Ses en negentig hasies

Dear Oupa Magnus,

Happy 96th birthday! As we celebrate this special day with you on the winter solstice, I am filled with immense gratitude and admiration for the legacy you’ve created. This year, we have a special gift for you: a family website dedicated to you, in honour of the incredible stories you’ve shared and the love you’ve given us.

Your thoughtful and detailed rabbit-themed birthday cards have always been a cherished tradition in our family. Today, you deserve 96 rabbits, each one a symbol of the love and respect we hold for you.

I recall rabbits on Oupa and Oumas birthday cards. There were many more, but I managed to keep a few. Talk about recycling birthday cards, enjoy.

Your stern yet loving nature, traditional values, and exceptional storytelling have shaped our family in profound ways. The two family books you wrote are treasures that we will pass down to our children, ensuring that your stories and wisdom live on for generations. Thank you.

And thank you for being the cornerstone of our family. We love you more than words can express.

With all our love,

Justin, Amelia, Marné & Elri

Here is my humble contribution to commemorate a man who is a master storyteller, South African historian and author of a number of family escapades.  There was a hint for funny stories to be shared.  I however do not think that to be pushing 100 years is really that funny (or what?)

My uncle Magnus is a remarkable man with a sharp wit and an amazing memory of local folklore and interesting characters that have crossed our paths as  a family.  I would like to refer to him as the South African version of the well known American author,  Bill Bryson.

What a blessing it is that he still lives to enrich our lives with anecdotes, morsels of wisdom and and often contentious (not necessarily undeserved) statements about some of our fellow South Africans.

Whilst it is an honour to contribute to the festivities in connection with his 96th birthday I find it difficult to give a worthy written comment on the quality writings he has shared with us over many years.

Uncle Magnus: I hope you live to see the 100 year mark and still enjoy reasonable health  so as to make your last days comfortable and surrounded by people who cherish you and care for you.

I thank you for:

• Your ongoing enthusiasm and interest in all those around you.

• For listening with empathy to the unenlightened around you. (even when they keep interrupting you)

• For your undiminished interest and pride in the Schietekat and Van Ass families and their collective legacy. Also for documenting the family histories and family trees.

• For staying abreast of modern trends and historical events (locally and internationally) and being an example to the younger ones as a fastidious elderly student

Thank you Aunt Louise: For looking so well  after your loving husband.

Kind and loving regards,

From Kosie, Rene  their 3 children and seven grandchildren (Van Wyk)

Oom Magnus, kongratulasies en felisitasies van al die hasies op die stasies met hierdie mylpaal verjaarsdag.

Ek bid vir Oom baie liefde, vrede, vreugde, voorspoed en goeie gesondheid.  Dankie vir al Oom se wyshede (en snaaksighede) wat Oom oor die jare met my gedeel het.  Groot bewondering vir die mens wie Oom is.

Sharing a few fond memories. 

I remember so well how he told a story shortly after I met him.  The side effects were hilarious.  He told the story of a man eating peanuts - with hand gestures from the imaginary packet of peanuts on his lap to his mouth and the accompanying sound – kierie kierie kierie!

Baie liefde

Marinda

Baie geluk Oupa!

What a milestone - although that's what we all said last year! You just keep racking them up 😉

Dankie dat Oupa al vir so lank as 'n standvastige hoof van ons familie staan. As 'n uitstekende voorbeeld in terme van getroude lewe, finansies, regverdigheid and being a gentleman. Ek sal altyd onthou hoe my Oupa op so 'n jong ouderdom af getree het en so baie kosbare jare spandeer het deur te doen wat hy wou, hoe hy wou en met wie hy wou. Dat hy na aftrede veelvoudige boeke geskryf het en my geleer het dat die woord "got" krutaal is.

Family is so important and we cherish having you at all the birthdays and celebrations. Daar was al so baie en steeds kom daar nuwe stories uit - meestal 😁

Happy 96th Birthday Oupa

Love you lots, 

Louis, Sunelle en Luke

Dear Dad, 

I wish you the happiest 96th birthday! Reflecting on all the years we've shared, fills me with gratitude and admiration. Your strength and wisdom have been a guiding light in my life, and I feel fortunate to call you my dad. Thank you for all the sacrifices you've made and the lessons you've taught me. Here's to celebrating today with joy and love, surrounded by family and good memories. Happy Birthday, Dad!  

Warmest wishes, 

Linus

Liewe Pa,

Gelukkige 96ste verjaardag! Ek hoop vandag, omring deur almal wat jou liefhet,  bring vir jou baie vreugde en diep laggies. Jou lewe is 'n merkwaardige reis, gevul met wysheid en goedheid wat my elke dag inspireer.  Baie dankie dat jy vir my met sulke ope arms in hierdie familie ontvang het 41 jaar gelede.  Toe my Pappa oorlede is, was jy daar vir my op soveel vlakke.  Mag hierdie verjaarsdag 'n spesiale herinnering wees aan hoe baie ek jou waardeer en bewonder.  

Baie liefde en diep drukkies, 

Genéne

Happy happy 96th Birthday Uncle Magnus.  May your day be special, full of joy, love and laughter and your heart happy throughout the coming year.

We are so privileged to have had you in our lives and that the Good Lord has blessed you with longevity. That you have been spared to regale us with wonderful memories of our family history and for us, the memories of our Mother and Father..   

Our earliest memories are of you on your Vespa Scooter “Bromponnie” (spelling) taking us for rides around the block in Bellville. This mode of transport has long been associated with high fashion and beautiful ladies as well as suave gentlemen.  We have vague memories of your being an amateur cine-photographer and entertaining us with your Projector, using a sheet or just the wall as a screen.

A treasured memory of Bronwyn’s , which we have laughed about several times, is of your offering to swop her precious six pence for whatever was in your “tin” in the cupboard. We must have been all of 6,7, or 8 years old and she was in quite a dilemma.  You were not often at home when we came to visit Granny in Florence Road (by train and by taxi in the early days) and so you had not been assessed in her child mind. Could you be trusted and could the chance be taken or was her new found wealth being put at risk? The happy outcome was that the “tin” revealed 29 pennies.  An ice cream cost a ticky (3p), we could buy 4 “niggerballs” for 1 penny so she was wealthier than she had ever been. JJJ.

Thank you again for the contribution and legacy you leave for us. The hours and hard work you put in  to compile a family history of our maternal and paternal heritage.

God Bless,

We love you,

The Twins, Gavin and Bronwyn

Happy happy 96th birthday dearest Ancient Father!  Hope you have a sensational day and a healthy, contented new lewensjaar.  

Lots of love from Melanie xxx

Veels Geluk met Oupa se verjaardag. 

Mag daar nog baie lewensjare wees wat Oupa kan geniet. Familie en Vriende bid daagliks vir Oupa, ek glo selfs mense wat net weet van Oupa se mylpale en geseende jare. Ek is besonder dankbaar om hier te kan wees en dat die familie bymekaar sal wees om saam fees te vier en dankbaarheid te toon.

Love you.

Julyan

I am not one to write long messages. You can just wish old Maggie a very happy birthday from Graeme and Sybil.

Veels geluk met oupa se verjaarsdag!

Baie dankie vir al die stories wat oupa vertel het oor die jare en die lewens lesse wat oorgedra is. (Sowel as lesse oor etiket)

Met baie liefde van Bradley

Van oupa se gunsteling en enigste klein dogter, hoop ek dat oupa weet dat dit vir ons almal 'n voorreg is om 'n oupa 'n pa en iemand met so groot uitkyk op lewe te hê en dat oupa 96 moet geniet en wys wies baas! 

Liefde Megan

Dear Uncle Magnus,

A very happy birthday to you. We are blessed with having you another year spared for your loved ones. May it be a fantastic year filled with good health and love in abundance.

“Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.” — Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Adri Benadé

Yes... in the words of the great Magnus himself: "I would like to recall two anecdotes..." that took place between him and my father.

The first was during one of their Sunday evening phone calls that usually 'only' lasted an hour or two. On this particular occasion, uncle Magnus phoned my father and announced that "he doesn't have too much money for an extended phone kuier and will make this a quick call"... Needless to say, the conversation was well in excess of the 'limitations' he had placed...

In following this tradition of phone-kuiers, a regular expression that continues on in our family to this day, were the words uttered by Uncle Magnus to "stop my asseblief as ek allie storie vertel het..."

Uncle Magnus and company, we wish you a great year ahead and hope you can look back with pride at a remarkable legacy thus far!

post scriptum:

It was Uncle Magnus who, many years ago, taught me the difference between woman and women. Between the words themselves actually...😄

And another conversation between us comes to mind about the intricacies of the English language: During one of his visits to the great metropolis of Klêrks-dorp, he brought up the word 'awry' and the fact that it is pronounced COMPLETELY different to how it is spelled. Every instance where things go sideways, I fondly think back about how 'Awe-ree' these things REALLY have gone!

But...please: stop my as ek al die storie vertel het...

Gert Benadé

Happy Birthday Oom Shooter!

Waar om te begin? Ek het so baie mooi herhinderinge en daar is so baie maniere wat jy my lewe aangeraak het. Ek onthou die bankrekonsiliasies elke dag, daai optelmasjien en die strokies wat in die boek geplak moes word! Ek rekonsilieer tot vandag nog steeds my rekeninge soos Oom my geleer het, net ingeval die bank ‘n fout maak! En al die spotprentjies wat jy van CIC geteken het! Ek het hulle nog steeds! Dankie dat jy so groot deel van my lewe was en altyd sal wees.

Ons wens Oom ‘n baie gelukkige verjaarsdag en nog vele mooi jare vorentoe! Ons hoop jy het fantastiese dag vol nuwe herhinderinge en stories om te vertel in die jare vorentoe!

Hoop om julle gou weer te sien!

Lovies,

Kevin & Loryna

Liewe Oom Magnus

Van harte geluk met die herdenking van Oom se 96ste verjaarsdag ! Mag dié viering saam met geliefdes ‘n feestelike geleentheid wees. Dit is voorwaar ‘n besondere mylpaal 🤩

Oor so baie jare het ons Oom leer ken as iemand wat ‘n besondere belangstelling in mense en die wêreld het. Oom se altyd teenwoordige humorsin het dikwels groot plesier verskaf 🤣 Die skryf van ons familie geskiedenis met soveel oulike staaltjies, bly vir ons ‘n kosbare herinnering skat 🏆

Ons lees vanoggend dat Oom die eerste lewenslig aanskou het in dieselfde jaar dat Alexander Fleming penicillin ontdek het, asook dat Mickey Mouse, kougom en Rice Krispies op die toneel verskyn het. Interessante spanmaats 😉

Geniet die verjaarsdag kuier en wéét dat ons baie mooi en interessante herinneringe het aan ons verbintenis oor soveel jare ♥️

Baie liefde en seënwense

Jan en Ingrid ⛵️

Syracusa, Sicilië

Happy 96th Birthday Magnus !!!!!

You have been my uncle for the last 80+ years and the last surviving one to my siblings too!!!

A better and more revered brain has yet to appear in our family; and the memory is as sharp as ever.

My family will long remember your wicked sense of humour and horse laugh…

You have fought the good fight and will maybe outlast me, but I have amusing visual memories of Ouma desperately trying to get you out of bed in time for school by pouring a beaker of cold water over your head!

Also we are indebted to you for chronicling your memories of our grandparents and their times… a mammoth undertaking! I hope someone will also write your (in)famous biography as pithily as you have done. Wishing you a good place in Heaven… we will all miss you mightily and with lots of love.

All my love,

Wendy Saporetti (nee Jones) 

I am related to your grandfather thought the Schietekat family and his father oom Pietie.

We met up with Magnus by chance because of our mutual love of books at the Tyger Valley centre.

As you know he is a prolific reader and he saw the sunny side of life.

We wish him:

Well done and the very best, and my you find some good books in heaven or the other place when you eventually get there and we hope that may be a long time off.

Best wishes,

Isabel and Trevor van der Hoven