TAKE NOTE

KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP

Massimo Galassi and Viki Ferreira.

Forest CAFE

Smelling the sea air, strolling along the uMhlanga promenade and enjoying a coffee – what better way to enjoy the outdoors this holiday season. By the time you read this Forest Cafe will have already opened at the northern end of the new boardwalk.

Bike & Bean have been appointed to operate the cafe, and owner Viki Ferreira says they look forward to offering the public their usual top-notch Bike & Bean experience through a variety of meal and beverage options as well as the ability to enjoy the forest as an added benefit to the beach side cafe atmosphere.

Regarding the new boardwalk, the first 250m of the 1km long structure has been completed and the addition of the Forest Cafe will add a new attraction to the area. But there is still a long way to go to completion and the UIP is calling on local businesses and the public to get behind this worthwhile initiative which not only protects and enhances the natural environment but also supports job creation and tourism.

Know your NUMBERS

HANDY PHONE NUMBERS FOR USEFUL SERVICES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

NORTH DURBAN VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES: (formerly Durban North/Umhlanga Crisis Team). Trauma debriefing: 066 483 8589 NO WATER? SIZA WATER: 032 946 7200 POISON INFORMATION 24-HOUR HELPLINE: (includes medication, toxic substances snake and spider bites): 0861 555 777 POWER FAILURE: 032 437 5081 TO REPORT INJURED MONKEYS: Monkey Helpline: 082 659 4711/ 082 411 5444 CONCERNS ABOUT TREATMENT OF ANIMALS – SPCA: 031 579 6500 TO REPORT POTHOLES AND BURST WATER PIPES: 080 131 3013 SNAKE CATCHERS: Jason Arnold 082 745 6375 Neville Wolmarans 082 561 4969 TO REMOVE BEES: Honey Bee Removals: 084 594 1122 WHALES AND DOLPHINS (beached as well as entangled in shark nets). Sharks Board: 031 566 0400

SUPPORT LOCAL

C.R.O.W. Runs Wild With Their 2022 Calendar

The Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife and Compass Cares partnered with talented South African photographer Kierran Allen, who graciously donated wildlife photos to be used in this year’s calendar. His impressive photography of the Great Migration in the Masai Mara inspired the 2022 calendar theme, “Running Wild”. The calendar features a collection of beautiful wildlife photography including photos of the Big 5 in a bold contemporary design.

The A2 wall calendar costs R200 and is packaged in an elegant box to make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, and corporate gift. The calendars are also available as an A5 tent calendar for R100, and a CD size desk calendar for R50.

The calendar launch also included the Compass Cats 2022 Wild Whiskers Calendar. Each of the 12 kittens and cats in the beautiful A3 calendar has a heart-warming story to share, with some seeking their furever home by adoption. The calendar costs R150 and is packaged in a gorgeous box. FOR MORE INFO: Go to compasswasteservices. co.za/compass-cares to place your order or view stockists. Visit their Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/ compassmedicalcares

Oribi Gorge ZIP LINE TOUR

The longest zipline tour in Africa, at 4,5km, doesn’t disappoint! Consisting of 14 slides, the most memorable and exhilarating being number six – which soars over the 300m high gorge and offers breath-taking views – this Lake Eland Adventure celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Another zipline crosses over the lake, and if you stretch your toes far enough you might just be able to touch the water. The final slide is through a tunnel and across a river.

For those concerned about safety, the lines are inspected by qualified guides every morning, and every six weeks by the engineer who helped design and build the course. So live a little, step out of your comfort zone, see fear turn into fun – that’s what it is all about!

FOR MORE INFO:

www.lakeeland.co.za/zip-line/

Personalised SANTA SACKS

Sustainable and personalised, these Santa Sacks are made from the jute plant, are biodegradable, and proudly local! Designed by an awardwinning South African illustrator and manufactured in South Africa, each sack is individually hand-finished with love in Durban by our skilled team of elves.

At 80cm tall and 53cm wide, the sacks are able to accommodate a wide variety and size of gifts. R399 per sack, includes personalisation and delivery.

FOR MORE INFO:

www.thechristmasco.co.za

KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP

Little Shop With A BIG HEART

While home industry shops have always had a welcome place in the food market, the perception is that they are generally limited to selling cakes, cookies, muffins and the like made by local food artisans. Home Baked in Durban North was much the same until Bronwyn Steenhuisen Matthews purchased the business in late 2019. A home baker of note, Bronwyn had been a supplier of some of their favourite cakes. “I saw huge potential and while I’ve always loved the home industry vibe, I had the idea of a bakery, deli and gift shop.”

Today the shop is a festive treasure trove with some brilliant ideas for home entertaining and culinary gifting. There are gourmet pastes, (think aubergine, chilli and basil), pestos (mushroom, leek and feta), relishes, vinegars, oils, hand-made Christmas crackers and sweets, delightful Christmas cookies, table decor, sumptuous cheese platters and yes, cakes.

“Our build-your-own Gingerbread House Kits have been very popular as gifts at the same time helping support a cause,” comments Bronwyn.

This dynamic mother of three young children takes immense pride in her business which currently supports 129 small businesses and employs a staff of five. “I’ve lived in Durban North all my life and love this special community.”

FOR MORE INFO:

082 880 6980; 175 uMhlanga Rocks Drive; www.facebook. com/homebakeddurban

Cox Yeats CELEBRATES

Cox Yeats Attorneys are proud to announce that 14 of their partners – the majority of them from the Durban practice – have been recognised in the 13th Edition of Best Lawyers® in South Africa. This is the largest of their number ever to have been included in the prestigious annual list, and a listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honour conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. “We couldn’t be more delighted with both Cox Yeats’ performance overall and the individual achievements,” says managing partner, Andrew Clark. “Richard Hoal’s (above) Lawyer of the Year accolade (Construction Law) is the cherry on the top.” This recognition goes to the nominee earning the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.

KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP

The STUDIOS

When next you’re browsing around Ballito Lifestyle Centre call into The Studios. Perhaps enjoy a nibble and quiet cup of really good coffee at Coffee Lab, before exploring this new shopping landscape.

This well designed, multi-functional space offers an eclectic mix of bespoke and personalised stores. The anchor store, One; mind body soul, offers the discerning buyer fashion conscious products ranging from furniture to note paper, linens and clothing.

Explore Petit Bisous or Sweet Peas for something special. You may need to visit Rush for all-day activewear or Rowdy for that must-have hand-made leather bag or satchel. It’s a millennial space, busy but with a quiet shopping atmosphere.

The Gallery is another browsable fixture bringing art back to the Ballito community. And, for the active or injured in need of rehabilitation, you can dash upstairs to the TashB full service pilates studio or join a Zumba class in the FitPod.

There is truly something for everyone within this intimate, beautifully designed little arcade.

Frothy THEATRICAL TREATS

The Playhouse Company presents a full and fantastic festive season with a fabulous selection of frothy theatrical treats to be staged over the year-end holidays. Traditionally the festive season is a time of families and whimsy, laughter and fun, pantos and ballet, song and dance. The Playhouse theatre has produced a carefully-curated programme of old school nostalgia, with a contemporary twist.

The Nutcracker: Opera Theatre: Dec 18 &19.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Drama Theatre: Dec 18-30. FOR MORE INFO: https:// playhousecompany.com; tickets available at https://www.webtickets.co.za

ABOVE: Former Judge President Vuka Tshabalala, a Trustee of Sibaya Community Trust, with learners from Stanger Primary School.

Sibaya Community Trust PROMOTES READING

Sibaya Community Trust has taken the initiative of sponsoring the double award-winning book My First IsiZulu Picture Dictionary to underprivileged schools. Learners have found that the book has made reading and learning fun and interactive, and has brought families together to read the stories.

“Schools that Sibaya Community Trust has sponsored the books to have adopted it into their reading programmes and have praised the versatility and efficacy of My First IsiZulu Picture Dictionary,” said Vivian Reddy, Chairman of Sibaya Community Trust. “The culture of reading must be expanded from a very young age and this full colour, easy-to-understand book is a great step towards that.”

To date, over 20 schools have benefitted from this book via the sponsorship of Sibaya Community Trust and Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom.