Volume 75 | NOVEMBER 2011 | Stanford’s monthly newspaper | R13.20
Farewell matrics
S TA N F O R D
HILLS
E S TAT E
Our charming rustic cellar now open for tastings and sales. Every Saturday 10am -1pm. And any other time you want ‌ just give us a call! 028 341 0841
info@stanfordhills.co.za
w w w. s t a n f o r d h i l l s . c o . z a
R43 Stanford
Kiwinet creates bespoke mosquito nets that add elegance to any bedroom décor. Beautifully styled Suspended and Fitted Four-Posters are our speciality. Special discount for Stanford Residents +(27) 028 341 0209 info@kiwinet.co.za • www.kiwinet.co.za • 36 Daneel Street Stanford, 7210
picnics, tasting, shop& play-park 7 km outside Stanford on Route 326 028 341 0693 | www.kleinrivercheese.co.za Weekdays 9-5 Saturdays 9-3 Sundays 11-3
Terroir driven wines
Complimentary wine tasting, by appointment www.springfontein.co.za • marketing@springfontein.co.za • tel: +27 (0)28 3410 651 • after hrs 072 371 7546 • fax: +27 (0)28 341 0112 STANFORD RIVER TALK
letters to the editor
editorial notes
We want more The tragic event of the last week has had Stanford reeling. A void has been left for all who knew and loved Juliet. The loss of such a special person at the prime of her life
Please send your letters to ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or to PO Box 228 Stanford, 7210. 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 Anonymous letters will not be published.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.
brings into sharp focus our need not to take our unique community for granted. Carpe diem.
COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Matric students jumping off Piet se klip in Hermanus. By Tracy Bednall.
MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS Janika Dorland, Howard Donaldson, Sally Hood, Jamie Kastner, DM, Don MacIver, Phil Murray, Ansie Reitsma, Suzanne-Francoise Rossouw, Fred Smith, Naas Terblanche, Bea Whittaker, Aron Gcotyelwa, Tania Weich and Peter Younghusband. CONTACT US Michelle Hardie – editor ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za 079 2911 588 Sandra Slabbert – layout design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za 079 523 8453
Hello Stanford
Here are Penny and I (below left) outside Waterloo Station, about to go and watch a production of the Railway Children, actually held within the station itself! The other two people are Ed and Ellie Carter, both of whom have visited us in the past, at Oak Grove Farm in Stanford. This show has been sold out and was very well done with a `real` engine taking part. We are both looking forward to being back in SA and particularly meeting up with friends in and around Stanford. Although the weather has been mild so far this winter, we need rain in the east of England. Reminds me of similar prayers for rain when we are in Stanford! Stuart Findlay
The Zimbabwean pensioner’s article Riding on a loose rein (October issue) was interesting, comical yet sad. It reminded me of an often told story, probably apocryphal, told more often than not by consultants, young and old, to sweeten up their clients at the start of a dubious presentation. A great American President was having lunch in a posh restaurant somewhere in Africa. He demanded from the waiter more butter. The waiter responded by saying that he had had his share. The great American President responded by saying, ‘Do you know who I am? I am in charge of the most powerful country in the world.’ The waiter responded and said, ‘Do you know who I am?’ and without blinking continued, ‘I am in charge of the butter!’ A wonderful example of the new age consultants referred to by Jane Ellis. Come on, Jane, let’s hear more about the realities of living in Zimbabwe as you move on and hold the rein loosely. Andrew Herriot, Retired Consultant You are in luck Andrew, Riding on a loose rein is on page 19 – Editor
Prizes a winner
The outgoing grade 7’s from Okkie Smuts Primary School recently had a drive to collect funds so that they could try to provide this ‘small school with a big heart’ with a heart-felt and heart-warming farewell gift. In order to provide an incentive for people to contribute towards this fundraiser, there were prizes to be won. These prizes would not have been possible were it not for the generous sponsors from both the Stanford Art Café and the Stanford Spar in the spirit of community involvement. The grade 7’s would sincerely like to thanks these two firm Stanford bastions for the prizes. Arron Templer, Grade 7
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.
STANFORD RIVER TALK
letters to the editor Leave history alone
H
istory cannot be changed. (History Talk: What’s in a name? September issue). Leave the names of things and places as they were designated, as fitting at the time. Want to honour or remember something or someone? Do so by all means, but get on and create something new. The street name De Bruyn was to honour a good man but was chosen to supersede the original Klippies Straat. Not, in my opinion, a good move, and one to which I objected vociferously at the time. My reason was that the original name seemed sensible as I was told that it was there on the bank of the stream from Die Oog that a number of Late Stone Age tools were picked up. Michael Walsh was a prominent
citizen of Stanford. He owned and lived in the house that is now Stanford House. His shop was in the room at the eastern end of this building. A large barn was built across the street to house tools and hardware. This building now houses a shop. Next to the barn on the east side stood a large corrugated shed which was used for drying everlastings. This trade gave employment to a large number of people in Stanford, as the flowers were hand picked all over the mountains as far as Morning Star in the west and Klippiesberg in the east. Mr Walsh’s brother had a large drying shed over the mountain on the farm Glenhart. At the time new roads were being built in Stanford I asked for a street to be named after Mr Walsh. This did not happen
Police help
but I was promised by one of the councillors organising the wandelpad along the river that it would bear the name Michael Walsh. All this is history and can’t be changed. By the way, who was Queen Victoria? Yours in History, Dick Metcalf
We would like to thank the Stanford Police for the most efficient way they handled a theft from our premises in Church Street. The culprit was charged, arrested and taken to prison, then attended court the following Monday. The whole incident was dealt with very professionally and the stolen goods were returned the next day. John and Irene Thomlinson
WEEKLY SPECIALS
Mon: Steak Roll & Chips + a Castle Lager R50 Tues: Bobotie & Yellow Rice + a glass of wine R45 Wed: Hake & Chips + a glass of wine R45 Thurs: Chicken Pie with veggies & a glass of wine R40 Fri: Steak Specials! HAPPY HOUR continues every Friday from 18:30 - 20:30 with live music
SUNDAY SPECIALS 13 NOV: Jumble sale & chicken braai with salads Display tables available at R20/table; Book in advance 27 NOV: SPITBRAAI SUNDAY!! Spitbraai, Salads,Veggies, Desserts & Live Music
• • • •
Tyres & Exhaust Motor Car Service Centre Wheel Alignment Shocks, Brakes & CV Joints
We also offer: Catering anywhere within the Overberg area * Function venue with dance floor * Lovely overnight cottages --- All at reasonable prices --Come fill in a loyalty card and you’ll stand a chance to win a Spitbraai meal & bottle of wine for 2!
VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR REGULAR UPDATES OF WHAT’S HOT & HAPPENING
STANFORD RIVER TALK
tel: 028 3410 115 cell: 083 290 7595 082 326 8933 henniesspitbraai@gmail.com 20 Queen Victoria Street Stanford - POBox 31
tel/fax: 028 341 0104 A/H: 072 369 8264
CRIME REPORT
Bird Fair debrief 2011 The following cases were reported SEPT
OCT
Burglaries: business
2
6
Burglaries: residential
10
8
Common assault
10
8
Drug-related charges
2
4
Drunken driving
1
4
Serious assault
2
2
Theft
8
7
SERGEANT R.J. GOUWS
DRAFT PROPOSAL – WE NEED YOUR OPINION
A copy of the first draft proposal for the enhancement of the river frontage and wandelpad is available for you to read at the Stanford library or a copy can be emailed to you. Please note this is a draft document only, and it is the combined effort of 24 residents, the municipality and the councillor at a public meeting held on 11 October. The idea is to hold another public meeting (properly advertised in the Hermanus Times and/or post boxes) to get more opinions from residents so that we can then start with the EIA as soon as possible. Please send any comments/ suggestions or queries to me at milkwood@maxitec.co.za Bea Whittaker
The 8th Stanford Bird Fair sponsored for the second year by Edward Snell & Co under one of their brands, Stretton’s London Dry Gin, was a great success and attracted speakers of the highest quality in the birding world. Talks and outings were well attended. The Stretton’s Gin tasting was highly successful, lasting well into the early hours. In conjunction with this event we hosted our best yet Bird Festival Photographic competition with some outstanding local and international entries. During the evening, at their request, Random House/Struik Publications launched Volume Four of their Sasol Bird Guide, one of the country’s most prestigious avian guidebooks - further evidence of the esteem in which the Stretton’s Bird Fair is held. Special events aimed at children were held with great success. These included an exceptional hand puppet workshop held at the Funimfundo Pre-School at De Kop, supported by 80 children and an excellent mosaic art exhibition of SA’s bird of the year, the Barn Swallow, produced by Okkie Smuts Primary school. Royd Frith
The winner: Black Shouldered Kite, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, meticulous rip and tear skills by Bridgena Barnard.
news & updates Tragic loss
Stanford is mourning the senseless murder of Juliet Haw, mother of Thaddeus and Jethro and daughter to Terry and Beryl Haw. Juliet failed to arrive to pick up her boys from school on 26 October which prompted her father to go to her house in Voëlklip where he found her. Juliet was a regular presence in Stanford visiting her dad and friends. She was much loved by all who were fortunate enough to know her. At the time of going to press, no one has been charged with her murder and the police are still busy with the investigation. Warrant Officer Jaco von Molendorff urges any member of the public who has any information that could help with their investigation to contact him immediately on 0799 449 632 or 028 313 7000.
Police renovations
We would like to inform the public that Stanford SAPS is undergoing renovations. Due to this process, which is set to last for about four months, inconvenience might be experienced by the public due to the fact that the community service centre as well as all offices will have to be vacated. For the duration of the renovations, SAPS personnel will be housed in containers set up by the contractor. The SAPS building was completed in 1969 and since then has had no renovations or upgrading. This process is therefore very necessary. We want to let the public know that all policing activities and investigations will continue as normal. We would like to apologise to our clients for any inconvenience during this process. We are all looking forward to a better working environment in which to serve the public. Sergeant R J Gouws
STANFORD RIVER TALK
news & updates Ward Committee feedback RIVER FRONTAGE AND WANDELPAD
A successful meeting was held with Stanford residents to draw up a preliminary plan of proposals and suggestions for the river frontage area, as well as all other areas next to watercourses (mainly following the wandelpad). Some interesting suggestions were made. The intention is to obtain as much input as possible by the end of November and then have an official municipaldriven public meeting at which all proposals will be discussed. Once this is done the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process can begin to determine what positive and negative impacts (both social and bio-physical) the proposals could have on the environment. An application has been made for funding in next year’s municipal budget so that the process could start in July 2013. A copy of the existing proposal can be obtained from Bea Whittaker at milkwood@maxitec.co.za. One of the reasons for the need to get the suggestions finalised by the end of November is because the consultants
13 October 2011
are busy with the design of the sewerage pipeline and pumping stations that will be directly influenced by the above-mentioned proposals. The design needs to keep the suggestions in mind, and certain aspects of the suggestions may have to be altered because of the pipeline – especially along the King Street embankment towards Du Toit Street. By working hand in hand with the consultants the pipeline and the river front suggestions could be a win-win situation for everyone.
450 RDP houses
There has been a request to impose more stringent building regulations to this development, when approved, so as to prevent the increase in backyard dwellers and the related social and health problems. The municipality has agreed to keep this in mind, but said the new development will be based on the Breaking New Ground (BNG) principle, which should address this issue because of the integration between the primary and secondary housing market. BNG is based on the cabinetapproved policy to promote the achievement of a non-racial,
Property sales
integrated society through the development of sustainable human settlements and quality housing. More information on this subject is available from the website www.westerncape.gov. za/Text/2007/10/bng.pdf.
OLD WATER RESERVOIR
The old water reservoir close to Die Oog, used for residential purposes for more than 10 years, was vacated at the end of September. In the following week the structure was vandalised to such an extent that the municipality has decided to demolish the reservoir. Plans are also afoot to secure the entire area to protect Stanford’s water resource. This is also the reason why the idea to extend the wandelpad to Die Oog will most probably not be pursued further.
SPEED BUMPS The steel
speed bump at the Mill Stream dip in Queen Victoria Street was removed by request and will not be replaced by a paved speed bump. The reason is that Queen Victoria Street is regarded as an emergency throughway for ambulances and
other emergency services and there are already three speed bumps along the road that slow down the traffic.
RAISED INTERSECTIONS
For safety reasons a number of intersections in Thembelihle will be raised as part of the wardspecific projects for 2011/12.
REMOVAL OF INVASIVE ALIENS The municipality
has awarded a contract for the removal of invasive alien vegetation downstream of the Willem Appel Dam towards the old quarry below the sewerage works (i.e. to the left and right of Church Street). The contract started in the middle of October. Due to pressure from surrounding residents some of the poplar trees will be retained, but on the condition that alternative trees be planted and that the poplars are removed within the next five years. The residents will be requested to look after the newly-planted trees. After the contract has expired, the municipality will follow up with regular removal of any new invasive growth. Bea Whittaker
Two properties were issued with sales certificates in October.
(These figures include name transfers.)
News from Rotary this month
Numbers growing: Rotary Club of Stanford inducted two new members recently, Natalie Snyman (left) and Jeudi Hunter (right). Here past president Tim Hague congratulates them. If you would like to become a member of this valuable organisation with links all over South Africa and the world, you are welcome to join their meeting every Wednesday at 6.30 pm at the Art Café. STANFORD RIVER TALK
East meets west: Seven Rotary members from Kuching Central Rotary Club in Borneo, Malaysia and their wives visited Stanford recently. They were accommodated at Mosaic Farm and had a wonderful time exploring Stanford and its surrounds. They visited Rotary Club of Stanford during their weekly meeting at the Art Café and important links between the two clubs were forged. Here they are enjoying lunch at Marianas.
Cait is thrilled to be selling jewelry made by women with HIV and AIDS. This is an empowerment program from Grabouw called “ I am “ and we look forward to Stanfordians supporting it. If you are looking for fresh new Christmas/wedding present ideas how about monogramed towels? Ideal for light weight posting. 083 358 6365
coffee corner
Caught in the act! Gambling in Stanford! Playing Mahjong at Coffee Corner are Mary Anne, Sally, Adrienne and Lindsay, with Sue keeping an eye out for cheating! Pop in for the freshly made toasted sandwiches to go and a little of Belinda’s delicious blueberry cheesecake. Try Sukazani’s babycinos on your children.
028 3410 340
THE TACKROOM
Syringa Sylvester as a two-year old shown by Madeliese at the Bredasdorp Show. He has just turned four and has been sent to school at Bagatelle Farm. In a month or two, with Laura and Jakes’s training, he will be ready for new little riders. Little jodpurs and boots and hats are available from The Tackroom next to Coffee Corner.
The first person, who can correctly guess which three blondes’ feet these belong to by 30 November, will win a free pedicure at La Femme in Stanford!
beauty and wellness centre
Hair By Belinda
Watch out for the Gatineau Day at Morton Square on the 15th November. See back page advert.
Belinda doing Steph’s hair and makeup for her matric dance. Good luck matrics for your exams. We are thinking of you ! Special for the month of November! Smooth Keritan Treatment R650.00 inc shampoo & conditioner
072 329 7753 Tuesday - Friday 9:00 - 16:00 • Saturday 8:30 - 13:00
Guy says, ‘A Little bit of “this” and a little bit of “that”’
Architects & Planners Stanford Consultants Development
architect & interiors
Cell 082 876 0492 Fax 086 7299 123 guywhittle@mweb.co.za
Most exciting news... I have a new A1 and A2 colour printer. It sounds like an aeroplane taking off and it feels as if I am driving one too but at last I can fly it! Our cottage in Longmarket Str is soooo cute, I just love it! Greg from Earthcote is doing a stunning job with the paints and textures. Tracy is about to tuck into the garden so we should be ready for our first guests at the end of Nov. We are calling it “A Cobbler’s Cottage” info@syringastud.co.za • 082 450 3970 Jimmy Ferendinos from The Linen Drawer put on two very informative talks for local decorators and those in the hospitality business. It took place in Morton Cottage with delicious coffee, cakes and salmon sandwiches from Coffee Corner. Jimmy is one of the few people in SA that knows all about linen and training in laundry skills. We all learnt about what to look for in linen and duvets and how to care for them. Did you know if you use Jik you must rinse it out three times in cold water before you wash? Contact Maureen maureen@syringastud.co.za
STANFORD RIVER TALK
news & updates
The Stanford Cares Award
As regular Capetonian visitors to Stanford, we have became aware of how many people in this small town do extraordinary things for the community for little or no reward. We would like to start an award to honour these special people and to thank them for giving so selflessly to others. To kick-start the award, we are putting in funds for the first three months, and hope that other visitors will join us in future. Please contact us on morreira@telkomsa.net if you want to contribute funds to the Stanford Cares Award. The award winner will receive R500 to treat him/herself to something special. Nominations for the award can be emailed to Michelle at River Talk on ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za Deserving: Congratulations to Sipho Zigana, the first award winner, for his inspirational way of life. Sipho will put his winnings towards an ambulance course.
A bright future
S
ipho Zigana has been working as a petrol attendant at Stanford Motors for the last four years. You know the guy, he has a name tag and always wears a huge smile. We connect with people in this village on a daily basis, sometimes for years and never get past a friendly hello or perhaps, if we are not tearing off to Hermanus to get to the bank before closing, we might engage in a conversation about South Africa’s chances of winning the World Cup. It rarely goes further than that. Sipho first stood out for me a while ago. Asana, my daughter, was off school and we were on our way to the doctor. She was not her usual chirpy self. Asana and Sipho have always ‘clicked’ and there is always a bit of banter while he fills up the tank. After inquiring as to why she was not at school that morning and upon realizing that she was sick, he dashed off into the shop, emerging with a huge chocolate to make her feel better. Well that sealed it for me, there’s something about Sipho. Then a few months later, while at the medi clinic, hobbling down the passage to sneak a cigarette I notice, the paramedics whizz by, all business, pushing a gurney. I do a double take as I realize that it is Sipho, the petrol guy, wheeling the gurney. Big friendly smile, no time to chat. Wow I think! Sipho has a new job as a paramedic, good for him. I get back to Stanford and there is Sipho, at the petrol station. Hmmm now I’m confused. Were the drugs they gave me in hospital THAT strong? Did I imagine it?
So Sipho and I get chatting and decide to meet for a cup of coffee so that I can find out more about his double life. Here’s the run down. Sipho was born in KwaZulu-Natal, in Matatiele. He’s 25 years old and volunteers his time, when he’s not working, to help the paramedics. Why? You’re young; you could be relaxing and having a good time with your mates. Well, he responds, if you don’t do sport, you need to do something with your free time and it’s good to put your energy back into the community, to do something worthwhile and to learn at the same time. To better yourself. So when he’s not working that’s what he does, voluntary work. Simple. At the moment he has so many shifts at the petrol station that he doesn’t have the time to volunteer as much as he would like to. Sipho would dearly love to do his basic ambulance assistance course at Tygerberg. Everyone should know basic first aid. One of the many goals this young man has, I am soon to find out. I ask him about his education. After achieving his Matric certificate, he spent a year doing a Learnership program at Elsenberg College and received his National Certificate in Agricultural Management. He has applied for a bursary from the Department of Agriculture to do his Higher Diploma at the University of Fort Hare next year and has to write his entrance exam shortly. He would like to work in plant production and has a special interest in hydroponics. He has had a lifelong passion for the land and plants and as a young boy,
grew vegetables in the garden at home and sold them to family and friends. When I asked him what is important to him, what his core values are and where he gets his drive from he had this to say. His passion is education. He sees so many young people dropping out of school and his mission is to encourage them to stay in school and get an education. He says that coming from a poor background is no excuse for not getting a good education. You have to apply yourself and focus. It might take you a long time to reach your dreams but you must just keep on trying and never give up. Be responsible and don’t have children until you are in a position where you can provide for them. With children comes responsibility. Sipho would rather be a role model for his friends’ children than have his own while he is young. When he was in Grade 11 there was a man who had a huge impact on him, who encouraged him to apply himself to his studies and believe in himself. He says that one person can have an important impact on a young person’s life, so he tries to be that person to others by encouraging them and setting a good example. I felt enriched after a coffee and a chat with Sipho. It made me question how much I put back into my community. There are so many special people in this village of ours. It’s like a microcosm of this beautiful country. We just have to engage and take the time to talk to people. And as Sipho says, always be positive! I’m with you on that one Sipho. Nikki Miles
Reminder
Post Box renewal slips will be in your boxes shortly. Please fill them in, sign and return to the post office before 31 January 2012 to avoid your box being closed. Santie, Stanford Post Office
Cosy cattery and kennel in lovely country atmosphere. Qualified dog trainer. Well balanced diets, love and care. STANFORD RIVER TALK
028 - 3410 961
news & updates Stanford Welfare Services
Welcome to Stanford
How to get involved
Neil Olwagen and his wife Veronique officially moved into the Pastorie on the 21 October 2011. Life has changed radically for the young couple over the past year. Not only were they married just a year ago (on the beach at Sandbaai), but Neil has accepted, as of 1 December, a new position as part-time dominee at the Dutch Reformed Church in Stanford, and at the same time also a part-time pastor for youth and young families at the United Church in Stanford. This unique joint-appointment has come about after having preached at both churches for many months and after many discussions. Neil says, ‘I feel very blessed to be here and look forward to God leading me into the work that lies ahead.’ Neil studied for both his Bachelor of Theology and Masters degree at the University of Bloemfontein. He is also a skilled counsellor and counsels both parents and children at Hermanus High and Primary School. After completing his studies Neil was selected from among many applicants to take up a position at the Onrus Dutch Reformed Church. Sometime later, he left to broaden his ministry and was invited to preach at various churches in and around Kleinmond and Hermanus. He later had the opportunity to work at the Hermanus United Church which in time brought him in contact with the Stanford United Church and later the Dutch Reformed congregation. ‘It is definitely a calling from God,’ said Neil. ‘I could not do this work on my own.’
We ask Stanford community to please take part in some of our projects.
• christmas Shoe box project Fill a shoe box with gifts for the eldery or children. Please deliver wrapped boxes to the Stanford Welfare Services office. • Christmas Market Stanford Welfare Services has a stall at the Christmas Market in Hermanus during December. Please be kind and donate any handmade items or home-baked goods. • Bags of Love We have a shopping list and bags. If these were filled with goodies and returned to us before the end of November, it would make somebody’s Christmas. • Neighbours help Neighbours Creative Clubs The Neighbours help Neighbours project started with Creative Clubs during September. This involved the creation of puppets and a show from recycled materials. More than a 100 kids took part. The aim was to contribute to the development of the children’s creative skills. We are planning more of these events in the near future. Please donate old newspapers, cooldrink bottles, wrapping paper, crayons and glue. For more information contact Rayvon Joemath on 028 341 0951 or email badisastanford@maxitec.co.za. We will appreciate your help.
New in town: Neil and Veronique Olwagen with family aboard.
Neil looks forward to working with the whole Stanford community. He is equally passionate about physical fitness. In the mornings he works as a personal trainer at the Pro-Active Gym in Hermanus. ‘It offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with people,’ said Neil. Veronique’s interests are catering and cooking. She qualified at the Warwick Chef School some years ago. She met Neil at the Savannah Café in Hermanus where she worked as restaurant manager and where Neil met regularly with parents and those making pre-wedding plans. Gradually their friendship grew until Neil realised Veronique was God’s special plan for him! Now, to top it all, Neil and Veronique are expecting twin boys on 11 November 2011. So please give them a warm welcome when you see them. Kerri Brokensha
The blessing: A special thing has happened in our village recently. In amongst the houses in Adderley Street little vines have been planted on a vacant plot. Carl Nauhaus (far right) the new owner of Willem Appel’s childhood home has planted a vineyard across the road. Minister Ruth Swart (fourth from left) held a special blessing of the land to celebrate new life. Many people gathered for the occasion and enjoyed a skaaptjoppiebraai that Marlene Swart had organised. Janika Dorland who lives in the house looks forward to the stamping of the grapes in years to come. The garagista: Carl Nauhaus stands in his baby vineyard. Plans are afoot to build a garage for the pressing of the grapes. STANFORD RIVER TALK
news & updates
Help Abigail
Successful craft market On Saturday 1 October, to coincide with the Bird Fair, eleven local crafters sold their wares in the delightful setting of the hotel courtyard. The backdrop of the mountains, the majestic willow tree, soft music, the cobbled courtyard and delicious coffee and muffins, all contributed to a country fair atmosphere. There was a steady flow of visitors and locals. The stallholders were very happy with the way it went and are keen to hold more in the future. See What’s on in November on page 25.
A
bigail Hoogbaard is eight years old. She is completely deaf in one ear, has 20% hearing in the other and is so sight-impaired that she can only see about three metres in front of her. She was also born with Chart’s Syndrome which means that she has to take daily medication for digestive problems. She is
not sick enough to be under constant medical care. According to the teachers at Pionier School for the visually impaired in Worcester, she is doing well at school. As Abigail has very limited communication skills, she is receiving individual therapy focusing on teaching her to be independent in the school and hostel; to learn basic perceptual skills; to participate more in activities and interaction with other children and to learn sign language so that she can overcome her hearing loss and limited eye sight. Her mother is a single mom of three. Abigail’s brothers attend the local primary school, Die Bron. Although Abigail receives a government grant of R1140
per month, it is not nearly enough to cover her school and hostel fees. If you can help, please donate to the Abigail Education Fund that Rotary is setting up. Stanford Rotary, FNB Hermanus 200412, Account 62193065416 and use ‘Abigail’ as your reference. If there is anybody who knows of a company/business or individual who can be approached for sponsorship of Abigail’s specialized education so that she can develop to her full potential, please contact Ansie (082 3200 0982). In this case a separate bank account will be opened that will operate independently from Rotary.
business talk
Finance matters
To have or not to have – that is the question
T
hese days there is a lot of discussion about the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. The only way to join the ‘haves’ is through education and hard work. Most of our population do not realize that education is in itself a lot of hard work and having attained a certain level of education one realizes that it is an ongoing process – ongoing until the day you die. However being a ‘have’ is always relative. A friend of mine has a Rolex watch (notice me slipping toward the ‘have nots’ already). Anyway it so happened that about three years ago he needed to have another link put into the strap – the single link in his watch strap cost him the equivalent of R9 000! (slipping ...) Still muttering about the cost of a single link he happened to visit another jeweller last month and mentioned the exorbitant price he had paid. The jeweller replied that he must have bought it about three years previously as the current price is the equivalent of R20 000. I am definitely a ‘have not’ on
the Rolex scale! My disillusionment only increased recently when I read that R400 million is being spent on ‘upgrading’ certain presidential residences. This definitely reinforces my ‘have-not’ position, along with every other South African citizen. Most of us reading this fall into the ‘have’ category by local standards. All of us have skills in reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic and we have been able to at least start the climb up the ladder into ‘have’ territory. Redistribution only adds us to the ‘have nots’ without creating any ‘haves’. The challenge the country faces is to install a work and learning ethic into a population of ‘have nots’ who have developed a ‘gimme’ and ‘you-owe-me’ mentality. The Old Boar PS My spell checker substituted ‘rioting’ for ‘riting’ above. Makes me realize I have another skill to learn
SPECIALS
STANFORD DIY - PAINT - PLUMBING IRRIGATION - NURSERY - ATM Landscaping & irrigation services. Mon - Fri, 7:30 - 17:00 • Sat, 8:00 - 14:00 Tel: (028) 3410 691 • Fax: (028) 341 0413
028 3410 691 STANFORD RIVER TALK 10
• Hydrangeas 15cm R39.95, 17cm R52.95, 25cm R 107.95 • Petunia 6pk R16.95 • Perennial Petunia R 34.95 • Double Petunia’s in hanging baskets R51.95 • Impatient 6pk R18.95 • Tomato 6pk R14.95 • Basil 6pk R14.95
Green Genie Home Composter R475.95
Gardeners Gold dust R29.95 Ludwig’s Copper Count R36.95 Hydrangea Food 500g R49.95
Garden Talks 16 Nov, 15:00: Xmas in Stanford. Home-made garden gift ideas. 24 Nov, 15:00: The basics on how to fertilize your garden.
Orbit Kool-Kit R343.95
sport talk
At the finish
Send us your sport news, we want to hear all about it! Email ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za
Time trials begin
The Stanford Striders had their inaugural 5km time trial run on Monday 24 October. Times were slow for some of the fitter and faster runners as everyone ran together to learn the route which Stewart Alcock had marked out and measured. Everyone is welcome to join including walkers. The Stanford Striders meet every Monday, at 6pm corner of Adderley and Longmarket Street. Kind thanks go to time keeper Andrew Herriot. Medal holders: Jannie du Toit and Sarah Gordon after the Gun Run in Cape Town. Gun Run Cape Town 21.1km: Sarah Gordon 1:38:38 5km: Jannie du Toit 24:57
Times 5km 24 October: Manie Robinson 30:00; Andre Erasmus 30:06; Tayana Squires Dorland 30:09; Peter Fosseus 30:10; Anna Tomlinson 30:30; Maaike Heger 30:40; Stewart Alcock 32.25; Janika Dorland 31:08; Indica Squires 31:08; and Michelle Hardie 32: 25. 1 November: Manie Robinson 21:20; Peter Fosseus 24:37; Anna Tomlinson 26.59; Cal Tomlinson 29:02; Stewart Alcock 27:28; and Michelle Hardie 32:49.
Voet of Africa Bredasdorp 10km: Jannie du Toit 57:49 21.1km: Manie Robinson 1:32:31 Sarah Gordon 1:43:36 (second Master Woman 40+) 42.2km: Andries de Villiers 5:01:35.
BERG & BEACH
Recently nearly 100 trail runners competed in a two-day stage run which is set to become a regular feature during the Whale Festival. On Day 1 they set off on a 22km coastal run from De Kelders to Fernkloof Nature Reserve in Hermanus. It coincided with the low tide and included a swim across the Klein River lagoon mouth before running alongside the Mossels River trail. On Day 2 the runners lined up for a tough and scenic, 27km mountain run on the trails of Fernkloof Nature Reserve. Congratulations to Sean Privett who came fourth overall.
Enthusiatic exercisers: at the inaugural run were (from left to right) Indica Squires, Janika Dorland with Oscar, Tayana Dorland, Maaike Heger, Peter Fosseus, Andre Erasmus, Manie Robinson, Stewart Alcock (behind), Michelle Hardie and Anna Tomlinson.
STANFORD RIVER TALK 11
nature talk
heads & tales . . .
life on a small game farm
By Sally Hood
L
ast month we had some rather different visitors to the farm – 68 pupils from Okkie Smuts School in Stanford. What a pleasure this was! With their bright little faces and eager enthusiastic questions, we were all amazed at how well-mannered and obedient they were. Jack, the bontebok, had to be incarcerated in his section of the garden, much to his displeasure. He would much rather have been rushing around with the children! The Blacksmith plovers are nesting at the base of the main dam wall and are aggressive protectors of their eggs. No matter the size of an intruder, they make stridently noisy aerial attacks on the offender which more often than not has the required effect. It takes a brave man or beast to venture too close to the nest! Tigger, the vertically challenged Jack Russell, has been so intimidated that he barely ventures out of the gate anymore! Jack takes up residence outside our fence every evening just waiting for a walk and a maize-munch. He is often joined by Emily, the female bontebok and her baby. They see
Jack’s easy familiarity and come ever closer to the house and to us on our walks. The baby in particular is learning to trust us which is a great honour and such a precious gift. We hope that it is not just male hormones starting to kick in early, and that the young male is already feeling protective of his mum! There are at least two new baby springbok secreted away amongst the long grass. The little puff-balls that seem to get blown across mums keep them well away from the herd the dam rather than swim with any intent. for a week or two until they are stronger and She has proved to be a sensible and diligent totally mother as she has not lost one so imprinted Mrs Black Duck proudly produced far. This despite the presence of on her. 13 multi-coloured babies two weeks the resident spotted eagle owl that One set ago; tiny little puff-balls. . . perches nightly on our roof looking of tan for tasty morsels! As I write I see legs with she is giving them ‘ducking and a white bottom looks very much like another diving’ lessons, their fluffy bottoms up in the when you are only two feet high! Already they air, little legs flailing. It brings to mind that can be seen pronking on their spindly little wonderful quote from Wind in the Willows by legs. This is mainly a juvenile and sub-adult Kenneth Graham. behaviour in springbok; adults rarely pronk. It is thought that this is an orientation technique ‘All along the backwater, in inexperienced animals. Through the rushes tall. Mrs Black Duck proudly produced 13 Ducks are a–dabbling, multi-coloured babies two weeks ago; tiny Up tails all!’
Know your African tree essences The Wild Olive Tree of Faith The wild olive essence may be useful in times of need, despair or exhaustion – when fortitude, strength and protection are required. A good essence to use when you are feeling overloaded. The wild olive can assist in vocalizing your feelings as this essence also resonates with the throat chakra. For further information about this tree essence, please visit www.africantreeessences.co.za.
Made in the traditions of the Bach Flower Remedies, the African Tree Essences are created from the flowers of the main tree species of Platbos – an ancient forest growing in the Uilenkraal Vallei between Gansbaai and Stanford. Known as vibrational remedies, the essences work primarily on the emotional, mental and spiritual bodies where they assist us to release thought patterns, beliefs or emotions that no longer serve us. In this way they can assist us to experience greater well-being and harmony in our lives. Unlike essential oils, flower essences are not aromatic and are safe to take internally. Essences enhance other forms of healing and can work well too on animals and plants.
STANFORD RIVER TALK 12
nature talk
NIGHT SKY
T
his is the time of year that our galaxy lays itself down along the western horizon just after dark. There is hope for some clear skies. The best viewing will be in the second half of the month, about 9pm when the moon isn’t in the sky. Looking north you’ll see the ‘Square of Pegasus’. These four stars mark out the body of the mythological horse Pegasus, which can be imagined clearly with its
By Fred Smith, Astrophysicist
Frog of the month
body, neck, head and front and back legs, although the back legs are the main stars of the constellation of Andromeda. Unfortunately, the great Andromeda galaxy, the furthest object that can be seen with the naked eye, does not get very high in our skies. It’s about 27½ million, million, million kilometres away, containing half as many stars again as our Milky Way. Like the Milky Way it has its own smaller
‘companion’ galaxies. Right ‘next door’ to that bright object isn’t a star. It’s the planet Jupiter which will be the brightest object in our night sky (apart from the moon) for the next few months. On the other side of the sky at sunset, as November goes on, Venus will appear more and more prominent as the Evening Star just after sunset.
Birds, tits and chicks
Naas Terblanche is a frog fundi. Here he shares his knowledge of these extraordinary amphibians
The Stanford Stretton’s Bird Fair has come and gone but the birds are here to stay filling the Stanford air with their tuneful calls. Here Cath Croxton tells us about birds in Kazakhstan, our feathered friends and those of a very different kind …
The frog of the month November is the Raucous Toad (Bufo rangeri), ‘lawaaiskurwepadda’.
I This frog occurs from the Western Cape up to the northern part of South Africa, but not in the drier western part. The name of this frog is really very descriptive of the impression it makes, because you can hardly imagine a noisier frog. The call of the males is a rasping sound, nearly like the quack of a duck, made at a rate of about two per second. Females favour males with a faster call rate. The Raucous Toad is thickset, robust and has a blunt snout. The top of the snout is usually an even brown with no markings on it. A solid bar usually runs behind the eyes from one side to the other. The feet are slightly webbed between the toes. The whole upper body of the Raucous Toad is covered with wart-like elevations and has irregular dark patches on the skin. The underside has a dirty white leathery skin. The maximum size of the Raucous Toad female is 115mm. Males are slightly smaller. Just like the Leopard Toad, this toad spends most of its life hunting on dry land (mostly insects) and only comes to dams and streams to breed. They have a long breeding season. You can hear them call from October to February. The females lay thousands of eggs in double jelly strings. It takes about two to three months for the tadpoles to develop into small toads. You are welcome to visit our wine tasting room at Vaalvlei farm, where we have a permanent audio-visual display of local frogs. www.vaalvlei.co.za
am no birder or twitcher or even much of an avid follower. But it is safe to say that there are plenty of birds of one kind or another in Kazakhstan. In the spring they wake us up in the morning with their tuneful chirps – and in the winter they fight outside our kitchen window for the peanuts we kindly hang in a feeder. When we first came we were delighted to see some of our old favourites from back in England. There were blackbirds, and great tits, and thrushes and an unsightly dominance of crows and magpies. It was possible to walk in the parks in the centre of the city and feed pigeons for the day, along with the other interested visitors and their small toddling children. We noticed hawks in the mountains and, of course, sparrows galore. It was even possible to see the occasional golden eagle on the arm of an ever hopeful peddler with a camera in some of the tourist spots on the way to the ski run. They even have the eagle as the emblem in the centre of the Kazakhstan flag – a symbol of freedom I was once told. Last June we saw a hoopoe out on the steppe. We were amazed. Hoopoes are African birds – or at least in our mind. But apparently they migrate here from Arabia for the summer, and disappear long before the frost and snow sets in. However, as the time went on, we began to wonder if that was it. We installed our bird feeder in the hope of seeing something more unusual but the only visitors were the gregarious great-tits. We longed for something different. We tried putting out different foods such as bread and
chunks of animal fat but nothing changed. As part of my work I interview people to assess their level of English, and the topic of birds sometimes comes up. I wait hopefully for a response that will widen my knowledge about birds and Kazakhstan but it never comes. I am usually told that there are very few birds in Kazakhstan and that people don’t care about them either. And then, just as we were giving up hope, this month our fortunes changed and a new variety of bird came to live in the house next door. They are not necessarily the kinds of birds you would expect. They don’t sing sweetly early in the morning, although at 3.00am they have been known to shriek rather excitedly. They do like to hang in the garden during the day but usually on the back of a car seat with their legs draped seductively out of an open door. But we can no longer complain about the lack of colour in our local environment. The clothes are bright and cheerful, and the styles are diverse, if not eclectic. The only issue we have is the purpose of their visit – something to do with visiting Russian businessmen and it seems our landlord has called the police so they will soon be migrating to another garden/location, and we will be back to our magpies and greattits.
STANFORD RIVER TALK 13
Farewell Stanford Matrics The last year of our school career is over and with the final stretch underway everyone is busy finalising things for next year. Our Matric Farewell was an amazing party and now we are studying hard for finals. Stanford has quite a few Matric learners this year and after exams most of us have big changes ahead of us! Although many tears have been shed, much celebration has been had too! Here a few share memories of school and their plans for the future. Compiled by Morgan Armanni
Sarah Atkinson is going to Varsity College next year to study Public Relations with the aim of going into event planning one day. ‘I don’t have one specific memory that stands out from high school but all the amazing moments with my friends made school bearable.’ Denver Du Plessis is taking a gap year next year to find out what it is he wants to do.
Thomas Bednall (with his parents Nic and Tracy) has been accepted to the Western Province Rugby Academy and will be joining them early next year. ‘Winning the Classic Clash against Hawston was my most memorable moment in high school, a moment that will stay with me forever.’
William Whitelaw with his Matric Farewell date Nita. He is going to UCT to study Mechanical Engineering next year.
Johan de Villiers and Kara Kotze ready for the dance. Johan is going to Ladysmith in the Cape Province to do a wildlife course at a nature college. DuPreez Wessels is going to Stellenbosch University next year to study a LLB in Law. Here he is off to the Martic Farewell with his partner. STANFORD RIVER TALK 14
Mariska Kammies with her dad. She looked beautiful at the Matric Farewell.
‘Things come to an end to make way for a new beginning’ Unknown
Johnwin Diedericks and Stephanie Dreyer partnered each other to the farewell. Dit was ‘n ongelooflike jaar en ek kan nie eintlik enigiets uitsonder nie. My deelname in die Melodrama en Revue was maar net n klein deel van ‘n ongelooflike jaar. Ek beoog om BSc in Menslike Wetenskappe of BA in Maatskaplike werk aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch te studeer.
Johnwin’s favourite memories of school are the Matric Farewell and also just spending time with his friends at school. ‘I’m going to miss them so much next year.’ He sent in this inspirational quote, ‘To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.’ Anatole France
Stephanie has good memories of the schoolplay. She wants to study science or social services in the future. Her favourite quote is, ‘What we are is God’s gift to us, what we become is our gift to God.’ Eleanor Powell
Chris Du Toit is excited to be joining the Sharks Rugby Academy next year in Durban. His best memory from high school is winning the Inter-Schools earlier this year. Seen here is Mariska Buitendag who went with him to the Matric Farewell Dance.
Morgan Armanni is going to the UK next year and hopes to study Speech and Language Therapy at UCT when she returns. Her fondest memory of high school is her last few days of school with all her friends and jumping into the sea on the last day! STANFORD RIVER TALK 15
school talk
Congratulations to Jurie-Jan Swart for being selected deputy Head Boy for 2012 at Hermanus High.
Die Bron School trip
Grade 5 learners went on a three-day camp sponsored by SANPARK and Pick ’n Pay. They had the opportunity to learn about the biodiversity of the Agulhas Plain and nature conservation. It was an enriching experience for them and has inspired them to respect our planet.
Happy campers: (back from left to right) Chantel Block, Magdalene Prins, Ricaydia Pieters, JuanLee Swart, Vuyo Sigwiji, Alvino Booysen, Marcwin Tobias, Ruwyda Phillips, Aneshia Dunsdon, Jonelle Tieras, Juandre Kammies, Vuyiseka Sigwiji and LoAnn Adendorf. (middle from left to right) Bijornique Abrahams, Catelin Aploon, Rineez Ali, Arochane Maarman, Faren Pieters, Jamie-Lee Stompies, Jody Cornelius, Ncedisa Mangcotywa, Destiny Prins, Wildre Dam, Fa-eem Dam, Sharlrique Dreyer, Kaywin May, Deidre Dramat, Michaela Januarie, Raywaan Herman and Shireen Julies. (front from left to right) Ruwyda Phillips, Amy Rooi, Kaylin Plaatjies, Jerenicka Maklein, Alacia-Ann Kapot, Alvirno de Jager, Vuyo Sigwiji, Candice Phillips, Keano Williams, Caylin Meyers, Bradley Mcklein, Mej. C. Jacobs, (teacher) and Nolan October.
OKKIE SMUTS School band rocks
Time for rhyme: Learners from die Bron participated in the Poetry and Rhyme Festival of the Overberg District held at Grabouw on Saturday 15 October 2011. (from left to right) Leandra Swart, Gordon Phillips, Ms. Isabel Loff (Grade 3 educator), Curlain Plaatjies and Lerato Hermanus. Ms. L.E. Bolani (Grade 3 educator) and Nwabisa Khumsha are absent from the photograph.
Do you know that Stanford Rocks! And we have a great rock band that needs our support now! The band hails from Okkie Smuts School under the guidance of band master, manager, mentor, teacher, roadie and friend Gerrie Geldenhuys who played lead guitar when I met the band and they rocked! The band was established by Gerrie in 2006 and consists mainly of Grade 7’s and so the members change every year when the pupils leave to go to high school. There are currently eight members in the band, and they play Hotel California by The Eagles, Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd, Paranoid by Black Sabbath, A Cup of Coffee by Mike and the Mechanics and Midnight Special by Creedence Clearwater Revival. The hairs on my back stood up (I was schooled in the sixties) as I tried to photograph these young rockers and capture their talent, enthusiasm and zest for life. They reminded me of seeing my idol Neil Young live in 1982 in Italy in a packed stadium of some 70 000 fans. Here I was seeing an emerging young rock band in a courtyard ‘live’ in Stanford, with a few friends, fans, and parents trying to raise funds at ‘Poor Mans Grub’, a venue in Stanford, for an upcoming end of year tour (5 – 8 December 2011) where they will be performing at schools in Napier, Bredasdorp, Struisbaai and Agulhas. The band would like to say a big thank you to Rotary who have been their biggest sponsor thus far and both myself and my wife, Paulette, who are new residents to Stanford would urge you all to come to the next ‘Poor Mans Grub’ and rock to Stanford’s School of Rock 2011. In closing I will leave you with: ‘Please Sir I want some more’ – Oliver Twist Peter Whitelaw
Okkie Smuts kinderbasaar Teacher honoured: We are delighted to announce that Ms Chimene Jacobs was the district winner of The National Teaching Awards and will compete in the provincial competition. This is an exceptional achievement for Die Bron. Ms Mariska Viljoen was the runner up. (from left to right) Ms M. Viljoen, Sybill October (Head Mistress) and Chimene Jacobs. STANFORD RIVER TALK 16
Pret vir oud en jonk Opvoerings * kinderkuns verversings * stalletjies en vele meer . . . 3 Desember by Okkie Smuts Skool
garden talk
By Suzanne-Francoise Rossouw
It’s nearly summer – water wisely All plants from large trees, shrubs and vegetables need to receive sufficient watering. Fast growing plants and containerized plants normally require more water than plants that have been established in the soil for many years. Sandy soils require more water than clay or loamy soils. Here are some pointers to help water your garden more efficiently.
Tips
• Do the finger test to check the soil moisture before watering. •Water to the root depth of each plant. •Water slowly and gently to make sure the water does not run away. •Make sure to water deeply to make the moisture last longer and encourage plants to root deeper. Try to water 15-20 cm deep at a time. •Mulch around plants to help keep soil moisture in. •Water early in the day to prevent plant disease problems and water from evaporating too fast •Avoid over-head watering. •Do not water when plants are dormant. •Water under mulch. •Plant thirsty using plants close together to help them all benefit from watering. •Arrange plants according to your water needs. • Avoid shallow watering as it can cause the soil surface to form a hard crust preventing any water or air from reaching the plant roots. •Enrich soils with organic matter to help retain moisture better. •Avoid watering on windy days unless it’s really necessary. Congratulations to Elsa Gebhard for winning third place in the environmentally-friendly category in the 2011 Overberg Agri Gardening Competition. Perfect Gardens 1. Louisa Arends (Caledon) 2. Jan Ali (Klipdale) 3. Emma Andrews & Annie Jaars (Caledon) Water-wise Gardens 1. Patricia Blom Vermeulen (Struisbaai) 2. Dannie Du Toit (Rietpoel) 3. Herman Bredell (Napier) Environmentally-friendly Gardens 1. Annette Vorster 2. Liz Hitge 3. Elsa Gebhard
Specialised: focal point 1. Ensten & Babs Steyn 2. Dina & Willem Kaptein 3. Pieter Stofberg (Werner Jacobs) Garden with most potential Christo van Zyl (De Kelders) Living Heart Dannie Du Toit (Rietpoel) Green Heart Franklin Peterson and school boys Duren Kloppers, Chadwin Kloppers, Elgado Jacobs and Tiaan Adolph from Caledon created a community garden.
Waste water In recent times it has becomes necessary to make use of waste water from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom to water gardens (effluent water should be avoided). This is also one way to bring your water bill down. However, grey water contains soaps, detergents and oily substances so it is necessary to filter it before it enters the garden soil. The easiest way is to use a muslin cloth or old pair of pantyhose at the end of your hosepipe. You can also send the water through an eco filter letting the water run through a container with bog plants, soil and gravel before entering the garden. If possible try to alternate between clean and recycled water every so often to prevent the buildup of salts and other chemicals in the soil. Work lots of compost into the soil to help breakdown the salts and other chemicals. It is best to use recycled water on lawns and shrubbery and not your veggie patch. It’s also important to apply the grey water to the soil only and not onto plant foliage. Rain water In the rainy season, try to collect rain water from the roof as a reserve for the dryer months. Luckily for us rain water is still free and is much healthier for plants as it contains nutrients and does not cause the white buildup on the leaves as is the case with our local municipal water. Collecting rainwater is a very easy task and you can be really inventive. A simple way is to connect a water tank to the downpipe coming from the roof. You can also try to link the downpipe to a pond or underground storage tank. I have heard of people connecting the downpipe to the pool and filling it up. This water source can be connected to a small pump and used to irrigate the garden with the existing irrigation system.
Methods of watering • Watering can – in drought conditions this is the best method to ensure that you do not waste water and it’s a good way to exercise. • Trench irrigation is mostly used in vegetable gardens as a form of deep watering. Trenches are dug next to plants and filled with water. •Flood irrigation – flooding areas with lots of water. •Sprinkler systems are useful, but very wasteful especially in windy conditions •Drip irrigation can be used to water each plant individually and penetrates deep into the soil. • Quick drip – making use of perforated hose between the rows of plants. You can make your own by piercing small holes into rubber and plastic pipes. • Seep hoses are made of porous black rubber pipe and allow water to seep into the soil slowly. This is an economical form of watering where the pipes are normally covered with mulch to help keep the moisture in.
STANFORD RIVER TALK 17
art & culture
Aron’s word
Playing By Ear Andrew Herriot educates and entertains
Diamonds always come in the small packages Good people, I must say ‘Festive greetings to all of you’. November is a beautiful month, 2011 is a good year. Wow! Why should I not dedicate this month’s column to my beautiful girlfriend, Ntomboxolo Jacob, and to me; it is her birthday on 13 November and I turn 30 on 14 November. I‘ll be ending the calendar month healthy, successful and unmarried. Please, sing a Happy Birthday song to me and my girlfriend. I would like to thank those of you who phoned me to comment about last month’s issue. The reason why the Springboks (South African Rugby team) came home before the World Cup final is because I neglected to watch their quarter-finals match against Australia as I was at the forefront of organising the Township Gospel Festival in the Overstrand and Cape Town – and note, if I do not protectively watch their games, they always lose because the team they play against always cheats! But, whatever the situation, I remain a Springbok supporter ‘Go Bokke Go!’ Diamonds always come in the small packages is an African idiom with a fruitful meaning. During September and October, Stanford was flattered to host big names of Gospel musicians originally from the Eastern Cape. They were based in Stanford and had concerts in Stanford, Gansbaai, Hermanus and Cape Town. They were interviewed on Morning Live SABC2 TV, E-TV, local and Cape Town radio stations. They noticed that Stanford is unique with potential in music and education. Butho Vuthela, who was the main artist, committed himself in public to return to Stanford to invest in music for young talents but, more importantly, in education as he is a qualified teacher who specialised in different subjects for Grade 12s. He said Stanford is at a turning point and that his third album will be launched here, in our village, next year! Rise Stanford Rise. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiise! Roar Stanford Roar. Roaaaaaaaaaar! Where would we be without Ansie Reitsma? She organised two weeks’ accommodation for the whole crew of artists. On behalf of the artists and Youth 4 Life, I would like to say: ‘Plant one grain with faith and you may be rewarded with millions and millions of grains’. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANSIE, you and the owner of the house. To my loyal column readers, you don’t have any excuse for not sending me those nice birthday wishes; you know the date – I’m waiting! Drop me an e-mail: 45465630@mylife.unisa.ac.za or sms @ 0782827419
T
his and future contributions will focus on the jazz genre and how best to source enjoyment for this style of music as it has developed from the early New Orleans days at the beginning of the 20th Century. The Afro-American jazz musicians were the true exponents of this form of melody and counter melody making. They mostly ‘played by ear’ and it was this giftedness that set the basis for a great idiosyncratic genre that for the past 100 years has developed from ragtime, to blues, to big band swing, to individualistic innovation. What is it about jazz that causes the listener to tap one’s foot in rhythm, to feel syncopated excitement and to listen with intensity? Why is it that the songs of the great masters such as Porter and Gershwin continue to be sung and played, nearly a century after they were written, by modern artists such as Michael Bublé and Natalie Cole? It is because the genre has endless possibilities for interpretation. How many people can remember July 1958 (pre-Beatles) when jazz emerged for a wider audience of enthusiasts in America and then was quickly exported across the world? The Newport Jazz Festival on Rhode Island provided an opportunity for a host of up-and-coming jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong, George Shearing and Anita O’Day (inset), singing Sweet Georgia Brown, to experiment before a massed gathering of fans over a period of four days. In 1960, Jazz on a Summer’s Day was released to document the Jazz Festival. Go to You Tube and enjoy the film. It left a lasting impression on one teenager. Andrew Herriot
Hermanus Pre-Primary presents: Theuns Jordaan’s new CD launch. 25 November 2011 at Sandbaai hall. Tickets from R100. For more information contact 084 251 5692
STANFORD RIVER TALK 18
WORDS OF WISDOM
Riding on a loose rein
Cicero, in his de Senectute (Old Age), wrote: ‘Each part of life has its own pleasures. Each has its own abundant harvest, to be gathered in season. We may grow old in body, but we never grow old in mind and spirit. We must make a stand against old age. We must atone for its faults by activity. We must exercise the mind as we exercise the body, to keep it supple and buoyant. Life may be short, but it is long enough to live it honourably and well. Old age is the consummation of life, rich in blessings …’ What is so interesting is that Cicero was murdered in 43BC just a year after Caesar was murdered. His enemies sent his head and his hands to Rome to be nailed to the rostrum, believing that they had silenced him forever. But they were wrong. He had kept careful copies of all his speeches, letters, essays, and manuals and although some were lost or destroyed, most of them survived. His words, written over
with Jane Ellis
Adapting to the times – a Zimbabwean pensioner’s perspective 2000 years ago, could have been written today - nothing has really changed. de Senectute is not only a classic of literature but is one of the most inspiring essays on old age ever written. Anybody who dreads the passage of the years and who looks upon old age as a sad period of decline instead of the rich and happy fulfilment of life, should read essays like de Senectute (Google it) and look for other positive and inspiring aspects of old age. Many of the happiest people in the world are in their sixties, seventies or eighties because they have realized that it is only by focusing their activities on some worthy cause greater than their individual ego, that they can attain peace, fulfilment and contentment in old age. Win Johnstone 0768059235
S WAY
Swing Jazz Band in Stanford SWAY, the name of a new local band, is available for bookings at any location for Special Occasions, Gigs, Dinner Dances and other functions. The swing duo consists of John Hardie (vocal) and Andrew Herriot (keyboard) plus full backing sounds. Call Andrew on 072 5717 846 for more information and details.
Whacked in the face by Zimbabwe’s super inflation spliced with age, it’s hard to imagine there can be any amusement or interest in coping with life’s mundane tasks. But surprisingly, as vital essentials break down, there’s a certain fascination about the alternative routes to carry on carrying on and you don’t have to be old and cash-starved (although that helps) to practise them. Take as one example, the collapse of your wonderful old washing machine – you don’t have a maid and the cash flow is turgid. Here’s the answer: as always, separate whites from the rest, fling into two tubs and soak overnight. Next day: toss whites (unrinsed) into bath, add enough water to just cover garments, add detergent, slap iPod on your head, climb into bath and dance. To rinse: repeat procedure with fresh water until clear. Don’t squeeze – hang on line dripping. Repeat for coloured garments. Apart from washing the clothes, bath dancing is good for sanitizing garden-grubby feet, great for your heart, tightens saggy leg muscles and unleashes those endorphins. There are, however, two essential rules for serene bath dancing. 1. Stop fantasizing about washing machines or your neighbours’ maids – just get prancing. 2. Choose your music carefully. The second movement of Beethoven’s 5th is great for your more delicate clothes – and to lift your spirits above the sheer awful banality of wash-day blues. But a good, all-purpose, never-fail motivator? Lady Gaga? Forget her. For me it’s Rod Stewart who does the trick on both whites and those muddy gardening clothes. There’s something about his voice – like a jackal yowling on a starry night in the Bumi hills flanking Lake Kariba – that moves my feet into exactly the very best dirt-shifting rhythm. Read, re-read Whether you read books in their centuries old familiar format – two covers sandwiching the pages – or on a Kindle, if you are over 60 it’s really worthwhile to start re-reading the books of your busy, rushed life. Why? The stacking up of the decades brings such different perceptions: you understand what you impatiently skipped over before, you realise your conclusions have changed but, best of all, the ‘old’ book is now like a brand new one. Kick off with The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. I read that aged 12 and was intrigued, if puzzled, over the ambiguous relationship between two minor characters. Did they or didn’t they? My mother was unhelpful: ‘Busy now poppet’ and my sister, irritated: ‘Oh! grow up!’ Now I know: the two characters most certainly did. Clarkson’s tingle How’s Zimbabwe? According to something called The CIA World Fact Book it is the 224th (out of 227) poorest country in the world. Hard to believe when trying to cross a road on foot frustrated by an endless stream of flashy, fast-driven cars which would make even Jeremy Clarkson tingle – well, perhaps just a little.
STANFORD RIVER TALK 19
life talk
Out of The Hat Fred Hatman has reluctantly departed Stanford again in order to create for himself a sustainable future in this place he calls The Special Village. Before he left for Cape Town to work nights in a soulless and stuffy corner of a building housing a newspaper, he recorded his feelings in verse …
In a trance Jami in the sky with diamonds Last weekend we received a kind sms from our farmer neighbour, offering free tickets to a trance party on the farm next door. I was skeptical. Am I not too old for such malarkey? But hubby, frustrated hippy that he is, was already digging excitedly in the back of his cupboard for long-hidden tie-dye gems. Before I could blink, he was standing grinning, looking like a Woodstock escapee. We just popped in for a couple of hours in the afternoon and the party-goers all welcomed us with open arms. By and large, they seemed a very normal group. Some happy, some looking somewhat suspiciously happy, but I’ve seen worse where’s the harm in that? behaviour at my At no stage did own book club someone try to wallop me on the head with a barstool, nor do a runner with my handbag. All I witnessed was people dancing and enjoying themselves. Surely that should be considered a good thing? I was pleasantly surprised at how family-friendly the whole thing was. With Dalene at her post behind the bar, it was much like being at Oom Steyns for a drink, but with loud thumping music and a few people dressed as fairies. But come to think of it, photographic Facebook evidence would indicate that even this can occasionally be witnessed in our fine local pubs. I really don’t mean to sound patronising, or to perpetuate stereotypes. Not everyone there was a hippy, and not every hippy wears tie-dye. But 95% were and 95% do. This statistic was highly scientifically calculated by doing a basic head count from the safety of my comfy folding chair. And admittedly, a couple of folks looked like they could use a good scrub. But there was no sign of the expected scabby dealers hiding behind bushes trying to force drugs onto my good self. So there you have it. Live and let live, I say! These parties are met with great suspicion by the general population, but I’ve seen worse behaviour at my own book club. Although, to be fair, it’s usually me behaving badly.
My Milkwood Me
Where my milkwood heart snakes out tactile tentacles, They reach out with ancient wisdom to refit fragmented dreams, And good folk connect one another with flowing waters of kindness, From which birds and dogs and children and greenglades spring wild and free, Tempting gentle shoots of love on the porous, pinkening skin of my soul. A mother-milk-plumped cloud has lifted and nurtured me, restlessly and restfully through night’s turbulence and days of gold, Giving new clothes of hope, worn like a child seeing through a raindrop on glass Noticing the sapling that is to tower high out of the shadowy cleft of lifescape. But then, unseen, a maddened wind scours through where the river was risen, Picks me up wordlessly and without warning, at a breathless sprint, Abandons me to carve a path through fearsome monoliths of cement and glass. There, a grumbling underbelly of ghastly, grasping-with-greed bodies, their stench and sound overwhelming, their clamour carrying no meaning. I ride the electric rumble of the urban jungle line with other people’s friends… Newlands… Rondebosch… Mowbray… Observatory… Salt River… Woodstock… Wait, I may have missed one, it flashed past, flashes back, back, but as I sit here in a stagnant expanse of flickering light-pixels, spitting out missives of grave injustices done unto others in the grim and the grime, does it really matter that we shot ear-peelingly, eyes jolting, past Rosebank? Should that bank indeed bear a rose, I know I would not know of it and my mind, planted elsewhere, records it as a rose only by name, thrusting alien thorns. Back home, there heart-throbs in timelessness that great milkwood tree, Yes, now missing a special branch… speaking of a gracious, eye-sparkling spirit, A daughter, a sister, yes, a most devoted mother, a wise and searching soul, She was ripped from the bosom of our close and cloistered community, But will always go and grow among us, inspiring all for eternity. Still, I feel my spirit rising rich-red out of heaven-scent layers of lavender… Spring-sweet whispers strung out on the bending reeds of the riverside, Seizures of my imagination textured on faces and surfaces and in face-to-faces… As I cling to the fibrous and sinew-sewn entanglement of my milkwood tree. My remade-in-Stanford milkwood me. Fred Hatman http://www.fredhatman.co.za
This book will make an excellent Christmas gift! Stockists include: The Mokoro shop, Stanford The Art Café, Stanford Oupa se winkel, Stanford Coffee Corner, Stanford Stanfordinfo, Stanford Bookmark, Hermanus
STANFORD RIVER TALK 20
Only R80!
In memoriam
Juliet Haw
12 July 1968 – 26 October 2011
V
ivacious and entrancing, Juliet had a light inside her that made her magnetic. For six years, she studied into the small hours of the night towards her second degree, to provide for her children in the future. Her boys were everything to her. As a woman, Juliet knew exactly who she was, and bravely confronted life. She floated into a room like a glamorous movie star from the 1940s, beguiling us all with her
cascading mane of hair and a curious sparkle in her eyes that we’ll always remember her by. Whip-smart, and in possession of a wicked sense of humour, she was a force to be reckoned with! Juliet was talented at everything she tackled. She’d be in her kitchen for days, cooking up feasts for her dinner guests, delighting in their appreciation of her kitchen sorcery. A beautiful bohemian eccentric, Juliet loved old
music, devoured literature and thrived on the company of her friends and family. Juliet approached everything she did with zeal, because she had such an appetite for life - always passionate, always magnificent. Juliet’s spirit will live on through her two beautiful children, who will be watched over by a village full of people who adored her. We love you and miss you, Juliet. Thaya Bedford
If anyone has an anecdotal memory of Juliet to put into a book for her two boys, Thaddeus and Jethro, please email ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za
Phumla ngoxolo, (rest in peace) Oom Bles
I
t was the highlight of his life when he donned his best outfit and attended the launch of Annelize Mouton’s Stanford 150 year coffee table book so everyone could meet the person behind the face on the invitation. After all, he was, as he would say, ‘die eerste Bantu in Stanford en die kinders het vir my weggehardloop want hulle het nog nooit ’n swart man gesien nie’ followed by his usual cackling laughter. (According to Bles he came to Stanford and started working for the Van Brakels on their farm, Boeredans, when he was in his twenties. He also worked for Carstens Construction for many years.) Meeste van ons sal Oom Bles egter onthou as
Johann Louw Died 22 October 2011
die vriendelike persoon wat altyd ‘n storietjie gehad het om te vertel, altyd gegroet het maak nie saak waar jy hom raakloop nie – en net nie by die huis kon bly en stilsit nie. ‘As ek by die huis sit en niksdoen doen, dan raas my kop’, was sy antwoord op enige vraag waarom hy nie met pensioen gaan nie. Daarom het Bles seker gemaak dat daar altyd vir hom werk is. En as daar regtig niks was nie, het hy die volgende tuin straataf gaan bekyk om te sien watter werk hy daar kan doen. Immer die opportunis, immer aan die gang... dit was Oom Bles. Bles was also an example to the community, and he had a big heart. The day he moved from his shack at Die Kop to his new RDP house, he duly gave away a lot of his tools saying that he wouldn’t need them any more now that he was living in a house. In his last years an old injury to his back started to give him more and more problems, and early in September it became so bad that he could hardly get up in the morning. His sister had tried to coax him to go back to the Ciskei several times, to no avail, but this time she managed to take Bles back with her. Oom Bles faithfully came to say goodbye and promised to be back within six months. His
sister took him to the hospital in Port Elizabeth where Oom Bles made very good progress (probably also because he was well-fed and well looked after!). However, when they went to visit him on Saturday 29 October, he had a bad turn and was on an oxygen machine. On the way back home they received the dreaded call that Oom Bles had passed away at age 75. Pumla ngoxolo, Oom Bles. Jy het ons almal geleer dat ‘n mens altyd kan glimlag en beleefd kan wees – maak nie saak wat jou omstandighede is nie. Jy het ons ook geleer om ten alle tye ‘ngoeie sin vir humor te hê en dat vriendelikheid een van die basiese beginsels van respek is. Maar wat ons ook sal onthou, is hoe jy seker gemaak het dat daar altyd iemand is wat jou help om dit gedoen te kry wat jy wou gedoen hê – van ‘n byl skerpmaak tot draad vir jou hoenderhok! Ons eer jou, madala, en Stanford het een van sy gerespekteerde inwoners verloor. From the Whittaker, Ranger, Pansegrouw and Knight families and everyone else whose lives were touched by this humble and respected man.
The Birkenhead Brewery had a long relationship with Johann going back to when I was first employed in 2003. He was an extremely talented person, who was not afraid to try anything. He had serious green fingers and, when he was still able, grew the most extraordinary vegetables and fruit. His strawberries were huge and juicy. We used to buy much of his produce for the restaurant. I will never forget the day he came in and wanted me to sample one of his new peppers. It was not a pepper, but a habanero chilli. Needless to say, my tongue died and I remember putting ice in my mouth to put out the fire! Of course he laughed his head off. Sometimes I thought that Andy Mitchell had employed him because he was always here. He was full of energy and as large as life. Sadly when his eyesight started to fall, I think he lost a lot of his zeal. He was, as most of us knew, a very stubborn man and could be really bull-headed at times. But he was liked by the staff here and he will be sorely missed. Johann’s son is having him cremated and his ashes will be brought down from Johannesburg and dispersed in the old harbour in Gansbaai. Rest in peace Oom Johann. Chris Boshoff
STANFORD RIVER TALK 21
history talk
Story telling
By Phil Murray
Let me tell you a story, because a good story is never forgotten.
I
have a niece who has started school in cities for months on end, the secretary was Japan. For one of her first school projects desperately searching for the Prime Minister she had to skype her grandfather in but to no avail. The building appeared to KwaZulu-Natal for an interview. Her task have been hit by a bomb and was beginning was to research ‘someone famous’ and to fill with smoke, and the Prime Minister her grandpa was her candidate. To her, he was nowhere to be found. Eventually, as a is famous because he can fix absolutely last resort, the secretary had rushed up to anything in the world, and she isn’t far off the the roof to hunt for her boss. There, perched truth. upon one of the But this reminds me Perched upon one of the chimney chimney pots, of another good story. pots, warming his bottom while warming his bottom Near the end of the last while smoking and smoking and watching the air century, while marking a watching the air raid, was Winston Churchill. monolithic pile of Grade 8 raid, was Winston history projects entitled ‘My Churchill. And it family’ I read a personal account of another was his bottom that was causing the smoke ‘important family member’. The important to back up inside the building! I laughed out person had been a secretary to Sir Winston loud when I read this, and have not forgotten Churchill during World War 2. One night in the tale in all these years, after marking more 1941, during the harrowing Blitz in which the than my fair share of junior history projects. Luftwaffe bombed London and other strategic Another project had an artefact slipped
N OV E M B E R T I D E TA B L E
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) SEPT
0
0
OCT
0
200
STANFORD - RETICULATED DRINKING WATER RESULTS
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
SEPT
OCT
E. coli STANDARD (0/100ml)
0
0
Total Coliform bacteria STANDARD (10/100ml)
0
0
Heterotrophic Plate Count STANDARD (5000/100ml)
0
76
DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING IN DECEMBER EDITION 18 NOVEMBER 2011 design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • 079 523 8453 STANFORD RIVER TALK 22
into its plastic sleeve that I shall never forget. The pupil’s family were descendents from a Boer family who had fought during the South African War, 1899 – 1902 (formerly known as the Anglo-Boer War). While the men were off fighting as commandoes, the women, the frail and the young had been captured and imprisoned in the world’s first concentration camps. Her great-great grandmother had buried some pieces of handmade lace, handkerchiefs and napkins that she had embroidered for her daughter’s trousseaukis. The sentimentality of these old, stained, delicate pieces was so moving that it brought tears to my eyes. Everyone loves a good story, and real history is in the personal details that move us to feel some emotion. Stanford must secret away many of these. If you don’t mind sharing them in River Talk, please contact me on 028 341 0954.
Sunrise Sunset 1 0544 1912 2 0543 1913 3 0542 1914 4 0542 1915 5 0541 1915 6 0540 1916 7 0539 1916 8 0538 1917 9 0537 1918 10 0536 1919 11 0535 1920 12 0535 1922 13 0534 1923 14 0533 1924 15 0533 1925 16 0532 1926 17 0531 1927 18 0530 1928 19 0529 1929 20 0529 1930 21 0528 1931 22 0528 1932 23 0528 1933 24 0527 1934 25 0527 1935 26 0527 1936 27 0527 1937 28 0526 1938 29 0526 1939 30 0526 1939
High Water time height time height 0710 1.47 1931 1.34 0825 1.39 2055 1.24 0953 1.37 2230 1.24 1107 1.42 2342 1.29 1159 1.49 ---- ---- 0032 1.37 1241 1.56 0111 1.44 1316 1.62 0144 1.52 1348 1.68 0215 1.58 1419 1.71 0245 1.62 1449 1.73 0314 1.65 1519 1.73 0344 1.67 1550 1.71 0415 1.66 1623 1.68 0449 1.64 1659 1.63 0527 1.61 1740 1.56 0612 1.56 1829 1.47 0710 1.51 1932 1.40 0823 1.49 2055 1.35 0944 1.52 2219 1.37 1052 1.61 2329 1.45 1149 1.71 ---- ---- 0027 1.54 1241 1.80 0119 1.64 1330 1.87 0207 1.72 1418 1.90 0254 1.78 1505 1.89 0340 1.80 1552 1.84 0426 1.78 1639 1.76 0511 1.74 1724 1.65 0557 1.67 1810 1.53 0646 1.59 1858 1.42
Low Water time height time height 0045 0.58 1332 0.69 0152 0.71 1501 0.77 0321 0.78 1631 0.77 0448 0.78 1740 0.71 0550 0.73 1827 0.64 0634 0.67 1904 0.56 0710 0.61 1935 0.48 0741 0.56 2004 0.42 0810 0.52 2032 0.38 0838 0.50 2100 0.36 0907 0.50 2129 0.36 0937 0.51 2159 0.38 1010 0.55 2232 0.43 1045 0.60 2309 0.49 1127 0.67 2350 0.57 1218 0.75 ---- ---0040 0.65 1328 0.81 0146 0.71 1459 0.81 0307 0.73 1625 0.74 0427 0.68 1731 0.61 0532 0.59 1825 0.47 0627 0.48 1913 0.33 0717 0.38 1958 0.22 0805 0.31 2042 0.17 0853 0.28 2126 0.16 0940 0.29 2210 0.21 1028 0.34 2253 0.30 1117 0.44 2336 0.41 1207 0.55 ---- ---0019 0.54 1301 0.66
Information supplied by the Hydrographer, SA Navy © 2010. Not for navigational purposes. The Hydrographer is not responsible for any transcription errors. The use of the provided information is entirely at the user’s own risk.
carstairs, max & I ‘Crossing’ the Overstrand Municipality even more ancient dusty road around the Market Place paved?’ I had to hand it to the man. He has his moments of seizing ideas and opportunities. I saw a few problems, however. ‘Well, it’s a good idea, Carstairs, and might work, seeing as how the ladies of Barbacoas have proved it. But how do you organise this sort of campaign? How do you suggest it for a start? I mean, from my limited experience, South American women are quite sportive in pursuit of adventurous solutions – provided there isn’t a priest around … and you can talk to them about these things. How, in Stanford, would you even broach the subject?’ Carstairs thought for a moment, then said: ‘It’s always best to be frank. Why don’t you just approach the ladies one by one and say, “Excuse me, but would you be interested in keeping your legs crossed for just a little while … I mean like for a good cause? I mean … like for getting our Market Place cleaned up …?” ’ ‘I don’t know, Carstairs … it sounds a bit dicey. I might get my head smacked.’ ‘True,’ he agreed, thoughtfully. You could even get a few legs uncrossing. It could hold up the campaign.’ ‘That’s what I’m trying to say,
SUPPLIED BY Jake Uys
RAINFALL STATISTICS
C
arstairs hooted with delight as he smote his copy of the Cape Times with the stem of his pipe, spilling fiery flecks of Rum & Maple over the journal and risking setting fire to it. Max got up from under his chair and moved away uneasily. ‘What now?’ I asked testily. Carstairs enthused could easily cause a fire – or worse. ‘Well, listen to this, it says here on the front page, that the women of Barbacoas, Colombia, have ended a three-month “crossed-legs” strike of sexual abstinence aimed at getting a dusty 163-year old road to their isolated town paved, after town council officials promised to do it, but never got round to it. What do you think of that?’ ‘I think it means the women of Barbacoas sound a dangerous lot and I would prefer the women of Buenos Aires who might be easier to do business with …’ ‘No! no! you’re missing the point, as usual,’ said Carstairs excitedly. Do you not see in this report the Hand of Providence pointing the way to a solution for Stanford? Do you not see that if the women of Stanford went on a “crossed-legs” strike of sexual abstinence we might get our own
Carstairs. We could give it a try, but bear in mind that campaigns, petitions and things like that don’t always work in Stanford. Would this one be sustainable? After all, some Stanford women are forgetful.’ ‘Like us?’ ‘Yeah, like us.’ ‘Well then, that’s too risky. So let’s drop the individual approach and call a mass meeting in the Municipal Hall of all women interested in a “crossed-legs” strike of sexual abstinence aimed at no sex for the Overstrand Council until our Market Place roads are paved. Maybe that’ll promote a better spirit of dedication!’ ‘You’ve forgotten one thing.’ ‘What now?’ ‘The new Mayor is a woman.’ Carstairs stared at me. ‘Oh hell, yes.’ He fumbled back to his Cape Times, as if looking for comfort. ‘I don’t think that happened to Barbacaos,’ he mumbled. ‘Oh well, I suppose it’s back to the drawing board …’
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
ave
Jan
17
11.5
12
8.5
19
14
13
Feb
22
39.5
25
11
17.5
20
22.5
March
14
49
27
20.5
20
26
26
April
45
70
21.5
27.6
30
56
41.6
May
78.5
45
31.5
55
66.5
83
59.6
June
45
75.5
50.5
106.3
91.5
88
76.13
July
137
102.5
76
97.5
43
56
85.3
Aug
65
66.5
71.5
89
46
74
68.6
Sept
27
49.8
74
88
35.5
25.5
45.7
Oct
61
73
39.5
92
50
25
56.7
Nov
41.5
89.5
91
31
57
62
Dec
20.5
37
35
6
40
27.7
Year
573.5
708.8
554.5
632.4
459
Stanfordinfo is looking for relief workers for alternate Saturday and Sunday duties. Relief duties on other days are also a possibility. The successful applicants will be given training and will be required to start immediately. A knowledge of Stanford and surrounds is essential. Please contact Steph for more details 028 341 0340. STANFORD RIVER TALK 23
classifieds There is an HONESTY BOX at Stanfordinfo where you can pay for your classifieds. Please enclose the amount in an envelope. SMALL ADS: R1 a word • BOXED ADS: R77 info@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • cell: 079 291 1588
FOR SALE
AMANA DOUBLE-DOOR fridge/freezer, mechanics recently overhauled. R1500. p Mary 084 643 4504. CAR SEAT ages 0-1 year. Excellent condition built-in shade cover R600. p Caitlin 083 358 6365. Kayaks and Canoes from R200 to R600 p Ernie 083 310 0952. METAL GATES 2 x 233 cm wide sold individually for R600 or together for R1 100. p Caitlin 083 358 6365.
PLAITED RUBBER MAT for Datsun/Nissan bakkie, R150. Chris 082 739 3627 PLASTIC 2-PART DOG KENNEL medium R400. p Caitlin 083 358 6365. SIX CANVAS DIRECTOR CHAIRS (Boardmans) R300, 1 square glass top cane coffee table R50. p Diana 072 4925 039.
OFFERING
VILLAGE LAUNDROMAT Washing • Tumble Drying • Ironing Dry Cleaning • Steam Cleaning • Carpets Mon – Fri 8.30am - 5pm 25 Queen Victoria st, Cell: 072 616 0976
carpet care we clean carpets:
fitted - persian - oriental kelims - woolen etc
we clean upholstery:
couches - chairs - mattresses pillows - padded head boards
ken 079 885 6777 carpetcare@hermanus.co.za
Adult horse riding classes. p Jake Uys on 079 468 9060. Reliable & honest painter. No job too small. Contactable references p Wilson on 072 223 2511. SPECIALIZED KEYBOARD JAZZ TEACHING. p Andrew Herriot at 072 5717 846 or aherriot70@gmail.com for more info.
RENT
LARGE 3 BED HOUSE for rent on farm in Stanford (30km from Hermanus). Very peaceful, beautiful views. R3500/month. 082 371 8673.
weekly timetable
STORAGE 250 SQUARE METRES. Secure locked storage on farm 1km from town. Electronic alarm installed and my personal supervision. Better monthly rates. p John 082 950 6007.
AFRICAN HORSE COMPANY
Suidsee Verkoeling Nuwe kontaknommer: Tel: 087 808 2175 Sakkie Myburgh: 083 771 0753 Alle huishoudelike herstelwerk
guided multi-day trails & outrides along the whale coast & through unspoilt nature reserves. +27 (0) 82 667 9232 omstables@telkomsa.net www.africanhorseco.com
SOUTH COAST
SOLAR Solar and renewable energy specialists
John Hardie • 079 29 11611 john@southcoastsolar.co.za www.southcoastsolar.co.za
Insurance approved PIRB Registered and Licensed Plumbing contractors
Monday 6pm, Running Time Trails 5km, corner Adderley and Longmarket. Monday & Thursday, 5.15pm - 6pm, Pilates, The old Beauty Spot Studio, above Tops Bottle Store, Tracy: 082 441 8307. Monday & Wednesday, 5pm, Canoeing, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877. Tuesday (5pm to 6pm) & Friday (9am to 10am), Tae Bo, Stanford Conference Centre, Ronnie 083 655 4521. Tuesday 8:45 to 10am, Iyengar Yoga with Marianne, Studio @ Art Café. Wednesday 9 to 10am, Nia Dancing with Nikki, Studio @ Art Café, Nikki 072 436 1497. Thursday 8:45 to 10am, Vinyasa Yoga with Leli, Studio @ Art Café, Leli 082 3500 253. Tuesday & Thursday, 4pm, Cycling, Meet at Caltex Garage, Dave Morrison 082 321 7996. Wednesday, 6.30pm, Stanford Rotary Club Meeting, Art Café. Everyone welcome. Friday, 5pm, Canoe Time Trials, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877. Saturday, 10am – 12pm, Stanford Saturday Morning Market, Art Gallery Courtyard from Enquiries call Art Café (028) 3410 591.
Where to worship in Stanford NG GEMEENTE STANFORD Sondae 9:30 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 St Thomas Church, Morton St. Inter-denominational. English service at 6pm Sunday. Bible Study, 7pm Wednesday at 45 Queen Victoria St. Secretary Kerri Brokensha 028 341 0077. STANFORD RIVER TALK 24
crossword
ACROSS 1 Indonesian island has Buddhist writing to absorb scholar (7) 5 Having removed article from deceased, hastily withdrew (7) 9 Poor sad Wendy - filled with woe, ultimately, from the day she was born (9) 10 Irish sage written about in medieval lore (5) 11 Drunkenness - the vice of innkeepers’ patron (2,7,4) 13 In history the Unknown Soldier represents us all (8) 15 Exhausted last of finance held in banks (6) 17 Looks after son with display of affection (6) 19 A male predator guards quiet position furthest away from sun (8) 22 Meets previous revolutionary characters in USSR legislature (7,6) 25 One legislative body rejected epic story (5) 26 She looks after the kids! (5,4) 27 He tries to speak in Erse perhaps (7) 28 Observe student inside church making a big splash (7) DOWN 1 Thus opponents are scattered (4) 2 Fashionable dressmaker’s style is German, intrinsically (7) 3 Some heat generated by those people across the river (5) 4 Tree feller becomes a civic dignitary (8) 5 One’s a little bit put out by awkward situation (6) 6 Bullets coming from several directions - the result of Klan activity? (9) 7 Remove an organ, as it were, to save someone (7) 8 Dickens’ celebrated daughter kept asafoetida (6,4) 12 A fellow I have found striking (10) 14 Too wise, we hear, to accept dubious drug trades? Obviously not born this! (9) 16 Puts in office a powerful leader with aims (8) 18 Agent distorts the truth when giving answers (7) 20 One’s captivated by fashionable Red anthem (7) 21 Student chatted with US lyricist (6) 23 Woman shortly turned up unknown lines of poem (5) 24 Eat out with hangman, but skip the starter (4)
OCTOBER SOLUTION
Set by Alberich, www.freecrosswords.net
Entries for the crossword should be sent to Box 228, Stanford, 7210 by 20 November 2010.
what’s on in NOVEMBER? Craft in the Courtyard Western Dance
Saturday 19 November. 10am to 2pm. Stanford Hotel. Okkie Smuts Friday 25 November. School Hall. Starts from 19:00. Tickets cost R30 per adult.
Bring your own drinks & snacks. Contact 028 341 0611 for further information.
Stanford Sunset Market
Friday 25 November. 6pm to 8pm. Village Green. Contact Rina on 083 604 0808.
Wine & Wisdom
Thursday 1 December 7pm, R40 pp, Stanford Art Café. Contact Bea 028 341 0430.
STANFORD’S MONTHLY NEWSPAPER
Distributed in Stanford, Gansbaai & Hermanus. Online copies sent to readers throughout South Africa and worldwide. Readership over 1500 per month.
Michelle Hardie - editorial, ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or p 079 2911 588 sandra Slabbert - advertising, design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or p 079 523 8453
STANFORD RIVER TALK 25
local services & facilities ACCOMMODATION Beloftebos Cottages B’s Cottage De Klein Rivers Valley Fairhill Nature Reserve Galashiels Lodge Hadeda’s Guest Lodge Morton Cottage Mosaic Farm Reed Cottage Walshacres Riverside Stanford Country Cottages Stanford River Lodge The Country Cottage Upton House Villa di Baia
List your business for just R12 a month (only R144/year). Email: info@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or telephone 07929 11588.
082 391 5331 028 341 0430 028 341 0048 079 495 2971 028 341 0181 082 498 4905 082 450 3970 028 313 2814 028 341 0984 082 614 6322 082 320 0982 028 341 0444 083 553 0663 079 777 5983 082 336 1573
Accounting & Tax Services Maryke Brandt 072 172 9545 ALTERATIONS Caitlin’s Dressmaking
083 358 6365
ANTIQUES/FURNITURE Sir Robert Stanford
028 341 0048
ARCHITECTURE Maureen Wolters
082 450 3970
ELECTRICIAN H.C.D Electrical ESTATE AGENTS Graham & Swart Marlene’s Properties Michael Thompson Pam Golding Stanford Village Properties FIREWOOD Walshacres
079 182 8825 028 341 0641 082 732 1284 028 341 0929 083 225 7367 028 341 0708 082 893 2282 072 111 9321 028 341 0685 082 898 4889
GARDENS & NURSERIES Green Futures Nursery Helen’s Garden Service Krige Tree Services Stanford Chippers Walshacres Willowdale Nursery
028 384 8043 082 735 7153 082 658 0427 082 324 6799 028 341 0685 082 899 1172
HOUSE MANAGEMENT @ Your Service Stanford Country Cottages Village Laundromat
074 587 1380 082 320 0982 072 616 0976
HOME MAINTENANCE Stanford Country Cottages
ARTS, CRAFTS & GIFTS Ons Winkel Stanford Galleries Traderoots
028 341 0647 028 341 0591 084 643 4504
BEAUTY AND WELLNESS La Femme
028 313 0660
BOOKS Sir Robert Stanford
028 341 0048
CAR CARE J & J Motorwerke PRO-FIT
028 341 0410 071 219 9212 072 369 8264
Conference centre Mosaic Farm
028 313 2814
Construction Stanford Bricks
028 341 0685
PEST CONTROL Overberg Pest Control
028 312 2225
Driving School Drive with Cait
083 358 6365
PETS & PET CARE Stanford Kennels
028 341 0961
INTERIORS Kiwinet Maureen Wolters
028 341 0209 082 450 3970
IMMIGRATION SERVICES Assured Immigration Services 082 629 5442 NEWSPAPER Stanford River Talk
079 291 1588
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES African Queen River Cruises 082 732 1284 028 3410 929 Klein River Picnics 028 3410 693 Platanna 073 318 5078 River Rat Boat Cruises 083 310 0952
Rural and river retreats in tranquil surroundings, Stanford Country Cottages are situated throughout the village and surrounding area. Perfect getaways from stressed city living, they offer a unique base from which to explore this magical village and the fascinating Cape Whale Coast & Overberg. Tel: 028 341 0965 • Cell: 082 320 0982 enquiries@stanfordcountrycottages.co.za www.stanfordcountrycottages.co.za STANFORD RIVER TALK 26
082 320 0982
Syringa Country Kennels
028 341 0961
PLUMBING John Hardie
079 291 1611
PRINTING & PUBLISHING The Really Famous Publishing CC 079 291 1588 RESTAURANTS 1892 Stanford Spookhuis Art Café Stanford Gallery Evergrine Havercroft’s Madré’s Kitchen
028 313 2814 028 3410 591 028 341 0386 028 3410 603 028 341 0647
SECURITY JSK Wrought Iron Safe Security
083 591 9600 028 341 0801
SOLAR South Coast Solar
079 291 1611
Taxi Service Anytime Transfers
082 858 6765
TRUCKS & TRANSPORT Stanford Bricks
028 341 0685
Wedding venues Beloftebos Galashiels Lodge Mosaic Farm Sir Robert Stanford Estate Stanford Hotel
082 542 9556 028 341 0181 028 313 2814 028 341 0647 082 781 1704
WINE CELLAR & SALES Brunia Wines Sir Robert Stanford Estate Springfontein Wine Estate Stanford Hills Estate
028 341 0432 082 783 7257 028 3410 647 028 341 0651 072 371 7546 028 3410 841
police: 028 3410 601 / 10177 ambulance: 10177 municipality: 028 341 8500 fire & rescue: 079 5077 326 overstrand emergency: 028 313 8000 / 313 8186
Celebrations in Stanford
Shafick Williams 5 November
Yolande Mars 10 November
Ntomboxolo Jacob 13 November
Valiant Swart 25 November
Jeremy Revett 25 November
Barbara Morton 27 November
Aron Gcotyelwa 14 November
Congratulations to Dickson and Jennifer Matola on the birth of their first child. Jerome Nyasha Matola, 14 October 2011, weighing in at 2.7kg, Hermanus Provincial Hospital.
If there is a birthday coming up or special occasion you want to share with the village please email ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za
Anka Esterhuizen 21 November
Martie du Toit 23 November
Congratulations to Ros and Grant Nale on the birth of Kellan William Colgan born at 08.34 on 31 October 2011, weighing in at 3.2kg. A brother for Griffin.
STANFORD RIVER TALK 27
stewart@alcock.co.za
MICHAEL THOMPSON
ESTATES
EIENDOMME
www.mtestates.co.za
LIFESTYLE LIVING AT ITS BEST LIVE THE LIFE. R4 300 000
Only 10 kms from Stanford, enjoy the delights of country living in this 5 bedroomed home, with all the mod cons. plus 1 bedroom guest/manager’s cottage. set on 37 hectares of unspoilt fynbos. own water supply.
SOLE MANDATE R 2 900 000
STYLISH & SECURE R 1 495 000
SIMPLY STUNNING! R1 595 000
‘One-of a kind’ in the Village, ‘Michael Sutton’ designed 3 bedroom home PLUS historical cottage. heated pool, double garage
2 Beds, 2 baths large living areas Situated in sought after part of Village.
3 beds, 3 bathrooms. Award winning garden. next to vineyard.
CALL STEWART 074 126 7770
Gatineau Promotion Day SPECIAL OFFERS:
beauty and wellness centre Having fun at the La Femme Mother and Daughter Workshop
14 November at Morton S q u a re
Get a professional skin analysis with Gatineau’s Diagnostic Machine AS WELL AS a Mini Facial for R150 OR Buy any Gatineau skin product and get an hour facial FREE Spend time over a cup of coffee with our Gatineau Consultant ONE DAY only so bookings essential 028 313 0660.
18 HO P E ST R E E T, H E R M A N U S • 0 2 8 3 1 3 0 6 6 0 • i nfo @ l afe m m e h e r m a n u s . co . za