During this house-building process, I have often wondered what it is exactly that shapes and influences our individual concepts of ‘home’. Why is it, for instance, that I have always wanted a Weathervane and why do I have an obsession with garden swings?
Classic Weathervane
Not many houses in my town had weathervanes in my formative years. In fact, I don’t think I can think of a single one. Perhaps it was the English literature on which we were raised; all those books with beautiful illustrations of country homes, gardens and barns. Or perhaps it was the time I spent as an exchange student in America. I was strongly influenced by the architecture and ‘street appeal’ of so many American homes during that time, although I think I absorbed some of it by a process of osmosis. Even since then, I have gravitated towards the combination of white woodwork and wooden floors.
Pig Weathervane on a friend’s Suffolk farm.
Weathervane from a distance on Suffolk farm.
Searching for photos of weathervanes online, most of them are found in the States although England also has a fair share. Driving around Cape Town I have spotted a few, always on older houses or newer houses built with a nod to the old vernacular style.
Weathervane on an old Victorian house in Claremont, Cape Town.
So, given the relative scarcity of weathervanes locally, I was quite surprised to come across Weathervanes Exclusive, a company based in the suburb of Tokai, Cape Town (www.weathervanes-exclusive.com) and about 10 days ago, set off to see what they had to offer.
Weathervanes Exclusive
For some reason, despite the lovely website, I didn’t have very high expectations and so it was an absolutely wonderful surprise to find, down a little country lane, a beautiful property set against the mountain and a perfect loft studio/workshop housing a plethora of weathervanes and brass sundials.
Loft Studio
The choice of designs was quite overwhelming and it was helpful to have samples on hand of all of them.
A Choice of Options.
Having pored over the website at length, we had selected a few favourites. I was rather inclined towards a witch and cat on a broomstick, an owl, the absolute classic rooster which is perhaps always the safest option – and the retriever. There were no spaniels on offer or we may have been tempted by one of those.
Tempting – given how I’ve felt over the last year…
Getting to see and handle the actual product was good and after some thought and quite a bit of research, we concluded that a good silhouette is quite an important weathervane feature and although sorely tempted by the witch, good sense prevailed: We settled on the retriever, a reference to the four beautiful golden retrievers, Jason, Bonnie, Tessa and Cody, who have shared lives and homes over the past thirty-something years.
The Weathervane Man with a Golden Retriever assembled in his studio.
…and how we hope it’ll look positioned on the roof.
Tessa aged about 13.
Cody on the stairs.
The next decision will be deciding just where on the roof to position the weathervane. I think it should go on the point of the roof above the library where it will be unobstructed and high enough to catch the slightest breeze.
The left peak, above the long narrow window, seems like a good place to position the weathervane.
I wish all aspects of the building process could be this enjoyable. Now I just might start thinking about a sundial for the garden.
Another outing, in search of chimney pots, turned into a nothing more than a picturesque wild goose chase… But more of that another time.
home-in-the-making 
Hi Jaqui
It’s such a pleasure to read your blogs. Love the weathervane – and the fact that you’ve posted a picture of ours! Not sure we would have chosen a pig if we’d had the choice, but since this used to be a pig farm it’s perfect and we have adopted it. Sorry about the chimney-pot difficulty. I felt rather guilty when I read that because we have chimney pots coming out of our ears, (so to speak), in that not only do we have one or two of our own, but they are always coming up at local auctions. Rather difficult to take on a plane as hand baggage though….
Yes, the paint colour issue. Not sure which is worse, deciding how to decorate a new-build or arguing over changes to the previous owners’ taste in paint *and* wallpaper. In one bedroom I’ve had to work around Peter’s decision that he really likes the existing paper, (which is a bit highly-coloured imo), with the result that the room is rather theatrical and far from my usual neutral preference. But I’m beginning to think that this house rather likes colour and we just have to be clever as well as bold.
I’m prepared to commit now to a visit, (without discussing it with Peter!): not only am I dying to see the finished house, but also to come to SA again. Tbh I found this last English winter, our second, far more trying than the first, so a little sunshine would be a bonus. Say next February? But I hope we’ll see you here first, if only to comment on the paint colours!
Hxx
I hoped you’d spot your weathervane, Heather. And wish I’d thought about chimney pots while I was there. And I do hope you’ll visit next February. Surely we’ll be well installed by then!
What a great find! These small additions can give so many hours of pleasure. My grandma, now 93, has always had a wind vane. She’s looked out at it on top of her carport roof, from inside her living room, for decades. It is framed by the Bass Straight. Wish I had a picture of it for you now. My parents also have a wind vane. Both are beautiful roosters. I love that your golden retriever.
Next time you visit her, please send me a picture! It’s funny how when you decide on something you start noticing them and looking for them everywhere.
Jaqui: are you and Kevin planning to come to the UK at all in 2015? I think we should know…
Heather, I would like nothing more than to have a fixed date for a trip in my head. I am starting to get First World Withdrawal Symptoms… But right now we are so focused on getting this house finished, we simply haven’t thought beyond that. I think it is very likely though, that we will come later in the year and will definitely keep you posted.
A hint re sundials – a sundial made in Northern Hemisphere will not work in Southern Hemisphere – they have ‘mirrored’ layouts (understandably when you think about it)
i know this well, as on my first trip to Europe I bought my parents a beautiful sun dial – once we tries to set it up in SA we saw the folly of the purchase!
Fred, I learnt that when we went to choose the weathervane. We had a little lesson in sundials and that was just about the only thing I really understood. My parents always had sundials in their gardens but I have to admit I never could tell the time from them although my dad tried often to teach me. They are a lovely garden feature though. I hope you found a new home for your sundial with a northern hemisphere friend!
No, it was left behind in Northcliff on the purpose made stand in a the garden – as a non functioning feature
What a pity! But they’re not the easiest things to travel with. I’ve been meaning to thank you for your sensible comments about kitchen handles. In our old kitchen, the cupboards had small, unfussy knobs but for some reason I quite often found myself hooked by a loose sleeve – or occasionally even a pocket. I took note of some very plain handles my brother is currently installing in his new kitchen here and when I returned to my own CT house, realised that all the handles of all the doors, kitchen and bedrooms, were exactly the same as his. They are simply, don’t catch on anything and are so unobtrusive that I’ve never really registered them before. I went straight off to the hardware store where Michael had found them and bought a whole supply of them for our new kitchen. The original slightly fussier ones have now been replaced. I’ll post a photo sometime.
It is cool that you were able to buy locally. Their weather vanes are nice.