Warmbad Skou

Dear KuierKos Family,

With this beautiful weather across Europe, it's festival season everywhere. Markets, fairs, outdoor concerts and community events are popping up in every town and village. There is something magical about people coming together to celebrate the season.
One thing I can never resist is a flea market or a car boot sale. I even convinced Andreas to take me to one when we were in England! I simply love them. Thinking about it, my fascination probably started many years ago at the Warmbad Skou.
For those who grew up in a small town, the annual show was always a highlight on the calendar. There was exhibition halls filled with products to admire and buy: beautiful sofas, cushions, and the latest exercise equipment that we all secretly knew would never be used.
But the hall I loved most was always the Home Industries section. The talented tannies from the Springbokvlakte proudly showcased their needlework, artwork, flower arrangements, jams, preserves, cakes, biscuits, and so much more. Those ladies truly knew what they were doing.
From there, you would wander over to the farm animals, every kind, shape, and size imaginable. Then on to the farming equipment, followed by the vegetable displays where farmers proudly presented the biggest pumpkins and the most beautiful tomatoes.
And then came the food! Curry and rice, pannekoek, spookasem, vetkoek and mince. Real, honest food that brought everyone together.
There was always a horse arena showcasing beautiful horses and skilled riders. In the evenings, an artist would perform, or the boeremusiekorkes would get everyone tapping their feet. Those were special times.
The show was about much more than exhibits and competitions. It was where friends and neighbours met up, where children ran around freely, and where families spent the entire day together. And we knew it had been a successful day when we were too tired to argue on the drive home. Our feet were dirty from walking all day, there was still a ring of orange cooldrink around our mouths, and treasures from the show were scattered across the back seat. We would fall asleep dreaming about the day, already looking forward to next year's skou.
Sadly, many smaller towns no longer have the resources to host events on that scale. But the spirit of community gatherings lives on, and perhaps that is why I still enjoy every market, festival, and car boot sale I come across.
Until then, I'll keep exploring markets, enjoying outdoor concerts, and collecting wonderful memories along the way. Whether it is a village market in the Netherlands, a car boot sale in England, or a skou back home in South Africa, there is something special about communities coming together.

Wishing you a wonderful summer filled with KuierKos food, good company, and perhaps a festival, market or two.

Warm regards, Marnella & Andreas