt tafel afgedek word. Dan was dit tyd vir die twee prinsessies om weer in aspoestertjies te verander en die koets verander in die Ford bakkie. Tot 'n volgende keer.

Die beste droom ooit

Ek en my baie siek, sterwende tannie reis na 'n onbekende bestemming. Dis vinnig en vlugtig en sonder dat ek eintlik weet hoe ek my bestemming bereik het, is ons daar.  'n Vrou wat bekend is aan my tannie neem haar na haar kamer.  In my droom is my tannie  blakend gesond, kan loop en lyk gelukkig en rustig. Die oomblik toe die vrou die gordyne in die kamer ooptrek, snak ek na my asem.  Die vensters strek van die dak tot teen die grond en die asemrowende uitsig  hier voor my oe, is net  te mooi om te begryp. Onder en voor my is diep  blou water wat 'n meer vorm.  In die verte is die digte groen oerwoud, met die potblou hemel bo dit.  Die beskrywing van die bostaande toneel  is tog iets wat werklik bestaan, maar in my droom is dit onwerklik mooi en soos  iets uit 'n sprokie.  Opgewonde neem die vrou my na 'n balkon en daar is 'n klein roei  bootjie vasgemeer met 'n anker aan die balkon se reelings.  Ons klim in die bootjie. Die meer is net bedoel vir motor  bote  en vir seiljagte. Ek en die vrou wat verlangs bekend is aan my, roei en niemand stop ons nie. Vinnig beweeg ons deur die blou water en daar is nie 'n briesie wind nie. Dit is nie koud of warm nie. Alles is so perfek, soos dit net NIE  kan wees hier op aarde nie,  en ek wonder of ek droom. Ek roei en roei kilometer ver, nader aan die groen oerwoud.  Dit voel of ek sweef deur die water en deur die digte groen oerwoud ingetrek word, maar dan draai ek om. Naby aan die huis waar ons tuis is, maak ek 'n verkeerde draai en is skielik tussen 'n klomp groot motor bote.  Ek kry gou my pad terug, so asof ek al daar was en die omgewing ken.  Terug in die huis voel ek welkom, maar ek verneem ek het nie my eie kamer nie,  en slaap op 'n bank in die middel van die huis sonder 'n uitsig.  My droom is klaar. Ek wil nie he dit moet ophou nie en beweeg bewustelik terug daarna om nog 'n bietjie van die sprokie te kan beleef.  Tussen slaap, wakker, realiteit en sprokie beweeg ek vir 'n hele rukkie.


Die oomblik toe ek wakker word wonder ek of dit nie God se manier is om vir my te se, jy sal dit wel maak tot in My huis, maar jou lewe is van so aard dat jy nie 'n kamer met 'n uitsig gaan kry nie.  My siek tannie gaan deur 'n tyd waar skadu's oor haar gedaal het  en haar lig verdof het. Dit kan ook God se manier wees om 'n boodskap aan my tannie oor te dra en gerus te stel. Sy moet nie bang te wees om na haar permanente huis toe te gaan nie.  Sy gaan die beste kamer met die beste uitsig kry en sy gaan welkom en tuis voel.

The Circus

Desire, seduction and pleasure is things that Angelique craves, but that's not been part of her life for some time now. After her studies in journalism her life took a unexpected turn when she joined an elite circus. She was a brilliant gymnast at school, but never thought of using this skill in her career.

She was a professional acrobat performing for mostly wealthy guests. While guests ate a 5 star meal they watched the variety show.  This lifestyle was different, but exciting and mysterious.  Every performance the artists  and guests could clearly feel the magic in the air. To enter this world of make believe, guests were willing to pay top dollar for admission.  The expensive castle like tent, with decor suited for royalty and  gypsy waiters were all part of creating this special  atmosphere. On entry guests received a playing card, and if you wanted your future revealed to you, you place the card face up on your table. A gypsy will come and accompany  you and take you to a golden caravan inside the main tent.

Angelique's performance was one of the guests favourite acts. The magician, the brilliant Roberto made her appear out of nowhere. She was dressed like a princess, with a crown that shimmered on her head. For a while she is part of his act, but then a shiny rope appeared from nowhere and her solo acrobatic act started.  She tears of her skirt, and in her white and gold leotard she looks amazingly beautiful. She loved every moment of it. The way it made her feel special, the magical mysterious energy  in the air, and the applause from the guests. She felt untouchable.

The grand finale is what the guests was looking forward to. The lights dimmed, and smoke was pumped into the tent. All  the guests and performers put on costume masks and the dance floor was opened to everyone.  The lust, passion and desire was everywhere. Each  patrons secret desire for the evening was for them to spend a passionate night with one of the performers.  Patrons wanted to get pulled  into the magic and mystery of the circus and become part of it. This never happened, as it was part of the strict rules to never to get involved with visitors. Performers may seduce and flirt, and then they must start disappearing of the dance floor, one by one till only  the guests remain. Every body was dazzled and did not want to leave this magic. The fantasy is all over when you walked out the door of the tent. It was like the Cinderella story, and when the clock struck 12, the fantasy ends. For guests this is where it ended, until the next show.

Angelique was in her caravan waiting for the knock on her door. Only 3 months after her joining the group, she started a passionate relationship with Georgio, son of the magician. Her night in shining armour walked with a slight limp, due to a one of his dads tricks gone wrong, where an  axe almost severed his leg. He had a inexplicable allure to him. After the accident he decided to leave the circus, and went to university to obtain a  law degree.  His dad begged him to return, but he only agreed to manage the financial side of the circus. The place and  the magic made their relationship so much more passionate.  The only problem was Roberto, Georgio's father. Roberto did not approve of their relationship. Although they kept it a secret, there was nothing that happened on the premises that Roberto did not know of.  He was not only the main act, but also owner of the circus.

They were  having this love affair for more than a year, and Roberto was getting anxious about them being in love. The more he tried to keep them apart, the more they were attracted to each other. That night she had  exciting  news for Georgio. She was pregnant and  eager to start a normal new life with him.  With her degree in journalism and his in law, life could be good and normal.

Georgio was over the moon and told his father that evening of his plans to marry Angelique and moving into a different career. His father was furious but showed no emotions. Roberto's dream was for Georgio to take over from him. He wanted the circus to stay in the family and wished  to see his grandchildren follow in his footsteps. He knew Angelique's dreams was different from what he had planned for his son. He knew from the first day she joined the circus, she was not there to stay.

Angelique agreed on performing one more time.  Her fans deserved a fair well performance and she felt obligated to do this for Roberto. 

Angelique was performing her final act, but her mind was occupied with her new future.    

A hard knot clenched tight in her stomach. There was no magic that night and the applause did not matter any more.  Holding a baby in her arms and marrying her love was all that was important.

The lights was dim and  smoke filled the tent to create a magical ambiance.  Angelique looked even more beautiful than usual, with a special glow on her cheeks. Each  movement was done with perfection. The applause was overwhelming. 

Close to the end of her act, the rope snapped and Angelique ended up on the floor meters below.  In Angelique's mind  this happened in slow motion.  This was so surreal and just not possible, was the thoughts going through her mind. The lights went  out and then what felt like hours,  the sound of sirens could be heard as the ambulance  approached in the distance.

Angelique woke up in the hospital. There  was nobody next to her bed as she opened her eyes. No flowers, no calls, no messages and no Georgio. Her parents died in a car accident and growing up in an  orphanage, she had no family.  Not even her friends from the circus came to visit her. She felt a severe loss, but was unable to cry.

She made a full recovery, but her heart was broken and she lost the baby. She went back to the circus to find out where Georgio was, but nobody had a clue  what happened to him. Roberto refused to talk to her.

Two years later, Angelique was a shadow of the vibrant, athletic woman she use to be. Skinny, wearing no make up and looking years older, the unhappy Angelique lived a boring existence.  She had nothing to live for, showed no interest in anything and working as a admin assistant at a small local newspaper. She was qualified to be the editor, but it did not matter.  Without Georgio, life was not worth living. Her once glamorous life filled with magic, romance and excitement was now nothing more than a memory from the past.

One sunny afternoon, she was sitting on the stairs of the building she was working at.  It was  her lunch break and she was absorbing the afternoon sun. While day dreaming she saw  a familiar, slightly cripple person walking up to her.  Only at close range she recognizes Georgio. It was like the two years apart never happened. It was a joyous reunion and Angelique reclaimed her life.  There love was as strong as ever. They kissed  and the same mysterious power  and attraction as always was back.

They got married on the romantic island of Santorini in Greece. They spent a blissful holiday on the breath-taking island.

The mystery around her accident and Georgio's disappearance remained an unspoken subject.

Georgio's  agreed not to see his father again. Angelique was his family now.

The day after Angelique gave birth to their twin daughters, she saw a glimpse of the magician Roberto in the hall of the hospital. When she tried to follow him, he disappeared for ever and ever.