Kaalvoet klonkie ...

Dear KuierKos Family,

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the lekker weather. Summer in the Netherlands is just the best. The days are so much longer, and before you know it, it's already 10 o'clock at night.
One of the things I really enjoy when I get home after a long day is taking off my shoes. Our kitchen has tiled floors that stay wonderfully cool, which feels like such a blessing after spending the whole day standing in the shop. My whole family loves walking barefoot.

Growing up on a farm in South Africa, going barefoot was simply part of life. It sometimes felt as though we only wore shoes when we went to church, and you couldn't wait to get back into the car afterwards so you could kick those church shoes off again.
We didn't wear shoes in primary school. I remember walking to the school bus stop barefoot every morning. On Mondays, you had to be careful because there will be fresh thorns on the road after the weekend. By Thursday, you had either picked up all the dubbeltjies or you knew exactly where to step to avoid them.
The afternoons were a completely different story. By then, the African sun had baked the red earth until it was scorching hot. We would run all the way home because the ground burned our feet. If you grew up in South Africa, you'll remember just how hot a grondpad could get. It could really make your poor feet dance!
Walking and playing on the farm left your feet a completely different colour from when you went into town shopping with your mom. By the end of the day, they would be black from the dust and dirt.

These days, I still have to giggle a little when South African children come into the shop barefoot. It brings back so many wonderful memories. It is lovely to see that children still enjoy walking without shoes, even here in the Netherlands. Maybe it is just something we carry with us from home: that feeling of freedom, of sunshine on your face, and the earth beneath your feet.

Thank you for being part of our KuierKos family. We love sharing not only our favourite South African products with you, but also the stories and memories that connect us all.

Enjoy these beautiful summer days. And if you get the chance, kick off your shoes, walk through the grass, and remember that some of life's greatest pleasures are often the simplest ones.

with Love,

Marnella & Andreas