23 december

23 December 2015

Published every Wednesday by CXpress 2006 (Pty) Ltd - PO Box 1449, Plettenberg Bay 6600 - 6 Park Lane, Plettenberg Bay - Tel: 044 533 1004 - Fax: 044 533 0852 Email: editor@cxpress.co.za / advertising@cxpress.co.za Web page: www.cxpress.co.za Printed by Group Editors

Orca’s message clear p4

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The CXPRESS team joins the youthful, playful Father Christmas gracing our last cover of 2015 in wishing you the very best of holiday cheer and festive fun with loved ones during your summer break in CX Country - we’ll be back in the saddle on January 4 to start building our first edition of 2016, CXPRESS of January 13

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NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

Legal Alien: Recollections of the Bolhuis family’s immigration to SA - Part VI

Blessed with work, children, and my farming hobby on the banks of Roodeplaat Dam Plett resident and part-time CXPRESS columnist HENK BOLHUIS continues the account of how his clan came to settle in South Africa - turn to page 2 of the past five editions at www.cxpress.co.za for the story so far IFE in South Africa turned out to be a real challenge for every one of the Bolhuis family. But even though things were tough in the beginning - like using wooden potato crates covered with a blanket as seats (the same blanket one used at night to sleep under) - we persevered. And soon after getting married, I was able to find new and better work.

Having been trained as a radio-radar technician in the Dutch Royal Air Force I had obviously tried the South African Army and Air Force, but as a “Dutchman” they were unable to employ me.

The same applied when I contacted the South African Police, but there a kind lady - after having told me that they, too, were legally unable to employ me - suggested I go and see the local Traffic Department.

And so, one day in March 1960, I walked into the charge office of the Pretoria Traffic Department and asked the officer behind the public counter if I could please see somebody about possible employment.

He directed me to a small office where I found a rather tiny lady sitting behind a large desk. After I had introduced myself she told me her name was Ms Lazar, and that she was the department’s personnel officer.

I then proceeded to give her my background story and presented her with my CV, whereupon she replied that normally the department would not employ foreigners, but “she liked me!” and would see what she could do for me.

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A few weeks went by and then, one day, I received a letter in the post informing me that the Department of Home Affairs had granted me special permission to apply for work at the Pretoria Traffic Department.

And so, for the first time ever, after my application was approved, an “alien” was recruited and subsequently appointed as a traffic officer by the Department and I embarked on an exciting 33-year long career.

My appointment, however, was based on some very strict conditions - first I had to obtain my matriculation certificate within a year, and secondly I had to become a naturalised South African citizen with-

in two years.

So, for the next couple of years I studied all out after work and subsequently obtained not only my matric, but also a diploma in Highway Engineering.

Then, in 1968, I was extremely blessed to be awarded a scholarship by the Automobile Association of South Africa to study abroad and subsequently studied at North West University in Chicago and also gained valuable experience concerning traffic control and safety whilst working with the London Metropolitan Police; the Swedish Police in Stockholm and the Dutch Provincial Police based in Hilversum.

Through the years following, my family was blessed with seven children, five of whom are still alive; we also have 12 grandchildren and one great-grand child.

Also, soon after I had started at the Pretoria Traffic Department, we moved from town to a small-holding 27km outside town, near Roodeplaat Dam (formerly Pienaarsdam) and

ROOKIE TRAFFIC COP: Yours truly in July 1960 with Pretoria Traffic chief Gilbert ‘Gillie’ Sales, left - Photo: Pretoria News

now I could enjoy the best of two worlds - my work in town and my hobby of keeping and developing a small farm in the evenings and weekends.

It certainly helped having all these children to assist me and although in the eyes of world we were probably dirt poor, we enjoyed our life and being able to eat what we ourselves produced.

I still vividly remember those Saturday mornings when I would get up early, and while whistling a chorus ‘This is the day that the Lord has made’ I would proceed to the outbuilding where the kids were sleeping in order to get them out of bed - they hated that song.

Each of the Bolhuis children was given a small piece of paper with a list of chores - the smallest had to pull weeds and gather the feathers that our free range chickens and makoue (a kind of duck) had shed; others, a bit older, had to clean the pigsties whereas the two eldest had to help me with dipping the cattle and deworming the sheep.

All this time Coby, my wife, supplemented my rather meagre income by doing clothing repairs and alterations for people (she made shirts and pants for the children from empty cattle feed bags - she was a magician on a sewing machine), and by running a small pig farm.

In the meantime I continued studying and after obtaining several certificates and diplomas of the South African Institute of Traffic Officers, I slowly but surely began to rise in the ranks.

To be continued…

NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

SA ‘does not deserve’ grave danger posed by freeing killer of Knysna hiker T

venga, who had been on a killing spree across South Africa leaving a string of victims in their wake.

“The night before he was killed, Wessels and his partner had seen Eddie and decided to lay in wait and kill him the next day,” Gary said.

He added that the two confronted Eddie and demanded his backpack which he willingly gave up. They however bashed his scull with a heavy tree stump and slit his throat, almost severing his head.

‘There is not any hour in any day that we are not yearning for our son - it has been 24 years since his murder’ “My brother continued to thrash and fight while they sat on his body to steal his last efforts at life to avoid any attention from hikers on the nearby trail.”

The pair was not only convicted of murdering Perlmutter but also David Sehmel, who Wessels strangled with two shoestrings and buried in a shallow grave in the Drakensberg area in KwaZulu-Natal.

They were convicted, too, of killing Jacobus Joubert whose body was discovered floating in bloody water in his bath in Tulleken Place, Berea.

In Port Elizabeth, they attacked late Grahamstown priest Clive Newman who survived after the pair assaulted him and tried to slit his throat in Bluewater Bay. During their high-profile trial in the Western Cape High Court, clinical psychologist Lesley Stone cemented Gary’s fears when he testified that Wessels was one of the “most bizarre

and dangerous” murderers he had ever come across.

He also made it clear that Wessels would remain a danger to society until he was too old for “destructive sex” and too weak to kill.

He further said that it was highly improbable that Wessels’ personality would “fundamentally change” even if he received therapy for 30 years.

“Wessels was given the death sentence. That sentence followed painstaking consideration of all alternatives by a panel of judges, the majority of whom had been historic death penalty opponents.

“We never imagined that his death sentence would be commuted to life, or that ‘life’ might mean only 24 years. Please keep Wessels incarcerated, day and night.

South Africa does not deserve the grave danger he will always present, and he does not deserve any of the privileges which he deprived so many of, so recently.”

Eddie’s 80-year-old father, Joseph Perlmutter, said their son’s murder had left them devastated and emotionally scarred for the rest of their lives.

“There is not any hour in any day that we are not yearning for our son. It has been 24 years since Eddie was murdered, and the pain and longing remain so fresh and strong, it often feels like 24 minutes,” Joseph said.

“Our minds cannot comprehend how Wessels can be considered for parole.

Doesn’t the parole board realise the magnitude of this murderer’s crime? Where is the truth in sentencing when a prisoner who received a death sentence plus several life imprisonment sentences can be paroled in 24 or 25 years?”

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An American family is pleading with the South African government not to let a sadistic serial killer, now eligible for parole, free after brutally murdering a hiker in Knysna 24 years ago - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports HE Perlmutter family from California in the USA heard last week that Antonie Wessels - who was convicted of killing Eddie Perlmutter, 24, and initially handed a death sentence in 1992 - was now eligible for parole.

“Freeing this monster would be like placing a nuclear bomb on a playground. There is no doubt in my mind that given the opportunity, he would go back to his murderous ways,” said the victim’s brother, Gary Perlmutter, 51.

He added that while his first priority was to continue fighting for justice for his younger brother who would now have been 48 years old, he also feared for every South African crossing his path, should he be released.

Spokesman for the Department of Correctional Services Logan Maistry confirmed that Wessels was eligible for parole, but that the final decision would be up to Minister Michael Masutha.

“In respect of the said offender, the National Council on Correctional Services (NCCS) would consider the profile report and submit their recommendations to the Minister for a final decision,” Maistry said.

He added that by law every prisoner who had served 15 years behind bars had to be considered for parole, but that this did not mean that every convict would be granted parole.

He could, however, not provide a timeframe for the process.

Eddie was hiking in the Knysna Forest while on a trip around the world when on October 25, 1991 he was savagely killed by Wessels and his 17-yearold lover Jean-Pierre Ha-

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CXPRESS

NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

Orca death sends clear message about abuse of the ocean Words & photo: Dr Gwenith Penry

S I began to write this article, 48 hours had passed since I posted results of the stomach content analysis of the killer whale that stranded at Lookout Rocks last Monday morning.

In that time, the post had been shared 2,000+ times, reaching more than 66,000 people via Facebook alone far beyond my expectations.

National and international reporters have been in contact regarding the story and everyone’s response is one of horror and disgust at the amount of plastic that was found in its stomach: a 1kg yoghurt tub, a shoe sole, several food wrappers and a cigarette butt.

Whether the plastic was the actual cause of death we do not know, but it certainly would not have helped and may have been the final straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.

Unfortunately this is not an unusual event - cetaceans have been dying from plastic ingestion for decades and the situation is just getting worse. Visit the websites of the Marine Conservation Society (www.mcsuk.org) and Plastic Oceans Foun-

VIGIL FOR VITAL STATS: Dr Gwenith Penry, postdoctoral researcher for the Southern African Bryde’s whale project, during a quiet moment with the stranded orca

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- Photo: Ewald Stander

dation (www.plasticoceans. net) for more information.

There are entire conferences and numerous working groups set up to tackle the problem, but unless we as consumers reduce the demand for plastic, the problem will continue.

Off the South African coast, stranding records from the Mammal Research Institute provide details of a killer whale’s stomach that contained a piece of diving suit, a plastic milk bottle, a 75cm square piece of plastic sheeting, a cardboard soft drink car-

DEADLY DIET: The world reacted with dismay and disgust at the amount of plastic found in the orca’s stomach, including a yoghurt tub, the sole of a shoe, several food wrappers, and a cigarette butt

Even Santa says ‘enough!’

A ‘Zuma Must Fall’ march was held in Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday December 16 - along with similar demonstrations countrywide - and supported by some 250 residents and visitors.

When Father Christmas loses patience with a national leader, that’s HECTIC… - Timothy Twidle

ton, two egg cases of an elephantfish, two albatross skins and 7.5kg of kelp.

The normal diet of killer whales seen off our coastline is poorly known due to very few strandings of the species, however predation on dolphins, fur seals, and seabirds has been observed as well as reports of them stealing hooked tuna from fishing boats.

Stomach content analyses from the whaling years revealed remains from baleen whales and toothed whales, elephant seals, tuna and squid.

This past year, many of the Plett Hope Spot partners have shared and posted articles, both popular and scientific, highlighting the amount of plastic in our oceans. You just have to look at the results of International Coastal Clean-up Day to see how much of the rubbish cleared from our beaches is plastic.

This scary statistic from a recent study on seabirds was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: “As many as nine out of 10 of the world’s seabirds have plastic in their guts.” The problem is a global one affecting all of our marine life.

Let this beautiful animal not have died in vain; she has sent us a very clear message: our oceans are a mess and we have to stop treating them like bottomless rubbish dumps.

• Gwenith Penry is Hope Spot chair and coordinator of the Plett Stranding Network. Please like the Plett Hope Spot Facebook page to keep up to date with what is happening in our marine environment and what you can do to help.

NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

Help Gauteng Pletties to raise R350k for NSRI Station 14 few generous Gautengbased Plett regulars have sponsored a major fundraising initiative for NSRI Station 14. Coordinated by Kim Hutton, a nifty mobile pouch has been designed and manufactured, and is for sale at numerous outlets this season - proceeds of which will assist this important cause.

The pouch is water and sand proof, but allows you to speak and take pictures while your cellphone is safely tucked inside. It’s also soft on the eye, and so very likely to be the fashion must-have item in Plett this summer.

Hutton says the rationale behind his initiative is to create an investment account specifically for Plett NSRI, to be held in an emergency fund earning interest over the ensuing years.

“Plett’s amazing NSRI team needs some financial pressure taken off in order to focus on what they do so generously and passionately for us holidaymakers - save lives!

“All crew members are committed volunteers who also run their own business-

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GET ONE! The pouch is water and sand proof, but allows you to speak and take pics with your cellphone inside

es here in Plett and often juggle these with their NSRI responsibilities. So I felt it apt that these guys also get support for their businesses as some form of compensation for their incredible commitment,” says Hutton.

“To this end, a Z-card has been included which lists all volunteers and their business contact details - ideal to keep at home and to call a volunteer for services required, rather than any al-

ternative local supplier.”

Thanks go to the incredibly generous main sponsors of the initiative - Standard Bank, NUK Baby Feeding Solutions, Rand Merchant Bank and Kim H Interiors - as well as to numerous individual contributors.

Hutton also lauds the Plett businesses selling these awesome pouches: Melville’s and BI Spar, Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Checkers, Clicks, Plett Fitness Centre off Piesang Valley, CemAir and the Sabrina Love Foundation.

On sale since December 21 at the above outlets among others, the pouches sell for R100 each - the full amount of which will benefit this special NSRI fund.

Please support this initiative by buying the whole family a pouch. Not only is it an amazing product, but you will be greatly assisting Plettenberg Bay’s phenomenal NSRI team.

Look out for the crew shaking cans for Station 14’s annual street collection on Monday and do give generously ‘coz these guys are your only hope when in trouble on the water.

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CXPRESS

CREW GEAR: Kim Hutton is flanked by some of the Plett NSRI crewmen who will benefit from sales of his clever cellphone pouch, that’s also a cool fashion must-have this season - showing ‘em off from left are Jaco Kruger, Bruce Nobel, Andrew van Blommenstein and Oliver Tonkin

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NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

Eden to Addo brings vital water to Bitou ANY holiday visitors and even local residents may be unaware of the fact that the Keurbooms River catchment is the sole source of water for Bitou, including the town of Plettenberg Bay. What they may also be unaware of is that the river catchment has a massive infestation of mainly alien black wattle trees that absorb a huge amount of water, which could be added to the water flow in the river that supplies the area.

This situation would have

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become an extremely serious problem for the population of Plett and the surrounding communities, had it not been for the virtually single-handed efforts of Pam Booth of the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative an NGO that has obtained funding from several sources for the three-year programme of alien vegetation eradication in the Keurbooms catchment area.

Says Pam: “Basically, Plett ran out of water and an emergency was declared in 2010. If this happens

again and the river is not strong, Keurbooms River will die - and by that I mean all the aquatic organisms that rely on the base-flow will perish, and the estuary will suffer similarly.

“This is an entirely preventable scenario if we keep doing what we’re doing.”

More than 500ha of very dense black wattle, gum and pine have been cleared, releasing an annual amount of 850,000 cubic meters of water into the river. One dried-up stream that used to flow directly into the

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ALIEN ERADICATORS: Pam and the team, skippered by handson Blacky Swart, in front, are responsible for the clearing so far of 500ha of dense black wattle, gum and pine trees, releasing 850,000m³ of water into the river annually

Keurbooms started flowing again 12 months after the project started.

The water supply position for Bitou is stable at present, but precarious. A dry period could alter the supply situation in a short time, making this eradication project vital for the local and visiting population.

Initial funds have been provided by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) Natural Resource Management, Green Trust/WWF, and the Table Mountain Fund. The DEA funds were released as a result of donations made by local and private donors 18 months ago.

The project will run for an-

other 18 months and thereafter, the next three-year phase will require funding to the tune of R3.6-million.

A further R800,000 is required by Eden to Addo to declare the area a Nature Reserve. Not only will this protect Plettenberg Bay’s sole water source, but it will also connect the western part of Garden Route National Park to the eastern part by means of a conservation corridor allowing for the free flow of wild life.

“Catchment management is critical for long-term water security,” says Pam. “We might have enough water now, but the rest of the country is experiencing a hotter, drier climate and the

Jon van den Heever

same conditions will reach Plett eventually.”

Landowners are legally bound by a contract to keep all cleared areas free of alien vegetation once they have been brought down to ‘maintenance’ status, and it is bound by a management plan for the next 99 years if declared a Nature Reserve.

Please visit www.eden toaddo.co.za or email Pam at pam@edentoaddo.co.za or Joan at joan@edentoad do.co.za for additional information. The office number is 044 533167.

ENORMOUS CHALLENGES: Pam is dwarfed by giant alien trees that deplete Plett’s only water source in the Keurbooms catchment area

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23 December 2015

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NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Steampunk Spaceship sparks new life into local youngsters Gigi Lewis

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HE lecture room was filled to capacity with keen young people when Sparklife Animations demonstrated real-time 3D modelling and animation of a Steampunk Spaceship at Knysna’s Tuccato restaurant on December 10.

This was also an exam challenge for Carlyle Lodewyk from Rheenendal to qualify as a Basic 3D Animator.

He dazzled the audience of interested young minds by completing the task in a record time of one hour and eight minutes - of the two hours maximum allowed earning his certification to raucous applause from the enthralled onlookers.

Walter Corbett and Schutte Combrink presented a talk on the remarkable opportunities available to skilled animators, including movie making, game development and 3D printing.

All of these will be topped by the phenomenal demand for 3D animators with the impending advent of virtual reality since Facebook recently acquired Oculus (www.oculus.com).

Schutte showed off the new website, and invited young people interested in an exciting career as 3D animators to take a little look-see. A follow-up demo on ‘How to make comic books’ is in the pipeline.

Look out for updates at www.sparklife.co or visit them at ‘The Hub’ at Tuccato Restaurant in Main Street, Knysna, for a cuppa.

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RIVETING STUFF: Young minds follow real-time 3D modelling and animation demonstration at Tuccato

FAST WORKER: Carlyle Lodewyk, left, receives from Walter Corbett a well-earned certificate as Basic 3D Animator Photos: Schutte Combrink

Notice Board

Plett Primary pupils reunite on Boxing Day The third annual Plett Primary School reunion, for all past Plett Primary pupils from the 50s to the 90s, takes place on December 26 at The Yard in Piesang Valley Road from 6pm R100 pays for your entry.

Email lucy@somethingfab. co.za or call 082 923 1248 for further information.

Rare Christmas full moon The moon will be full at 11:11am GMT on December 25 - and get a load of this: full moon hasn’t fallen on Christmas Day since 1977! What’s more, this phenomenon won’t recur for another 19 years, so be sure to look up to that big ol’ cheese and make a special Christmas wish. And another thing: as you gaze up at the Christmas Moon, take note that NASA has a spacecraft currently orbiting Earth’s only natural satellite. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission has been investigating the Moon’s surface since 2009.

EARTH’S ONLY NATURAL SATELLITE: This is how the moon will appear on December 25, this year being the last Christmas full moon ‘till 2034 Photo: NASA/Goddard LRO

PROMOTION

23 December 2015

CXPRESS

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CXPRESS Words: Matt Covarr - Photo: David Scott

Your contributions can assist these campaigners for a polished Plett T goes without saying that the reason Plett’s streets and beaches are heaving with visitors at this time of year, is simply because it’s the best place to be.

But maintaining this image does not come without the efforts of dedicated individuals. For nearly two years now, a group of Plett locals have been the driving force behind the much-loved Clean Plett Campaign.

So what’s this all about?

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NEWS & VIEWS

23 December 2015

Well, keeping Plettenberg Bay’s streets, beaches and public areas squeaky clean takes an extra dollop of manpower, to help our over-burdened municipality’s cleaning department.

Spurred on by the neversit-still drive of Alison Bryant, the Clean Plett Campaign has become a formidable force, collecting litter, weeding verges, building roadside gardens and creating awareness by portraying a positive image to visitors in our town.

Throughout the year, the team put in one to two hours of their Tuesday evenings per week, with the additional help of full-time employees Thomas and Benson, whose salaries are funded by generous donations from the public.

While there has been much debate as to why the municipality is not providing the necessary level of litter control, the campaign is in constant communication with council, and works with them as much as possible.

Remember we are an international tourist town, first impressions and high standards, combined with our visitors’ expectations are what make the need for this campaign so vital.

The campaign’s efforts have made a significant difference to the town’s image.

A steady stream of praise and donations from the Plett public continue to flow in, but the challenges remain.

The most notable problem areas are now continually monitored by the team, and

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH! Members of the Clean Plett team beam after a job well done, on one of the occasions they cleaned the river bank and Piesang River itself around the braai area off Odlands Drive

are either cleaned up on the spot or reported to Bitou Municipality.

Unfortunately, these spots include much of the town’s historical nucleus - Piesang River, Signal Hill, The Timber Shed and Old Rectory, Solon Street, The Harker Graves, the Van Plettenberg Beacon and the viewing deck in Hopwood Street.

These spots are cleaned up, maintained and have now on a whole become practically litter free.

Looking at the road map for the year ahead, there’s ample to focus on. Apart from general litter control, gardens are being planted and maintained on road verges by some of Plett’s garden services, signage and new dustbins have been donated and businesses are making efforts to keep areas in front of their shops neat

and tidy. Awareness of litter, and keeping Plett clean is greater than ever before.

So let’s all do our bit and make a difference in keeping this slice of paradise sparkling. It’s simple: if we keep the areas around us litter free, the largest part of the problem is solved.

If you’d like to contribute to the cause and towards the wages of the campaign’s full time cleaners, donations will be greatly appreciated.

Deposits towards the cause can be made to the Keep Plett Clean account at Nedbank (branch code 198765), acc no 1096711974.

• Matt Covarr has been a Plett Clean campaigner since the word go. Find out more about his day job at www.covarrdesign.com and contact Alison Bryant on 082 572 1027 for additional information.

Take very serious note: Both the use and sale of fireworks are illegal in Plett This special appeal reached CXPRESS from the Plett Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) team, who invariably has to deal with the damage done when fireworks result in traumatised Bitou animals and their owners HILE fireworks may be festive, we as a society has come to realise how dangerous and damaging they can be to both people and animals.

Some years ago, Bitou Council took the step to ban the use of fireworks in Plett and surrounds outright, and the only sanctioned fireworks display is a public display on December 31 to celebrate the New Year. This is usually held on Central Beach near the Beacon Isle Hotel.

Year after year, we hear about the damage and drama caused by fireworks.

Homes have burnt down, adults and children have suffered terrible injuries when handling fireworks carelessly, and animals have been deeply traumatised.

It is a well-known fact that all animals are frightened of

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the sight and sound of fireworks. With their very sensitive hearing, the sound is at much higher decibels than they can tolerate and if they are not in a safe environment, they will panic and run away from the sound, often into traffic where they are killed or injured.

In their distress, they run long distances, getting lost - sometimes for days or weeks. Many of these dogs end up at the PAWS kennels at a cost and inconvenience to their owners.

We are also appalled to report that humans continue to inflict horrendous injuries to innocent dogs, using fireworks, in the name of “fun”.

Both fireworks and Chinese lanterns eventually fall to the ground, causing damaging veld and forest fires and threatening the habitat of animals and birds, too.

Pet owners are encouraged to make special arrangements to keep their animals safe on New Year’s Eve and, if necessary, administer calming remedies to help them deal with the noise.

We at PAWS are appealing to all residents and visitors to abide by the ban on both fireworks and Chinese lanterns in Plett.

Please help to protect our animals, our environment, our properties and our people by reporting the illegal sale or use of fireworks or Chinese lanterns - at any time - to the Public Safety Officer.

Contact PAWS on 083 287 9917 for animal emergencies, and the Public Safety Officer on 083 291 2781 for the illegal sale of fireworks.

Call Bitou’s Fire Department on 044 533 5000 in case of an emergency.

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BUSINESS

23 December 2015

Eliminate back-to-work stress by making these holidays work for you S South African workers, students and learners start feeling the happy vibes of holidays, many will try to just muddle through the next few days or weeks, forgetting

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that holidays can actually be a rather stressful time.

To make the most of this festive season, and relax and unwind sufficiently to get back in the saddle with renewed energy in Janu-

ary, you can do a few small things to prevent anxieties about returning to work or school spoil a chunk of the holiday, an expert says.

“While thoughts of returning to duty are effec-

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tively banished from one’s mind during the initial stages of leave or recess, as the new year comes closer many people’s minds will be jolted back to the looming reality that can detract from what should be a happy, carefree time,” says Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of The Independent Institute of Education, South Africa’s largest and most accredited private higher education institution.

“Thoughts of returning to the office can cause feelings of anxiety, dread and even depression, but by taking a few small empowering actions, going back can be considerably less stressful,” she says.

“As the saying goes: If you haven’t started planning for 2016, you are already behind. So now is the time to tie up all the loose ends and get a plan in motion that will see you enter the new year with no remnants from 2015 sapping your energy, and with a vision for growth that will excite and inspire you throughout your break,” she says.

In recent years, a UK survey among 2,500 people conducted by the Institute of Leadership and Management showed that going on holiday actually increased stress levels for many people.

Coughlan says that many South Africans would be

in the same boat, but that positively making the transition between the old year and the new relied on two steps: closing the door on what belongs in 2015, and determining what sits behind the new door.

TIE UP LOOSE ENDS Make sure that all the jobs, tasks and projects scheduled for this year are done and dusted before you leave for the holidays.

Make a to-do list for the remaining worktime in this year and take satisfaction in ticking off one after the next task. Clear your inbox and remember to set up an out-of-office reminder on your last day.

PLAN FOR A DIGITAL HIATUS Ensure that people know where to reach you in case of an emergency, but resolve to stay away from “just quickly checking in” at work, or spending most of your days on social media.

“Give your brain a real chance to shut off and rest,” says Coughlan. “You will find that when you give your mind this kind of space, all kinds of new ideas and visions for the future will find their way into the space which used to be filled with status updates and online rage.”

HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO LOOK FORWARD TO “Knowing that once your

holiday break is over you will be returning to another year of more of the same can be a real downer,” says Coughlan.

“For human beings to grow and become more self-actualised, each year must allow new opportunity for growth. During your time off, take stock of your direction. Are you doing what you love? Is there something else you would like to explore? Perhaps you can start exploring that by joining a short course or signing up for a programme.

“Taking a step in the direction you want to be going, however small, will put a new spring in your step.”

START DOING SOMETHING NEW DURING YOUR BREAK Whether it’s starting to train for your first 5km run, starting a blog, or learning a new language, doing something fun and constructive will immediately get you energised and inspired.

“The trick is to not while away your precious days with eating, partying and sleeping day after day.

While there is certainly space for that, a confidence-building activity and a vision for the future will do much more to restore your mind and body, and help you start 2016 in the way you would like it to end - on a high note,” concludes Coughlan.

Lynnwood Estate at Goose Valley - services completed for season!

YNWOOD Estate is an exclusive new freehold housing development on the Goose Valley Golf Course in Plettenberg Bay. This desirable and secure development offers an outstanding investment opportunity with 22 large north-facing level stands situated in the centre of the superb Gary Player signature design 18-hole Goose Valley Golf Course.

Lynnwood has been developed on the last remaining parcel of land within the greater Goose Valley Golf Estate and is exclusively marketed by Chas Everitt International Property Group.

Principal of Chas Everitt in Plett, John Fuller is the selling agent, and says that Lynnwood’s services are complete with roads and other services finished in time for the festive season marketing period.

A completion certificate should be issued in early January and transfer of properties will take place thereafter. Nine prime stands are still available selling from R1,100,000 to R1,300,000 VAT inclusive.

All stands face north and vary in size from 1,278m2

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to 1,531m2. The land is level and the soil is perfect for easy building construction. Designs are modern contemporary, with the controlling architects being Starkey Olivier & Associates, who were also involved with St Francis Links, Pezula and Simola in Knysna.

There is a four-year building time limit from date of registration of transfer.

The main advantages of building at Lynnwood are buying within a proven, highly successful and ultrasecure golfing estate; ideal soil conditions for building; the level land in the entire greater Goose Valley Estate making leisure activities such as walking, running and cycling more enjoyable.

A variety of facilities include the golf club, Arugula restaurant, tennis and squash courts, 18-hole full golfing facilities including a driving range, practice pitching and putting greens and an impressive pro shop. There is direct access via a boardwalk to the Keurbooms River for boating and fishing and a communal swimming pool plus kiddies’ play areas.

Additional benefits are Goose Valley’s superb all-

year warm weather conditions with less wind, plus the convenience of being located just a short drive (or walk) to The Market Square shopping centre.

From an investment perspective Lynnwood ticks all the boxes, offering perfect living conditions for both permanent residents, or investors requiring a holiday home investment within a secure lock-up and go estate.

Fuller, who has resided on the estate at Turtle Creek for the past 11 years, says that the proven success of other developments within the estate, and the outstanding security and residential golf factor will ensure that an investment at Lynnwood is another resounding success.

If required, Chas Everitt also offers an on-site Home Management, Sales and Holiday Rental Service.

Lynnwood’s documentation, including building guidelines, is available from the Home Page Link at www.Everitt-Plett.co.za also see the advert on page 5 for further details.

Contact John Fuller on 082 905 1516 or 044 533 5250 for more information.

PROMOTION

23 December 2015

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PROPERTY

23 December 2015

Open day invitation to invest at Strombolis Retirement Village TROMBOLIS Retirement Village extends an invitation to retirees or investors over the age of 50 to visit their beautiful home on the N2 at Harkerville on Tuesday December 29, between 10am and 12 noon, to attend a presentation on the benefits of investing at Strombolis.

The Trustees recently appointed Chas Everitt International Property in Plettenberg Bay to market Life Right sales and the presentation will be given by them and the Trustees.

Refreshments will be served in the Pumba Lapa building next to the swimming pool and will be followed by a tour of the facilities.

Says Chas Everitt principal John Fuller: “Strombolis Retirement Village is one of the best kept secrets on the Garden Route, and offers wonderful facilities

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and superb value for money benefits.

“Cottage levies at Strombolis are most affordable, and I strongly recommend that anyone thinking of retiring or investing in a retirement home should take this opportunity to check out the benefits this village has to offer.

“For example, one, two and three bedroom homes are available on a Life Right basis costing between R600,000 and R1,500,000 depending on configuration and size of homes.

“We also have two very affordable vacant stands available at Strombolis, where Life Right investors can build their own ideal retirement homes.”

Strombolis’ levies are only R3,500 per month and cater for insurance, water and rates, maintenance, a maid service, a laundry service,

NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE: The benefits and value and activities on offer to Strombolis Retirement Village residents are simply legion find out all about it at next Tuesday’s open day from 10am to noon

garden maintenance and personal use of a gardener if required, 10 free meals per month in the dining room (additional meals are available at R40 each), and transport to town twice weekly.

Sandwiches and cake may

be ordered from the superb kitchen for special occasions, and residents have the choice of a low-cost DSTV option.

Strombolis also offers private en-suite Assisted Living rooms, plus a fully operational and successful

Frail Care Centre. Other benefits and facilities include games, weekly Bible study, a monthly Communion service, music afternoons, and DVDs in the Frail Care or Main Lounge.

Lastly, there is a wellstocked library and an impressive authentic pub

where a happy hour is held every second Wednesday.

Contact Tracy Clague at Chas Everitt in Plettenberg Bay on 044 533 5250 or 079 563 1330 to book your place at the presentation, and see the advertisement on this page for additional information.

The Reeds and Reed Stone Estate to make life a breeze for residents and shoppers EED Stone Estate - Plettenberg Bay’s latest residential development situated just off Whale Rock Drive - offers views over the tranquil dam of the CapeNature Sanctuary and the boardwalk to Solar Beach.

On completion, it will comprise 45 sectional title townhouses, aimed at those who want a secure lock up and go, maintenance free, stroll to the beach lifestyle. Estate living is a growing trend in South Africa and security is one of the determining factors for most purchasers.

At Reed Stone, your safety is assured with a biometric access-controlled entrance, perimeter electrified fencing, 24/7 security guards and CCV cameras.

With contemporary architectural styling sympathetic to the environment, a choice of two-bed, two and a half bathroom, and three-bed two and a half bathrooms in a variety of combinations is on offer, either simplex or duplex.

A small monthly levy will cover the costs of garden upkeep, road and

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exterior building maintenance, and the pavilion-style clubhouse and swimming pool that will be provided for residents.

Plett Property Developments recently acquired this prime property and will be on site daily from 10am to 6pm during the festive season. Follow the directional signage from Whale Rock Drive down White Caps Way to Reed Stone Estate.

They have also purchased the adjacent property, which will become home to an exclusive convenience shopping centre, The Reeds. Residents in the surrounding area now would not have far to drive to attend to daily errands or to meet up with friends for coffee or a meal in a relaxed contemporary setting.

Comprising an upmarket supermarket, buzzy café, licenced restaurant, postal and secretarial services and ample parking, modern first-floor offices will also be available for the small businessman or woman who want to relocate to this neighbourhood hub.

• See the advert on page 11 for contact details.

PROPERTY

23 December 2015

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A look at the big picture of Plett’s property market Steven Neufeld

HE year 2014 saw R750-million worth of property sales in Plettenberg Bay and so far in 2015, R403-million has registered to date.

Overall, the market remained relatively constant over the past six years, with around 220 to 350 units sold per annum. There was a ±7% increase in both total value of sales and average prices from 2013 to 2014.

So far there has been a slight decline in average prices in 2015, but note that many more sales will register over the coming months, so the figures will change.

This is partially due to an uptake of vacant land and the lower end of the market seeing a recovery.

Last year followed the trend of a gradual recovery from a dip in 2011. Estate agents in Plett felt that 2015 had been a good year with lots of buyer interest in spite of the socio-political climate in South Africa.

Plett is following the “semigration” trend of South Africans moving to the Western Cape, so demand is steady even though affordability is low.

The highest price achieved in residential sales in 2015

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so far was for a large upmarket home on a double stand on Robberg Beach for R35.8-million, sold by Elbie Pama of Sotheby’s International Realty.

The average price for sectional title units is currently about R1.14-million and, for freehold property, it is currently around R2.44-million (vacant land and houses are included, i.e. generally stands will be lower than this and upmarket houses higher).

This was an overall decrease of 3% in average prices from 2014.

The entry level for houses is around R1.1-million (off a high of R1.4-million in 2007). The entry level for apartments is R450,000, and vacant land starts at about R199,000. There are cheaper options in the areas surrounding Plett.

Over the past 10 years, which includes the crash, average prices in Plettenberg Bay has grown annually roughly in line with inflation. Looking further back to 15 years, the annual growth increases to ±9% per annum.

The record price so far for residential property in Plett was R50-million for a luxury coastal estate in 2006, sold by Hein Preto-

PLETT DRONE: Sotheby’s are having another bumper season

rius, broker owner of Sotheby’s International Realty Plettenberg Bay. Pretorius says 2015 has been a good year for Sotheby’s: “It is our second best year to date and although there is still a lot of property on the market, stock levels are decreasing.

“We have seen an uptake in demand across the board and expect moderate growth overall for 2016 in line with inflation. Summer season holiday rentals are almost full and all indications are that we’re sure to experience another bumper season.”

The Keurbooms Five properties transferred in the village of Keurbooms in 2014 for an average of R4.186-million, and one in 2015 so far for R8.5-million. The Wittedrift market also strengthened, as five properties transferred for R864,000 on average.

Nature’s Valley appeared to remain fairly neutral, though average prices declined somewhat to R2.56million, with nine properties transferred in Nature’s

Valley in 2015 so far.

The figures above were taken from deeds information on November 12. Sales are listed by date of sale, not transfer date to provide a more accurate depiction.

Rural property, sales below R100,000, known nonarm’s length transactions and duplications (e.g. when a developer buys numerous properties for a single price and each is listed at the full price, only the single figure is taken) are not included in the figures.

A number of sales are still

in the registration process, so the picture will change somewhat, especially for the last year.

• This report was compiled by Steven Neufeld, manager principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty Plettenberg Bay and professional associated valuer and appraiser for South African Property Valuations. Contact him at steve.sir@plettenbergbay. com or on 072 417 7731 and see the adverts on pages 1 and 7 for additional information and listings.

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SOCIAL SCENE

23 December 2015

I can get more storage space!

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VIVE LA BROCANTE! The Boere Brocante held at Ouland Royale off Plett’s Airport Road on Tuesday December 15 was once again an extremely successful fundraiser for the Bitou 10 Education Foundation, Plett Community Environmental Forum, Hospice and Plett Animal Welfare Society. The event was well attended and trade at the stalls was brisk, with callers enjoying shopping for unusual items, often at bargain prices. Fine weather allowed visitors to the Boere Brocante to browse and purchase at their leisure, and enjoy the fine food and fare provided by the team led by Wilja Reitz, owner of Ouland Royale. The delightful rural setting of the venue made for a pleasant day for all and most importantly, raised R43,000 for the deserving beneficiaries. Pictured at left Wilja, at centre, and her staff show off some of the array of delicious food on offer - at back from left are Edwina D’Vos, Shamuss Booysen, Davian Gallant and Ziggy Kana, with Nessa Cassel, Louisa Shneor, Zikhona Mapu, Nicolene Jullies, Shaundre Cassel and Lenny Mesele in front. At right, little Ameera Gani enjoys a freshly gained and colourful item of ceramic ware with her mother, Shameera Paruk.

Organisers Marietta van Rooyen, Annabelle Conyngham and Marsja Hall-Green expressed enormous gratitude to the many people who made generous contributions of quality items, enabling them to raise such a handsome sum. Says Marsja: ‘We also thank the individual stall holders who made a contribution of a percentage of their sales to the total. Last, but not least, we have to express our sincere thanks to our indispensable volunteers, who gave up their time to help us on the day. We hope our locals and visitors enjoyed the Plett Boere Brocante as much as we enjoyed organising it.’ -

People, places & events

Photos: Timothy Twidle

WWW.EVERITT-PLETT.CO.ZA

EVERYONE’S A WINNER AT KNYSNA BC: A unique fundraising took place at Knysna Bowling Club recently.

The Discovery Challenge Day - initiated by Ray van der Poll and sponsored by the friendly and professional Dries van Rooyen of Discovery - was a marvellously successful event indeed. Rick Horning and Peter Jeens walked off with complimentary stays at Woodall Country Estate and Elephant House in Addo respectively, and Chrystal Barlow scored a lovely carpet from Nolan’s in Plett. Says Knysna BC secretary San Raubenheimer: ‘After a lengthy prizegiving during which every player of the 72 won at least one prize, we were treated to a three-meat spit-braaied meal and some sweetness, thanks to Discovery.’ In the pic, Dries presents San with a large donation to the iHeartCarli fund, established to assist local families with heart-defect babies.

The club thanks Dries and Discovery Health for their generous support of this worthy cause, and wishes readers a peaceful and joyous festive season.

BLUE PRINT SIGNED: Capetonian Peter Church signed copies of his third book ‘Blue Cow Sky’ - a comic novella of sexual proportions, recommended as good holiday reading - at Village Bookshop in Plettenberg Bay on December 18. With the author, seated, are Alistair Baynes and Amber Neels, both members of the able Village staff. - Photo: Timothy Twidle

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Spend Christmas with family and ...

...a NEW best friend!

PAWS (PLETT ANIMAL WELFARE SER SERVICE) RVI VICE CE)) is CE is the the he only onl nly ly i f i in i the Bitou i i i i i Animal Welfare Service Municipal District.

Locals raised funds over many years to build Premises where animals can be sheltered until new homes are found for them. Puppies and kittens are fostered by kind locals until they are old enough to be housed at the Premises.

PAWS receives no Gov. nor Municipal funding and thus relies totally on the generosity of donors. Volunteers also do their utmost to raise funds (and to give their TIME) in a struggling community to support the service offered by the PAWS’ Committee; Kennel Manager: Tracy van der Byl and Inspector: Robert Ruiters.

Basi Ba sic ic Health Heal He alth th Care, Car are e, M asss S as pay Days and d on ongo goiing ing ne uter ut ter eriin ing, ing g, Basic Mass Spay ongoing neutering, Education and the re-homing of abandoned, abused or stray animals are the primary functions of PAWS. Although funds often do not extend enough, PAWS does attempt, where possible, to assist with medical attention.

In the True and Blessed Spirit of this Festive Season: CemAir has given voice to these “homeless” 4-leggeds who are unable to speak for themselves. CemAir has offered to give them FREE passage to their forever homes!

If there is a space in your Heart and your Home for a PAWS’ Adoptee, please call Tracy on 0832879917 Visit our facebook page: PAWS – Plett Animal Welfare Service (Plettenberg Bay, SA)

www.flycemair.co.za Contact the call centre on 0861 236 247

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ENTERTAINMENT

23 December 2015

Plett and Knysna performers shine at Tshisa Talent concert

CAST AND CREW: The stars of the recent Knysna show along with Tshisa Talent organisers are, at back from left, Mark, Antonio, Thando, Yonela, Charlotte, Simthandile, Akhona, Antonio, Sithembele, Jemuel and Haylon, with Bryan, Derrick, Mncedisi, Julie Ann, Olwethu, Brian aka Zafie, Stuart, and Enrico in front

ATURDAY December 12 saw eight of Plett’s finest emerging performing artists appear alongside nine talented young performers from Knysna. This unique collaboration took place in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Chris Hani hall in Dam se Bos. The Plett stars that performed are all finalists from the 2015 Tshisa Talent Competition held throughout Bitou’s communities in the first quarter of the year.

This competition is the first phase of three tiers of Tshisa Talent - discovering local emerging talent, developing this talent through skills development workshops, and promoting these artists through concerts like this one before finding them gigs at local events.

After the enormous success of the grand finals in

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May, these finalists attended a weekend development camp that focussed on empowering them with business skills, financial management, marketing skills and fundraising ideas.

The same workshop was held for a group of over 30 Knysna artists in November. This was the second time Tshisa Talent has broken into the Knysna market and the team was again most impressed by the enormous potential shown by local artists.

An audition was held after the workshop during which three groups and three individuals were chosen to perform.

The line-up on the evening of the 12th was an indication of the amazing diversity of talent that has been awaiting this opportunity.

Plett was represented by Tshisa Talent 2015 winning rapper Brian aka Zafie,

Animation Crew (dance category winner), dancers Broken Puzzle (winners of Tshisa 2012), and solo singers Julie Ann and Charlotte.

The Knysna team consisted of Unlimited Dance Crew, theatre and song duo US, Poet Simthandile, singer and guitarist Akhona, the vocal duet of Thando and Olwethu, and solo singer Derrick.

Find more pictures and info on the Tshisa Talent Facebook page and keep your eyes peeled for news of the next concert to be held in February 2016.

This project was made possible by the generous support of the Department of Cultural Affairs & Sport and Knysna Municipality.

Call the Tshisa crew on 044 533 0942 or visit www. bigcircle.co.za to find out more about booking these and other performers for your next festive do.

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NO MISTLETOE REQUIRED: Gigi Lewis shared this romantic pic and wrote: ‘I was invited to Annelize’s birthday party on December 12, where Suzi Bilyard was charming partygoers with her cool tunes. I captured this loving kiss between Annelize and Herman - of All That Jazz in Knysna’s Fruit & Veg Centre as the couple embraced on this special and happy occasion.’

People, places & events ‘MAAK HOM LOS!’ At left, Bitou mayor Memory Booysen, shows a fellow groover how it’s done during Plett’s wellattended Street Festival and switching on of the town’s festive lights on December 16. In the pics from below down are Stanley Juries of the mayor’s office and Eden FM’s Celeste Wabanie; Bronlin & Charmaine Andrews with Nicie Weientine; and mayoral spokesperson Manfred van Rooyen, left, enjoying the excellent live performances by local artists alongside Bitou deputy mayor Romeo Koeberg.

- Photos: Timothy Twidle

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BOOKING ESSENTIAL

23 December 2015

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

23 December 2015

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Dream home! alpaca my things!

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Tel: 082 551 4638

Ride, run and hike through exciting new MTB trails at Plett’s Cairnbrogie MTB & Trail Park. Spend the day riding exceptional forest trails or pump it up on the DIRT Lab designed pump track.

Take a hike or trail run or just kick back and enjoy the view from the wholesome cafe.

A variety of levels in a secure environment mean fun for the whole family.

www.PlettMountainBikePark.co.za

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HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

23 December 2015

Follow in footsteps of global powers by viewing this chilling docu-film at The White House P LETT has among its many talented citizens Ian Michler, special consultant and lead character in the full-length documentary Blood Lions. Launched in July, it has significantly ramped up the trophy hunting and predator breeding debate ever since.

The film has now been seen in over 170 countries and territories and has had 45 public screenings around the world, and National Geographic listed it as one of the 12 most powerful stories on conservation and wildlife in the last decade.

Already viewed by Australian and European parliamentarians, it is set for screening in Italian, Spanish and Finnish parliaments next year. In South Africa, Blood Lions has been showed to the Departments of Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

In addition, the President

of Botswana along with various cabinet members have seen the film.

Australia banned the import of lion body parts into their country earlier this year, and has now been joined by France who recently imposed import restrictions on lion trophies.

With further country initiatives underway, this number will grow.

The wider trophy hunting community has certainly taken notice of Blood Lions, with engagement taking place at various levels in different countries.

Particularly welcome was the outcome of the recent PHASA AGM (visit http:// phasa.co.za/what-is-in-thenews/phasa-press-release/ item/682-position-paperon-captive-bred-lion-hunting.html), where a majority of members voted against captive breeding and canned hunting.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE: ‘Blood Lions’ lead character Ian Michler will conduct a full question and answer session after the documentary’s screening in Plett on December 28

Here, recognition must go to the few operators who broke away to drive the causes of ethical hunting. The film-makers and their lawyers have seen off a High Court attempt to have the screenings stopped.

While the film is generating significant global attention, the foremost consideration has always been the campaign aimed at bringing an end to all exploitative breeding practices, as well as canned or captive hunting.

For anyone interested in conservation issues or lions, this is a film and discussion not to be missed. Please

join Eden to Addo, Joan Berning and Ian Michler at The White House on December 28 at 7:30pm for a screening of the full-length documentary. There will be a cash bar and cash snack bar by the Nguni team.

Ian will conduct a full Q&A after the screening and discuss any aspect of the film, including feedback on his recent lobbying trip to the European Parliament and New York.

Visit www.edentoaddo. co.za for more information and email admin@eden toaddo.co.za or SMS 082 771 3744 to book.

Hours of good dirty fun at Cairnbrogie

Cairnbrogie MTB and Trails Park offers a dirt-lab pump track that hones skills while ensuring hours of fun. Cairnbrogie has also developed a group of short trails - 1.3km, 2.6km and 4km - for kids of all skills levels to enjoy mountain biking in a safe environment. For the more adventurous, there is the coastal route that takes in spectacular views of the protected environment of Robberg Coastal Corridor. Cairnbrogie is situated on the Airport Road next door to Cape Pine and adjacent to the SANParks Harkerville section. The Cairnbrogie Café is open from 8am to 5pm every day. Pop round with your bike and check out the advert on page 21 for contact details.

Don’t travel without your art route map

Aficionados of fine art on holiday in Plett and environs should acquire a copy of ‘The Cape Contemporary Fine Art Palette Garden Route & Klein Karoo’ - an art route map depicting galleries and destinations of note displaying fine art along the length and breadth of the Garden Route and its immediate hinterland, the Klein Karoo, obtainable from Plett Tourism. Call 044 533 4065 or 083 275 5541 for more info and also see the Pop Up Art Shop advert on this page.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

23 December 2015

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It doesn’t have to be pandamonium!

Free wine!

The agents you’d recommend to a friend...

Now that we have your attention, come and delight in some delicious food and a wine tasting in the beautiful surroundings of our boutique estate.

11am – 4pm daily Closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

+27 (0)44 533 5250

Call us on +27 83 704 8560 or +27 84 504 8082.

kayandmonty.com REDFORD ROAD | THE CRAGS | PLETTENBERG BAY

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INTERVAL

23 December 2015

Don’t argue with an idiot - people watching may not be able to tell the difference...

La Luna

A letter from Ma...

EAR Son, I’m writing this slow ‘cause I know you can’t read fast.

We don’t live where we did when you left. Your dad read in the paper that most accidents happen within twenty miles of home, so we moved.

Won’t be able to send you the address as the last family that lived here took the numbers with them for their new house, so they wouldn’t have to change their address.

This place has a washing machine. The first day I put four shirts in it, pulled the chain and haven’t seen ‘em since.

It only rained twice this week, three days the first time and four days the second time.

About the coat you wanted me to send to you: Aunt Sue said it would be a little too heavy to send in the mail with them heavy buttons, so we cut them off and put them in the pockets.

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We got a bill from the funeral home, and it said if we didn’t make the final payment on Grandma’s funeral bill, up she comes.

About your sister, she had a baby this morning. I haven’t found out whether it is a boy or a girl, so don’t know if you are an aunt or an uncle.

Your Uncle John fell in the whiskey vat. Some men tried to get him out, but he fought them off playfully, so he drowned. We cremated him and he burned for three days.

Three of your friends went off the bridge in a pickup.

One was driving and the other two were in the back.

The driver got out. He rolled down the window and swam to safety. The other two drowned. They couldn’t get the tail gate down.

Not much more news this time. Nothing much happened. If you don’t get this letter, please let me know and I will send another one.

Love, Ma

Man up, buddy The dang dog ran off last night, so there I was walking round the park calling his name for 20 minutes, and still couldn’t find him.

My wife said I should look harder, so I shaved my head and got a tattoo.

Still can’t find that dang dog…

Are you hitting or aiming, Bob? OB stood over his tee shot for what seemed an eternity. He waggled, looked up, looked down, waggled again, but didn’t start his back swing.

Finally his exasperated partner asked: “What the hell is taking so long?”

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“My wife is up there watching me from the clubhouse,” Bob explained. “I want to make a perfect shot.”

“Good lord!” his companion exclaimed. “You don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of hitting her from here.”

Smile! It’s Christmas!

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23 December 2015

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Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

Little Johnny’s long list for Father Christmas ITTLE Johnny had a cussing problem and his father was getting tired of it, so he decided to ask his shrink what to do about it.

The shrink said: “Since Christmas is coming up, you should ask Johnny what he wants Santa to bring him.

“If he cusses while he tells you his wish list, leave a pile of dog poop in place of the gifts he requests.”

Two days before Christmas, Johnny’s father asked

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him what he wanted for Christmas.

“I want a damn teddybear lying right beside me when I wake-up.

“When I go downstairs, I want to see a damn train going around the damn tree. And when I go outside, I want to see a damn bike leaning up against the damn garage.”

Christmas morning, Little Johnny woke up and rolled over into a pile of dog poop.

Confused, he walked

You bought it!

ELLING at an auction was halted when the auctioneer announced: “Someone in the room has lost his wallet containing R2,000. He is offering

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a reward of R500 for its immediate return.”

After a few moments of silence, there was a call from the back of the room: “R550!”

downstairs and saw another pile under the tree.

Scratching his head, Johnny walked outside and saw a huge pile of dog poop by the garage.

When he walked back in-

side with a curious look on his face, his dad smiled and asked: “What did Santa bring you this year?”

Johnny replied: “I think I got a dog, but I can’t find the damn thing!”

A case of mistaken identity farm worker radios back to the farm manager: “Boss, I gotta helluva problem here. I hit a pig with the truck. The pig’s ok, but he’s stuck in the bullbars at the front of my truck and is wriggling and squealing so much I can’t get him out.”

The manager says: “Ok, there’s a .303 rifle behind the seat. Take it, shoot the pig in the head and you’ll be able to remove him.”

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Five minutes later the farm worker calls back: “I did what you said, Boss.

Took the rifle, shot the pig in the head and removed him from the bull-bars. No problem there, but I still can’t go on.”

“Now what’s the problem?” rages the manager.

“Well, Boss, it’s his motorbike. The flashing blue light is stuck under the right-front wheel arch.

“You there... Boss?”

Best positions for prayer priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby.

“Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray,” the priest said.

“No,” said the minister, “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.”

“You’re both wrong,” the guru said. “The most effective prayer position is lying

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down on the floor.”

The repairman could contain himself no longer. “Hey, fellas,” he interrupted, “the best praying I ever did was when I was hanging upside down from a telephone pole.”

Moving is so much more bearable!

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FOOD & WINE

23 December 2015

Here’s what to cook with your very lekker turkey pot for the best of festive spreads Words & photos: Jeeves

AST week we savoured the All South African Christmas Turkey - in a potjie pot! - out of Linda Hatting’s Ode to Oranges [turn to page 26 of the December 16 edition at www. cxpress.co.za if you have missed it].

This came about when I was booked to take a ben-

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eficiary of my chauffeur services to a doctor’s appointment in George, and took along a few cookbooks to browse through in search of Christmas fare while I waited.

And now, my take on the perfect accompaniments for the Turk - with a little help from Linda, once again: roast spuds and Germanstyle cooked red cabbage

Est. 1984

with apples. The brandied orange and cranberry sauce is included, should you decide against the red cabbage and rather go for more traditional veggies.

Oven-roast potatoes Ingredients: 6 medium peeled potatoes 30g brown onion soup 2 tbsp melted butter and 2 tbsp olive oil, mixed (if you really want to indulge yourself, use duck fat instead) Method: • Lightly grease a roasting pan with olive oil.

• Pour yourself a glass of wine. (I always cook with wine; sometimes I put it in the food... ) • Slice potatoes lengthways, scrape surface with a fork.

• Drizzle oil mix over potatoes and sprinkle with brown onion soup.

• Roast at 180 degrees Celsius for 35min, or until golden and crisp. (Also lovely as a side dish with lamb, beef or a braai).

3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 1 large onion, peeled and chopped 6 cloves 2 bay leaves 6 whole pepper corns 2-3 level tsp salt 2 tbsp sugar 1 cup red wine vinegar 200g red jam (helps retain the cabbage colour) ‘mixed fruit’ is the cheapest, and you can also use apricot jam 2-3 tbsp dry red wine Method: • Melt dripping in large pot.

Add onions and cook for 2min; then add apple and cook for further 2min.

• Stir in all remaining ingredients except the wine. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring frequently.

• Add wine and cook, covered, for further 1/2 hour.

• Adjust seasoning to taste and leave for a day or two.

• Reheat uncovered until no liquid remains but stir frequently to prevent burning.

Red cabbage with apples Ingredients: 3 tbsp bacon dripping (lard) 1 red cabbage, cut into very thin strips - discard white core pieces

And finally, Linda’s classic sauce - wonderful with any pork or poultry dish.

Brandied orange and cranberry sauce Ingredients:

FROM HARD TO SOFT AND OH SO TASTY: Cooking red cabbage ‘comme les Allemands’ may take a bit of time, but the transformation from hard, shiny less than lipsmacking veg, to a dish fit for any festive table, is definitely worth the effort

DRIZZLE WITH DUCK: If you want to indulge, replace the oil and butter mix over your roast potatoes with duck fat

2/3 cup orange zest 2 cups water 2 cups white sugar 2/3 cup orange juice 1 tbsp lemon juice 3 cups fresh (or tinned) cranberries Method: • In a small pan over medium heat, combine the orange zest and water. Cover and bring to the boil; then reduce and simmer for 15min.

• Drain, removing the zest and 1/3 cup of the liquid.

• To the reserved liquid, add the sugar, orange and lemon juice.

• Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3min uncovered, stirring constantly.

• Add the cranberries, increase heat to medium-high and boil for about 10min or until the cranberries have ‘popped’ and a small spoonful of sauce sets on a cold plate.

• Remove from heat and stir in the brandy. (Pour into sterilised glass jars and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks).

BON APPETIT! Have yourselves a wonderful festive season, everybody! And buckle up.

Jeeves aka The Knackered Chefeur (sic)!

Savour the unique boutique flavours of Kay and Monty PERFECT PAIRS: Fresh artisanal breads, local cheeses and mouthwatering charcuterie spreads complement the wines offered at Kay and Monty’s beautiful tasting room, at right, with its sliding doors opening wide for eye pleasing views of surrounding paddocks and mountains

AY and Monty Vineyards is situated on Redford Road in The Crags, east of Plettenberg Bay. It is a boutique wine farm with just 5ha of land under grape.

‘Boutique’ is something the estate would certainly like to put special emphasis on, ‘coz at Kay and Monty Vineyards, the intention is to keep production small in order to deliver unique, hand-crafted and appealing new flavours.

The farm was bought by Chick Legh in 2004 and, as an avid polo player, Chick decided to convert it into a polo estate. Subsequently it

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was one of the first estates to start planting vineyards after Bramon, and slowly but surely the infrastructure has taken shape.

Lloyd Kasimbi is the wonderfully enthusiastic farm manager whose hard work and knowledge have been pivotal in the development of the estate. His passion is clearly evident when he presents wines in the freshly uncorked tasting room.

The idea behind the contemporary venue was generated by the original structure of the orchard greenhouse that stood there before. With sliding doors

opening wide on all sides it affords uninterrupted views of the dam in front and surrounding paddocks and mountains.

Although simple in style, particular care was taken to create an elegant and welcoming space.

This season it pays homage to all the local producers and almost everything that is served is sourced from the area or grown on the farm. Visitors can delight in freshly baked artisanal breads, local cheeses and mouth-watering charcuterie boards.

For those not able to par-

take in the award-winning wines, there are hand-roasted specialist coffees and sinfully decadent cakes.

The Plett Wine Route is most certainly up and coming. It is a great developing story of small town relationships coming together, resulting in unique venues, wines and restaurants for the large influx of seasonal visitors.

Kay and Monty Vineyards is a wonderful example of this groundswell, so don’t miss the opportunity of spending time there this season. See the advert on page 23 for contact details.

FOOD & WINE

23 December 2015

PeeBee’s Wine Column

Words & Photo: Peter Bishop

‘What are the Plett wines like?’

ONE IN WINE: Surfing winemaker Anton Smal, left, shares a toast with connoisseur Nathan Silver during this year’s particularly successful Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival

great question for visitors to ask! The answer is even more exhilarating and well worth your investigation either direct from the producing farm or from a supporting restaurant.

You will have heard of Bramon Winery, where the tables overflow into the vineyards and where you can taste the only Méthode Cap Classique (MCC - the champagne-style sparkling wine) made from Sauvignon Blanc in the world!

Peter Thorpe planted the first vines in the region in 2000 and five years later produced the first bottle. A decade later, not only has his farm expanded and planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but 18 other producers of varying backgrounds have thrown in their energies - with 11 already established in the market place.

The majority of the region’s wines are made by the devoted surfer Anton Smal at Bramon. If you visit Plettenvale near the Plett Airport you will find that Gloria Strack van Schyndel tends the vines, makes the wines (with guidance from Anton) and either her or husband Martin offers the tasting and sales.

They are proud of their Chardonnay, their young Syrah and a still Rosé wine.

A Rosé MCC has just won top place at the Rose Rocks organised by Alan Mullins and Neil Pendock.

Yet another ‘wife’, Vicky Gent, does the same at Packwood who from this year will be making all the wines on the farm. Here you will find the Gent Pinot Noir/Chardonnay MCC, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir (Clones 115 and 777) red wine. Lunches, snacks and even accommodation are offered.

It is distinctiveness and not financial dreams that is the unique feature of these young producers. Two years

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ago, I sat with Anton Smal in an attempt to find a descriptor that reflects the region and also to see the ‘nice distinctions’ between the various producers. What a revelation it proved to be.

In 2013, we concluded ‘quince with a line of lime’.

In 2014 we concluded ‘white pear with a thread of pyrazine’. Well, the 2015s are stunning.

It was a superb vintage and displayed descriptors across the whole spectrum of possibilities.

Almost all the Sauvignon - as that is what I am writing about - had this rod of ripe pyrazine holding an array of flavours from asparagus (white or green), passion fruit, pineapple, pears, peaches, lime and lemon peel with some even reflecting the small pip fruits of fig and bush gooseberry.

If you are confused in tasting the 2015, use the mnemonic A-P-P-L-E and you will have a nice way of understanding what you will experience, literally in order: ‘A’ for Asparagus, ‘P’ for Pineapple, ‘P’ for Passionfruit, ‘L’ for Lime

and ‘E’ for Everything Else (fig and gooseberry - those tiny pips).

Sounds funny but it works when you are trying to answer the question ‘What are the Plett wines like?’ Please realise that these descriptors are inherent to the wine in a particular vintage - they are not added flavourants!

For any particular wine, only one or two of these features stand out, so don’t use the whole ‘APPLE’ to define one wine.

You will enjoy visits to the wineries I have listed above, and the other producing wineries that are having their wines made at Bramon.

Leanne Lane at Redford Lane is determined to know every vine and every determinant of style. Anton produces her classic Sauvignon Blanc while preparing the world’s second MCC of that grape. Brendan and Leanne are planting Cabernet Franc and Malbec to test the region’s ability to produce red wines.

Luka Winery has just been purchased by a young couple, Mark Barnard and his wife Anneke, who is also learning the ropes.

They have had the good fortune to be supported

by The Fat Fish restaurant from the start.

Initially local restaurants were reluctant to offer the Plett wines but have begun to allow themselves to be influenced. At the latest count, according to my knowledge, you can find a Plett wine at The Fat Fish, Arugula Bistro (Goose Valley), Seafood at The Plettenberg, Indigo Bay and Bramon restaurant, of course.

Take yourself to Bramon, and then onto the Redford Road where the polo fields are now vineyards. Rare Earth, owned by polo enthusiast Chick Legh, offers a Sauvignon Blanc called ‘Sav’, a Chardonnay called ‘Chard’ and a Chardonnay MCC called ‘Champu’.

The Lodestone Sauvignon Blanc is almost a thinking person’s wine - a lovely complexity. Jon Tonkin is also producing a Rosé and a Chardonnay.

An interesting couple, also of the polo set, are Doug and Sue Lund who hail from sugar and dairy farms in KwaZulu-Natal. Their whole life has changed! The Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and Chardonnay of Newstead Lund Family Vineyards still low in production at this stage - sell well.

Closest to the sea at Plett is Bruce Anderson’s vine-

CXPRESS yard producing the Leto Venus Sauvignon Blanc.

The table wines of Bramon are sold under the name of ‘The Crags’ following an approach by Rustenberg who sold their young vine wines as ‘Brampton’.

Being the oldest vines in the region you will experience the emerging complexity of the Sauvignon Blanc and a stimulating Rosé.

But it is the MCC Blanc de Blanc (Chardonnay) that will stun you as it is so refined and sedate. Anton has already won a Michelangelo Double Gold

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for this maiden 2012 that is sold out, but the 2013 awaits your visit.

Plett Tourism would be more than willing to give you directions and suggestions as to suitable times and what else is on offer on this array of wineries. There is so much to discover; then crown it with the warmth of the folk involved.

PeeBee has kept his palate alive since 1975 when he met Beejay Lankwarden in the Wilderness. He explores local, national and international wines, looking for ‘the cutting edge’.

Make your holiday memorable! Enjoy a laid-back lunch & a sundowner (or two) overlooking the Bitou River at Simon’s Bar!

RIETVLEI ROAD, PLETTENBERG BAY | +27 44 501 2500 | e m i l y m o o n . c o. z a | i n f o @ e m i l y m o o n . c o. z a

THE BEST ARTISAN PIZZAS IN THE GARDEN ROUTE

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CXPRESS

HOME & HEALTH

23 December 2015

Meet Moeksie’s beautiful brood, and give them a ‘forever’ home...

Knysna Animal Welfare Society 1 Marlin Street, Hunters Home, Knysna Phone: 044 384 1603

Leeanne at Knysna Animal Welfare Society (KAWS) sent along this pic and wrote: ‘If you are considering purchasing a puppy any time soon, please look to KAWS first. We have five gorgeous ‘unique breed’ puppies that are ready to be homed. Please pop in to the kennels to meet them, play with them and possibly take them for a walk, to get to know them better. The KAWS Kennels are situated on 1 Marlin Street in Hunters Home, Knysna, and the opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and 9-11am on Saturdays. Should you wish to adopt an adult dog, we currently have seven adult dogs in the kennels, all sterilised and perfectly ready for their ‘forever’ homes! Please go to www.knysnaaws.com for photos and more information on all dogs and cats up for adoption at KAWS. Moeksie is the puppies’ mom and she is proud to present to you - from left - Terri, Bonga, Benji, Ben, Misha, and Beertjie. PS: Little Misha has already been adopted.

Celebrate with Salvias

The only pharmacy in Main Street With Christmas around the corner it’s about to become a festival of green and red on every corner, and while South Africans are not quite as competitive as the English or Americans, we do like to create memorable occasions. In fact, since we’re not such sticklers for re-enacting exact traditions we’re probably more inclined to try something different to make those memories a little more our own. Whether it’s your turn to host Christmas this year or not, why not plant up a couple of trays of the dwarf varieties of Salvia splendens, also known as Red or Scarlet Salvias, into some small table-sized pots used for table decorations, or serve as little gifts with some tinsel sprinkled over them? They’re not only the right shape for a Christmas tree but they’re red and green to boot! Planting the regular-sized Salvia into beds and then cutting them for vases also work beautifully. - www.lifeisagarden.co.za

Kind Knysna bowlers make Christmas merry for Maria’s young charges Knysna Bowling Club (KBC) hosted its annual Christmas lunch on December 13 and asked members to contribute presents for boys and girls. The members gave generously and KBC also raised R2,000 to hand over to Maria’s Soup Kitchen for Children in Rheenendal. Maria provides up to 200 children with a meal of soup on a weekly basis. These gifts will be presented to the Rheenendal children for Christmas. The event was one of good spirits, open hearts and friendship, and all the Knysna Bowling Club members who contributed so greatly are thanked for their generous support.

HOME & HEALTH

23 December 2015

Vendange - bringing the promise of the harvest to your home

BOUNTY: Vendange is a French noun that means ‘grape harvest’, and their Plett pop-up store is filled to the brim with special products, including oval-shaped salmon boards retailing at R149.95

ENDANGE has emerged as one of Plett’s favourite pop-up stores this season, and adding to its allure is the fact that it’s centrally situated in the Checkers centre in Main Street.

Brothers Richard and Oliver Davies started the concept back in 2011 in 44 Stanley Avenue in Joburg.

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They now have eight stores across the country with a 500sq megastore opening in Design Quarter Fourways in May 2016.

Walking through their shop in Plett is like being in a Vineyard tasting room in France. Many of their Trudeau cheese board products are made from recycled wine barrels and hand

crafted by members of the Franschhoek community.

The shop also stocks a fantastic array of Champagne buckets, olive oil decanters, rattan basketware and general décor items.

CXPRESS tracked Vendange retail director Richard down for a quick Q&A. CX: What made you open a pop-up in Plett?

RD: Our family has been holidaying in Plett for the past 15 years and I love spending time here.

Five of our eight stores are based in Gauteng, so Plett was always on the cards for a pop-up in December, when your breathtakingly beautiful seaside village temporarily turns into ‘Joburg by the Sea…’ CX: Is the Plett offering any different to your permanent stores?

RD: Ninety percent of what you’ll find in Vendange Plett is similar to what’s offered in our permanent stores.

We have selected a few beach-themed pieces from suppliers that are sure to be extremely popular for beach houses.

Our dad, Nick, has a carpentry background and

These Kurland kids would be even happier with a Wendy House

The young ones at Happy Kidz Crèche in Kurland Village - on any normal day, there’s a full 42 of them, aged one to five - are in desperate need of extra inside space and principal Maria Roman says that they are hoping and praying for the funds to build a Wendy House, which would make the New Year blessed indeed for the kids and five-strong staff. If you read here and are in a position to contribute towards their wish, please deposit into the Happy Kidz account at FNB Plett (branch 210514), acc number 485 442 31 006 112 79 (provide your name/number as reference). Call Maria on 044 534 8094 / 082 596 1715, or email lienroman50@gmail.com for info.

has hand-carved 30 fish and whale carvings that we mounted on metal stands, but which can as easily be wall-mounted.

CX: Are you offering any specials to your Plett clientele this season?

RD: We have two VERY specials and they are flying off the shelves! Our signature barrel lid board is on promotion at R450 (normal price R590). We also have some oval-shaped salmon boards that are retailing at R149.95.

CX: What can one buy in your shop for someone who has it all already?

RD: We are selling a beautiful pewter XXXXL Champagne tub that holds 20-30 bottles of bubbly comfortably. We only secured three units for the Plett shop and they retail at R8,995.

See the advert on page 6 for contact details.

CXPRESS

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23 December 2015

CLASSIFIEDS

ON THE SOAPBOX

23 December 2015

Letters to the Editor

Email: editor@cxpress.co.za - Fax: 044 533 0852 - PO Box 1449, Plett 6600

Fond memories of Christmas box ‘temptation’ We now sport a new wonderfully well-equipped Super Spar in Mellville’s Centre. Who can still remember the original title “Melvilles” with its wooden floors and where one could buy almost

anything?

We were shopping as holiday-makers one December many years ago. My son aged about 14 was with us and he quite suddenly saw a beautiful rubber snake

PLEASE return our beloved yellow bench A little yellow bench that has stood outside 102 Longships for the past eight years was stolen during Plett Rage.

It has been established that matriculants were responsible, so the parents were contacted and the bench was apparently left out on the pavement somewhere in

the vicinity of Skerry Vore and Rothersands when the students left Plett.

While the bench may have appeared to be abandoned, it is in fact stolen property.

As such, whoever picked it up is requested to contact me on 082 863 3288 with a view to its return.

Rose McLachlan, Plett

Address litter and parking problems at Lookout, please

I am disgusted by the litter and rubbish on the path and walkways from the whale tail to Lookout Beach and The Deck. Most of this litter seems to be catering packets and take away boxes that must be from the restaurant. This is public access to a Blue Flag beach! I was also shocked by the removal of the forest at the parking area - surely this is a protected area… what is going on? This issue needs to be addressed and cleaned up.

Concerned Holidaymaker, Great Karoo

which sort of wriggled among other things.

TEMPTATION… it was placed under the Christmas decorations which were displayed in a shallow cardboard box on a counter.

Needless to say, he didn’t have to wait long when

there was the most bloodcurdling scream and tinsel, etc. flying every which way, to much hilarity from those close by. Mischievous, yes but his day was made and no real harm done. What marvellous memories!

Belle Nel, Plett

What’s happening in Plettenberg Bay - aka Nkandla the second?

Are our DA town fathers scraping the bottom of the rates reserves? Or have the reserves been plundered?

Why worry about the money spent on Nkandla when some of our roads are years overdue for resurfacing? Where has this money gone? Some of our roads like Cutty Sark is falling apart and may be due for a complete makeover.

Plett is a premier holiday destination, but what is the state of our beaches and beach facilities?

At all our beaches we have a shortage of parking space during summer holidays.

At Solar Beach there is no parking at the beach and the elderly have to struggle uphill to reach Beachy Head roadside parking.

But who cares?

At Main Beach there is no direct beach access for the elderly, only one ramp at the shower, some distance from the parking area - the elderly have difficulty and are at risk of falling when stepping off the boardwalk onto the sand and getting back onto the boardwalk.

Night time security lights are not well maintained.

Our beaches and supporting facilities are more like third world standards rather than what can be expected of a municipality with the image and resources of Plettenberg Bay. How little would it cost to improve these beach facilities - an infinitesimal decimal fraction of our annual

revenue income; 10% of the cost of one flashy new car?

Instead, on the morning of December 16 there were 33 Municipal Law Enforcement Officials idling their time away on Central Beach in groups of three and four, at the expense of the ratepayers - or is that job creation?

And then there are traffic officials parading Main Street and beach parking lots in twos and threes, checking visitors’ cars for up to date licence discs...

Does it really require two or three officials to issue one ticket for such an offence? Isn’t this a waste of money - an unnecessary duplication of the checks done on our national roads?

Do we really want Plett to be a tourist destination?

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to all if we could double the number of tourists visiting our town and double the revenue derived from holiday business?

People who come to Plett for holidays not only provide jobs during holidays and support local business, but are potential future property owners that will expand the rates revenue, create jobs for the building industry and all related business enterprises.

DA, do you care? Here is an opportunity to make Plett a better place and create jobs. Wake up and “plough back da money!”

Or is it DAda, Tata Plett?

Concerned Resident, Plett

CXPRESS

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Read CXPRESS online @ www.cxpress.co.za

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SPORT & ADVENTURE

23 December 2015

Trailies unite for summer run at Kurland HE annual Pennypinchers Kurland Summer Trail Run saw racing snakes and social runners alike rock up en masse at the beautiful Pavilion at Kurland Estate on Sunday December 13.

Intermittent rain the night before meant that there were quite a bit of water to contend with on the track, but briefed by Pennypinchers Adventure Racing Team skipper James Stuart, participants on all routes had a good idea of what to look out for, where to doublecheck their tread - and exactly why it would be impossible to cheat…

Check points were manned by other members of the Pennypinchers crew and by the time registration was in the bag and the first batch of runners set off, the cloudy but dry skies made for perfect trail-running weather.

Apart from the 18km and 12km races, the 5km (prizes for 12-year-olds and younger only) and kiddies 1.5kmodd forest route were as well subscribed as ever before.

Local star Melikhaya Msizi (01:36:10) was first man home in the 18km race and as per the norm, this happy Knysna athlete looked rather undaunted by the route’s substantial elevation and

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other challenges.

Laune Meyer (02:15:48) took the ladies 18km race, with Leo Sorensen (00:58:50) and Chrissy van Aarde (01:18:28) the 16km men and ladies winners.

Henri van Huyssteen was the first boy home in the 5km run, breezing in with lots of breath left in 29:41.

Congrats, too, to first girl home Tessa Kock (50:47).

Kurlandbrik sponsored a total of R2,000 in cash prizes for the 18km race, and James and his team also thank Pennypinchers, Knysna Toyota and Earth Scout for sponsorship, and Kurland Hotel for the magnificent venue. The day’s running fun raised R1,500 for the Masizame Feeding Project in neighbouring Kurland Village.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Winner of the 18km race Melikhaya Msizi, second from left, started and finished with a wide grin COVERING THE REAR: Sweepers Drew Scott and Andrew Damp, right, had no casualties to evacuate after a day’s traversing of the mighty hill on Kurland Estate - Photos: Esther de Villiers

ClemenGold brings legendary cats back to Plett

The weekend’s ClemenGold Hobie Regatta was a great success with light winds on the Friday that made for super-tough racing. Local champs William and Lucinda Edwards dominated the fleet by almost listening to the whispers of the wind and predicting the shifts on their home water.

Saturday saw a moderate to fresh southwesterly while Sunday dawned cloudy with intermittent rain, but the sailors were thrilled with the 18-20 knot easterly that freshened during the day. After tying with the Edwards, fellow Plett sailors Blaine and Roxanne Dodd were the eventual winners, with former world champ Shaun Ferry from Cape Town in third place. - Photo: Nikki Ridley

Riding that great big bike in the sky

Firefly Jewellery Available at: Beacon Isle Hotel The Whale Shop (main street) Roger’s Jewellers (Market Square) The Pearl Lady (main street) The Pure Collection (Lookout Centre) Je Ne Sais Quoi (Old Nick Village - N2)

www.fireflyjewel.co.za info@fireflyjewel.co.za

044 533 4294 082 971 5595

It is with sadness that we say farewell to popular Plett local Keith Kneen (19.11.1950), who passed away on Monday December 14 after a short illness. He leaves behind wife Nicky, sons Kyle and Clint and daughter Jackie, who thank everyone for the love, support and care shown during this trying time.

Keith’s friends from Plett and far beyond all knew him as a mellow, soft-spoken and friendly bloke. He was also well-known and loved in the motorbike fraternity, not only on the Garden Route but also in Kimberly where the Kneens originally hailed from, and nationally, being an avid rally supporter. ‘Captain Slow’, the Buff will never be the same without you. Ride on brother, we will meet again on the big highway.

- Watty Watson (President: Titty Twisters Motorcycle Club)