Back in time

In yesterday's post I mentioned that we had lunch at the Bloemendal Restaurant. I also mentioned that there was loads of food to go around. Today's photo was also taken at Bloemendal, but today I'll draw your attention not to the food, but to the stove on which the food was kept hot.

When last have you seen a cast-iron coal stove? Isn't it really awesome? The last time I remember seeing a stove like this was in about 1981 in my grandmother's kitchen in Tzaneen (way up north in the Limpopo Province). I remember my mother (who grew up with a coal stove) telling me how much trouble it was to get the stove going. Apparently we have it easier these days. ;)