Franschhoek Tatler - June 2024

The Bag That Builds

It Takes a Village

Recycling plastic isn’t nearly as simple as one might think. Not only does plastic that goes to recycling have to be clean, but it must also be separated into one of seven types – not all of which are recyclable. A pilot project currently underway in the valley could help turn conventional wisdom about plastic recycling on its head.

The memorial fountain in front of the Franschhoek Town Hall is back in working order and looking resplendent after years of neglect. This is thanks to the efforts of a group of publiclyminded villagers, with financial support from the Franschhoek Lions and Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival.

The fountain was erected by a former Franschhoek mayor, Arthur McWilliam-Smith. It was built by the late local master builder Jan Roux, with ironwork by another former resident, Wolfgang Simon. The Latin inscription on the fountain reads (in English):

“This fountain is given in memory of my family, who loved Franschhoek, for the pleasure of those still living and for those, God willing, still to come. Arthur McWilliam-Smith 1994.”

Lodine Maske and Pat Jacobs, speaking for the Franschhoek Lions and Open Gardens Festival, respectively, expressed similar sentiments regarding the importance of community involvement in maintaining local heritage. Arthur McWilliam-Smith thanked the publiclyspirited individuals who brought the fountain back to its former glory. Notable among these are Michel Failé of Franschhoek Plumbing, Paul Silberman of PaintSmiths Franschhoek and Pat Jacobs – who had the town hall clock repaired.

Celebrating the newly repaired memorial fountain.

At the heart of the pilot project is a technology developed by the Center for Regenerative Design & Collaboration (CRDC). The technology allows plastic to be converted into an eco-additive – RESIN8 –that is added to concrete in the manufacturing of structural and other concrete products.

take part in the pilot programme.

– based on a design by the late renowned landscape architect Ann Sutton. The long missing roses in the garden have also been replaced thanks to the Open Gardens Festival.

The rose garden surrounding the fountain was developed by the Franschhoek Trust – a forerunner of the Franschhoek Heritage and Ratepayers Association

Text & Image: Editorial Desk

Replacing up to 20% of natural aggregates with RESIN8 in concrete product manufacture has several advantages: It improves the performance characteristics of concrete products, reduces the amount of quarried material used in the concrete and removes plastic waste from the environment. Best of all, all seven types of plastic can be converted into RESIN8 and it doesn’t have to be clean to be used.

CRDC SA has a processing plant in Cape Town from where the local leg of a global programme titled ‘The Bag That Builds’ is being rolled out. The programme is named after the distinctive green bags that are used to collect plastics for recycling.

The pilot programme will run for three months from 1 January 2023 as part of a larger cleaning and recycling effort that is coordinated by members of the Franschhoek Heritage and Ratepayers Association (FHRPA). Current initiatives include the privatelyfunded clean-up crew that cleans areas that are outside municipal jurisdiction or that need extra cleaning, the installation (and servicing) of refuse bins where they are lacking and monthly community clean-ups.

FLF Enriches Cultural Fabric

Held from 17- 19 May, the Franschhoek Literary Festival (FLF) again beckoned book lovers and those hungry for progressive dialogue and diverse perspectives. It attracted local and international authors, offering a spectrum of literary encounters from storytelling festivals to business breakfasts and writing workshops. The streets and venues buzzed with excitement as attendees exchanged ideas sparked by the festival’s diverse talks. The festival delved into a wide array of themes, including literature and writing craft, identity and diversity, social commentary and activism, nature and wildlife, cultural heritage and language, and personal growth and resilience. Beyond its cultural significance, the festival also offers a boost to the local economy ahead of the off-season.

Individuals and companies are rewarded per bag of plastic they collect, making it a simple way for anyone to earn a small income while improving the environment. A collection drive in the Langrug community has already led to the coining of the phrase ‘pick up your money’ to inspire residents to

Irmela Alberts, co-chair of the FHRPA says “We’re excited by both the environmental and economic opportunities this pilot programme presents for the valley. Our challenge now is to find ways to make it sustainable, so that the pilot programme can become a permanent one. We will keep the Franschhoek Valley cleaner, send significantly less rubbish to the landfill and through the involvement of the local schools contribute to creating a mindset where people litter less”

The Festival demonstrated impeccable organisation, ensuring every aspect ran smoothly and professionally. Festival attendees effortlessly navigated the village’s venues using the website’s

For more information or if you have any form of plastic that you want to get rid of feel free to contact Jocelyn at 073 587 6132.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

downloadable map. Easy-drinking wines from Porcupine Ridge were available on the Festival Lawn, on-the-move food options were accessible at the Festival Hub. Continuedonp2...

On Thursday, 8 December 2022, the first 830 bags of plastic waste collected in the valley were sent to a cuttingedge plant in Cape

Roads Successes for Muni

...Continuedfromp1

Convenient coffee stations were also strategically placed at various locations. Exclusive Books hosted a pop-up store at the Town Hall, while book sales were also available at venues.

As always, the Festival featured an impressive line-up of speakers, representing a diverse range of voices from both local and international literary landscapes. From celebrated authors like Cecelia Ahern, renowned for her heart-warming novels, to influential figures like Thuli Madonsela, former Public Protector of South Africa, the festival provided insights into various genres and topics. Notable names such as David Walliams, renowned British comedian and author, added a touch of humour to the event, while thought-provoking discussions led by individuals like Patrick Radden Keefe delved into pressing issues like the opioid epidemic. With a blend of established voices and emerging talents, including poets like Koleka Putuma and political commentators like Justice Malala, the festival truly embodied the richness and diversity of contemporary literature and intellectual discourse.

On Friday, 17 May, the Festival featured a rich line-up of talks, including the Short Story Writing Workshop led by Troy Onyango where aspiring writers gleaned essential techniques in crafting short fiction. The screening of “A Home is Not a House” at the Franschhoek Theatre captivated audiences with its bold exploration of class and race dynamics in Cape Town. Fans had the opportunity to engage with renowned Irish author Cecelia Ahern during brunch at the Dutch Reformed Church Hall, gaining insights into her iconic characters and the adaptation of her works for television. Also at the Franschhoek Theatre, Africa Melane’s interview with Olympic track champion Caster Semenya in “Run for Your Love” delved into themes of resilience and identity, inspiring attendees with Semenya’s personal narrative of overcoming adversity. The panel discussion “Landlocked” engaged experts in a discourse on land inequality in South Africa, addressing critical issues of social justice and economic development.

Saturday, 18 May, featured the Romance Writing Workshop led by Sarah Bullen at the Franschhoek Library delved into crafting compelling love stories, while the “Enter the Screenplay” workshop at the Huguenot Chocolate Shop offered insights into adapting novels for the screen. “Queertopia” at the

Council Chamber fostered dialogue on emerging themes in queer literature, led by Letlhogonolo Mokgoroane with LGBTQI+ authors. Koleka Putuma’s Poetry Performance at the Church Hall showcased powerful verses, while the Evita @ 80 event at the NG Church provided a humorous yet insightful reflection on South African politics through the lens of the iconic Evita Bezuidenhout.

Sunday, 19 May, presented a captivating line-up of discussions and presentations that sparked audience engagement on diverse topics.

“Prescription: Ice Cream” at the New School Hall featured Africa Melane in conversation with Alastair McAlpine about his memoir, offering profound insights from his career in palliative paediatrics. Meanwhile, “The Write Therapist” at the Old School Hall brought together writers Thobeka Yose, Margie Orford, and Megan Choritz to explore the therapeutic nature of writing about personal trauma. “The Bok Revolution” at the NG Church examined the transformation of the Springboks in South African rugby, while “The Motherload” at the New School Hall delved into themes of mental illness and family dynamics in novels by Cecelia Ahern and Wisani Mushwana. Lastly, “Fighting Words” at the NG Church explored the enduring influence of literature on culture and society.

The FLF is also about giving back to the community, with proceeds supporting local libraries and educational initiatives. Preceding the FLF, the Franschhoek Reading Festival Week is a celebration of literacy filled with fun activities for learners. The aim is to raise funds to purchase 27,000 books to meet the South African school library standard of 10 books per learner at the four supported schools – Wemmershoek Primary, Dalubuhle Primary, Groendal Primary, and WesEind Primary.

The Franschhoek Literary Festival owes much of its success to its sponsors, including Porcupine Ridge, a Founding Sponsor and News24, the Platinum Sponsor. Gold Sponsors Yellowwoods Social Investments NPC, Jonathan Ball Publishers, Standard Bank Wealth and Investment, Exclusive Books and Ninety One also play integral roles. Additional support from nb uitgewers publishers, Pan Macmillan, Pam Golding Properties, Le Quartier Français, and SterreKopje enhances the festival’s impact.

Text & Image: Leila Shirley

Franschhoek residents may have two reasons for a celebration – if not immediately, at least in the medium term. The twin sources of the good news are the provincial roads department and municipal infrastructure directorate. Thanks to the efforts of the two road authorities the R45 between Franschhoek and Paarl (via Simondium) will undergo significant upgrades during the next three years and part of it will be transferred from provincial control to that of Stellenbosch Municipality.

The Tatler hasn’t been able to confirm the starting date for the upgrades but can report the following:

The R45 from Groot Drakenstein/Allée Bleue to the Old Paarl Road will be reconstructed. This upgrade will include traffic signals at the Allée Bleue/R310 intersection and – if the proposals circulated in 2017 are still applicable – a new double-lane road-overrail bridge just before the Old Paarl Road. Readers will be aware that the road passing under the railway line has been the cause of many problems over the years. This historic feature will however be retained as part of a proposed service road.

From Groot Drakenstein to the end of the Franschhoek Pass the road will be resealed and traffic signals installed at the Wemmershoek and Allee Bleue intersections. The LeRoux Street/ R45 intersection will be upgraded with turning and acceleration lanes. (It’s not clear if any upgrades are planned for the Bridge House School or Bosbou/La Motte intersections.)

Once the road has been resealed, Stellenbosch Municipality will take over control of the section of the R45 from Franschhoek Cellar to the Wemmershoek intersection.

Stellenbosch Executive Mayor Adv. Gesie van Deventer said about the upgrades: “We are gratified to hear about the R45 improvements. We have been engaging with the provincial authorities for some time to bring about some of these changes. Franschhoek residents can be assured that further interventions will follow once the Franschhoek Cellar – Wemmershoek section has

been transferred to the municipality. Funding for an intersection upgrade at the R45/LeRoux Street intersection is already on the draft municipal budget for 2024/2025 and we’ll also look at further safety improvements such as speed reductions and more street lighting.”

The provincial government has budgeted R370 million during the 2024/2025 financial year for the rehabilitation of Main Road 191 (R45) from Paarl to Franschhoek. Reconstruction of the Groot Drakenstein – Old Paarl Road section was scheduled to have been done in 2017/2018, but the funds were diverted for emergency repairs after the 2017 Garden Route fire disaster.

(The Tatler asked the provincial infrastructure departmentforcomment,butatthetimeofgoing topresshadn’treceivedany.)

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Google Streetview

UNESCO DG Visits

The Director General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, recently visited the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) office in Franschhoek to experience the natural beauty of the area and learn about its various projects, programmes and developments, as well as the communities within this UNESCO-protected area.

Representatives from UNESCO Paris, the UNESCO Regional Office South Africa, the South African Commission for UNESCO, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, and other officials also attended the event.

During her visit, Ms. Azoulay joined the Citizen Science programme with local youth. These young participants regularly test the rivers in the area, uploading the data onto a Biosphere Reserve app. This information is used for research as part of the Be Resilient climate change programme and is available to water users and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). Additionally, IOT equipment is being installed to remotely monitor rivers and provide flood early-warning systems.

The visit highlighted the critical role of the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve in conserving biodiversity, promoting education and training, supporting vulnerable communities, and empowering young women and girls. It also underscored the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships, both locally and internationally, in biodiversity conservation and water resource management. These efforts align with the three main functions of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve programme: conserving biodiversity and cultural diversity, promoting socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable economic development, and providing logistical support through research, monitoring, education, and training.

Text & Image: CWBR

Don Pinnock talks to Adam Welz (The End of Eden) and Sandra Swart (The Lion’s Historian: Africa’s Animal Past) about the animal–human relationships.

More Sailing Skills for Bridge House Learners!

Fourteen young sailors from Bridge House, ranging in ages from 10 to 16, embarked on a four-day journey into the world of sailing at Theewater Sports Club. Hosted by the Sailing Academy Theewater from 4 – 7 April, this youth sailing camp was a blend of learning, skills-building and fun.

While some young sailors had prior experience, the camp attracted a few newcomers. Guided by the expertise of the Sailing Academy Theewater, accredited by both World Sailing and South African Sailing, safety protocols remained paramount during the camp.

The changing weather conditions posed some interesting challenges for the young sailors, offering a spectrum of conditions from gentle breezes of 2 knots to gusts nearing 30 knots. When the weather proved too extreme, theory sessions and onshore activities kept students busy and engaged.

Day one offered young sailors an introduction to the anatomy of boats and sails, followed by handson rigging exercises and dry drills for tacking. Novices braved the waters alongside their more experienced peers, guided by vigilant instructors aboard the safety boat. Adverse conditions later in the day led to a shift in focus to theory sessions, knot-tying practice and flag painting.

The second day offered gentler winds, allowing beginners to hone their skills on a figure-eight reachto-reach course, while advanced students participated in the Overberg Regional Championships regatta – a prestigious two-day event. As winds picked up in the afternoon, less experienced sailors built model boats ashore and played sailing-related games.

Finally, day three saw the wind switch southeast, resulting in flat water in Jimmy’s bay, ideal conditions to progress the new and intermediate sailor’s skills.  Meanwhile, participants in the regatta faced challenging conditions in the main dam, showcasing their resilience and prowess on the water. The camp concluded with a concentration on advanced skills, such as sailing blindfolded and executing rudderless manoeuvres.

The sailing camp owes a big thank you to several parties who contributed to its success: Ma Baker for her tasty food, the Theewater Sports Club staff

for the venue and safety boat, and Charlie Lorentz and Jacques le Roux from Bridge House for their support as liaisons with the school and parents.

The Sailing Academy eagerly anticipates hosting Bridge House students again at another sailing camp in the spring.

The Sailing Academy offers diverse avenues for sailing enthusiasts. From dinghy and Hobie sailing lessons and camps at Theewater Sports Club to keelboat courses at Gordons Bay Yacht Club, there’s something for everyone eager to explore the world of sailing. For inquiries contact Neil Ashton at +27 72 219 5951 or coach@sailingacademy.co.za. Stay updated on upcoming events and developments by visiting their website at https://sailcoachonline. com/ or following them on Facebook at https:// www.facebook.com/sasailingacademy.

Text: Leila Shirley | Image: Provided

Heidi offers all regular audiological (hearing) assessment, the supply and repair of all types of mainstream hearing aids, auditory processing assessment and therapy, and tinnitus management.

Practicing newly learned sailing skills

& WINE PAIRING FROM

Franschhoek

Walk

Cellar

T

E fhccellardoor@dgb.co.za

Franschhoek Cellar’s Ribbon/Bowtie Pasta with Pea Pesto, Toasted Flaked Almonds, Mange tout, Parmesan, White Truffle Oil

Ingredients

1 Cup of ribbon or bowtie pasta; ¾ Cup frozen green peas; ½ Cup sliced mange touts; ½ Onion; 2 Clove garlic; ½ Cup grated parmesan/hard cheese; Olive Oil ½ tsp White truffle oil; 2 Tbsp toasted almond flakes; Salt to taste.

Method

Blend the frozen peas and little bit of oil until chunky. Then add a few drops of the white truffle oil, the clove of garlic, parmesan and salt. Blend just until all the ingredients are mixed well. Cook your pasta until al dente. Then, fry off the chopped onion and the other clove of garlic. Then add chopped mangetout and the pesto. Add in your cooked pasta. Allow the ingredients warm and mix together. Sprinkle with your toasted almonds and season to taste. T 021 876 2086 E fhccellardoor@dgb.co.za ANSWER THIS EASY QUESTION! Whichbusinessrecently donatedschoolsockstolocalschools?

Franschhoek Team Dominates Simola Hillclimb

Franschhoek race driver and team owner Ian Schofield starred at this year’s Knysna Simola Hillclimb when he ended second behind Robert Wolk in a dominant team 1-2. Schofield won his class in his Investchem Formula 1600, while multiple SA Touring Car champion Wolk took King of the Hill in his Chemical Logistics Pilbeam MP58 Infiniti V8.

“What can I say, Kings of the Hill!” Ian whose team cars are prepared at Hendrik Lamola’s race shop at Four Paws in the Valley admitted. “We have been coming here for years, so it’s great to finally walk away with the all-important King of the Hill award. “Thanks to Hendrik and the entire team for a splendid effort as ever.”

Hendrik Lamola’s Franschhoek workshop is responsible for preparing the lion’s share of the South African National Investchem Formula 1600 Championship race cars. The shop is located adjacent to the Winelands Car Museum, which is open for public viewing to Wine Tram

visitors to the Four Paws estate. Text: Michele Lupini Image: www.motorsportmedia.co.za

GOOD NEWS STORY

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Uncorked Music Academy!

Firstly, a big thank you to the wonderful generosity of all the donors and sponsorsyour contributions helped to successfully launch the Uncorked Music Academy.

The academy’s VISION is to empower the youth of Franschhoek through music lessons to cultivate new skills, strive for personal growth, contribute positively to their community, avoid the challenges of street life, and acquire expertise that can form the foundation for a meaningful career.

The academy’s MISSION is to provide accessible and quality music education to the youth of Franschhoek, fostering an environment where they can discover, develop, and apply their musical talents.Through mentorship and community engagement, we aim to instil values of self-improvement, community service, and the pursuit of sustainable careers, ultimately shaping well-rounded individuals equipped for a successful future.

We look forward to watching the growth and creativity that will flourish within the academy!

Franschhoek Celebrates Bastille 2024

*In proud partnership with Prescient. 13 & 14 July 2024

Franschhoek Wine Valley invites you to dive into the vibrant tapestry of French culture during the valley's iconic annual Bastille celebrations. Whether you opt to savour the wine tastings within the legendary Bastille marquee, where festivities abound with local food stalls and live entertainment, or opt to wander through the bustling streets, soaking in the undeniable atmosphere of the village alive with celebration - there's something for everyone to enjoy!

Find out more: www.franschhoekbastille.co.za

Thoughts From My Kitchen

Chantal Lascaris

Winter Warmers

As winter wraps its chilly embrace around us, there’s a culinary ally that can provide both comfort and warmth: curries. These flavourful dishes, originating from various cultures like Indian, Thai and our own Malay, offer a myriad of benefits beyond just satisfying our taste buds.

Curries are a hotbed of spices, such as turmeric, cumin, garam masala and chili, renowned for their warming properties. Consuming spicy foods can raise body temperature and stimulate circulation, making them ideal for combating the winter chill. Moreover, the ingredients commonly found in curries, like garlic, ginger and onions are rich in antioxidants and vitamins that help boost the immune system – a necessity during the cold and flu season.

Not only do curries provide physical warmth, they also offer a psychological boost during the gloomy winter months. The vibrant colours, aromatic spices and complex flavours can elevate our mood and alleviate seasonal blues.

So indulging in a steaming bowl of curry during winter isn’t just a culinary pleasure, it’s a wise choice for staying warm, healthy and uplifted during the frosty month ahead.

This recipe has all the qualities and flavours of butter chicken, but with a little less fat than usual. It’s more about the flavour than the hot spice so it appeals to just about everyone. I like to serve this with extra chilli on the side so those who like it hot, can add as much as they want. The secret to the tender chicken is in the marinating, so the longer you leave it in the marinating sauce, that tastier and more succulent it will be.

Butter Chicken

Ingredients:

400 – 500g chicken breast fillets, sliced into strips; 1 onion, chopped; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 50g unsalted, roasted cashews, chopped; 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes; 1 tsp crushed garlic; Salt and pepper to taste; 2½ Tbsp sugar or sugar substitute; 2 tsp garam masala; 1 - 2 tsp curry powder; 2 tsp white wine vinegar; 2 Tbsp water; 3 Tbsp butter; 5 Tbsp Greek yoghurt; Fresh coriander for garnishing;

Sliced fresh chilli for garnishing (optional)

Marinade:

½ tsp crushed fresh ginger; ½ tsp crushed garlic; 1 tsp curry powder; 1 Tbsp olive oil; Salt

1. To prepare the marinade, place the ingredients in a sealable bag and add the chicken.

Massage well, ensuring the chicken is well coated. Leave to marinade for approximately 1 hour or preferably overnight.

2. Meanwhile, in a large pot, gently sauté the onion in the olive oil until softened. Add the chopped cashews to the onions, along with the canned tomatoes and stir together. Mix in the garlic, salt, pepper, sugar, garam masala, curry powder, white wine vinegar and water until well combined. Leave to simmer for a few minutes.

3. Remove from the heat and, using a hand blender, blend the ingredients until fine. Add the marinated chicken (including any leftover marinade) to the sauce and continue to cook until the chicken is done. Be careful not to overcook the chicken.

4. Add in the butter and Greek yoghurt and stir until the butter has melted and all the ingredients are well blended. Garnish with fresh coriander and sliced chilli (if using).

5. Serve with rice, or a starch of your choice.

Cellar Chat

Mark Tanner

The headline read “Wine bottled for Princess Margaret for the Silver Jubilee in 1976 among the collection of Serena Countess of Snowden heading to auction”.

What can we read into this? Well, the wine must be at least 48 years old to start with and we are dealing with senior royalty so we can be assured that the wine was well chosen but not necessarily cripplingly expensive. We learn that the wine is a German Riesling which offers both good and bad news. Some German Rieslings are perfectly capable of considerable improvement while maturing, which is the good news. The bad is that this only applies up to around seven to ten years. After that one might require the palate of a vulture to appreciate the wine. We also learn that the wine is expected to sell for between £30 to £60 (R700 to R1400) per bottle at auction. This fairly low price would suggest that the value is linked to the bottle and not the contents of the bottle – a fairly common occurrence at auctions. In New York recently a Bordeaux vintage was sold for $53 000. Such wines are never actually drunk. They simply go back on auction sometime later to be sold at an even higher price. Perhaps the good Countess of Snowden has some other bottles tucked away for the future?

My personal experience with old wine is limited to say the least. Many years ago I attended a private tasting at Fairview at which the owner, Charles Back, produced a 20 year old Semillon. Once a white wine it had developed the caramel colour of whisky and, on tasting, was remarkably like sherry. This was a one-off experience to show that while the wine had aged it had changed character completely. It was not really drinkable in the accepted sense.

More recently, I obtained a few bottles of Sauvignon Blanc from an Elgin Valley vineyard that were 14 years old. The wine was straw yellow in colour but still had plenty of fruit and was a pleasure to drink at a knock down price. It just goes to show that it is worth listening to the guys at the Pub! The oldest wine that I have heard of is a positively ancient example of survival. A Roman

bottle of a questionable liquid resides in the Pfalz Historical Museum at Speyer in Germany. Air was kept out of contact with the wine by a layer of oil on the surface providing preservation. Immediately south of Dijon in Burgundy is the unprepossessing village of Vosne Romanèe. Producing both red and white wines since 1834, Romanèe-Conti is internationally recognized as being up there with the best of the best; if not actually being the best in its own right. It follows that they should produce wines with long lives, and they certainly do. The most expensive wine ever sold is a revered Domaine de la RomanèeConti 1945 vintage which was sold in Geneva in 2023 for a whopping US$558,000. What makes this wine so very special? Consider that having been made during the Second World War there was much weighed against it. Being produced in wartime there was a very limited production which accounts for its rarity. That, combined with their exceptional commitment to excellence produced a world winner. Cheers.

Domaine de la Romanèe-Conti 1945

Tatler Motoring

Saturday Morning with the Splendid 911 Outlaw

“What the hell is an Outlaw?” I asked in the pub a few days before. I came to know Alex through our chats at the local. We share several passions, from KTM through Ducati to driving fast and Ferrari. So, when the subject suddenly switched to ‘the Outlaw’, I was taken aback. For a second!

“It’s my Nine-Eleven,” he sheepishly owned up. Aah! There we go! An Outlaw is of course a rodded Porsche. It’s a pretty generic term as nobody really agrees on an exact definition of what a stripped and slammed Porsche should be.

The term Outlaw originally referred to modified Porsche 356s back in the ‘fifties. It was only natural for the term to filter down to 911s. I actually know that full well, it’s just that our conversation came in from a very different angle, so he’d lost me. Some Outlaws are simply 911s with a few visual tweaks. Others like Alex’s are a bit more than that.

Outlaw Growl Stirred the Neighborhood

Anyway, come Saturday morning the growl rustled up our usually sleepy Cabernet Drive as Alex rocked up to fetch me. It was a misty, fresh morning so a

touch damp too. Alex’s Outlaw is pretty darn cool from the get-go. Slammed as an Outlaw should be, this light dove, or is that tractor grey interpretation started life as a 911T way back in ’72.

I’m honored to take the wheel. It fires up lazy on the starter as old 911s tend to, barks to life with a sexy boxer six growl. The gearlever is long and loose, there’s clearly no brake booster and the front end’s super honest through the wheel. Alex says too much so. I disagree as I turn onto the main road, into the grey murk. I prefer a responsive nose.

The Saturday morning traffic is stubborn, so we chat as we try our best to blend in. “I aways wanted an Outlaw, so this bucket of bolts was the perfect excuse,” Alex owns up. “It had a tough life and was eventually built into a 2.7 RS race replica by the late Peter Gough (a legendary South African race driver, google him), and raced for many a year.

This 911T Had a Tough Life, Became a Racecar “Then it was stripped for a stillborn project and that’s how I found it, the body to one side, the seats an interior the other. We stripped it down to the metal and removed a little rust, prepped it and we resprayed the shell. No, it’s not Tractor Grey,” he giggles. “It’s called Dolphin Grey! We kept the Bilstein race suspension but softened it a bit, and these are 930 Turbo wheels.

“We did quite a bit of custom stuff and I was lucky to find a period the Nardi steering wheel and we took a lot of time to get the seats, the cross-stitched red leather panels, the custom kick plate with the

THE HILLS WERE

ALIVE...

... to the sound of motors. The annual Simola Hillclimb took place in Knysna from May 3-5 an FMM was present to demonstrate the museum’s 1953 Peugeot Hillclimber, which performed a similar role in the very first hillclimb, which took place in 2009. Since then, apart from a hiccup during the Covid pandemic, the hillclimb has been run every year and has grown in status to now being acknowledged as one of South Africa’s premier motor sport events. It attracts a big crowd and over the weekend and receives widespread media attention.

The Friday is devoted to classics and sees everything from a 1926 Austin 7 to late-1970s Formula Atlantic single-seaters powering up the 1,9 kilometre climb. The Saturday and Sunday is devoted to the modern machinery, competing for the prestigious King of the Hill title. Preceding the racing, Knysna’s Waterfront Drive is closed off to allow all the entries to take part in

VISITING FMM

FMM’s opening time are Monday to Friday 10h00 to 17h00 (last admittance 16h00), Saturday and Sunday 10h00 to 16h00 (last admittance 15h00). Visiting the museum is by appointment only and via online booking. Entry fees: R80 adults, R60 pensioners and motor club members (with membership ID), R40 children (ages 3-12). Only

a ‘parade’, which in reality is a one-at-a-time blast down the road. The packed crowd revel in being so close to the action, and the excitement sets the tone for the rest of the weekend.

This year, Workshop Technician Donny Tarentaal and Assistant Curator Sian Theron took to the hills in the Peugeot. Commentator Greg Maloney chatted with FMM’s Mike Monk about the car’s history as Donny powered up the hill, while Sian did a video shoot from the passenger seat. When in the pits, the car certainly drew a lot of admiring attention, especially from TV personality Sasha Martinengo.

Workshop Manager Lorenzo Farella and Technician Wentsley Wicomb made up the rest of the FMM crew taking care of the Peugeot. For a fuller report and more images, look out for the next FMM monthly by logging-on to www.fmm.co.za and subscribe to the list. It’s free!

electronic payments are accepted. The famed FMM Pitstop Deli is open throughout the visiting hours. For booking tickets and any other information as well as signing on for a free monthly newsletter, logon to www.fmm.co.za or phone 021 874 9000 or e-mail fmm@fmm.co.za

A Local Geological Journey with Nick Norman

While you may know something of the geological forms seen in the Franschhoek Valley, it is no simple task to piece together these features into a story of the valley’s geological history. Local geologist and published author, Nick Norman, speaks and writes accessibly about the otherwise remote world of rocks. Born in Kwa-Zulu Natal where he completed his M.Sc in Geology, Nick has explored far and wide in search of the stories embedded in rocks. After exploring South American and Southern African geological features, Nick settled in Franschhoek in 1981 where he has since continued to write and explore the world of rocks.

Nick tells the fascinating story of how the Franschhoek Valley has taken on its present form after hundreds of millions of years and is still changing. You may know that the Franschhoek Mountains are formed from sandstone, a kind of sedimentary rock, and form part of the Cape Fold Mountains. Nick emphasises that these mountains, despite forming part of the Cape Fold Mountains, do not owe their current form to the process of folding (the convergence of plate tectonics that heaves vast quantities of the Earth’s material upward, forming mountains). Rather, our Franschhoek Mountains and valley were formed from an extremely slow process of erosion, mainly by water.

badge and the rest just right.” The stripped-down cabin is as tastefully done as the bodywork. Some of the period bits like the wiper blades are a bit fussy. “It’s never been out in the rain before!”

And the lights apparently don’t shine too bright. We finally cross the freeway divide to escape the Saturday swell. Happily, the morning mist is burning through just enough to burn it a bit.

That Roar Becomes a Surge of Revs

That roar becomes a surge, it revs beautifully through to seven in third. But then the tacho starts getting wonky, so I use discretion rather than valor from there. That darty front end settles down to a nicely poised posture and it bounces just like a properly tuned race car should over the bumps. What a pleasure!

In accounting for this, Nick takes us back to almost 600 million years ago. He explains that a sedimentation process was underway at this time, followed by folding. Igneous intrusions were being formed (molten rock which pushes its way up from the Earth’s mantle and into sedimentary rock formations). These would form Paarl Rock and the granite rock formations on Montpellier farm (near Bridge House School), exposed to the surface by erosion. The deposition of the sediments would form an impressive basin extending from Clanwilliam to Port Elizabeth and beyond (now removed by Continental Drift).

I demand more info on the engine. “Oh, that!”

Alex beams. “We sourced a 3-litre air-cooled 911 SC mill, did the rods and pistons, fitted twin spark heads with a hot cam timing, big valves, and tougher springs. We kept the mechanical fuel injection with throttle bodies, replaced the gas distributor with a Motech ECU and fitted RSR headers and a free flow exhaust.”

Now deep into the brilliant Western Cape autumn countryside, the road is clear, visibility is good, and my host urges me to cane it. Alex’s Outlaw is still a race car through and through. That shines through just like the sun is starting to as the fields blur by.

Outlaw is Diligent and Comfy on the Freeway

Like all good things, it comes to an end as we

The folding that would ensue once more, explains Nick, would heave material up to an almost Himalayan scale! This time the erosion of these gigantic mountains would supply sediments extending across the entire Karoo Basin. Millennia of erosive action would give way to a gently undulating plain. At this stage, the supercontinent, Gondwana, would start to break up due to stirrings

turn onto the freeway and finally head towards our Cape Town city destination, the old 911 diligent and shockingly comfy on the long flat road. The conversation goes to the worth of this here Outlaw. “Well, that’s a bit of a curve ball,” Alex explains. “When we built this car a few years back, Outlaws were pretty valuable, and it certainly still is. But the market has changed dramatically and a good, original 911T is now all of a sudden worth more!” I ask if he’d change it back. “No, never, I’d rather find another 911 T, or even an S, maybe even a good original, or turn a rough one and back to original.” Is there anything else Alex wants to do with his Outlaw. “Yeah, perhaps,” he concludes. “I’ve been thinking of finding one of those last Aircooled three-point-sixes to finish it off. And then to fix all these little gremlins you noticed; they bug me just as much too!”

The Awesome Scent of a Freshly Caned Outlaw

With that in mind, we trundle into the city and park outside classic emporium Crossley & Webb, still early enough in that day for a legit and well needed cappuccino. Old Outlaw is tick-tick-ticking as we emerge.

Nick Norman with the Wemmershoek Mountains in the background.

I wait a bit to take that in along with the awesome scent of a freshly well-caned sportscar. Before yielding to the aroma of that freshly ground coffee. Now that’s the way to spend a perfect Outlaw Saturday morning!

Images: Lupini

in the Earth’s mantle. This movement would shape the landscape anew - new continents, mountains, oceans, coastlines, and rivers. This landscape dictated how the water would flow inland, capturing previous headwaters, and finding its way toward the oceans. In so doing, these active young rivers would carve out new valleys. And this is how the Franschhoek Valley and surrounding mountains came into being.

JUNE NEWS

A GOLDEN CHEV

Anyone who remembers the 1970s will recall the Chevrolet 2500/3800/4100 range as one of SA’s most popular cars of the time. It was roomy, strong and reliable, and sold in big numbers, often topping the local sales charts. They lasted long after the model ceased production in 1978. In 1976, General Motors SA celebrated its golden jubilee, and to celebrate the occasion, it produced a GA (Golden Anniversary) version of the range-topping 4100.

Developed from the Opel Commodore, the Chev was developed alongside the Commodore in Opel’s Rüsselsheim facility and differed visually by having a stylish, power-bulged bonnet to accommodate the six-cylinder Chevrolet engines. The grille and headlamp treatments were also different. The 4100 boasted front-seat head restraints and Bristol cloth seat inserts as its luxury feature advantage over the other models. But for the GA, a few unique items were added to the automatic version including full-face velour upholstery and ‘GA’ badging on the rear-door quarter-lights.

Inside, comprehensive instrumentation –including a clock – was inlaid in a wood-look binnacle. Safety equipment included front and rear deformation zones, an energy absorbing steering column, three-point front seatbelts and anti-burst door locks. Dual halogen headlamps were high-tech for the time. A vinyl roof, Cruise Master cruise control and a Sharp

Traces of this history can be identified in the valley. For example, river stones may be observed near Wemmershoek Primary School, which testify to the fact that the Berg River had meandered from one side of the valley to the other, carving out the valley as it went. The geological foundations described have also set the scene for the ecological systems surrounding us. From the sandy nutrient-poor soil, derived from the extremely hard quartzitic sandstone, the world’s most bio-diverse flora has sprung forth: fynbos. Indeed, the harsh conditions have required our indigenous plant life to be resourceful, adaptive, and evolutionarily creative. It follows that the fauna have also had to acclimatise to this harsh terrain. And yet, the valley’s ecology has provided enough organic matter, mixing with the eroded sedimentary rock and granite, to form soil that is fertile enough to produce some of the world’s finest wines and natural produce. And so we find ourselves entwined in the ongoing geological and ecological story of the land in our valley. If this story piqued your interest, Nick’s books can be purchased or ordered from your local book vendor. His publications include Going to Ground, Box of Rocks, Geology Off the Beaten Track, The Extraordinary World of Diamonds, and Geological Journeys. For more information about Nick, you can visit his website: https://www.nicknormanbook.com/.

Text: Leila Shirley | Image: Nick Norman

FM radio were fitted, but there was no air-con. The single-carb petrol motor developed an underwhelming 99 kW at 4200 r/min but a substantial 319 N.m of torque is produced at a low of 1600 r/min. Transmission is GM’s robust three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 350. Power steering was standard. Servo-assisted dual-circuit disc/drum brakes provide strong stopping power.

The 4100 GA is a prime example of what the Chevrolet brand represented in SA at the time – the everyday vehicle for everyday people. FMM’s low-mileage example is currently on view in Hall B.

FATHER’S DAY

Logon to www.fmm.co.za for details of FMM’s plans for a special Father’s Day celebration on June 16.

I’ve often mused in the past on how May is one of the most unpredictable months of the year. Every farmer in the winter rainfall area will tell stories of the years they waited for the rain to sow their crops, with the end of May being the ultimate deadline. In dry years the joke is that farmers plant on the 50th of May. This year things seem different. We were blessed with abundant early rains, and winter quickly pushed a short autumn out of the way. My soil is too waterlogged to work already – a pity because I had big plans to prepare new sections for vegetable planting in spring. I will have to go no-till this season and will experiment with sowing a green manure crop in narrow drills in the soil. Adding some radish and other root crops should loosen the soil enough to make up for the lack of deep cultivation. This green manure sowing must be done before the end of the month to ensure enough biomass to dig into the soil in spring. Finding a decent green manure seed mix in small quantities might be difficult and expensive for the home gardener. I’ve successfully used a mix of my expired vegetable and flower seeds combined with a garden bird seed blend from the pet food section. This gives a good variety of grains and green material. Adding some peas to the mix will trap nitrogen in the soil for the next season.

You will have to utilize the sunny days between the cold fronts to their best, because May is a busy gardening month, with the rewards only coming much later in the season. Your autumn pruning should be well on its way by now, with only the late flowering shrubs such as Solanum, Tecomaria, Leonotis, Lavender, Plumbago and Hibiscus that still needs to be pruned. Tree surgery to deciduous trees also needs to be done sooner rather than later. Pay attention to overgrown evergreen trees and shrubs by cutting away some of the lower branches and opening the canopy to let in more sunlight. Perennials such as Canna’s, Michaelmas daisies, Japanese anenomes, Salvia and Gaura should all be cut back hard this month. Fertilise and mulch afterwards. Lift Dahlia bulbs if you have clay soil; in well-drained soil most bulbs and tubers can be left in the ground over winter. Fertilise all winter flowering shrubs with a balanced fertilizer.

June is our darkest month. Even though the solstice on the 20th signals the beginning of our astrological winter, we look forward to the days slowly lengthening after this date. The avid gardener gets up early and makes the most of the available sunlight to get her mid-winter tasks done. And with the rain being late this season, there is plenty to do to keep you busy this month. There is still time this year to get a cover crop onto fallow beds – use a combination of winter rye, wheat, lupins, and wild mustard. For the ornamental garden, a few bumper packs of spring flowering seedlings can be mixed in. This will give you a lush living mulch in spring that can be enjoyed for its beauty before being cut and worked lightly into the soil as a green manure source. It is also a good month for new landscaping projects; the soil should still be dry enough to work and any plants planted now will have a full rainy season to establish themselves before the heat and drought of summer hits again. Many nurseries are running Fynbos specials, and you will get a chance to pick protea and pincushion plants in bloom. Those must be planted in well-drained soil – we often lose plants through root rot in winter. Fynbos does not like high phosphates, so no bone meal, but augment the soil well with slightly acidic compost into which a slow-release fertiliser is mixed. Mulch the ground with pine bark afterwards. While at the nursery, make your pick of winter-flowering seedlings and spring-flowering bulbs – there is often a wide selection of indigenous perennials and annuals available.

June is when pruning starts in earnest. We first sharpen our shears and practice our hand on late-flowering shrubs. Trees damaged in the recent storms must be trimmed and shaped by a specialist before we move into the brunt of winter. While looking at your trees also inspect for signs of shot hole borer infestation, this pest is spreading fast and decimating tree populations in the Boland and Southern Suburbs. Deciduous fruit trees can be pruned from the middle of the month and get ready to prune your grapevines in July. We normally leave roses alone as late as possible, often well into August. Olives also appreciate a light prune after harvest. Feed the trees with a slow-release balanced fertiliser after pruning and spray with a winter oil or lime sulphur to protect against fungi and scale. Fertilise citrus trees with a high nitrogen feed after harvest and prune to shape.

Rainfall Figures

It is getting too cold to sow most winter vegetables, but succession sowings of root crops and leafy vegetables can still be done. Brassica seedlings can be planted out. I have been successful with late pea sowings in the past and am going to give it another try this year. Ensure the last of the summer veggies are cleared from the garden and sow fallow beds with a cover crop or at least mulch with a thick layer of green material to brew a rich soil blend ready for spring planting.

Your lawnmower can be set slightly lower. This will allow more sunlight to the lower swards of grass and help against diseases. Lawns should be fed with a high potash feed to ensure good root growth through winter. Applying agricultural lime at a rate of 50g per square meter helps keep winter weeds at bay and will help ensure a lush spring lawn.

This is the time of the year when the kitchen truly becomes the heart of the home! Slow cooking is at the order of the day, with broths and stock bubbling away and filling the house with wholesome aromas. Excess oranges and guavas will find their way into chutney, marmalade, dessert, and the canning jar. Your vegetable garden will soon be filled with the starchy nourishment that root crops bring – no winter soup is complete without turnips and thicknecked carrots. Happy gardening!

The nurseries are stocked with all sorts of winter colour – sweet peas, delphinium, dianthus, foxgloves, Iceland poppies, larkspur, pansies, viola, primula, stocks and lobelia. Patient gardeners can still sow seeds of all of these. The last of the winter and early spring flowering bulbs such as Lachenalia and Watsonia must be planted before the middle of the month. May is probably the best month to establish new Fynbos gardens. Trees planted now will have a chance to establish a decent root system before the summer heat arrives.

In the vegetable garden beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, Swiss chard, onions, peas and turnips can all be sown now. Winter is also the most successful time of the year to grow salad crops in the Cape; summer is often simply too hot. Sow cover crop on unused beds, even letting weeds grow is better that leaving the soil exposed.

In our house cold and rainy autumn days are spent in the kitchen. Soups, broths, stews, and slow roasts are the order of the day. While these are slowly bubbling away on the stove, we will have an abundance of guavas to process into preserves and chutney. I will also be dreaming about next season, and the abundance that I hope for by this time next year.

and

Fisherman’s Tales

We all love a fisherman’s tale. When told with enough colour and conviction we don’t even mind sacrificing a fair amount of plausibility in favour of vicarious enjoyment. The beauty of local flyfishing maestro Jonathan Boulton’s self-published book ‘Bitten Hard’ is that it’s jam-packed with vicarious rewards and you don’t have to sacrifice anything – including plausibility – while enjoying it.

Jonathan was introduced to fishing while still a toddler by his Uncle Phil. His father had little interest in either the outdoors or fishing but encouraged the young Jonathan to pursue his fishing passion. From practising casting in a Randburg carpark and fishing in the (then pristine) Jukskei River Jonathan takes readers on a globetrotting junket through his life and fishing adventures.  Along the way, he shares experiences from boarding school in the UK, to studying zoology at the University of Natal and early days as a game ranger to starting his own fishing business in Dullstroom and establishing a salmon fishing camp in Siberia.

‘Bitten Hard’ is a hybrid between an autobiography, a collection of fisherman’s tales and a travelogue. This mixture puts it in dangerous territory from the start – even more so as it’s self-published. At the risk of generalising, most self-published books are selfpublished because the topic is too obscure for a mainstream publisher, or it is so badly written that any respectable publisher or editor would consider it beyond redemption.

Jonathan has however managed a rare feat: Selfpublishing a book that is not only well written and produced – the eye-catching design was done by another local, the multi-talented Craig McNaught – but that should also appeal much wider than to just fishing folk. Nature lovers, eager travellers and adventurers will find the book every bit as appealing as fishing fundis. I briefly caught up with Jonathan in northern KZN where he was working on a project to ask him about his most memorable catch. “Without a shadow of a doubt,” he responded, “my most memorable fish is the fly-caught lake record Nile perch I caught on Lake Nasser in Egypt. Not only was it an incredible fish

but it nearly drowned me when I was pulled under while trying to free my line that was entangled around submerged stumps!”

If you’d like to read more about Jonathan’s adventurous fishing life, you can purchase a copy of Bitten Hard from www.jonathanboulton.com at R390.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Graigan Mentoor Papier

At age 11, Graigan Mentoor Papier has already captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike with his extraordinary musical abilities. Born and raised in Franschhoek, Graigan’s journey into the world of music began at an early age. From the moment he picked up his first instrument, it was evident that he possessed a natural gift. It all began with the rhythmic beat of his grandmother’s kitchen pots and pans, transformed into makeshift drums under the talented hands of a 3-year-old toddler. Graigan’s rhythm was impeccable. Soon, he was mastering the keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, banjo, accordion and saxophone, only to name a few. This talent traces back through generations, to a great-grandfather who was a musician himself. Graigan inherited his great grandfather’s old ivory saxophone, not just holding notes, but memories of a musical legacy that continues to inspire and enrich. In the Papier household, music isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way of life. Graigan’s grandfather, Frank Papier, can testify of that. His journey with music began in 1932 at age 8, when he started playing the accordion in a band with family friends.

8 | July 2022

Nowadays, grandfather and grandson form a formidable musical duo. Their first official performance together was at the Simondium Country Lodge, where Graigan played the ukulele. Even though Frank has a lot more experience in life, it is Graigan who helps his grandfather when he plays the wrong note. Music makes him happy, he says, he doesn’t know what he would do without it.

school, yet, it’s on the stage where Graigan truly shines, his talent captivating audiences. For him, the true joy of music lies not in applause, but in the profound impact it has on the hearts and minds of those who listen.

From winning the Franschhoek’s Got Talent show to performing at weddings and festivals, Graigan’s star continues to ascend, guided by the unwavering support of his family. Events that he and his grandfather are looking forward to this year would be a few functions, the Literary Festival, the Bastille Festival and the big event with Don Vino at Grand West. On Wednesday and Sunday evenings they can be found playing at Babylonstoren, as well as in the VGK church on Sunday mornings.

Top Geographer

Amidst school and musical events, Graigan finds joy in the simplicity of childhood pleasures, from playing in the sand with toy cars to engaging in sports like athletics, soccer, and hockey. Mathematics is currently his favourite subject in

FHRPA NEWS

BARRY PHILLIPS

The FHRPA Responds to Skytram

Two days before the 15 May deadline, the FHRPA sent its comments on the Skytram draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) to Doug Jeffery Environmental Consultants.

How do you eat an elephant? You don’t. You share it!

The FHRPA organised a series of discussion groups for 11 of the reports and impact assessments in the BAR – Socio-economic, Traffic, Botanical, AviFauna, Heritage, Visual, Noise, Electrical, Fire, Civil Services (wet waste), Biodiversity and Geotechnical. Nineteen volunteers took a deep dive into them to prepare comments for the FHRPA. Except for electrical and civil engineers Joe Killian and Douglas Coleman who commented on the Electrical Report and Traffic Impact Assessment, none were professionally qualified in the subjects of the reports and assessments. However, they were all very well qualified in other fields and by a great wealth and diversity of experience. Most of all, they had an intimate knowledge and passion for Franschhoek.

In all, they digested over 1000 pages. drafted, edited, re-drafted, re-edited and produced 199 pages of professional standard comments. They are on the FHRPA website (www.fhrpa.co.za) with English and Afrikaans summaries.

The response project was meticulously managed

by Kerrin Gregory under the direction of Alastair Wood. After the comments were sent in, Kerrin said, “This reminds me why Franschhoek is such a special place: so many are willing to make huge personal sacrifices to protect its integrity and have its very best interests, its nature, its environment, its heritage, and its sustainable future at heart.” And Douglas Coleman said, “It has been a privilege to be included in the team. It has been an inspirational example of a community coming together.”

The FHRPA sincerely thanks all the volunteer writers, the five contributing botanists and all the residents and friends of Franschhoek who commented.

What next?

The environmental consultants will prepare a Comments and Responses Report which may lead to the project being amended. Then an updated final BAR is posted (when is not known) followed by a 30-day comment period. If the environmental consultants still recommend environmental approval, the application goes to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment in Pretoria.

A separate application has been made to the municipality for consent uses for tourist facilities at the base and top stations. At the time of writing the comment period for this has not yet begun. To stay informed, join the FHRPA WhatsApp Broadcast Group by sending a request to 082 391 5327.

Franschhoek Leeskring

HESTER STRŰMPFER

Destin Bürgin, a Bridge House School Grade 12 learner, achieved first place in the 2022 South African National Geography Olympiad. He will be one of four SA learners to represent South Africa in the International Geography Olympiad (iGeo) later this month.

I was touched by the beautiful melodies of Graigan and Frank Papier as they played the saxophone and accordion together. To listen to them, you not only hear the music with your ears but you can also feel the warmth in your heart as they harmonize together. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this young and upcoming musician.

The 18th International Geography Olympiad will be held online and hosted by France from 12 to 18 July, under the auspices of the International Geographical Union Olympiad Task Force.

To book your next function with Graigan and Frank Papier, feel free to contact Regan Papier at 082 373 0260.

• facilitate social contacts between young people from different countries and in doing so, contribute to the understanding between nations.

iGeo is an annual competition for the best 16 to 19 year-old Geography students from all over the world. Students chosen to represent their countries are the very best, chosen from thousands of students who participate enthusiastically in their own National Geography Olympiads.

might be able to help SHARF realise this dream, please reach out.

A Helping Hand for Safe Hands

The aims of the Olympiad are to:

• stimulate active interest in geographical and environmental studies among young people; contribute positively to debate about the importance of geography as a senior secondary school subject by drawing attention to the quality of geographical knowledge, skills and interests among young people;

A huge thank you to SHARF’s volunteers and sponsors – every donation, of time and funds, goes a long way. If you want to help, consider donating just R100 a month. Crucially, SHARF is also looking for caring, compassionate people who are able to foster abandoned animals. Opening your home and your heart would be the greatest gift, especially with the cold winter months ahead. Donations of old kennels, blankets and food are also very welcome.

‘Animals can’t talk – they need every person to be their voice,’ says Beukes.

Franschhoek Leeskring

SUSAN MÖLLER

Ons boek vir Junie is VATMAAR van A.H.M Scholtz. Vatmaar vertel die boeiende verhaal van ‘n klein gemeenskappie buite Kimberley, van die draai van die eeu tot ongeveer 1930. Die leser word bekend gestel aan ‘n magdom fassinerende karakters sowel as aan nuwe perspektiewe op bekende historiese gebeure. Die stories is vol kleur en opwinding, dit voed jou siel

By die volgende byeenkoms van die Franschhoek Leeskring, wat op 7 Julie plaasvind, bespreek Danie du Toit Francois Smith se “Die getuienis”.

Die byeenkoms word gehou in die NG Kerksaal. Lede en besoekers geniet vooraf n koffie koffie/tee met verrigtinge wat om 15h00 begin. Navrae: 0729325393 Francois Smith se derde roman, “Die getuienis”, slaan ’n interessante nuwe rigting in, weg van sy twee vorige romans “Kamphoer” en “Die kleinste ramp denkbaar” waarmee hy reeds vir hom ’n beduidende plek in die Afrikaanse lettere oopgeskryf het.

Hospice News

en laat jou soms uitbars van die lag, net om netnou weer trane in die oë te kry.

“Die getuienis” vertel die verhaal van Retha en Gerbrand wat saam met hulle twee seuns by ’n Christelike bedieningsentrum êrens tussen Naboomspruit en Bela-Bela woon en werk. Retha behartig die sentrum se administrasie, spyseniering en kommunikasie op sosiale media; Gerhard bedien die Woord en lei seminare. Hulle beland per toeval daar nadat hulle lewe in Pretoria ineengestort het en hulle al hulle aardse besittings verloor het. Die woord “toeval” pas egter nie in hulle manier van dink en praat nie; wat hulle betref, is alles voorbeskik en deel van God (na wie hulle deurentyd verwys as “Vader”) se plan met hulle lewens.

Ons kom 14h30 bymekaar in die NG-kerksaal. Besoekers is welkom. Ons besoekersfooi is R30. Daar is geen byeenkoms in Julie nie, maar wel ‘n uitstappie na Grand Provence.

Skakel gerus vir Hester Strümpfer vir navrae (084 900 9060).

‘Good Life’ in Franschhoek

If you’re ready to add your voice to this cause, you’re in good company. It starts with simply reaching out a helping hand.

Often it’s the sense of community that makes Franschhoek what it is.

Safe Hands Animal Rescue Franschhoek is a registered PBO with the authority to issue section 18A certificates for tax exemption.

Juani 076 327 4939 | Bettina 073 389 4355

Safe Hands Animal Rescue Franschhoek (SHARF) is an organisation with big plans. Of course, big plans call for critical funding and support. With your help, SHARF can continue their incredibly important work in our community.

On Saturday evening, 11 June, community members gathered to celebrate a small but significant achievement for the South African cinematic arts and a large achievement for one Franschhoek resident. The celebration encompassed the resident’s birthday, love of animals and love of her community.

SHARF strives to combat animal neglect and abuse, as well as stop uncontrolled breeding in Franschhoek and surrounding areas. They rescue, foster and feed animals, providing them with medical attention where needed.

It’s a sad fact that people are breeding puppies and kittens to earn money fast, without any care for the consequences. This often leads to the neglect and abuse of these animals. As a result, it’s becoming more and more important to run sterilisation drives. It’s SHARF’s highest priority, which is why they aim to sterilise 16 animals a month. This wouldn’t be possible without volunteers and donations, always so greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, the SHARF team encounters many animals that need emergency medical attention outside of routine procedures. Animals are injured in abuse cases, dog fights and road accidents. Disease is also a factor.

Alex Steyl rented out the Franschhoek Theatre to celebrate the new movie “Good Life” in which she plays the role of one of the spitting-mad Greek women who make the life of a South African Greek a misery. Olive, aged 35, (played by Erica Wessels) goes to Greece to unravel the secrets of her parents’ lives and to get over the humiliation of a cheating boyfriend. A young boy of 7, the child of an Albanian refugee, befriends her. In the best possible way, theirs is a friendship that helps them both.

‘Emergencies knock on our doors any time of the day or night, pushing our vet bills through the roof’ says Juani Beukes, co-founder of SHARF. With so much to contend with, every goodnews story is one to celebrate. SHARF recently ran a marathon three-day sterilisation drive. 94 dogs were sterilised, thanks to Dr Elizna van den Berg and her team. For over a year, the dogs had been on a list that was delayed due to financial constraints. Along with sterilisation, each dog received treatment for fleas and ticks, deworming medicine and a 9kg bag of dog food.

filming. As the credits say, no children or animals were harmed in the making of the film.

SHARF has made incredible progress over the last few weeks, sterilizing over 200 dogs before the winter cold sets in! After each sterilization, the sterilized dog receives a blue drum (their own little home with a warm blanket to keep them warm and dry). This is not only essential for the dog but is an incentive for owners to understand that animals need shelter and comfort too and to sterilise rather than partake in uncontrolled breeding.

The entry requirement for the evening was a donation of cat or dog food for SHARF (Safe Hands Animal Rescue Franschhoek), a charity enthusiastically supported by Alex. Wine and popcorn –made instantly in an air fryer – made for a festive evening. Once everyone was seated, and theatre manager Pieter started the movie, there were warm cheers and enthusiastic clapping at each of Alex’s appearances.

As they continue their good work, the founders of SHARF share a dream: land of their own, where they can start a vet clinic and emergency shelter. If you’re able to assist or know of someone who

The movie, ‘Good Life’, was written and directed by Bonnie Rodini. The movie took fourteen years to make, with the bulk of the shooting taking place during the Covid pandemic. The whole movie was shot around the Cape peninsula, with the Castle of Good Hope transformed into a Greek village. Clever editing with stock footage makes the scenery very Greek, and there were gasps of empathy at the very cold water the actors had to brave while pretending it was the warm water off the coast of Greece!

Duke Coulbanis, a close Greek neighbour of Alex’s, with a calling to the Greek Orthodox Church, quips how he had to teach Alex to swear in Greek so she could appear authentically Greek. “Alex honoured me by asking me to help her with the Greek language. Not that they speak Greek in the movie, but Alex’s character needed to ‘swear under her breath’ at various people, and to add an air of authenticity, she wanted to know how to do so in Greek, and accompany it with any gestures that might be applicable.” Duke also holds the distinction of owning the cell phone that filmed Alex’s audition for the role at the local café, Fotini’s. Taki’s, also Greek-owned, was the obvious choice for the movie-going friends to gather for a bite to eat after the movie was over.

‘Good Life’ is a good South African story. According to Duke Coulbanis, it is authentically Greek too, with its myriad superstitions and long-held family grudges. The cast is all local actors and actresses, and all look quite Greek. Youngster Caleb Payne does a credible Albanian-speaking Greek with a heavy “H”.

Each drum costs R300 and SHARF needs another 250. The cost of R75 000 is simply out of SHARF’s reach! We would like to put forward a challenge to you, our amazing supporters! If anyone can donate R300 or even R150, towards a drum, SHARF will do the rest! We need 250 people to donate - every bit counts! Please help us to keep the dogs of our valley warm and dry this winter! With your help, we can achieve the impossible!

Banking Details: Safe Hands Animal Rescue Franschhoek | FNB | Acc No. 62836203076 | Branch: Paarl | Branch code: 200110 | Ref:Bluedrum

According to Alex, the movie was a project of love made on a shoestring budget. Don’t expect special effects; the movie relies on good storytelling and

Text: Laura Maggs & Editorial Desk Images: Supplied

The audience knows that the watch, the well and the boy are significant story elements. There is underlying humour: Olive is an oral hygienist whose claim to fame is whitening teeth, and she has queues of desperate Greeks wanting whiter teeth; the wheelie bin affair keeps cropping up as an ongoing amusement; the ladies in the purported aquatics group in their flowery caps link the venomous attacks against Olive. ‘Good Life’ is fun;

Tournament Success

SHARF Blue Drum Challenge

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Bridge House School

SA’s top young geographer, Destin Bürgin.

Graigan Papier and his grandfather

Back a Local’s Dreams

Dear Franschhoekers

We firmly believe that everyone should get the education they strive for. Could you please help us ensure that Jason Williams gets the education he has worked so hard for?

Jason is a top graduate from Franschhoek Hospitality Academy. Through diligence and out and out dedication, he has been awarded a prestigious 2-year bursary by ITM College in Austria to become a top qualified chef. The bursary covers all tuition, accommodation and meals. He doesn’t have the funds to pay for the return flights, visas and medical cover that cost R60 000. Please help to make his dream come true by making a once off contribution.

Jason hopes that through achieving his goal, he will inspire others in his community to reach for their dreams and to contribute to our local economy and in that way to help uplift our community.

Your generous gift will make a huge difference. All donations will be managed by Jason’s guardians and you will receive a letter of acknowledgement from us.

We have known Jason since birth and have witnessed his hard work and dedication in everything he does, including working at a local winery over weekends from grade 11 to assist his family financially.

Donations can be made to, with your email address as reference:

Jason Williams Austria Fund Bank: Capitec Bank

Account number: 225 933 2087

Branch code: 470010

Swift code: CABLZAJJ

Your kind donation is really appreciated. Thank you.

Yours sincerely Eldoret Visser & Eduard Haumann (Jason’s extended family)

PS: Please donate today and ensure that Jason achieves the bright future he is working so hard for.

Sacred Songs a Capella

The Cape Town Chamber Choir brings their current concert programme, Sacred Song, to Franschhoek on Saturday 8 June at 16h00 in the Dutch Reformed Church.

This will be the choir’s first concert in Franschhoek. The Choir annually connects with music societies and groups, to bring the concert to local audiences. They have had successful performances in Montagu, Tulbagh, Hermanus and Napier over the past few years.

Laura de Kok, Chairperson of the Choir, says Franschhoek was chosen for this performance as it has established itself in the Western Cape as a chamber music focal point with the Dutch Reformed Church at its heart.

Editor’s Letter

Siegfried Schäfer

Dear Readers

As I’m writing this it is two weeks before the election. By the time you read this, it will be a few days after the election and the final result – and the consequences thereof – might not be known or clear yet. Whatever the outcome though, it is a truism that, in democracies at least, the electorate (whether they actually voted or not) get the government they deserve. So I hope you all voted and, what’s more, made informed responsible choices.

David Ansara of the Free Market Foundation has said “SA is not a failed state … but it is slowly but surely failing.” The evidence is clear to see in every non-functioning police station, power station, railway station, water pump station and all manner of other failing infrastructure. And it continues “one crooked tender at a time,” in the words of Magnus Heystek.

Ansara points out that as the state weakens –whether it is at the national, provincial or local level – a vacuum is created. “This can be filled either by chaotic elements or a more structured, orderly alternative. It’s up to us to think creatively about forming alternative structures.” Several civil society structures are already taking on functions that various levels of the state are no longer able to supply. These include business groupings, ratepayer associations, neighbourhood watches

and churches to name only a few. I.e. communities and individuals alike are state-proofing themselves. These ‘state-proofing’ activities can range from farmers grading gravel roads in rural areas to homeowners installing boreholes and solar panels to taking out private medical insurance. Ansara, Heystek and several other commentators are suggesting that just as those who can are taking their homes off-grid to not be reliant on failing state water and electrical infrastructure, people should also take their finances ‘off-grid’. By this they mean keeping and getting as much of it as possible out of the inefficient and often corrupt hands of the South African state. In particular, they suggest two strategies: Making sure you pay as little tax as is legally possible and moving as much of your asset base offshore to more stable and financially prudent jurisdictions.

I’m pretty sure our next government will still be ANC dominated, even if they lose their majority. We’ll probably have to wait until 2029 to see a real change in the national government. In the interim, in Ansara’s words: “We’re in a transitional period where the old systems are dying, but the new ones have yet to be born. We must build the future we want to see.” The important point is that it is up to us. Nobody should expect an ANC-dominated state to help them. We have to help ourselves.

Whatever the precise election outcome, I do not doubt that the outcome will have a significant impact on the level of state-proofing activities going on all over the country. Until next month!

DEADLINES - JUNE 2024 ISSUE

Celebratory Tennis Shirts

With Franschhoek High School celebrating 174 years and the Love-All Tennis Coaching Programme turning four this year, we decided to celebrate by designing some fabulous tennis shirts for our fledging players!

Tickets are available on Quicket, and on the day at the venue (Snapscan & cash). (No card facilities).

Adults - R150 Students & pensioners R120

Concertgoers are invited to join the choir for a glass of wine afterwards.

The first part of the choir’s current programme focuses on Sacred Songs by German Romantic composers (e.g. Mendelssohn, Rheinberger, Grieg). It includes the Three Sacred Hymns by Rheinberg, featuring the beautiful Abendlied. The second part of our concert brings it closer to home, as they present sacred songs by South African composers. The beautiful Three Nocturnes by Peter Klatzow leads this part, followed by Hans Huyssen, Niel van der Watt and Hendrik Hofmeyr. The last work on the programme, Gebet, was composed and dedicated to the CTCC by Rudolf de Beer.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Sexy (School) Socks

On Friday, 10 May 2024, the team for Sexy Sox visited eight underprivileged schools in the Franschhoek Valley to donate a pair of school socks to each learner. The Tatler caught up with them at Franschhoek High School.

Sexy Socks Founder Dave Hutchison explained that for every pair of Sexy Socks sold, the company donates a pair of school socks to a needy child. To date, more than 420 000 pairs of school socks have been distributed in this way and the company expects to reach the 500 000 pair milestone later this year. Hutchison was joined by Sexy Socks Franschhoek Manager Desiree Abrahams and other Sexy Socks staff to hand out socks to the assembled Franschhoek High School learners.

Hutchison explained that they use their sock drops “as an invaluable platform to talk to the students about social entrepreneurship; that

business can be used as a force for good and a force for change; and ultimately encouraging them to find something in their everyday life to make their community a better place.” Addressing the learners, Hutchison challenged them to ask themselves “What can I do today to make my community better?” every time they put on their school socks.

Other schools in the area that received socks are Weseind Primary, Groendal Primary, Groendal Secondary, Dalubuhle Primary, KUSASA Academy, Wemmershoek Primary and Simondium Primary.

Text & Image: Editorial Desk

Players, teachers and the Love-All Team showing off their new shirts.

All 18 players on our coaching programme were very excited to try on their new shirts, designed by the School Principal, Mr Haasbroek, in conjunction with the Love-All team. Our players are a tight-knit group and we love the sense of unity and identity that the shirts bring. Already, they are getting noticed for their excellent tennis – now they will shine even brighter in their stunning shirts!

The coaching programme, now in Year 4, goes from strength to strength, and we continue to be proud of every single player, their hard work, improvement, performance and joy on the court. Thank you to the donor who enabled us to fund the tennis shirts and to Franschhoek Tennis Club members for your continued support of the programme.

FRANCO Focus

BRUCE ACKERMAN

Helping Obtain Employment for the Unemployed

Our unemployment support group started after the pandemic ended and is designed to help work seekers by coaching them in communication and presentation skills. The aim is for them successfully thereafter to apply for local jobs. To this end too, we run informative courses such as domestic house management and English language communication improvement for those whose mother tongue is different. We also make it known to those who might have temporary labour requirements, such as was recently the case for flood damage remediation, that we have an available pool of eager, trusted workers. Our monthly community yard sale at the Franco office at 5 Mark Street, Groendal takes place on the first Friday of each month. We collect, inter alia, second-hand clothes and shoes to be sold at prices between R5 to R50 max. Our buyers are community people in need, but also street vendors

Text & Image: Love-All Tennis Team

who can resell what they buy from us. Those who help with the yard sale are unemployed ladies. As part of this process, we instruct them in trading skills, stock taking, bookkeeping, and goods sorting; and they retain the sale’s profits. For this program to remain viable, continued donations of sale items are vital, and they can be dropped off at our office at any time between 8:00 am and 16:30 Monday to Friday. So while ‘from rags to riches’ seems an overstatement, every little bit helps.

We are gratified that our charity Flamenco evening last month at la Cotte was a sell-out and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Monies raised also benefited the ACVV, which is the only statutory child protection organization in Franschhoek. A heartfelt thank you again to all who contributed to the success of this event, from our generous hosts at La Cotte farm to suppliers, partners, artists and caterers, donors, guests and auction bidders. We were also blessed with a spectacular sunset which enhanced the experience.

If you can help in any way with our yard sales or wish to support FRANCO in any other way, please contact our manager, Tzilka Watson, on 0603740353 or email her (info@francosa.co.za) or visit our website: www.francosa.co.za

The Cape Town Chamber Choir

FHS learners undertook to make their communities better when they received free school socks.

TONY FROST

The Future Is In Our Hands!

We’ve just had an election again. The madness of promises being that have no chance of ever becoming reality; the frenetic provocation of others who do not share the same views; the few sincere and honest who have insufficient popular leverage to actually be effective are what have constituted our environment for the past few weeks. Uncertainty is in the air. Hope is in short supply and cynicism is the order of the day. And yet this is a moment to pause and reflect and re-energise.

There is much to be done. Too much and too important to be left to politicians who, generally, care only about themselves, especially in a country where it is almost impossible to hold these same politicians to account. Very few people actually

know who represents them in parliament, in the provincial parliament, and even in their own local municipal council. I recently completed my fourteenth fundraising cycle tour between Johannesburg and Komani in the Eastern Cape. We have seen first-hand where at local level citizens have taken charge of making positive change happen where they are. There are little towns that are scrupulously clean and tidy, and things seems to work. There are communities where they have created their own future by taking action; like Queen’s College who are now the proud owners of one of only two synthetic tracks owned by a school, conceived of and built by the Old Boys of the school; like the Queenstown Education Foundation with its 11 member schools who are working together to elevate the quality of education in the area; like the number of accommodation establishments we stayed at during our cycle tour where the establishments and cuisine are simply top-class in towns and villages that have all but collapsed; and, further afield, in places like Masiphumulele near Fish Hoek; and ordinary people in Johannesburg suburbs who have started feeding the local homeless in return

‘Tourism Growth Fund’ Open for Applications

The Western Cape Government’s (WCG) Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) has officially opened the 2024/25 ‘Tourism Growth Fund’ and is inviting organisations to apply for project funding for tourism development, tourism infrastructure, and tourism product development.

Speaking about the launch of the latest iteration of the fund, Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said “tourism in the Western Cape is on the up. We have moved from post-COVID recovery and into impressive growth, showing that the province is a tourism destination of choice and very much in demand.”

“This is why I am very excited to launch the latest R4 million Tourism Growth Fund so we can work with more organisations across the sector to further improve our world-class attractions and offerings. This fund will allow us to add to and boost the already impressive array of offerings we have across the province, attracting even more visitors, and creating many more jobs in the Western Cape,” continued Minister Wenger.

The Fund challenges those involved in the tourism ecosystem – both public and private – to co-invest in high impact attractions and experiences in order to offer a more compelling reason to visit the Western Cape and its districts.

The Fund will provide co-funding to:

• Collaborative initiatives that enhance high volume tourism attractions through tourism infrastructure development/upgrading and/or place-making/beautification interventions; and/

or

• Collaborative initiatives of tourism organisations working with tourism enterprises to enable businesses to enhance and expand their tourism offerings in areas with high growth potential.

There are two categories for which funding can be applied for:

Category 1: Tourism Infrastructure Support initiatives with a focus on upgrading high volume attractions.

The Fund will support regional and local tourism organisations, industry associations, district and local authorities and tourism enterprises with initiatives to enhance high volume tourism attractions through tourism infrastructure development or upgrades and/or place making/ beautification activities.

Tourism infrastructure upgrade means the enhancement or development of any existing or new infrastructure required to ensure that tourists can visit attractions and experiences in a safe, clean, comfortable and accessible manner.

Examples of tourism infrastructure include trails, walkways, signage, street furniture, public lighting, public toilets, shelters, hides and more.

Category 2: Tourism Product Development

Support initiatives with a focus on assisting tourism enterprises (specifically small, medium and micro enterprises) with tourism product development.

The Fund will provide financial support to enhance and/or expand collaborative programmes and projects aimed at assisting SMMEs with tourism product development. Regional and local tourism organisations, industry

for useful work in the community which results in good permanent work for some of them. These are just a few examples of what can be done when ordinary people do extraordinary things.

These initiatives have all been started by individuals who looked up, looked around and saw the opportunity of changing the local reality from one of hopelessness to one filled with hope and pride and a real sense of future. Like bad news, good news also has the habit of spreading like the morning sun which slowly fills the world with light and warmth and the clear knowledge that this is a new day filled with new opportunities. It is the actions of these ordinary people that are like the dawn. Others look in on these initiatives and realise that they too can do something to push the initiative along, or are encouraged to start their own project.

This is what we all should be doing. We need to lift our eyes above the horizon, look around and realise that right where we are there are opportunities that can alter the trajectory of our country without the help of the politicians who are long on talk, and short on action.

So, with elections upon us we should be thinking

seriously about the kind of country we want, and the kind of politicians we want to lead us. This is not an easy task given the messy mishmash of political parties from which we must choose. Most of them seem more intent on fighting the other parties or are too consumed with dealing with internal party disputes to give us mere mortals and our needs any real attention. But it is precisely these local people who need the most care and attention. All we want is good clean government and decent public services.

Given the urgent need throughout the country and the importance of making our country the success it can be, it is clear that each of us can and should be doing something in our own communities to change the future for ourselves and for our children. We cannot just leave it to the politicians and hope for the best.

It is imperative for us to take charge of our own future and to build a resilient, hopeful, and vibrant society confident in its own capabilities to make a good future real! At the same time, we must hold our politicians accountable and actively support these wonderful local initiatives.

tony@siroccostrategy.com

associations and district and local authorities can apply for support through the programme; in exceptional circumstances, individual enterprises will be considered.

Tourism product development support includes, but is not limited to:

• product and/or experience development;

• capacity development; and/or

• provision of bespoke support (machinery, equipment, licenses, accreditation, memberships, health and safety compliance, standards etc.).

This year, the Tourism Growth Fund will prioritise private sector-led initiatives aimed at stimulating high growth, high yield forms of tourism including in Halal, adventure, food, wine, culture and heritage, and township-based tourism offerings.

Minister Wenger emphasised that “As part of our ambitious economic action plan, ‘Growth For Jobs’, we are determined to double the number of visitors to the province by 2035 to aid in our overarching goal of enabling a R1 trillion, jobs-rich, inclusive, diverse, and resilient provincial economy that is growing at between 4% and 6% in real terms.”

“I would like to encourage those organisations that may benefit from the fund to apply without delay, and I look forward to working with the sector to attract more and more tourists to this wonderful province - because more tourists mean more jobs in the Western Cape,” concluded Minister Wenger.

For more information on the fund and on how to apply, interested applicants can visit this website: https://bit.ly/44DvPVq

Enquiries can be directed to Mrs Lindy Cambouris at G4Jtourismfund@westerncape. gov.za or on 021 483 6527.

Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Supplied

Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger

Groot drakenstein Games club

How has your academic journey and extensive experience in conservation science and museum curation prepared you for your role at the Franschhoek Motor Museum?

My academic journey has been focused on developing expertise in preserving history and heritage. After completing post graduate qualifications in both Classical Civilization and Library Science at UKZN I then completed a postgraduate diploma in Conservation Science at the South African Institute for Heritage Science and Conservation, specialising in paper conservation and the built environment. The latter programme provided me with both technical and theoretical knowledge essential for preserving historical artifacts. The former two qualifications have provided me with a strong appreciation

Poetic Licence

What do we value most in life? What could we least do without? And what about the rest of the world – would others say the same?

By chance I was reading a Wikipedia article about Kintsugi, or Kintsukuroi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by means of lacquer mixed with gold or silver dust. This technique produces a completely ‘new’ vessel from the damaged one, whose cracks, breaks and imperfections are enhanced by the application of precious metal rather than pretending they don’t exist – or, worse, discarding the piece completely. Far from being embarrassed by the repair, the restoration often results in astoundingly beautiful objects.

I like the sense that injuries and blemishes can become a celebrated acknowledgement of an object’s history instead of an unthinking reason to abandon it as useless, and that this actively adds value rather than reduces it.

Interesting too is how such craftsmanship can extend from the artwork itself into a completely different way of viewing life – the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi, for instance, which respects and venerates impermanence and imperfection – where the old, the used and the worn are seen to glow with a special antique beauty.

Living as we do in a world that demands originality, youthfulness and innovation (excellent qualities in themselves, no doubt), are we beginning to forget or ignore the value of what we have? Are we becoming blind to the loveliness of what is already here, even though it may be old? Do we throw things away too soon?

There is a memorable line in Galway Kinnell’s magnificent poem ‘Saint Francis and the Sow’, where he says – rightly, I am sure – that “sometimes it is necessary/ to reteach a thing its loveliness”, in this case a nursing mother pig. Surely there is charm in even the most mundane subjects if one is prepared to seek it.

In a profligate world where so much is created with ‘built-in obsolescence’ to feed our desire for ever-newer, ever-glossier things, perhaps the unfashionable notion of delighting in the old, the battered, the potentially discarded is one we might come back to from time to time.

And that, of course, means people too. There is beauty in aging, a lacquered richness and abundance that only the polish of experience, of living, can apply. Remarkably, as with Kintsugi, all those wrinkles, scars and blemishes actually enhance things. Age is to be celebrated, not despised.

Irish poet Michael Coady expresses something here of what I mean when he writes of the exquisite “surrender to the dance/ of breaking and creating”.

for our collective heritage and histories as well as cementing the importance of research and documentation in every aspect of heritage but most importantly within the curatorial sphere. This background has been instrumental in my role as curator at the Franschhoek Motor Museum, where it allows me to both curate, manage and care for the collection to ensure its continued wellbeing.

Among the vast array of artifacts and memorabilia at the Franschhoek Motor Museum, could you share a particularly memorable discovery or experience you’ve had while working there?

Certainly, one memorable experience was when we uncovered a collection of Shell advertising items dating back to the 1930s. These posters, featuring colloquial Afrikaans rhymes and songs, provided a unique glimpse into South African motoring culture and advertising history. It was fascinating to trace the origins of these artworks and explore their connections to broader advertising trends of the time.

Could you relate a recent story or insight related to your research into motor vehicle history as curator of the Franschhoek Motor Museum?

Absolutely, one particularly intriguing aspect of working at FMM is discovering the stories behind the artifacts and vehicles in our collection. For example, while assessing a recent donation of motoring books, I learned about the remarkable journey of James ‘Jim’ Morgan, whose passion for motoring and book collecting spanned decades.

Letting Go I love the abandon  of abandoned things  the harmonium surrendering  in a churchyard in Aherlow,  the hearse resigned to nettles  behind a pub in Carna,  the tin dancehall possessed  by convolvulus in Kerry,  the living room that hosts  a tree in south Kilkenny.

I sense a rapture  in deserted things

washed-out circus posters  derelict on gables,  lush forgotten sidings  of country railway stations,  bat droppings profligate  on pew and font and lectern,  the wedding dress a dog  has nosed from a dustbin.

I love the openness  of things no longer viable,  I sense their shameless  slow unbuttoning:  the implicit nakedness  there for the taking,  the surrender to the dance  of breaking and creating.

Michael Coady (from 20th Century Irish Poems, Faber & Faber, 2002)

[An earlier version of this column was first published in Grocott’s Mail, July 2017]

His dedication to preserving his collection, despite setbacks during World War II, is a testament to the enduring value of preserving motoring history for future generations.

With such a diverse collection, do you have a favourite car at the Franschhoek Motor Museum?

Without a doubt, my favourite car in the museum is the 1936 Cord 810. Its sleek Art Deco design, innovative features like hidden headlights, and historical significance as one of the first American front-wheel-drive cars make it truly captivating.

The Cord 810 represents a pivotal moment in automotive design history, and its presence in the museum’s collection is a testament to its enduring legacy and importance.

What would you recommend about the experience of visiting the Franschhoek Motor Museum as a guest?

Visiting FMM offers guests a unique opportunity to embark on a journey through over 100 years of automotive history. From antique and vintage cars to modern classics, the museum’s diverse collection showcases the evolution of automotive design and technology. Beyond the cars themselves, the picturesque setting of L’Ormarins Estate enhances the overall experience, providing visitors with a truly immersive and memorable visit. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or simply curious about automobiles, FMM offers something for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.

Can you tell us about the history of the Franschhoek

Book Review

Water by John Boyne

Pub. Penguin. 172 pages

It is unfortunate that John Boyne is often merely recognised as the author of “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas,” and “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” when he is, in fact, one of the most prolific and talented Irish authors writing today. I reviewed “The Echo Chamber”, his brilliant dissection of the misuse of social media, some time ago.

He has now embarked on a tetralogy (a series of four connected novels), each with one of the four elements as the central metaphor: Water, Earth, Air, and Fire.

Water has always been a fertile source of inspiration for authors, possibly because it is simultaneously essential to life and also highly destructive – as we Franschhoekers know. William Golding’s “Pincher Martin” and Karen Jennings’ “An Island” are cases in point.

In Boyne’s book the water is the sea that surrounds a barren island off the Irish coast. The sea plays no further part in the story, serving only as a barrier that protects a woman fleeing from the mainland. It is not the remorseless enemy of fishermen, but rather a buffer against the social and criminal violence of Dublin.

This is the story of Vanessa Carvin, who arrives on the nameless island unannounced. Her first act is to cut off her luxuriant hair, leaving her with an untidy anonymous mop. Her second act is to give herself another name, Willow Hale, with all its associations of a far-off hippy past. She is obviously shedding her old identity, but it is not clear whether she is creating a new personality or simply blending into the featureless simplicity of the island.

The story is told in the first person, with all the pros and cons of that particular format. All the traumatic events that led up to her fleeing to the island are reflected in her memories. Her internal monologue is the prism through which we experience physical life on the island. This is HER shoreline, HER mountain trail, HER freezing cabin kitchen, HER pub. It is also the prism through which we view the few human beings that she comes across. She recounts the bits of dialogue that they engage in but we have little other evidence of their nature.

We gradually learn that the reason for her abandoning the mainland is the imprisonment of her husband as a sex offender, and the world’s view of her as an enabler. What makes it so particularly shocking is that he raped young girls, including his own. Willow’s condemnation of this particular offence extends beyond her husband’s actions to all violence against women by men. She wonders bitterly whether she was not complicit in her own daughter’s suicide after having been molested by her father.

Motor Museum and its significance today?

The history of FMM dates back to 1974 when Dr Anton Rupert opened the Heidelberg Museum, which quickly became a popular attraction. In 2004, Mr Johann Rupert purchased the collection and relocated it to L’Ormarins Estate, officially opening FMM to the public in 2007. Today, FMM stands as a testament to Dr Rupert’s vision and passion for preserving automotive heritage. It serves as a premier destination for automotive enthusiasts and history buffs alike, offering a comprehensive and immersive experience that celebrates the rich history of automobiles.

Willow finds some relief in a short, intense, almost silent, relationship with a young boy on the island, someone who is not tainted by violent thoughts or actions. This brings about some sort of redemption that enables her to eventually return to the mainland and her surviving daughter. This is a short novel, but the intensity of the main character’s self-examination, which leads to her eventual reconciliation with her self-reproach, makes it a wonderful reading experience. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, “Earth”, which was published on 18 April by Doubleday. The third one will be coming out by the end of the year.

A PROUD SPONSOR OF...

with Sian Theron, Curator of the Franschhoek Motor Museum

HARRY OWEN

CHARLOTTE VAN ZYL

PLATTER GUIDES: Lifetime collection of Platter Wine Guides for sale. Every issue from highly sought-after first-ever 1980 edition to 2020 edition. All in excellent condition. R29k. WhatsApp 082 391 5327.

MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPIST: Highly professional mobile massage in and around a 30km radius of Franschhoek. Swedish, Deep Tissue and Sports. Treatments may include a Indian head massage, hands and feet reflexology. Contact Glenda Lee Newman on 062 019 9662 Need a PET/HOUSE-SITTER with good references?

Contact Ronelle @ 073 646 1687

HOUSEKEEPER / DOMESTIC: My name is Annes Iteta and I am 29 years old. I am looking for a job as a housekeeper or domestic worker. Please contact me on 067 649 9701.

ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED for quiet single lady with no pets, +-R5000/R6000pm ASAP Please contact Ronelle 073 646 1687

RE-THINKING YOUR GARDEN? For Garden Consulting call Susan at 072 932 5393 PET / HOUSE SITTING: Tina Stanley. Trusted pet & house sitter in Franschoek, WC. Reliable care for your pets & home, ensuring peace of mind while you’re away. Contact 083 448 4951 for bookings & references.

RE-FIBRE GLASS YOUR POOL in any colour you like. Call RiaPools for a quote: 072 347 5355

WESTERN CAPE HOUSE SITTERS: We have many mature, kind, responsible, animal loving, live-in house sitter members who would love to care for your home and pets. Your furry children may miss you but their environment and routines remain intact which is why we at Western Cape House Sitters will provide a perfect win-win for everyone... Peter Walsingham 082 822 4200 info@westerncapehousesitters.co.za

CHANGING TO A SALT WATER SYSTEM? Let us advise & quote for you! Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

HOUSEKEEPER / DOMESTIC: My name is Charity Nyirenda and I am a Malawian lady looking for a job as a housekeeper or domestic worker. I am reliable, honest, trustworthy, hardworking, and available any time. Please contact me via WhatsApp or phone call at 081 546 7283.

POOL PUMP PROBLEMS? Noise? We quote and help you out! Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

STUFF WANTED: All manner of clothing and household items needed for our ‘First Friday of The Month’ jumble sales. Please help us to help the animals of the valley. Please drop off at the SPCA clinic in La Provence Street, Groendal, or phone for us to collect. 021 876 4808 FRESH, ORGANIC FARM PRODUCE: Delivered weekly to Franschhoek, including vegetables and fruit in season, chicken, eggs, cheese, honey, etc. Lists of available produce received on Monday, orders placed on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery. A number of Franschhoekers are already receiving weekly deliveries. To be added to the list contact Sue Norman on 083 321 3442 or suenorman50@outlook.com.

DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT POOL LEAK? Losing water all the time? Let us quote and take care of the problem! Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

HOUSEKEEPER / DOMESTIC: My name is Funda Mwale and I am 27 years old. I am looking for a job as a housekeeper or domestic worker. My contact number is 069 838 3337.

PROFESSIONAL POOL SERVICE REQUIRED? Keep it local! Get a quote. Call RiaPools: 072 347 5355

Community Events

SPORT

FRANSCHHOEK TENNIS CLUB: Social tennis is played at the club on Fridays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 08h30. For more information contact Nicky. 082 455 6411

PARKRUN: Saturdays at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate. Time: 08h00. Cost: Free. Register at www.parkrun.co.za

CHURCH SERVICES

METHODIST CHURCH: Sunday service 10h00. Rev Russell Norman. 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509.

NG KERK: Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen aanddiens. Ds Peet Bester. 021 876 2431. Besoekers welkom.New Apostolic Church: Le Roux Street, Groendal. Sundays 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt.

ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH: Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Revd Wilfred Meyer 084 407 1280. Office - 021 874 4008. willowdale@cybersmart.co.za

SHOFAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH: Services - 09h00 & 18h00 English services at 7 Lambrechts Street. Pastor Richard Wade. 083 225 8529. All welcome!

TRINITY CHURCH: Worship Sundays at 09h30 at L’Ermitage Chapel, with Holy Communion. Weekday service Thursday at 10h30 at Fleur de Lis. Contact Gavin – 083 799 0726.

UNITING REFORMED CHURCH: Sunday service 09h30. Dr Shaun Burrows. 021 876 2632. Visitors welcome.

GENERAL

Alcoholics Anonymous: WED evenings 19:00, Groendal Community Centre, Contact David +27 83 305 5159

Useful Numbers

ACCOUNTANTS

Tax Shop 021 876 2676

ATTORNEYS Susan Charlesworth 021 876 2592/072 402 9469

Snipelisky & Killian 083 250 0943/021 876 2084

BURGLAR ALARMS

Pepler Alarms 021 876 3308

CLUBS & ASSOCIATIONS

Boland Bridge Club 021 876 3031

Franschhoek Tennis Club 078 278 4843

FHK Heritage & Ratepayers Ass. 083 441 8280

Groot Drakenstein Games Club 021 874 1906

- Craig Mc Naught: Captain 080 845 1014

- Lejean Pieterse, Hiring 082 490 0405 Lions 021 876 3775

Stb Masonic Lodge (Chris) 072 211 9991

Franschhoek Rotary Club 082 891 4613

Franschhoek Probus Club 021 876 3179

ELECTRICAL

Franschhoek Electric 074 313 7829/021 876 3640

Rensburg Electrical 021 876 2120/083 309 2923

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Franschhoek Pharmacy 021 876 2261

Franschhoek Health Club 021 876 3310

Karen Protheroe (Dietician) 082 925 0931

HOUSE & GARDEN

Lighting & Accessories 021 876 3640

Ria Pools (Franschhoek) 021 876 2612/072 347 5355

Sue’s Gardens 083 321 3442

Valley Garden Service 071 591 0342

OPTOMETRIST

Marelise Bester 021 872 3530

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Fhk Physiotherapy Associates 021 876 4234 (office) 074 325 5555 (Bronwen) 076 842 6052 (Maans)

PLUMBERS

Franschhoek Plumbing 021 876 3759

PSYCHOLOGIST

Danielle Smith 082 812 1476

PUBLIC SERVICES

Hospice 021 876 3085

Library 021 808 8406

Post Office 021 876 2342

Welfare (ACVV) 021 876 2670

SPCA 083 745 5344

SHARF 076 327 4939

SCHOOLS

Bridge House School 021 874 8100

Franschhoek High School 021 876 2079

Groendal Primary School 021 876 2448

Groendal Secondary School 021 876 2211

Wes-Eind Primary School 021 876 2360

Dalubuhle Primary School 021 876 3957

STORAGE

Franschhoek Storage 021 876 2174

TOURIST INFORMATION & SERVICES

Info Office 066 224 6360 / 073 688 9894

Huguenot Memorial Museum 021 876 2532

VETERINARY

Fhk Animal Clinic (plus surgery) 021 876 2504 Emergencies / Weekends 021 863 3187 / 082 8089 100

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Stb Fire Dept. (Buildings) 021 808

PRESENCE

3.4 HECTARE SMALLHOLDING

In the heart of the Franschhoek valley, a few minutes from the village this property has it all. The recently built main house is a contemporary classic. Built to a very high spec and intelligently designed to drink in the views on all sides, the contemporary but timeless finishes perfectly complement the breathtaking setting. The main house includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms, open plan formal kitchen/dining room/living room, large outside covered stoep, informal kitchen/breakfast room, office, one bedroom domestic quarters, double garage, car port, wine cellar, atrium, and roof terrace.

The main house has been very successfully rented out on a holiday rental basis from time to time. A one bedroom stand alone pod, ideal for house guests or for holiday rentals, is positioned in a secluded private

FEATURE PROPERTY

area away from the main house. Also included is a 30KWH solar power installation with batteries and a borehole ensuring the property is effectively off the grid.

Outside areas include a large swimming pool, and an extensive lawned and landscaped area to the rear of the property. To the front of the property are a number of paddocks currently enjoyed by a small flock of sheep and some chickens but also perfect for horses, and a small dam. The property is fully electrically fenced and includes a state of the art security system.

Tom Clode 079 955 3114

Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194 R32 000 000

3 BEDROOM HOME IN PRIME VILLAGE LOCATION

CHARACTER 3-4 BEDROOM HOME ON LA FERME CHANTELLE ESTATE

Eco features and high beamed ceilings define this home in an indigenous low-maintenance garden served by a stream-side well with irrigation system and plunge pool.

This gorgeous contemporary home on La Ferme Chantelle offers secure living with private vineyards within walking distance to the village.

Spacious double volume open-plan living/ dining room with contemporary kitchen leading out to a long deep covered terrace ideal for outside living and overlooking the large heated pool, lawned gardens and lovely mountain views.

Entrance hallway with double glass panelled doors leading into a generous L shaped open plan living/dining room with large fitted bookcase, kitchen with scullery and sliding doors leading out onto a spacious covered wooden deck overlooking an indigenous garden.

Very large open plan office/second living area, separate family TV room and spacious scullery/laundry.

Three large bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms with scope to add a fourth

bedroom, main bedroom has stunning views across the vineyards and includes a walk in dressing room and large en-suite.

Tom Clode 079 955 3114

The main bedroom is large, with an en-suite bathroom plus a walk in dressing room. Two further bedrooms share a spacious bathroom with slipper bath, shower, vanity and toilet. A single garage plus a same-sized attic, boarded to enable storage, accessed by fold-down stairs. There is also off-street parking for visitors. The mostly indigenous garden is a real feature, bounded by a small stream. The house is heated by a woodburning stove in the main living area. A lovely property.

Also includes three garages, solar power system and off street parking. Erf size 1200m2 Tom Clode 079 955 3114

George 082 650 9194 R15 250 000

Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194 R6 950 000

FARM HOUSE ON SECURE ESTATE

Exclusive Mandate. Ideally located in the secure La Petite Provence estate, this Cape Victorian “farmhouse” circa 1927 has been recently renovated and combines charming period features with a contemporary feel. Ideally suited to family living, generous open-plan kitchen and dining room, two separate lounges, five ensuite bedrooms. Two separate titles, house on 1,057m2 plot; garden and pool on a 663m2 plot.

Tom Clode 079 955 3114

Terry-Lee George 082 650 9194 R12 950 000

This property has it all. Location, large plot, and huge period charm. Available to the market for the first time in over 20 years this much loved home sits grandly in the historic heart of Franschhoek village. Includes spacious open plan living/dining/kitchen area, four bedrooms and two

This property has it all. Location, large plot, and huge period charm. Available to the market for the first time in over 20 years this much loved home sits grandly in the historic heart of Franschhoek village. Includes spacious open plan living/dining/kitchen area, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Scope to extend into large roof space. Large

FOUR BEDROOM VILLAGE PROPERTY

CAPE VICTORIAN

FOUR BEDROOM VILLAGE PROPERTY

Tom

Terry-Lee

CAPE VICTORIAN FARM HOUSE ON SECURE ESTATE