Lin 1

LIN Life in Namibia

YOUR

FREE

LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 01

2014

“It’s not what you look at

that matters, it’s what you see” - Thoreau

5 Einstein Street, Industrial Area, Swakopmund

Editor ’s note Welcome to the first edition of LIN magazine, your FREE lifestyle magazine celebrating Life in Namibia.

In this beautiful land of contrasts and textures, the hidden gems of Namibia are her people – who they are, what they do and how they live.

LIN will introduce you to the colourful artist, the tenacious entrepreneur; the funky

housewife, the visionary investor, committed public servant, environmentalist and inspirational individual, while the property and building industries showcase architects and décor.

This is life in our breathtakingly beautiful country.

There is truly no other place like it.

Best wishes and “see” you next time!

Karin Retief karin.r@iafrica.com

i

nside

EDITORIAL

Karakulia 04 Sea shell collecting 10 Diving despite disabilities 44 Recycled lampshades 24 Recipe 59 Artist 28 Q & A 56 Nadezna’s blog 58 House Noleen 34

ADVERTORIAL

Henric Estates 54 Happy Build 14 Peter’s Antiques 08 Obeco 30 !Live It 32 Kornblum 42 Strauss 40 COPYRIGHT RESERVED Shadowlight Publishing accepts no liability of any nature arising from or in connection with the contents of this magazine.

No material published in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission from the publisher.

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LIN Life in Namibia PUBLISHED BY Shadowlight Publishing P.O.Box 2225 Swakopmund Namibia EDITOR Karin Retief

karin.r@iafrica.com COPY-EDITOR Maureen Miller maureen@fullstopediting.co.za ART DIRECTOR Patricia Blom patz@bookart.co.za JOURNALIST/COPY-EDITOR Elaine Thompson elainemartha.thompson@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTORS Marta Majo Lize Dames June Owen-Smith Nadezna Swanepoel Anke Volkmann

2014 LIN/Shadowlight Publishing

Image: June Owen-Smith The seed pod belongs to the poisonous succulent Adenium Boehmianum also called Bushman Poison, named after the Bushman people who boiled the root sap and used on their arrows as poison.

The seed pod releases many seeds which, due to their lateral tufts, are easily dispersed by wind.

Resource: wikipedia.org/wiki/Pylgif

ISSUE 01 P 04

karakulia Images by Marta Majo

“Sometimes you need to look at life through the eyes of your children to realise your next step.”

KARAKULIA WEAVERS CC No 2 Rakotoka Street Swakopmund ISSUE 01 P 06

Tel: +264 (0)64 461415 Fax: +264 (0)64 461041

E-mail: info@karakulia.com.na Website: www.karakulia.com.na

M

oses Helao’s life story reads like a movie script. Twenty-one years ago he started working for Karakulia Weavers as a cleaner.

Today he is the owner.

LIN spoke to Moses about his incredible journey.

He grew up in a small village in the Ohangwena Region in Namibia. As the firstborn in a family of six, and because his father and mother were unemployed, the economic responsibility of the family fell on his young shoulders.

Leaving school at 17 he travelled south, looking for work. After a year earning 25c an hour at a construction company in Swakopmund, he found employment as a cleaner in a restaurant. It eventually closed and he was jobless again.

“Work was scarce. But I didn’t believe in giving up,” he says, “People think if bad luck comes your way, you cannot do anything about it.

“I pray to God and try again.”

A turning point came in 1991 when he was employed as a cleaner at Karakulia Weaving.

Moses says, “Jenny Carvill, the owner, was a lovely, lovely lady. She was kindhearted and a beautiful person. She suggested I study art part time and helped me pay my class fees. I did this for two years, and within a year I was helping with the designs of the carpets.”

For the next 20 years he slowly worked himself up to manager, gaining experience along the way as designer, salesman and supervisor. At night he attended classes in marketing and customer care and he finished Grade 10 through a correspondence course.

One Saturday afternoon Moses took his eight-year-old son with him to work. This was a stressful time for him, as the owners were in the process of closing the business and he was worried about finding work.

“My son watched me while I was selling a carpet to a tourist and when they left he came up to me and asked me who would get the money. I said the owners.

He remarked how strange that seemed, since they did not do the work in either producing or selling the carpet. He said it should be my business.”

“It was a light-bulb moment for me!”

Moses says. “I immediately started drawing up a business plan.”

His first attempt to secure a loan was rejected, but his second application was approved by the Development Bank of Namibia and in 2011 he bought Karakulia Weavers, where he had started as a cleaner 21 years ago.

Now there is not one aspect of the business that he is unfamiliar with; from the manufacturing process of carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving to the red tape involved in exporting products.

In fact, running the business turned out to be the easy part, as the real challenge has been the transition from employee to employer.

Some of the employees have worked at Karakulia for more than 20 years and see themselves as his elders, with the result that they expect him to fund family expenses like funerals or weddings.

This took long and diplomatic give and take negotiations and is still an “ongoing process,” he says with a smile.

“It is very important to me to be fair to my employees, as I know exactly how it feels to work long, backbreaking hours as a weaver or cleaner.”

In September 2012 Moses won the Small Business Enterprise award from the Development Bank of Namibia.

This inspirational man, who recently enjoyed his first weekend off in 12 months, believes you have to keep moving forward and, most importantly, pray to God. @ LIN

Peter’s Antiques

When you walk into Peter’s Antiques you get the sense of walking into a time warp, where time and space stood still for the last hundred years.

Searching for that special treasure

The thick, dusty smell surrounds you like a warm friendly blanket and you cannot but get excited imagining all the stories you will discover when you start investigating each room.

It’s like you’ve entered a world where you are the pioneer, venturing into uncharted territory - around every corner an undiscovered treasure awaits.

Any local resident will tell you that Peter’s Antiques has been a landmark business in Swakopmund since Peter Haller founded it in 1983.

It is so uniquely a part of the visual and cultural identity of contemporary Swakopmund; one cannot image the landscape without it.

Ludwig Haller, Peter’s son, and his wife Mirana are the current owners.

Ludwig fondly remembers how his father started the business, “My dad was a sales rep for Encyclopaedia Britannica in 1977 and we travelled around a lot.”

“You could say we grew up in a motor home! My dad loved collecting antiques during his travels and he went to more than 40 African countries! “ He eventually opened an antique shop, with hundreds of antiques, artefacts, books and memorabilia that he had been collecting over the years.

The shop is today as popular as ever and you notice how customers, mainly tourists, linger for long periods in each room.

New additions to their range of wares are handmade textiles and ox horn products from Madagascar, which is where Mirana hails from.

It is imperative to Ludwig and Mirana that they stay true to Peter’s ethics, his love for African culture and his spirit of adventure.

You simply cannot breeze through this shop in a few minutes!

Each room is themed, with the African room the most popular. Here you will find both new and antique art and crafts from all over Africa, with the bronze work from Benin being by far the best seller.

In honour of that spirit they endeavour to keep Peter’s Antiques a unique shop where a visitor can get lost in a series of rooms, with treasures just waiting to be rediscovered. @ LIN Ludwig and Mirana HALLER Tel/Fax: +264 64 405 624 24, Tobias Hainyeko Str Swakopmund Namibia

www.peters-antiques.com ISSUE 01 P 08

ADVERTORIAL

The impressive book collection is one of the best sellers in the shop.

women are doing it for THEMSELVES

After collecting sea shells for five hours, Emilia Jolonium, Aina Lita and Lyna Ndjaleka are on their way home

All along the coast of Namibia you see women searching for sea shells. Hours later you find them walking home with big bags, filled to the brim, on their heads and you wonder WHAT are they doing with all those shells?

LIN met up with three women and spent the day with them.

This is their story.

O

ne chilly early morning we meet up with three women from Mondesa, where they are busy collecting sea shells from the shores off Mile 4.

This back-breaking work is no easy way of making a living, but these women made the decision to create their own jobs as they could not find employment.

All three are from the north and had moved down to Swakopmund with hopes of finding work.

Emilia Jolonium, “I moved to Swakopmund with dreams of finding work and improving my life.

Life is very hard up noth and a friend told me there are more opportunities down south.�

Her dreams were shattered when she realised work in Swakopmund was scarce. She was alone and without her family to support her.

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Early morning sun warms the beach while Emilia Jolonium is busy collecting sea shells

It is believed that if somebody steals a string, the owner’s family will go to a witchdoctor and put a bad spell on the thief

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Emilia Jolonium and Lyna Ndjaleka string the beads with wire which makes it easy to transport Emilia made friends with Aina Lita and Lyna Ndjaleka who told her how they too could not find work when they moved down.

has a father. Adult women, when they wear their traditional bright dresses, wear necklaces made from seas hells. They are painted with bright colors, usually pink.

They told her that when they arrived in Swakop, they soon realised they needed to create their own work opportunity and thought of the idea to make necklaces from sea shells.

Lyna says, “Our ancestors used shells from the Kunene, which were more brittle than the one’s we pick up in Swakopmund. “

Lyna explains, “In our Oshivambo culture the women wear strings of beads made from either ostrich eggs or sea shells.

The ostrich beads are worn around a young girl’s waist, symbolising that she is still childless.

“We realised that this could be an income for us and we’ve been making and selling these necklaces now for 13 years.”

Emilia joined the women and has created her own income ever since.

Beads play an important symbolic role.

After birth, babies will receive a necklace from their father as a sign that the child

The women also make beads from ostrich eggs which they buy from a shop in Walvis.

The tradition is that a young girl can not wear somebody else’s beads, even if she picks up a string, she has to hang it in the nearest tree for the owner to find.

It is hard work to collect, make and sell sea shell necklaces. The women walk two hours from Mondesa to the beach at Mile 4 and when their bag is full, which normally takes about five hours, they walk two hours back

home. One bag of shells will make about 10 to 15 necklaces.

It takes two weeks to make enough beads for one necklace and they sell each neclace for N$10.

The women say the best time to pick up shells is March and April.

Aina says, “We have to plan our business as we need to make one trip a year to the north. This is where we sell the most.

“We collect the sea shells and make the necklaces throughout the year and in December we travel north, sometimes crossing into Angola to sell our necklaces. “ The women sell about 3000 necklaces when they go north.

She says, “People just get lazy when they don’t work.”

The other women agree with her and say they would rather do this, than sit at home waiting for work. @ LIN

A fresh breeze in the building industry T

wo and a half years ago friends Sandra van der Ploeg and Ivanna Kriner were both building their homes, and soon discovered they were struggling with the same frustrations.

“What should be a happy time when you’re building your dream home turns into such headaches you just want the builders to finish the job and get out of your house,” says Ivanna.

Sandra agrees, “Yes, and you end up either with the workmanship not up to scratch or having to compromise.”

During this time Sandra found that her clients, for whom she was doing alterations and additions as an interior designer, did not want to be directly involved in the process of building their homes.

Experiencing frustrations with the building process, they asked her to do the “whole package” – not only to design and implement the interior, but also to run the project.

Over a long coffee one afternoon the friends discussed how building your dream home should be a time of happiness for clients, and how they could provide such a service by combining their work experience and shared building frustrations.

Thus Happy Build was born.

Sandra concentrates on the design and interior decorating side, while Ivanna’s experience in bookkeeping adds a valuable ingredient to the mix. She also coordinates the ordering of materials, payments and running the clerical side of things.

Sandra’s father, Douglas, joined as site supervisor and the circle was complete.

Says Sandra: “We do the full package for our clients, we run the job, coordinate the payments for them and make sure they stay happy and stress free.” @LIN

Happy Build P.O. Box 1023 Swakopmund Namibia psst@iway.na 081 260 3538 / 064 404434 ISSUE 01 P14

ADVERTORIAL

The Happy Build team from left: Sandra van der Ploeg, Ivanna Kriner and Douglas Brown Smith.

BRIEF FROM CLIENT: Rework the house into a more comfortable living arrangement with open plan flat living areas and room for an extended family. It must be warm, comfortable and utilise the views.

Describe the “old” house – before renovations started. What was your first impression?

The house was not altogether bad and had a very good skeleton, although it needed some TLC in certain areas. The general flow of the house did not suit all the client’s requirements. We needed to address certain rooms more than others.

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What influenced your house design, choice of materials and interior décor?

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From our discussions with the client on what they wanted from the house and keeping their personalities in mind, we interpreted it into a feeling we wanted to create. Then it was a matter of choosing one or two main items for the colour palette and this set the tone for the design.

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How long did the project take from start to finish?

Ten months.

What was the most difficult part of the project?

We had two time constraints which played havoc with us; one part of the house needed to be finished by a certain date and our final deadline was the biggest challenge.

What part was the easiest?

The client! Both Dina, and Frans are such lovely giving people and let us have full reign of the building and designing process. Really a wonderful couple.

Which feature of the house is your favourite?

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I love the kitchen/living area, as it gives you the best of both worlds. The lovely garden and the beautiful elevated sea view are both gorgeous.

Is there anything in the house which was a “first” for you?

Quartz carpet flooring in the bathrooms and outside areas, a lovely product. Each part of a house is important, no matter how small and only really works well as a whole.

I consider the environment and the aesthetic of the area and try and make all the elements old and new work together.

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Paint, Suede, Buckskin, SDE1 Electro Dynamics - http://www.electrodynamics.com.na Paint, Magic Noire, B5-E1-1 - Plascon - http://www.plascon.co.za Weylandts Swakopmund - http://www.weylandts.co.za/our-stores/swakopmund

ADVERTORIAL

Sandra: “My goal for this room was to make it warm, stylish and comfortable without being too fussy. To use the view and create an open plan living arrangement. I used 12mm laminated safety glass, from Western Light, with a UV filter in between layers and thick lined curtains, to drain the street noise and help with heat gain and loss.”

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5 “The house had a number of structural beams and the look was not one to expose – so we clad them and created multi level bulkheads with recessed lighting to accentuate the dividing spaces and the ceiling.”

6 Curtains, Sandi Rix at Irresistibles - rix@mweb.com.na / 081 127 1450 7 Client’s photo, reworked by Graphic designer Sandra le Roux - 0812528876 printed by PRINTWORX - http://www.printworx.com.na 8 Kornblum, eastern concepts - http://www.easternconcepts.com

“Inspiration takes on many forms, sometimes it starts with a floor or a premonition, sometimes it’s a new product that you can showcase, sometimes it’s a gut feeling.

The client was wonderful, they let me run with the ball, and after the initial palette was chosen, the rest sort of fell in place.”

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1 Sandra designed the bed décor while Sandi Rix from Irresistibles manufactured it - rix@mweb.com.na / 081 127 1450 2 The joinery was designed by Sandra and manufactured by Iron Wood Solutions - http://www.iron-wood-solutions.com 3 Décor pieces are from Kornblum, eastern concepts - http://www.easternconcepts.com

“All the built in cupboards were designed to suit the rooms and the color schemes.

I try to make the cupboards as interesting as possible without dating the look, as these items will remain unchanged for a long time, it’s not as easy as changing a pillow case or bedding.

So I try to give the client something special without dictating a specific style which will bind them for years to come.

I like the sleek modern lines for basins, vanities, counters and glass doors, but I find the modern look sometimes too sterile and mix it up with warmer textures and finishes.

The clients are down to earth people, but have a orderliness to their personalities, so I felt we needed clean lines with contrasting softness and cosiness”

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ADVERTORIAL “Goal of this space was to create an open plan living area to enjoy the view into the lovely secluded garden at the back of the house and still enjoy the sea view to the front.�

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1 Counter designed by Sandra, made by Iron Wood Solutions - http://www.iron-wood-solutions.com The island was shaped like this to create a sitting/eating space in the kitchen, a slight separation in the open plan living arrangement and to create a bar area 2 Chairs, Weylandts Swakopmund - http://www.weylandts.co.za/our-stores/swakopmund 3 Kitchen cupboards designed by Sandra, made by Iron Wood Solutions - http://www.iron-wood-solutions.com

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Paint Delicate White Y2-C2-3, Plascon - http://www.plascon.co.za Landscape design by Tom Pree Services - http://www.tompree.com Bricks are from Otavi Pergola, designed by Sandra, built and installed by Weimann’s Carpentry - 064 404781 E-mail: horst@weimannscarpentry.com Owner’s own photo and Graphic designer Sandra le Roux - 0812528876 - reworked it into printable format Paint, Plascon Delicate White Y2-C2-3 - http://www.plascon.co.za Smart Stone tiles for the steps - http://www.smartstone.co.za

“To create a natural extension from the inside to the outside areas, I used a repetition of the colour palette and textures from the inside house and granny flat. The natural elevation was perfect to design and build a raised sitting area and teracces. The view is lovely and secluded from the wind.”

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ADVERTORIAL

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Top “All pergolas & decking were constructed, supplied and installed by Weimann’s Carpentry and treated with Xyladecor.

“Masranduba” was used and it has handled our conditions very well. I designed the rail, while Weimann made it.”

Bottom “We opened up the house to the west and south-west. There were three little portholes in the original bathroom, which we retained and then we expanded on them, with big portholes and smaller ones, to accentuate the views to the sea and gardens.”

ADVERTORIAL

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TOP 1 Paint, Suede, Buckskin, SDE1, painted

by Grifith, a contract painter 2 Framed by the Frame Shop (+264 64 407080). Before and after montage for the client, as a gift from the Happy Build team 3/4/5/6 Kornblum, eastern concepts http://www.easternconcepts.com 7 Wooden floor, Beach London 1 strip,

by Kahrs, installed by Specialised Building Product Traders http://www.sbptraders.com

RIGHT 1 Suede texture paint by Plascon http://www.plascon.co.za 2 Marble Mosaic Cream SPIAGGA, from Union Tiles in Whk windhoek@uniontiles.co.za +264 61 271296 3 Limestone tile Cafe au Lait Hon 400x400, from Union Tiles in Whk 4 BC 1000SITH by Splashworks, supplied locally via Sanitile E-mail: sanitile@iway.na +264 64 405347 5 Scorpio Range by Splashworks, supplied locally via Sanitile ISSUE 01 P 22

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“I first chose the large tile and then added a contrast with the same tile but in a small version. The color of the paint brings in a warm feel and the texture helps dampen sound�

c olour c of olour

of light

light LIN ISSUE 01 MAY/JUNE 2014 20

ISSUE 01 P 24

Armanda’s plastic lampshades are environment-friendly and stunning décor pieces

A

rmanda Burger studied fashion design and has always been interested in “making things beautiful” as she describes her passion to create something special out of nothing.

Be it driftwood sticks, creatively spaced together to frame a mirror, or using old buttons in a mosaic mandala, throw-away products get a Cinderella makeover in her hands.

One of her stunning creations is the recycled plastic lamp shade. These lampshades are made from discarded Handy Andy, Stay Soft, milk and shampoo plastic containers, which she collects from friends and businesses like BoJo’s and Wimpy.

The lampshades are unique artistic décor creations and by changing the colour of the bulbs they become either a soft feminine feature or playful with colour. @ LIN To find out more about her unique creations you can contact Armanda at 0812792069 or armanda@iway.na ISSUE 01 P 26

simply irresistible

Upstairs at Food Lovers Market Swakopmund 064 404483

Lorna’s Fashions

my

heart leads my hand

“WOMAN” by Zin Maisiri ISSUE 01 P 28

Zin Maisiri “I have been an artist all my life.

When I was eight years old, I knew I could draw a bit, but it was only after I took Art as a subject in High School that I realised this could be a career for me. After school I designed clothes for almost ten years and in 2008 I started painting full time. I teach Art part time as well. The human spirit and its endurance to be triumphant over struggle, inspires my work.Although we lose much, the little in us that is left is enough to start again.

Viva the human spirit!

I am learning to paint with my eyes closed, meaning my heart leads my hand.” chanjiwazin@gmail.com 0817984828 “FACES” by Zin Maisiri You can view Zin Maisiri’s artwork at the entrance to the Garden Café at 11 Tobias Hainyeko Street Swakopmund.

To support artists, owner of Art Africa Bubble Burns, changed the entrance to the Garden Café into a space for a select group of artists where they can exhibit and sell their work, rent free.

The entrance to the Garden Café

Art Africa (Bubble Burns) Tel: +268 1127 0931.

11 Tobias Hainyeko Street, Swakopmund, Email: tribal@artafrica.com.na.

putting on the glitz

W

alking into Obeco’s new location at Theo-Ben Gurirab Street 84, Walvis Bay, you would be excused for thinking you’ve entered a showroom in Europe. With the latest products from top designers like Phillipe Stark, Sieger Design, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Urquiola, Obeco’s new showroom is the place to find something unique for your bathroom or kitchen.

LIN sits down with sales director Stephan Gradtke for a cup of coffee.

Stephen says, “When new designs enter the market, you must be ahead of your competitors. Introduce the new and exciting ranges to your customers even before it is known in the market.”

Obeco’s directors realised that customers like to see how a product will look in the environment it is going to be used and so their aim with the new showroom in Walvis Bay was to create an environment where customers are free to browse the product ranges and get a real sense of how they would look in a room.

Stephan says, “We’ve had such positive feedback from the public, we are thinking about upgrading our other showrooms as well.”

A designer from Cape Town was used for the new showroom and she worked from examples Stephan gave her beforehand.

He had a hands-on approach during the design, construction and later the final look of the place. There is an artistic flair to the showroom, with different nooks showcasing the different design options.

“You cannot imagine what this place looked like before we started,” says Stephan. “It looks completely different, after we ripped out all of the tiles, tore down walls and did a total revamp.”

With the development of the new showroom it was important for Obeco to showcase certain world-renowned brands and introduce them to the coastal community.

“What people don’t always realise is that different brands work together so that their products, when combined, complement each other.”

The showroom is not cold and faceless, but feels like a warm, welcoming and familiar home of a friend.

Obeco’s new concept store in Walvis Bay, makes shopping an exciting experience

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Through innovation, creativity and acuity, Obeco Walvis Bay opens up a world of possibility, quality and style to the community at the coast. @ LIN

ADVERTORIAL

Atlantic Villa Swakopmund chose this Talis basin mixer and Duravit Vero counter top basin for their newly build guest rooms

Hansgrohe ceiling Rainmaker and freestanding Giro Boutique Bath

Mrs Fouche from Walvis Bay chose this Pura Vida basin mixer for her new house

Ixia basin and Metris mixer with Carnival pilar tap. Tiles by Douglas Jones

“This industry is innovative and like any creative field, change is constant�

Tel: +264 (64) 463 501/2 Cell: 081 148 2991 Web: http://www.obeco.com.na E-mail: swakopsales@obeco.com.na To create a stylish bathroom choose Duravit Vero counter top basin, Awxor Citterio basin mixer with shower set and Dimo Koshi tiles

health & fitness club

live life Charmaine Smit is proof that sometimes you just have to take a chance for amazing things to happen. LIN caught up with her at her gym’s new premises.

Moving her gym to Swakopmund’s new public swimming pool was not an endeavour for anyone with a feeble constitution; it took clear vision and a strong will to get the project off the ground.

Fortunately, as an athlete, Charmaine harnessed her determination and stamina and accepted the challenge. And thanks to her tenacity, the coast has now a world-class heath and fitness venue.

Here offers their members so much more to make their gym experience a good one: there is now a kiddie’s room where youngsters can play under supervision while waiting for their parents.

The restrooms offer showers, sauna and storage locking facilities.

Access to the gym and pool is by means of a biometric fingerprint recognition security system.

Charmaine’s relentlessly positive demeanour is infectious and inspiring and she thinks big, really big!

After eight years in town, Charmaine’s gym had outgrown its premises and the hunt was on to find a bigger space.

Her future plans include hosting sporting events like mini triathlons in the communal hall, as well as corporate seminars and live music.

When the chance arose to rent premises at the new public pool, it made fantastic sense.

“I have an idea to construct a trapeze over the swimming pool, just imagine how exciting that would be!

FUSION Health Café is an oasis where boutique wines can be sipped with a friend while enjoying a healthy meal.

Executives can escape to a quiet corner and use free Wi-Fi, while catching up on work. The restaurant is specifically placed in an area overlooking the pool, so moms can keep an eye on their kids while enjoying a cuppa.

Charmaine says is more than a gym; it’s a lifestyle and a refuge where the weather is always pleasant. ! LIVE IT health & fitness club 081 129 7692 Web: http://www.liveit.com.na E-mail: liveit@iway.na

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ADVERTORIAL

“I want the gym to be a place where people can relax, spend time and enjoy the facilities. Not just to do physical exercise, but also to chill by the pool on sunbeds while enjoying a back massage.”

Swakopmund’s new public swimming pool is a place to enjoy yourself, whether your time is spent exercising or simply relaxing

ISSUE 01 P 34

LIN REVIEW

house noleen

house

n oleen

“I wanted a warm house, a house you can live in, in the true sense of the word where cats, dogs and children rule.�

LIN went to visit Noleen Lohmeier in her new house in Kramers dorp.

As you walk down the stone pathway to the front door, your first impression is space, green space ... the colour takes your breath away. The beautiful garden leads you to a house filled with sun and uncompromising views of the desert. It’s as if you had stepped from one world to another.

Noleen opens the door with a big smile as she invites us to sit down for some tea. The adage dynamite comes in small packages is a perfect description for Noleen who has a spark in the eye, unstoppable energy and an infectious laugh.

“While still in the planning phase of our new home, Herbert and I discovered a house in Mile 4, which had the style we had in mind.” They met owner and architect Michiel Coetzee and together the three, with help from a thick file of interior magazine clippings Noleen had been collecting, incorporated their creative ideas.

The husband and wife team created a space with a feeling of openness and light, while retaining warmth through the use of natural materials like wood and stone with a palate of earthy colours. Against this background, elements like copper and tin were added.

The result is a home filled with love and warm laughter, a house where you want to take your shoes off and relax with a good book in one of its many sunny spots. @ LIN

“We wanted unspoiled views of the desert, but still be private”

ISSUE 01 P 36

Herbert and Noleen designed their front door

“I love the rosewood cupboards and island in the kitchen”

“Herbert and I designed the front door of our house.”

“A house where children, cats, dogs and friends feel at home”

Noleen’s humour can be seen in quirky features like this witch flying on a broom under pots and pans in her kitchen

The team for this project: Architect Miciel Coetzee 064 405805 Premier Construction (PTY) LTD 064 462433 Weimann’s Carpentry CC 064 404781 Windhoek Consulting Engineers 064 206 401

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ADVERTORIAL

Most of the wood was imported from Germany.

Keeping the business strong by keeping promises

The name Strauss Group Building Contractors seems to be everywhere on the coast whether on buildings, cars or boards.

LIN wanted to find out more about this

company, which has become a major player in the building industry.

We spent the morning with Peet Strauss and discovered the secret. The man walks, talks and thinks in overdrive. He is a passionate individual, a man on a mission, with his finger on many pulses.

When you walk into the office there’s an unexpected feeling of warmth and comfort.

The décor is inviting and friendly, yet professional and precise. The staff greet you with a warm smile and proud introduction. Attitude is everything.

Each site that LIN visited is kept neat, clean and tidy; here things are done in a meticulous manner.

Peet worked with his father for six years in the construction industry and then branched off and started his own company, Strauss Construction, with partner JD Engels. Quality Brick and Block with partner Jan van Niekerk, TPK Electrical contractors with Melinda Bresslar and Strauss Properties Walvis Bay followed.

Peet says, “Swakopmund is the place I started a business because the town has so much potential. It has made me who I am today. It is one of the few big towns on the coast of Namibia and has fantastic opportunities.”

The building industry experienced a boom between 2003 and 2010, which gave Strauss the boost needed to make a great success in this competitive market.

There are plans for branching out within Namibia, but this depends on demand.

ISSUE 01 P 40

Strauss Group Building Contractors carries out a range of building services; from houses, office buildings, shopping complexes, housing complexes and warehouses, to joint ventures on larger projects.

“When Strauss builds your house our goal is to make the experience as stress free as possible. The project managers will help you from A to Z … from choosing a house plan through to the tiles and last details which make your home perfect,” says Peet.

Strauss will make sure your budget and needs meet. Peet personally sees each of his clients regularly to make sure they are content.

ADVERTORIAL

Story and Images by Claire Whipp

Procurement Officer Andre Adriaanse keeps every detail recorded. A system is followed in order to make the building process as smooth as possible.

For those who would like to invest their money in property or buildings, Strauss is a good choice.

They help you make the right decisions and empower you with financial forecasts and predictions on the amount your investments will bring you in the future.

The group is made up of energised, young, motivated individuals who are working together to build their own futures and in the process build the futures of others.

They are hungry for work in order to uplift and provide jobs for more people in Namibia.

The team is striving to create a brand that stands for quality and pride.

When Strauss Group Building Contractors start a project their mission is to GET IN, GET IT DONE, GET IT DONE RIGHT AND GET OUT. @ LIN

Einstein Street, Industrial Area, Swakopmund.

E-mail: peet@sgcnam.com Landline: +264 64 406574

a thing of beauty G

reat taste in furniture and a knack for finding special pieces seems to be a multigenerational thing for the owners of A. Kornblum & Co. - Swakopmund’s favorite furniture emporium.

LIN caught up with Jean Theron,

owner and great grandson of Arthur Kornblum at his home in Swakopmund.

The first thing you notice when you enter Jean’s home is that it is not bursting with furniture from his shop. Jean laughs when we ask him about this, “I don’t easily buy for myself and if I do I never buy a lot.”

“I must have a feeling for something; it must mean something to me. Each item in my house has a story to tell.”

Jean became a scientist after completing high school; owning the family business A. Kornblum & Co. did not figure in his future plans at all. But everything changed when his grandfather died and he started managing the business, first just to help out, but soon with the realisation that maybe, just maybe, this was the challenge he was looking for.

ISSUE 01 P 42

“When I took over the business there were only two furniture shops in Swakopmund.

Both shops stocked mass produced furniture and I realised there was a gap in the market for something unique and different.

“I was inspired by furniture shops I’d seen in Windhoek and South Africa, and I had a gut feeling that it would work here in Swakopmund.”

Jean not only wanted to bring unique furniture to Swakop, he was not prepared to skimp on quality in order to make it

affordable. Despite many, if not all the furniture pieces being one-of-a-kind, Jean made the decision not to incorporate a design price into the selling price.

According to him, “You get relatively good quality products for relatively good prices.”

When asked what gives him the most pleasure about his business, he doesn’t mention money or prestige or triumphs, but this, “The greatest satisfaction that the business gives me is when I walk into

someone’s house and see how my products make people happy.”

And that is Jean in a nutshell: modest.

Not one for overblown statements.

“It confirms that my choices were sound and that all the hard work in searching for, finding and shipping the products here was worth it, as somebody loved it so much that they were prepared to buy it and put it in their home.”

Jean handpicks every item in his shop and through years of experience has developed a keen sense of what his customers like.

That said, he is quick to emphasise that he will never buy anything he doesn’t like, that he would not want to put in his own house.

The search for that special piece sees him often traveling to far-flung places like India, Nepal, China and Thailand, where he scouts for those sought-after, unique pieces.

Although he enjoys traveling, Jean loves coming home to Swakopmund where his heart is.

ADVERTORIAL This unique shop has come a long way from its beginnings when Jean’s Great Grandfather, Arthur Kornblum, his wife Frida and two sons stepped onto German South West African soil in May 1906.

Jewish families from all over the world had settled here and played leading roles in just about every aspect (with the exception of politics) of development of the colony.

As such, Arthur Kornblum’s business was one of the pillars on which Swakopmund was built.

But it was no easy road.

Five years after Arthur Kornblum arrived, he had an established business, providing interior décor, saddlery, imported curtain material and Oriental carpets to customers as far away as Lüderitz.

But he lost it all when the First World War broke out in 1914.

He was forced to join the African colonial armed force of Imperial Germany, the “Schutztruppe” or Protection Force.

His family had fled to Omaruru and by the time Germany surrendered the territory of South West Africa, their stock had been confiscated by the Allied military forces of the Union of South Africa.

“ I rely a lot on my instincts and whether or not an item resonates with me.”

Despite losing everything, Arthur was back in business within a year.

Having discovered a few discarded bales of coir, he had started making mattresses, which were in great demand after the war.

From these humble beginnings an iconic Swakopmund retail institution arose, one that evolved over time and still sets the bar today.

One cannot help but think that should he walk into his business today, Arthur would be more than pleased with what he’d see.

Great Grandfather would probably say, “Now that’s what I’m talking about! “ @ LIN

“I don’t like to stay away from home too long and I always like to come home.

I love Swakop and the life I have here.”

5 Einstein Street Industrial Area Swakopmund Tel + 264 64 402117/ Fax: + 264 64 404624 E-mail: easternconcepts@akornblum.com Web: http://www.easternconcepts.com

freedom to

DIVE Words and Images Karin Retief

ISSUE 01 P 44

he west coast of Africa is cold and misty as I leave Swakopmund for the warm tropical waters of Guinjata Bay, Mozambique.

“Welcome to Mozambique!” I hear my sister shout as I clear customs at Inhabane airport. I don’t see her face behind the crowd, but I can’t miss the outstretched arms holding two cold beers.

My sister Lynn, the rock chick of the Seventies, who late in her 40s made a complete career change, a hobby gone haywire, as she once joked. She left a business career to follow her heart and become a dive instructor, living a dream-come-true life in Mozambique.

She is one of a handful qualified Handicap Scuba Association (HSA) dive instructors in Africa and I am here to do a story on her work.

Inhambane hasn’t changed much since my last visit about 10 years ago. The 40-minute drive from the airport to her dive school, Guinjata Dive Center, is sandy and bumpy, but we are soon rewarded with the cliché that makes Mozambique world famous: picture-perfect white beaches, palm trees and an ocean painted three shades of blue.

ISSUE 01 P 46

Driving through beautiful Guinjata Bay, Lynn greets people along the way in Portuguese and we arrive at her house where I meet her business partner, Zelda Norden.

Mozambique is famous for its postcard-pretty beaches and beautiful landscape, but to groups of disabled people making their way down to Guinjata Dive Center, it’s a life-altering experience.

E

arly evening sees our first dive planning session. Zelda’s student Dr. Cival Mills is about to arrive.

Should Cival qualify this weekend, he will become the first person in the world with locked-in syndrome to qualify as an HSA scuba diver and everybody is excited to meet him.

Lynn and Zelda have gone out to meet some of their students and assistants in Inhambane, to help them negotiate the night drive to Guinjata Bay. I wait at the bar of the resort, where I meet Andrew du Toit, an attractive blue-eyed young man who was Lynn’s student last year and is now a qualified Level C HSA scuba diver. He’s here with his family for a dive holiday and to celebrate his birthday.

Andrew was in a car accident 10 years ago, which left him as a C5 quadriplegic.

He tells me he has no cough reflexes and should water enter his lungs he would not be able to expel it, so drowning is a real fear and reality he faces each time he dives.

He has to make sure his head is always higher than his body.

It was like looking at life through a narrow pipe, without movement.

“The birthday present I want to give myself tomorrow is to dive with my sister and lie at the bottom of the ocean bed, looking up at the water and the sun’s rays,” he says.

His body is “locked down”. Simply put, he can hear, feel, think and see, but no impulses from the brain reach his limbs and muscles – no message goes through to tell them to move.

The barman fixes a beer to his hand with a strap and while doing this spills a bit of beer. Andrew jokes, “Hey bru, don’t throw me with it!”

The cheerful joking suddenly stops and you can hear a pin drop when Dr Cival Mills and his assistants enter the restaurant. His wheelchair looks impressive, with its lights and 4x4 wheels.

Cival graduated from the University of Pretoria in 1999 with an MB ChB and was set to become a brilliant medical doctor.

A year later, during his medical internship, destiny revealed a different path for him.

Dead tired after a long shift at a rural hospital in Mpumalanga, he fell asleep at the wheel of his car. The resulting accident left him with locked-in syndrome.

He couldn’t move a muscle except to blink his eyes, and he had tunnel vision.

After years of intense physical therapy, stem-cell transplants, sheer willpower and never losing hope, he regained partial movement in his neck and left hand – exceeding all expectations from his doctors.

Cival wheels himself to the bar area where the staff have gathered. Nobody can help but stare. He wheels himself close to us and very slowly starts typing with his one finger on his lap computer. “Don’t be afraid, I don’t bite!”

I immediately realise that here is someone who will change your attitude towards life.

Cival and Andrew start a conversation about wheelchair makes; when someone asks Cival if he is tired after the long trip, he jokes; “As long as I am sitting next to Augustus (the barman), I will not get tired!”

Cival’s personal assistant Sam Mahlangu dresses him after his dip in the ocean. Sam has been with Cival for 5 years ISSUE 01 P 48

His wheelchair is pushed as far in as possible before he is carried into the water

After a while he notices that the rest of his party is not there and when we tell him they took the luggage to the rooms and are busy unpacking, he writes (on why he is not helping), “I plead disabled!”

I notice how he never leaves a sentence or concept he is trying to convey half finished. Even if it takes five minutes, he keeps at it till the person fully understands what he is saying.

It takes a long time for him to type a sentence and sometimes it takes a few tries before the person he is talking to fully understands what he is saying.

By now the bar has filled up with divers, instructors, helpers, families, friends and staff - the place is a loud buzz of excitement.

I marvel at the way Lynn and Zelda establish an atmosphere of laughter and excitement. It’s infectious.

Signing up for a class, able-bodied or disabled, you won’t be spared the battering of jokes and teasing and will leave not only as a certified diver but with friends for life. Cival laughs so much I think time and again he is choking.

Cival goes for a dip in the ocean as part of his preparations with his dive instructors, Zelda (left) and Lynn

W

e are up before sunrise, sipping very strong coffee on the deck of Lynn’s home.

You can already feel the hot weather creeping up on you. This is definitely not Swakop weather. From here we have a 180° degree view of the magnificent ocean.

In the city, our lives are run by time, but here it’s the tides of the ocean which set the rhythm of the day.

I think about how different I am from my sister – she the extrovert and adrenalin seeker, while I am the introvert.

I started a career early, with husband and babies in my 40s, while she started husband and babies early and her career in her 40s.

We live on opposite sides of the continent, me in the desert and she in the tropics, yet we are very close and a perfect fit, like Yin and Yang.

It’s day three for me in Mozambique.

Refresher course in hand, I am ready to do underwater images of Cival.

We walk down to the dive centre where the three students, their families and assistants have gathered.

With Cival and Andrew is third student Otto Beeslaar, who suffered severe brain and body injuries during a car accident six years ago.

Then he follows her and does the same thing again; after a while, when he gets her into a corner, he types on his lap computer, “Thanks for the waltz!”

“Or he will sit outside a shop, pretending to ask for money donations and when someone puts money into his hand he will type, “Please can I have some more!” quoting Oliver Twist,” she says.

We go out to sea for Cival’s first ocean

While the dive instructors prep Cival for his dive, I sit with Sarie, his personal assistant. She tells me that one of the things she loves most about Cival is his sense of humour.

dive. Zelda tells me how they met. “When I returned to South Africa after I qualified as an HSA instructor in the Grand Caymans in 2006, I had the dream to bring disabled diving to SA. But where and how would I get students?

For instance, sometimes when he goes to the shops and sees a pretty girl, he wheels himself right in front of her so that she has to dodge to the side and not bump into him.

“One day while I was parking my car at a shopping center in Pretoria, I noticed Cival’s Combi, which had a disabled sticker on it.

“I walked over to him, introduced myself and asked him if he would like to scuba dive. He typed on his lap computer, “Hell YES!!”

I’m nervous, but ready to go (with my borrowed underwater gear). This is new territory for me.

In my 25-year career as a photojournalist, I’ve covered everything from hard news to international sport, but under water is uncharted territory for me.

Helping hand: Zelda and Sam help Cival get into the boat before his first ocean scuba dive ISSUE 01 P 50

Cival, “A feeling of freedom I cannot describe. I tell you, this holiday is the best one I’ve had since my accident”

C

ival uses a special chair from which to launch and when Lynn and Zelda ready him to descend, Lynn signs to me not to get into the water.

When the three heads pop up after 20 minutes, Cival pushes the regulator from his mouth and by now I recognise his facial expression when he is laughing.

The underwater current worries her and she wants to give all her attention to Cival.

I am left on the rocking boat, desperately staring at the horizon so as not to get seasick. Bummer!

I remember Zelda telling me that in the beginning he could not remove his regulator, and how hard he had practised until he could push it out of his mouth with his shoulder.

His head rests on her shoulder for a few minutes before they lift him back into the boat. I don’t think anybody can imagine how it must have felt for him to be floating weightless in the ocean.

Back in the boat, everybody is beaming.

Lynn kisses him on the cheek, saying how proud she is of him for what he has just achieved.

He lies back against her, which enables his vocal cords to create a sound. The word is not audible but Zelda leans in and says close to his ear, “It’s so nice to hear your voice, Cival.”

It’s easy to see the strong bond between them, he constantly searches for eye contact with his instructors, trusting them unconditionally.

At the beach bar I ask him how his dive was and how he felt. True to his humorous nature, he replies on his computer, “WET!” When he is satified I got the joke, he writes, “It was stunning! To share this experience with friends is unbelievable. Zelda and Lynn are always so positive and full of humour. I feel better when I am with them.

I laugh every minute, from when I arrive to when I leave.“

Lynn and Cival after his first ocean scuba dive

I

am back in the water for Cival’s second dive. The sea is much calmer and so are my nerves.

But the current at 15 metres is so strong it drags me around like a piece of seaweed.

I keep bumping against the coral as I’m so focused on trying to get a shot, any shot.

I don’t always realise I’m about to bump into it or how close I am to it.

My hands are cut and so are the top of my feet. I am, as they say, like a fish out of water.

I try the technique I use on land; anticipating the movement of the person and staying one step ahead, so as to get them wandering into my frame.

But this is proving much more difficult than I thought it would be.

Lynn indicates to me to stop bumping into the coral and I realise I need to get my shots sooner than later, as she will probably ban me from diving with a camera when we surface!

Cival, on the other hand, is having the time of his life. He had an easy descent to 15 meters and visibility is perfect. We are diving at the world-famous Manta Reef.

Zelda indicates with her fingers very close to his left eye and he follows her hand as she shows him a sea turtle.

I remember how he joked that he would like to see a shark today, although he is a Bulls supporter!

At one point both Zelda and Lynn leave him for a couple of seconds to float on his own. He makes a circular movement with his left hand, which propels him forward a bit. His determination gives me a lump in my throat.

I have never seen such bravery. I missed the shot, but it’s okay. I’m basking in the joy of sharing this moment with him.

Back at the dive center Cival’s personal assistant Sam Mahlangu helps him out of the boat and washes him down with fresh water.

He lovingly dries his body and head. Cival told me that since his accident, angels have come into his life and enriched his existence. Sam is one such angel.

This deeply religious man, who was once a truck driver and a priest, has been with Cival for five years. When he started, he thought this work was too hard and went back home.

His wife convinced him to return, but he only lasted four days before he left again.

Again his wife convinced him to return to work and he has been with Cival ever since.

Cival qualified at Guinjata Dive Center as a HSA level C diver and became the first person in the word with Locked-in syndrome to achieve this.

ISSUE 01 P 52

His body is floating free and light. When he comes up he has tears in his eyes and I realise it’s not a good time to ask him how it was.

Later at the bar he says, “What a different world! I felt totally free underwater.

To say diving has changed my life is an understatement. After the accident I didn’t want to socialise with anybody, especially disabled people. I couldn’t face them, as I suppose that would have made me face my own reality.

“Diving has made me cross that boundary.”

“Groot” Koos Pieterse and Lynn help Andrew get ready in a special launch chair

w

e are back on the boat; this time Andrew is going out with Lynn. There is always a second HSA instructor with a disabled diver and today “Groot” Koos Pieterse will assist Lynn.

Skipper Armando Nhamussoa negotiates the waves with ease; he can steer a boat blindfolded in these waters.

Andrew asks Lynn to wipe his forehead as sweat is running into his eyes. I can see he is very nervous.

When they hang in the water, Lynn signs for him to descend, but he shakes his head. He pulls off his regulator and says he cannot go down. Lynn and Koos know that if they take him out of the water now, he will lose his nerve and probably never dive again.

With a lot of patience and encouragement, Lynn and Groot Koos coach him to put his head a few centimeters under water, using only a mask and snorkel.

I can see the panic attack subsiding and after a while he says he is ready to go down.

Andrew and his instructors stop at 15 meters and he gives the “I am OK” sign.

One instructor is holding him upright while the other is swimming slightly in front of him, never losing visual contact.

They guide him over the coral and I can see him looking around as they point out various interesting fish.

Lynn, who was Andrew’s instructor when he qualified, says the change she has seen in him is like night and day. “When he first started diving he didn’t want to eat in front of people and kept very much to himself.

“Now he is the first one to order a beer and start a conversation with the new students.

Apart from the social aspect, diving also gives them something to work towards and when they qualify, a great sense of achievement,” she says.

F

or the next couple of days, the dive centre is a hub of activity. But one day when I come down from my room after editing pictures, I find instructors, students, family, assistants, friends and the dog Pino, all sleeping in the shade, packed together like sardines, on blankets.

This spirit of togetherness is the lasting impression I will take back with me ... that no matter who we are, black or white, able-bodied or disabled, we are all connected. With this connection, which is glued by love, anything is possible.

It’s my last day in Mozambique and Cival’s boat has just arrived back after his fifth and final dive. Zelda holds up the waterproof note she wrote and showed Cival underwater. It says, “Congratulations!

You are now an HSA scuba diver. You have made us very proud.”

Lynn@diveguinjata.com Zelda@diveguinjata.com

Everybody explodes with cheerful clapping and whistling. He’s done it! He is now the first person in the world with locked-in syndrome to qualify as an HSA Level C scuba diver!

Andrew once told Lynn that to dive was like the movie Avatar. “I was entering a world where I could move again, where gravity wasn’t my enemy any more and I felt I was on par with any able-bodied person.” @ LIN

N$ 4,42 mil Garage 3 Indoor braai Splash pool Wine Cellar Underfloor Bath 2 heating Fire place Anet: 081 122 2118 Bed 3

a Good

PL AN

By Elaine Thompson

It goes without saying that something most home owners look forward to is the process of turning a house into a home.

This is a house that works.

The basics have been well executed; the two secondary bedrooms and en suite bathrooms are remarkably spacious, while the master suite, which comprises a walkthrough dressing area as well as a luxurious en suite bathroom, is a haven in itself.

The vast formal lounge and entrance hall make a comfortable living area.

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The secondary bedrooms are to be found in their own wing on the opposite side of the house. All the bedrooms boast built-in cupboards, and there is ample additional storage to be found in the passage.

ADVERTORIAL The kitchen features painted Shaker-style cupboards with granite countertops, with a sizeable walk-in pantry as well as a scullery, and a door which leads to the very generous three-car garage.

The scullery leads out into the large back yard. A wide, statement-making staircase leads up to the pièce de résistance, the enormous playroom/office. With its custom-made built-in shelving and desks, not to mention lovely views, this multi-purpose room is a great place to both work and play in.

The clever planning also extends outside.

Off the open-plan living area is the covered patio with a built-in braai. Skylights allow natural light in and large glass stacking doors open onto the beautifully tended garden, which features a plunge pool and an abundance of birdlife. Much effort has gone into the private garden, making it a lush, relaxing respite from the frantic pace of everyday life. There is parking for at least four cars in the driveway. Yet none of the area feels forced or compromised; the space is judiciously used and the result is a practical expanse.

So while it’s relatively easy to make a building look good inside, getting the ‘‘bones’’ of a house right can prove to be something of a challenge.

This is the fifth house the owners of this beautiful home at Rossmund have built, and personal experience gleaned from building four previous houses, as well as inside knowledge of the trade have come together; the result is a remarkably successful house in terms of flow, use of space and creativity.

Spectacularly high ceilings with exposed trusses afford a light-filled and airy space

Whether the future owners are a retired couple or a family with children, this house has just what they need to live well. @ LIN

The open-plan living space extends into the patio area with a built-in braai and private garden with splash pool

Image: Lize Dames ISSUE 01 P 56

Q&A

West Coast Radiow DJ, Carlichia Pretorius What would you say has been the highlight of your career?

I don’t know really know if I can speak of one career specifically, because was it not for everything that I have worked in I wouldn’t have come to where I am today. Being on radio is something I never thought could be possible, even though I always imagined it. So yes - for me at the moment it is still quite overwhelming.

Career? What I understand from the word is some kind of calling, but I think it has taken on a different form over generations and is now more related to education instead of skill/what you capable of doing.

What has been the hardest part?

Becoming confident. I still find it hard every day. People think it comes naturally, maybe I have just trained myself to make it seem so. Luckily it works out for both parties … almost a fake it till you make it. hehe You are an inspiration to the youth, how does it influence you?

I wouldn’t really limit it down to the youth and would also not say that I AM an inspiration, but would like to be. I mean - don’t we all somehow? I touch on topics which I feel are relevant and some even not much so, I mean different strokes for different folks, right? But yes, I do try to leave listeners with a bit of something to think about and create awareness through information.

What advice would you give a youngster who is having a hard time, maybe looking for a way out of drugs/pregnancy/wrong friends?

You can only get out of something if you want to. So if you would like to do what is best for you, then you already know what you should do. If something doesn’t make you feel good, then it probably is not. I think it is important that we know from a young age that we are responsible for our actions and we do not live in a time where we are not informed about possible ''unwanted'' circumstances to make certain decisions. So be honest with yourself.

What is your life philosophy?

It’s crazy how much one can bend and break what you have been taught to be and remould into what you want to be and truly are.

Because deep down we all want the same thing, which I feel is self-acceptance. And everything is a constant work in progress.

Like so many other things, but that makes life so interesting, the fact that the only constant we have is change. I see spirituality as the return to being. I think every moment of our existence brings us to some form of higher self/spiritual enlightenment, be it a deep depression or an ultra-happy or an ''in between'' - every experience, from the minute we are born, even if we are aware of it or not.

Carlitchia and girlfriend Lize Dames

What are your future dreams?

Dreams … I hope to focus more on the now and what I am doing in present moments, as it shapes a lot of where I will find myself in the future, but speaking of which - where does one start - so much is possible. And that I can also only say because I tend to look at how far I have come and not so much how far I still have to go. I am a big dreamer, you might as well go for it, cause nothing is impossible. All that the word impossible says is ''I am possible.'' And so it is. Also quite scary. I mean you can dream big - and then you should fill your shoes. Right?

You have a special passion for Namibian musicians. What do you plan in this regard?

Personally I have big admiration for people who can make music and appreciate it a lot, especially for the fact that music brings people together ... it’s like love. So yes, I would like to somehow create some kind of foundation for musicians, especially here along the coast, as there is so much potential.

It would be nice to have some kind of platform, because at the end of the day Swakopmund is a holiday/tourist town, attracting all sorts. It would be great to be part of forming something like that.

African musicians, in general, have a very distinct style to their music and it is very attractive and widely appreciated. We should really keep that alive. And Namibia is such a beautiful country with such lovely people. We should really be proud of that.

How do you deal with negative human behaviour?

Every time such a lesson presents itself I try to take and learn from it. And every time it presents itself there will be something to learn from it, till you no longer experience it. Until again … but on a different level ... haha … it never stops.

Life is learning.

Any hobbies or favourite pastime?

I love watching movies, especially funny ones. I am a big fan of playing pool. I also have a go at the guitar here and there - but only behind closed doors ;) I love nature and writing and I LOVE doing nothing! @ LIN

Nadezna Swanepoel’s blog Nadezna works as a Psychological Counsellor, Auditory Integration Practitioner and Neurological Feedback Practitioner Cell: 081 234 0651 E-mail: nadeznaswanepoel@gmail.com

MODES - A lightness of being I have often wondered whether we realise just how crucial it is to alter the way we perceive the world.

Whether we realise that through our own thinking we can rise above the murky waters.

Rise above the habits we have formed to conserve energy, but that are deemed to destroy our relationships, our inner world and our happiness.

We need to break free from the troubling modes of being.

I recently read about the secret of the Lotus flower, its ability to grow through the mud and emerge clean, with nothing adhering to it.

How amazing would it be if we could develop the lotus’ non-stick ability?

To create a field of non-clinging in the mind; the application of kindheartedness, calmness and clear awareness that allows a lightness of being.

When I see the fog over our desert town it reminds me of the fog of bewilderment that moves through our minds; that settles over us.

The positive thinker perceives the world through a clear lens; the negative thinker’s unfocused lens is a cause for negative thoughts, an apt description of how we as humans perceive the world through “our window”.

Modes are like invisible strings of the mind, creating their own tune, leaving us open to delight in wisdom or leaving us closed down with fear, self pity and despair.

Perhaps we do not realise just how powerful modes are in driving or distorting our experiences, giving us a unique peek into our lives.

The more distorted the lens, the more negative the mode.

We all react so differently to the same situation. Modes are the driving force behind our reactions, enabling us to flourish or to regress into toxic ruts. Modes determine our goals, fuel our drives and dictate our moods.

The vital part in clearer thinking is to learn how to recognise our modes, to clarify feelings, perceptions and the actions we take.

The sun dissipates the fog to reveal a clear sky, symbolic of how our inner fog can be dissolved, if only we recognise it.

As we ourselves are the driving force of change and achievement, we need to decide whether we want to be led towards the murkiness or towards the lotus.

We need to change the lens through which we look into our minds.

Surely we all want the lotus of wisdom to blossom through the mud of confusion?

ISSUE 01 P 58

Plum Tart ala Anke!

Anke Volkmann made this delicious Plum Tart her own by adapting the Krümelkuchen recipe from the book “Backvergnügen wie noch nie” written by Gräfe und Unzer.

Heat oven to 180 Celsius and grease a 22cm cake dish Ingredients: 200g butter 200g sugar 1egg grated rind of one lemon 500g cake flour 1 t baking powder 1kg plums or prunes juice of half lemon 100g flake almonds

Method: Cream butter and sugar Add egg and lemon rind and mix together Mix baking powder into flour and sieve Add flour to butter mixture until dough resembles medium size crumbs De-pip plums and cut into bite size pieces Sprinkle with lemon juice Set aside Place half the dough mixture (crumbs) into the dish and press lightly Place plum pieces on top of dough Place rest of dough crumbs over the filling Scatter the flaked almonds over the dough crumbs Note: It is important that the dough crumbs do not overpower the plums. There should rather be more plums than dough.

Anke with husband Berni and kids; Alisa, Janeke and Sven-Thomas

Bake for plus minus 40-50 minutes, until crumbs are golden brown.

Allow to cool slightly for a few minutes and enjoy with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

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