Karoo blues

"Yes! Yes! We would like to let you know that our scheme at this stage is to present Lisa B & Max as, Sugarbird & Aardwolf Duo, performing a short set of Karoo landscape-inspired sound scapes with a big jazz and experimental influence." - Lisa B.

Lord Milner's skeletons are coming out of the closet

"I'm a regular visitor to Matjiesfontein and in my spare time I am a heritage consultant and (sometime) historian. Given the nature of the occasion and the name of the hotel, I think that a talk on the exciting life of Alfred Milner would be fun (there are some great juicy bits!)" - Ashley

Matjiesfontein..... where the wild things are

"Marine and I will be making a life size giraffe costume – with moveable parts…". (Marco)

Aim, Ready, Fire!

Watch out....Anna's "Cream-Pie" stand is coming to Matjiesfontein Show 'n Tell this year!

"A quaint little stand with fluffy white cream cakes for show-and-tellers to cream pie and cone each other in the face!"

Show 'n Tell 2010!

Bookings for 2010 Show 'n Tell are formally, officially, unambiguously, definitely OPEN!

As most of you know, Matjiesfontein is a heritage site and because this year's Show 'n Tell falls over the Heritage Day weekend (23-26 September) we realised that not only was this the perfect opportunity to explore/showcase/deconstruct/(re)present/reinvent/appropriate our HERITAGE but that we had 3 whole days to explore/showcase/deconstruct....well ya, you get the idea.

In celebration of Heritage Day, David Rawdon, the King of the Castle, has been moerse generous and offered us a moerse dikscount on the accomodation so this year's rates are as follows:


R300 Per Night B&B per person sharing ( instead of R360!!!)
R330 Per Night B&B per single person ( down from R380)
R825 Per Self Catering Cottage (sleeps 6)

Yes folks, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relive your transvestite grandfather's bank-robber past. Don't be ashamed, sing about it. You can't sing? Even better. When it comes to your contribution don't think out the box. Leave the box at home. And if you have to bring the box make sure you pack your papa's trumpet, your ouma's knopkerrie, your great-grandfather's dentures and your mama's hoola hoop.

And without further adieu...how do you make sure that you are a maatjie and not a matjie? Easy.

step 1 - drop us an email (matjie.bookings@gmail.com) and tell us what you are dreamin'&schemin' and who you are doing the dreamin'&schemin' with (we want their emails too, you know)

step 2 - you will then be sent a cryptic and obscure password (yes, of course we changed it and it will be so cryptic and obscure that it is impossible to remember once you've used it)

step 3 - this password will unlock the powers that be which allow you to book your room with the hotel staff (don't worry, we'll supply you with the contact info which, unlike the password, is information that will not self-destruct)

step 4 - pay your deposit (this guarantees your booking so no deposit, no booking compadres)

step 5 - keep an eye on the blog (information, maajties, is always on a need-to-know basis....i mean, who can you trust? Bloody, bastard agent)

But wait! Don't go. There's more.

The Ten Commandments (or 'NOTs') of Matjiesfontein Show 'n Tell

One. Thou shalt NOT not contribute
Two. Thou shalt NOT covet thy neighbours contribution (or their hat)
Three. Thou shalt NOT sleep in an informal structure on the sacred heritage site
Four. Thou shalt NOT covet thy neighbours room, even if it is more luxurious than your own
Five. Thou shalt NOT come up with a lame excuse for why you have not contributed (see Commandment One)
Six. Thou shalt NOT desecrate the heritage sight and sleep in your mode of transportation (see Commandment Three)
Seven. Thou shalt NOT not pay your deposit
Eight. Thou shalt NOT squander thy wealth on anything other than Show 'n Tell
Nine. Thou shalt NOT not contribute (see Commandments One, Two and Five)
Ten. Thou shalt NOT not obey these Commandments (see Commandments One to Ten)

hoorah for Mr Rawdon

this is the owner of Matjiesfontein, Mr David Rawdon! 

We LOVE him

This years Show 'n Tell falls on Heritage Weekend, a long weekend.. 

3 nights sleep-over in the luxurious Lord Milner Hotel - a declared Heritage Site. 

In heritage celebration spirit and to support us creatives with our undertaking

 Mr Rawdon is giving us a special discount rate for the rooms!! YAY

Rates this year will be:

R300 Per Night B&B per person sharing ( Instead of R360!!!) 

R330 Per Night B&B per single person ( down from R380)

R825 Per Self Catering Cottage

What a great man. 

Please note:

* Bookings are OPEN ( add yourself/ friends to the mailing list if you have not done so yet )

* There is NO other accommodation available in Matjiesfontein

* we strongly discourage sleeping in your car/ in a tent outside the town, cramming in 50 people into a room - its not cool people

* the Lord Milner is a heritage site and filled with REAL antiques - please respect this

* Show 'n Tell is limited to 100 people only - the b&b is a flat rate for all the rooms - the early bookers will get the best rooms at this super bargain rate.. 

* Its totally worth spending your earnings on luxury rooms like these.. its part of the whole Show 'n Tell Magic.. your only Show 'n Tell expenses are accommodation, food and drinks and your own contribution costs

* Get your contribution ideas ready - to book accommodation you need to let us know your 2010 contribution plans

we cant wait to hear about your ideas and plans.. 

Let us know if you have any questions about anything

make matjies magic *

Images James Seigel and Adele Prins from the archives

photo booth anyone????

so ive been thinking of making masks....all kinds of masks. funny masks, scary masks, ridiculous masks.......and stoopid silly props. . .then for a while i didnt know how we would use them on the weekend or where they would fit in.
but now.......
i think i would be really really cool to make our own tiny photobooth, max 2 peeps, nice backdrop, kiff lighting, rad props, awesome masks and a tiny hole for someone to take a picture through...
whatya think???
any takers???

I think these guys are planning a bank robbery so they can pay for their luxury Accommodation in the Lord Milner Hotel over this years long weekend..
The extra long weekend means 3 nights sleep over.. start saving/ scheming..

F.A.Q #54 'What if I CAN'T come up with a contribution idea?'

Who's heritage is it anyway?

Maatjies, as you know, this year Show 'n Tell coincides with Heritage Day so we're thinking that this is a fantastic opportunity to explore YOUR heritage. Don't have one....? Make it up. Don't like yours...? Re-invent yourself.

Ever got the feeling that you were an Inuit Eskimo trapped in a German's body? Were you a scalping, heathen Injun in your previous life? Did your Dutch great-great-great grandmother disappear into the vast Karoo with her Khoi-Khoi lover? Well this is your chance to tell the world (or all of Matjiesfontein at least). Don't hold back - dust off your grandmother's corset, slip into your grandfather's lederhosen, haul out your old spiderman outfit and get your ass to Matjies Show'n Tell!

Get $mart!

This year show 'n tell is over a long weekend which means its 3 nights accomodation. If you're strapped for cash, there's still plenty of time to come up with some innovative ways to raise the funds. Look what one enterprising maatjie is doing!

Keep any eye on the blog for more useful suggestions.....

jump on the bus

Hop onto the Show 'n Tell bus! now is the time to get your contributions sorted.. 

rumor is out there that bookings will open soon.. so watch this space

EMAIL US if you are not on our mailing list or if you would like your friends to be added.. 

Show'n Tell runs by a word of mouth basis.. so tell your friends if you want them there. 

no invites will be sent out.. 

Pick me!

haai maatjies
there are still a few unclaimed prizes from our fundraising auction.

do you really want to miss out on that flamenco lesson you auctioned on? marco, isn't it time you put off sending off that apology letter to your great-aunt for calling her a dried up spinster? well, your personal letter-writer awaits........