7 january 2015

7 January 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

Fresh for 2015!

FREE

Deck collapse explained p3

Justice comes to Plett p7

Market outlook 2015 p9

The legendary DJ Fresh was the highlight of an extensive musical entertainment lineup during the foundation of a brand new island republic in Plettenberg Bay last week, when he kicked sand in the eyes of a younger set of tune spinners on the Castle Lite main stage - read more on page 4... and here’s wishing you a frisky 2015!

10 000 FREE COPIES OF CXPRESS DISTRIBUTED ALONG THE GARDEN ROUTE EVERY WEDNESDAY

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News & Views

7 January 2015

Driving Miss Crazy

Here’s wishing you a prosperous 2015, price hikes nonetheless JEEVES shares his adventures as Garden Route chauffeur extraordinaire...

M

ORNING, Jeevesey!

My regular Friday morning drive, to the shops and hairdresser from Belvidere, her voice well known to me, and also the endearing manner in which she addresses me.

“Could you possibly come up half an hour earlier today? Someone told me you are known as the Knackered Chef, and I’d like you to show me how to cook the perfect soft-boiled egg.”

Well, what a request - but life’s full of surprises! Not that I’m a master of the lowest demand in culinary skills...

I ask you: a boiled egg?! An omelette, yes.

There are two simple ways

that I know of, I told her. Submerge eggs in cold water and bring to the boil - seven minutes for a runny yellow and firm white consistency, adjusting slightly either way to suit your liking, depending on egg size, medium to jumbo.

Then remove and run under cold water for five seconds this halts the cooking process and simplifies the removal of the shell. (For a change, try egg-in-a-glass: break pieces of toast into a tumbler, add S&P and a drizzle of Worcestershire/Tabasco sauce, a blob of butter, break the egg over and mix.... mmm.)

For the perfect hard-boiled egg, follow the same method but cook for 11 to 12 min-

utes, depending on whether you like the core fractionally soft. (This is lovely on a green salad with croutons, red onion, cherry tomato, carrot slithers and anchovy fillets, or any other ingredients you may fancy.)

The other method, again to prevent the shell from cracking in boiling water - I find that pricking them doesn’t often work - is heating water in a kettle and when warm to hot add a cup of this to a pot with the eggs.

Continue boiling the kettle (or should I not say, the water in the kettle), and add to eggs when ready. Cooking time this way is only five minutes.

(Note that length of time for cooking may vary from electric hob to gas stove.)

--That particular day a few weeks ago in December was like Knysna in mid-winter...

15 degrees Celsius, cloudy and rainy.

Don’t drive through a puddle in the road if you can avoid it, as it might just be concealing a 20cm deep pothole and ‘bang’, there goes your tyre - and rim, if you’re unlucky - like driving the ‘dodgem-cars’ on the old Durban beachfront.

Dropped Milady off for her regular wash, cut and style (no, not the Maltese poodle, she herself!), which gave me a few hours to do the regular shopping run.

There were a few additions to the normal list: champers, Campari and Pimm’s at the bottle store; 3kg self-basting turkey with built in pop-up thermostat; place an order at the butcher for a cooked and dressed boneless gammon to be collected in a week’s time; crackers and other stuff for the forthcoming silly season.

Luckily, I know well her usual grocery requirements and preferences for items

from different stores. Her Welsh blood exhorts the frugalness in her too, and I have developed through this a keen eye for a comparable bargain or a ‘special’.

Whether it’s tea or toilet paper, sunflower oil, bacon, milk or tomatoes, potatoes or green peppers and chicken by the kilo, price et al, you won’t believe what you can save per month if you adhere to this policy.

“Oh!” I hear you cry! “What about the petrol and time you waste running around comparing the best prices?”

Simple. Collect the ‘special’ pamphlets all the stores put out in order to compete with each other and which they rely on to seduce you to their tills. Bingo!

If chicken is below R30/kg, zap three. Five Roses below R25, two in the trolley. Oil around R27 for two litres, take three.

And while on twos: two-ply under R80 for 18 rolls? Stock up. Two large bottles of All Gold tomato sauce for R30,

SHOPPING SAVY: Huge savings can be made by collecting the ‘special’ pamphlets stores distribute to lure you to their tills, so you can pay the best price for pantry staples

Our 10 000 free copies are distributed every Wednesday to a multitude of outlets along the Garden Route, with emphasis on Knysna and Plett and drop-offs at *Sedgefield Tourism *Caltex StarMart in Wilderness *Lynn Schroeder, Build It and other select outlets in George *Storms River Village and Bridge in Tsitsikamma - phone 044 533 1004 (o/h) with distribution queries.

If you’ve missed out on a hard copy, read the electronic version online at www.cxpress.co.za

La Luna

grab it. Nescafé at below R55 a bottle... take six. And so on...

Oh, and check your till slips! The price you see is not always the price you pay.

(One particular retailer I have experienced specialises in this two-way price system, always to your detriment).

“Uncle Raymond” has a fine philosophy on this subject: if the price at the till is more than that on the shelf, the first item is free, the balance in your trolley at the marked price. (I should do the shopping for restaurants and B&Bs, don’t you think?

Therein lies the greater profit - on what it costs, not what it sells for.)

Despite the weather outside suggesting the opposite, I knew the high season was upon us. How? Check the price increases! It’s mark-up time, folks.

Petrol price steadily decreasing equals food prices steadily increasing. Add sheer profiteering from the annual influx of visitors, and woe to those who happen to

F R E S H

reside in and around these holiday destinations.

The regular cost of the shop for Madame’s weekly requirements was in the order of R300 to R400. Now, it had jumped up on average 20%, for the same items a week earlier excluding any ‘specials’ - they had mainly fallen by the wayside - and Christmas-time extra requisites.

Her favourite back bacon from a convenience store had rocketed from R89.95 to R110 a kilo. A piece of sirloin at her regular butcher, from R99.95 a kg to R125. Fillet from R189 a kilo to R220; lamb loin chops up 20% at most places.

A large red pepper at one place cost R18, but R12 for exactly the same somewhere else; two litres of milk at one store was now upped by R3 a carton on the regular price!

--The phone rang to advise me she was ready to be up-lifted.

Her ‘new’ hair short, white and cropped with a hint of pink and blue, she had a saucy smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. (Methinks she didn’t reveal all regarding who she entertained over Christmas. Good to see!)

After dropping her off and wishing one another well until next time, a pint of bliss was called for.

“The usual please, Mr Barman!”

It didn’t touch sides, and was followed by a regular bottle of beer. Incidentally, the price for the same a few weeks earlier had risen from R33 to R45, i.e. a 30% increase which included a R2 tip for the dispenser of the fine juice.

Other Waterfront restaurateurs with higher overheads would be charging R55 (excl.) for the like... Eish!

A happy New Year to you all, and buckle up! /"Lggxgu

News & Views

7 January 2015

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Visitors injured when deck collapses during ‘down-down’ drinking games Holidaymakers who were seriously injured when a structure at Plett’s Lookout Deck restaurant collapsed have a long road to recovery ahead after spending about a week in hospital following surgery - YOLANDÉ STANDER reports

Walker and Lotter said they were very unhappy about the series of events that followed the collapse. “Not at any stage did the owner stand up, announce the incident to patrons and apologise,” Walker said.

“He also did not even check on my daughter’s wellbeing, despite the fact that I went back to the restaurant to pick

DIAGONAL DECK: One of the guests said a crack was heard before the outside deck at Lookout ‘first dropped slightly and then collapsed’ last Tuesday, leaving some diners with minor cuts and bruises and others with more serious injuries - these photos had been posted on Facebook shortly after the incident

A

BOUT eight people were injured when a group of guests at a popular beachfront restaurant - mostly matriculants and their parents celebrating the end of the youngsters’ school careers - fell about 1.8-metres when one of the venue’s decks came crashing down late last Tuesday afternoon.

Three women suffered broken bones and have had to undergo surgery. One suffered an open ankle fracture which needed immediate surgery as doctors feared infection, while another shattered her ankle and will not be able to put any weight on her leg for the next three months.

Another visitor broke her arm in five places.

Karen Lotter from Johannesburg broke her ankle. She was discharged on Sunday and arrived home yesterday while her fellow patients are recovering at home after they were released on Saturday.

“I am in a lot of pain and still uncertain about the road to recovery ahead. There are chances of complications, but we are seeing orthopaedic experts to see where to from here,” Lotter said.

She said earlier that the incident should never have happened and believed that the deck had structural issues.

“The area wasn’t overcrowded and collapsed not long after we arrived.”

Restaurant owner Chris Stroebel said it had come to light that “one of the deck fasteners” broke after patrons “jumped up and down” causing one end of the structure to collapse.

“Fathers and their sons were participating in a ‘downdown’ competition and the women who were injured were standing on the tables taking photographs of the action.” He added if had he seen the jumping, he would not have allowed it.

Lotter however said that there had been no jumping.

“Two of us were standing on the tables’ benches taking photographs of the men participating in the ‘down-down’ competition.

“I think it was the first round of the afternoon. There was a lot of cheering and they were patting the table. There was definitely no jumping.”

Brett Walker, a visitor from Durban who was also on the deck last week, said they heard a crack before it collapsed. “The deck first dropped slightly and then collapsed,” Walker, who suffered a few cuts and bruises, said.

His daughter, Sarah, was however more seriously injured and spent a night in hospital. “My daughter had internal bleeding in her leg and possibly a fracture. We are waiting for the swelling to go down, before we have more X-Rays done. In the meantime she is in a lot of pain.”

up my phone.”

But Stroebel said he went to see the injured in hospital and sent all of them flowers.

“I went there myself, but understandably there was a lot of anger.” Stroebel added that he and his staff were traumatised by the incident.

“The owner only came to check on us 48 hours after the incident,” Lotter, who has had to extend her stay in Plett due to her injuries, said.

In the meantime, Bitou Municipality demanded the deck be closed until engineers had done an assessment and

handed in a report stating the structure was safe.

Stroebel said engineers had worked around the clock since the incident to ensure the deck was structurally sound and had given the green light last Thursday. The deck was opened for lunch the next day.

The rest of the restaurant traded as usual, including hosting its annual New Year’s celebrations.

“We had various inspectors, including fire and health, to assess the deck and everything is in order,” Stroebel said.

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News & Views

7 January 2015

Drownings mar New Year’s Brand new republic established in Bitou...

29 saw the Beach Bar. clusive island party experi- riences such as this to adult Day in Nature’s, Sedge DECEMBER official inauguration of As the sun set, the island’s ence,” explained Castle Lite consumers in the future.”

N

SRI reports of festive season drownings across SA continue to stream in, and readers are reminded to be safe around Garden Route beaches, lagoons and lakes.

Two drowning tragedies occurred close to home on January 1. First up was a call-out to Plett NSRI Station 14 at 11:30am. Says station commander Deon Truter: “Our duty crew responded to Natures Valley lagoon and recovered a seven-year-old local boy from the water.

“CPR efforts commenced, our medics assisted by a doctor who happened to be on the beach at the time, and joined

by Police and Western Cape Government Health EMS paramedics, but after all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted, paramedics

declared him deceased.”

The boy’s body was handed into the care of the Forensic Pathology Services and an inquest docket was opened.

Then, at 3:10pm on Thursday January 1, NSRI Wilderness, Sedgefield Fire & Rescue Services, SA Police Services, W-Cape Government Health EMS and the Red Cross AMS Skymed rescue helicopter responded to Groenvlei Beach following reports of three male teenagers being swept out to sea.

On arrival on-scene two of the teens were found safe on the beach after managing to get out of the surf safely, but a 17-year-old local male remained missing and despite an extensive search, no sign of him had been found by going to press.

Castle Lite’s Republic of Extra Cold, as 2,500 revellers arrived on Stanley Island in Plett’s Keurbooms estuary for the most epic summer event of the year.

With passports in hand ‘citizens’ - including celebrities Poppy Ntshongwana, Rob Forbes, Lerato Kganyago, Denise Zimba, Boity, Sinazo Yolwa, and Pallance Dladla - enjoyed the day-to-night outdoor beach experience on the intimate and exclusive island, which was transformed into the ultimate summer party paradise.

Citizens had the opportunity to explore and be titivated by experiences like the Forest of Extra Cold, Lime Café @ Lands’ End, the Ice Cold Core, as well as the Lagered Harbour Bar and Extra Cold

new citizens migrated to the Ice Cold Core area where their experience was taken to the next level with an out of this world performance by DJ Fresh, followed by bands Goodluck and Goldfish.

Also on the bill were Ross Jack, Craig de Souza, Dino Moran, DJs Dimplez & Milkshake, and an impromptu collaboration between DJs Kent & Euphonik.

No republic is able to run without its government, and being no ordinary republic the über-talented members of Pearl’iament, Sizwe Dhlomo and DJ Warras, as well as president elect Pearl Thusi, acted as MCs for the night.

“The Republic of Extra Cold was an innovative first, offering adult South Africans a unique, premium, and ex-

GM Becky Opdyke.

“There is a magnetic appeal to the concept, and we look forward to bringing extra cold refreshment and unlocking many more unique expe-

Visit www.republicofextra cold.co.za for details and find them on Facebook at face book.com/castlelite and Twitter @castleliteSA #Republic OfExtraCold.

BRIDGING THE GAP: Apart from a vast tented camp for winners and crew built by industry experts Felix Unite, a temporary bridge was constructed to let citizens onto the island for the day-to-night jorl, and off again without getting their feet wet

MUSIC & LIGHTS: The main stage featured a spectacular duo of giant screens, with big city lighting and sound equipment ensuring optimum enjoyment of on-stage acts

LOVE YOUR WORK! Local DJ Dru Fosbrook did Plett music aficionados particularly proud by gaining a spot on the island, his DJ box set up at the reception bar and his choice of tunes attesting to the fact that he’s an excellent reader of his crowd

News & Views

7 January 2015

Van Plettenberg Society auctions historical treasures on Saturday

THE IMMORTALS: Among the unforgettables of 19th Century Plettenberg Bay were, from left, harbour-master John Fisher Sewell, sometime Millwood (Knysna) district surgeon Dr George Herbert Clifton, postmaster and man of many parts William ‘Billy’ Jones, and the legendary Keurbooms River ferryman, George Stanley, photographed in front of Plett’s first post office in 1897 - Photo supplied by VPHS

O

N Saturday January 10 from 6pm, members of the Van Plettenberg Historical Society (VPHS) will be holding an auction of historical and cultural interest at The White House Theatre in Plett CBD to raise funds for three major purposes.

Firstly, funds are required for the Society’s normal running costs, which include transport and accommodation subsidies and for six speakers invited to address meetings in January, March, May, July, September, and November (R10,000).

“Secondly,” explains auction organiser Mike Kantey, “we need an amount of R15,000 to upgrade our ex-

isting website (www.pletthistory.org), comprising the capture and posting of more talks.

“Finally, we hope to raise R50,000 to conduct an audit of all buildings and sites of historical importance in the Bitou municipal area from The Crags to Harkerville, as well as the commissioning and installation of VPHS descriptive plaques.”

While encouraging VPHS members and supporters to pledge something in their Trusts and Estates, and while anyone may wish to make an out-of-hand contribution, the auction has been conceived specifically for the above purpose, he says.

“A beautiful interpretation

of the goddess of victory, Nike, has already been sold, and our main attraction on the night will be an authentic title deed signed by Baron Joachim van Plettenberg in 1772, which will be auctioned with a reserve of R5,000.”

Another item of historical significance is a deluxe edition of Andrew Duminy’s book on the Chevalier Duminy. A few lower-priced items, such as an 1896 Ecrg" Ctiwu with a report on the Jameson Raid, and an Apollo mission souvenir album, will also come under the hammer on Saturday night.

See the advert on this page for additional information and contact details.

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7 January 2015

Promotion

News & Views

7 January 2015

Save the date for the sixth annual Knysna Literary Festival

P

RESENTED by Pam Golding Properties in Knysna, the sixth annual Knysna Literary Festival will take place from March 18-22.

A fabulous five-day long literary feast, you won’t want to miss the Garden Route’s only event that annually hosts an exclusive group of hand-selected authors from South Africa and abroad.

Attendees’ imaginations will take flight with the diverse programme that touches on current affairs, politics, history and adventure. There’s even a dash of cuisine - part of the sell-out Delicious Word Journey - wine tastings and other treats.

From engaging with authors in small-group workshops or being part of larger-group presentations, to mingling with authors while sipping local wine and experiencing Knysna’s most exclusive private real estate, the festival provides

attendees with a unique literary experience.

Aiming not only to expose locals and visitors to South Africa’s literary talent, but also to stimulate the children of the greater Knysna area by encouraging reading and writing, the event contributes generously to local charities that focus on childhood development and education.

So diarise Wednesday March 18 to Sunday the 22nd now - presentations and talks and workshops take place at various venues, including Knysna’s most exclusive private homes.

Ticket prices vary by event and ticket sales open on February 2 at the Pam Golding Properties Knysna office, located at 5 Gray Street. Watch this space for information on how to purchase tickets via EFT. Call 044 382 5574, email info@knysnaliteraryfes tival.co.za or visit www. knysnaliteraryfestival. co.za for more details.

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Justice Cameron to ponder on commitment and hope in Plett proofs and limited editions of 395 copies, to the value of R1,250 each.

Says lady Annabelle Conyngham of the PlettAid committee: “In his book Lwu/ vkeg, which is an advocacy for constitutional integrity, justice Cameron argues that our constitution offers South Africa its best chance for a just society. We look forward

WILDLIFE AT HAND: Two lucky ticket holders stand a chance of winning a framed print by wildlife artist Dr Jeremy Paul ‘Tension’ and ‘A Place in the Shade’ are both signed artist’s proofs to the value of R1,250 each

A

S the first of a series of fundraising events this year, directors of the PlettAid Foundation are both excited and greatly privileged to welcome justice Edwin Cameron as the speaker at the White House Theatre in Plettenberg Bay CBD on January 15 at 7:30pm sharp.

A brilliant and compelling speaker, justice Cameron’s chosen topic is ‘Commitment and Hope in South Africa after two decades of democracy’.

Numbered tickets can be obtained in Plettenberg Bay

at the Old House Shop in Kloof Street and at the Market Square information centre, at R250 each. (Online tickets can be obtained with payment reference ‘PlettAid Cameron’, FNB branch code 210514, account number 62048095063.)

Two lucky ticket holders stand a chance of winning a framed print by wildlife artist Dr Jeremy Paul, thrice winner of the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year award.

Vgpukqp" /" Ngqrctf and C" Rnceg" kp" vjg" Ujcfg" /" Ejgg/ vcj are both signed artist’s

to welcoming you to an enthralling evening with this legendary South African.”

Doors will open at 6pm for guests wishing to dine at Nguni restaurant before the talk - please contact them directly for reservations on 044 533 6710. A cash bar will be available.

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Business

7 January 2015

Chas Everitt and Goose Valley extend their rewarding relationship

T

HE Goose Valley Homeowners Association has re-awarded the tender to operate the on-site Goose Valley Rentals, Sales & Home Management Office to Chas Everitt International Property until October 2019.

John Fuller, principal of Chas Everitt in Plettenberg Bay, says: “We started a professional rental operation at Goose Valley in 2007, and since then have accommodated several thousand people on the estate.

“The benefits of providing

a quality on-site rentals and home management service have been substantial for all stakeholders resulting in increased golfing rounds, restaurant usage, income returns for homeowners, and demand for real estate, the latter of which has resulted in vastly improved selling prices.”

Fuller says that Goose Valley is the largest Sectional Title development on the Southern Cape coast, boasting 272 two-bedroom and three-bedroom units.

Within the greater Goose Valley Golf Estate, there are also three freehold housing developments, namely the 13 Fairway Close homes, 60 Turtle Creek homes, and the newly-launched 22 building stands at Lynnwood Estate, for which Chas Everitt is the exclusive selling agency.

Each development has its own homeowners association and pays a pro-rata share for certain common property

maintenance and services.

Chas Everitt markets Goose Valley extensively via numerous Goose Valley internet domains and social media sites, on all of the Chas Everitt Group sites and the major property portals, including the two top portals of Property24 and PrivateProperty.

Fuller adds: “Today, Goose Valley has become a household name in several European countries and is a destination of choice on the Garden Route, with many foreign owners investing on the estate.

“Goose Valley owners enjoy excellent rental returns, with the busiest rental periods being from November to the end of March.

“Our high season availability is normally fully booked

by September, and our onsite office allows us to service our tenants quickly and efficiently while providing owners with hassle-free man-

I CAN SEE MY ISLE FROM HERE! Goose Valley’s signature Gary Player golf course and homes offer views across the bay to Plett’s Beacon Isle Resort and Robberg in the back

agement services, including managing funds on behalf of our foreign owners.

“Chas Everitt has re-sold in excess of 140 properties on the estate and approximately 50% of buyers are golfers, while the rest simply enjoy the beautiful and secure features of the estate. Goose Valley has also recently become

very popular among retirees.”

The Goose Valley lifestyle offers exceptional benefits such as a most successful Gary Player Signature Golf Course, financially successful HOAs, outstanding security, and a quality lock-up and go lifestyle.

Add to this its great rental returns, home management

and rental services, a choice of self-catering apartments or houses for sale or rent, squash and tennis courts, a swimming pool, kiddies playgrounds, club house, pro shop, restaurant, halfway house, full practice facilities, and free wi-fi in the restaurant and clubhouse.

There are also ample opportunities for cycling, walking and jogging in indigenous gardens with pristine fynbos, abundant birdlife and small game, direct river access for boating and fishing, 24-hour patrolled security plus infrared and thermal imaging camera surveillance. Goose Valley, Turtle Creek and Fairway Close owners also receive two free golf memberships plus preferential annual subscriptions and green fees.

• Contact John Fuller on 082 905 1516 or email johnf@ everitt.co.za and see the advert on page 7 for additional information.

Business

Investor Focus

7 January 2015

CXPRESS

Malcolm Stewart – Investment manager at Michaelides Parker Wealth Knysna & Plett

Looking back, and forward to the year ahead

B

EFORE we look into those crystal balls again, it is interesting to see what was foreseen in this column last year...

The SA economy: expect better growth (x), interest rates to remain low (x), inflation to remain low (+), equity markets to surprise on the upside (+), property trusts to remain restrained (x - actually neutral, as they went down and then up!).

I hit the spot by advising to take advantage of offshore allowances (+), expected developed markets to stay cheap (+) and emerging markets to remain boring (+), as well as anticipating the end of tapering in the US (+).

But I missed the bull’s eye when saying that politics would remain boring (x - I forgot all about Mr Putin...).

So I got four wrong and six right, i.e. you had to be a genius to pick your way through the past year. But if you simply held on to your quality shares or unit trusts both at home and offshore, you would have done well.

I recently discovered a novel way of crystal ball-gazing: Vjg"Mpqyp"Mpqypu SA interest rates to remain relatively low, inflation to re-

WILL HE FIX IT? Investors’ eyes will be on SA deputy president Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa to see if our parastatals could be salvaged this year - as superrich businessman, trade union leader and activist for the past four decades, he might just pull it off...

main within the 4-6% bracket and GDP growth to improve (slightly).

Our market has corrected to a certain extent and there are a few opportunities around, so hold onto your quality shares and hold onto your property trusts.

In the USA, GDP growth is to accelerate, interest rates will begin to normalise (go up slightly), and their market

should perform well.

In Euroland, interest rates should remain very low, while a form of Euro tapering will inject liquidity into their markets, etc. This market is cheap and should attract the bargain hunters.

In the UK, interest rates will probably begin to rise but their market is a little expensive, so you should buy it on any correction.

Vjg"Mpqyp"Wpmpqypu To what extent will we have more blackouts that hinder economic growth, by how much will our tax rates rise, which way will the undervalued Rand go, will we have a new radical left wing socialist political party, and can Mr Ramaphosa fix the parastatals?

What will Mr Putin’s next move be, and what will happen to the oil price? This is very interesting as it appears as if OPEC has entered a price war with the US frackers.

The current drop in the oil price is equal to a drop in income tax for the average citizen in most countries. It injects massive liquidity into oil importing countries, so the US and SA certainly benefit, while oil-producing countries like Nigeria and Angola, to

name our neighbours, will really battle.

Will the Chinese economy continue to show moderate growth, or will it continue to decline?

Will Japan continue to improve after the elections gave Mr Abe a confirmed mandate to inject increased liquidity into their economy?

Vjg"Wpmpqyp"Wpmpqypu These are the so-called “black

swans” that come at us out of the blue, i.e. tsunamis or earthquakes. They often have two effects; firstly increased fear and possibly panic, while to the shrewd investor they could provide very interesting investment opportunities.

The current oil price could almost be classified as one of these!

Having looked at the crystal ball, it appears to me that equities are still the preferred asset class. Shares in the developed markets are the cheapest. In SA, there are still some equity bargains while property trusts should

9 ‘I missed the bull’s eye when saying that politics would remain boring... I forgot all about Mr Putin’ continue to provide inflationbeating income for retirees.

I hope that we will all have a profitable and prosperous 2015.

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7 January 2015

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7 January 2015

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7 January 2015

‘I am’ is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.

Could it be that ‘I do’ is the longest sentence?

Dear Eskom…

I

hereby regret to inform you that my bank account is currently at Stage Three.

I am unable to shed funds to pay my electricity bill at this time.

As soon as it comes down to Stage Two, I will, however, make a part-payment.

Although it should not be viewed as a crisis at this time, this dismal situation is expected to continue (on-and-off) for the next 12 months.

Please accept my humble apologies. [qwtu."Rc{kpi"Ewuvqogt

New South African anthem To be sung to The Sounds of Silence (apologies to Simon and Garfunkel)

Sunday school gem

A

Sunday school teacher asks her first graders: “Where is God?” Almost all the children raise their hands to respond.

“Okay, Mary, where is God?” “He is everywhere,” “Very good, that’s right.”

Two children don’t put their hands down, so the teacher continues: “Okay, Michael, where is God?” “God is inside me.”

J

“Very good, that’s right.”

A boy sitting in the back of the class is the last child with his hand up, so the teacher says: “Okay, Danny, where is God?” “He’s in our bathroom.”

Well, the teacher just has to ask: “How do you know he’s in the bathroom.”

“Every morning my father knocks on the bathroom door and says: ‘My God, are you still in there?’”

The necktie dilemma

OHN walks into an upmarket hotel bar wearing a shirt open at the collar and is met by an attendant who informs him that he must wear a necktie to gain admission.

So John goes out to his car to look around for a necktie and discovers that he doesn’t have one.

He sees a set of jumper

cables in his boot. In desperation, he ties these around his neck, manages to fashion a fairly acceptable-looking knot and lets the ends dangle free.

He goes back to the hotel bar and the attendant carefully looks him over and then says: “Well, okay, you can come in… just don’t start anything.”

Quantum Mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of.

Hallo darkness my old friend You’ve come upon me once again.

It is the time for load shedding, Which sends me early to my bedding And the light which was shining in the night Is bright no more…

Amid the sounds of silence.

When my PC yips and flops And the TV blinks and stops, Then the water pump stops flowing, While the silence round

is growing And the cows in the fields are walking through The ‘lectric fence…

Amid the sounds of silence.

In the dark I seemed to see A shadow quietly follow me, I turned round suddenly and mncrrgf his bonce It was the Okie from the Armed Response, I said: “Ag, sorry man,” as he fell on his head, I think he’s dead…

Amid the sounds of silence.

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7 January 2015

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Social Scene

7 January 2015

FANTASTIC ISLAND FUN: Celebrating their reunion from all over the globe at Knysna’s Tapas & Oysters Restaurant on Thesen Islands are, from left, Cassie (San Diego); Rian (Mallorca); Sheldon, Pierre and Jaco (Cape Town); Caty (Knysna); Margs & Hunter (Cape Town) and Macca (San Diego). Pierre, Sheldon and Hunter form part of the wellknown Afrikaans electronic band from Bellville ‘Die Heuwels Fantasties’.

Cassie and Macca will soon have an event of a different kind to celebrate... they are getting married this month!

- Gigi Lewis

GOING WITH THE GLORIOUS FLOW: At the December 18 opening of Flow - an exhibition displaying the work of 33 local artists at The White House in Plett - event organiser Michelle Williams is presented with a bouquet of flowers by Ulrike Baldzuhn, right. At right below, Natalie Buttress is flanked

by Daron & Laura Chatz. Below from left, Danor & Nika Groenewald and Svenja Gernand enjoy the event. See the stories on upcoming events at the White House on pages 5 & 7.

People, places & events

Photos: Timothy Twidle

MERRY LIKE A MEXICAN: Mike & Louné Polson, third from right at back and in bright pink at centre respectively, invited friends for a preview of their vast array of Mexican delights at 29 on Main, and to celebrate the summer season with great snacks, Minerva beer and tequila. Louné, who often accompanies Mike overseas to assist on his buying trips, has been instrumental in making the unique shop soft on the eye - read more on page 17 of the December 10 issue at www. cxpress.co.za or call 082 553 4625 with queries.

Photo: Glenn Murray Photography

WILD ABOUT MUSIC: The Creative Music annual musical showcase took place on the evening of 3 December in the St Christopher’s Hall in Plett when 37 students from all over Bitou took part in piano, violin, guitar, recorder and vocal recitals. The top award of the evening, the Rollo Scott Music Trophy, was awarded to Jayme Wildeman for her vocal and violin performances. Flanking her in the photo is music instructor Caryn Botha, left, and organiser Tessa Kay. - Leigh Dunn

Promotion

7 January 2015

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CXPRESS

Home & Health

7 January 2015

The best (and worst) positions for sleeping

F

OR something so simple (even babies do it), sleep isn’t such an easy thing. Both too little and too much time dozing has been linked to a host of health problems, from obesity and heart disease to dementia and diabetes.

And sleep position can play a role in snoring, heartburn, and even wrinkles... Read on to see if you should switch it up in bed (remember, we’re talking sleep here).

Dcem"Unggrgtu Rtqu< Many doctors agree

that back is best. Snoozing in savasana pose is a boon for spine and neck health, because the back is straight and not forced into any contortions. Plus back sleeping helps the mattress do its job of supporting the spine.

In a perfect (and kind of uncomfy) world, everyone would sleep on their backs without a pillow, as this position leaves the neck in a neutral position. Using too many pillows, however, can make breathing more difficult.

Back sleeping is also a winner for the more cosmetically inclined. Spending all night with the face out in the air and not smooshed up against a pillow - leads to fewer facial wrinkles.

Eqpu< Instances of snoring and sleep apnea are much more frequent when a person is sleeping in the supine position. In fact, back sleeping is so closely linked to sleep apnea that doctors prescribe side sleeping as a treatment for the condition.

When we sleep on our backs, gravity forces the base of the tongue to collapse into the airway, which obstructs breathing and creates oh-sopleasant snoring noises that keeps the neighbours up.

It’s also worth noting that a supported spine doesn’t necessarily mean a good night’s sleep. A study comparing the sleep habits of good sleepers and poor sleepers noted the people with worse-quality sleep spent more time on their backs than the good sleepers.

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ZZZZ: People sleep in the position they find most comfortable, but experimenting with different sleep positions for a few nights won’t do any harm - Photo: Terry Doyle

Rtqu< Side sleepers, unite!

Whether they’re curling up in the cosy foetal position or lying straight on one side, the vast majority of people report sleeping on their sides (although since everyone is unconscious during sleep, this information can never be entirely accurate).

Doctors encourage sleeping on the left side during pregnancy because it improves circulation to the heart, which benefits both mom and baby.

Side sleeping is also a pregnancy winner because sleeping on the back puts pressure on the lower back (which can lead to fainting), and stomach-sleeping is impossible for obvious reasons.

For those not expecting, sleeping on the left side can also ease heartburn and acid reflux, making it easier for people with these conditions to doze off.

Eqpu< At the same time,

sleeping on the left side can put pressure on the stomach and lungs (alternating sides often can help prevent organ strain). And as almost all sidesleepers know well, this position can result in the dreaded squished-arm-numbness.

Snuggling into bed with the arm behind the head is a common sleep position, but it may adversely affect muscles and nerves. Resting the head (or the whole body) on a single arm can restrict blood flow and press down on the nerves, which results in “rubber arm” or painful pins and needles.

In this position, the shoulder supports a lot of the body’s weight, which can

Sophia Breene

constrict the neck and shoulder muscles.

Uvqocej"Unggrgtu Rtqu< Stomach sleeping eases snoring and some cases of sleep apnea, but that’s pretty much the only good thing about going belly-down.

Eqpu< Resting on the tummy is widely regarded as the worst sleeping position. It flattens the natural curve of the spine, which can lead to lower back pain. Sleeping all night with the head turned to one side also strains the neck.

If this is the preferred position, try using pillows to gradually train the body to sleep on one side. Lower back twinges? Try sticking a pillow under the hips and lower abdomen to give the bottom of the spine a boost.

Vjg"Vcmgcyc{ Regardless of health benefits, people sleep in the position they find comfiest. Experimenting with different sleep positions won’t do any harm, so feel free to try each position for a few nights and see which is the best fit.

Whether it’s back, side, or stomach, people tend to wake up in the position that their bodies naturally snooze in.

Unless a doctor specifically recommends switching, it’s probably best to keep doing what feels right.

Holiday Activities

7 January 2015

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7 January 2015

Classifieds

On the Soapbox

7 January 2015

Letters to the Editor

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

Thank you for taking us Downhill again...

As the past Rage dawned, Plett once again got the opportunity to show off when Nature Sport Company successfully staged another exciting Downhill Rage.

Introduced in 2013 this fastpaced, adrenaline-charged affair is becoming one of the most anticipated events of the year and the excitement was palpable as talented skateboarders raced their way past crowds down the famous Odlands Hill.

This year, 53 competitors lined up at the start in full leathers and helmets ready for a day of racing. You could hear the anticipation in the crowd as marshals’ white flags were raised, followed

by the roar of wheels on the tarmac as the skaters reached speeds of up to 90km/h, racing past hay bale lined corners to finish in style under the Red Bull arch.

The vibe was felt right from the top of the hill at The Table restaurant - which hosted the launch and prize-giving - all the way to the bottom, where hordes of locals and visitors jostled with each other to get photographs of the action.

The day started with time trials and Jason Brown claimed King of the Hill with a heart-stopping time of 44.31 seconds from top to bottom.

After lunch, the racing began with heats of four skaters each competing to get into

Thanks for the lights, Bitou The Keurbooms residents would like to thank Bitou Municipality for its efforts under difficult circumstances (sub-contractors, poor weather, etc.) to install the new electrical line for River Road.

We trust that this will bring a more reliable power supply to the road as well as reducing the outages experienced in Keurboomstrand. Street lights are an important and very welcome addition.

While there is more work to be completed (balance of the lighting and the new switchgear), this has been an important start, for which we are very grateful.

Special thanks go to Peter Harpestad and his team, as well as to the local owners who helped - particularly Flip van Rooyen, who made heavy equipment available.

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Permapletts and Templetts combine for a perfect Christmas campaign A couple of weeks ago, Plett’s Rotary Anns had a food collection for two and half days with the purpose of making Christmas hampers for the patients and their families who are receiving palliative care from Hospice Plett Aid. We were simply overwhelmed by the generosity of our local community, Permapletts and Templetts alike.

There are no words to convey adequately our gratitude - you all made it possible for us to hand over 60 wonderful hampers to Hospice Plett

Aid. Thank you all so much.

Another most sincere thank you is owed to the five knights in shining armour who assisted us with the packing of the hampers - you have truly been wonderful friends to our Anns.

They are Maurice & Mitchell Robin, Cameron Hatchett and his friend Matthew, and Anthony Taylor. Thanks to all of you, we can now say: “We love it when a plan comes together!”

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the knock-out rounds and eventually the final.

The competition was fierce and, with a few local favourites taking a tumble in the semifinals, the race was anybody’s.

It went right down to the wire as Kyle Wester from the USA crossed the finish line to beat SA number 1 Decio Lourenco to take the title.

Nature Sport Company is once again grateful to all our generous sponsors who helped make the event happen. Plett Tourism’s Cindy & Pete, you go that extra mile to make this town a happy place, and we thank Sector 9 for sponsoring epic prizes, along with Nixon, Peg, Plett Rage and Red Bull.

Without Plett Traffic’s professional control, this event would not have been possible.

Thanks also go to Face Adrenalin - you made the competitors very happy by sending them all off the world’s highest bungy down a custom-built ramp.

Our thanks also go to Candice, Jarryd, Decio, Lee,

Kyle, Marie, Roche, Gabi, Joey, Aubrey, Glen and Rolph.

The official results for the 2014 Plett Downhill Rage were: Mens - Kyle Wester (1st), Decio Lourenco (2nd), Richard Dweza (3rd), and Tom Courly (4th); Ladies Gabi Murray-Roberts (1st), Marie Bougourd (2nd), and Cherisse Morris (4th).

Congratulations, too, to top performing Juniors Tyron Coetzee, Ryan Morris, Joey Marcus, Jesse Martin, and Janoah Upton.

Apart from Kyle, we were thrilled to welcome wellknown international riders Lee Cation (Canada) and Marie Bougourd (France), and hope they will return for next year’s Downhill Rage.

Most importantly, we are grateful to the wonderful support from locals for coming out to watch, as well as for the tolerance and support of surrounding residents who were affected by the road closure.

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From doom and gloom to unbelievable success I would like to bring to the attention of your readers how extreme adversity has turned about to prosperity within a few months.

You will recall that, a few months ago, you published an article on Pieter van Eeden who so sadly and most unexpectedly passed away, leaving all working at Plett Realty in a state of flux.

Propitiously, Pieter had been at an advanced stage in the amalgamation with Engel & Völkers, thus allowing fortuitously for a new team to be created with new manager appointment - that of wellknown, most experienced and successful Plett realtor Jan Minnie.

Under his guidance and with a united, totally committed and highly motivated crew, exponential sales have and are being concluded and,

most confidently, this success will continue to grow.

The magnificent Highlands Farm that has been for sale for many years, for example, was sold last week without even having been granted a mandate.

The foregoing goes to prove that despair can be overcome with absolute dedication and will - so much so that a month ago, E&V Plett was standing at number 48 in order of monthly sales with considerable offices in contention countrywide. Second at the time of writing, we expected that we’d reach number one at end of December.

What a turnabout from unexpected doom and gloom to unbelievable success in such a short space of time!

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Est. 1984

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CXPRESS

Sport & Adventure

7 January 2015

Great fishing in Plett!

This report reached CXPRESS last month, penned by an extremely chuffed visiting angler called ‘Jeroen’

GEELBEK GALORE: Happy visitors with fellow anglers and crew of Plett Fishing Charters show off the Cape Salmon landed on a perfect day in the bay last month Photo: Gerhard van Huyssteen

W

E were about 45 minutes out from Beacon Isle and 2.5 hours into our trip when we decided to move to shallower waters instead of fishing up hake. Our ride, Plettenberg Bay Fishing Charters, took us to a reef area where there was said to be good fishing grounds for Cob and Red Roman.

The crew who took us out was keen on catching Geelbek (Cape Salmon) but they were not all too optimistic, as the fish were said to be very fussy about water tempera-

ture, i.e. it must be cold.

Yet, as we stopped and tossed line and tackle overboard, we were soon to see that Cape Salmon abounded!

Keen to catch my own beauty, I tossed out my double-hooked tackle with two slabs of pilchard on the end.

I managed to repeat this process twice while others were yanking in Cape Salmon like machines.

Then I thought ‘third time lucky’ and tossed in. I felt my line going slack as the sinker hit the bottom of the sea floor

about 25-30m below, reeling in a tad to prevent it from snagging on the reef - only to notice my line was overwound in the reel.

While proceeding to try and unwind it myself, a sharp tug panged up my fishing rod. Thinking it was the usual tug of the sinker, I continued trying to unravel the mess the line had made in my reel.

This stubborn disregard suddenly lead to me leaning back as the rod bent over in that crescent shape it makes when a fish is on the line. I fought it for about two minutes with the aid of the crew helping me to undo the mess of the line in my reel and the fight continued.

As the fish emerged it tugged hard and the reel turned back once. It then tugged harder and the reel spun out of control and broke off the rod. Misfortune dictated that I had to pull the whole reel and line back onto the boat, but then fortune smiled and we managed to land the fish by hand.

We won the war, and most definitely the Battle of the Geelbek. What an excellent day out with Plettenberg Bay Fishing Charters!

Book now for April biking adventure in the bay

T

HE 2015 Plett Adventure Bike Week will take place from Saturday April 25 to Sunday May 3. With the Monday (April 27) and Friday (May 1) being public holidays, the timing is more than ideal to visit Plett and enjoy some of the best adventure riding terrain in South Africa, if not the world.

The 2014 event established Plett as an ideal destination for adventure biking and with over 30 routes encompassing in excess of 5,000km of excellent riding terrain, there’s plenty of biking experiences to choose from.

The area surrounding Plett boasts an abundance of iconic passes, including Prince Alfred, Baviaanskloof, the Montagu and Swartberg Passes (with the Gamkaskloof ride into Die Hel off this route), and the Seven-Passes Road, to name a few.

All the routes are on public roads and there are no bikebreaking highly technical routes. This year’s event kicks off with a three-day Expo from April 25-27, with many leading bike and equipment brands on display and demo rides on offer.

“The Plett Adventure Bike Week is a gathering, not a competition and the focus is on fun, nature, adventure, safety, camaraderie and the sheer pleasure of riding an adventure bike in the terrain it was designed for,” says organiser Lance Rothschild.

“It is not aligned to any

particular brand and all riders of all types of adventure bikes are welcome.

“The Plett Adventure Bike Week adds a new dimension to the town’s tourism bouquet and we are looking forward to welcoming participants to

experience the Plett feeling,” says Plett Tourism chairman Peter Wallington.

Phone Lance Rothschild on 082 443 1530 or email pabw@opportunate.co.za and visit www.pabw.co.za for more information.

Plainsailing into top spot for multi-hull master Blaine Dodds Plett resident Blaine Dodds, who along with his children Peter Blaine and Roxanne, and fellow local sailors the family Edwards, has graced these pages often in the past with news of continued sterling performance in national and international Hobie competitions, has been selected ‘Sailing’ magazine’s Sailor of the Year. Says a spokesman for the mag: ‘Our Sailor of the Month awards have highlighted some really great talent, and made it exceptionally difficult for our four anonymous judges to pick a winner as there were simply so many talented sailors to choose from. With the award going to Blaine Dodds, it makes this just the second time a multi-hull sailor has won the title since inception in 2001. It’s richly deserved, as he has had an exceptional year on the water, winning three local national titles while being on the podium internationally as well.’ What an amazing achievement - congratulations, Blaine!

Visit www.sailing.co.za/sailor_of_the_month.php for more info.