ONE DAY EZRA CHOUEKE WAS WALKING HOME AND SAW THE NOW-FAMOUS ARTIST, KENZO OKUDA, PAINTING A PICTURE OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. AT THAT TIME (1956) NEITHER OF THEM WAS FAMOUS. MR. CHOUEKE INVITED KENZO OKUDA TO COME INTO THE HOUSE. AFTER A FEW JOKES AND A CUP OF TEA, THEY BOTH DECIDED THAT THE BETTER VIEW OF THE HOUSE WAS FROM THE GARDEN. AFTER THIS, THEY BECAME FRIENDS AND WHEN THE PAINTING WAS COMPLETED, MR. CHOUEKE PURCHASED THE PAINTING FROM THE ARTIST. BOTH WERE HAPPY, AND NOW YOU CAN SEE IT OVER THE MANTLEPIECE WHERE IT HAS DELIGHTED US FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

EVER VELDHAUSEN WAS THE DUTCH MANAGER OF THE HANDLESBANK NEDERLAND. HE WAS INTELLIGENT, HANDSOME, A GOOD FRIEND AND A FREQUENT VISITOR. AFTER MANY YEARS IN JAPAN, HE MET AND MARRIED SUMIKO, A BEAUTIFUL AND ARTISTIC YOUNG LADY. THE FRIENDSHIP WITH THE FAMILY CONTINUED. THIS PAINTING WAS PAINTED BY SUMIKO VELDHAUSEN IN THE LATE 1950’S AS A GIFT TO MR. AND MRS. CHOUEKE, AND HAS BEEN A FAMILY FAVOURITE EVER SINCE.