Blue Thread Issue 4

Agter die skerms saam met ons eie

Miss PV Senior Ball Scenes Head leaders of 2016

“Never let success get to your head, and most importantly never let failure get to your heart.” - Author Unknown As another busy term comes to an end, we are graced with three weeks of freedom to binge watch series and veg on the couch. As fun as it is sleeping our days away

we often get bored towards

the end of the holiday, but we have the solution! This term’s magazine is filled with yummy chocolaty recipes to feed our lazy winter bodies, interesting technological facts, useful tips and cool social media pages to view.

Matrics, this is our last break before the stress of the end dawns on us. Make the most of the holiday: party hard, rest up and have fun!

For those who did not achieve as well as they would have hoped in the June exams always remember that failure is a bruise, not a tattoo – it doesn't last forever.

content

VOORBLAD: Chelsea Potgieter

Seniorbal 2016

Parel Stock 2016

page 8 & 9

page 10 & 11

page 12

Die wenner van mej. PV 2016

Smaakvolle uitrustings en vele meer...

Die wenner is...

Headleaders 2016

Roelene Enslin

page 14 — 19

page 20 — 21

page 22—23

Ontmoet en gesels met die leiers

Ontmoet vir...

Lip-lekker

Bulldog Snoepie

The Leaky Test Tube

Blue Tech

Buying A car

page 24—27

page 28—31

page 33

Around the world in 8 Hours

The era of virtual reality

The first timers guide

How To Be A Gentleman

Fashion

Trending

page 34—35

page 36—39

page 42—43

All a guy needs to know

How to style denim

What’s hot right now

Winter Desserts

La Voix

Verbode Verbeelding

page 45—47

page 48

page 49—50

Delicious treats to warm the soul

Kreatiewe skryfstukke deur ons leerders

Opstel

Superman is sleg vir jou

‘n Reënbui in Maart

Die brief val uit haar hande

page 52

page 53

page 56

Opstel

Opstel

Opstel

Wanneer ek dagdroom...

Cartoons

page 57

page 58

Opstel

The fourth panel

- deur Collin Andrew Sherriff Hoe het jy gevoel toe hulle jou naam roep as 2016 Was daar enige bitsige kompetisie tussen die se Mej. PV? meisies of was julle almal taamlik rustig?

Ek kon dit nie glo nie! Ek het my doodgeskrik – ek het dit glad nie verwag nie. Dit was egter ‘n baie vreemde gevoel en ek was skoon uitasem.

Wou jy van die begin af self inskryf? Of het iemand jou aangemoedig?

Ek wou nog altyd ingeskryf het. Baie van my vriendinne het dit ook gedoen en ek het besluit om in te skryf en dit self uit te toets. Van kleins af was ek al mal oor die verhoog.

Hoe lank het dit gevat om jou eie rok van herwinbare materiaal te maak?

Dit het regtig lank gevat. Ek sou eers Bellatrix Lestrange van Harry Potter gewees het, toe kry ek die idee van Electra by my tannie en ek het gedink dit gaan nooit klaarkom nie – selfs die dag van Mej. PV wou ek nog goed daarop verander. Ek was darem baie gelukkig daarmee.

Ek dink nie enige iemand was venynig nie, almal was net baie gedetermineerd om hulle beste te gee.

Almal wou die titel so graag gehad het, omdat daar soveel moeite met die show gedoen is. Ek dink almal wou hulle happy ending gehad het. Andersins was dit heel rustig.

Wat is die snaakste ding wat tydens Mej. PV gebeur het?

Die snaakste ding was toe die meisies op die aand backstage squats begin doen het - ek het gedink hulle was heel mal! Dit was baie snaaks! Almal het gelag en saam pret gehad.

Wat was die moeilikste (die stresvolste) deel van Mej. PV? Om almal gelukkig te hou. My ouers, meneer Visser, die meisies. Elke aand was ‘n super stresvolle situasie, want jy weet nie wat gaan gebeur nie, of hoe die aand gaan eindig nie.

Was jy ooit bang dat jy dalk van die verhoog kan afval?

Ek was baie bang om af te val, want ek is die lompste persoon op aarde! Ek word met ‘n rede little miss clumsy genoem! Gelukkig het hulle geel strepe op die verhoog gesit. En toe ons die laaste aandrok gedra het, was ek so bang dat ek op Liné se rok trap, want dit was só groot – ek sou definitief ‘geploeg’ het.

[Chelsea

Sou jy dit weer doen?

Ja, ek sal dit vir seker weer doen. Dit was ‘n eenmaal in ‘n leeftyd belewenis en as ek dit weer moes doen, sou ek myself baie meer geniet het. Ek was baie gespanne en angstig voor die tyd.

Voel jy soos ‘n celebrity as jy in die gange van PV stap?

Ek voel nie soos ‘n celebrity nie. Dit is net baie vreemd dat baie meer mense nou my naam ken.

Dit is ‘n interessante gevoel! Ek wil net hê mense moet weet ek sal altyd myself bly en ek sal altyd nederig bly.

Sal jy ‘n model wou word?

JA! Dit was nog altyd die plan. Ek wou altyd modelwerk gedoen het, maar het nooit die geleentheid of tyd gekry nie. Ek het net ‘n hupstoot nodig gehad om my in die regte rigting te stuur – ek weet dit is baie moeite, maar ek sal graag dit wil doen. (#nuwecharlizetheron – red.)

_

a Potgieter)

Seniorbal 2016 - deur Arvida Lincoln Die seniorbal van 2016 (of moet ek eerder sê

Dié wat die bal bygewoon het, het beslis hul

“2017”, soos aangekondig deur die komitee)

beste voetjie voorgesit, veral die seuns!

was ‘n ongelooflike aand, vol glimlagte,

Die seuns het die strikdas weer nuwe lewe

strikdasse en hemelhoë hakke.

gegee. Ek glo dit gaan ‘n nuwe gesig aan die

Die komitee was baie kreatief om die

matriekafskeid gee.

beperkings van ‘n piepklein begroting en baie min

tyd

te

oorkom.

Die

dekor

was

minimalisties, maar baie smaakvol gedoen.

Die fotohoekie met die pragtige proteas en die saal met die goue origami swane en

Die seniorbal was ‘n goeie voorloper vir die matriekafskeid.

Welgedaan

seniorbal-komitee van 2016, dit was een van die lekkerste aande wat ons skool al ervaar

feëtjieliggies was baie effektief en iets uit ‘n

het!

sprokiesverhaal - weereens ‘n bewys dat meer

Die wenners van die aand, gekies deur die

en duurder nie noodwendig beter is nie.

komitee, was:

Besgeklede Meisie:

Besgeklede Seun:

Oulikste paartjie:

Cameryn Stoltz

Danté Alberts

Rosie & Matthew

En Die Wenner Is… - deur Hugo Uys

PARELSTOCK 2016

5 YARDS WALKING

Wie is almal in die band?

Jozua Perold, Dolf Lombard, Min Seok, Cheylin Wertheim, Dillan Wilken en Jordan Taylor.

Wat is julle naam? Hoe het julle daarop besluit?

Ons naam is 5 Yards Walking. Ons het oorspronklik net vyf lede gehad, vandaar die 5 Yards Walking is heeltemal lukraak.

Alle erkenning aan Cheylin vir ons naam.

Hoeveel moes julle oefen vir Parel Stock?

Ons begin gewoonlik 3 dae voor die kompetisie oefen. Hierdie jaar het dit ons egter 5 dae gevat om te oefen.

Hoe het julle besluit op songs?

Ons almal het die Mumford & Sons konsert bygewoon en was mal daaroor, só het ons besluit op die openingsliedjie, I will wait. Die ander twee stukke is op geen spesifieke manier gekies nie.

Wat was julle gunsteling song om op te tree?

I will wait, want ons almal het ewe veel deel geneem. Dit was ook interessant om Heaven op te tree omdat ons elkeen acapella moes sing.

Het enige van julle stagefright gehad?

Na die hoeveelheid optredes waaraan ons elkeen al deelgeneem het, was ons nie juis senuweeagtig nie. Ons was wel bang dat ons die woorde gaan vergeet en ons mag dalk die lirieke op ons hande neergeskryf het.

Hoe het dit gevoel toe julle hoor julle het gewen?

Dit was op ‘n manier ‘n verligting. Ons was bekommerd dat ons vir ‘n derde jaar kon verloor, maar “matrieks wen altyd.”

Is die band nog bymekaar?

Tot die einde van die jaar, ja. Daarna gaan ons elkeen in ons eie verskillende rigtings in.

Wat is volgende vir julle as musikante?

As ‘n band gaan ons nog aan die Eisteddfod deelneem. Van ons is betrokke by hierdie jaar se Grand West Highschool Jam. Verder speel ons ons eie gigs - Dillan speel in ‘n kerkorkes en Dolf gee lesse as ‘n dromme onderwyser.

- by Belinda Naude

Belinda sat down with the four head leaders to ask them a few questions to get to know them better.

THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED: 1.

What would you say your greatest leadership skills are?

2.

What are your favourite memories on council so far?

3.

How did it feel to be announced as head/deputy head?

4.

What, would you say, is your biggest responsibility in your head position?

5.

Is there anything you would change about the school?

6.

Have you ever sat detention or ever landed in enormous trouble in class? What for?

7.

What are your plans for the future?

QUICK FIRE: 1. Batman or Superman?

2. Favourite movie?

3. Favourite song?

4. Pepsi or Coke?

5. Asking questions or answering questions?

1.

Ek dink my beste leierseienskappe is om ‘n goeie rolmodel vir ander te wees . Om te lei deur te doen en respek vir onderwysers en my mede leerders te hê.

2.

Daar is so baie herinneringe—ek weet nie eers waar om te begin nie. Al die awesome en great mense wat ek ontmoet het, die Leierskapsimposium in Goudhini — dít sal ek nooit vergeet nie.

3.

Dit is moeilik om die gevoel te beskryf toe ek as hoofseun aangekondig was. Ek was só bly. Die wete dat ek soveel verantwoordelikhede gekry het, en al die uitdagings wat nog vir ons voorlê, het my opgewonde gemaak.

Om die amazing mense te lei en saam met hulle te werk op die raad was baie opwindend.

4.

My grootste verantwoordelikheid is om altyd die voorbeeld vir ander te stel. ‘n Mens kan nie vir iemand iets sê as hy verkeerd was of reëls oortee het as jy dit self doen nie. Jy moet altyd ‘n voorbeeld stel en netjies wees.

5.

Daar is nie veel wat ek sal wil verander aan Parel Vallei nie. Ek dink Parel Vallei is die beste skool ooit. As daar iets was, sal dit dalk die musiek pouses wees. Ek mis dit nogal. Maar verder is Parel Vallei perfek nes dit is.

6.

Ek het nog nooit in my lewe detensie gesit nie. Ek het nog nie naby aan detensie gekom nie. Baie mense sê dit is ‘boring’.

7.

Ek is nog nie presies seker wat my planne vir na skool is nie. Ek gaan ‘n oorbruggingsjaar neem en as alles mooi uitwerk, gaan ek saam met ‘n vriend op ‘n cruiseship werk. Verder is ek nog nie seker nie. Ek wil doodseker wees voor ek in enige rigting gaan.

QUICKFIRE: 1. Superman 2. Dit is moeilik, ek het al te veel gekyk en hou van te veel.

3. Hang af in watter mood ek is. Trance en beats voor ‘n rugby wedstryd om my op te psych vir die game en Afrikaans vir sokkie en soms ook EDM. Ek hou maar van baie soorte musiek.

4. Coke 5. Om te vra

1.

I am a good listener and think it's important to take everyone's ideas and opinions into consideration. I mostly like to lead a group from behind so that everyone has an equal opportunity to be acknowledged.

2.

My favourite memories so far would be the Learner Council camp and our trips to Kwaggaskloof during the holidays.

3.

It felt really strange to be honest! I was very surprised.

4.

I would say that the biggest responsibility as a head leader is making sure that you're constantly in the loop with the students as well as the staff. We are the voice for the students.

5.

That's quite an open-ended question so I would rather not comment!

6.

I've never sat detention before nor have I ever got into enormous trouble in class. I usually just get reprimanded for talking in class (especially in accounting!).

7.

I would like to study at Stellenbosch next year and then once I've completed my degree, I would love to go to England to work there.

QUICKFIRE: 1. BATMAN. Duh. 2. All of the Harry Potter movies.

3. I don't have a favourite song but right now I really love This is what you came for by Calvin Harris.

4. Coke.

5. Asking questions.

1.

If you want to lead a group of people, stick to leading by example.

2.

There have been so many! My favourite would probably be pulling an all nighter around the fire with a few of the council members at Quaggaskloof.

3.

Pretty terrible... Jokes, it was great, duh. All I remember is trying to regain feeling in my legs and a normal shade of red to my face.

4.

Besides making sure Christian does his work? The responsibility to be consistent, and transparent.

5.

I would make the grade 8 bags smaller- those things are massive!

6.

I had detention in the first week of grade 1 (rebel, I know.) I cried so much afterwards that my mom took me to Spur for a milkshake.

7.

I'm going to study Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University and then TRAVEL anywhere and everywhere.

QUICKFIRE: 1. Batman 2. The Theory of Everything 3. Galantis by No Money 4. None, gross 5. Answering

1.

I would like to think that my greatest leadership skill is motivation. I am enthusiastic in what I do and when it comes to dealing with people I would like to build respect with that person.

2.

My favourite memories on council so far are probably weekends at Quaggaskloof with the council at Jana's holiday house, the Paul Roos Ball is definitely something that stands out and then Orientation was also really enjoyable for me.

3.

Most nerve wrecking experience of my life probably! There were so many great people on council that could have been chosen and I am just grateful and honoured that I was chosen.

4.

My biggest responsibility is to tell the truth even if it is your friends you have to give up as you are expected to although I have not yet encountered such a situation as yet. #snitchesgetstitches

5.

Yes I believe that everyone in the school should not have to be forced to come to the sport matches. They should want to come and support, even if we might have to force people at first somehow for them to see how enjoyable it is. I feel something should be done in that department.

6.

I have never sat detention, however I have landed in enormous trouble before. It is classified.

7.

I hope to study medicine one day and be accepted into that course so that I can make lots of moola and get ladies;) QUICKFIRE: 1. Batman duh! Because... "I'm BATMAN!" it would only make sense 2. Kung Pow 3. Satisfaction ;) 4. Coke 5. Asking Questions.

ONTMOET VIR:

JUF. ROELENE ENSLIN - deur Hugo Uys

Waar het Juffrou groot geword?

In ‘n huisie by die see. Ek het in die klein kusdorpie, Onrus, groot geword - so katspoegie voor Hermanus.

Waar was Juffrou op skool?

Ek was my laerskool- en hoërskoolloopbaan in Hermanus op skool. Local is lekker.

Wie is juffrou Enslin as sy by die huis is?

Ek is ‘n rustige, maar tog avontuurlustige persoon, met ‘n groot passie

Eerste indrukke van die Hoërskool

vir mense en goeie musiek. Dit laai

Parel Vallei?

my batterye om tyd saam met my

WOW!!! Wat ‘n amazing skool. Ek was

familie te spandeer.

en is steeds baie beïndruk met die

Gunsteling plek in Suid-Afrika?

Dit is ‘n moeilike vraag. Daar is só baie mooi plekke in S.A. en daar waar my mense is, is gewoonlik vir my die héél lekkerste. So ek sal sê EEN van my gunsteling plekke in S.A. is waar ek groot geword het, Hermanus - veral in die somer, wanneer dit juis lekker by die see is.

skool. Van die begin af het ek welkom gevoel, met kinders wat my met die mooiste maniere groet en onnies wat altyd bereid is om mekaar te ondersteun en te help!

Hier is soveel trots en passie wat in die gange rond dans.

Watter vak bied Juffrou by PV aan?

Lewens Wetenskappe/ Biologie

Wat beteken die Blue Thread vir Juffrou?

Vir my beteken dit om werklik trots te wees op jou skool, om jou beste te gee in alles wat jy aanpak: sport, akedemie, kultuur ens. Dit is om passie te hê vir jou medemens, om te gee vir die leerders rondom jou, om die nood by ander raak te sien en te ondersteun waar jy kan. Dit is GEES, wanneer die leerders langs die veld staan en hulle spanne met liedjies aan cheer… Dit is ONS, nie die gebou nie, maar die mense wat lewe bring aan die struktuur.

Malste ding ooit gedoen?

Ek het verlede jaar op my verjaarsdag gaan Skydive. Dit was MAL scary, maar die beste ervaring!!

Kitsfeite oor juf. Enslin Wat is juffrou se gunsteling...

Liedjie: Dit verander gereeld, maar op die oomblik is dit There Will Be Time -

Mumford & Sons & Baaba Maal Film:

Point Break en How To Train Your Dragon

Item in klerekas: Comfy pants of my tekkies as ek lus is vir ‘n stukkie avontuur.

Seisoen: Somer Sê-ding: dis awesome Aanhaling: "The task of the modern educator is

not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts."

-C.S. Lewis-

Lewensleuse: Carpe diem =seize the day, “seek to be worth knowing rather than be well known”

Bulldog Snoepie - deur Charl Wiehahn

V

an tuis tot wêreldreis die Bulldog snoepie is verseker in ervare hande.

Ons almal kwyl behoorlik vir die wonderlike reuke wat die gange gedurende skooltye vul.

Dit is alles te danke aan ons nuwe snoepietannie. Sjef Crizelle Bensch het aan die begin van die 2de kwartaal die Bulldog oorgeneem. Sy berei liplekker eetgoed voor wat die leerders vir pouses inwag.

Van jongs af het sy op die toonbank langs haar ma gesit om te kyk hoe sy kos voorberei en so het haar passie vir kos gegroei. Sy het haarself bekwaam as ‘n ‘sous chef’. Sy en haar man was hoërskool liefdes en het na skool getoer na Brittanje. Hulle het in verskeie bakkerye asook ‘n restaurant gewerk. Na 2 jaar het hulle teruggekeer na Secunda in Mpumalanga waar sy ‘n gastehuis en koffiewinkel bestuur het. Daarna het sy haar eie bakkery oopgemaak. Twee jaar later is sy ‘n titel ryker: Moeder – sy is vandag ‘n trotse ma van 3 kinders.

Verskeie jare later en heelwat ander besighede waarin sy betrokke was, het die Bensch-gesin Kaap toe getrek.

“Van jongs af het sy op die toonbank langs haar ma gesit om te kyk hoe sy kos voorberei en so het haar passie vir kos gegroei.”

Wat is Tannie se idee vir die snoepie?

Ek wil graag hê die kafeteria moet soos ‘n tuisomgewing wees waar leerders kan huiswerk doen, ontspan en iets voedsaam eet.

Wat is Tannie se gunsteling kosse?

Definitief sushi, maar ook pasta.

Hoeveel leerders word daagliks bedien?

Op die oomblik is dit ongeveer 400 leerders.

Hoeveel rolletjies word daagliks gemaak?

Ongeveer ‘n honderd rolletjies en tussen 10 en 12 brode per dag.

Enige nuwe kos wat Tannie wil inbring?

Ek toets die mark op die oomblik en kyk wat werk. Ons het die eerste week begin met hoender en beesvleis prego-rolletjies. Ek sal ook enige tyd iets soos nachos inbring en dalk eendag sushi. Ek verwelkom ook enige nuwe voorstelle van die leerders.

Op die oomblik bied die snoepie die volgende en meer aan: panninis, samoesas, wraps, hamburgers, prego rolls, tramazinis, skyfies, vegetariër rolletjies en vele meer.

Kaartfassiliteite is ook nou beskikbaar!

- by Eduard Zehrt

Around the world in 8 hours T

here is a good chance that your parents

are familiar with the Concorde Supersonic Airliner, a passenger jet that exceeded the speed of sound. This engineering marvel did flights since the seventies until 2003, at which point it was retired due to a declining aviation industry. It was not helped by the one and only Concorde crash in 2000 as well as the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Though it amazingly,

flew routes in half the time of other aircrafts, there was a very limited market for its expensive flights that only occurred across the Atlantic because the plane was simply too loud for continental flights.

Aviation, of course, started with the Wright brothers in 1903, when they conducted the first controlled, powered and sustained flight.

They managed an average speed of a blistering 11kph (kilometres per hour) for a staggering 12 seconds. A mere 70 years later, planes became supersonic.

There was the

British Concorde and there was the Russian Tupolev. However, the latter only made 55 passenger flights. Concorde was able to fly from London to New York in under four hours.

Planes have encountered big problems when pushing past Mach 1, which is normally about 1230kph. Anything slower than Mach 1 is subsonic, anything faster is supersonic, and to exceed it the plane must breach the sound barrier. As it happens, that is easier said than done, because the forces involved in doing so can tear the fuselage and cause a plane to crash. To understand why, we must consider what sound is and why the Doppler effect exists.

Sound is a longitudinal wave produced by vibration that produces rings of high pressure air and rings of low pressure air. This back and forth movement of dense, compressed air and of thin, stretched air is what we perceive as sound.

When a sound source, like a plane, moves through the air, it shifts the air back and forth and produces sound waves.

However, it

simultaneously moves towards the sound waves in front of it and away from the sound waves behind it. This is why cars have a higher pitch coming towards you and a lower pitch moving away from you. As a plane moves faster and faster, approaching 1230kph, it catches up with the sound waves in front of it.

At this point and beyond, new sound waves start to form on top of existing sound waves, creating huge differences between high - and low - pressure air. These differences subject the plane to vigorous and dangerous rattling.

Exceeding the sound barrier is not only difficult on the plane, it is disruptive to anybody on land. When a plane flies past Mach 1, the sonic boom is not heard only once when the plane exceeds the sound barrier, but it is heard wherever the plane goes for the duration of its supersonic flight.

The extremely loud sonic boom comes from the build-up of sound waves, dubbed the shockwave, that gather behind the plane, expand, and then collide in a shape called the Mach cone. As this would be almost deafening to anybody on the ground, supersonic Concorde flights were limited to the Atlantic..

So, you cannot fly on a Concorde today, but some companies want to make supersonic flight a reality again. This means you might fly to Europe on less than two hours! NASA is investigating ways to dampen the effects of the sonic boom, possibly by moving the engines to a position above the wings, to direct shockwaves upwards.

Airbus, the

successor of Concorde’s manufacturer, is considering developing Concorde 2: once the plane reaches its altitude, the plane will adjust its tail fin so that the shockwave is redirected to become horizontal, and be perceived as softer on the ground. It is said the Concorde 2 would be able to reach Mach 4.5 – 5500kph!

This opens the possibility of hypersonic travel, speeds greater than 5 times the speed of sound.

At this point, the violent sonic

boom seems like a small problem in comparison

to

the

issue

air-friction-induced heat build-up.

of

Yes, the

plane flies so that the collision of air particles with the plane raises the surface temperature of the plane to over 1000°C, at which normal metals begin to weaken or melt.

Another

problem is that normal turbine engines simply do not work at those speeds.

It is

necessary to compress air before it burns as to achieve better combustion.

Supersonic

speeds use ramjet engines, because the speed of the plane already compresses the air and eliminates the need for blades. But at hypersonic speeds, this does not work because the air is moving so fast that there simply is no time for the fuel-air mixture to combust. Therefore, hypersonic planes need their own fuel and their own oxygen. NASA used this principle in the first hypersonic plane, the X-15, which reached a speed of 7,274kph.

Naturally, we are far from

hypersonic travel because the X-15 depleted its supplies in two minutes and subjected the pilot to forces of up to eight times the force of gravity.

There are evidently huge challenges in both Science and Engineering that need to be overcome to continue pushing our boundaries.

Supersonic flight sounds exciting and one can only hope it reaches South Africa as well, but the financial challenges are quite the issue. At high school level, it is important to aspire to contribute solutions to these challenges and secure a career in the field. Humans are stubborn in that they believe they can succeed where others have failed. It is this very stubbornness that has brought us to the technological age we enjoy today.

B l u e T e c h

The Era of Virtual Reality - by Eduard Zehrt You might already be familiar with Virtual Reality, or VR. Well, you should be anyhow, because it is about to change your life. No, that is not an overly dramatic statement. The VR market is expected to eclipse the 3D television market within ten years!

The reason is simple: 3D televisions never took off as expected because their interactive limitations and arguably compromised 3D technology. With VR, there are no limitations to interaction with virtual reality and it will radically change the way we interact with games and software.

But what exactly is the domain of Virtual Reality?

The name refers to any computer technology that reproduces an environment and simulates the user’s presence in that environment, allowing the user to interact with the environment. What this practically means is that playing a game won’t mean tapping on your keyboard or swiping on your screen; you will be placed within the virtual environment and be able to look around by moving your head. Of course, this is a radically new approach to games and, because they need to be designed accordingly, there are currently very few VR games, but I guess if Minecraft is available for Samsung VR gear then it is only a matter of time before the industry booms.

Virtual Reality will eventually aim to stimulate all our senses, but thus far it is limited to vision and sound. It does this by means of a VR Headset, or Head-Mounted-Display (HMD).

The most famous is surely the Oculus Rift. VR is a personal viewing experience, meaning that you wear the headset and only you see what is on the screen.

The screen is literally right in front of your face.

“Don’t sit so close to the TV!” I seem to hear my mother shouting, “You’ll get square eyes, and what am I to do then?” Well, in a spirit of blatant disregard for this advice, developers, seeking complete immersion, brought the image within centimetres of your eyes.

T

ry holding your phone 5cm from your face and

seeing a clear picture. Doesn’t work, right? The image is grotesquely blurry as your eyes fail to accommodate. VR solves this by introducing lenses and two separate images on the screen.

The lenses adjust the images such that you get a 100° field of vision, compared to 20° - 40° for televisions and computer monitors. Because there are two images, a stereoscopic 3D effect is also produced. To perceive 3D, each eye needs to see something slightly different. In the old days, they attempted this with red and blue filter glasses. Then, 3D televisions attempted this with shutters or polarisation, but eye strain was common and brightness limited the pseudo 3D effect. With VR, each eye can naturally see different images in a realistic field of view. It is a revolutionary next step.

Various Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 4D technologies emerged within the past thirty years, but all of them faced the same problems: It was either too expensive or it nauseated users - quite literally. It was motion sickness, much like in a car. If you have ever tried reading in the car, you may have experienced that awful, disoriented feeling. What you see and what you feel conflict with your vestibular system.

The same happened in VR headsets, at a time when computers were much weaker and slower.

The image would not adjust instantaneously as the user moved, and this lag brought about nausea.

VR headsets had to be more than good – they had to be perfect in order to become usable. Oculus Rift was the first to cross the rift in the technology.

It has been even further enhanced by a contraption called the Omni. Best described as an omnidirectional treadmill, the Omni allows you to walk around on it without going anywhere in real life. But your motion is computed and your character in the game moves as you have moved.

Although Virtual Reality media is still limited, the development of the hardware is rapidly bringing VR from the niche market to the masses. You can experience VR very soon and for hardly any money at all! Google developed a ‘Cardboard Viewer’. This little gadget allows you to view VR on your phone, without the need to purchase an expensive headset! It is a cardboard setup with lenses, into which you slot your phone after installing the Cardboard app. With it, you can view 360° panoramas or engage yourself in VR apps like rollercoasters.

Any phone with a screen up to five inches works, but it should be at least HD, preferably Full HD. Their availability in South Africa is limited, but you might find some for under R200!

T

hough Virtual Reality is quickly descending

upon gamers, its uses are being extrapolated to the fields of therapy and education. VR Exposure Therapy is a system initially conceived by Skip Rizzo at Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. Through the simulation of tragic life events, it helps PTSD patients relive and deal with them, as they remember important details that troubled them. It has been used with burn victims, to distract them while unhealthy tissue is excruciatingly removed from their wounds.

It is difficult to criticise something with medical benefits, but VR is taking us into uncharted territory in which we must tread carefully.

The main criticism is of the virtual world replacing reality. People who are already engaged in the virtual world may now find themselves addicted to it, preferring to live in it rather than in reality. Recently, a gamer in China died after binge-gaming for 19 hours. Such isolated cases could become more common when a virtual world becomes someone’s real world. This is especially true if we observe how attached we have become to electronics, particularly our smartphones. When we spend more and more time in our headsets, and less and less with others, where does this trend take us? Golly, what if we transform into those fat people in Wall-E that are unaware of the world beyond their screens?

There are currently more obvious dangers. You cannot see anything around you when wearing a VR headset. An intruder could sneak up on you or you might accidentally step on your cat!

A potential health hazard is the fact that the screen is the same distance from your eyes all the time. Your eyes are constantly focusing at the same distance and this lack of accommodation could have side-effects.

But if such problems should arise, Virtual Reality would need to become available to the general consumer first. That should happen within the next couple of years, so if your parents were planning to dish money out for a new 65 inch television, maybe tell them to rather buy some new Oculus Rifts for the family. The era of VR is fast approaching and it will not be stopped. Take a look at just how it engages people by searching ‘VR Reactions’ on YouTube. This is next-level fun.

- by Christian Jolly

LIFESTYLE

- by Christian Jolly Buying your first car is one of the greatest feelings ever: knowing you’re free and independent. It’s your gateway to adulthood.

Buying a car is a big decision, especially with so many to choose from. New or second hand? Well, if you have the money, a new car would be best … but do not overlook a second hand car – there are many to choose from.

Try looking at Auto Trader, Imperial Select, Avis car sales or even dealers to see if you can find a good second hand bargain. Often you can find a demo car with only a few thousand km on the clock for a fraction of the price.

Call ahead of time or even better go to the showroom and book a test drive in the car, or in multiple cars if you want to.

W

hen you go for a test drive:

After testing the radio, switch it off so you can listen to the car.

- Any rattles?

- Any squeaks?

- Any grinding or metal-on-metal sounds?

Ask to see the cars service history.

Check under the car for any pools of liquid.

(There could be a leak).

Inquire about fuel economy.

Ask about previous owners. (Check the radio pre-sets if it is something along the lines of RSG you know that a more conservative older person drove the car.)

Check the year model and the amount of kilometres and see if it a reasonable price.

T

he biggest tip of all:

Research. Research the car you are interested in or any other cars in its range. Know the differences between the cars as well as key points that you can ask the seller about the car.

When comparing cars compare apples to apples, not the latest Mercedes to your grandmothers Citi Golf.

Always remember as a buyer you can say “NO!”

H

i

My name is Collin. Collin Andrew Sherriff. And although that may be a little reminiscent of the classic James Bond line, I could not be further from the character himself. Well I could. I mean I do have a face, and hands, and legs, and other matching body parts – but I am trying to say I am no action hero, or suave lady -killer. Or bad-guy killer. Actually I do not even kill flies, I am pathetic… or nice, depending on your outlook. But, what makes a man, a gentleman? Is there a definite definition… should there be?

I don’t know really. After all, I rarely refer to myself as a gentleman - in fact I don’t think of myself as one. That, err… yeah, that came out wrong. I just mean that I am not too comfortable with referring to myself in that way – mainly because I think of a gentleman as a finished article, and in no way am I there yet. A gentleman is a grown up. He has confidence in himself - and his moustache. A gentleman is fearless, and can drink whiskey without being sick in the nearby toilet - A man. Just kidding, don’t drink to be a pretentious gentleman.

The truth is the modern gentleman is not limited to the same stereotypical ideas of a few decades ago, so the definition of a gentleman is a lot more relaxed these days, thankfully. Not to say that I have not always longed to slap someone with a glove, thus challenging them to a duel… but yeah, those days are long gone.

One of my friends recently told me a story – he was walking down the 500-corridor and opened our Afrikaans classroom door; As he was going through two ladies approached and he held the door open for them - rather than pushing through, or shoving past them.

Pretty normal. I would like to think I have been brought up well - as well as my friend. My dad used to always say “manners maketh man” when teaching me little life -lessons.

- by Collin Andrew Sherriff

What one of the two girls did next was somewhat bizarre. She refused to go through the door – instead, she left my ‘gentleman-of-a-friend’ standing there like an idiot holding the door open for no one. Apparently she then exclaimed, “You know I can actually open a door myself. I don’t need someone to do it for me!” and stood in front of the door holding back her friend at the same time.

Naturally my friend was confused and somewhat shocked - stunned in fact. I would have reacted in the same way; his whole world had just come crashing down. After all he was sure, up until that specific moment, that no woman could open a door herself, because how can any woman manage to work out the intricate and detailed push/pull mechanism of those tricky things.

Instead all they can do is wait, like damsels in distress (literally), hoping, wishing, praying for a knight in shining armour to come and free them.

People are strange. I was not taught one-sided chivalry rules; “open the door for ladies, but anyone else – screw ’em! They have their own arms.” I was just taught common rules of decency. I like that phrase, common rules of decency; like - “it’s nice to be nice.”

It sounds overly simplified to say that society would be a better place if people lived by that little motto (that’s putting it mildly), but it really would. Small acts of kindness, like giving your sandwich to that one friend that never has food (and I mean offering it before he/ she asks of course - which might be tricky), dropping a two rand in a homeless—or blind, I never know— person’s cup at the red light, holding open the door for teachers, whatever, these acts should be encouraged. It honestly upsets me to see that it is A LOT less common these days.

I don’t know, have I got it all wrong? I hope so.

However, if you are a bit rusty, here are a few tips on Collin’s Anatomy on Etiquette: How to be a modern old-school gentleman/woman from head to toe. 

have impeccable manners,



respect is paramount,



be confident, not arrogant,



hold open doors, give up seats,



foul language shows no class,



and remember, if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.

On that note, for me, the quintessential gentlemen – or gentle-lady – is someone who is inherently kind and loving. Without wanting to receive something for it. I would like to leave you with a quote which basically sums up everything I have tried to convey.

They are, perhaps, words from one of the world’s greatest gentlemen - Desmond Tutu.

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

I hope you found this ‘How to’ informative. Please don’t throw stones if you did not. (That is not a metaphor – I mean like literal stones – they hurt a lot.)

“I was just taught common rules of decency”

fashion - by Chantal Pretorius

Simplistic denim dresses are a must have, because it can be paired with anything in any season.

Available at H&M.

Model: Mia Steyn Assistance: Natania Van Der Spuy

Fashion is art and you are the canvas

#tre

ending

•••

Kyle Kingsley Green (@kyle.kingsley): some of us may not know who Kyle is but he is a past pupil. He is a BBusSci Marketing student and freelance photographer who runs a photography page called KKG Photo on Instagram @kyle.kingsley and on Facebook at kkgfilmphoto.

His photos feature daring landscapes, urban lifestyles, technicolour concerts, steamy bikini shoots and even blazing birthday parties. If you are looking for motivation to head out on your next big adventure or just want to liven up your Instagram or Facebook feed with top quality, state of the art photography, do yourself a favour and go follow him! You can also find his details if you want a professional photographer for a shoot.

•••

Toni-Jayde Louw (@tonijaydephotos): another freelance photographer many of you may know (https://www.facebook.com/Toni-Jayde-Photography-296101477082757/ timeline). She matriculated from Parel Vallei last year whilst managing to be a very successful and talented photographer. Talents like these should not go unnoticed! Toni-Jayde’s genre of photos is vast, from flirtatious modelling shots, events such as 21sts and matric ball pre-drinks to landscape views, artistic character portraits, entertainment shows and action shots. Each one of them is unique, bringing out the best qualities of both nature and people. She is already very trendy with 1052 likes on Facebook and 657 followers on her photography Instagram account! Go give her a like or a follow, or even both.

•••

•••

Alvin Vurayi: Alvin is currently a matric learner at Parel Vallei and is unique and completely different to others. He has the gift of encouragement! He currently runs a page called SKinny-AL HOTFIRE on Facebook. His number of likes are on the rise just like the way he raises your spirits with his inspirational and motivational quotes! He is an inspiration station all on his own. If you are ever feeling down or unloved or just stressed out about exams go follow him! Fill your feed with positive vibes and funny videos to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Maybe we should nominate him for the Yakkie award and let us be honest, with exams coming up and the arrival of winter, we could all do with some of that good mojo to get us back on our feet and give us the courage to push on.

•••

Arvida Lincoln and Emma Ramsbottom: seeing as this is our last issue of editing, I wanted to feature our pages too, so even though we will not be a part of the magazine anymore, we can still be a part of your day. Arvida is a pinner on Pinterest (https://za.pinterest.com/arvidalincoln/) who pins boards to help inspire you with new fashion ideas, DIY projects, adventurous and cute photography and artistic redecorating ideas. She is like a mini-magazine all on her own! Give her a follow.

If you are into the Tumblr lifestyle, I have a blog on Tumblr (dance-with-emotion.tumblr.com) that features classic Tumblr style photos, special quotes and good soul music that gives you a little insight into my personality and interests. So if you are interested in staring at pretty pictures or reading relatable quotes, stay in touch with us and give us a follow!

•••

- by Emma Ramsbottom

Mocha Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding - by Stephanie Solomon

Ingredients 1 cup (250ml) milk 70g unsalted butter, melted 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup (150g) plain flour, sifted 3 teaspoons baking powder, sifted ⅓ cup (35g) cocoa, sifted ½ cup (60g) ground almonds ½ cup (90g) brown sugar 1 cup (175g) brown sugar, extra 2 tablespoons cocoa, extra 2 tablespoons strong instant coffee 2 cups (500ml) water Cocoa, extra, for dusting

Method 1.

Preheat oven to 180°C.

2.

Place the milk, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl and whisk to combine.

3.

Add the flour, baking powder, cocoa, ground almonds and sugar, and whisk to combine.

4.

Place the mixture in a 2-litre-capacity baking dish and set aside.

5.

Place the extra sugar, cocoa, the coffee and water in a small saucepan over medium heat.

6.

Stir until the sugar and coffee dissolves and bring to the boil.

7.

Remove from the heat and gently pour over the pudding mixture.

8.

Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until firm. Allow to stand for 10 minutes and dust with cocoa to serve.

Serves 4 – 6

Chocolate Cake In A Mug - by Christine-Marie van Zyl

Ingredients 3 tablespoons flour 3 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa powder Âź teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt 3 tablespoons milk 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 tablespoons chocolate chips Splash of vanilla extract

Method 1.

Get a microwave safe mug.

2.

Put the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in the mug. Blend thoroughly with a fork. Add the milk, vegetable oil and vanilla and blend until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips.

3.

Microwave on high for 90 seconds, let cool for 2 to 3 minutes and then enjoy!

Vegan Chocolate Pudding Ingredients 1 1/2 ripe avocados 2 ripe bananas 6 tbsp raw cacao powder 2 - 3 tbsp maple syrup (or other sweetener) 1/4 cup soy, almond or hemp milk

Method 1.

Blend everything together in a food processor until the consistency is smooth and velvety.

2.

Taste to see if more sweetener is needed and stir to make sure everything is evenly mixed.

3.

Blend a second time if needed.

4.

Top with banana slices, raw cacao nibs, almond butter, or any other toppings and enjoy!

La Voix

VERBODE - deur Carla Spies My ribbekas sny deur die verskoning van ‘n matras onder my. Ek kan voel hoe die verbleikte lakens op my hoendervleis bedekte liggaam rus. Die ritmiese kam van vingerpunte deur my ongewaste hare laat my kalm voel.

Die jare het stadig aangestap en voor ek my kon kry, was ek amper DROOG agter die ore. Nala was nogsteeds aan my sy vasgeplak.

Nala… Nala het altyd my hare gevleg.

“Net in …”

Nala was my eerste vriendin.

“Jy sien haar?”

“Hanna…” ek onthou dr. Khemp se onderbroke sinne asof dit gister was. “Positief getoets vir…”

Langs my het Nala haar swart krulle so verwoed geskud, dat ek geweet het dr. Khemp is van haar sinne beroof.

“Ongelukkig…” “…baie simptome van… SINDROOM.”

“Hanna…” het dr. Khemp aan ‘n semi-adolosente Hanna probeer verduidelik. “… Nala is … “ “jou KOP” “Dis net jou verbeelding, ek …”

“JAMMER”

Nietemin MOES ek DAAGLIKS my MED – DI – KA – SIE drink. Dit het my goed deur die blare gemaak. Onbewustelik het Nala begin wegraak, agter die blare. Dit was asof sy wegkruipertjie gespeel het.

Van daardie dag af was my ma nooit weer dieselfde nie…

EK KON HAAR NIE VIND NIE.

“… baie hindernisse in die pad vorentoe…

EK KON DIT NIE HANTEER NIE… Ek is aangemoedig om ”maatjies” te maak. Dis wat witjas Khemp voorgestel het. Dus het Nala ontstaan as ‘n onskuldige produk van eensame sesjarige Hanna se verbeelding. My eerste poging om my ouers te probeer tevrede stel.

Sonder my maatjie kón ek net nie.

Daarna het die elf eensaamste, droefste seisoene verby gegaan… Elke een erger as die vorige. My ouers, elke jaar meer teleurgesteld.

Eendag – toevallig op ‘n reëndag – het my wildste droom waar geword. Ek kon voel hoe vyf fyn vingerpunte my hare in drie verdeel.

Aanvanklik was my ouers in die sewende hemel oor my “skielike vooruitgang” en die opwaartse kurwe My wat my “geestelike grafiek” gemaak het.

Maatjie Min het hulle geweet dat Nala die begin van die EINDE was…

Het Kom Kuier

Elke dag was BETER as die vorige. Elke somer warm- “PASIËNT 211” staan lewensgroot op my muur er, elke lente pienker en elke herfs langer. Tog het gedruk. Ek staar daarna terwyl die spesiale-eenheid ek geweet ons dae is getel.

-verpleegster my hare kam.

Nala kon nie vir ewig bly nie…

“Suster, kan jy dalk vir my twee vlegsels maak?”

Daarom moes ek ALLE toeskomstige pyn voorkom en die onmenslike doen…

“Hanna … Dis ek … Nala.”

Ek moes haar laat slaap sodat ek weet sy sal altyd by my bly…

En

Dit

Was

…

Die …

EINDE

“Hanna…”

“Moenie... nee moenie huil nie…”

“Sy is nie dood nie…”

“Nee…” “… in jou KOP…” “jou verbeelding…”

“Moord?”

“… jy het haar nie dood…”

As middeljarige Hanna was dit nóg moeiliker om hierdie rympie aan te hoor. Selfs al was dit ‘n witjas in die malhuis en nie dr. Khemp nie.

Hierdie keer was Nala nie daar om haar krulle te skud en my te oortuig nie.

Dit was vyf jaar gelede…

ete o l C l e Micha Wat is dit? Hoe kan dit moontlik wees?

Dit maak nie sin nie!

die internet en stap by die huis uit.

Die strokie wat in my hand was, lê nou vergete op die grond. Ek hardloop so vinnig as wat my hoëhakskoene my toelaat.

Dischem gesteel het. Xander kyk verbaas na my.

My neus is platgedruk teen die muur waar die nuutste Superman speel… Hy lewe nog!

Ek het by die winkel uitgehardloop en heeltemal vergeet om te betaal. Ek verduidelik wat gebeur het en word gou vergewe.

Ons staan in skok en kyk af na die straat.

Die fliek word op die muur oorkant die Sestien polisiekarre omring Xander se straat deur ‘n projektor geadverteer. Ek huis. ‘n Man met ‘n megafoon beveel ons kan dit nie glo nie. Ek sien altyd die om op die grond te lê. Ons beweeg stadig Superman-flieks eerste. In die laaste fliek – in skok. is Superman deur dr. Evil vermoor, wat Die speurder vra vir ons verwarrende later deur Batman gevang word. vrae totdat hy vir my vra wat ek als by

Ek is stomgeslaan, en ‘n rukkie later val dit als in plek.

Ek beweeg blitsvinning na my kar toe en bestuur soos ‘n maniak om by my beste Binne tien minute sit ek, die speurder en vriend, Xander, se huis uit te kom. Ek stap Xander almal in die teater met na sy voordeur toe en hoor dat hy springmielies en kyk na Superman XVII. ontsteld is oor een of ander koerantartikel. Ek kan dit net op een manier beskryf: hy vloek soos ‘n matroos.

Ek glimlag en stap in.

Ek beskryf die nuwe fliek en sy mond val oop. Hy sê dat ons onmiddellik kaartjies moet koop. Ons koop die kaartjies deur

‘n Reënbui in Maart

Piet Brümmer

Ek word wakker van ‘n oorverdowende gesuis en geslaan teen die ou verroeste sinkdak bo my. Ek staan uit my bed op, nou deurmekaar en gekreukel van ‘n nag se onrustige slaap. Toe ek by die voordeur uitloer, sien ek dit reën. Baie hard. Soos die groot, vet druppels neerslaan, spat die modder in klein Ek stap buitentoe, dit drup net liggies. druppeltjies op.

Dit ruik lewendig, dit ruik na reën. Om Die lae en lae fyn stof wat in alles my begin alles lewe kry, voëltjies begin inwaai – jou oë, neus, hare en klere – sing, paddas kwaak en ek gewaar ‘n selfs deur die kleinste skrefies in die duikertjie wat uit ‘n kol bosse kom. mure en tussen die vensters van jou Sodra hy my sien, spartel hy terwyl hy huis. Die stof, nou saam met die water weghardloop tussen die skielike helder van die reën, het saam ‘n dik, taai, fynbos in. As dit reën, kry alles skielik klewerige modder gevorm. Ons het weer lewe, alles lyk helderder en altyd, toe ons klein was, daarmee mooier. gespeel, maar nou is ons oud en Die nat grassies onder my laat brand vervreemd. my koue voete. Net toe die son oor die Ek maak die voordeur toe en stap in randjie loer, bars die hemel weer oop. die kombuis in, skakel die ketel aan en Al wat ‘n lewende ding is, hardloop vir maak koffie – swart, sonder suiker. Die skuiling, behalwe ek. Ek stap rustig swaar, bitter vloeistof maak my wakker, deur die reën, terug na my gee my ‘n klein bietjie energie. Buite sinkdakhuisie by die mopanieboom. het dit ophou reën.

‘’’’n Lewe waarin daar baie foute gemaak is, is beter as een waarin niks bereik is nie.

Jana Loots Vyftien katjies stap in ‘n ry. Een, twee, drie, vier gaan hul verby. Links-regs-links-regs, kyk hoe mak. Reguit na Mal-kat-Katrien se huis toe, miaau, miaau, miaau.

Op universiteit het Katrien aanvanklik die kat uit die boom probeer kyk, maar toe daar geen ouens toustaan nie, het sy die wiel in haar hande geneem. Sy het by ‘n sielsgenoot-webtuiste ingeskryf wat twee Vyftien katkosbakkies is op ‘n lang tafel gedek. Vyftien katte sit rondom die tafel, en individue met ‘n bo-gemiddelde persentasie wag met afwagting vir Mal-kat-Katrien om ooreenkomste op ‘n blindehoogte stuur. haar plek by die tafel in te neem.

Elke liewe een van hierdie geleenthede van Katrien se obsessie met katte het begin met Katrien het opgeëindig in ‘n KATastrofe.

Steve wou net katte knyp in die donker en haar eerste liefdesteleurstelling op die ouderdom van dertien. Haar moeder het vir was duidelik net op die blindehoogte vir één haar ‘n katjie gekoop toe Jakobus uit die kas ding. geklim het nadat sy haar liefde aan hom verklaar het.

Phillip kon nie haar hardkoppige en eksentrieke persoonlikheid verstaan nie. Na Van daardie dag af het Katrien na elke flater vyftien minute het hy vir haar gesê sy is nie wat gelei het tot ‘n liefdesteleurstelling vir ‘n kat om sonder handskoene aan te pak nie en het by die deur uitgestap. haar ‘n kat gekoop. Daar was baie flaters, vyftien om presies te wees. Katte land egter Fernandez was by verre die aantreklikste altyd op hul pote en Katrien het die fout om van die klomp. Hy het met die kelnerinne te vroeg voluit in ‘n verhouding in te duik flankeer en dit was duidelik dat arme oor en oor gemaak.

Katrien nie ‘n katsekans gestaan het nie.

Wilhelmus was die ergste. Hy was ‘n kort, arrogante mannetjie. Hy kon nie katte verdra nie. Hulle twee het oor niks saamgestem nie en het soos kat en hond baklei.

In elk geval, hier sit Katrien en haar vyftien katte nou en alles is goed en wel – tot Fluffkins, een van die katte, skielik stokstyf op die grond neerval.

Katrien skep hom op in haar arms en jaag met hom veearts toe. Deur die trane vertel sy vir die veearts dat haar kat se negende lewe tot ‘n einde gekom het. Die veearts sê sy moet nie hoop verloor nie terwyl hy die kat se bors met sy hande pomp.

Met die vyfde pomp, skiet daar ‘n haarballetjie deur die lug, spring die kat op, val Katrien in die veearts se arms en omhels hulle mekaar.

Katrien vra hoe sy hom ooit kan bedank.

Hy vra of sy saam met hom na ‘n kunsuitstalling van abstrakte kat-beelde sal gaan. Hy is ietwat skamerig toe hy haar vertel van sy obsessie met katte.

Net daar besef Katrien dat al haar foute en liefdesteleurstellings haar gelei het tot by die veearts. As haar lewe foutvry was, sou sy nie met vyftien katte opgeëindig het nie en sou sy nie haar sielsgenoot ontmoet het nie. As sy oor moet kies, sal sy haar foute weer en weer maak om by hom te eindig.

Die brief val uit haar hande

Laura Maritz Sy maak haar oë oop. Vandag is die dag.

Herman kom vandag terug.

Die oorlog is verby. Die ses donker jare se einde is hier. Sy onthou nog daardie dag.

Die dag toe die doodsbrief gekom het, die brief wat Herman opgeroep het. Sy onthou nog hoe sy in trane uitgebars het, al het sy vir baie lank al geweet wat kom en hoe sy met ‘n swaar hart afskeid geneem het van haar geliefde.

Uiteindelik hoor sy dit – voetstappe buite die voordeur. Haar hart spring van vreugde rond in haar borkskas. Sy hardloop na die voordeur en ruk dit oop.

‘n Polisieman. Haar hart sak in haar skoene.

Hy gee vir haar ‘n brief. Nee, dit kan nie waar wees nie. Met bewende hande skeer sy die koevert oop en staar na die letters voor haar. Dit was ‘n ongeluk. Niemand het geweet dat die vyand ‘n bom geplant het Maar nou is al die pyn en lyding verby. Nou nie. sal haar hart vir die eerste keer in ‘n baie Sy bessittings behoort nou aan haar, onder lang tyd gerusgestel wees. Die hele dag andere die fluweelkissie met die wag sy in spanning. Dit voel vir haar asof verloofring in. tyd met opset stadiger verbygaan, net om Die brief val uit haar hande. Dit word swart haar te terg. voor haar oë en sy voel hoe die aarde nader kom. Dit was alles net te veel vir haar swak, siek hart.

Wanneer ek dagdroom...

River Beukes

Van kleinsaf betrap ek myself waar ek vêr wegraak in my gedagtes. Een oomblik is ek besig met iets en die volgende is my gedagtes ‘n duisend myl van waar ek veronderstel is om te wees. Dit is moeilik om te verduidelik, maar maklik om te doen. Ek is êrens, maar ook nêrens nie. Dit is nie asof ek opsetlik besluit om aan iets te sit en dink nie, dis meer soos gedagtes en drome wat my vang wanneer ek dit nie verwag nie.

Ek droom nogal baie oor wat die toekoms vir my inhou en oor wat ek eendag wil word. Daar is so baie keuses en soveel dinge waarvan ek hou.

Ek verbeel my plekke sonder huiswerk en ‘n skool waar ‘n mens van wolk tot wolk kan spring en al die mooi plekke in die wêreld van bo kan sien. Ek hou ook daarvan om van kastele te droom - dalk moet ek eendag ‘n argitek word.

Maar partykeer droom ek sommer net oor hoe oulik ‘n verkleurmannetjie is, of hoeveel roomyse ek met my eerste salaris gaan koop... o ja, en hoe ons ons planeet en diere moet oppas.

the fourth panel

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