Stanford river talk april 2016

STANFORD RIVER TALK Volume 127 | APRIL 2016 | Stanford‘s monthly newspaper | R15

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• EDITOR – Phil Murray 082 667 0619 • philippa.murray@gmail.com • ADVERTSING & LAYOUT Sandra Slabbert • 079 523 8453 design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • ACCOUNTS Michelle Hardie • ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za www.stanfordrivertalk.co.za

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What a whopper!

This yellow carp weighing some 10kg with a length of 75cm, was caught in the Klein River just off King Street by Zimbabweans, Albert Shumba and Lovemore Dzingai. Stuart Anderson rode his bicycle past them and snapped this lovely photograph.

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Taken by Stuart Anderson.

MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS Matt Chancey, Suzanne Francois-Rossouw, Andrew Herriot, Mike Horn, Olga Koorts, Karen McKee, Martin Ranger, Bryan Robertson, Naas Terblanche, Wanya van der Walt, Tania Weich and James Yeats.

Editorial Contributions & Disclaimer Editorial contributions are welcome and should include top quality photos where relevant. Articles will be printed under the contributor‘s name or an accepted nom-de-plume if the full name and address is provided. All contributions are voluntary and not paid for. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend, abridge or reject any article. Opinions of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the editor. Copyright All material in this issue is copyrighted, and belongs to The Really Famous Publishing CC unless otherwise indicated. No part of the material may be reproduced without prior permission. Published and printed by The Really Famous Publishing CC.

ed's notes Stanford simply gets more beautiful as the scorched summer lawns are replaced with soft, green blades of grass. Little toadstool circles push their way through the softened earth and cats lounge on sunny windowsills, no longer beating a retreat from the summer heat. Stanford is a hive of activity with music, markets, art exhibitions and fund raising events, and the streets are filled with visitors. Long boarders, roller skaters and dog walkers stroll and play in the streets; it is no wonder local film crews have been flocking to shoot this pretty heritage village.

On the ground, work for local charities goes on as Rotary gears up its Winter Warmth project (News and Updates, Page 7).

Schools and homeschoolers have enjoyed their Easter holiday but they are still full of focus and energy, looking forward to the productivity of the second term (School Talk, page 8) Bryan Robertson breaks Lent with a simple chocolate recipe (Kitchen Talk, page 11), and Suzanne-Francois Roussouw offers simple tips on how to grow your own peanuts (Plant Talk, page 10) Naas Terblanche is reminded about the high sea adventures of Charles Darwin (Nature Talk, page10) and Martin Ranger plans a holiday on a shoestring (Soapbox, page12). Matt Chancey (Tales from the Sud, page 12) offers marriage advice while Karen McKee (Village life, page 9) decides to stop reading glossy magazine.

South Africa celebrates Freedom Day on 27 April. Read about the significance of this day in 1994 (Cry Freedom, page 13).

If nothing else, South Africans are resilient and have high expectations. It is worth remembering why we live here, and holding onto hope for a bright future.

Klein River Picnics Hibernating from 4 April Klein River Farmstead offers an array of exceptional and award-winning South African cheeses.

All cheese is made using age-old artisanal methods and pasture-fed cow’s milk.

028 341 0693

www.kleinrivercheese.co.za R326, 7 km outside Stanford

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Write to us

Please send your letters to philippa.murray@gmail.com. Try to keep letters as short as possible (100 words or less) and supply your name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend, abridge or reject any letter.

Manners maketh the man As children, we are reminded by our parents to always say; "please and thank you". At our last Ratepayers' Association AGM at the end of February, I seem to have had a lapse in both manners and memory!

I forgot to thank the people who always so generously donate wine, cheese and snacks for our members after the meeting. So, I would like to remedy that faux pas by thanking them now. They are: Reinhard Odendaal (Walker Bay Wines), Peter Kastner (Stanford Hills), Naas Terblanche (Vaalvlei Wines), Maggie Baleta (Kleinrivier Cheese) and Glenn Roodt (Stanford Spar).

It is gratifying to know that our local businesses so readily support the committees and functions of the village; they deserve our support in return.

Bob Broom

Death and taxes I recently was forced to make a trip to a SARS office to change an incorrect ID number that had crept into my tax records. The tax voice from a SARS call centre gave me the horrifying news that I HAD to go to a SARS office in person in order to change this erroneous record. 'No, you can't do it any other way,' said the faceless voice.

The closest SARS office is 150 kms from Stanford. Determined to avoid the dreaded trip to SARS in Cape Town, my research lead me to Worcester. From Stanford to Caledon via the R326; left onto the N2 and then over the Theewaterskloof dam wall into Villiersdorp. Next stop: Worcester.

Situated on the corner of Stockenstroom and Church Streets, SARS is a block away from the main drag. Astoundingly I parked outside the building, went through a pleasant security check into a waiting area where I was given a queue number and guided into the tax hall. It was all very high-tech and efficient, with staff to match. It took all of 21 minutes for a highly efficient consultant to sort out my problem. Sadly he also was able to tell me that I owed them a small unpaid amount and that my latest tax return was almost overdue. An offer of a consultant to help with this return was proffered, further proof that this is a government department that works.

On my return to Stanford there was an email awaiting me from SARS to confirm that my problem had been solved. All this in less than 4 hours! This was a dream not a nightmare and with most of the day ahead I decided to explore the back route to Greyton to visit their excellent coffee shops. Royd Frith

It's a date Having read the Stanford River Talk, I really take exception to the article on the mill (Rising from the Ruins, February). First of all, Major Parlby owned this farmhouse from 1831 to 1838 (seven years). How could it be built in early [1700s] as Major Parlby was at the time in India? We are so tired of having people [try] to take away the history.

Irene Tomlinson Dear Irene Thank you for your letter and for drawing this to our attention.

Apologies for the rather broad date given as late 1700s for the building of the Mill. The only information we can find is that the mill was built by Samuel Parlby so it seems most likely that it was built while he lived at De Kleine Rivier Valley. It is not our intention to take away from history It is wonderful that people are so charged with passion for the very special heritage of Stanford, and that they are committed to preserving it.

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news and updates

WARD COMMITTEE FEEDBACK MEETING HELD 17 MARCH 2016 REFUSE REMOVAL Refuse removal will be split over two days of the week: Tuesdays for the area north of De Bruyn Street, and Thursdays for the area south thereof. This will take effect on Tuesday 5 and Thursday 7 April.

This change was necessitated by the increase in the number of households. Refuse in Stanford South was only being removed late in the afternoons which led to the problem of bags being ripped open by dogs, etc.

There is no limit on the number of recycled rubbish bags which may be put out for collection. However, a maximum of four (4) black bags and one (1) bag filled with garden waste is allowed per household per week. All refuse bags (excluding recycling) are taken to the Gansbaai landfill site, and it does not make sense to fill up a landfill site with garden waste. All remaining garden refuse, branches, etc. should be removed by the property owners and taken to the depot in the Stanford industrial area.

WANDELPAD SECURED A GRANT-IN-AID Stanford Conservation successfully applied for a municipal Grantin-Aid (awarded annually). This will allow the wandelpad team to employ four people at least one day per week to prevent the deterioration of the wandelpad in the six months when the Green Team does not work due to the project’s limited budget.

HOUSING PROJECT Public participation on this project will start soon and we urge you to be part of the process and voice your opinion, especially regarding the proposed town layout which allows for maximum houses and minimum social needs. This will be the only opportunity for you to provide input.

DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN STANFORD ADMINISTRATION AND THE CHAIRPERSONS OF STANFORD ORGANISATIONS: Community Police Forum: Excellent news is that crime has decreased, but dockets have increased due to police vigilance. SAPS is looking for two bicycles to assist in their patrols (please contact Kevin Husk if you can help), so that all footpaths in Stanford are patrolled regularly.

Heritage Committee: • Unapproved building work The Overstrand Municipality (OM) has tightened its management of the building process. The OM has confirmed that whilst its Building Inspector will continue to monitor construction from both a technical and plan compliance viewpoint, it is both the architect's, and ultimately, the owner's responsibility to ensure that the approved plan is executed. Post-construction ‘as-built’ plans will no longer be considered. Please be aware that contraventions are likely to result in prosecution and an appearance at a Magistrates’ Court. This may result not only in censure but possibly also in a criminal record.

• Old burial site The piece of public open space on the corner of Daneel and Morton Streets (opposite Morton Square) is an old burial site.

Stanford Heritage has started to research the history of this site with a view to establishing some formal recognition of its purpose and history. Anyone with information is asked to contact Martin Ranger – ranger@reedcottage.co.za Stanford Conservation: • Work has started on clearing the area between Die Bron School and De Bruyn Street. It is not only overgrown with vegetation, but has become a dumping site for everything from black bags to a mattress, and a hiding place for those with ill intentions.

• The municipality will replace rubbish bins that have been removed (JJ Swart) and/ or perished (wandelpad).

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Water sports On 10 February, Town Manager Petronella Ferreira went to investigate the reported burst water pipe in Stanford South. Instead of angry residents, she found children out in the street playing in the water. The water was switched off for an hour while the problem was fixed, and the children continued to play, making mud pies, and generally making the most of the situation.

Street stream: Kids playing in the water.

New wine in the hood Chris and Amanda de Wit have a little piece of Stanford farm paradise, and on it, they are growing grapes. They have a small cellar beneath their house; it is small for a wine farm but enormous for a private home. And in it, stacked beneath collector's edition pistols, is their 2014 Romance Rose and the 2014 Shiraz. If you are interested in tasting their wines, look out for them at the Sunset Market. A welcoming and witty couple, Chris and Amanda love living in Stanford.

First vintage at Welgesind

BIN DAY Rubbish Day is changing for Stanford North from 5 April. Business, recycling and residential refuse collection will move to Tuesdays from 5 April.

Stanford South residential and business collection, and Die Kop, retain a Thursday bin day.

We do blinds, curtains, shutters, awnings, vinyl flooring, novilon flooring and carpets.

For a free quotation call Burgert at 082 417 5590

SEND US YOUR NEWS

philippa.murray@gmail.com 082 667 0619

news and updates

Truck stop

One of Stanford's local farmers drives this old beauty which he found abandoned under a tree outside the town. He repaired it and installed a V8 engine so it goes like a bomb! It's a 1973 Ford F100.

Stuart Anderson

CPF NEWS

Working for good: (From left) Warrant Officer Blayi, Kevin Husk (CPF), Brigadier Heilbron, MEC Dan Plato and Warrant Officer Booysen.

At the beginning of March, the M.E.C. for Community Safety, Dan Plato, spent the weekend in Stanford meeting with community leaders, including religious and youth leaders, listening to their serious concerns regarding safety and crime. These included: • The continuous uncontrolled abuse of Tik and alcohol which has led to many burglaries, thefts and assaults. • ‘Huiswinkels’ popping up in Stanford South where illegal goods and drugs are allegedly being sold. • The lack of support from Correctional Services in monitoring the town’s eighteen parolees. • The Judicial System, which does not always fully support SAPS in keeping criminals in prison.

In a meeting with the CPF and Brigadier Heilbron (the newly appointed SAPS Cluster Head of Stanford, Hermanus and Gansbaai) in attendance, Dan Plato highlighted the following points of action, information and advice: • He urged the religious leaders to preach the destructive consequences on families of drug-taking from the pulpit. • ‘Huiswinkel’ concerns should be directed to the municipality and to law enforcement. • The Liquor Board will, as from April 2016, be under the control of the Department of Community Safety. • Liquor licences will be strictly regulated and limited. • The Neighbourhood Watch must play an increasingly vital role in assisting SAPS. In support of this, fifteen torches were handed over to our Neighbourhood Watch. • The community cannot rely on an understaffed SAPS to deal with the volume of crime. • The Head of Correctional Services in the Overstrand will be instructed to act to correct the parolee problems.

Brigadier Heilbron summed up the meeting succinctly by concluding that, ‘We, in Stanford, cannot allow a small percentage of the town’s population to hold the majority of the residents hostage.’ Stuart Anderson

đ&#x;? đ&#x;? đ&#x;? đ&#x;? STANFORD PROPERTY SALES Four properties in Stanford were issued with a sale certificates in March. These figures include name transfers.

Canoe Club

In the last year or so there has been renewed interest in paddling on the Klein River. 'A number of experienced paddlers have recently bought property in Stanford,' explained paddling enthusiast Felix Unite. 'One morning in December a friend counted 16 paddlers before breakfast!

People started asking about regular time trials and training sessions.

Then we started talking about local development initiatives using some of the expertise and enthusiasm in our village, and so the Stanford Canoe Club was born.'

At the inaugural meeting in March, the following office bearers were elected to the steering committee: Chris Wolf (chairman), Felix Unite (secretary), Gavin Wood (treasurer), Howard Krut (development academy and safety), Karin Pohl (media/ marketing and membership), and Stuart Anderson (CPF representative), with general committee members John Finch, Jan Malan and Bernard Oberholzer.

A regular Tuesday social paddle, two time trials per week, an active development paddling programme, a dedicated Facebook page and a fun 'Anything that Floats Regatta' are just some of the exciting ideas that the steering committee is working on.

Watch the next Stanford River Talk for more news. In the meantime, queries can be directed to StanfordCanoeClub@gmail.com or phone Chris on 083 455 3605.

Karin Pohl

ERWIN'S Traditional German Meat Products Available at • Stanford Saturday Morning Market • Ou Meul • Directly from Erwin Cell 082 441 5533 • www.erwins.co.za ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR MAY EDITION STANFORD RIVER TALK IS 18 APRIL. Contact Sandra at design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or 079 523 8453

Paddlers: (Back from left) Andries de Villiers, Sean Privett, Stuart Anderson, Lionel Pedro, Felix Unite, John Fursman, Howard Krut (Front) Chris Wolf and Bernard Oberholzer.

STANFORD YOUNG TIGERS

The Community Police Forum is trying to raise enough funds from individuals and local businesses to kit out the local soccer club with sports kits and boots for the players.

The cost per player for kit, including boots, is R500. A team, including reserves, is 15 players strong, which comes to a total of R7 500 per team. If anyone would like to sponsor a player or a team, and challenge other businesses to do the same, please contact CPF Treasurer, Kevin Husk 082 809 3585, kevinhusk@hermanus.co.za or Chareen Volkwyn, CPF Project Coordinator 028 341 0191 FUNDS CAN BE DEPOSITED INTO THE CPF ACCOUNT:Stanford Community Police Forum FNB Hermanus (200412) Acc no. 52470030406 Reference: Initial and Surname STANFORD RIVER TALK 5

news and updates

Hermanus to de Kelders

Sharkman ties the knot in Stanford

WALK AND TALK

Well-known television personality Mike 'Sharkman' Rutzen and Maraika van Wessem got married at the Royal Oke in Stanford in an elegant, country-chic setting. The reception was small and intimate, and they shared their special day with just their closest friends and family.

Mike Rutzen is a South African conservationist, film maker and cage diving operator. He has spent more time free diving with great white sharks without a cage than any other person. He is also one of the few people in the world that can understand and respond to shark behaviour and body language.

Rutzen gained international fame by appearing in a number of award winning documentaries which promote appreciation and conservation of sharks to the general public.

We just loved this trail. It is a level walk, but at 18km, it's pretty strenuous so you need to be moderately fit to tackle the full five hour trail. The beauty of it is you can easily do bite sized portions as there are various 'escape routes'. One would think that there would be nothing but sea and sand to look at but we found abundant bird life, especially on the isolated stretches of beach, way past the dog walkers' route. The rock formations were amazing and magical, and Sopiesklip was one of our highlights.

A note of warning...be sure to plan your walk around the low tide. Soft sand walking is not for the faint hearted, so start two hours before low tide to ensure you walk mostly on hard sand.

Natalie Ground * Do you know the history of this unusual and curious place?

Let's keep the stories alive. Email the editor and share your knowledge of Sopiesklip.

New SRA Committee

Congratulations to the new Stanford Ratepayers Association committee members recently elected to represent the community of Stanford. We will strive to be inclusive and actively engage with the whole community.

Sopiesklip: Perfect resting spot.

Outgoing Probus committee

The committee: (Back from left) Rick Prins, Sidney Smith, Ian Wilson (Treasurer), (Front from left) Lyn Pullen (Chairperson) and Marian Ferris

The Probus Club of Stanford recently held its AGM over lunch at the Manor House Restaurant, Stanford Valley.

This is a club of retired, or semi-retired, professionals who meet each month.

The outgoing committee: (From left): Sarah James, Martin Ranger, Bev Snodgrass and Ian Wilson.

(Absent: Anita Coetzer)

Prowein

Peter Kastner from Stanford Hills recently attended the Prowein International Wine Trade Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. Well done for putting Stanford Hills on the world map!

PROMOTIONS

Prices Valid While Stocks Last.

1-30 April 2016.

All Prices Include Vat.

INVERTER WELDER W/KIT 200A 220V SB MATWE R2275.00

STANFORD DIY - PAINT - PLUMBING IRRIGATION - NURSERY

GROZ PUMP DIESEL ELECT TELESCOP 12DC/AC GRO2168 - R3925.00

Landscaping & irrigation services.

Mon - Fri, 7:30 - 17:00 Sat, 8:00 - 14:00 Tel: (028) 341 0691 Fax: (028) 341 0413

028 3410 691 STANFORD RIVER TALK 6

GROZ PUMP SIPHON BATTERY OPERATED - R253.90

GROZ GREASE GUN 500G LEVER HEAVY DUTY - R399.90

WELDINGROD MATWELD G/P 2.5MM 1KG - R31.90

GROZ GREASE GUN HOSE FLEX 300MM GHC12B - R81.90

Winter Warmth

news and updates

ROTARY STANFORD

Autumn is very definitely here with its pre-winter cool weather. April is the month when we at Rotary start putting together lists of the poor and elderly folk as well as children who will be in need of a bit of extra warmth during the cold and wet winter months. In order to provide blankets (for adults and children) as well as warm woollies for children (a large number of little ones suffer from TB and need to keep those chests extra warm), we need assistance from our very generous and kind-hearted Stanford community. Donations of knitted jerseys or fleece tops for babies and children up to the age of ten would be very much appreciated. Blankets are always needed (the grey ones from Pep Stores are perfect). Of course cash is always welcome and we’ll happily shop on your behalf. Distribution of these items usually takes place in May. Last year we handed out around 60 blankets to adults and children and around 85 jerseys to children. Due to the higher number of children struggling with TB, the number of jerseys required has increased.

If you’d like to assist or contribute to this annual project, please contact Lana on 028 341 0349 or 082 216 4398. Our banking details are FNB, Branch Code 250655, Account # 623 559 796 95 Reference ‘Winter’ and your name.

Stanford Rotary would like to thank all of our regular donors and sponsors of our various projects.

We couldn’t do it without you.

CHILDREN’S BOOK NETWORK

Local homeschoolers reeling with children from Stanford South.

The Children’s Book Network had their first workshop in Stanford on Tuesday, 29 March. Twenty local children attended the workshop, which was held at The Butterfly Centre. The theme of the workshop was music and sounds, and children listened enthralled while children’s book writer, Lesley Beake read a story specially written for the workshop, while Anele Mhlaphlo, a friend of CBN, accompanied her on his violin.

Blaq Pearl, Cape Town jazz singer and poet, sang a beautiful song she wrote when she was about the age of the children at the workshop, and helped the children to write their own song about Stanford. A local home-school group came to teach the children Reel Dancing, and Stanfordian Ellen Osman and her friend Clare Musiska, taught the children a clapping game.

The Children’s Book Network moved to Stanford in November last year, when Lesley Beake made Stanford her new home. The NPO was started in 2012 by Gçina Mhlophe, Lesley Beake and Sindiwe Magona with the aim of bringing books to children and children to books. Since then, they’ve been running workshops in Cape Town and Clanwilliam for children in grades 5, 6 and 7.

A huge thank you to all the locals who helped make the workshop such a success: Willem Maclean for distributing permission forms, Jennie Chancey for arranging the home-school group, and Jami Kastner who generously let us use The Butterfly Centre.

Our next workshop is scheduled for the end of April in Stanford with the theme, Cats.

Chantel Oosthuysen

TOURISM TALKS

Mooiloop: Presenter Denvor Phokaners speaking to Lionel Foxcroft at his shop.

March seems to have been a month of media visits for Stanford Tourism. Congratulations to Mariana and Peter Esterhuizen for the great segment on KykNet's Kwela in early March, and we look forward to seeing the segment on Melissie Jolly's Colour Mirrors in a future episode (KykNet, Wednesdays 20:00).

SABC 2 Mooiloop spent three days shooting in Stanford for two episodes that they are compiling. They will air the two episodes on 18 and 25 April (SABC 2, Mondays 19:30). Thank you to everyone who welcomed them so warmly, and congratulations to those who snagged their few moments in the spotlight.

Stanford also features in a lovely article in the March edition of Go! (also Weg! in Afrikaans). The photographs and story do a great job of capturing the beauty of this country village that we get to call home.

Eben van der Heyde is the EPWP intern in the Stanford Tourism Office. If you have not yet met him, please pop in and introduce yourself. He is also a keen and qualified tour guide and relishes every opportunity to take people on the Historical Stanford Walking Tour.

Thank you to the ten individuals and businesses who donated R500 each to purchase a new laptop for Stanford Tourism. We were in dire need of a new machine.

Stanford is the place to be. Let's all work together to market our village as a whole, as the benefits can be shared by everyone.

Stanford Tourism Committee

Patricia Eileen Norton (aka Nanna Pat) 13 March 1934 – 4 March 2016 Pat passed away peacefully in her sleep leaving behind her daughter, Theresa, son-in-law Beukes (Beatle) and grandsons, Sebastian and Adam. She is sorely missed and leaves a huge hole in our family although her legacy of bravery, wit and humour will remain with us always.

Fly high, Nanna xx

Good vibrations DJ Tess spun the discs at the Royal Oke on Sunday 20 March. Locals and visitors at first sought shelter from the late Sunday afternoon rain, but soon the music had everyone up and dancing late into the night. Pulled pork rolls, local wine and upbeat tunes were a great way to make the most of the Sunday evening that fell just before Human Rights Day.

DJ TESS STANFORD RIVER TALK 7

school talk HOMESCHOOL Stanford homeschoolers have been busy this term with many activities, including Karate tournaments, sailing, musical recitals and the usual round of daily learning and exploring.

We are all proud of Micaela Loubser's outstanding flute recital at Laina Lesicnik's studio.

Tickets were in such high demand that she performed to a sold-out crowd on both the Saturday and Sunday. Well done, Micaela!

A core group of young Stanfordian homeschoolers have been attending the weekly ExperiBuddies science class in Hermanus and look forward to this hands-on lab coming to the village for a larger group of young scientists next term.

Alex Chancey and Rachel Troost, along with several adult Stanfordians, have been practising for the upcoming 'Choir Olympics' in Austria, in which the Pro Musika Koor (Hermanus) will compete. Break a leg, guys!

Homeschoolers of all ages continue to enjoy the many lessons offered right here in our village, including woodworking and pottery with Bryan Robertson, piano with Janika Dorland, music theory with Laina Lesicnik, and even English Literature with yours truly.

Thank you to all our friends and neighbours for providing so many opportunities for our children to learn and create!

Homeschool in the Troosts' kitchen.

Jennie Chancey FYNBOS AKADEMIE Elke leerder van graad R – 6 het deelgeneem aan die Passiespele wat Donderdagaand, 17 Maart by Fynbos Akademie plaasgevind het.

Tydens die geleentheid kon die ouers nie net die kinders se toneelspel dophou nie, maar ook die vordering in hul akademiese werk met hul onderwyseresse bespreek.

Passiespelers: (Van links) Mickayla, Khani, Sitobhele en Justin.

FUNIMFUNDO Break up day was Easter Egg hunt day at Funimfundo. A week ago 52 three to six-yearolds diligently tore, lined up and carefully stuck together colourful magazine pages to make inventive, personalised egg-gathering baskets.

On Friday, while the children were distracted with mid morning sarmies of peanut butter and apricot jam and fruit chunks, Food 4 Thought committee members and What a lot I got: (From left) Babalwe volunteers hid delicious Sadam and Linomtha Kakama.

Easter surprises on top of the slide, tucked inside the rubber swings, balanced all over the jungle gym and camouflaged amongst the flowers, herbs and kitchen veggies that make up our school garden.

The kids ran out of their classrooms, wide eyed with excitement, delving into nooks and crannies to find the brightly coloured eggs and sweetie packs. The older children took the hands of the littlies to show them where to look.

Where did the Easter gifts come from? Well, every year without fail Uli Joost rings up Food 4 Thought and asks exactly how many children there are at Funimfundo and this year she was able to be right here in Stanford and share in the delight of the traditional hunt. To top it off, Penny Findlay and Jilly Gilmour donated heaps of eggs. Yes, I even had one too.

One remark Uli made was that our children did not dig in and scoff the lot but carefully selected an egg, while the rest were squashed into their paper baskets to take home to share with siblings and friends.

And no, the teachers had not told them to do so.

I just love our children.

Jane Dowie-Dunn Funimfundo Pre-Primary School is under the umbrella of Food 4 Thought NPO STANFORD RIVER TALK 8

GANSBAAI ACADEMIA The average of our matric results for the past five years has been 92% which is excellent for a school that is under-resourced. With these results came incentives from the Western Cape Education Department. We were first invited to join the Mathematics, Science and Technology initiative of the WCED, as the ONLY non-fees school together with schools such as Hermanus High, Overberg High, Bredasdorp High and De Villiers Graaff. The incentives we received includes interactive whiteboards, data projectors and document viewers.

Academia has always tutored learners with barriers to learning.

This was formalised in October 2014 when we became the only inclusive school in the Overberg district, with the appointment of a special learning support educator. This means that we can now more readily accommodate those students with barriers such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. Grade 8 learners are participating in a programme to improve their comprehension and reading skills by teaching them thinking strategies. This impacts on all subjects and improves learner’s understanding.

Last year, WCED converted a further 11 classes into smart classes by fitting each one with an interactive whiteboard, a document viewer, e-beam and data projector. The smart class educators also received laptops with pre-loaded curriculum content. Soon broadband will be installed and this will benefit the whole school.

Although local businesses support the school, it has not yet been possible for us to purchase our own school bus. There is a need to transport our learners outside the boundaries of Gansbaai. Currently it is a struggle and expensive to participate in sports against other schools or attend activities such as plays in Cape Town.

We project that 250 new grade 8s will be accommodated in 2017.

At the moment there is room for just 18 places in our Afrikaans classes and 8 in our English classes. We urge you to register now to ensure that your child can attend Academia next year.

SPORT Academia se eerste winter interhuis-sportdag is op 12 Maart gehou, met drie spanne wat deelgeneem het. Die Maroenspan het in rugby, netbal en hokkie geseëvier met die Goudspan wat eerste in sokker gekom het. Die dag het ook verder gedien as proewe om te help met die kies van die beste spanne vir volgende kwartaal.

Op dieselfde dag het ons ook teen Eben Dönges van Kraaifontein, kragte gemeet. Uitslae: O/19 netbalspan wen 23-0 • O/15 rugbyspan wen 17-12 • O/19 rugbyspan wen 32-7.

Drie rugbyspelers, Nardie Groenewald (0/19) en Charlton Job en Aldine Jantjies (0/16) is opgeneem in die Suid-Boland rugbyspanne.

OKKIE SMUTS Please make a note of our second term fundraising event which will be held at Stanford Valley Guest Farm: Art and Wine Auction 13 May, 18:30 Tickets are R100 and available from the school office.

All local schools are invited to send news and photographs each month.

village lifestyle

Village life and ladies' lies It's Karen McKee's birthday and she's throwing out the glossy mags

I’ve long since passed the age at which women stop having birthdays. Years ago I used to be a real girly-girl who derived great pleasure from regular pedicures, women’s magazines and the latest fashions. I stopped reading 'Cosmopolitan' around the time when the feature on 'How to have fourteen orgasms in one night' compelled me to consider the real possibility of heart failure. I found more age appropriate magazines and I read about menopause, how to go grey gracefully and how to dress for my age, and I read many letters from people like Angie (45) and Sylvia (51) who enthusiastically embraced getting older. They seemed a bit hysterical about how cool it is to grow older; methinks they protested a bit too much. Why do we need magazines to tell us that it is OK to have wrinkles or how to deal with everything turning south, when men don’t?

There are only a few types of magazines for men – magazines about cars, hobbies, Victoria’s Secret, and fitness. Nowhere will you find a men’s magazine about growing old, coping with enlarged pores or dealing with grey hairs in unexpected places.

Men seem to amble happily along as if nothing has changed; in fact, a lot of them seem quite relaxed about their 'boeps' and the hair sprouting from their ears like well-watered chives. They don’t worry about age-appropriate attire for their daughter’s wedding, and they don’t bother with makeovers.

This makes me wonder – do men really not care, or does society not require them to care? We are definitely still being held to two different standards where age makes men more distinguished and women merely turn into crones or biddies. Women should stop the age fret. Those wrinkles are there for a reason, and we have to realise that growing old(er) is a privilege and not a right. Both my parents died before they hit 40, and with every birthday, I thank the universe for allowing me to spend another year on earth with my son.

I suddenly I feel much better about my grey temples and growing bunion. And I certainly don’t need a women’s magazine to tell me how lucky I am! So take that, you girly magazines! I’m old, I’m grey and you don’t get a say!

Autumnal treasures

Andrea Conrad trawled Stanford for some pretty things for start of the autumn season.

Pamper set from the Village Emporium: foot cream and heel balm R95 each, candles R60

Cotton vintage nightdress: Animal Welfare Shop, R70 Shoes: Animal Welfare Shop, R40

Flower cushions: Tat R500 each

CLASSIC HITORI

The villagers Simbad Romero only lived in Stanford for two months but this short time was filled with Flamenco music and wine, not to mention his winning smile and charming Spanish accent.

He came to Stanford to volunteer his time during the harvest at Stanford Hills Estate. A winemaker from Seville, Spain, he has always loved travelling and has visited Argentina, Cuba, Chile, California, New Zealand, Australia and of course, many countries in Europe.

He loves learning about wine and getting his 'feet' dirty. He obtained a degree in Chemistry after school and it was while working in this line in Austria, that he got led down the vineyard path. A further two years study converted his Chemistry degree into a Viticultural one, and he now manages a wine farm in Ronda, called la Fábrica de Hojalata.

He has a special interest in reviving ancient cultivars originally used by the Romans, like Melonera, Perruna, Blasco and Tintilla de rota. He is also committed to managing a happy wine farm that makes happy wine. He believes in using natural methods to farm, no chemicals or sulphur, and working the soil

SHOP TALK

to keep the vines happy.

Labourers work for only four hours a day during the harvest so that they can pick in the coolth of the morning, and remain even tempered, which he believes makes more SIMBAD ROMERO delicious wines. Simbad believes in balance.

But his first love is actually music. He is a talented flamenco guitarist and it is quite a treat to watch his fingers fly over the strings of his guitar as both his left and right hands strum and pluck.

Simbad has finished his short stint at Stanford Hills Estate and says he has had a wonderful time working with Peter and Jami Kastner. He likes the simplicity retained in smaller wine farms which is why he chose to come to the Walker Bay region. He has had a great time living like a local and has been entertained by new friends made in Stanford.

He will spend his last two weeks exploring the Garden Route with his mum before heading back to Spain, to work.

Each puzzle consists of a square grid with numbers appearing in all squares. The object is to shade squares so: • No number appears in a row or column more than once.

• Shaded (black) squares do not touch each other vertically or horizontally.

• When completed, all un-shaded (white) squares create a single continuous area.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 9

plant talk

Nuts for peanuts Suzanne Francois Roussouw says it costs peanuts to grow your own

Peanuts are one of the more interesting nut varieties as they grow underground. These ground nuts are easily grown from raw peanuts found in the co-op. It is best to make use of unshelled raw peanuts from the bird food section or, alternatively, some health shops stock them. Roasted peanuts will not germinate when you try to plant them.

Peanuts are a summer crop originating from South America so you will only plant them in mid spring to summer when the soil temperature goes up to 18ºC. The seeds can be planted in pots, but you will need a 30-45cm pot to provide the plants with enough space to develop the nuts underground. The plants don't grow well in heavy clay soils that drain poorly and prefer rich well-draining soil. For container growing, use potting soil mixed with sand.

GETTING STARTED Remove the outer shell of the peanuts, but don't remove the red skin. Plant them in the prepared soil or container covering them with soil twice the thickness of the seeds themselves. Make sure that the soil stays moist to help with the germination of the seeds.

The plants need to be placed or planted in an area where they will receive a full day's sun.

The plant will start developing yellow pea like flowers and will send out pegs that grow into the ground from which roots will develop. Water it on a daily basis.

The peanut fruit will start to develop on the roots and will be ripe and ready to harvest once the plant dies back at the end of the growing season. You need a minimum of 120 days to produce a crop of peanuts during the summer.

HARVEST TIME The peanuts are harvested by removing the plants, roots and all, from the soil and hanging them up by the roots to dry out. Once the root ball has dried the soil can be shaken off and the peanuts can be removed and sorted according to size.

The peanuts can be stored in their shells for a while or the shells can be removed and they can be stored in the freezer. Eat them raw or roast them for a delicious and healthy snack.

By Naas Terblance

nature talk

MY VOYAGE WITH CHARLES DARWIN Naas Terblanche traces Darwin's voyage of discovery

I

was thrilled when I discovered an old copy of 'The voyage of the Beagle' by Charles Darwin. I started reading it and was immediately caught up in the magic of this twentytwo-year-old Englishman’s experience on his travels around the world on this small ship under the command of Captain Fitzroy. 'The Beagle' was only 28 meters long with a draught (depth in water) of 3.8 meters and yet it carried 76 souls on board. The main objective of the voyage was to survey the coast of South America and then return via the Cape of Good Hope. Charles was allowed to join the crew because the captain insisted on having a person on board with a scientific background. He had studied at Cambridge and Oxford after giving up the idea of becoming a pastor or doctor.

'The Beagle' started her voyage on 27 December 1831.

I used Google Earth to trace her route and was amazed that such a small ship could travel around the world with only the trade winds to propel her over

the vast oceans.

I followed Darwin from England past the Cape Verde islands down to South America where they landed at San Salvador in Brazil after a journey of two months. He immediately went ashore into the Brazilian rainforest. He described 'the noise from the insects [as being] so loud that it [could] be heard in a vessel anchored several hundred yards from the shore; yet within the recesses of the forest a universal silence appears to reign'.

They travelled south along the South American coastline for more than 3000 kilometers.

Darwin took every possible opportunity to go ashore.

Captain Fitzroy often put him ashore with some of the crew and then met them weeks or months later at the next port.

The journeys overland were not without danger. At Maldonado in Uruguay, Darwin wrote that his 'companions were well-armed with pistols and sabres; a precaution [he] thought rather unnecessary

but the first piece of news [they] heard was that a day before a traveller from Monte Video was found dead on the road with his throat cut.' At another time Darwin travelled from Bahia Blanca to Buenos Aires in the company of a few Spanish Gauchos (cowboys) and described the animals and landscape of the country, as well as the wonderful horsemanship of the Gauchos and their hunting skills. This journey over 550 kilometres took them 12 days on horseback.

At Cape Horn, 'The Beagle' was caught in a rough sea and nearly capsized but fortunately reached the channel that cuts through the southern part of South America. Here he saw a tribe of South American Indians living naked in the mountains, diving for shell food in the freezing cold seawater.

The trip continued up the west coast of South America from Chile to Peru and Ecuador. The energetic Darwin even took a trip over the Andes Mountains from Chile.

GIANT TORTOISE

The most important part of Darwin’s voyage was the visit to the Galapagos Islands about 700 kilometres from the west coast of Ecuador. This is where he observed that the birds and giant tortoises developed into different species on the different isolated islands and his theory of evolution began crystallizing.

From there to New Zealand and Australia, and then the Cape of Good Hope and back to England, Darwin voyaged for nearly five years. I am impressed by this young man’s guts, sharp observations and enquiring mind. I also got to know him as a sensitive man who sometimes wrote poetic descriptions.

Charles Robert Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist and geologist, best known for his contributions to evolutionary theory. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestors. He published his theory of evolution with compelling evidence in his 1859 book 'On the Origin of Species'. It was his trip to the Galapagos Islands that piqued his interest, and the data he collected about animals and plants on the islands that inspired his theory.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 10

kitchen talk

Simple surprises Bryan Robertson keeps it simple

It is officially autumn; Lent has ended with the celebration of Easter, and that means it is now open season on chocolate. The best way to abuse this magical little bean, is to brew it and sip it slowly and lovingly.

500ml milk 1 cinnamon quill 190 grams 70% chocolate Add the cinnamon quills to the milk and warm gently over medium heat. When small bubbles appear around the edge of the saucepan, add the broken up chocolate and stir until all the chocolate has melted. For extra zing, add 1cm fresh chilli to the milk and cinnamon.

A dash of rum will bring the whole lot together beautifully.

Awesome aubergines To drag the last bit of summer with us, here is an unusual recipe for Aubergine Preserve (Confiture d'Aubergine). Use as you would quince or apple jelly.

1kg small, pear-sized aubergines, peeled, stems left on, pricked all over with a fork 1kg sugar 1kg honey 20g ground ginger Put the aubergines in a large bowl and cover with 2 litres of cold water. Soak them for three days, changing the water every day.

Bring a large pan of water to the boil, plunge in the aubergines and cook them for 10 minutes. Rinse them in cold water and drain them thoroughly.

In a saucepan, mix the sugar with 0.5L of water. Add the aubergines and bring the mixture very slowly to the boil. Cook slowly for 30 minutes. Then, over the lowest heat possible, cook for one hour more.

When the syrup is quite thick and the aubergines are translucent, add the honey and ginger. Cook for 10 minutes and remove from the heat. Store in jars.

wine talk

This is the season for change Tania Weich returns to an old wine estate

T

he only thing that’s constant is change, according to Heraclitus.

The heat wave we have recently experienced has been replaced by showers of rain; the colours of our countryside are beginning to highlight infinite hues of green against a striking purple contrast where the mountains previously posed grey.

On my recent visit to Sir Robert Stanford Estate I noticed how the necessity of change dictated by nature is embraced at this estate.

The seating area has tastefully been expanded at the restaurant yet the menu promises a mouth-watering experience for which the location is known.

The chalkboard menu at The

Royal Oke included lamb shank, roast pork belly, and baked camembert as well as a variety of breakfasts, light meals and desserts. A constant at the locale is Gaynor Bailey who, throughout the years, provides exceptional professional service with a smile.

While the Stookhuis is no newcomer to the estate it holds some interesting surprises. Charlize piqued my curiosity when she explained how 'Grappa', Witblitz and Schnapps are made. 'And you have to taste the Apple & Pear Crumble Witblitz, which Danni makes.' So, I did. And it is de-li-cious! I also tasted the Tropical and the Mango, which was not the overwhelming

alcohol sensation I tentatively expected and instead a rather welcoming mouthful of juicy ripe fruit.

And now for the jewel in the crown. The wine shop also has interesting additions to their range of wine. Firm favourites for me remain the Chenin Blanc, which has a prominent acidic backbone. The more complex Sauvignon Blanc is the ideal accompaniment to a meal while the Rosé is reserved for rainy days and sunny skies alike. In the red wine range, the ShirazViognier under the Cutter’s Cove label continues to impress as a fruity wine with a firm finish.

But now for something totally different! Sir Robert Stanford is

the only wine farm in Stanford that offers Pinot Noir, and in not one, but two different wine styles. Steff Ellett, the wine shop manager, shared the fact that the Pinot Noir under the Cutter’s Cove label and the Pinot Noir bottled under the Sir Robert Stanford Estate label are made by two different wine makers. How interesting is that? The constant is that both wines offer a unique medley of aromas and flavours.

Heraclitus certainly got it right. Based on my first-hand experience, I can vouch that change is good. Throw out your ‘Been there, done that’ T-shirt and go local again because local just got lekker-der.

Historical Stanford on Foot A great little pamphlet is available at Stanford Tourism is called 'Historical Stanford on Foot' which was assembled by the Stanford Conservation Trust. Here are some of the buildings featured in the Historical Walk: HW 10, Erf 425, 1921 This house was originally a barn, built some time after 1880 while grapevines grew down the slope towards the river. Kids used to help Hendrik Taljaard press the grapes by foot to make wine and witblits. The barn was converted into a house in 1921. In the 1930s, Piet du Toit owned this house and milked his jersey cows in the shed near the river at the end of Caledon Street (now also a house).

HW 11 A typical cottage in which a coloured family lived before the insidious Group Areas Act which resulted in the forced removal of all coloured families out of their homes and into Stanford South.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 11

On mangos and marriages

TALES FROM THE SUD

Matt Chancey finds the secret to a lasting relationship

I

once took a geologist from World Vision on a roaming tour of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan, on the border with Darfur. He needed to do an assessment of the climate and soil to test their suitability for agricultural programs.

We drove for hours along dusty roads that were more like ambitious cow trails. All at once, we came upon a large, solitary mango tree in an area dominated by scrub acacias. The mango tree was inside a fenced compound and provided shade for a couple of grass and mud tukels. At the doorway of one tukel sat an old, shrivelled woman smoking an enormous carved pipe.Through a translator I asked her to tell me the story of the mango tree. She sat back, took her pipe out of her mouth, blew a ring of smoke that smelled like a mixture of Latakia and cow dung, and began to speak:

'Forty years ago, I married my late husband. On our wedding night, he presented me with a present: a tiny mango sapling. I was touched by his thoughtfulness.

'For lasting marriages, all the world needs is more mango trees!'

Most men give cut flowers, which quickly wither and die, like their promises. But my husband was obviously committed to a life-long union because he gave me a living tree that could last.

After thanking him for the gift,

he leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Plant the tree tomorrow, dear, and take care of it, because if it dies, I'm divorcing you.”'

With that, she put her pipe back in her mouth and continued smoking.

'Eureka!' I thought. It's that simple! All the books, pills, counselling, conferences, and Facebook memes are such a waste of time. For lasting marriages, all the world needs is more mango trees!

My twentieth anniversary is coming up, so I think I'll fortify myself for another twenty by buying Jennie a...uh...trip to Europe?

SOAPBOX

Travellin’ Man Martin Ranger loses nothing in the translation

Now you’ve seen those articles, the ones where celebs are asked about their favourite holiday destinations? ‘Oh, Paris or Prague’ they say, never Manchester or Milwaukee. When asked if they have ever liberated anything from a hotel they will admit to pinching a monogrammed bathrobe from the Cipriani in Venice. ‘It now hangs in my guest suite’ they boast. Of course, we all know they hoovered up all the smellies from the bathroom and subsequently presented them to a bemused domestic worker as a souvenir of the exotica available ‘overseas’.

And their perfect travelling companion? ‘Got to be Stephen Fry/ Kim Kardashian’ they confide. But they are wrong – it would be me! Sure I may not have Fry’s wit or Kardashian’s curves but I have substantial experience in the real world of economy travel.

For example, I can choose, with reasonably accuracy, from restaurant menus printed in French, German, Italian or Spanish. I can decode descriptions on the Airbnb website: ‘private bathroom’ is not en suite; it’s across the corridor. And ‘characterful loft apartment’ means travel light, there’s no lift.

Also, since I am desperately detailed, I promise that you will never miss a train or plane. My understanding of the workings of the Paris Metro, New York Subway and London Underground will avoid myopic scanning of route maps and subsequent dithering in subterranean corridors.

Experience has taught me that the cheaper the rental car the further from the airport will be its parking lot. So whilst the price Hertz it may not be so clever to be Thrifty.

In Manhattan, I’ll translate your English destination instruction into something the Serbian-born cabbie recognises. And whilst I realise that the smartphone taxi app may be uber alles, it is useful to know that NY cabbies get easily flummoxed looking for addresses where the streets have names, not numbers.

To be honest, I must confess to some shortcomings – not the least of which is that surplus cash is a little tight at the moment, so you would have to fund my travel. And I do insist on separate bedrooms.

Unless, of course, you’re Kim Kardashian.

Bon voyage.

Awesome plumbing service in the village

PlumbTec STANFORD RIVER TALK 12

082 609 0809

plumbtec.info@gmail.com

Cry Freedom The importance of Freedom Day in South Africa No one knew quite what to expect, and many people feared the worst. On 27 April 1994, South Africa held its first 'free and fair' election. Voting took place over two days as the logistics of giving everyone a chance to vote for the first time meant that one day would not be enough. The scramble for everyone to get a green ID book, and be taught how to make their mark finally ended on this auspicious day which we now remember as Freedom Day. Numerous parties were in the running, and the ballot sheets were carefully drawn up so that even the most rural and illiterate would be able to vote accurately.

The world held its breath

while everyone waited to see if South Africa could pull off its first real election peacefully and efficiently. South Africa had been in turmoil for years – first while struggling against the apartheid regime, and then while trying to negotiate a path through the tricky years between 1990 and 1994 with the National Peace Accord and CODESA. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the Independent Election Commission pronounced the 1994 election free and fair. Results were out and the African National Congress had won. South Africa had pulled off the impossible and had reinvented itself. No longer a racist and oppressive

country but the darling of the world with Nelson Madela as president, South Africans had much to celebrate.

The years ahead proved that South Africa was full of promise, even though the road was rocky. The Government of National Unity and finally our new constitution, a modern and liberal document that many countries in the world can envy, proved we were on the right track, and among just a handful of African countries which achieved decolonisation with minimal bloodshed.

Our government has its work cut out for it. We have come so far, and we have high expectations because we achieved so much since 1994.

Making a mark.

Glamping 101 Phil Murray packs everything except the kitchen sink

In the 1970s, people loved camping and would drive to the beach, the river or the mountains with a toothbrush, towel and bikini packed, ready to build a fire and commune with nature. All they needed was a spot to park, and a borrowed tent. If it rained, they had to be sure not to touch the inside of the heavy canvass, or else the weather would come inside. If the tent was too difficult to erect, they slept under the stars.

In the 1980s, the tents got a bit bigger, and campers splashed out by taking along a flysheet to help keep the mozzies out, an awning to attach to the bakkie and sometimes even a piece of shadecloth to use as a carpet!

In the 1990s, my family had to get a trailer to hold all our camping equipment. With us kids loaded in the car and the fridge plugged in, in the boot, my folks packed two igloo tents, a kitchen gazebo, fold-up chairs, fold-up tables, gas cooker and a retractable washline. We no longer planned to rough it, but rather to take shades of comfort with us to Kosi Bay or the Drakensberg.

That's a lot of stuff! But with the difficulties and expense of overseas travel, more and more people are holidaying closer to home, and many of them are taking along their own luxuries, turning camping into glamping.

The gilded bottom line of glamping is to add a bit of glamour to your camping trip wherever you can. Keeping packing to a minimum is not the goal – rather take along a trailer just so that you can fit in a nice carpet, and proper crockery. Plastic cups, enamel plates and plastic cutlery will not do.

Close enough to Glamp → → → → → → → →

Die Dam Holiday Resort, 028 482 1710 Kam'bati River Resort, Swellendam, 072 357 1131 Onrus Caravan Park, 028 316 1210 Our Camp Site, Stormsvlei, 072 419 9933 Strandskloof Caravan Park, 082 721 4381 The Last Resort, Stanford, 082 051 2447 Uilenkraalsmond Resort, 028 388 0200 Vloedbos, 083 359 1505

Here are some basic glamping tips to make sure you are more royalty than rough-and-ready: SWANKY SEATING ✶ You don't have to take your favourite couch (unless you go glamping in your own garden, in which case you should just drag your lounge suite outside). Fold up chairs or plump cushions will do, and a carpet and table will make dinner time much more five star.

A TOUCH OF GLASS ✶ Pack real crockery, cutlery and glassware. Linen serviettes and a tablecloth will create an illusion of elegance, even if you are eating porkies, tinfoil potatoes and 'tamatiesmoor' BOUDOIR BEDROOM ✶ No gaper pad and sleeping bags will do here. Take your duvet and favourite pillow to make sure you get your beauty sleep in your tent.

A Kiwinet suspended from the bough of a tree is sheer glamour, if it isn't yet too cold at night.

LIMELIGHT ✶ Head torches and sputtering candles have their place, but not in a glampsite. Take along solar jars to capture the mood.

It is worth remembering that glamping is best done closer to home, so consider the Overberg for your next holiday. Inject a little pizazz wherever you can, and remember to pack your sense of humour. You will still be sleeping under the stars and communing with nature, and possibly even showering in slipslops, but you will be doing it in style.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 13

health talk

By veterinarian, Dr Olga Koorts

Dr Wanya van der Walt

Foreign bodies

vet talk

That's not dog food!

What is Xylitol?

Sweet tooth superfood

RAINFALL

SUPPLIED BY SEYMOUR PATERSON

Xylitol is a poly sugar or sugar alcohol. Its name is derived from the Greek word for wood/ bark and it is found in many vegetables and fruits, even being produced in small quantities in the human body. Commercially produced xylitol is sourced mainly from the bark of birch trees or from corn cobs. Processing corn uses the natural ion exchange interaction between hydrogen, hydrochloric acid and steam. The waste water is used as a fertilizer to grow mushrooms and the pulp is used in paper production. The extraction process using birch bark is different in that sulphuric acid replaces hydrochloric acid and the waste water is not suitable for re-use. To date research has not shown any difference between the bark or cob xylitol, although the pharmaceutical grade is more refined and contains fewer contaminants than the food grade.

Xylitol is used in many foods as an alternative sweetener; it contains less than a quarter of the kilojoules of normal cane sugar. It has huge benefits in the dental field. In fact, I had a professor at varsity who believed that this superfood would spell the end for the dental profession as we know it. She raved about the dental benefits: an increase in saliva flow, lower bacterial growth, neutralised ph in the mouth – all the factors that influence the formation of cavities. It is also used to prevent ear infection (otitis media) and bacterial growth in the upper respiratory tract as well as inhibiting the growth of candida, which is a fungal infection. It has been shown to have benefits in diabetes and also in children suffering from ADD. As with many things in life there are also some disadvantages.

Xylitol has a laxative effect and can cause irritation in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Crohn’s disease. It has also been linked to arthritis, and gout, and other inflammatory diseases.

It is extremely dangerous for animals, especially dogs. It has been shown to spike the release of insulin and to cause an excessive uptake of glucose out of the bloodstream thus causing hypoglycaemia and coma. It can also cause liver damage and organ failure. An amount 0.1mg/kg of the dog’s weight can cause an incident within 30 minutes of consumption – that is less than one strip of chewing gum. If you suspect that your dog has ingested xylitol please see your vet immediately.

For more information, go to Xylitol.org

JAN

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

AVE

19

14

35

37

104

23.4

22,4

34.1

FEB

17.5

20

16

16

17

18.2

23.1

21.7

MARCH

20

26

28.5

29

25

14

64,7

33,5

APRIL

30

56

53.3

54

48

13.3

29.7

MAY

66.5

83

43.5

55

30

33.2

62.1

JUNE

91.5

88

86

84

139

160

107

JULY

43

56

103

33

91

109.5

89.5

AUG

46

74

125

234

41

52.4

91.7

SEPT

35.5

25.5

73

60.5

42

42.2

56.2

OCT

50

25

111.5

62

36

23.7

56.3

NOV

57

42

26

212

43

49.5

55

DEC

40

23.5

6

5

13

15.7

23.5

YEAR

459

533

708

881.5

629

554.6

STANFORD RIVER TALK 14

Recently we struggled for almost two weeks to 'fix' a very sick dog. The diagnosis and cure was finally achieved by performing surgery involving the removal of part of his intestine. The reason... mieliestronk!

Mealie cobs, bones, dog chews, baby dummies, sosatie sticks, ornamental stones, peach pips, toys, wine corks and underwear are but some of the things I have had to remove from the intestines of household pets.

Owners often offer items to pets as food, chews or toys without realizing the potential danger. Other objects are ingested purely by accident during play or while raiding the neighbour’s rubbish bin.

The first symptoms are often subtle and non specific. Abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea might be intermittent and could also be symptoms of other conditions such as worms or infections. Sometimes we are able to feel the object in the intestines by putting pressure on the abdomen or by using an ultrasound scan or x- ray. The latter is possible if the offending item contains metal or bone. Unfortunately things like mealie cobs or wood will not show up on radiographs and finding foreign bodies in the intestines of overweight animals is difficult – there is just too much stuff around them.

Avoiding the problem of pets swallowing the wrong thing seems fairly straight forward. If you know your pet is in the habit of swallowing chew treats without chewing, simply don’t give them to him. Bones and sweetcorn cobs are never a good idea. Avoid leaving rods with dangling baited fishhooks. Watch puppies carefully and do not leave any chewable or small items in their reach. Do not let Fido roam and restrict access to rubbish bins.

The owner of our patient was lucky. But while his dog survived, he got stuck with a huge bill from two vets and the laboratory. Can you afford not to be careful?

April

– time for a life audit

A message from the Christian Forum

We have progressed into the second quarter of this year of grace, and many folks have been led to consider their lives a little as they moved through Easter. Have we achieved what we wanted? Are we still on track with our New Year resolutions? Are we happy and satisfied with what we have achieved and gained so far?

To do an honest self-evaluation is difficult because it requires an honesty that we do not always like to face. One of the greatest things is to evaluate our relationship with Christ Jesus. This requires complete honesty and boldness, and a real need to discover one’s standing regarding eternity. It can also open the way to knowing the joy of the certainty of a secure future home as promised by the Son of God. Faith in Jesus is the requirement: Hebrews 11 tells us, 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' Have you heard someone saying things like, 'I will believe it when I see it.' My friends, that is not faith at all! Hebrews 11:6 also tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. There are things in life that we just have to grab hold of by faith and proceed accordingly.

If we do an audit of our lives, we would be surprised. A preacher once said we should sit down and write down all the milestones in our lives; those things that we went through, the memorable things, all things good and bad. I literally sat down and wrote three foolscap pages full, and one thing stood out: there were five instances in my life when I should have died, and I had to face up to a deep question, 'Why did God spare me at those times, and what was he saying to me?' To search through our lives in that way does something in us. Take a few minutes and try it. It might turn out to be more than just a few minutes, but it will be time well spent. With this done you can proceed productively with the rest of the time allotted to you by God Almighty.

Reverend Hildie Pansegrouw

art talk

VAL MYBURGH

LIVING SOUNDTRACK

Artfordians

Life is a cabaret, Maseru 1978

Coffee Corner hosted a wonderful evening of Art on 24 March. Local artists exhibited beautiful and eclectic works ranging from oil on canvass and water colours, to collage and sculpture. Artists, friends and visitors gathered in the courtyard to enjoy an evening of art, wine and delicious food.

Andrew Herriot dreams of directing a full-scale cabaret

Mother Nature Art

Tracy Algar and Jeanne Retief teamed up for Tracy's first solo exhibition entitled Mother Nature. The opening was on 25 March and the exhibition will remain open to the public in Jeanne Retief's Hair Design studio (next door to Stanford Tourism) for the month of April.

The weekend of the 19 – 20 March saw our biannual art route in full swing! The usual regulars from Napier, Stanford and Hermanus (thanks, guys) were all there as well as visitors from Cape Town, Swellendam, Struisbaai and Robertson. It seems as though word of our art route is spreading and the new tar road helped lead people to the village too.

Our guest artists brought their own magic with high quality, interesting mediums like linocuts, tinsmith work, jewellery and soft furnishings.

Look out for our Spring Art Route on 1– 2 October.

See you there and join us on our Facebook group, The Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, for regular updates. Liz van den Berg

ZOOLANDER 2

DIANE JOHNSON ACKERMAN

Baardskeerdersbos Art Route

SCREEN TALK

A fabulous farce or a fashion emergency?

We were first introduced to Derek Zoolander and Hansel 15 years ago as male models in the twilight of their careers.

Zoolander was the first movie of its kind and made fun of the male modelling industry.

I loved the movie although it is definitely an acquired taste and not for everyone. If you ask people what Blue Steel is, many fans will quickly react with Derek’s signature pose. Since the dawn of the 'selfie', many have tried to recreate the look, and have failed dismally.

After years of anticipation, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson return as the lead characters in Zoolander 2. Reviews have not been great,

with many suggesting that the actors were just trying to make a quick buck. The truth is, Ben Stiller could retire today and comfortably live out the rest of his life on a private island somewhere without a worry in the world. So I don’t think this sequal was done for money, but rather to satisfy the public’s desire to see their favourite male model once more.

As with Zoolander, this movie has an admittedly weak storyline. People know what to expect and are disappointed that it is so similar to the first movie. This time there are even more cameo appearances by celebrities which at times can feel overdone,

but at the same time shows their support for the first movie.

It’s quite simple: if you didn’t enjoy the first movie or have never heard of Blue Steel, don’t watch number two. I have always been a fan of Ben Stiller and would happily watch Zoolander 3, if they ever decide to make it.

GOOFS: When the helicopter takes off from Thimble Island Fashion Prison, the tail rotor is not spinning.

James Peter Yeats

One advantage of living in a country surrounded by South Africa is that you are within relatively easy reach of favourable music outlets. The essential acoustic pianoforte had been acquired. It is a wonderful feeling to own such a musical instrument to stroke it, open the lid, to admire the contrasting whiteness and blackness and to sit and strike the first thunderous chord. (Incidentally, I was to play that same chord – Cm9 – some forty years later at the Raka wine farm causing my keyboard to collapse, much to the mirth of my JazzFordian colleagues!)

My maxim for Maseru to 'get involved' unfolded with great largesse. Having met some of the cast of 'The Rocky Horror Show' visiting the Holiday Inn, I was even more determined to be active in all kinds of local musical diversions. My willingness to accompany vocalists and participate in off-the-cuff jams led the ‘luvvies’ (or should I say ‘sophisticates’) to arrange dine-out cabarets in the local Maseru Club. Together with a few other part-time musicians we became regulars at weekend supper parties where thematic evenings were arranged: a French evening, a Night with Noel Coward, New Orleans, Porter et al. This continued while enthusiasm was high and so the locals’ entertainment needs were met. However, I had something much grander in mind, but no time to look in the rear-view mirror, it would take time and I had to prove myself and serve my apprenticeship.

The only real source of local entertainment was via the Maseru Players. Top artists did appear at the Holiday Inn and I quickly got to know them. The band leader was the late Roy Peterson and his vocalist was a young jazz and blues singer, Erika Lundi (who has just reappeared in my Soundtrack Life). Val Pringle was a giant of a baritone and he came to Lesotho as a visiting artiste from London and decided to remain. I got to know him well and was thrilled to accompany him on numerous occasions. Frankie Vaughan, the 'Green Door' man dropped in but I realistically never got within a quaver of his musical director. Erika kindly joined a few of my musical enterprises as a guest singer and coincidentally teamed up with me late last year again. The well-known SA jazz vocalist Thandi Klaasen once appeared on the scene in Maseru and easily persuaded me to accompany her in a cabaret at the Lancers Inn. My most memorable experience was when Roy Peterson invited me to take over his position as pianist of his Holiday Inn band while he was up front as the vocalist and occasional comedian.

‘Playing in a real band’ once again revisited my living soundtrack. But this was still not enough – I wanted eminence!

I proposed to the Maseru Players committee (I had already been installed as its Chairman) that we hold a full-scale cabaret and bring together a comprehensive cast of performers, singers and musicians. This was to be a stage show in the Maseru Club theatre. All the available talent would participate and it would be a ‘montage of music’ involving choristers, soloists, instrumentalists, humourists, even a magician, and other specialists in entertainment. This was ambitious and we needed commitment and a deep-rooted willingness to rehearse.

Cabaret ’78 was conceived and serious rehearsals began. We were evolving into a sort of 'in' crowd.

On one occasion a young hopeful theatrical ingénue with a wistful disposition, approached my piano during Sunday rehearsals and intimated to me rather sniffily, probably in a minor key, 'I have left my husband'. My anodyne retort was hurriedly spoken, 'Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to pick him up'. I hasten to add that I learned later that her marriage was at an end and that she would be freely available for rehearsals! Bon chance!

Directing a show definitely had its enchanting moments.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 15

classifieds There is an HONESTY BOX at Stanford Tourism where you can pay for your classifieds. Please enclose the amount in an envelope or design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • cell: 079 523 8453 SMALL ADS: R1 a word

FOR SALE STUDENTS’ COMPUTER DESKS R200 each p 028 341 0463.

INTHUSIASM NATURAL and Organic Make-up orders. p Ruby yokogirls@gmail.com 072 753 8411.

BOXED ADVERT R105

Vintage Beauty pedicures, manicures, facials

SERVICES CAPTURE YOUR 35MM slides digitally. R1 per slide. p Dirk Troost 084 643 4504.

massages, waxes, make-up

DOMESTIC WORKER, p Salome 071 946 1073. Reference Sandra Slabbert 079 523 8453.

Jacolene 082 357 1245, Victoria Centre Stanford

HEDGE TRIMMING / TREE FELLING, p Aidan on 079 984 7646.

Ann’s Kitchen creates home style meals, which can be delivered to your home or self-catering cottage. Meals are prepared with free range chicken / eggs and where possible, locally sourced ingredients.

Menus are available on request or can be found on the Ann’s Kitchen facebook page.

Ann 076 3327 490 • annskitchencooking@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anns-Kitchen/1629489837298579

BUSINESS HOURS • Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 17:30 • Saturday: 08h00 - 13:00

SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar Geysers, Heat Pumps INTEGRATORS SPECIALISING IN: Solar Panels, Energy Audits Solar Electric Power (Grid tied, off grid & hybrid systems) Save up to 40% on energy costs Solar Geysers, Energy Audits

• Sunday: 10:00 - 12:00 • Public holidays: 9:00 - 13:00 CLINIC HOURS • Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 16:00 • Saturday: 08:00 - 12:00 • Public holidays: 9:00 - 12:00

Call Mike 083 316 1872 • 028 341 0028 overberg@setsa.co.za • www.solsquare.com

T E L: 028 384 0637

AFRICAN HORSE COMPANY

FA X: 028 384 0455 gansbaai@arrienel.co.za H O O F W E F 29 - G A N S BA A I.

☎ ☎ ☎ STANFORD EMERGENCY NUMBERS

☎☎☎

Fire & Rescue Emergencies 028 312 2400

079 507 7326 Overstrand Emergency Control Room 028 313 8111 Police

028 341 0601 Sewage truck 028 341 8500 Hermanus Medi-Clinic 028 313 0168 Hermanus Provincial Hospital 028 312 1166 Stanford Clinic 028 341 0933 STANFORD RIVER TALK 16

guided multi-day trails & outrides along the whale coast & through unspoilt nature reserves. +27 (0) 82 667 9232 omstables@telkomsa.net www.africanhorseco.com

Private sale A large, magnificent plot is for sale in Buiten Street which retains the rural charm of Stanford’s farming days, with the convenience of being part of this wonderful village.

SIZE: 976m2 PRICE: R750 000 CONTACT DI ON 082 558 3916 OR di.mohr@iafrica.com

local services & facilities ACCOMMODATION A Stanford Country Cottage Beloftebos Cottages Morton Cottage Mosaic Farm Reiersvlei Stanford River Lodge The Country Cottage Villa on the Bay Walshacres Riverside

.

082 320 0982 082 391 5331 082 450 3970 028 313 2814 082 213 0512 028 341 0444 083 553 0663 082 336 1573 082 614 6322

ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES Maryke Brandt 072 172 9545 Allan Youens 082 903 4432 ARCHITECTURE Guy Whittle Grant Anderson Maureen Wolters

076 113 2741 072 364 3694 082 450 3970

BUILDING Stanford Bricks

028 341 0685

CUPBOARDS Your Style Cupboards 076 222 2063

082 327 6518 COMPUTERS Compuworld SMB Solutions 084 705 6719 028 313 2814

ELECTRICIAN HCD Electrical

084 769 1053

weekly timetable

CONFERENCE CENTRE Mosaic Farm

List your business for just R12.50 a month (only R150/year).

Email: design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or telephone 079 523 8453 ESTATE AGENTS Pam Golding 028 341 0708 Stanford Village Properties 082 893 2282

072 111 9321 GARDEN SERVICES Earthworm Organics

072 825 7534

HAIR Jeanne Retief

072 318 2478

HOTEL Stanford Hotel

082 781 1704

HOUSE MANAGEMENT Stanford Country Cottages Village Laundromat

082 320 0982 072 616 0976

HOME MAINTENANCE Stanford Country Cottages

082 320 0982

INTERIORS Kiwinet Maureen Wolters

028 341 0209 082 450 3970

MASSAGE & HEALTH Stanford Health Practice

082 481 8285

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Klein River Picnics River Rat Boat Cruises

028 3410 693 083 310 0952

PETS & PET CARE Stanford Kennels Syringa Country Kennels

028 341 0961 028 341 0961

PLUMBING Mike Moody

PlumbTec

083 316 1872 082 609 0809

RESTAURANTS 1892 Stanford Spookhuis Barke Restaurant KC's Restaurant Marianas Springfontein Eats

028 313 2814 028 341 0116 028 341 0013 028 341 0719 028 341 0272 028 341 0651

TELEVISION/DSTV Rod Dacre Television

073 160 4495

Birkenhead Galley

VINTAGE & LINEN Lace 082 781 1704 WEDDING VENUES Beloftebos Mosaic Farm Stanford Hotel Villa on the Bay

082 391 5331 028 313 2814 082 781 1704 082 336 1573

WINE CELLAR & SALES Springfontein Wine Estate

Stanford Hills Estate

028 341 0651 072 371 7546 028 3410 841

WOOD

Walshacres Farm

028 341 0685 / 082 898 4889

Tuesday 17:30 & Friday 08:30, Maitri Yoga, Tasha Saha, 076 968 8608.

Monday 09:00, Yoga, 084 685 2641, Viv von der Heyden, 23 Quick Street.

Monday 17:00, Running Time Trials 5km, corner Adderley and Longmarket, last Monday of each month at Stanford Hills Estate.

Monday & Wednesday, Canoeing, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877.

Tuesday & Thursday 17:00 to 18:00, Tae Bo, Okkie Smuts School Hall, Ronnie 083 655 4521.

Tuesday & Thursday 17:30, Cycling, cnr de Bruin & Moore Streets, Sunday 08:00 Caltex Garage David Morrison 082 321 7996, John Finch 082 378 1935.

Wednesday, 18:30, Rotary Stanford Club Meeting, Don Gelato. Everyone welcome. Lana 082 216 4398.

Thursday 18:30 - 21:30 Heal Your Life® Evening Group Sessions 071 382 9033.

Friday 09:00, Yoga, 084 685 2641, Viv von der Heyden, 23 Quick Street.

Friday, Canoe Time Trials, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877.

WHERE TO WORSHIP IN STANFORD NG GEMEENTE STANFORD Sondae 9:00 in die kerkgebou. Office, tel 028 3410 966.

ST THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH Morton St, contact Father Joseph Gabriëls 028 3410588 First Sunday of the month 10:30 Communion (Afr) Second Sunday of the month 10:30 Service (Afr) Third Sunday of the month 08:00 Communion (Eng) Fourth Sunday of the month 10:30 Service (Afr) FULL GOSPEL CHURCH OF GOD cnr Queen Victoria & Bezuidenhout St. 09:30 Sunday service. Pastor Johnny van der Schyff • 028 3410 422.

VG KERK (next to De Bron School) 10:00 Sunday morning. Maureen Diedericks 028 3410 691.

STANFORD UNITED CHURCH, meets at St Thomas Church, Morton St. Interdenominational.

English service at 6pm Sunday. Bible Study, 7pm Tuesday night at 45 Queen Victoria St. Jan Troost 072 3459057.

WATER TESTING

STANFORD - RETICULATED DRINKING WATER RESULTS

STANFORD - RIVER WATER RESULTS

The treated sewerage outlet point into the Kleinriver is at the slipway at the end of Du Toit Street. The stream in the middle of town, starting in the dip in De Bruyn Street, is partly fed by the treated effluent from the waste water treatment works which gets complemented only in winter, by the overflow of the two dams in the middle of town. The two sampling points for the river are thus respectively known as under and above the treated sewerage outlet point.

Determinant (e. Coli) Under treated Above treated Sewerage Standard Sewerage Outlet poin Outlet point (Bridge R43 0-130/100ml (Jetty next to erf 396) to Hermanus) FEB

32

MARCH

Not available at time of print.

32

Escherichia coli (E.coli) – bacteria that is a normal inhabitant of the human intestine. Its presence in a sample indicates pollution from human faeces.

Total Coliform bacteria – is the name for all the bacteria that produce gas and acid from the fermentation of lactose and its presence in a sample indicates pollution from the intestines of both humans and animals.

Heterotrophic Plate Count – is a standard microbiological method used to determine the efficiency of operations to remove or destroy organisms, good and bad, during the treatment process.

DETERMINANT

FEB

MARCH

E. coli STANDARD (0/100ml)

0

0

Total Coliform bacteria STANDARD (10/100ml)

0

0

Heterotrophic Plate Count STANDARD (5000/100ml) 0

0

STANFORD RIVER TALK 17

WHAT'S ON

email your events to design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za

STANFORD • Every Wednesday, Graze Farmers Market, 09:00 – 12:00, get your fresh veggies at Graze Restaurant.

• Every Saturday Morning Market, 9:30 – 12:00, home-made and home-baked goodies, on the Stanford hotel stoep.

• Every Saturday, Haturday, Wear a hat or funky accessory on Queen Victoria Street, and grab a cuppa or do your market shopping while showing your enthusiasm for the village.

• Wednesday – Monday. Don Gelato is open 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed on Tuesdays) Every Saturday evening 19:00 – 22:00, Don Gelato Trattoria serves a dinner of traditional Italian cuisine and Italian wines. Book with Lionello 079 840 1084 or 081 805 7470.

• 1 April, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, 09:30 for 10:00, 10 Church Street Join a tea party with speaker, Elsabe Aldrich, who will have you falling off your seats with laughter. Enjoy divine cakes with your tea and coffee. Wear a mad hat to win a BIG prize. All proceeds go to Stanford Animal Welfare Society. Tickets R120 from Stanford Vet Clinic, Mary Knight and Annie Ranger. Contact 028 341 0984 or ranger@reedcottage.co.za • 8 – 10 April, Conscious Co-Creation Weekend Retreat Bodhi Khaya, info@bkr.co.za • 15 – 21 April, The Whole Truth Retreat, Bodhi Khaya 6 night retreat. Contact 076 968 8608 or maitri@mioja.co.za • 23 – 26 April, Open the Heart and Still the Mind Retreat, Bodhi Khaya, info@bkr.co.za • 29 April – 2 May, Awakening Your Potential Retreat, Bodhi Khaya info@bkr.co.za • 29 April, Stanford Sunset Market, 18:00 – 20:00 For good vibes, friends, food, local wine and beer and goods, join the locals on the Village Green.

• 13 May, Art and Wine Auction, 18:30 Okkie Smuts fundraising. Stanford Valley Manor House R100pp with welcome drinks and snacks. Cash Bar. Tickets availabkle at the school 028 341 0611.

ELGIN • 30 April & 1 May - Elgin Cool Wine & Country food Festival, 09:00 – 17:00. Wineries will offer a unique programme, allowing patrons to tailor-make their experience. For more info visit www. ecwcf.elginwine.co.za • 14 – 15 May, Elgin Mushroom Foraging Event R695pp, a fun day based on all things mushroom. Meet the mushroom fundi, Gary Goldman, and enjoy a lovely lunch in the countryside with a wine pairing with the Elgin wines. For more information contact dre@drejohnsoninc or phone 082 379 2623 www.mushroomguru.co.za

TANKWA • 25 April – 1 May, Afrikaburn, Tankwa Town, Arts & Music Festival, www.afrikaburn.com

HERMANUS

• 17 April, Hermanus Comedy Night, Class Room, Sandbaai Kagiso KG Mokgadi, Yaaseen Barnes and Phil de Lange will be performing at the popular Hermanus Monthly comedy night, hosted by Barry Hilton. R80 pp online booking at www.quicket.co.za or call 082 731 1311 OVERSTRAND ARTS/ KUNSTE For all OAK enquiries and booking, contact Rene du Plooy 082 940 4238/ renedup@telkomsa.net • 6 April, OAK Film Club, 18:00, Overstrand Auditorium for comfort, parking, good sound and picture quality Every first Wednesday of the month, starting this month with 'The Wolf of Wall Street', R30 for members, R45pp • 22 April, OAK House Concert, 18:00 with Zanta Hofmeyr (Violin) and Elna van der Merwe (Piano) • 1 May, Alexander Ramm (Cello, Russia), 15:30 • 20 May, Trio Broz (Sibling String Trio, Italy) 19:00

CAPE TOWN • Until 15 April, Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition, Chavonnes Battery Museum, City Bowl.

• 17 April, Spar Women’s Race & Fun Walk, 5km & 10km, forecourt behind the Cape Town Stadium, 7:30. www.capetownmagazine.com • 29 April – 2 May, DECOREX, Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

CONCERTS • 12, 13 April, Josh Groban Grand Arena, Grand West • 16 April, Ammiel Bushakevitz Piano Recital, Baxter Concert Hall • 17 April, Chris de Burgh and Band Live, Grand West • 26 April, Mariah Carey, The Sweet Sweet Fantasy tour Cape Town Stadium.

• 27 April, Die song wil my nie los nie, Artscape Arena • 29 April, David Kramer: Onder die Spanspekgeel Maan, Artscape Opera House.

• 29 April, Emo Adams: is Duidelik, Artscape Opera House.

FESTIVAL TALK IN CAPE TOWN • 27 April, Oranjefeest, Hout Bay Beach Front.

• 18 – 21 April, Shakespeare Schools Festival, Baxter Theatre.

• 27 April – 2 May, Suidoosterfees, Artscape, Fugard and District 6 Museum.

STADIUM TALK IN CAPE TOWN • 13 April: Ajax Cape Town v Platinum Stars.

• 27 April: Ajax Cape Town v Mamelodi Sundowns.

• 8 April: Super Rugby at DHL Newlands & DHL Stormers v Sunwolves.

• 23 April: Super Rugby at DHL Newlands & DHL Stormers v Reds.

• 30 April: Super Rugby at DHL Newlands & DHL Stormers v Waratah.s THEATRE TALK IN CAPE TOWN • 27 – 30 April, Huistoe, Artscape Opera House.

• 1 March – 9 April, Sweeney Todd, Theatre on the Bay. • 26 – 30 April, Unchained, Baxter Theatre.

Cosy cattery and kennel in lovely country atmosphere.

Qualified dog trainer.

Well balanced diets, love and care.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 18

028 - 3410 961

happy birthday Cheryl Garrod 2 April

Anna Mae Troost 2 April

Marcelle du Preez Johannes Pieterson 10 April 12 April

Dirk Troost 17 April

Paulette Whitelaw 17 April

Peter Kastner 4 April

Fabio & Luca Revett 14 April

Matthew Privett 19 April

Karen McKee 5 April

If your birthday or a special occasion is coming up, please email design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or sms 079 523 8453.

Ansie Reitsma 6 April

Sally Dumont 6 April

Marna Beets 8 April

Tucker & Patrick Chancey Benjamin Chancey (From left) Rachel 14 April. Tim 14 April 14 April & Shannon Hague both 3 April

Abongile Velem 20 April

Adanne Geldenhuys 21 April

William Stephens 23 April

Mary Troost 24 April

APRIL

Qhama Apolosi 24 April

Rachel Templer 25 April

Likho Apolosi 28 April

ARIES 21 MARCH – 19 APRIL

Bruline Damon 30 April

Aries is represented by the ram and is the first fire sign of the zodiac. Aries personalities are suitably independent and energetic, courageous and determined.

TAURUS 20 APRIL – 20 MAY

Taurus is represented by the bull and follows Aries. Taurus personalities are persistent, hardworking and loyal, sometimes even stubborn.

• In the initial Roman calendar April was the second month of the year until January and February were added in 700 BC. It is thought that the name April comes from the Latin word 'to open' and describes the trees opening at springtime. It could also be that the name comes from the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The month Aprilis had 30 days, Numa Pompilius made it 29 days long, finally Julius Caesar’s calendar reform made it 30 days long, which was not changed in the calendar revision of Augustus Caesar in 8 BC. • The daisy, which symbolizes innocence and the sweet pea are the flowers for the month.

• The diamond is the birthstone for the month of April.

DATES

• 5 April 1614: American Indian Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe.

• 9 April 1865: The American Civil War ended.

• 14 April 1894: First commercial movie screening takes place at the Grand Cafe in Paris. The film was made by Louis and Auguste Lumiere, two French brothers.

• 15 April 1452: Leonarado da Vinci born.

• 15 April 1912: Titanic sank.

• 20 April 1889: Adolf Hitler born.

• 23 April 1564: William Shakespeare born.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 19