With her treasured ice cream machine back up and running thanks to Mr Jacques Kotze, Jane Griffiths plans to repay his efforts with ice cream.
Johannesburg, South Africa (08 July 2024) – In a world where people find it easier to throw away old things (out with the old and in with the new, as they say), we love when there are ways to revive old things, mend the broken and repair the faulty. Jane Griffiths, an author, avid gardener and talented from-scratch cook, took her ice cream machine in for repair, unsure if it would be saveable – only it was, thanks to the help of a man committed to fixing things.
Jane took to her Facebook page to extend a thanks to Jacques Kotze who repaired her beloved ice cream machine from the 1980s. It is a treasured piece of equipment.
“In the mid 80s, I received kitchen gifts from my Auntie Bee when she moved from Johannesburg. I use the cast iron pans all the time – but the Bosch ice cream maker languished in the back of my cupboard.
A few years ago, I finally pulled it out and gave it a whirl. And it was marvellous! So easy to use. Simply add the mixture, put the small machine in the freezer and plug it in (shutting the door on the cable). It churns away and less than an hour later I’d have a litre of delicious ice cream. I experimented with a range of flavours, using many garden harvests. Until it stopped working.
A few days ago, Keith was taking some power tools to a repair shop and I hopefully took my ice cream machine along to see if it was fixable.”
Jacques Kotze from the Mogale Power Tool Centre & Security Services in Weltevreden Park promised to take a look and see it he could fix the machine.
“Jacques said he’d take a look. In his large and comfortably cluttered workshop (but he knows where everything is!) he took it apart, piece by piece and found two bushes that weren’t seated properly. He pressed them back in, put the motor back together – and voila! It worked perfectly
This kind man, with his hard-working, grease-stained hands and detailed knowledge of how motors work, then refused to take a cent in payment. This isn’t a company with whom we have a long-standing relationship. It was the first time we’d ever gone to him!”
Jane was so blown away by his generosity, she told him she would be bringing him some ice cream made just for him. A delicious homemade dulce de leche whiskey ice cream.
For Jane, it wasn’t just getting back a treasured piece of equipment; it was the unbelievable service received.
by 