July 2014
Irene Town Crier
Living in peace
irenetowncrier.co.za
Sylvia Gibbons
P R O P E R T I E S
Sylvia Gibbons, 082 374 4778 gibbons@netactive.co.za
Glenda Saxby, 076 316 9632 glenda@netactive.co.za
www.sylviagibbonsproperties.co.za
Passionate about Irene property and proud supporters of the ILA
Greenfields
lawn services glenda@netactive.co.za
Glenda Saxby, 076 316 9632
Your neighbourhood lawn specialist Carroll Townsend, 082 560 9423
Frans Jordaan 082 668 2431
townca@telkomsa.net
GROW A GREENER, HEALTHIER LAWN
We visit your lawn 4 times a year, once every season and apply our magic blends of fertilizers and the agents to control weeds, insects and diseases for the best looking lawn in town.
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Contents
Living in peace 4 You said it 6 From the ILA 12 Irene Winter Solstice Polar Bear Swim
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Village quiz 18 Irene bridge project 20 Irene Homes news 22 Small businesses 27 Small cries 28 Important telephone numbers 30 Front cover photo: Julia Davies: Icicles and one year old Skumbuzo Manganye Deadline for the August 2014 issue of Irene Town Crier is 6 August 2014. Advertising and editorial contact: Tracey Garde 082 460 6007
info@tlgpublishing.co.za
Irene Town Crier is published by TLG Publishing (Pty) Ltd. All material is subject to copyright and permission to reproduce may be obtained from the publisher. Editorial contributions are welcome and can be sent to the publisher. All rights in said editorial contributions, whether it be in the form of a letter or article and whether it includes graphics or not, will be treated as unconditionally assigned for the publication and copyright purposes and material will be subject to TLG Publishing’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. TLG Publishing will place editorial contributions at it’s own discretion, space allowing.
Town Crier July 2014
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Living in peace
Our countdown to Spring has begun! As I am sure most of you would agree, I am now fedup with Winter and looking forward to the warmer days, singing birds and greener gardens. For some reason this Winter seems to have been colder and crueler than usual as, along with my own family, many people have been suffering with colds and flu. Hopefully the soon-to-be welcoming of what is my favourite season of the year will see many of us shaking off our Winter blues, enjoying our lovely outdoor life in the village and partaking in many events Spring has to offer. This issue is filled with lovely village news yet again - thanks to all the people who take the time to email me their projects, happenings and achievements. The cold didn’t scare all of us off - many recent activities such as a community tennis tournament, the annual Irene Winter Solstice Polar Bear Swim and the project to spruce up the Irene subway has kept our fellow neighbours enjoying Irene life. As you start to venture out on walks around the village again, why not take the ‘How well do you know your village?’ challenge. I’ve enjoyed trying to identify the photos published so far. Please remember to support our advertisers as it’s with their input that we are able to publish the Town Crier. If you are looking for a service that is not advertised or if you remember seeing a service that isn’t featured in a recent issue then please feel free to contact me. I will try to source the information you need. ‘Till next month
Tracey
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease . - Genesis 18:22 Town Crier July 2014
KEEP CALM because
SPRING IS COMING
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You said it
The opinions expressed in this readers’ column are not necessarily shared by the publisher of the Irene Town Crier. Readers’ views can be e-mailed to info@tlgpublishing.co.za. Shelling peas! I had to share something quite satisfying and good newsy too really... The sheer relaxing luxury of shelling peas.
locally grown. They were zapped up forthwith and granted me a good 20 minutes of reminiscences and smiles.
As I was wallowing in the memory of it all, sitting in our glorious sunshine out that bitter wind, it got my grey-matter whirring as to when was the last time I ever did it. And, do you know (no of course you don’t) it was when I was a child, no more than about 10 years old or so. I would sit with our maid (Sherree her name was) never in the sun, I grew up in Durbs by the sea and hence always warm - at a garden table beneath our ginormous shade tree in the back garden, and help her and sometimes my mum too.
Thought you might enjoy that. Ros
Ok. ok so it was around 1962 or so. Incredible that it is a delightful chore denied us by the early advent and convenience of the frozen variety. And what was even more satisfying was that I saw them first at Woolworths for R29 (perish the thought) and from Zimbabwe. I had to go to our Lyttelton Housewives Market shortly thereafter
and got an equal size packet for R6 and Town Crier July 2014
Containing dogs
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I am deeply concerned at the sheer volume of dogs which escape from their homes, to gallivant in the streets of Irene. Two of our dogs were killed after escaping from the property. This was in the bad old days before Irene was sectioned off, but still today, not only do they endanger themselves, but they endanger motorists too. I wonder if it might be possible for anyone else to do what we have done on our property. We have completely sectioned off the garage area. This effectively works like the lock system on a submarine. And, in our case, it proved to be surprisingly inexpensive to do. It needed three small areas to be sectioned off from the rest of the property. Fortunately one of these (a short brick wall) had already been done by the previous owners. It is now almost impossible for the dogs to get out onto the street and for anyone to feed them poisoned food. Nothing in this world is entirely foolproof. On the odd occasion the Caromba’s have been seen running down Laurence Lane after an escapee. But, importantly, the dogs have not been able to get out without our realising it immediately. This may not be possible in most Irene homes, but perhaps, just perhaps - it might work for you. If this is inspiring, or helpful, to just one Irene family, I will be happy. If anyone would like more detail on how we achieved this, please feel free to phone us at 012 667 2664. Lisle Caromba
Raptor spotting While we will leave it to others to write of the wondrous funeral and proceedings of Mr John and Mrs Diana van der Byl, I hope they will not mind my telling a rather unusual story of the grave-side ceremony. A friend was gazing up and away from the proceedings and I knew she had spotted a raptor. “Yes, yes,” she said, “now look up there, directly up the main trunk to the squiggly left branch, take a right through the mass of pine leaves and look through that main tree to the one beyond,” (you have to be familiar with bird-speak of course) and there it was, right on top of one of those ancient tall farm pines. Unmistakable with his long crested bearing and demeanour. He was magnificent. He stayed a while, then gave a spectacular swoop giving us the full regalia of his white panels visible both above and below with his barred black and white tail disappearing through the trees. We both felt he blessed the occasion like no other, and I make no apologies. What made his appearance even more overwhelming was the fact that he is not supposed to be in our area, not in Gauteng at all! He is scarce even in his habitat of moister regions, skimming the coast, Mpumulanga, Swaziland up into Mozambique, Zimbabwe and the eastern wetlands of Botswana. His diet is also highly specialised in being entirely of rodents and in particular the vlei rat... so a fast shrivelling hunting ground and breeding territory. You might find more than a few as you travel down to Durbs by car of course, on the roadside fence posts around the midlands... but this is no indication of the rare scarcity of these beautiful feathered creatures. Ros Ambler Lindley
Please help to keep our guards warm this winter The nights are very cold now! We would appreciate any donations of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, creamer & sugar. Knorr Cup o’ Soup, rusks and cookies will also be most welcome. Your donations may be delivered to Jan or Dawie, at the Oval.
Thank you The ILA Team and EBS Management
Looking for a place to start your own business? Look no further! There is a 45sqm room right at the entrance to the Irene Hall available now! Contact Barbara on 076 604 5432
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Town Crier July 2014
Dear Residents and ILA Members With the Winter Solstice behind us we can look forward to the end of what has turned out to be a rather bitterly cold winter. So many people have been ill, struggling to shake off the effects of flu and colds, and we’re sure that a few months of glorious weather will help us all to forget the discomfort, allowing us to once again experience more of our gardens and beautiful village. Our thanks also go out to those who have generously donated items to assist our guards in staying warm while working outdoors to keep us safe at night. Security Petty crime, like the theft of brass house numbers and such persists, and we encourage our membership to please be alert and inform the ILA via Jan Swanepoel or EBS Security of any suspicious behaviour of individuals in the village. Three crimes have been reported over the last month and it is with thanks to the efforts of EBS Security who, in the face of an increasing crime climate, maintain a firm approach to criminal activity in the village. An armed suspect was identified in the village and we again urge residents not to try and confront possible suspects. Follow emergency protocols and let EBS handle the situation. Once again, we appeal to all Irene residents to contribute to our collective security. Increasingly, new residents have avoided membership and this trend will make maintaining the security in the village problematic. Domestic help When EBS responds to an alarm and are met by domestic help, be it by a gardener or domestic worker on site, there is often no verification that they are
Town Crier July 2014
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entitled to be there and for all the reaction officer knows, he might be talking to a potential criminal. In order to overcome this problem, we would request all members to supply us with the full name, ID, cell number and days of employment of their domestic worker and gardener. If you employ a garden service, please supply name and cell number of the owner. Details may be emailed to ilamanager@irene.co.za and copied to elsie@ebssecurity.co.za. Building rubble Please remember that it is the responsibility of the property owner to timeously clear building rubble and other material left on the verge after building work has been completed. Please remember that we live in a village with small lanes and the roads become impossible to safely navigate when construction equipment and rubble lies in the way of traffic. Contact details Village Manager Jan Swanepoel Cell: 083 607 6600 Email: jan.swanepoel@irene.co.za ILA Administration Alyson Lea-Cox Cell: 072 714 3740
Email: ilamanager@irene.co.za
EBS Control Room Tel: 012 667 6337 or Cell: 071 576 5904 Membership Should you not currently be a contributing member of the ILA, whether a property owner, tenant or pensioner, please remember that everything has been done to accommodate the residents in our village and we encourage you to join and be a part of the community and security that works hard to maintain the quality of life that we have here. Interested parties can contact Jan Swanepoel at the number above. Wishing you a safe month.
Your ILA
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IRENE’s OWN WIMBLEDON
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After more than 12 years of not being used for playing tennis, there was huge excitement as the newly revamped tennis court at 20 Queen Street was inaugurated on Saturday, 12 July 2014. The occasion was attended by neighbours, friends and family (even friends from Germany). In true Wimbledon fashion, strawberries, cream and champagne were served. A display match was played by Zani and Megan Teubes. Zani took the honours of being the first winner of the silver plate. Next year we hope to see a mixed doubles game as well, seeing that there will be ample time for the players to practice and get fit. Watch this space!
“LOONEY TUNES” ANNUAL IRENE WINTER SOLSTICE POLAR BEAR SWIM The annual “Looney Tunes” Irene Winter Solstice Polar Bear Swim was held at 21h00 on 21 June at Johan and Carien van der Watt’s house. The Theme remained “Fear is temporary, regret lasts forever.” The air temperature was a bit warmer than last year at 8degC and the water was a mild 10degC! The party started early with the Test Match on the big screen between Wales and South Africa, won unconvincingly by The Bokke. Carien and Johan were the perfect hostess and host allowing the swimmers and friends to make use of their home and entertainment area. Carien prepared Soup, Mac ‘n Cheese and Lasagna, while Megan and the other teenagers provided a hot dessert. Ghluwein was courtesy of Wendy while Annemarie provided the ‘Melktertjies’. This, together with a bit of Jagermeister, was all an attempt to ensure the swimmers had enough Dutch Courage to take the plunge. Most of those at the gathering had no fear but a few had valid doctor’s notes indicating heart conditions, ‘flu or similar! One family from Brooklyn took great convincing being unaccustomed to the Irene temperatures. Nevertheless they too got in although I think Mom set a new record for the shortest time in the pool. Martin and Neels were so filled with the joys of winter that they even had another swim later on. They were officially crowned the champions of 2014, taking into account also their dancing tactics to warm up again afterwards. Martin and Zani won the fancy dress competition with their snorkels, goggles, armbands and flippers.
TownLisle Crier July 2014 Photo: Caromba
Thanks Johan and Carien for a great evening. It was unanimously agreed to hold next year’s gathering at Theo and Mel’s house down Lavender Lane! Au Revoir, Malcolm
How well do you know your village? So you think you know the village. Here’s a fun challenge for you. I will publish three photos taken inside the village fence, per month, June to Dec, with questions. All you have to do is answer them correctly. If you know the village as a result of long walks you may find some very easy, some on the other hand will be extremely challenging, and of course if it is your postbox or gate you will be one step ahead of the pack. If you think you know the answers or can hunt them down, send your results to me in an e-mail and I will let you know how you did. My address: peter@iconc. com. The full results will be published in February 2015 with the names of those individuals who got them all correct or came close. Good luck! Peter
July’s challenge:
Photo 1: You see lots of them in Photo 2: These three lovely hand painted the Karoo. At what address would I Hoopoe’s will catch your eye, name the find this one in the village? lane please.
Town Crier July 2014
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Photo 3: Another set of impressive gates‌ found at what address?
Congratulations go to Ethan Botha, Gabriel Burger and Alwyn van der Merwe - all three had June’s questions correct, well done.
Naomi Smith
083 461 1231 Your reSideNt realtor ServiNg ireNe reSideNtS SiNce 2002 naomi.properties@gmail.com
Making a difference
The Irene subway has been spruced up with a wall mural, painted on both sides of the pedestrian walkway, in addition to the clean up of debris and litter. As a result, this once rather depressing area is showing signs of upkeep and beauty. Melia Gardens staff volunteered to spend 67 minutes planting at the subway and did a great job of planting donated succulent plants into the retaining wall. Now all we need is a little watering and with some luck, the area will take on a permanently attractive façade. Should you find yourself willing and available, take a watering can and keep the plants alive by giving them some much-needed hydration! The project is not complete with the tunnel of the pedestrian walkway forming part of the next phase (thanks to Open Window who have volunteered their creative talent to make it happen) so keep an eye out for further upgrades and hoot and say “helloâ€? when driving by. Our sincere thanks to the efforts of the residents who volunteered their time and energy for this project as well as those who donated funds to make the project a possibility. The ILA kindly added their contribution to allow us to move forward on the project and the DIY Depot in Pierre van Ryneveld very generously donated paint. Make a difference and be a part of a positive change! Heather
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Melia Garden Services - 67 Mandela Minutes On Friday, 18 July 2014 the team of Melia Garden Services gave 67 minutes of their time to plant some plants at the newly beautified Irene Railway bridge. The plants were donated by some residents. Thank you to Amelia and her team for doing their bit for the legacy of Madiba! Every bit helps and makes a difference. All that’s needed now is a few additional 67 minutes of watering (until the summer rains come)...
Irene Homes were privileged to be able to enter a team of Swimmers and athletes in the Special Olympics National Games which will be held at KZN in July. The residents and the dayworkers worked so hard to make it to the National games from Tshwane and now they will be representing Gauteng. We are very proud of them.
The golfers (picture above) will be participating in a tournament at the Royal Jhb Kensington Golf Club.
Fire Wood
Delivered per solid cube 1/2 ton load or 1.5 ton load delivered to your doorstep
Oscar 078 389 9632
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Congratulations Two Irene Homes Staff members received the following awards: Lesley Clark – Communication & Leadership Award - presented by the Pretoria 2000 Toastmasters. Maureen Gerber – Community Service Award – presented by the Rotary International Club of Centurion. We at Irene Homes are very proud of you!
082 622 9001
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Smuts House Museum Jan Smuts Ave, off Nellmapius Rd, Irene www.smutshouse.co.za
Ouma’s Tea Garden Tea Garden Closed on Mondays
Small Functions
Caravan Park
Arboretum & Trail
Dogs on leads welcome
Smuts House 012 667 1176/80 071 100 8481 smutshouse@iburst.co.za
Elize van den Berg 082 924 5178 012 667 2273
Tea Garden 083 595 7293
To advertise in the Irene Town Crier please contact Tracey on 082 460 6007
Yoga @ Southdowns Contact Katherine 084 302 9186 www.kathyoga.com
Small businesses Ann Campbell (ARAD – Teach Dip) School of Dance: offering Pilates and Body Conditioning, Ballet – especially for the younger child at home studio and Irene Homes Hall, Ballroom and Latin American – social group classes, private lessons and wedding dances. Phone Ann 012 667 5187/083 316 7842 or email ann@ netcampbell.com.
Need professional shuttle services? Efficient and professional door-to-door shuttle services to OR Tambo airport and around Pretoria/ Johannesburg areas. Tel 072 681 1713 or kpkshuttle@vodamail.co.za. Security/Steelwork: Welding and repair work of steel fencing, burglar bars, security gates and motorised gates and intercom systems. Guaranteed professional work. Phone Koos Sutherland 082 374 7164.
LP Gas: Cannisters delivered to your home. 9kg, 19kg, 48kg. Phone Colin 082 856 5335 Extra Maths classes e-mail orders colin.cns@ for Gr 8 to 12 in gmail.com. Irene (English or AfriIrene School of T’ai kaans). Available from Chi Ch’uan: Holistic 16h00 to 18h00 weekInternal Martial Art incor- days. Fees payable per porating deep breathing, class or month. Contact slow rythmic movement Sigrid van der Walt (B.Sc bringing balance and (Hons) Mathematics) at harmony, peace and 082 253 5079. tranquillity. Self defence martial applications. Often Education products: described as a moving For good quality, reasonmeditation. Please Con- ably priced educational tact Ainslie at 012 667 toys, books, posters. 2262 or 082 568 0467.
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wooden products, fantasy furniture, music instruments, stationary and arts and crafts from Grow, Unique kids, Smile and other education ranges please contact Mandy 083 256 7949 or email mandy.mundell@ turacokids.co.za. Certified Body Talk Practioner: Body Talk is a natural health care system, which is designed to work with, and support, your body’s own natural ability to heal itself. Contact Eleanor 082 812 7606, www.bodytalkhealth.co.za or email eleanor@live.co.za. Paving: I am John Banda and I do very good paving. I have learnt my skills from a paving company so I can do all kinds of patterns. Now I am working on my own. I have done paving in Irene so I have good references.Please call me at 078 039 5197.
For advertising in the small business section please email info@tlgpublishing.co.za.
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Small cries
Accommodation
for me for the past 3 years. I’m moving to Durban. She is looking To let: 3 bedr 2 bathr for domestic work from house with swimming Monday to Saturday. pool, access to tennis court, double car port. R She’s an honest lady and hard working. Her contact 18 000.00 p/m. w/l incl. Please contact Philip 072 details are 074 578 1273. 254 7553. Offers also Lisbet is currently welcome. working for me on a
She is hardworking, honest and very reliable. Please call her on 074 517 4388.
Cinthya has over 15 years of experience on domestic/nursing including in Irene, Golf and Midrand Estate. She was professionally trained Monday, Tuesday, to clean by superior To rent: 2 Bedroom Thursday and Friday, international standard. simplex Centurion. A 2 she is looking for work She’s simply excellent in bedroom, 1 bathroom on a Wednesday. She is all respects. Looking for townhouse with open plan a even tempered, very daily work from Mon to kitchen, one garage and committed, hardworking, Fri. Call her on 076 015 a small sunny garden, reliable and a remarkable 9814. For reference sms within close proximity trustworthy person who Paolo on 079 572 5915. to Centurion Gautrain has been working for me Domestic worker since 1994. Since my Station, UNITAS and available on Tue, Thur children left home, the Centurion Mall. R5 300 and Sat in and around work at my house is not per month. Available from enough to keep her busy. Irene. She has an 1 August 2014. Contact I can highly recommend excellent work ethic. She 083 271 1008. her. Kindly phone me for does washing, ironing, references Christine 082 dishes and cleans the Bachelor flat available house very thoroughly. I 824 0194. to let in Irene Village would highly recommend R3 300.00 p/m w/l incl. Rahab is looking for her as she is punctual, Preference would be domestic work on hard working, takes given to a tenant who Wednesdays and Fridays. initiative and does not can help with children Honest and reliable. have to be supervised. and English tuition for Resident in Irene and has For a reliable reference a reduced rent. Contact worked here for 20 years. please call Catherine on Cornelia on 083 452 0971 Please contact her on 082 462 7366, or call for an interview. 076 308 3722. Reference Gloria personally on 079 072 306 5619. 377 4337.
Domestics
Sarah has been working
Mavis is looking for a job from Monday to Friday.
Elizabeth is looking for work on Mon, Wed and/
29 or Thurs. She likes kids and animals. She is hard working and reliable. Please contact her on 079 772 2607. Beauty is looking for a full time or part time job. Please call her on 076 119 5886.
or part time work. Please Koos is looking for a call her on 071 129 0922. gardening job with a place to sleep Mon to Thurs. Wilheminah is looking for Please contact him on 2 days domestic work, Mon and Fri. Please call 076 482 3685. her on 082 671 2396.
General
Eny is looking for Smildon can do all types domestic work. Please call her on 078 058 8673. of blinds. Can also repair and recondition as well as Buyile Sithole is looking install. He has references for domestic work in Irene Smangele is looking for domestic work on Tues and experience. Please for Wed. She is honest and Thurs. 076 554 contact him on 061 931 and reliable. Please call her on 072 351 0224. For 4060 or 072 411 8990. 1491. reference call Tracey 082 Reference 082 555 4060. Wanted 460 6007.
Gardeners
Shelter Mngcwabe is James is looking for work looking for full or part time work. 074 2190170. on Mon and Wed. He is Reference 084 943 0584. hard working, honest and reliable. Please call him Precious Rupande is on 060 349 5213. looking for full time domestic work. She has 6 Looking for a full time job years experience and can in Irene. Am presently stay in or out. Reference living in Wellington Road. Angela 073 486 7289. I am Zimbabwean with Please call her on 084 working papers and 075 1179. speak English. Please call Fine Masimo on 074 Victoria is a Malawian looking for domestic work. 642 4842. Please call her on 084 Stewart is a Malawian 953 9919. looking for work. Please Simo is looking for stay in call him on 084 872 6799.
I am looking for a one or two bedroom cottage in Irene from 1 Sept. Please contact Tania on 082 797 9805. I need to build a few steps in the garden, where we have a change of level. For this, I need a small quantity of bricks. Perhaps someone who has been building has some left over bricks which they could sell me? Lisle Caromba 082 784 0231.
PLEASE NOTE: Domestic worker ads will only be placed on a first come,
first serve basis. Domestics with a reference will take preference. There is limited space for these ads in our small cries section and the number of placements will be at the publishers discretion.
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Important Telephone Numbers EBS 24hrs Control Room: 012 667 6337
or
071 576 5904
EBS Irene Manager (Dawie): 071 476 4110 ILA members without alarms should phone the EBS 24hr Control Room for assistance.
ILA Irene Village Manager - Jan Swanepoel: 083 607 6600 e-mail: jan.swanepoel@irene.co.za ILA Administration
Accounts (Veronica): 071Â 657 9547
(Alyson): 072 714 3740
Fax: 086 776 7452
e-mail: ilamanager@irene.co.za e-mail: accounts@irene.co.za
Street Lights e-mail: streetlights@tshwane.gov.za
tel: 012 358 9999
Tshwane Metro Emergency Services Power Failures: 012 358 2541
Water Supply: 012 358 2111
Ambulance/Fire: 10177
Metro Police: 1 0111
To advertise in the Irene Town Crier please contact Tracey on 082 460 6007 SOMETHING BUGGING YOU?
For all Pest Management Solutions
Tel: 012 656 1341
Joanne Fischer Cell: 076 373 0124 Office: (012) 667 2167 www.seeff.com joanne.fischer@seeff.com
Irene Area Agent
Secretaries Day Lunch
Show your appreciation with a special lunch 3rd September 2014 R185.00 Per Person • Welcome virgin cocktail Pre order a special gift or flowers when you make your booking
Starter Smoked salmon & cream cheese parcel OR Chicken liver parfait with melba toast & onion marmalade Strawberry sorbet Main Course Spinach & feta stuffed chicken supreme served with fondant potato & seasonal vegetables OR Poached salmon with asparagus & a dill hollandaise Dessert Warm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream
For Bookings contact Kim Dupuy on 012 643 3650 or clhbanq@legacyhotels.co.za CENTURION LAKE HOTEL | 1001 Lenchen Avenue North, Centurion | Tel + 27 12 643 3650
www.LegacyHotels.com CLH Secrateries day 2014 140x200 v3.indd 1
2014/02/24 10:22 AM