Several times I have checked the perimeters, to make sure no one put a sign up "sucker lives here" or maybe "friendly lady" ................. hhhhhhhhhmmmmrrrrhhhh
"yes" I answer cautiously "Hello Madam" ............oh yes, a beggar, I am sure. " How are you, Madam?" "fine" I answer in a gruff voice "Ma, it is Israel here, you know, I sell the broom and feather duster, you know me good and ............" I stop him short " Hang on Israel, I am coming down," I shout "Beatrice ........... please come with me, Israel is here" then shout at Russell "please give me money for the duster, Israel is here" Back to the intercom "Wait Israel, how much the feather duster?" "for you my madam, only R 65.00" jaaaaaah jaaaaah jaaaah "Israel, I have R 60.00, wait for me"
Israel is positively beaming at me. He originates from Zimbabwe I am sure of it, but he denies it vehemently, he is from Port Shepstone, south of Durban on the coast. He is up here because work is so scarce and the people not enough to buy his wares.
We only buy from Israel, he is one of our regular trades men that comes to the door and always pleasant and friendly.
She is not very happy with the selection today, but Israel needs money for the taxi and for
dinner.
So eventually she agrees to take the uncoloured one. These dusters are handmade from Ostrich feathers and then bound together, you can normally get short or long handles,
but today he has only 2 left and then some synthetic dusters, which Beatrice do not like.
Israel tells Beatrice he will come back on Wednesday and give her a nicer one, but for now she can keep that one ( seems we are having 2 for the price of one, today)
When I tell Israel he can then buzz the gate and I will give him a print of the photo, he beams again and now want to look at selection to choose which one I must print.
I admire the brooms, he makes them himself "My design" and allows me to take a photograph. Beatrice reckons maybe Nicholas ( our gardener) needs a new one. I am not so sure, we bought him a leaf blower, shame, he is also getting old (like all of us) and I noticed he at times, touches his back when he bends down.
A deal is made with Israel, he is bringing another feather duster, Wednesday and then I will give him photograph and special price R 50.00 for a new broom for Nicholas.
Beatrice and I giggle all the way up the driveway at our encounter and pleasant break in our afternoon. Now for some tea.
I love this, I wish I had Beatrice's uncolored feather duster! It looks like it does a great job :)
ReplyDeleteyes, it does, Danette, but sometimes she uses them as brooms, not sure why, we have a disagreement here, so they don't last long and the dirt and dust just goes flying, but that is another story for another day.
DeleteI like Israel! :-)
ReplyDeleteI do too, he is a great guy with a lovely sense of humor. Great to see you, "Amalie" *smile*
DeleteHe looks to be another real character!! I reckon Nicholas will like his new broom :-))
ReplyDeletegreat entertainment right at the front gate! wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos Marianne. I would have picked the pink one just to look at. Israel looks a nice happy man in the first photo. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have exactly the same short dusters handmade from ostrich feathers... probably made by another Israel...
ReplyDeletean import from South Africa, Belita? That is interesting, though sure, others also make them., though here the Ostrich are bred for feathers, hide and meat. Mostly in the Karoo, huge ostrich farms.
DeleteHow neat, I haven't had a real feather duster in years. I don't know if they even sell them any more here in the US.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice hates those synthetic ones, that attracts dust via static electricity. I think they are super, but she prefers the old fashioned one. Guess the giggles when I walk around behind her , picking up the feathers, the old duster was shedding and she cannot see, as she is to vain to wear the glasses I bought her. LOL
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