JAPIE AND SANDRA OOSTHUIZEN's Page

THE HISTORY OF ONVERWACHT One Sunday morning,my husband Japie, was being very excited about something. He told me that he wanted to show me an area in the mountains that I have never seen before.The mountains and hills has always been very close to my heart.From the moment I saw Onverwacht,it became a very special place to me,and there was no stop in my enthusiasm!.I just had to visit this beautiful place as much as possible.It has this” aura” that gives peace to the soul.
Whenever we had free time on Sundays,me,Sandra and Japie would pack a picnic basket with sparkling wine and off we went to our special place in the mountains.After a few glasses of “bubbly” we had quite a few clever ideas and loads of dreams…... Dreams of one day……By the time it was Monday-all our dreams of the previous day was all forgotten. We could not get that far to improvise our dreams.We wanted to do something,but exactly what we did not know.
After a tour to Namibia in 2001, heaps of ideas evolved and the only thing Japie had in mind was to create a campingsite!( Japie ,a very impulsive man),decided there and then to turn his dream into reality and built an amblutionblock for a campingsite.
Japie started concentrating on the farm again and his dreams was pushed aside.Our visits to Onverwacht did not dry up,but there was no word spoken again about camping.
I was hospitalised for a while and one Friday evening Japie invited me for a drive to Onverwacht.
I had no idea what Japie was up to.The sun was starting to set and I thought we would not be able to see anything.But we stuck to our usual Sunday menu:picnic basket with sparkling wine .Off we went to our favourite spot.As we were driving our car`s lights shone on a little window –and there in front of my eyes appeard the cutest little hut!(Blushingbride).I could not believe my eyes!!.Huge built-in bed of stone,fire-place,the works…..
What a surprise!!!!.And a secret Japie could keep to himself!Talk about impulsive!
For a long time the hut stood there untouched,till one day I got some life in me and started to put more in it than just necessities.We even started staying over on Saturday nights-departing Sunday with more ideas. Going to the”longdrop” at night started to become a scary trip.So after several visits to the bushes and my complaints Japie gave me a second surprise:a brand new shower and a seat for a queen!
The place grew more and more on us and a “Godgiven” peaceful atmosphere surrounded us that we could find nowhere else.Every Sunday morning ,after a romantic night,Japie had to struggle to get me down the mountain ! Japie`s impulsive behaviour and dreams led to changing the “longdrop” into two more places “DIE SKAKELHUISIE” better known as Compacta and Cordifoleum.It was not going to be only a home for the “mountain animals” anymore.
With all the fun we had in that one bedroom place, our dreams evolved into building four more places-our latest challenge.
It gives us an inner peace to know that we can give people something to clean their minds with.
We have to give out our little hut more and more-the stonebed is quite popular!We love Onverwacht in our own way-with our different personalities. As a married couple we are a great team.I am the bookkeeper and keep ahead with things while Japie enjoys the communication side over the weekends,or shall I say:socialising!
We hope that on your journey back home ,you will take some of the beauty with you,this peace of heaven!!....
Till later…….