I Love Yzer Darling Issue 24 by I Love Yzer

THE SPRING ISSUE

YZER DARLING

SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE 24 | R10

COVER STAR

Sandi Collins

GROOTE POST

COUNTRY RUN

GERDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TABLE

the spring issue 2019

CONTENTS 8

08 12 18 20 23 25

23 I j YZER

COVER STAR Sandi Collins LOCAL NEWS News from Yzerfontein and Darling INSPIRATIONAL STORIES Louise Barends COMMUNITY Die Verdagte in die Taxi ENTERTAINMENT Alles Malan HOME Darling Green Estate

CENTREFOLD PULL OUT BUSINESS DIRECTORY

TEAM I LOVE YZER MARIAAN, ELDRÉ, NADINE WORKING IN EVENTS AGED US QUITE A BIT THIS YEAR...

ns events seisoen het met mening afgeskop in Augustus en September hou nie terug nie! Hoop om julle by die Darling Wildflower Show, Groote Post Country Market,

Groote Post Country Run en Atlantic Beach Village Fair raak te loop. Geniet die eetgoed, koopgoed en pretgoed by die volgende drie maande se events! Kom sê hallo by ons stalletjie en neem ‘n foto saam met ons en stuur na info@iloveyzer.co.za - dalk sien jy jou kiekie in die volgende tydskrif! - Weskus Groete van die I Love Yzer Span j. ILY TEAM OUT AND ABOUT

29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 44 45 46 48 50 4

KIDS Poenankies SIPS & SNIPS Winemaker & Dog DINE Smiley’s Darling Diner DINE Fynproewer se Droom COOK Vegan Malva on the Braai HISTORY The Story of Oom Jan NATURE The Litter Trace HEALTH Health & Wellness Bootcamps YZERFONTEIN TOURISM Yzerfontein Heritage DARLING TOURISM Mystery Trail ART Landskip TO DO A Carnival of Wildflowers TO DO !Khwa ttu Heritage Festival TO DO Manhattan Short Film festival TO DO Groote Post Country Run TO DO Opera in Darling EVENTS @ILoveYzer

ILoveYzer.co.za

YZERFONTEIN CYCLE EXPERIENCE

CATHERINE CAME TO VISIT

GERDA’S TABLE LAUNCH

EON EVENT - CAPE TOWN

WC FLOWER TRAIL RUN

ILoveYzer

RASPRO

SHOWROOM

opening in DARLING, 10 Stasie straat

·· ·

FRAMING FABRIC PRINTING WALLPAPER PRINTING

All Upholstery • Curtains • Blinds • Shutters • Cushions • Ottomans • Carpets • Headboards • Car seats Boat covers • Outdoor PVC • Roof linings • Safety gates • Clear PVC Bars • Foam matresses & Covers

INBOX

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info@iloveyzer.co.za

WENNERS

! k u l e ie g

ELITE CHARTERS KOMPETISIE ILYD22 Riana Thiart INBOX ILYD23 Leigh Pronk COVER STAR VOTER WINNER Rika Mitchell

ONS WIL GRAAG VAN JULLE HOOR!

Stuur jou gedigte, briewe & foto’s na: nadine@iloveyzer.co.za Skryf INBOX in die onderwerpslyn en jy kan ‘n I Love Yzer geskenkpak wen! j

Editorial Team Publisher Content Sub-Editors Layout & Design Advertising, Marketing, Distribution Contributors Sandi Collins Janet Withington West Coast Way Hester De Roubaix Lozelle de Vleeschauwer Red Letter Day Pictures Ralph Rabe Tapiwe Madada Charles Withington Darling Music for All Hello Darling Tourism

Competition Terms & Conditions The winners will be the first entries drawn after the closing date. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The prize is not transferable and may not be converted into cash. I Love Yzer Darling magazine is published quarterly by I Love Yzer. © Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. While every care is taken in preparation of this magazine, the publisher cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of I Love Yzer.

Nadine Eldré Mariaan Office/Shop Whatsapp

084 677 0077 nadine@iloveyzer.co.za 082 877 6677 eldre@iloveyzer.co.za 079 880 1552 mariaan@iloveyzer.co.za 022 451 2202 info@iloveyzer.co.za 084 796 6094 OFFICE HOURS ONLY

SHOP HOURS Monday - Friday Saturdays Public Holidays

September - November 2019 10:00 - 16:00 09:00 - 15:00 09:00 - 15:00

OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday

08:00 - 16:00

Physical Address Shop 5, Yzerfontein Business Centre, Buitekant Street, Yzerfontein

SPOTTED!

Postal Address PO Box 599, Yzerfontein, 7351

INGESTUUR DEUR MARNÉ PIENAAR MARNÉ, CARLI EN PAUL KLIM AI AIS

JESSE SAPADIN IN LOS ANGELES

I Love Yzer Nadine Pretorius Janet Withington, Donnay Torr Nadine Pretorius Nadine Pretorius, Mariaan Heyns Alfie van Litsenborgh Leozette Roode Riaan Neethling Una Nieuwoudt Peter Ryan Hanno Swanepoel Rupert Joone Nicolaas Maritz Stephan Moser Silver Dune Photography Yzerfontein Tourism Boytjie Basson

CHARLIE  & JESSE SAPADIN  IN BEVERLY HILLS WEARING I LOVE YZER!

INGESTUUR DEUR CHARLES DUCKITT FOTO GENEEM IN SALISBURY, UK

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COVER

FROM BUSHVELD TO FYNBOS Starting a new chapter in your life can lead to a great adventure, as our cover star winner Sandi Collins discovered. She shares her story. ARTCLE I LOVE YZER PHOTOS SILVER DUNE PHOTOGRAPHY

was born on a farm in the Western Transvaal and grew up as a bit of a tomboy with a passion for horses and riding. I later spent many years in Botswana working with Penduka Safaris, a mobile safari company operating in southern Africa. As such, the bush and outdoors have always been very much part of my life. While my husband Gordon worked all over southern Africa as a geologist, I farmed Roses, Nguni cattle and ran an equestrian centre. After our two girls had completed school and enrolled at the University of Cape Town, my husband and I made the decision to sell the farm and move to the Cape. So in 2004, we left Polokwane and our beautiful bushveld farm and moved to Darling. It might have been hard to leave the farm, but it was completely impossible to leave the horses behind, so we searched high and low for a suitable place. Eventually, it was Darling that provided what we needed! In Darling I also discovered a little coffee shop that was in need of a new owner. So in 2005, I found myself painting tiles onto the cement floor of a little space on the main road of the town and wondering what to call this new venture. Prior to my farming days I operated shops in Johannesburg, which sold beautiful crafts and handmade treasures. The first Marmalade Cat opened in Melville and a few years later we opened another branch in The Firs in Rosebank. So now, with paint brush in hand and a head full of doubts as to what I was doing, I looked up and straight at a marmalade cat watching me curiously from the half-open door. I never saw the cat again, but it had to be a sign... The Marmalade Cat had begun a new life in Darling. One of the questions I’m often asked is how Marmalade, our real-life marmalade cat, came to join our team as a permanent resident of both the restaurant and Cat Walk. When I first opened The Marmalade Cat, I was enchanted by the dear little striped field mice that scurried in and out under the big steel gate at the back of the shop. The staff would run after them with brooms and I pleaded with them to leave them, explaining that they do no harm. But one became two, and two became four and numbers multiplied… In those early days of The Marmalade Cat, the sale of a beautiful handcrafted Zimbabwean jersey was quite an achievement. One of our customers was travelling up the coast and asked me to keep it for her until she returned. I put it under the desk and forgot all about it. She returned a 8 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

month later and I triumphantly pulled the jersey from under the counter. To my horror, three tiny pink mice were clinging lovingly to it. That was it! I immediately contacted the S.P.C.A., who happened to have a marmalade-coloured cat looking for a home. Within minutes, Marmalade arrived, was released in the shop, and disappeared. We thought she had run away in fright, never to be seen again. Not at all… she appeared back with a captured mouse and presented it at the feet of our only client, who’d been enjoying his curry up until that point... This was not how to win or impress customers! For several months, Marmalade continued to keep the mouse population down, and then for no reason became totally disinterested and was actually seen (by another customer) on top of the pizza counter sitting next to a tiny mouse paralysed in fright, with Marmalade looking disdainfully at it. Darling has changed so much over the years. Ever since Pieter-Dirk Uys put this small hamlet on the map in 1995, more and more wonderful entrepreneurial businesses have started adding to the pull factor that encourages people to detour through the village while exploring the West Coast. We try to put the emphasis on as many local products as possible and with the olives, cheeses, Brewery, the toffee factory, fudge, gin and the farms and their award-winning wines, of course, it has been easy to create interest and uniqueness. At present we are designing a Darling Packet, which will be a great gift to fill with the local fare. Over the years The Marmalade Cat needed to expand. Walls were broken out and the shop spread further and further backwards and into a shed and later into the shop next door. The Cat Walk (next door) was only meant to be a temporary solution to an empty shop, which, looking rather dismal and shabby on our main road, wasn’t going

COVER to make a good impression, especially on the eve of the Darling Festivals in September and the wildflower display that attracts hundreds of visitors annually. To rectify this, I asked permission to rent the space for a few months and decided to fill it with wonderful creations from our talented local designers. It’s still here, and has added a big point of interest to the street. We try to always keep a wide range of inexpensive cotton island garments as well as the more expensive designer clothes. The staff at The Marmalade Cat have been together for years. We make a huge effort every day to give our customers a wonderful “Darling experience”. Over time they’ve realised that it is this teamwork that makes the shop work, and as a result, the shop works for them. We try to use and source as much local and organic produce as possible and use the best quality ingredients in our dishes. We have fun making food and love to present it in our own Marmalade Cat style. At the moment we are enjoying making use of waterblommetjies, abundant after the good rains. We use these wonderful vlei lilies to make the traditional waterblommetjiebredie well known to the Swartland. We try to keep a good range of our dishes, including our specials, versatile so that they can be easily modified to suit vegan or vegetarian preferences. This week’s special is a homemade flatbread topped with smashed avocado, chilli chickpeas, corn and black beans with mustard chicken fillets as optional. I have an honours degree in Fine Art and a major in Sculpture, so becoming a restaurant owner may seem strange! But everything you do in life is interlinked and it did help coming from a family of cordon bleu cooks. My niece, Debbie McLaughlin is the chef of Hilda’s Kitchen, and was endlessly patient with answering my cooking questions and providing guidance along the way.

What else do we do at The Marmalade Cat? We are a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. We do flowers for weddings, small catering functions and hold jazz and music events in the barn. Our latest project is frozen food. Our busy lifestyles make it so convenient to be able to take a cooked meal home — and not one that is mass produced. We’re hoping that this new venture, “We Are Freezing Foods for You,” will add another great dimension to our business, and that it will influence our customers to choose healthier, wholesome meals rather than being tempted into a “quick fix” fast food alternative. We say yes to most things: even dogs are welcome, on one proviso — we have to have warning so that Madam Marmalade can be safely tucked away in the Cat Walk. Her legendary attack on a sleeping dog tethered to its owners’ table in the courtyard saw every table and chair turned upside down and every plate and glass smashed as the dog fled for cover in the barn, table in tow, Marmalade clinging with great determination to its back. The restaurant business is relentless. To survive this job you have to keep strong — and having a huge sense of humour is a definite plus! The strength for day-to-day hard work has been made easy by having an amazing pilates instructor who lives in our area. Keeping fit is easy too: we live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world boasting spectacular hiking trails, many of these right on our doorstep in Darling. The sense of humour part comes easily if you have the ability to laugh at yourself. This we are forced to do on a regular basis! It is hard work, yes, but when you have fun and enjoy what you do, it makes every day worthwhile.

 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 9

COVER



CLUB

We make all our food ourselves. After a very busy day the doors may close but it’s back to cooking for us! It’s endurance work and luckily all our staff are more than capable of keeping up the pace. When asked to describe a typical day at The Marmalade Cat: yes, it is cooking and more cooking! But somehow, no day is ever the same. The most extraordinary and unexpected things happen here. There are so many events, but one that springs to mind happened at the end of a busy flower season. The restaurant was still full of guests and I was aware of one of our waitresses walking past the desk, holding a tray of food. Suddenly she leapt sideways with a loud shriek! I followed her alarmed gaze to a metre behind me, where a Cape cobra was rearing up to its full glory, head flattened. Cat… cobra… customers… Not good! Luckily, I was able to phone J.C., our local snake expert, immediately. Miraculously he answered his phone straight away and — even more incredible — he seemed to appear at the door within minutes, long socks, khaki shorts, helmet, forked stick and bucket in hand. The snake was quickly scooped into the bucket and left the restaurant to be relocated in the Renosterveld Reserve. The next part of the story is even more astonishing. There were a few moments of silence, and then everyone went on chatting and eating as though nothing had happened, as if what had just played out had been an illusion. No reference was made to it at all. It was just another day in the life of The Marmalade Cat! Come say hi to us (and to the feisty Madam Marmalade!) at — we can’t wait to meet you! j

BREIMANEWALES IN YZERFONTEIN Brei is beslis nie net ’n stokperdjie vir wyses en gryses nie... Die Yzerfontein Breiklub gebruik hulle kleurryke kreatiwiteit om te ontspan én ’n verskil te maak. ARTIKEL HESTER DE ROUBAIX FOTO’S ANTOINETTE TERREBLANCHE

ie Yzerfontein Breiklub is deur ’n paar plaaslike vroue onder leiding van Wilma van Reenen op die been gebring. Aanvanklik was die breiklub net ’n geleentheid vir die betrokke vroue om op ’n Dinsdagmiddag bymekaar te kom, tee te drink en te kuier. In 2018 is daar egter ’n behoefte geïdentifiseer om ’n verskil te maak in minderbevoorregte kinders se lewens deur vir hulle komberse te brei as beskerming teen die winterkoue. Dié projek is onder leiding van Mariaan van Rensburg aangepak. “Die Nessie” in Darling en NORSA (Noorweë SuidAfrika) is as begunstigdes geïdentifiseer. “Die Nessie” is ’n plaaslike sosiale instelling wat mik om plaaslike kinders te versorg. Die Breiklub het 22 komberse en ’n verskeidenheid gebreide mussies aan hulle geskenk. Louise Barends, maatskaplike werker, sal die komberse aan die kinders oorhandig. Die NORSA-instelling op Wellington versorg kinders met die doel om hulle deur Europese ouers aangeneem te kry. Dit was voorwaar vir die breiklub aangenaam en gesellig om die kombersies te brei wetend dat ons iemand se hart gaan verbly. j

INFO T 022 492 2515 E marmaladecat@telkomsa.net

NAVRAE

W marmaladecat.co.za A 19 Main rd, Darling

Die breiklub kom elke Dinsdag van 14:00 - 16:00 bymekaar.

FACEBOOK The Marmalade Cat

KONTAK PERSOON Wilma van Reenen

INSTAGRAM @themarmaladecat_sa

M 082 507 9184

10 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

GRADE R-7

NEWS -

DARLING BREW 1 JUNE

ie Blue Ribbon Yzerfontein Cycle Experience het 9 Junie vir die 4de jaar plaasgevind in Yzerfontein. Net oor ’n duisend mense het deelgeneem aan die 78 of 52km MTB en 10 of 5km Fun Run. Dit was die eerste jaar wat die Fun Run element ook ingesluit is en dit was baie goed ondersteun. Alle inskrywingsgeld van hierdie event gaan aan die drie liefdadigheids organisasies: Die Internasionale Polisie Forum, die Jenna Lowe Trust en die Reach for a Dream Foundation. Vir die eerste keer het daar ’n Inter-Brewery Challenge plaasgevind tussen Yzer Bru, Darling Brew en Black Eagle Craft Brewery van Langebaan. Black Eagle was in die eerste plek en het ’n wissel troffee gewen. Darling Brew was in die 2de plek en Yzer Bru in die 3de plek. Die Yzer Bru span het ook die tweeling, Chané en Annika Venter, wat ly aan die seldsame genetiese siekte, Friedrich’s ataxia, getrek deur die 52km roete. Stephen Kriel en Wydeman van der Merwe het die twee apart in die spesiale waentjies getrek terwyl tien ander ryers om die beurt die waentjies van agter af gestoot het. j

PHOTOS TIFFANY & KO PHOTOGRAPHY

DARLING RUGBY CLINIC GABRIEL PHAROAH STADIUM 17 JUNE

PHOTOS NADINE PRETORIUS | I LOVE YZER 12 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

PHOTO HENRÉ PRETORIUS

WS - LOC NE

YZERFONTEIN MAIN BEACH 9 JUNE

DARLING KOLLEGE WYNVEILING

- LOCAL

YZERFONTEIN CYCLE EXPERIENCE

LOCAL NEWS

CAL NEW LO

Fresh Seafood Lunches

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Pizza Evenings & Live Music

Weddings ∞ Conferences ∞ Accommodation ∞ Private Functions Tel : +27 22 451 2360 E mail : strandk.book@mweb.co.za www.strandkombuis.co.za f: Strandkombuis Restaurant & Accommodation

WINTER BEER FEST DARLING BREW 6 JULY

SUNDAY TIMES LIFESTYLE BEER AWARDS PHOTO’S DARLING BREW PR

arling Winter Beer Fest took place on the 6th of July. The heavens opened up and the dams got a refill on the day but despite the weather 1000 people rocked up to be part of this amazing event. Beer from 7 breweries was merrily sampled by everyone with Riot (Woodstock based microbrewery) Imperial Stout walking away as the Beer of the Darling Winter Beer Fest 2019. The crowds danced the day away to Jackal and the Wind and Sunset Sweatshop. What a way to spend a winters day!

85 Beers were entered! Judges spent a gruelling day sampling all the contestants and Darling Brew’s very first beer to market Slow Beer walked away with the South Africa’s Most Loved Lager title for 2019. j THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 13

NEWS -

FOTO’S MARISSA NIEUWOUDT PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOS ABPHOTOZA PHOTOGRAPHY

GERDA’S TABLE LAUNCH

GROOTE POST COUNTRY MARKET

YZERFONTEIN 25 JULY

PHOTOS NADINE PRETORIUS | I LOVE YZER 14 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

!KHWA TTU 17 AUGUST

GROOTE POST VINEYARDS 25 AUGUST

PHOTOS NADINE PRETORIUS | I LOVE YZER

WS - LOC NE

WEST COAST FLOWER TRAIL RUN

- LOCAL

YZERFONTEIN TOERISME AJV

YZERFONTEIN ROLBAL KLUBHUIS 24 JULIE

LOCAL NEWS

CAL NEW LO

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COMMUNITY WHATSAPP GROUPS DARLING COMMUNITY FORUM Admin: Nina Monda | 072 822 5518

DARLING SECONDS Admin: Louis van Zyl | 072 379 6000 DARLING KOOP EN VERKOOP Admin: Lynn Rosant | 072 525 4009 Admin: Janneke Muller | 074 722 4615 I LOVE YZER COMMUNITY Admin: I Love Yzer | 084 796 6094 PHOTO CARA DE VILLIERS

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Join the groups by sending a message to the admin. Want to list your community group? Send the info to info@iloveyzer.co.za to be included in the next issue.

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WIN!

PHOTO CLIVE BASSON

One of 2 copies of POENANKIES Send your contact info to info@iloveyzer.co.za with POENANKIES in the subject line to enter the draw! Competition deadline: 30 November 2019 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 15

FROM YOU

Die belang van ‘n naam ‘n Mens se reuksintuig kan jou aanspoor om ‘n nuwe wêreld te ontdek... Een waar eienaardige en unieke name seëvier. INGESTUUR DEUR LOZELLE DE VLEESCHAUWER FOTO’S HELENE PRESTON

s mens laataand op die Kaapstad-lughawe land en buitentoe stap, tref die reuk jou. Onmiskenbaar. Uniek aan ons wêreld. Fynbos! Miskien is dit die baie ure se sit in die beperkte ruimte van ‘n vliegtuigsitplek wat mens se sintuie so omklits. Tog ruik jy nie rose, bessies, of varings nie. Jy ruik die aardse geur van boegoe en stinkkruid, blousalie en heuningbos. Kort na die hitte van die somer en weer wanneer die winterkoue gewyk het, bars die Weskus uit met ‘n flambojante blommeskouspel wat mens skoon stom laat. Die meeste van die plante is endemies. Struike soos vaalluisiebos en blomme soos geelkelkiewyn, Darling froetang en Vredenburg froetang kom slegs hier voor. Die piepklein blommetjies van ‘n duinebessie of skilpadbessie staan nie terug vir ‘n elandsvy wat in jou hand ontplof met skelpienk bravade nie. Naby Yzerfontein is ‘n pragtige stuk blommeveld waar mens in die lente kan stap met die leiding van die kundige Helene. Die wonderkleure van die nederige Bokbaaivygies betower op hulle eie spesiale manier terwyl varkore hier hoog en trots staan. Waar sou struike soos bobbejaankol, hanepootharpuisbos, jakkalsgousblom en pajamabos aan hulle name kom? Die rykdom aan spesies in ‘n beperkte area is soms meer merkwaardig as die blomme self. Geen wonder, dan, dat mense van regoor die wêreld in blommetyd nie genoeg van ons wêreld kan kry nie.

In die Strandveld kry ons struikagtige plante soos ysterhout wat in die lente soos ‘n bruid vol wit blommetjies uitgedos staan. In die Sandveld kraai die rietfamilies koning. Renosterveld en Kalkveld word afgewissel met granietkoppies waar watsonias tussen klippe blom. Hierdie besondere kombinasie van grondsoorte sorg vir ‘n skouspel wat ons jaar na jaar nederig voor ons Skepper laat buig! Hoe Groot is U! j

Whether it’s a

ANIMAL HOSPITAL & VETSHOP

moo, meow, bah or bark our teams at Darling & Moorreesburg Veterinary Clinics are available to tend to the needs of your livestock and pets!

17 Main Rd, Darling | Tel: 022 492 2545 8:00 to 17:30 Mon - Fri 8:00 to 12:00 Sat

TygerbergAnimalHospital

www.tah.co.za

26 Lang St, Moorreesburg Tel: 022 433 4883 8:00 to 13:00 & 15:00 to 17:30 Mon - Fri 9:00 to 12:00 Sat

2442 Country Storage Half Page advert.indd 1

2019/08/15 12:28

INSPIRATIONAL STORIES

LOUISE BARENDS When we went to see Louise Barends in her office at the Darling Outreach Foundation one cold, wet, winter’s day there was no mistaking the warmth and friendliness, energy and confidence which radiates from this extraordinary young woman. ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS JANET WITHINGTON | RIAAN NEETHLING

ouise has been employed by the Foundation since 2009 in the capacity of manager and social worker, and oversees a wide range of community projects under that umbrella, most notably also Ons Nessie. It is important to note that this article focuses on Louise as a woman of substance in the community and not the phenomenal work done by the Foundation which is well known. But Louise’s beginnings are a far cry from Darling; in fact she was born in Stanford, close to Hermanus, the youngest of five children. Her father died when she was little and her mother, Maria Barends, a domestic worker who is now 79 years old, devotedly took on the role of single parent. She kept pigs to supplement her income and this helped provide the extras for her growing family. She is still there for her children, and still giving wise advice. Louise matriculated in 1995 from the Emil Weder School in Genadendal which she attended from Grades 9 to 12, during which time she was a boarder, returning home only once a month. At the time a teacher at the school used to tell her that she laughed so much in class she wondered what was going to happen to her. During her time there she had had career counselling and even at that young age she decided that social work was what she wanted to do, and went on to study at Hugenote Kollege in Wellington. She relates how, to her amusement and her former teacher’s surprise she returned to her old school where she was sent for work experience, no doubt still laughing a lot! Her studies were held up when she became pregnant but undeterred and determined she did not give up and left there with her qualification in 2002. For eight years Louise worked for Child Welfare in the Hermanus area until she felt she had even more to offer, which was when she saw the advertisement for the position of Co-ordinator for the Darling Outreach Foundation. Going from an established non-profit organisation to a new one that had not much more than a vision, was indeed an act of faith. Louise se uitsonderlike ma het haar kinders altyd aangemoedig om net die beste te doen en om te glo dat daar altyd genoeg sal wees om in hulle behoeftes te voorsien. Louise het nooit gevoel sy kom iets kort nie en het geweet dat as sy iets nodig het, sal haar ma, broer en susters daar vir haar wees. Dit is dan ook hoe sy haar studies suksesvol

18 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

kon voltooi met die hulp van familie en vriende. Alhoewel hulle ‘n baie hegte familie is, leef hulle almal selfstandige en onafhanklike lewens maar is altyd daar vir mekaar wanneer nodig. Louise is die toonbeeld van ‘n sterk, selfstandige vrou met ‘n onwrikbare intensie om ‘n verskil te maak in haar gemeenskap wat sy op ‘n nederige en stil-stil manier doen sonder om dit aan die groot klok te hang. Sy is baie toegewyd aan haar agtien-jarige dogter, Lucrisa Barends, en hulle het dieselfde sterk band wat Louise en haar ma het. Die groot les wat uit hierdie verhaal geleer kan word, is hoe uitsonderlike moeders daarin slaag om oor tyd geslagte van al hoe sterker en meer bemagtigde vrouens te vorm. Mag dit ‘n inspirasie wees vir ander vroue om dieselfde te doen ten spyte van dikwels moeilike omstandighede. Louise glo dat die lewe nie gaan oor die omstandighede waarbinne jy jouself bevind nie maar wat jy daadwerklik bereik is om te doen om jou situasie te verbeter. Sy het ‘n besondere manier om mense te help op ‘n wyse wat hulle bemagtig eerder as om net hulp uit te deel. Sy glo mense moet by ‘n punt kom waar hulle self die oplossing vir hulle probleme insien en verantwoordelikheid daarvoor neem voordat hulle op ‘n volhoubare manier ondersteun kan word. Dit is ongetwyfeld een van die redes vir die sukses van die Darling Outreach Foundation se programme. Mense word gehelp op hulle pad na ‘n beter lewe en toekoms wat hulle self met oorgawe moet stap. ‘n Sterk vrou weet wie sy is en waarvoor sy staan. Sy het groot drome, weet wat sy wil doen en laat nie toe dat hindernisse in haar pad staan nie. Sy is geanker in haar geloof en is spiritueel gedrewe. Sy volg haar eie pad en is nie afhanklik van almal se goedkeuring nie. Sy fokus op dit wat belangrik is maar is pragmaties in die toepassing daarvan. Sy is sag maar kragtig wanneer nodig en weet wanneer sy haar hart of kop moet volg. Sy straal liefde en deernis uit. ‘n Sterk vrou is ‘n besondere geskenk aan die wêreld en dit is wie en wat Louise Barends is. j

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DIE VERDAGTE IN DIE TAXI In die stryd teen misdaad speel Yzerfonteiners se waaksame oë en ore ’n belangrike rol om die polisie te help. ARTIKEL ALFIE VAN LITSENBORGH

s mens onlangse suksesse soos die drie verdagtes wat in verband met huisbraaksake aangekeer is in ag neem, is dit duidelik dat die Yzerfonteinse gemeenskap paraat is. Maar die buurtwag wil die publiek aanmoedig om nie laks te word nie: wees op julle hoede, en rapporteer enige verdagte aktiwiteite! ’n Waaksame persoon kan ’n groot verskil maak. Op Donderdag, 8 Augustus vanjaar het ons ‘n oproep van ‘n inwoner ontvang. Sy het ’n persoon opgemerk wat verdag voorkom, en het die telefonies aangemeld by Yzerfontein Armed Response. Die inligting is onmiddelik via radio aan die patrollievoertuig deurgegee, en sekuriteitsbeampte Joseph Boois het dit ontvang. Hy was juis op pad terug van ’n vroeër uitroep, en het dadelik reageer. Die inbeller het die verdagte persoon se naam genoem, so Boois het dadelik geweet na wie hy soek. Hy het verder vasgestel dat die verdagte opgemerk is met ‘n donkerkleurige sportsak in sy besit. Op pad na waar die verdagte gesien is, het Boois Yzerfontein se Dorpsbestuurder, Claudia Lakey, opgemerk. Hy het haar laat weet dat hy op die uitkyk is vir die verdagte persoon, en sy het ingestem om hom te vergesel en bystand te lewer, indien nodig. Naby die Yzerfontein vulstasie in Buitekantstraat het Boois ‘n geparkeerde taxi opgemerk,

16 MILE BEACH The run was simple – traverse the entire length of South Africa’s longest uninterrupted beach in one go, running in a straight line. ARTICLE JOSEPH BEATTIE | WWW.TRAILBLAZER.CO.ZA

et it’s not what we read on the maps of the line drawn with one’s GPS that determines the simplicity. With trail running, the more varied the terrain, the more vertical gain and losses there are, and the more places the line goes, the greater the adventure. Not so with this run. Sometimes it’s in the so-called mundane of the consistency of what we do, that adventure shows another side of itself. Such was the case in running the length of this beach. From the smallest of the details of Creation it held, to the remoteness of its grandeur, as well as the fact that the line is curved due to the sheer length of coastline this beach covers; running 16 Mile Beach gave me lots to ponder as

20 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

besig om passasiers op te laai. By nadere ondersoek is die verdagte in die taxi gesien. Boois het die verdagte vriendelik en met die regte ingesteldheid genader, en die verdagte ondervra. Sake het glad verloop: die verdagte was selfversekerd en het ingewillig om sy persoonlike bagasie (wat in drasakke verpak was) en sy nuwe slaapsak aan Boois en Lakey te wys. Die verdagte het bevestig dat die goedere sy persoonlike eiendom is, en uit vrye wil die sakke oopgemaak om die inhoud te wys. Daar was ’n nuwe boor en ’n braaistel binnein, steeds in die oorspronklike verpakking. Ten spyte van die verdagte se bravado en bereidwilligheid om te gaan wys waar hy gewerk het en by wie hy die goedere gekry het, het Boois ’n slang in die gras vermoed. Boois het sy werkgewer, Alfie van Litsenborgh, van die petalje verwittig. Van Litsenborgh het die toneel waar die verdagte kwansuis sy boor en braaistel as ’n geskenk gekry het, besoek. Na ’n ondersoek is vasgestel dat die woning deur die garagedeur betree is. Die deur was by die skuifslot beskadig. Die verdagte se storie het nie meer sin gemaak nie. Van Litsenborgh het die polisie in kennis gestel. Die polisie het die verdagte gearresteer weens die besit van vermoedelik gesteelde eiendom en het later vasgestel dat daar by drie wonings in die onmiddelike omgewing waar die verdagte vroeër uitgewys het, ingebreek is. Die slagoffers van die misdaad het hul eiendom by die polisiestasie uitgeken. Die Polisie ondersoek die moontlikheid dat die verdagte by nog sake betrokke is. Die ondersoek duur voort. Die storie van die verdagte in die taxi het dus ’n goeie einde te danke aan spanwerk: die oë van die publiek wat die verdagte opgemerk het, goeie samewerking tussen Yzerfontein Armed Response en die polisie, en ’n brawe Dorspbestuurder gewillig om te help! j

we navigate our way in Life. Starting just north of the West Coast town of Yzerfontein, this beach makes its way along and past the West Coast National Park to Tsaarsbank. The mists came and went, forming curtains. These made the beach seem shorter than what it was. It was only upon reflection of the day’s adventure in the 16 miles or 27.5 kilometres I continuously ran for just under 5 hours on uninterrupted sand, did I realise how long this beach is! The end came quicker than anticipated… When we reflect on what we think is mundane, sometimes we realise that it goes by quickly... how we come to that realisation often determines how much we are aware of, or appreciate, what we have, especially the small things in life. Just being out there was such a joy! j

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Alles Malan is ’n familiedrama wat in ons buurdorp, die Paarl, net buite Darling afspeel. ARTIKEL BYDRAE RED LETTER DAY PICTURES

ie reeks, wat in Julie 2019 begin het, is ’n familiedrama wat in die Paarl buite Darling afspeel. Aan die hoof van die familie staan Derik en Brenda Malan, onderskeidelik gespeel deur Albert Maritz en Elsabé Daneel. Hulle eersgeborene, Frik (vertolk deur Ivan Zimmermann), keer na agt jaar in Engeland terug om die familiebesigheid, Malan Vervoer, by sy pa oor te neem. Sy vrou, Tessa (vertolk deur Nadia Valvekens), en twee tienerkinders keer saam met hom terug, maar het elkeen ’n stryd van hul eie: Tessa moet weer gewoond daaraan raak om ’n huisvrou te wees. Die 17-jarige Elani (vertolk deur Greteli Fincham) ontvang lewensveranderende nuus en Freek (vertolk deur Matheo Olivier), die Malans se 14-jarige aangenome seun, worstel met ras-identiteit. Nico (vertolk deur Sean Marco Vorster), die jongste van die Malan-seuns, staan op trou met Lee-Ann (vertolk deur Nicole Fortuin). Die rol van oupagrootjie Peet word deur Marius Weyers vertolk. Van die spelers is van skoolbanke gehaal om die rolle te vertolk: Greteli is ’n matriekleering aan Hoërskool Stellenbosch en Matheo is ’n leerling aan Hoërskool Laborie. Daar is heelwat tonele by Hoërskool Hugenote in Wellington verfilm en van die leerlinge is as gas- en byspelers gebruik. Ander bekendes wat in die reeks te sien is, is Hélène Truter as die skoolhoof, Tim Theron as Herold, Kay Smith as Cathy, Tristan de Beer as Allen, Nic de Jager as Danie, Mbulelo Grootboom as die huisdokter, Mila Guy as Vicky, Lee-Ann van Rooi as die skoolsielkundige en Pierre van Pletzen as die rugbyhoof Hannes. Brent Vermeulen speel die rol van Johan, Elani se nuwe liefde wat haar in al haar besluite ondersteun.

Die mederegisseurs is Corné en René van Rooyen. Hulle het ook die konsep vir die reeks ontwikkel en is die hoofskrywers. Ook in die skrywerspan is Retief Scholtz, Burger Meyer en Lize Vosloo. Die vervaardiger is Tascha van der Westhuizen. Corné is bekend as regisseur van treffer-flieks soos Hollywood in My Huis, Vaselinetjie en Susters. René is onder meer die regisseur van Toorbos, die rolprent wat op Dalene Matthee se boek gegrond is wat in 2020 vrygstel word. Alles Malan is hulle eerste dramareeks. Met van die grootse name in die vermaakbedryf in die rolverdeling en ’n wen-span agter die skerms, beloof kykNET se nuwe dramareeks, Alles Malan, om ’n wenner te wees. Moet dit nie misloop nie! Kyk elke Dinsdagaand om 20:00 op kykNET, kanaal 144 op DSTV. j

COMING SOON! 29 BUITEKANT ST, YZERFONTEIN

THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 23

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BREAKING GROUND – 2019 ARTICLE RALPH RABIE PROJECT MANAGER OF @DARLING GREEN ESTATE

t is with great excitement that construction of the first house is set to commence in in the next few weeks. The environmental approval was received in August and the rezoning approval is expected in September 2019. The developer also still wants to break ground this year (Keep reading our updates on our website and social media for the final date). GREEN ECO-LIVING As you may be aware, @Darling Green Estate will be an environmentally friendly development. We will communicate more specific information as soon as all the details of all the green initiatives have been finalised. DBX M.T.B. EVENT The DBX mountain biking event was a resounding success. The dry-run on the accommodation offering (sponsored by @Darling Green Estate, in partnership with World Sport), was very well experienced. We will make this a permanent fixture. The team also participated in the event.

PLOT AND PLAN OFFERING The developer has noticed that there is a need for a onestop shop to build your home immediately. The home sizes start from 166m² at an all-in price of R1.9million. SALES PROGRESS There are only 5 x 1 hectare stands available. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a piece of country in the heart of Darling for an unbelievably well priced property @Darling Green Estate. This exciting project is now gaining momentum and we look forward to keeping you abreast on the progress. Should you have any questions - please don’t hesitate to contact us. j

VOORKAMERFEST AND DARLING WILDFLOWER SHOW @Darling Green Estate will once again support these 2 events. We will have a presence at both the events, held on 6-8 September (VoorkamerFest) and 20-22 September (Darling Wildflower Show). Come see the wildflowers in all their glory in our area.

_ House Type D _ 2 185

4 050

4 025

3 680

Braai

Front Stoep

3 795 1 610

Bedroom 1

Ground Floor Garage Front Stoep Side Stoep 1 Side Stoep 2

219,3m2 36,9m2 52,0m2 20,8m2 20,8m2

5 520

Kitchen

Dining

Lounge

Fireplace

4 Bedroom 3 Bathroom

Laundry / Scullery

Kitchen Yard

House Description

Total

349,8m2

Stoep

En-suite

Courtyard

Lounge

Courtyard

CONTACT INFO

Bedroom 3

3 220

4 370

En-suite

1 840

Bedroom 2

Stoep

4 370

Ralph Rabie M 083 616 0500 Bedroom 4

Walk-in Cupboard

Garage

Bathroom

Guest WC

E ralph@darlinggreenestate.co.za W darlinggreenestate.co.za

3 795

SOCIAL MEDIA DarlingGreenEstate THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 25

Blue Square Pottery Studio & Lessons: 082 567 4940

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint & Workshops: 022 451 2114 | 072 136 0398

Art | Crafts | Exhibitions

Zanthè Seaton Designs • Registered Senior Architectural Technologist: 083 651 8359

New Earth Architecture: 084 707 7700 | 022 492 2225

Hardie van Schalkwyk Architecture: 082 737 7151

Atelier Architects • Richard Taylor: 082 855 5971

Architects

Yzerfontein Accommodation: 083 453 2336 | 022 451 2210

Turquoise Breeze Ocean Villa: 073 545 1841

Strandkombuis: 022 451 2360

Spearchukka Cottages: 083 505 2707

Kaijaiki Country Inn: 022 451 2858

Kaalvoet: 082 335 4912

Honeybird Manor: 083 505 2707

Chez James Self Catering Apartment: 082 925 3189

Buﬀalo Drift • Captain’s Cabin Blombosch Farm: 072 599 5663

Breakwater Accommodation: 022 451 2646 072 516 3308

12 Pikkewyne Self Catering Unit for 2: 076 313 0659

YZERFONTEIN:

Buﬀelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve: 022 451 2824

!Khwa ttu Tented Camp & Guest House: 022 492 2998

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Accommodation Periwinkle: 022 451 2855

Kotie du Toit • Sielkundige: 082 337 2188

Beulah Farm Deli: 083 233 5355 Boeretroos: 061 727 8409 Haus of Décor • Coﬀee Haus: 081 554 6006

Regalia • Paint Techniques: 081 832 5940

Urban Dezign & Décor • Interior Design Shutters • Blinds • Upholstery: 076 320 1233

A Taste of Yzer: 072 524 3336

YZERFONTEIN:

Vygevallei Padstal • R27 West Coast Rd: 074 138 1610

The Marmalade Cat: 022 492 2515

Smiley’s Darling Diner: 074 856 5541

Darling Brew Tasteroom: 021 285 1099

Raspro • Upholsters & Manufacturing: 022 713 5557 | 081 378 0678 | 065 933 3171

Prestige Cabinet Designs: 022 492 2596 083 266 1089 | 082 447 6255

LeRoi’s Lighting: 022 451 2476 | 083 565 9190

Interior Images • Shutters & Blinds: 022 451 2114 | 072 136 0398

Haus of Décor • Interior Design • Shutters Blinds • Upholstery • Decor: 081 554 6006

Décor | Design | Furniture

Buﬀelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve: 022 451 2824

Yzer-Board • Thermal Insulation & Cornices: 022 451 2159 | 083 656 0533

Café Mosaic: 022 492 2307

!Khwa ttu: 022 492 2998

Shoreline Carpet Cleaning Services: 083 438 1189 | 084 555 4447

Pink Lady • Needle Work • Alterations Wool • Haberdashery: 022 492 2440

NetDirect • Wireless Internet Service Provider: 087 985 0739

Martine Tech IT Services: 061 516 6052

Marine Taxis: 022 451 2062 | 082 769 4034

Khaya Clean: 065 519 5499

Electronic Newsletter Advertising Yzer • Darling • Weskus: 022 451 2202

Dorpie’s Multiman: 022 451 2290 | 072 723 2116

Darling Tyre Services: 022 492 3007

Country Storage • Moving Services Car Wash • Trailer Hire: 072 686 4314

Services | Specialists

Places to Eat DARLING:

Yzerfontein Buurtwag: 083 444 0672

Yzerfontein Armed Response: 022 451 2747 (o/h) | 082 961 0366 (24h)

Traxdor Clearbars & Trellis Doors: 082 211 2965 | 081 440 4465

Darling Neighbourhood Watch: 083 325 4148

Clearbars • Multisafe Security: 082 469 3351 | 022 451 2110

Safety | Security

The Catwalk Clothing: 022 492 2515

Shell Vulstasie • The Shell Shoppe Yzerfontein: 022 451 2682

Yzerfontein Dierekliniek: 022 451 2087 | 083 868 0520

TAH Moorreesburg: 022 433 4883

TAH Darling: 022 492 2545

SPCA • Darling: 022 492 2781

Omega Dog Food for Sale: 022 451 2875 | 072 595 2911

Pets

Yzerfontein Medical Support: 083 383 8874 | 082 453 6417

Mike’s Pharmacy: 022 451 2095 | 083 708 1262

Pretty Cute • Gifts & Decor: 076 734 3853

Kwikspar & Tops • Yzerfontein: 022 451 2628

JW Hamilton-Attwell • Physio/Fisio: 082 570 6338

Lientjie Nel • Industrial Psychologist Career Guidance: 083 274 9063

I j Yzer • Darling • Weskus Products: 022 451 2202

Hannelie de Klerk • Clinical Psychologist: 082 855 4874

Yzerfontein Elektries: 083 262 5804 | 022 451 2476

Top Tool: 022 451 2035

Steve’s Electrical: 022 492 2522

Rens Meyer Plumbing: 084 513 2957

Otto Elektries: 072 655 7713

McNeil Maintenance & Renovations: 022 451 2038 | 067 393 6649

Lee Construction: 082 771 9594

J.F. Kirsten Vervoer: 022 492 2620

Henton Homes Timber Construction: 083 268 4609 | 079 063 8153

Darling Aluminium & Glass: 082 542 7600 | 082 047 8777

CK Paving Supplies • Brian: 072 819 9640

Bouvest Building Services: 022 451 2816 | 082 718 0581

Atlantic Maintenance: 072 059 6624

Anton Mitchell Land Surveyors: 083 763 3351

All in One Renovations: 074 739 2347 | 078 266 4892

Acasia Homes: 082 888 8565

ISSUE 24

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

The Cutting Crew: 079 160 6939

GP • Yzer • Dr Lindie Walters: 022 451 2941 | 083 270 6914

Haus of Décor • Decor • Furniture Showroom: 081 554 6006

ENGEN Darling: 022 492 3434

Darling Meat Market • Vleismark: 022 492 2633

Darling Sweet: 022 492 2101 | 083 235 4002

Buitekant Square • Yzerfontein: 076 734 3853

Book League • Books • Stationary • Computer Consumables: 022 492 2667

Blikaspaai • Décor & Gift Shop: 022 451 2114 | 072 136 0398

Retail

Sotheby’s International Realty • Johan: 083 383 2659

Rawson Properties: 022 451 2445 | 082 700 5212 | 072 207 2135

Pam Golding Properties (Pty)Ltd: 022 772 2196

Pam Golding • Sue Smuts: 082 961 3220 | 022 451 2188

Pam Golding • Ilona du Toit: 082 853 5983 | 022 451 2188

Harcourts • Suzette Ferreira: 072 685 1876 | 022 451 2120

Chas Everitt • Denise: 083 448 1726 | 022 451 2029

Cape Country Properties: 083 600 2441 | 022 492 2902

Property

Yzervark Bistro: 076 833 0074

Wild Flour Coﬀee Shop: 022 451 2315

Weskus Padstal: 071 658 9167

The Office: 022 451 2541 | 072 136 0398

Strandkombuis: 022 451 2360

Rosemead Artisan Bakery & Patisserie: 066 222 5076

Meeurots: 022 451 2608 | 084 602 8353

Lulas: 072 232 3885 | 082 396 7643

Kaijaiki Country Inn Restaurant: 022 451 2858

Yzerfontein Municipality: Office Hours: 022 451 2366 Emergency After Hours: 022 487 9400

Snake Catcher • Yzer • 082 370 9768

Snake Catcher • Darling: 084 250 5468

SAPS Darling: 022 492 3146

NSRI: 082 990 5974

Hospital • Velddrif • Ambulance Service: 022 713 4590

Hospital • Netcare Blaauberg: 021 554 9000

Harbour Manager • Yzer: 082 921 1192

Fire Emergency: Office Hours: 022 487 9479 Emergency After Hours: 082 925 2244

Darling Municipality: Office Hours: 022 492 2237 Emergency After Hours: 022 487 9400

Emergency Numbers

Yzerfontein Tourism: 022 451 2985

Yzerfontein Sport & Recreation Club: 022 451 2819

West Coast Way: 086 132 1777

West Coast Fossil Park: 022 766 1606

West Coast Explorers Club • Bicycle Rental: 022 451 2114

Let’s Go Adventures: 083 600 6117

Groote Post Country Run: 022 451 2202

Groote Post Country Market: 022 451 2202

Darling Wildﬂower Show: 084 916 1111

Darling Museum & Tourism: 022 492 3361

Buﬀelsfontein Game & Nature Reserve: 022 451 2824

Things To Do

Windor Services: 082 650 5838

Trailer • Water Trailer for Hire • Yzerfontein: 082 772 5203 | 082 416 6789

SpaClean • Waterless Window Cleaning: 082 612 3660

www.iloveyzer.co.za j info@iloveyzer.co.za j 022 451 2202 j Office • Shop j Shop 5 • Yzerfontein Business Centre • Buitekant Street

Above and Beyond Build, Paint and Renovate: 081 768 4815

Construction | Renovations

Darling Apteek: 022 492 2782

Van Zyl Chartered Accountants: 022 492 3223

GP • Darling • Dr Anine Vermaak: 022 492 2339

Complete Dental • Darling: 022 492 2671

Medical

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Carine Carstens Garden Services: 083 232 7147 | 072 245 8601

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WE DO SOLID WOODEN DOORS, WINDOW FRAMES & DECKS, CUSTOM KITCHEN DESIGN & CABINETRY, LAMINATED FLOORING AND ANYTHING WOOD. OFFICE: 022 492 2596 LIONEL: 082 447 6255 JOHAN: 083 266 1089 PRESTIGE@KINGSLEY.CO.ZA

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West Coast | Cape Town

Johannes Otto

072 655 7713

johannesotto@yahoo.com

KIDS

WELKOM IN ’N WOELAGE BOEKWÊRELD

Op soek na die perfekte Kersgeskenk vir jong boekwurms? Murray & Me se nuwe kinderboek is ’n prettige viering van kleurryke Afrikaans!

ARTIKEL | FOTO’S MURRAY & ME

“

analla”; “woelag”; “dydelik”; “atjar” en “poenankies”. Standaard Afrikaans? Vir die kinderboekskrywer, Milan Murray, is dit beslis en só het haar idee vir ’n unieke versameling Afrikaanse kinderverhale begin. “Poenankies - ’n versameling kinderstories deur bekendes”, word in September vanjaar in Kaapstad en by die Aardklop Kunstefees op Potchefstroom bekend gestel. Milan, bekende aktrise, ma en mede-eienaar van die kinderboekmaatskappy Murray & Me, is ’n trotse Weskusser en hierdie kleurryke Afrikaanse woorde was so deel van haar grootwordjare as gebraaide snoek en groen koeldrank. Sy sê “Poenankies” beteken ‘oulik’ of ‘fraai’ en is sedert 2017 in die Afrikaanse Woordelys en Spelreëls as Standaard Afrikaans erken. “Vir my was dit die perfekte titel vir ’n kinderboek.” Milan Murray en Charmaine Nolte het hulle kinderboekmaatskappy, Murray & Me in 2015 begin. Hulle beskryf die maatskappy as ‘n “moedswillige, onafhanklike” uitgewery, en fokus op die skep van opwindende nuwe Afrikaanse kinderliteratuur. Jong lesers sal dalk die titels van die drie boeke in die idioomreeks herken: “Pieter Kokkewieter en die Hart op sy Mou”; “Hetta Elizabetta en die Wêreld op haar Skouers” en “Kop in die Wolke in Kromkieriefontein”. Al drie hierdie titels is reeds in hulle derde oplaag, en “Hetta Elizabetta” en “Pieter Kokkewieter” is ook reeds in braille beskikbaar. Milan het verlede jaar die Silwerskermfees-toekenning gewen vir beste draaiboek vir die animasie kortfilm, “Kromkieriefontein”, wat op die gelyknamige prenteboek gegrond is. Die verhale in “Poenankies - ’n versameling kinderstories deur bekendes”, is almal gemik op ses- tot negejariges en is bedoel vir voorlees. Die bydraers is die akteurs Diaan Lawrenson, Antoinette Louw, Jana Cilliers, Gys de Villiers en Milan Murray; die hip-hop kunstenaar YOMA; rymkletser HemelBesem; die skrywers Nathan Trantraal en Gielie Hoffmann; die sanger Arno Carstens en digter Bibi Slippers. Lauren Nel, Sarlee van den Berg en Marisa du Toit was as illustreerders betrokke. Die bydraes wissel van kort gediggies soos YOMA se “My Ouma doen’it vir my” tot Gys de Villiers se fabel, “Mooiloop”. Arno Carstens raak spiritualiteit aan in sy storie “Gawie se Gesie” en Jana Cilliers se “Nulniks se nulle”, is vol simboliek en kinderlike verwondering. Antoinette Louw se “Die avonture van Arrie en Lollie”, vertel die verhaal van ’n dogtertjie se middernagtelike reise saam met ’n vriendelike tarantula. Nathan Trantraal se “Waa’s my skoene” skilder die komiese prentjie van twee susters se wedywering oor wie se lyding nou eintlik die grootste is. Milan en Charmaine poog om elke jaar een Afrikaanse

kinderboek uit te bring en “Poenankies” is hulle 2019-projek. Die boek is moontlik gemaak deur die ondersteuning van die LW Hiemstra Trust en die Trust vir Afrikaanse Onderwys. Milan sê: “Poenankies is op sigself ’n treffende en goeie titel, maar die titel sal waarskynlik dadelik kinders en boekbevorderaars in alle sfere van die boekbedryf se aandag trek. “Met die betrokkenheid van Afrikaanse bekendes hoop ons om verkope van die Poenankies-kinderboek te bevorder en sodoende lees – en spesifiek lees in Afrikaans – te bevorder.” Volgens prof. Betsie van der Westhuizen van die Noordwes-Universiteit se Fakulteit Lettere en Wysbegeerte is “Die hele projek nie net oulik nie, maar veel meer – die hele onderneming is besonders, buitengewoon, merkwaardig, versiende en in ’n sekere sin uniek in Afrikaans. “Die doel van hierdie versameling verhale en gedigte, is die bevorder van lees by kinders, en om die wins aan te wend om ’n bydrae te lewer tot die versprei van ’n wye verskeidenheid kinderboeke na gemeenskappe wat nie geredelik toegang tot boeke en biblioteke het nie. Die hoofdoel van die publikasie is om die wins van die boek te gebruik om die Biblio’kies projek te ondersteun. JOE Biblio’kies is ’n landswye inisiatief deur Just One Earth, Murray & Me en Modern Designs om boeke meer toeganklik te maak vir jong lesers.” “Charmaine Nolte en Milan Murray is ervare en toegewyde boekmaakgeesdriftiges - tot in die fyn grein van die taal,” sê Betsie. Volgens Milan werk Murray & Me al ’n geruime tyd saam met die maatskappy Just One Earth om biblio’kies / lil’braries te versprei. Sy verduidelik: “ ’n Biblio’kie is ’n mobiele rak vol boeke, wat aan gemeenskappe geskenk word om boeke te ‘leen’ en te ‘bring’.” “Poenankies” is die boek beslis – maar ook ’n waardevolle bydrae tot die Afrikaanse kinderboekwêreld. j

NAVRAE W murrayandme.co.za FACEBOOK @MurrayandMeBooks INSTAGRAM @murrayandmebooks THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 29

SNIPS & SIPS

WINEMAKER & DOG In our family we believe that there is much truth in that people are often like their dogs, and sometimes even in name too. So I thought I would put this to the test and asked local Winemakers whether they had a dog/s and if so, what they were called. ARTICLE | PHOTOS CHARLES WITHINGTON | THE DARLING WINE SHOP

ood news is that our winemakers in Darling really are a bunch of dog lovers – and responded with much, and amusing detail…

THE WINEMAKERS A Anthony De Jager: Fairview Darling Vineyards B Maggie Immelman: Darling Cellars C Cloof: Hennie Huskisson D Razvan Maccici: Ormonde E Lukas Wentzel Groote Post F Pieter-Niel Rossouw Darling Cellars THEIR DOGS 1. A Boerboel named Merlot and her kennel is a barrel. 2. A rescue called Lady and one crazy Wire Haired Fox Terrier called Butchie Boo. 3. Two Border collies called Ava and Zoye. 4. Two dogs Tracer (German shepherd) and Heidi (Swiss shepherd). 5. Three Ridgebacks: Katinka the old lady, Thati - the young boy and Petit - the young girl. 6. Three dogs: Boom Boom is a 2 year old Wire Haired Fox Terrier, Maisie is a big German Shepherd/Collie rescue and Tessa Cocker Spaniel-like … love them all! Well there you go six winemakers and six sets of dogs to choose from. With names like Butchie Boo and Boom Boom, as with their wines, you can see there is no lack of imagination. The challenge to you dear reader is to try and identify which winemaker with which dogs!

WIN!

Match the winemaker with the dogs and you can win Darlington Gin Salami! Simply email your aswer and contact details to info@iloveyzer.co.za to stand a chance to win! Competition deadline: 30 November 2019. 30 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

TIM ATKIN MW – DISCOVERIES IN DARLING A regular visitor to South Africa and a recent visitor to Darling is UK Master of Wine Tim Atkin. Wine journalist, judge and commentator, Tim has garnered no small following (65 000 on Twitter) and this is due to his meticulous approach to wines in both taste and terroir. Tim spent a morning in Darling and in the peace and quiet of the Groote Post homestead, with each producer individually, went through the complete range of Darling wines as part of his 2019 “South African Report” (nearly 300 pages).

DINE For anyone here or abroad with an interest in South African wine, this is an absolutely invaluable document in that over and above rating and commenting on some 2 120 wines this year (a record) , it gives by far and away the most comprehensive overview of the South African wine scene. Note I choose the word overview as while other guides might give detail down to post code, the value in the Tim Atkin report is the broad base input of one who is respected worldwide for his knowledge of wine, and having compiled this report every years since 2013 he is well suited to comment on changes and developments. Indeed – apart from South Africa, Tim writes definitive reports on Rioja, Argentina, Chile and Bordeaux En Primeur. So while there is no shortage of good local opinion wine industry, it remains rare that that we are internationally assessed, and never with such great detail. All of that said – Tim is a most approachable individual, very down to earth (one of his happiest moments this visit was when he became the proud owner of a really smart pair of velskoens which I am not sure he ever took off the whole time he was here). Easy to talk to and extremely sharing of his knowledge base, we are most grateful to him, and through the offices of Wines of South Africa, that he came to Darling. Now we very much look forward to hearing what he has discovered in Darling. Please be in touch and we will tell you how to get a copy of his report. j

DARLING VLEISMARK

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ARTICLE | PHOTOS TAPIWA MUDADA

y name is Tapiwa Mudada, known as Smiley. I am the first born of four brothers and sisters and came to South Africa in 2008 as a refugee from Zimbabwe seeking greener pastures. I had finished my education and was prepared to do any kind of work so that I could just put food on the table, and also to have something to send to the family that I left at home. It wasn’t easy and I even had to sleep without shelter in the streets of Polokwane. In 2010 I moved to Darling hoping to find a better job but as a refugee life was not as normal as it supposed to be. I thank God for the people of Darling who took me as their own. My first job was for six months at Cafe Mosaic and after that I found the job that makes me who I am today, at Maison de L’amour B&B in Darling. The owners, Nina and Derick, taught me all I know about the hospitality industry and that’s when I discovered that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I opened a takeaway in Darling East (known as Asla). Some people call it a tin house and God increased his Grace though it was tough. I spoke to the Wessels family about help and they helped me with all their hearts. We then built a proper shop in Asla and we had our first official launch the 14th November 2018. Four months later Mr Peter Niklaus gave me a life time opportunity to open a diner at his premises at the Engen Garage in Darling where we are now based. I just want to thank God for the people he put on my path for my success. At SMILEY’S DARLING DINER we cater for all and we care about our environment. We have biodegradable packaging for all our takeaways and we know that life is hard for everyone so we have low prices for divine food and we also deliver in Darling. j

INFO M 074 856 5541 SOCIAL MEDIA SMILEY’S DARLING DINER THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 31

DINE

FYNPROEWER SE DROOM Yzerfontein bied meer as ’n skitterblou see en ongerepte strande. Vir kosen wynparing uit die boonste rakke is daar Gerda’s Table, ’n unieke gastronomiese ervaring wat almal aan die praat het. ARTIKEL UNA NIEUWOUDT FOTO’S SILVER DUNE PHOTOGRAPHY

jef par excellence, Kaapse Wynmeester, gedugte sakevrou. En dis nie die einde van haar deugde nie. Toe talente uitgedeel is, was Yzerfontein se Gerda Mouton voor in die ry. Onthaal is in haar bloed en haar besluit om ’n unieke kosen wynproe-ervaring, Gerda’s Table, by asemrowende venues op Yzerfontein aan te bied, is met groot entoesiasme begroet. Met haar uitgebreide kennis oor wyn en flair vir onthaal is sy ook die ideale keuse vir gasvroue wat verkies om die harde werk in iemand anders se bekwame hande te laat. Gerda se belangstelling in die wynbedryf het posgevat toe sy in 1988 met Benjamin Mouton getroud is. ’Hy het in daardie stadium ’n wynplaas buite Franschhoek gehad. Ek het vanuit ’n korporatiewe en entrepreneursagtergrond gekom en basies onwillekeurig in die wynkelder beland.’ Jan Boland Coetzee, hul destydse konsultant-wynmaker en Gerda se mentor, het duidelik potensiaal geruik en het haar aangepor om die gisvoorbereiding vir die sap in die tenke te hanteer. Kort voor lank het sy vanweë haar gedrewe aard begin wyn uitvoer en gevolglik talle oorsese wynskoue bygewoon. ’Die bekoring van die wynwêreld het my oorweldig en ek was gulsig vir meer kennis. My kwalifikasie as Kaapse Wynmeester was ’n natuurlike uitvloeisel van my passie vir die bedryf,’ vertel sy. Haar liefde vir kosmaak kom grootliks van haar twee oumas, Martha en Truitjie (Gertruida), wie se naam sy geërf het.

’Ouma Martha het ’n wonderlike vrugteboord gehad en was ’n voorslag met vrugte inlê. Desember-vakansies was sinoniem met die soet geur van ryp perskes, pruime, appelkose, druiwe en vye. Ouma Truitjie was weer ’n bekroonde bakker wat van enige maaltyd ’n spesiale okkasie kon maak,’ vertel Gerda nostalgies. Min dinge gee haar so ’n rush soos om te onthaal. Elke aspek is opwindend en vorm deel van ’n kreatiewe proses waarvan sy nooit genoeg kry nie. ’Dit begin met die keuse van ’n tema, gevolg deur die saamstel van ’n spyskaart, aankoop van vars produkte, voorbereiding van disse en uiteindelik die dek van die feestafel. Ek is mal oor ’n tafel wat mooi gedek is, dis vir my soos ’n teaterverhoog. En ek onthaal graag op die Mediterreense manier; dit pas by ons klimaat en tipe kos.’ Die idee met Gerda’s Table was om ’n gesellige ruimte te skep waar vriende om een tafel kan saamkuier en terselfdertyd meer oor die wonderwêreld van wyn kan leer. ’My doelwit is om die Weskus as wynroete op die map te plaas en besoekers bewus te maak van die wye verskeidenheid Weskus-wyne en wonderlike ’kosmandjie’ wat ons streek bied. Ek glo vas dat Yzerfontein die ware juweel van die Weskus is; die kos en wyn waarmee ons besoekers onthaal, moet daardie beeld help uitdra.’ Besoek Gerda se webtuistes, www.gerdastable.com vir besprekings en www.winejoy.com vir meer inligting oor haar keuse van Weskus-wyne en om bestellings te plaas. Of stuur e-pos na info@gerdastable.com. j

32 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

COOK

VEGAN MALVA ON THE BRAAI RECIPE LEOZETTE ROODE, THE SOUTH AFRICAN VEGAN COOKBOOK PHOTO HUMAN & ROUSSEAU/MYBURGH DU PLESSIS

INGREDIENTS yy 12 teaspoons Orgran no-egg powder yy 4 tablespoons water yy ¾ cup sugar yy 1 heaped tablespoon Apricot jam yy 1 tablespoon vegan margarine (Flora), melted yy 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar yy 150g cake wheat flour yy 1 tea spoon bicarb soda yy ½ teaspoon table salt yy 1/3 cup Almond Breeze unsweetened milk yy 1 cup coconut cream yy 1 tablespoon vegan margarine (Flora) yy ½ cup sugar yy 1/3 cup hot water yy 2 teaspoons vanilla essence

yy Pour the sticky mixture into your potjie and place on a grid over the coals (low- medium heat) for 30 minutes. yy While it is cooking, make your sauce by boiling the coconut cream, margarine, sugar, water and vanilla essence together in a pot over high heat. yy As soon as your pudding is cooked, poke or cut lots of holes into the sponge with a fork/knife and pour the sauce mixture over. Return to the coals (very low heat) in order for the sauce to draw into the sponge. yy Cut into 8 pieces and serve with banana ice-cream. j

INSTRUCTIONS yy Spray a shallow black potjie with cook & spray. yy Whisk the no-egg powder with the water in a small bowl. Transfer to electric mixer and start beating. yy While beating, add the sugar (little bit at a time). yy Add the jam, melted margarine and vinegar and mix through. yy Sift the flour, bicarb and salt together. yy Once sifted, add to the mixing bowl (little bit at a time) along with the Almond Breeze. Beat well until everything is combined. (Note: the mixture will seem slightly sticky) THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 33

HISTORY

THE STORY OF OOM JAN A man larger than life Boytjie Basson continues his journey down memory lane, weaving memories both happy and sad together in the history of Yzerfontein. ARTICLE | PHOTOS BOYTJIE BASSON

n 1984 a monstrous winter storm hit Yzerfontein and decimated the coast line with huge waves. The harbour wall was broken in three places. Part of the seaward tip was also broken off and the wall became a little shorter. In 1986 the new small harbour wall was built to reduce the big surge when launching and recovering boats at the slipway. This, however, did not prevent a few holidaymakers and rich visitors from up north losing their vehicles while trying to launch their boats, which were better equipped for the Vaal Dam than for the Atlantic Ocean of the West Coast. Snoek was so plentiful during this period that 60 000 to 80 000 snoek were landed on a good day, and anything that could remotely float was launched at Yzerfontein to head for the snoek waters. My future brother in law, John Muis, had bought himself a ski boat from his National Service savings after completing his two year compulsory call up to the army, which all white South African men over the age of 16 were subjected to between the years of 1967 to 1993. We would ski at the harbour and from the main beach if the weather and seas were calm. He skippered the boat and I would ski. Having witnessed the great whites being caught in Oupa’s nets while growing up, I was terrified of falling in the water and avoided that at all cost. Hence my excellent water-skiing skills were largely due to my fear of sharks and cold water. The ski boat also allowed us to go and visit Dassen Island almost every day during the holidays or weekends, where we would dive for crayfish and perlemoen —still legal in those early days, of course. Later, a Sea Fisheries Inspector by the name of Oom Jan Boonzaaier was appointed to the Island. Also, new laws gradually came into place where we were now no longer allowed to dive from the boat and quotas were introduced regulating the amount of crayfish that we could catch. Not being allowed to dive from the boat also meant that we could not legally get any perlemoen. This left us with no choice but to befriend Oom Jan. Oom Jan was the resident Sea Fisheries Inspector on Dassen Island. He easily spotted any ski boat, sailing vessel or commercial trawler that entered the bounds of his little kingdom. He would very quickly assert his authority and let everyone know that he was in charge of the small isolated Island and its surrounding waters. He would order his three labourers on the Island to row him out in a small wooden boat where he would board any vessel anchored in House Bay and conduct a thorough search for anything illegal. Although he was a big man who outwardly appeared very 34 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

strict, he was a jovial and kindhearted man when you got to know him. He loved nothing more than good conversation and a glass of red wine. Due to our frequent island visits in the early and mid 80s to go and dive for perlemoen and crayfish, we got to know Oom Jan very well. After a few years, a very close relationship developed between Oom Jan and the crew of See Muis. We loved him as a human being and for the stories that he would tell us. In turn, he loved the company and the attention that we as youngsters gave him and the respect we bestowed upon him. We would not be at anchor in House Bay for long before Oom Jan was rowed out to us by his labourers. Then it would be a struggle to get Oom Jan on board and, once on board, he sat on the one side of the boat and we would all sit on the opposite side of the boat, because as I have mentioned, he was a big man. Because of my studies covering the subject of “Ship Stability” at the Naval Academy when I was a young Naval Officer, I knew the dangers that Oom Jan’s weight posed to us when he was on board. As time went by through the years and as we got to know Oom Jan better, a bit of familiarity crept into our relationship. We would visit the Island almost on a daily basis during the Christmas holidays. As the Sea Fisheries laws changed and became more stringent, so also did Oom Jan’s bargaining power. Now he could ask anything from us in return for the same freedom and privileges that we had become accustomed to through years gone by. A bottle of red wine had now become a box of red wine, and not any wine, it had to be KWV Roodeberg red wine. A single Scope magazine (back then it was the early days of naughty magazines dedicated to pretty girls) had now become a collection of Scope magazines. And a half-day outing to treat Oom Jan had now become a full day’s outing and entertainment of Oom Jan on the boat. But we still loved Oom Jan and we loved visiting the island and the rich sea life it offered us. We therefore kept him happy with all the latest editions of the Scope magazines, loads of red wine and, of course, braaied sumptuous portions of tender steak and lamb chops for him. In return he would allow us to enjoy the crayfish and perlemoen that the island had to offer. When the weather was bad and we struggled for crayfish and perlemoen, Oom Jan would invite us to tie up alongside the new wooden jetty that the Department of Sea Fisheries had built for him and where he had a metal cage suspended from the jetty. This he referred to as his pantry. His pantry contained large quantities of crayfish and perlemoen, which

HISTORY

they had collected when the weather was good and kept alive for when the need arose. He would supply us with all the seafood that one could ever need. He would put together a more than decent hamper with the biggest crayfish and perlemoen and sometimes also the odd penguin egg for us to take back to Yzerfontein. One day, there was an incident on the island that has stayed with me for years. It had been a long day of socialising on the boat in the warm summer sun. As Oom Jan had not had a visitor or a drink for some time, he was elated to see us. And judging by the speed that Oom Jan was drinking his red wine that day, he must have also been very thirsty. I was diving in crystal clear water and every time I surfaced Oom Jan would shout; “catch ‘em son, they’re here to be caught!” Referring to the crayfish and perlemoen, of course. With him being the inspector and being in charge of the Island, I was not going to argue with the instructions shouted at me. Oom Jan was a very big man and I certainly did not want to get on his wrong side, I was therefore more than happy to oblige. At the end of a very enjoyable day, we said goodbye to Oom Jan as he climbed into his little boat. As he sat at the back of the boat, his elbows and back resting on the gunnel, the stern sunk deep into the water and the bow lifted in the air, while his labourers rowed him back to the jetty. Because it was such a calm and beautiful day, I thought it would be a great idea to ski back to Yzerfontein behind the boat. Something that we had not been attempted before... John Muis, having been very well brought up by his parents and being good mannered by nature, decided to do one last fly past at full speed close to Oom Jan with me in tow to wave him goodbye. The wake caused by the boat passing Oom Jan at full speed rocked Oom Jan’s little rowing boat to the extent that it capsized, Oom Jan landing in the ice cold water clinging to the upturned boat. We turned around as fast as we could and rushed back, but there was no way we could haul Oom Jan out of the water and onto our boat. He was just too heavy. The splashing and the blowing sounds Oom Jan made right then were not too far off from the whales that were often seen in those waters. The water in that part of the sea is very cold and we feared that Oom Jan would get hypothermia. In Oom Jan’s case this would probably have taken a very a long time, but we decided to tow him to the shallow waters. It was a slow and painful process to get Oom Jan to the shore that day, and when we did eventually get him ashore, although he was wet and cold, Oom Jan did not say anything except the word bliksem. He mentioned the word bliksem quite a few times while he was lying there

on the beach with his body half on the sand and half in the water. And in between uttering the word bliksem, he also breathed very heavily. It took a long time for him to regain his strength and breath as he lay on the beach. From that day, Oom Jan had a new rule: we now had to fetch him and drop him off at the jetty personally. Oom Jan also had a truck on the island. A large Ford F100 truck. For what reason, no one knows, because Dassen is a small island with only a narrow 1.5km road from his side of House Bay to the lighthouse on the southern side. This is where the lighthouse keeper lived. But although they were the only two families on this little island they did not speak. Oom Jan did not like him and that was the end of it. One day I asked Oom Jan to take me for a sightseeing tour of the Island. Oom Jan was just too pleased to be my tour guide and he took me on a drive that had me holding on for my life. Gesturing wildly and pointing out interesting things, he sped across the island, rabbits, penguins and workers scattering for cover as we circumnavigated the small island at high speed. Based on the many dents and scratches on his truck I don’t know whether he ever had a valid driver’s licence and I was too afraid to ask. In 1986, shortly after the incident of the capsized boat, at the young age of 26 years old and with the rank of Lieutenant, I was promoted to Captain of a small naval warship called the SAS Fleur. It was a Torpedo Recovery and also a Diving Training Vessel. Every time I sailed past Dassen Island I would anchor in House Bay and send my crew to collect Oom Jan and invite him on board for a meal and conversation. Not long after this, Oom Jan became very ill, and passed away. When I went to visit him in hospital during his last few days and saw his huge body under the sheets, breathing heavily, I could not help thinking back to that day we had to tow Oom Jan to shore. j

WIN!

One of 5 copies of MY YZERFONTEIN MEMOIRS by WJ Boytjie Basson Send your contact info to info@iloveyzer.co.za with MY YZERFONTEIN MEMOIRS in the subject line to enter the draw! Competition deadline: 30 November 2019 MY YZERFONTEIN MEMOIRS Order a copy of MY YZERFONTEIN MEMOIRS by WJ Boytjie Basson directly from Boytjie or buy your copy at the I Love Yzer shop for only R300. T 082 569 3377 E gilbertsgift@gmail.com THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 35

NATURE

CALLING ALL EAGLE-EYED CITIZEN SCIENTISTS! The Litter Trace project has been conducting an experimental release of marked plastic blocks into Table Bay and False Bay, and want YOU to keep an eye out for them. Here’s what you need to know. ARTICLE & PHOTOS PETER RYAN

ow much plastic really goes to sea? This is a question that gives many of us sleepless nights. The Litter Trace project hopes to get some answers. It is widely assumed that 80% of the plastic litter found in the sea comes from land-based sources. And, certainly, most of the litter close to urban areas in South Africa comes from local sources. However: there is a massive mismatch between the estimates of how much plastic is floating at sea (about 250,000 tonnes) and how much ‘leaks’ from land into the sea each year (anything from 5 to 12 million tonnes). Even allowing for plastics that sink, either one (or both) of these estimates is wrong, or a lot of the plastic litter coming out of rivers and storm drains is not actually ending up at sea. After a successful initial trial in False Bay, they plan to release labelled pieces of plastic and wood into Table Bay and False Bay and then search for them along nearby beaches. The study aimed to contrast the movement of plastics with different densities, which will likely show different dispersal patterns. For example: our July trial had most of the expanded polystyrene blocks all washing straight back out to the beach. Most of the high-density Polyethylene blocks were resighted within 3 to 4km of where they were placed in the water. Keep your eyes peeled when searching: the blocks can sometimes be hard to spot if there is a lot of debris on the beach!

We’d like the public to get on board and help us by looking for more of these plastic blocks while walking or playing on beaches, and reporting any that they might find. The white plastic blocks measure 12 x 8 cm and come in two types: yy Hard plastic sheets that are 3mm thick and feature engraving bearing a unique item number (0000 to 1199) and information on how to report them. 36 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

yy Polystyrene blocks 30mm thick, which are only labelled with a unique code (A00-F99): unfortunately our labels don’t stick to expanded polystyrene. j

HARD PLASTIC SHEETS

POLYSTYRENE BLOCKS

INFO We need the code number of each item found, together with the location and date where it was found. All information can be submitted via WhatsApp or SMS 073 246 8169 or send email to littertrace@gmail.com.

HEALTH

Health & Wellness Bootcamps ARTICLE HANNO SWANEPOEL PHOTO SILVER DUNE PHOTOGRAPHY

ant to get ready for Summer? Still procrastinating about that New Year’s fitness resolution? Feeling like it’s time to do something healthy and see the rewards for your efforts? Or simply in need of something fun to do? Then my Bootcamp, group fitness sessions are for you! Whether you’re new to working out or consider yourself as one of the fit people, I have a workout and group of people you will just fit right into. It’s not too late to start. My sessions are laid out to include a variety of exercises. Between the Cardiovascular, body weight and weight training you won’t get bored. Expect to sweat during a Bootcamp session and make sure to push yourself, whatever your ability, to get the most out of the training. You will leave feeling tired but motivated and good about yourself. We will circulate between different sets of exercises which create a diverse and personal experience for each client. You will see the improvements with every session.

VISIT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR EVENT UPDATES @ILoveYzer @ILoveDarling @ILoveWeskus Or visit our website www.iloveyzer.co.za Send your event info to info@iloveyzer.co.za

Come beat the Monday Blues and push yourself through that lame half week point on a Wednesday from 17:15 – 18:00 (Beginners Class) or 18:00 – 19:00 (Advanced Class) at the Yzerfontein Community Hall. I also offer private personal training sessions at R200 per hour. j

INFO Hanno Swanepoel M 082 800 6135 E hannoswanepoel98@gmail.com

Roger’s Jewellery DARLING situated in

QUALIFIED JEWELER WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

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THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 37

YZERFONTEIN TOURISM

Yzerfontein Heritage ARTICLE CONTRIBUTION RUPERT JOONE

FT1 is the name by which the 115,000 year old middle stoneage Rock Shelter on top of the cliff at the entrance to the Yzerfontein harbour is known in archaeological records. This site was excavated in 2002 and yielded a rich sample of artefacts, faunal remains and intertidal shells. A very interesting site indeed, and certainly of great heritage importance, but yet, the site is sadly eroded, the sandbags have disintegrated, and not marked with an official Heritage interpretive sign. The current signboard was erected by Yzerfontein Tourism as an interim arrangement with the idea to apply for heritage status and proper signage. The renewed interest was sparked during a geological excursion led by Dr Duncan Miller, a retired archaeologist and professor in geology, living in Yzerfontein. A meeting was subsequently held with the archaeologists involved at the time of the excavation and it was agreed to make an attempt to procure some funds to have the site permanently preserved. The Heritage Agency is unlikely to contribute but there is a possibility that Professor Richard Klein at Stanford University in California may fund, or at least contribute towards the preservation of YFT1. Prof Klein, who was very involved in the original excavation, is expected to visit Yzerfontein soon. In the meantime, Yzer Tourism will try to contain the site erosion and Christine JoonĂ¨, also of Yzerfontein Tourism, is keeping an eye on the natural garden at the foot of the cliff by establishing more endemic plants and rearranging the rocks sliding down the hill in a pattern to match the retaining wall of the site, which is also constructed with local rocks.

only the left side jaw could be extracted in one piece as the right side was very brittle. In general, LIN WITH THE LARGE ZEBRA MANDIBLE the bones in the lair are quite well preserved as the cave was filled with sand over the years, which has effectively sealed it off from the elements. The construction of the house on the property was already in progress when a member of the Yzerfontein Tourism committee found and reported this occurrence. Excavation of bone material had to be done in all haste as a part of the original maze of tunnels was located under the northwest corner of the building. This was done under the supervision of an archaeologist and turned out to be a very significant find. We are looking forward to the archaeological publication in due course. The idea is to also signpost the occurrence as a tourist attraction and hopefully we will see, as part of the information showing the animal matter found in the lair. FOSSIL DISPLAY / MUSEUM

We are investigating the possibility of creating an informal museum where items can be displayed and protected as part of our heritage. The ideal site would be the Vishuis which is now around 80 years old. Any building older than 60 years is considered a heritage site or historical building, and as such forms part of the national estate. In order to have the Vishuis recognised as an historical building and obtaining a plaque to show this, any renovations, changes, and upgrades to the building over time will have to be considered in order to determine to what extent it still resembles the original building. We know that Annette and Minnaar Pieters have had the Vishuis renovated in 1974 and it would be interesting to see any pictures residents may have of the vishuis before then. The change in the windows would be of specific interest. Yzerfontein Tourism calls on anyone who has photographs from before 1974 to kindly share this with us. j

FRONT OF CAVE PARTLY PRESERVED

ATLANTIC HYAENA LAIRS

Volunteers from Yzerfontein Tourism were allowed a last chance by the owner of the property along Atlantic Drive on which this estimated 50- to 70,000 year old hyaena lair is situated, to excavate the remaining faunal material before a retaining wall will soon be built, and thereby covering up this occurrence for ever after. One of the volunteers, Lin Coetzee, the local Tourism Administrator, made the find of the day, a beautifully preserved large Zebra mandible propped up on the side of a tunnel, with only the front incisors missing. Although Lin unearthed it with great care, 38 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

DIE VISHUIS BEING RENOVATED IN 1974

INFO T 022 451 2985 | 022 451 2366 E yzerfontein@polka.co.za W yzerfonteintourism.co.za

DARLING TOURISM

The Darling Mystery Trail - a fun way to explore Darling. ARTICLE CONTRIBUTION HELLO DARLING TOURISM

t all starts from the Darling Museum: Buy a ticket and receive your map then follow the clues. Each station along the way will have a riddle to solve or a task to follow. All riddles are family-friendly and depending on skills and the chosen path, the trail offers a relaxing 1,5 hours walk. Feel free to stop off along the way for a coffee or a winetasting. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no rush. This relaxed treasure hunt takes visitors through the scenic old village, rich in Victorian architecture and offers wonderful views on gardens and country landscapes. Add a dash of competition. Divide into teams - the mystery trail is perfect for school groups, clubs and team building incentives. When everyone is finished and all riddles are solved, participants will receive a treasure and your entry will go into the annual prize draw. j

INFO MYSTERY TRAIL W mysterytrail.info HELLO DARLING TOURISM T 022 492 3361 E info@darlingtourism.co.za W hellodarling.org.za SOCIAL MEDIA @HelloDarlingZA

HELLO DARLING AGM PHOTOS BRIDGET UYS LE ROUX

ello Darling Tourism held a most successful and well attended AGM at Evita se Perron on Wednesday, 17 July 2019. It was definitely an AGM with a difference with lots of fun and entertainment once the formalities were completed. 61 People attended - many thanks for the support from local businesses and friends of tourism. j

THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 39

ART

LANDSKIP

“ Guarda che luna, guarda che mare ” Italian pop song from 1959, performed by Fred Buscaglione ARTICLE NICOLAAS MARITZ

ost of the landscape works on this exhibition were inspired by a road trip through the Northern Cape and southern part of Namibia during December 2018. Flat and barren wastes, now and then interspersed with sudden crusty rock formations with deep shadows, such personable geological events in an otherwise seemingly endless wasteland, glided by as the tar road stretched straight ahead like a pencil line over brown paper. No rain has fallen here since I don’t know when. But it’s beautiful in its own repulsive way. There were few people about, and the one’s I noticed, seemed to appear out of nowhere, and to be living very far apart. The sheep looked tired, in the nicest way possible. The inhospitable aspect of the landscape was exacerbated by extremely hot weather during the day. And a blistering sun. But towards evening a surprisingly cool wind came up. At night the moon and the stars were so much more brilliant than I could recall. The fresh morning landscape was deliciously bathed in a soft and surreal violet light, which I found didn’t photograph well at all. But the purples have always been such difficult colours, especially when it comes to painting; so often too telling, too prosaic… Crossing the national border between South Africa and Namibia held its own grim fascination; the stern officialese; the strictly formalised process of leaving and entering; the anxious faces of tourists, uncertain in this sudden existential

KLEIN WINDHOEK KOPPIE, 2019

moment, alarmed by loud stamping noises from behind a bullet-proof glass partition. It is a venerable rite of passage, approaching a nightmare, but stoically borne. Back home, I have to trust my memory to create a painted version of my journey. In doing this, I like afresh the problematic dimensionality of layered paint, the ambiguous order of a chaotic mess, and the ironic coolth of emotionally charged colour. I feel I have succeeded if a successful photograph cannot be taken of the work; that something is left to the intimacy of a primary encounter. I certainly hope to be painting and showing pictures till I die. This I say to myself over another cup of milky tea. A hill with trees. The sea at sunrise. The sea almost any time of day. Blindingly bright days. Cold and bleak winter weather. The golden glow of autumnal light. All these things we can share. No-one can take this away. (Oh dear, I clean forgot about global warming. Oops!) j

EDEN, 2011

RECENT EXHIBITION AT THE IRMA STERN MUSEUM IN CAPE TOWN

40 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

ART

NICOLAAS MARITZ Biography

icolaas Maritz was born in 1959 in Pretoria. He went to school in Pretoria and Port Elizabeth. In 1977, he qualified as an army chef and butcher. From 1978 1981 he received tertiary art education at the University of Cape Town. His first one man exhibition was held in 1976, in Port Elizabeth, and he has exhibited regularly at galleries and museums in South Africa and overseas. The artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works are represented in most of the art museums and public collections in South Africa. His work can be seen at the South African National Gallery, the art collections of the University of Cape Town, Sasol US Museum, and the Sanlam art collection. Maritz has lectured in art and design at the universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, as well as at private art schools in Cape Town and Pretoria. The artist has received recognition for graphic design, and for illustrations of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other books, notably two American illustration awards. Nicolaas Maritz has extensive internet presence, and any search result will show several sites, image galleries, as well as references to his work as an experimental musician. The artist lives and works in Darling, where he has a permanent exhibition space, the Maritz Museum, open to the public by appointment. His hobbies are cooking, gardening and armchair installation art. j

NICOLAAS BUSY PAINTING IN HIS STUDIO

CONTACT INFO NICOLAAS MARTIZ T 078 419 7093 E bignick098@gmail.com W https://sites.google.com/view/nicolaasmaritzgallery THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 41

TO DO

A Carnival of Wildflowers Since the inception of the Darling Wildflower Society in 1915, the third weekend of September has traditionally been accepted as the best moment in spring to create a wildflower show, in order to share nature’s bounty with the world. ARTICLE NICOLAAS MARITZ | PHOTOS HELENE PRESTON

he town of Darling and its immediate environment, like many other villages on the Southern African West Coast, has become almost synonymous with the miraculous appearance of wildflowers every spring. Come drought or rain, dark clouds or bright sunshine, sometime during September there suddenly appears a vast patchwork of beautiful wildflowers blanketing the veld. This annual natural occurrence has rightly become world famous. The wildflower show is a centralised, one-stop flower viewing opportunity, with the added bonus of a colourful outside market and other village attractions. This event takes place a mere stone’s throw away from Cape Town, and it is understandable that many members of the public, young and old, look forward with keen anticipation to their annual outing to the Darling Wildflower Show. This year, the theme of the show is A Carnival of Wildflowers. With due consideration to the very real and depressing factors threatening the natural world at the moment - climate change and increased human intervention in natural habitats, to mention only two - it seemed like a good moment to re-energise public enthusiasm for the beauty of wildflowers by staging a floral celebration, a carnival rather than a wake. And to be able to see clearly what is under threat, is often more educational than merely to discuss the problem. Nature conservation is not just a rarefied scientific concern. Members of the general public form a huge

42 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

concerned constituency. How often have we not seen an informed letter to a newspaper, or a petition by a pressure group, bringing radical changes in policy that lead to the better management of natural and heritage resources. Who, after all, is better acquainted with local conditions, than the citizens at the source? South-African artist Nicolaas Maritz, a local inhabitant since 1991, was invited to be the designer for this year’s show. Maritz is an established multimedia artist, and his artistic practice ranges from annual exhibitions of paintings, prints and sculpture, to the illustration of children’s and other books, as well as digital and video art. His work is represented in all the major art museums and galleries in South Africa, and a couple of American illustration awards bears testimony to his artistic presence in a wider world. His latest illustrated book, South African Animal Portraits A-Z, published by David Philip in Cape Town, will hit the bookshop shelves by late September. Maritz, an ex-chairperson of the Darling Wildflower Society, designed a number of wildflower shows in the past. His ideas for this year’s show took shape gradually, and were finally based on the concept of a celebration of nature; a wildflower carnival. He is of the opinion that the growing climate crisis, and global political and economic uncertainties, have created an ideal moment to re-connect with the natural world; to look at the wonder around us with a fresh eye and a keener observance. In short, to celebrate the wonder of spring. The layout of the show hall represents a condensed journey through a landscaped display of the respective natural habitats encountered in the Darling area. From the plant variety of the Renosterveld (inland lowland fynbos), to the habitat of the local Granite Hills, and via the wetland Vlei area to the Sandveld (sandy area leading towards the ocean), ultimately to the Strandveld (sandy beach habitat). A stalwart of the show tradition is the specimen tables. Here a seasonal display of flowering species and other interesting plants can be viewed up close; each plant

accompanied by its local names and description in Latin. If the notion of a Wildflower Society indicates a scientific leaning (this societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involvement with establishing two municipal flower reserves, and the trailblazing achievement (in cooperation with CREW) in establishing a herbarium of local plant species (over 2000 and counting), then the notion of a flower show points to a more traditional cultural activity. As a gesture towards the cultural importance of wildflower shows, and the enthusiastic volunteerism which makes it possible, the designer was keen to update the traditional flower arrangement section. Fresh and contemporary ideas about the display of flowers should be on show, and must showcase the talents of local flower artists. And somewhere in the landscaped display the mythical Florasaurus will be perched, somewhat hidden, but not completely. Maritz created this fictitious saurus sculpture for one of his previous show designs, and it proved to be very popular, but a bigger, better and friendlier Florasaurus will preside over this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s optimistic show. We hope you enjoy the show! j

DWFS SHOW INFORMATION

CY CMY

SHOW DATES 20 - 22 September 2019 TIMES Friday - Sunday | 09:00 - 17:00 TICKET PRICE Adults | R70 Pensioners | R50 Children 7 - 18 years | R50 Children 0 - 6 years | Free TICKETS Can be purchased online via www.quicket.co.za Group Specials on Application A Darling Golf Club, Jacaranda Street, Darling W darlingwildflowers.co.za T 084 916 1111 E info@darlingwildflowers.co.za FACEBOOK @DarlingWildflowerSociety TWITTER @DWildflowers INSTAGRAM @darlingwildflowers THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 43

TO DO

!KHWA TTU HERITAGE FESTIVAL

!Khwa ttu is hosting its 3rd annual Heritage Festival during the long weekend, 21 to 24 September 2019. The San at !Khwa ttu will use the 4-day long Festival to celebrate a fusion of South African cultures ending off on Heritage Day. ARTICLE CONTRIBUTION WEST COAST WAY

his award-winning Heritage Centre is located a short one hour drive from Cape Town’s CBD on the West Coast Way. The !Khwa ttu Heritage Festival is a unique family-friendly event and is the perfect way to kick off the school holidays which coincide with the Cape West Coast flower season. WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE !KHWA TTU HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Visitors to the Festival can look forward to an array of budget-beating activities for the entire family where two kids under the age of 18 can join the fun for FREE with any 1-Day entrance ticket bought at R70 per person (R50 pensioners). From 10 am to 4 pm: yy Kids Zone with face-painting and arts & crafts activities. yy San inspired kids’ treasure hunt, story-telling and fun interactive sessions. yy Traditional Bushmen Dancers and Emile Jansen’s performance. yy Join in and learn traditional Bushmen / Break / Krump / Riel and Street Dance moves. yy Tractor rides to the replica San village with animal tracking and San language lessons. yy Tours of the world-class interactive Heritage Centre. yy Informative talks on the San culture and heritage. yy !Khwa ttu homemade herbal tea tastings. yy Pop-up food demonstrations - such as how to “vleg” koeksisters. yy West Coast craft and traditional food stalls.

In addition to the food stalls that will be set up during the Festival, visitors can dine at !Khwa ttu’s Restaurant offering their famous eland burger, spekboom soup and Darling cheese and charcuterie platters. “During the course of the weekend we will be offering complimentary entry to our world-class Heritage Centre, which will be celebrating its one year anniversary to all Festival ticket holders,” explains Michael Daiber - CEO of !Khwa ttu. “Visitors can anticipate presentations that depict the lives of the San. Bushmen guides tell the stories of their people - coupled with audio and film to really bring the stories to life and immerse visitors in the ways of the San. For active families, you can add to your !Khwa ttu Heritage Festival experience by entering the Family Fun Run and Fun Mountain Bike Ride.” ACCOMMODATION FOR THIS WEEKEND ONLY

!Khwa ttu will make available 50 camping spots near the Heritage Centre for those who want to spend the night in their own tent. Be close to the activities and enjoy breathtaking scenery at R100 per day. Amenities include toilets, showers and braai facilities. (No power outlets on the campsite.) j

INFORMATION DATES 21 - 24 September 2019 VENUE !Khwa ttu, Grootwater Farm, R27 TIMES 10:00 - 16:00 PRICES R70 per 1-Day entrance ticket, plus 2 children u/18 can enter free. Pensioners ticket at R50 (60 yrs/older). Entry to the Family Fun Run (22 Sep at 9 am) or Fun Mountain Bike Ride (24 Sep at 9 am) at R100 per person, with 2 children u/18 free with every adult. TICKETS www.webtickets.co.za 44 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

TO DO

Wildflowers Species Gladiolus meliusculus – Pienk Kalkoentjie A vulnerable bulb growing in Swartland Granite Renosterveld. Flowers pink with dark markings on the lower three petals. Fragrant. Flowering in all the Darling reserves in September.

Ixia dubia – Oranje Kalossie A geophyte growing in damp sandy areas with declining populations. Flowers orange, yellow or red with a small darker centre. Flowering in Tienie Versfeld Reserve in late September and October. Ixia lutea – Bleek Kalossie A geophyte with sword-shaped leaves growing on Swartland Granite Renosterveld. Flowers pale cream with a dark centre and crowded at tip of stem. Can be seen in the Darling Renosterveld Reserve during September. Lampranthus coccineus – Rooi Vygie A critically endangered vygie bush growing in damp sandy areas. Leaves narrow and pointed and flowers bright red. A few plants can be seen in Waylands reserve flowering in September and October. Moraea bellendini – Patrys Uintjie A tall slender geophyte growing in Swartland Granite Renosterveld. One long trailing leaf. Flowers yellow with three rounded petals with dark specks on inside. Flowers profusely in the Darling Renosterveld Reserve and Waylands Reserve. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum – Ice Plant Large, mat-forming biennial with sprawling stems covered with glistening, translucent outgrowths, watery when crushed. Leaves broad and fleshy, covered with shining papillae. Flowers in flat clusters at the ends of the branches, the petals in several series, white to pinkish. Flowering Nov to Dec. Geissorhiza aspera – blou Sysie Geophyte with overlapping, hard, dark corm tunics notched below and a minutely hairy stem. Leaves three, narrow, flat, sometimes rough. Flowers star-shaped with centrally placed stamens, pale to deep blue or purple. Flowering Aug to Sep. Mostly on sandy soils but also light clay.

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL One World - One Week - One Festival

he MANHATTAN SHORT film festival is back in Darling. The Darling Movie Nights will present this unique film festival, open air from the 26th to the 28th September 2019. Over 100,000 film lovers in over 350 cities across six continents gather for one reason... to view and vote on the Finalists’ Films in the 22nd Annual MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival. MANHATTAN SHORT is not a touring festival; rather, it is an instantaneous celebration that occurs simultaneously across the globe, bringing great films and great artists to great

ARTICLE STEPHAN MOSER

venues and allowing the audiences to select their favourites. All films selected in MANHATTAN SHORT 2019, will be eligible to enter the Oscars in 2020, via the MANHATTAN SHORT Oscar Qualifying Screenings in Los Angeles. Tickets for the Darling Movie Nights will be available in the advance sale at The Bookshop and Darling Museum/Hello Darling Tourism in September. The Darling Movie Nights – Open Air Cinema under the Pepper Trees - takes place in the garden of Darling Lodge Guest House. j THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING 45

TO DO

With online entries already pouring in, locals and visitors to the town of Darling can’t wait for the 4th annual Groote Post Country Run! ARTICLE GROOTE POST WINERY PR

he Groote Post Country Market runs into its 6th season starting the last Sunday in August 2019. A mere half an hour out of Blouberg and an hour out of the city, Groote Post is a gentle drive from the hustle and bustle of city life into the countryside. Most of us would be content with enjoying the delights of the Market that have you relaxing on the lawns after having made your way through the numerous stalls and temptations that make up the Market. There are those however who insist upon putting their bodies through a session of physical “torture” be it on foot, on two wheels or in water. And so the notion was born in 2016 to add a sporting event to the Market, with an early start leading into the Market. Trail running has become very popular and Groote Post lends itself perfectly, with many terrain options. The Groote Post Country Run take on 3 distances: 4km, 10km and 21km. The October Market was chosen as the annual run date with it being cooler than the summer months and the farm still fresh out of Spring. Online entries for the 2019 run is already open and there will be a registration desk on race day for late entries. Early morning sustenance in the form of coffee, muffins etc are on offer for runners and supporters. The start and finish of all 3 distances is at the Groote Post Wine Cellar. The chance of seeing some of the numerous antelope during the run is one of the pre-race talking points. All 3 distances have their share of sand tracks, gravel roads, single tracks and climbs and drops, although the 21km has the added challenge of summiting Bobbejaanberg. The routes pass through the varied natural habitats of sandveld, renosterveld, soaring granite rock outcrops, livestock camps, grazing lands and well as wheat ripening for the summer harvest. The renosterveld on the hills has a perfumed herbaceous aroma which is invigorating to the senses and which helps take the mind off the pain of having climbed the highest hill on the route. Each route has panoramic views of the Atlantic coastline and as you climb higher you can make out the waves braking in the distance. 46 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

Water points are positioned strategically to offer refreshment when needed. The hilltops offer sightings of Blaauwberg Hill and of course mighty Table Mountain in the distance. The finish line is always a welcome sight as the festive atmosphere of the market welcomes you back at the farm yard. There are shower facilities for those wanting to freshen up before taking on the Market. There are 60 stalls of various arts and crafts, eats galore and local beer, cider and not to forget Groote Post wines. Relax on the lawns to the tunes of our local DJ while the children enjoy the tractor- and horse rides. j

NSRI Ad -

INFORMATION DATE 27 October 2019 VENUE Groote Post Winery STARTING TIMES 21km - 06:30 10km - 07:00 4km - 07:30 ENTRIES www.trailrunning.co.za FACEBOOK @GrootePostCountryRun ENQUIRIES info@iloveyzer.co.za | 022 451 2202

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TO DO

THE SCHOOL OF LOVERS Opera in Darling and AGL Opera’s new production of Mozart’s outwardly comical masterpiece Cosi fan Tutte or the School of Lovers, like its predecessors Don Giovanni and Die Entführung aus dem Serail, aims to charm, to seduce and to make us reconsider what it means to be human. ARTICLE DARLING MUSINC FOR ALL

s one can expect from the pioneer of “opera alla breve” in South Africa, the original work has been condensed to its musical substance, performed by half a dozen young singers, and accompanied not by an orchestra but by a pianist only. Once again it has a present-day story line with a setting without stage set and costumes; props are reduced to a bare minimum. Ideal for a town in South Africa called Darling. However, “Opera in Darling’s” previous productions grew legs that took them to Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay, Greyton, Stellenbosch, Vredenburg, Elgin and London, to a cutting- edge theatre, the Tricycle. The new opera is set in a cosy lady’s bar in a West Coast seaside resort. The emotions and devotions of lovers are challenged by the bar-tender, who believes that women are not to be trusted when it comes to love. As the audience enjoy their sundowners they become the judges in a story of exploitation of two pairs of lovers, wondering what “real love” is. Originally directed, in “Opera in Darling’s” customary entertaining and sparkling fashion, by the exciting young Xolane Marman, this production is based on a script by multi

E V I TA S E P E R R O N 29 NOVEMBER | 19H30 R 1 5 0 P P – B O O K I N G S AT Q U I C K E T - talented Dr. Johannes van Staden-Slabbert, who will be well known to music lovers who have seen and heard him in “Opera in Darling’s” previous productions. Musical director and accompanist is again the fabulous Dr. Lisa Engelbrecht, one of South Africa’s most highly regarded vocal coaches. Among the singers are some of the best of UCT and its world-renowned opera school. They present the treasurechest of arias with their amazing voices and tell the story with great comedic talent. They show how exciting opera can be. Anticipation is rising as rehearsals are picking up for the premiere in Darling on 28 November 2019. j

DO YOU WANT TO WRITE FOR US? Send your articles to: nadine@iloveyzer.co.za All articles must be supplied in a word document and images attached separately as high resolution jpegs. For more info: 022 451 2202 info@iloveyzer.co.za 48 THE SPRING ISSUE 2019 j I LOVE YZER DARLING

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EVENTS

SEPT TRIVIAL PURSUIT GAME NIGHT DATE: 17 September VENUE: Wild Flour Coffee Shop TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 PRICE: R80 pp CONTACT: Nadia T: 082 325 4907

THE DARLING WILDFLOWER SHOW DATE: 20 - 22 September VENUE: Darling Golf Club DAILY TIMES: 09:00 - 17:00 TICKETS: www.darlingwildflowers.co.za TICKET PRICES: Adults | R70 Pensioners | R50 Kids 7 - 18 | R50 Kids 0 - 6 | Free T: 084 916 1111 E: info@darlingwildflowers.co.za

BEACH CLEAN UP DATE: 21 September VENUE: Yzerfontein Main Beach TIME: 08:00 PRICE: R20pp T: 022 451 2985

!KHWA TTU HERITAGE FESTIVAL DATE: 21 - 24 September VENUE: !Khwa ttu, R27 - West Coast road TIME: 10:00 - 16:00 PRICE: R70pp, plus 2 children u/18 enter FREE Pensioners R50 T: 086 132 1777

DIT & DAT MARK DATUM: 21 September PLEK: Yzer Gemeenskapsaal TYD: 09:00 - 14:00 KONTAK: Hester T: 082 396 2258

QUIZ NIGHT DATE: 26 September VENUE: Yzerfontein Sport Club TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 CONTACT: Peter Killick T: 083 548 7340

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QUIZ NIGHT

DATE: 28 September VENUE: Yzerfontein CONTACT: Gawie Steyn T: 083 379 6044

DATE: 24 October VENUE: Yzerfontein Sport Club TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 CONTACT: Peter Killick T: 083 548 7340

GROOTE POST COUNTRY MARKET DATE: 29 September VENUE: Groote Post Vineyards, Darling TIME: 10:00 - 15:00 CONTACT: I Love Yzer T: 022 451 2202 E: info@iloveyzer.co.za

OCT OKTOBER FEES DATUM: 5 Oktober PLEK: Yzerfontein Sport Club TYD: 11:00 - 18:00 KONTAK: David Coleshill T: 076 834 8085

MUSIC GURU DATE: 8 October VENUE: Brigs Barn TIME: 18:00 for 18:30 PRICE: R100pp for meal & event R20pp for guru only T: 022 492 2451

BINGO DATE: 10 October VENUE: Yzerfontein Sport Club TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 PRICE: R50 CONTACT: Peter Killick T: 083 548 7340

DARLING KOLLEGE AMERICAN SCRAMBLE GOLF DAG DATUM: 12 Oktober PLEK: Darling Golf Klub TYD: Registrasie vanaf 09:30 PRYS: R1 800 per 4-bal KONTAK: 083 658 5200 John 082 306 7373 Lukas

TRIVIAL PURSUIT GAME NIGHT DATE: 15 October VENUE: Wild Flour Coffee Shop TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 PRICE: R80 pp CONTACT: Nadia T: 082 325 4907

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GROOTE POST COUNTRY RUN DATE: 27 October VENUE: Groote Post Vineyards, Darling DISTANCE | START TIME: 21km | 06:30 10km | 07:00 4km | 07:30 CONTACT: I Love Yzer T: 022 451 2202 E: info@iloveyzer.co.za

GROOTE POST COUNTRY MARKET DATE: 27 October VENUE: Groote Post Vineyards, Darling TIME: 10:00 - 15:00 CONTACT: I Love Yzer T: 022 451 2202 E: info@iloveyzer.co.za

NOV MUSIC GURU DATE: 5 November VENUE: Brigs Barn TIME: 18:00 for 18:30 PRICE: R100pp for meal & guru R20pp for guru only T: 022 492 2451

BINGO DATE: 14 November VENUE: Yzerfontein Sport Club TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 PRICE: R50 CONTACT: Peter Killick T: 083 548 7340

ATLANTIC BEACH VILLAGES FAIR DATE: 16 November VENUE: Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, Melkbosstrand TIME: 09:00 - 16:00 CONTACT: I Love Yzer T: 022 451 2202 E: info@iloveyzer.co.za

TRIVIAL PURSUIT GAME NIGHT DATE: 19 November VENUE: Wild Flour Coffee Shop TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 PRICE: R80 pp CONTACT: Nadia T: 082 325 4907

GROOTE POST COUNTRY MARKET DATE: 24 November VENUE: Groote Post Vineyards, Darling TIME: 10:00 - 15:00 CONTACT: I Love Yzer T: 022 451 2202 E: info@iloveyzer.co.za

QUIZ NIGHT DATE: 28 November VENUE: Yzerfontein Sport Club TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 CONTACT: Peter Killick T: 083 548 7340

OPERA IN DARLING COSI FAN TUTTE DATE: 29 November VENUE: Evita se Perron TIME: 19:30 PRICE: R150pp TICKETS: www.quicket.co.za

DEC MUSIC GURU DATE: 3 December VENUE: Brigs Barn TIME: 18:00 for 18:30 PRICE: R100pp for meal & guru R20pp for guru only T: 022 492 2451

TRIVIAL PURSUIT GAME NIGHT DATE: 3 December VENUE: Wild Flour Coffee Shop TIME: 19:00 for 19:30 PRICE: R80 pp CONTACT: Nadia T: 082 325 4907

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