MAGIC BEANS
The Story of the Bean Man and my MAGIC
My BEAN MAGIC started many years ago when I was travelling around the remote islands in the Maldives.
Sleeping on screw pine mats on Dhoni’s .
On arrival the children would run away screaming. I don't think they had seen a white woman, but in no time I was the Pied Piper. They would follow me everywhere yelling “T O R N I E”. I would write my name in the sand and this is how they pronounced it!
My parents had retired to George from Kenya, this is on the Garden Route of South Africa. I lived in the UK and had become deeply involved with the Maldives, now over 30 years! One day when staying with my parents in George, I was nosing around the small shops when totally out of the blue, I saw a small pack of these TINY Beans! I took them back to the UK. Tried them out on my 2 year old granddaughter Rebecca in the bath. In no time the Bean turned into a spongy small elephant. This had to be MAGIC.
Sleeping on screw pine mats on Dhoni’s .
On arrival the children would run away screaming. I don't think they had seen a white woman, but in no time I was the Pied Piper. They would follow me everywhere yelling “T O R N I E”. I would write my name in the sand and this is how they pronounced it!
My parents had retired to George from Kenya, this is on the Garden Route of South Africa. I lived in the UK and had become deeply involved with the Maldives, now over 30 years! One day when staying with my parents in George, I was nosing around the small shops when totally out of the blue, I saw a small pack of these TINY Beans! I took them back to the UK. Tried them out on my 2 year old granddaughter Rebecca in the bath. In no time the Bean turned into a spongy small elephant. This had to be MAGIC.
I then tracked The Bean Man down and the rest is History! www.thebeanpeople.co.za
Toni "The Maldive Lady" with Chris
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Toni "The Maldive Lady" with Sharon
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It wasn't long before I was back in my islands and yes, I was going to try out MY MAGIC! I felt very excited, by this time I had almost become a permanent fixture. I noticed at once the lack of children's books and as I write, the total given to libraries all over the Atolls number 98,000. From Gan to Hanimadhu/Uteemu, Velidhu etc etc.
Then let the magic commence! With a small bag and children all round me I took out four small differently coloured beans lay then in my palm. Showing them carefully to all the children, they somewhat backed off. We were close to the sea and I had just ONE bean in my hand. Putting it down in the warm water for no more than a few minutes I move to the kids and slowly open my hand. NO PILL! Just a small SPONGY ELEPHANT, what MAGIC!!
Then let the magic commence! With a small bag and children all round me I took out four small differently coloured beans lay then in my palm. Showing them carefully to all the children, they somewhat backed off. We were close to the sea and I had just ONE bean in my hand. Putting it down in the warm water for no more than a few minutes I move to the kids and slowly open my hand. NO PILL! Just a small SPONGY ELEPHANT, what MAGIC!!
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You should have seen their faces a mixture of horror and delight! I took another one out offering it to them as if they were taking a pill. BIG panic! Once again into the sea, and up comes a different small spongy animal.
Well this was The Maldive Lady’s Magic. News spreads fast in the Maldives but it was well over a year before Male caught up with me!
"Toni, What is this magic you are doing?"
I then had the magic beans shipped over direct from South Africa for fund raising events for S.H.E. They were so popular and made lots of money.
Chris and Sharon are the original Bean People. They live in South Africa in Fish Hoek not far from Cape Town. 26 years ago they started a small business from home. First there were the small magical beans with animals, soon followed by bigger Bath Beans and then Bath Sprudels, all were hand made. I was very fortunate in their early days to learn of The Village Work Centre - a protected work shop for people with Cerebral Palsy. Chris found work for them as well as those from the Chevalier Centre another protected workshop for the mentally handicapped.
Eventually after 15 years they were able to move their business out of their home and they now have a sizable factory close to Masiphumelele, (Masi), which is where the wonderful Xhosa women Chris employs are from. I was there January 2014, his wonderful band of ladies danced on my arrival, I then joined in with them, my pictures will speak for themselves.
Chris and Sharon are the original Bean People. They live in South Africa in Fish Hoek not far from Cape Town. 26 years ago they started a small business from home. First there were the small magical beans with animals, soon followed by bigger Bath Beans and then Bath Sprudels, all were hand made. I was very fortunate in their early days to learn of The Village Work Centre - a protected work shop for people with Cerebral Palsy. Chris found work for them as well as those from the Chevalier Centre another protected workshop for the mentally handicapped.
Eventually after 15 years they were able to move their business out of their home and they now have a sizable factory close to Masiphumelele, (Masi), which is where the wonderful Xhosa women Chris employs are from. I was there January 2014, his wonderful band of ladies danced on my arrival, I then joined in with them, my pictures will speak for themselves.
His factory is full of love, kindness and caring, his Magical Beans are a total joy for children all over the world.
