The day after his 80th birthday, Mimmo Spagnuolo began drinking his coffee without sugar.
“It’s awful,” he said.
The change was significant. Mimmo drinks up to 10 cups of coffee a day and previously added a spoonful of sugar to every cup – meaning he could get through as much as 10 spoons of sugar a day.
Giving up sugar may have been his latest experiment, but it was certainly not his first. Mimmo remains eager to try new things, whether that means changing his coffee habits or turning a few scraps of timber into an intricate miniature building.
Born in Italy, Mimmo came to South Africa at the age of 10. A resident of Rand Aid’s Tarentaal Village since May, he previously lived in Dowerglen, Edenvale. He has two sons – Damien, who lives in the UK, and Eric, who lives around the corner – and plenty of stories to tell about a life that has included jewellery making, travelling, boating, fishing and time spent in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
Mimmo spent much of his working life in manufacturing and qualified as a jeweller. His eye for detail and ability to work with his hands have come in handy for his latest hobby, which he started about six years ago.
He started with birdhouses before moving on to models of buildings, wagons and other structures, using whatever materials he can find. “I use dowel sticks, timber that I have, off-cuts – whatever I can lay my hands on,” he says.
Mimmo says he does not know how to draw, so there is no elaborate drafting process behind his models. Instead, inspiration simply strikes.
Sometimes it comes from a building he has seen on his travels. One of his models was inspired by a mosque in Turkey that he fell in love with.
Other times, a model develops as he goes along. “If I make a mistake, sometimes it turns out better than if I had planned it,” he says.
His pastime requires considerable patience. A larger model may take about six months to complete, but Mimmo says he cannot wait for morning to get started on his latest creation.
Among the models he is particularly proud of is a house he made for his son’s mother-in-law, an artist who lives in Pretoria. The colourful creation features bright gutters and downpipes.
His home is filled with models, while other creations have found their way into the homes of family and friends.
Travel and jewellery-making
Mimmo lived in Rhodesia from 1956 to 1983 and travelled extensively, including to the UK, gathering ideas for his jewellery designs and absorbing the architecture and character of the places he visited.
But his interests have never been confined to making things. Mimmo has always loved the outdoors, particularly boating and fishing. He enjoyed tiger fishing and spent many happy hours on the water.
These days, Mimmo’s workshop may be smaller, but his ambition is not. There is always another model to start – and another cup of coffee to get through.
Rand Aid residents with special requests are welcome to contact Mimmo at Unit I4 (Pepper Lane, Tarentaal Village).
