🎨 Portchie, parenting and people with all the answers

Stellenbosch is saying goodbye to one of its most recognisable artists.

Jan Hendrik Viljoen, better known as Portchie, passed away on Friday at the age of 62. Known for his vibrant paintings, whimsical style and famous blue trees, Portchie became one of South Africa's most successful and recognisable contemporary artists.

Although his work found homes across the world, Stellenbosch was always at the heart of his story. A former Paul Roos learner and Stellenbosch resident, he built a career around bringing colour, joy and optimism to everyday life through art.

His gallery became a landmark in town, while his paintings became instantly recognisable to anyone who has spent time in the Winelands. Over the years, he sold thousands of original artworks and helped put Stellenbosch's art scene on the international map.

Whether you owned one of his paintings or simply admired them from afar, Portchie's colourful legacy will remain part of Stellenbosch for many years to come.

Our condolences go to his family, friends and everyone whose lives he touched.

Two Stellenbosch brothers have quietly built one of South Africa's most recognisable lifestyle clothing brands.

What started as a small venture inspired by a love of sport, nostalgia and South African culture has grown into Old School, a brand now seen everywhere from rugby stadiums to braais and school reunions across the country. The company was founded by brothers Jonathan and Gary Wingrin, who grew up in Stellenbosch and turned a simple idea into a national success story.

The concept was refreshingly straightforward: create clothing that celebrates the teams, memories and moments South Africans grew up with. Instead of chasing global fashion trends, they leaned into local pride, sporting heritage and a healthy dose of nostalgia.

It's a reminder that not every successful business starts in Sandton, Silicon Valley or London. Sometimes it starts in Stellenbosch.

In a world obsessed with the next big thing, the Wingrin brothers built a brand by reminding people of where they came from.

And judging by the number of Old School shirts spotted around the Winelands every weekend, they may have been onto something.

Before having children, most adults have standards.

Reasonable standards.

For example:

If someone urinated in your bed, you would probably change the sheets immediately.

If someone vomited on your pillow, you would not simply roll over and continue sleeping.

If another human wiped a sticky hand on your face, you would likely have some concerns.

Then you become a parent.

And suddenly your standards collapse faster than Eskom during a thunderstorm.

The other night a child's nappy leaked in our bed.

Not a little leak.

The sort of leak that would normally require a hazmat team and a formal insurance claim.

Did we change the sheets?

No.

We put a towel over it and carried on sleeping.

Because it was 2am.

And we were tired.

At some point during parenthood you stop asking:

"Why is there urine in my bed?"

And start asking:

"Is there enough dry space left for me to fit?"

The same applies to vomit.

Before kids:

"Good heavens, someone has vomited. We need to clean everything immediately."

After kids:

"Hmmm. It's mostly on that side of the blanket."

Parents also become remarkably comfortable carrying mystery substances.

You'll find something sticky on your arm and simply think:

"Interesting."

And then continue with your day.

You don't know what it is.

You don't want to know what it is.

You have made peace with uncertainty.

The truly disturbing part is that if somebody had told you ten years ago that one day you'd sleep next to a damp towel covering a puddle of your child's urine while half a chicken nugget slowly fossilised under your pillow, you would have sworn that life had gone horribly wrong.

Yet here we are.

Not only surviving.

Sleeping peacefully.

Because when you're a parent, "good enough" becomes a surprisingly flexible concept.

Having children doesn't just change your life.

It changes your definition of acceptable living conditions.

And somehow...

You're completely okay with it.

Or perhaps the greatest miracle of parenthood isn't creating life.

It's convincing grown adults that sleeping in questionable conditions is a perfectly reasonable decision.

You know the type.

They have a solution for everything.

World hunger?

Solved.

The housing crisis?

Easy.

Education reform?

They've got a twelve-point plan.

Economic growth?

Apparently governments have been doing it wrong all along.

Climate change?

Give them five minutes and a flat white.

The fascinating part is that these people often struggle to run a functioning one-bedroom apartment.

They'll explain exactly how society should be reorganised while their mother is washing their socks.

They'll outline a revolutionary plan for fixing global food distribution despite being unable to locate the dishwasher.

Somehow they have the answers to problems affecting eight billion people.

Yet their own bedroom looks like a crime scene.

I always find it interesting that the people most confident about fixing the world are often the least interested in fixing the things directly in front of them.

The bed remains unmade.

The dishes remain unwashed.

The laundry pile has become a permanent geographical feature.

But don't worry.

They're currently drafting a strategy to solve inequality.

There's probably a lesson in that somewhere.

Maybe changing the world starts with changing your own corner of it first.

Maybe before solving the national budget, it's worth learning how to budget your own money.

Maybe before redesigning society, it's worth figuring out how to keep a pot plant alive.

I'm not saying people shouldn't care about big issues.

Far from it.

The world needs people with ideas.

But it could probably use a few more people who combine big ideas with a bit of personal responsibility.

After all, if someone can't successfully manage their own laundry, asking them to manage civilisation feels slightly ambitious.

Not everyone is born with the same opportunities.

Some people are given supportive families, good education, useful connections, financial security, natural talents, good health, or simply a lucky break at the right time.

We don't get to choose most of those things.

But we do get to choose what we do with them.

Perhaps the best measure of success isn't how much we accumulate for ourselves, but how many lives become a little better because we were here.

You don't need to change the world.

You might help someone find a job.

Teach a skill.

Offer encouragement.

Support a local cause.

Lend a hand when it's needed.

Sometimes the smallest actions create the biggest ripple effects.

Whatever talents, opportunities or privileges you've been given, they're probably worth more when they're shared than when they're kept.

Leave people better than you found them.

That's a life well lived.

Monday ☁️
15°C / 8°C
A chilly start to the week with scattered clouds and some sunshine during the day. Not much rain expected, making it a good day to finally deal with all those things you've been putting off since Friday.

Tuesday 🌤️
19°C / 8°C
Probably the pick of the week. Cool in the morning but warming up nicely with sunshine and only a few clouds around. The kind of winter day that tricks Stellenbosch residents into thinking summer is making a comeback.

Wednesday 🌦️
15°C / 9°C
Clouds increase again with the possibility of a few showers returning. Nothing too dramatic at this stage, but perhaps keep the umbrella nearby just in case the weather decides to remind us it's still June.

As always, thanks for reading. If you spot something in town worth knowing, reply and tell us. Half the best Stellenbosch stories begin that way.

See you around town,
Stellenbosch Brief

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