"Please book me a room for two at the Lord Milner Hotel.

As per last year, I'd like to bring over a selection of contemporary short-films from my store (DvdGurus) for the temporary outdoor garden cinema.

Regards Rohan"

Who is Jil ?

She is the mystery lady who handles the accommodation bookings for Show ’n Tell
Fact - Jil is a real alive person.
Fact - she does not work for the Lord Milner Hotel .
Jil does not work for Show ’n Tell either.
Jil lives in Cape town
matjie.bookings@gmail.com is not her personal email address..
please be patient to hear back from her - all good thing takes time..
The “Show ’n tell” is not a commercial undertaking and Jil does have a day job.

Matjiesfontein can only sleep 100 people, so that’s the limit. It’s a heritage site, so there’s no trampling the succulents going on. Once you’ve decided on your creative contribution, book your bed and tell us what you plan to show and or tell. You can operate alone or in a group of course.

Pimp your contribution

Lined on both sides with beautiful old Rolls Royce's, Royal Daimlers, Chevys, Dodges, Rovers, a Buick Eight and a Jaguar MK8, this is a great place for something special to happen. There are raised areas on either side for eager onlookers.

Royal Fountain

The drinking fountain outside the Transport Museum...

D.I.Y. cinema

Calling all film affecionados, this is your chance to run the film festival you've always wanted to - whether you're into film noir, 50s sci-fi, horror, spaghetti westerns or straight-to-video B grade.
Last year, I ran an outdoor short-film festival.... are any of you matjies keen to take over the screen for this year's show'n tell?

This is the beautiful Hotel swimming pool in Matjiesfontein, dont forget to pack your swimming gear..

Introducing Julia
Here she is in the Matjiesfontein station. She is the lady you can speak to regarding your logistical questions

Truth: Show & Tell is not a commercial undertaking, so all participants are responsible for their own accommodation, costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution. However, resources can be pooled. You speak to the organizer, the organizer points you in the right direction. No additional fees will be charged to see the individual shows, which will be scattered throughout the weekend in the most relaxed sort of way, indoors, outdoors, up a tree, in a cupboard.

While you were sleeping

This is one of the beautiful rooms (18) in the Lord Milner Hotel.
For our show'n tell weekend, the hotel has given us a special rate of only R340 per person sharing, per night.

Shotgun Room 11.

Why THEN and why THERE ?
Show 'n Tell falls just before Heritage day ( 24September 2008) and Matjiesfontein is a heritage site..

"David Rawdon, the owner of Matjiesfontein and an avid collector, has established the The Marie Rawdon Museum which houses an eclectic collection of Victoriana. The cellars of the railway station are packed with a fascinating mixture of bygones and real treasure. "

"The apothecary's shop, for example, is complete with Victorian gothic mahogany furniture, apothecary jars with their original contents; and, standing in the same room, an extensive collection of cameras, Magic Lanterns and photographic paraphernalia, all rubbing shoulders with a macabre-looking dentist surgery in one corner and an old cut-throat barber's shop in the other."

Meet Josephina - she is the museum keeper and will charge you R5 to have a snoop around..

"I will be reading at the show n tell. I will need a comfortable place from
which to operate... bed, chaise longue or sinking couch...(indoors or
outdoors & I am happy to be placed wherever my skills are needed.) I will bring my own equipment: reading glasses, books, cushion, blanket, thermos/wine glass & suitable beverages and lamp. I am happy to read books/ pieces of paper/manuscripts/manuals/ cereal boxes, etc... anyone wants to have read (either to myself, to them, or out loud-- depending on request).

The world of a reader... it's a serious job, but someone's gotta do it. I have also writen a fictional short story, not based on, but inspired by my experiences as a reader, to shed some light on the important role readers play in our society. ( to be posted soon on the blog) The Readers agency will not operate at the show n tell, but interested readers will be able to fill in forms & get more info on how to join.

Elvis, my best friend, may sit with me during some of my reading time. He helps me concentrate. I will also bring a book carrier.

And anyone interested in maybe doing a readathon, can contact me

Toodleloo,Tania "

Hoooorraahh !!!!!
The bookings for the 2008 Matjiesfontein Show 'n Tell are officially open.

HOTEL:
R340 per person sharing per night bed and breakfast.
( ie double rooms 2xR340 per night - single room 1x R340 per night)
All Main Hotel Buildings, The Reston Villa, Douglas cottages (in the garden) and the Swimming Pool Suite

SELF-CATERING COTTAGES:
R700 per cottage per night
(There are 4 cottages that can sleep up to 6 people each, Bargain!)
COTTAGES CONSIST OF:
A KITCHEN (Fridge,Stove, Crockery, Cutlery & Kettle)
2 TWIN BEDDED ROOMS ( Consist of bedding - 1 Room has it own entrance)
LOUNGE WITH SLEEPING COUCH (Can be use as a double bed)
1 BATHROOM

TRAIN:
(This is an real old train carriage in the transport museum, across the rd from the hotel!)
R200 per person per night bed (bring own bedding) & breakfast
R120 per person per night bed (bring own bedding) & no breakfast.

Remember that there are only 100 spaces available as it is a veeeery small town. Tiny, in fact... Also please state your contribution when you email our lovely bookings administrator, Jil. We cannot confirm your booking until you have confirmed your contribution - even if you can just state the basic idea for now..

To book your accommodation,email Jil
If you are confused or need someone to talk to email Julia

Please check out more info under the blog's: Accommodation Tab

Al fresco

.....and for those matjies who like doing it outdoors, don't forget the gardens of the hotel are also available for contributions.

This is the Sleeper train.. as you can see there is NIKS in the train so make sure you bring your woolen socks and blankies as it can get real cold in the karoo.. at least there is a hot shower in the museum you can use...


SLEEPER TRAIN:
(This is an real old train carriage in the transport museum, across the rd from the hotel)
R120 per person per night bed (bring own bedding) & no breakfast.
R200 per person per night bed (bring own bedding) with hotel breakfast.

To book your accommodation,email Jil
If you are confused or need someone to talk to email Julia
Please check out more info under the blog's: Accommodation Tab

All the world's a stage.....

Calling all thespians, stand-up comedians, sit-down mimes and hand-stand cabaret artists! The old courthouse is begging to be turned into a theatre.

this is a beautiful corridor in the main building of the Lord Milner Hotel A great spot for some kinda nice contribution.. the corridor leads to cosy luxury bedrooms..

Olden Goldie

A beautiful old photograph of the majestic and magical Lord Milner Hotel. The real beauty being that it still looks the same... except now its in colour. And once a year has a bunch of crazies running through it's corridors, thinking up wild ways to bring new life to a place with a decadent history of social revelry... and testing how far they can push the rocking chair in the Laird Arm's Bar.

"We plan on folding many paper cranes to hang from trees and decorate the place and under each paper crane we will have a different quote/thought."

Please let me know how it works with the specifics of who stays where and prices/payments etc I did see prices and bank details on the blogg but I am assuming those might be relevant for last year, but not necessarily this year...? Andrea Hopkins "
NOTE: we will post the 2008 Price list right HERE within the next couple of days.. and accommodation bookings will start immediately after..
space is limited - so keep an eye out. In the meantime dream up your contribution cause we wanna hear about it when you book...

The most beautiful empty dinning cart in the transport museum.

Its a perfect spot for a candle-lit show - dont you think?
This must be one of the HOTTEST spots in Matjiesfontein for a contribution.. and its up for the taking..
let Julia know if you have a great plan for this beauty.

Some email feedback so far:

"I am in!

Just need to organise logistical things but count me in!"

"i think that this is so super cool. i would love to attend. !

i have lot s and lots to show and tell ! but mostly i want to be quiet and listen. "

"Hooray! Toast and I will be coming for sure."

Watch this space for notification of when the bookings open!!

How to book?
Sounds great and looks really fun.

Thanks…Heath

The garden of the Lord Milner Hotel becomes a magical place after dark

This is Dolphina - a superstar staff member of the Lord Milner Hotel

19 and 20 September 2008

Board the train, or pour some black gold in your car, gits, you can even walk if you have the time and want to keep your carbon footprint down to a size 4, but come! Where? What? Here, or there, to Matjiesfontein in the Karoo, where, besides the ghosts and the cat
in the foyer of the hotel and a lekker rowdy bar with a loud bell to clang if you don't get the attention you think you deserve, Heritage weekend offers you the most unusual party of the year. Party? Half-party, half-event, half-made up, half planned, the Show & Tell weekend is now in its third year and promises to be all the undercover hype you've heard and more.

Thing is, Show & Tell is all about you . Yes, promise. It's made up by you. If you can sing, bring your voice. If you can strum, bring your guitar. If you have some old films or weird DVDs you wanna share with people, bring the projector or the screen or the whatnot. Everyone who comes to Show & Tell must bring something to show or tell, it's that simple. What happened at school if you didn't bring anything to show or tell on show and tell day? Yup, nought out of ten for you and an hour in the corner behind the sandbox facing the wall.

So don't be a drag, come participate. Play tennis in funny clothes, juggle grapefruit at breakfast, read a poem your mother wrote, make a handstand while holding your dog's leash in your mouth, whistle a Romanian folk tune, take photos, exhibit, paint your bum yellow, snort a tequila for Dali – everything counts!

Matjiesfontein belongs to Show & Tell for the weekend – the aim is to book out most or all of the village's accommodation so that it's filled with like-minded people.

Truth: Show & Tell is not a commercial undertaking, so all participants are responsible for their own accommodation, costs, logistics and technical requirements for your contribution. However, resources are pooled, ie if three of you wanna DJ, then between you you arrange for the decks or whatnot. You speak to the organizer, the organizer points you in the right direction. No additional fees will be charged to see the individual shows, which will be scattered throughout the weekend in the most relaxed sort of way, indoors, outdoors, up a tree, in a cupboard.

Matjiesfontein can only sleep 100 people, so that's the limit. It's a heritage site, so there's no trampling the succulents going on. Once you've decided on your creative contribution, book your bed and tell us what you plan to show and/or tell. You can operate alone or in a group of course.

words by Toast Coetzer

rehearsal: informal dry run

This is just sneak peak of the hard work and dedication that is going on behind the scenes in preparation for this years show and tell. I'm not exactly sure what these two are going to "show" or "tell" but by the looks of things it's going to be something to do with gender role reversal and a peace protest. All very serious stuff. No monkeying around. Keep practicing guys! It's looking good!

don't feed the swans

i will be bringing swans to this year's matjies show'n tell.
there will be no feeding of the swans and if you are going to swim in the pool,
there will be no splashing or dive-bombing - they don't like to
get their hair wet.

"ek dink dit is 'n wonderlike idee dat ek saam met Oom Kosie en sy groep speel die jaar. 

Ek sal ook graag 'n vertoning van my eie musiek wil doen, onder my eie naam. 

Hope liefde,   Alex "

Mission S.O.B accomplished!!!!

Out there in this world of technology there are real flesh and blood people  - people named Mishka and Gatsby who deserve awards for their help in restoring the blog after we lost access to it!
If it still looks weird on your side refresh your browser..

S.O.B. (Save our Blog)

Please note this blog currently has chicken pox and is falling into
pieces.. nerds and gurus behind the scenes are giving the situation
their best shot.. please be patient and watch this space...

Anyone for tennis?

Hello matjies!

The Majtiesfontein Tennis Club is pleased to announce 2007's winner of the Umpire of the Year award. More good news...he will be joining us this year again so we expect even greater things from him in 2008. You know him, you love him, you can't live without him.....

A slow "tour of Matjiesfontein"...if you want an idea of what the town looks like..

Time to get this show on the road.

If you are keen to be involved in the planning of Show 'n Tell 2008 email Inge or Julia with your dollars worth of ideas..

First contribution for this year!!

This hot new band will be playing at Show'n Tell 2008!

"ALMA Tango mixes live instruments and sultry vocals with chilled electronic beats. An international collaboration of three musicians, ALMA Tango draws inspiration from tango, electronica, and jazz. Imagine a steamy Buenos Aires night club filled by the rich sounds of an Argentine bandoneon, the melodies of a Cape Town trumpet, and the croon of a New Orleans lounge singer."

19 and 20 September THIS year : two thousand and great! Come to the tiny dot of Matjiesfontein for a weekend of play. This little victorian gem will be our host for the 3rd Show'n Tell. All visitors have to state their creative contributions to the weekend- that can be anything BIG or s m a l l.
Bookings to start soon soon soon.. In the meantime dream up and start planning your idea.
The town can only accommodate limited numbers so keep watching this space..
the ball set to start rolling ssoooooooonnnnn

“Show ’n’ tell” is a platform for your creative explorations. Its a weekend away, a weekend of play.The aim is for everyone to contribute in the old fashioned way: perform, play and present in the tiny Karoo Town of Matjiesfontein- 19 and 20 September 2008.
You could sing a song, bake a cake, juggle grapefruit during breakfast, play chopsticks on the bar piano, dj, recite poetry, challenge a rabbit on the tennis court, exhibit you favourite things or tell a ghost story …