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Volume 118 | JULY 2015 | Stanford‘s monthly newspaper | R14

STANFORD RIVER TALK

Rainbow seasonRainbow season

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MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS Suzanne Francois-Rossouw, Andrew Herriot, Mike Horn, Olga Koorts, Emma Kriel, Karen McKee, Don MacIver, Martin Ranger, Bryan Robertson, Tasha Saha, Naas Terblanche, Wanya van der Walt, Tania Weich and James Yeats.

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

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Taken by Laura Sterley.

• EDITOR – Phil Murray 082 667 0619 philippa.murray@gmail.com • ADVERTSING & LAYOUT – Sandra Slabbert 079 523 8453 design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • ACCOUNTS – Michelle Hardie ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.zawww.stanfordrivertalk.co.za find our business page on FACEBOOK

contact us

ed's notesCountry living is stripped down to its basic charms during winter. Mountain views and riverside strolls become cold and misty, chimneys gently puff away even during the day, and people struggle to get out of bed in the mornings. People shake the frogs out of their gumboots which now take over from the sandals and slipslops of balmier seasons.

While there are fewer flashy events on the village social calendar, business carries on as usual. The Penguin Plunge (Page 7) saw some mental villagers diving into the freezing river to raise funds for the local soup kitchens, and the local schools busied themselves with tours and team building during the busy second term. Suzanne-Francois Roussouw makes a case for planting flowering perennials (Plant Talk, page 11) while Naas Terblanche suggests digesting your snail problems (Nature Talk, page 13). The Old Boar tries to soak up some sun while he recovers from surgery (Page 10) and Tania Weich stares at the bottom of her wine glass (Wine Talk, page 17).

In a change from our usual pretty photograph collage, we heaved open some of the garage and shed doors of the village to see what lies within. While the contents of workshops and barns are less quaint and cute, they are definitely just as interesting and surprising hiding many secret treasures.

In an effort to show continued support for local recycling initiatives, Stanford River Talk launched a 1 Week Rubbish Challenge (Page10) and asked families and businesses to be more mindful of their waste, and to photograph a week's worth of rubbish. Join in and reduce your carbon footprint, and send us your photograph of a week's worth of rubbish.

Snuggle in, Stanford, and enjoy July. Team River Talk wishes all our young readers a safe, peaceful and restful July school holiday. The downhill race to the end of the year begins in the third term.

Happy winter holidays

to all Stanford locals

and visitors. Please

send us photograhs of

your July escapades

to philippa .murray@

gmail .com

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

letters to the editor

I urge you to remove the xenophobic description of Scotland's National Emblem (the thistle) from the Wandelpad Team's message in the June edition of Stanford River Talk. It is not noxious. Yes, it is prickly but so indeed are many humans. It is not poisonous, however animals will learn not to dine on it. It is certainly not a weed; it is a flower and a most beautiful one.Andrew Herriot (Proud Scot)

➜ Editor's note: Thanks Andrew. You are right, and we swiftly changed 'noxious' to 'invasive' before we went to print.

Let's discuss the issues together, and improve Stanford's future Having been a brand builder for big companies and international brands most of my life, I should like to express my concern about Stanford's current identity and image. Let me explain:An identity – who we areAn image – how we are seenStrategy – the roadmap which allows us to merge our identity and image Do we, and tourists, perceive Stanford in the same way? Stanford has branded itself with 3 labels: as SA's Best Holiday Destination, 2013, as a village of Food Heroes, and as a conservation/ heritage area. When tourists enter Stanford via Queen Victoria Street, these three brands are not showcased. Tourists should find it easy to find a variety of Food Heroes and foodie establishments, the cultural and architectural heritage should be easily accessed along with our beautiful natural conservation areas and the 'Best Tourist Destination' will follow. At the moment it doesn't all follow which is the first sign of our suffering an identity crisis. Do our tourists leave puzzled and confused as to what Stanford is really about? Locals

say one thing, but do visitors really share the same experience? This may make our communication through media seem hollow which could harm us more. In fact, the money we spent promoting ourselves may be counter-productive. The closer we merge our identity and image, the better business we all do. All companies and all brands know that. When a business is not doing very well, it doesn't make money to reinvest and instead, slowly begins to decay. For the record, a community, like a village or city, is also a business. Just as people who have identity crises need treatment, starting with the diagnoses that the patients are sick, so does our village. Only then can the search for a cure begin. If we manage to do what is needed now, then we create value for ourselves and increase value for the next generation, so that our community stays vital. I hope this will kickstart important discussions and decisions on an adjusted vision of who we are today and who we want to be in the future. Stanford is a special place. Let's start to find solutions so that it doesn't fall into a coma. Please share your thoughts with me at info.onerusticroad@gmail.comHarry Poortman

Weeding out xenophobia

Stanford's identity crisis

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news and updates WARD COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

STANFORD PROPERTY SALESSix properties in Stanford were issued with sales certificates in June. These figures include name transfers.

The Democratic Alliance held a glittering DA Overstrand Fundraiser on 16 June at the Bona Dea Private Estate. What an amazing night! There were 40 candles on each table. Mmusi Maimane delivered a very inspirational, upbeat address and then Michael Cardo ran the auction which raised thousands of rands. Creation did the catering which was fabulous with a different wine served at every course.Annie Ranger

Marcques Kotze loves vehicles of every imaginable shape and size. He has in the past rescued an old wagon from becoming firewood, and now a beautiful red decommissioned fire engine has joined his collection. Team River Talk asked Marcques to share her credentials: 'She is a 1954 Bedford RLHZ self propelled fire pump. She was imported from the UK in 2004 and was operational at Bonnievale Municipality until 2014. A friend of mine bought her at the Municipality Auction earlier this year before she made her way to Stanford. She has only clocked 19 000 miles and runs like a dream, all the pumps working perfectly too. I have an idea to restore the vehicle but then what shall I do with her? Any suggestions?'Marcques Kotze

Democratic Allies: Mmusi Maimane DA Leader, Annie Ranger and Dr Michael Cardo MP.

Lady in red: 1954 fire engine.

Meeting held 11 June 2015

BEZUIDENHOUT STREET PAVEMENT Please have a look at the progress of the pavement in front of the community hall. It is done as a labour intensive project using unskilled labour hence the slow, but steady progress. They are doing an excellent job and by the end of August, the entire pavement has to be completed.

WORKING FOR THE COASTThe Green Team’s contract has not yet been renewed, so their last working day will be at the end of June. They expect the new contract to start in September, but there is no guarantee. The team assisted the municipality three days a week, and Stanford Conservation twice a week. Their absence will be sorely felt all over the village.

MUNICIPAL PARKS PERSONNELStanford have no staff complement assigned for parks, and we have been fortunate that the Green Team has fulfilled this role for the past four years. In discussion with Mr Kat Myburgh, area manager for Gansbaai and Stanford, it was agreed that Gansbaai park employees could be made available on request. This is similar to the decision made recently to allocate the ‘honey sucker’ (along with the Stanford personnel) to Gansbaai three days a week as the service was not used to capacity in Stanford.

STANFORD HOUSING PROJECTThe preliminary urban design for the low-cost housing development to the south-west of Stanford has started, and will be presented to the community as soon as the draft design has been completed.

BUDGET ISSUESThree service fees have not been increased in the 2015/16 budget: parking fees, the cost of a grave, and the costs related to the encroachment in building lines.*There will be no July Ward Report as council is in recess.Bea Whittaker

Dinner with the DA

July 2015 has the distinction of having two full moons – one on 2 July and the second (called a Blue Moon) on Friday, 31 July. This Blue Moon is rising at 17:38 and The Stanford Bird Club thought it would be the perfect (if chilly) opportunity to walk around the village in the moonlight and look for owls (rain permitting) and other night-active birds. Spotted Eagle Owls have been spotted (excuse the pun) at Ernie’s and at the flowering gum tree at the river bend. This is open to all interested Stanfordians, not only Bird Club Members. See What's On (Page ) for details. Marian Williams

Stanford Blue Moon Birding

NOT JUST A PETROLHEAD

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Various improvements to existing facilities along the river bank, as well as some new facilities, have been proposed by the municipality. As required by legislation, the public participation process started on 9 June with the draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) being made available in the Stanford Library. The following are proposed (please note: all sizes mentioned are approximate): King Street: replacement of the 2m x 1.5m wooden jetty and the construction of a viewing platform at the top of the embankment.Slipway area: new ablution facility of ± 80m2 on the c/o Caledon and Du Toit Streets; replacement of damaged jetty with a 3m x 2m floating jetty; replacement of damaged walkway to provide access to the floating jetty; resurfacing of existing access road, parking area and slipway; new raised walkway around the north-western corner of the adjacent erf; and a bird hide at the Wasklip area.Willem Appel Dam: new raised wooden pedestrian walkway along Bezuidenhout Street and the possibility of stocking the dam with appropriate fish. If you would like to be part of the process and comment on the proposed activities, you should register as an interested and/or affected party (I&AP) by 7 July 2015. This is also the due date for comment on the draft BAR. Registration and/or comment has to be done by means of writing a letter, providing all your contact details and disclosing whether you have any direct personal business, financial or personal interest in the approval or refusal of the application. The following reference must be quoted in your letter: Stanford Developments: Ref No: 15/06/301. The letter must either be posted to EnviroAfrica, PO Box 4, Onrus 7201 or faxed to 0865 132 141. It can also be attached to an email and sent to charel@enviroafrica.co.za. No late registrations as an I&AP or comments on the draft BAR will be accepted after 7 July 2015.Bea Whittaker

Stanford South has a highly effective and committed Neighbourhood Watch which conducts foot patrols and acts as eyes and ears, protecting the community and reporting to SAPS. Stanford North has launched a new Neighbourhood Watch to also be the eyes and ears, reporting to SAPS. Both these groups plan to merge and work together to protect the whole community, but for now, the Stanford North group needs to get up and running. They need everyone's help. Both NHWs are accountable and report to senior SAPS and CPF Management at monthly meetings. Please check this map to identify your sector. Each sector has an appointed co-ordinator whose number is listed below which you should keep in a convenient place. There are also helpers, all of whom have been screened and fingerprinted by SAPS. The SAPS is still your first point of call for robberies and other crimes, but if you feel vulnerable or have helpful information, please phone your Sector Co-ordinator. But please bear in mind that Watch members are not there to take over or do actual police duties. They are there to assist the SAPS in dealing with crime and to improve arrest and conviction rates. Only in exceptional circumstances will NHW members actually make physical arrests by exercising a citizen's arrest which is a legal right open to all members of the public.Chris Moll

Sannie Badenhorst

Heinrich

SilleryRiverside

Ettiene

Adderley

Quick

King

Queen Victoria

Longmarket

Daneel

Bezuidenhout

R43 Gansbaai

Buiten

P HauptJJ Swart

Vlei

Moore

Protea

Queen Victoria

Disa

CaledonChurch

Shortmarket

Du Toit

De Bruyn

R43 Hermanus

Morton

SECTOR 1

VILLAGE GREEN

SECTOR 2

SECTOR 3

SECTOR 4De Bruyn

SECTOR 1: Chris Moll (Sector co-ordinator) 082 578 1828, Guy Whittle, Peter Ground, Jake HeeseSECTOR 2: Allan Youens (Sector co-ordinator) 082 903 4432, Matt Chancey, John Chancey, Stuart Anderson, Francois du PreezSECTOR 3: Butch Zeederberg (Sector co-ordinator) 076 709 8460, Nick Blackburn, Bryan RobertsonSECTOR 4: Peter Hochfelden (Sector co-ordinator) 082 443 7867, David Smith, Mike Hilton, Ian Wilson, Werner Jacobs, Rick Prins, Johan van Zyl

SAPS: 028 341 0601

Stanford North Neighbourhood Watch

news and updates

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTNow open for discussion: proposed facilities along river

In a statement released on 22 June, MEC Alan Winde stated that the impact of the new visa regulations is proving disastrous for the tourism sector. The regulations include the need for an unabridged birth certificate for tourists travelling to South Africa. The two reports that were released earlier that week, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) Tourism Highlight 2015 Edition and Statistics South Africa’s Tourism Migration: February 2015, showed clear evidence that South Africa is losing foreign visitors.South Africa’s Migration Report provided the following statistics:• In February 2015, 1 133 411 foreign tourists arrived at South Africa’s ports of entry• In February 2014, 11 457 Chinese tourists visited South Africa, compared to 7 748 in February 2015• Between February 2014 and February 2015, arrivals from India fell from 6 707 to 4 989• Over the same period, arrivals from Argentina decreased from 1 698 to 422• Figures show 3 245 Brazilian tourists arrived in South Africa in February 2014, compared with 2260 in February 2015China, who is responsible for US$165 billion spend on overseas trips in 2014, is getting the royal treatment from other areas. Australia has just announced a 10-year multiple entry visa for Chinese visitors. In South Africa, Air China has postponed the launch of their direct flight service partly due to onerous visa regulations. MEC Winde said, 'I note National Cabinet’s announcement that Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba will head an inter-ministerial team to look into objections against the regulations. There’s one fatal flaw, this amounts to the Minister investigating himself. Instead, he should simply look at the numbers and listen to the industry.'

http://www.gov.za/speeches/new-reports-prove-disastrous-impact-visa-regulations-22-jun-2015-0000

TOURISM TALK

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news and updates

Members of the community were asked to vote for a name for the new park c/o Queen Victoria and Moore Streets. People were emailed by the Tourism Office, could vote by email to the editor and were also able to participate through Stanford River Talk's Facebook group. The favourite three names were Victoria Park, Tettekop and Kid's Kingdom, with Victoria Park being the overwhelming winner. A new sign and possible benches, bins and fence will be donated by members of the community for the benefit of all.

Park name vote

It was Nicolene Jooste's dream to see a playground on the Market Square. Two years and some obstacles later, her dream is becoming reality. Much like the playground on the corner of Queen Victoria and Moore Streets, all funds have been raised by means of donations in kind, manpower or cash – in this case mainly sourced by Nicolene. Louis van der Walt is the master designer, the municipality assisted by providing manpower (as did the well-known Green Team) and four Grade 11 learners from Hermanus High School project-managed and physically assisted with making the park a reality. As the learners were carrying poles down the main road, all the children who saw them decided to become part of the effort. Eventually approximately 12 children were taking turns to carry two-metre gum poles down the road!Bea Whittaker

The citizen frog monitoring project was initiated in Stanford during 2014, in

partnership with the Agulhas Biodiversity Initiative and the Overstrand Municipality. A number of Stanford residents and Okkie Smuts school students were involved. The project involved monitoring the types and numbers of frogs at both the Willem Appel Dam and the Vlei Street wetlands. The group worked on a Thursday night and early on a Friday morning every two weeks for a four month period. In the process the participants gained both core science knowledge and skills. The volunteers applied themselves to a meaningful science project of which the findings could be given to the relevant authorities to inform management practices. This is significant as the project had contextual relevance. Water samples were taken at four positions to measure the presence of nitrate and faecal coliforms. These tests were donated by Afriforum Overstrand branch. The test results indicated that the nitrate levels were within allowable levels. Three of the four water samples had an acceptable level of faecal coliforms. However, one test result showed a high amount of faecal matter present in the water at the corner of Vlei and Victoria streets. These results were presented to the

manager of the Environmental Management Department, Ms Liezl Bezuidenhout, and a site visit was done. It was agreed that further testing to investigate the origin of the faeces would be conducted with a view to finding the source of the pollution. When enquiring about the procurement of 20 replications of the tests which indicate presence of faecal matter and E. Coli, the national Afriforum office agreed to sponsor these tests. A further issue was the hard concrete barrier on School Street, which forms a verge edge on the section that runs through the wetland area. At present many toadlets are found dessicated (and dead) when they emerge from the Willem Appel Dam. At very little cost the public works department could install short sections of pipe and cement to create a slope through which toadlets can safely proceed into the wetland area. The frog monitoring group are motivated to continue working on the project this year with the purpose of finding the breeding ponds of the Western Leopard Toad within the urban area. They will do patrols every night during the peak breeding season, probably be the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, dependent on rain. This project is a valuable pilot for community participation in wetland

monitoring using frogs as bio-indicators in urban areas. This brings direct benefit to the Stanford community in terms of better environmental management while nurturing leadership qualities and scientific skills in the youth. The funding required to facilitate the 2015 leg of this project amounts to R 7 000. The Walker Bay Bird Fair committee has kindly donated R1000 and the Stanford Bird Club has indicated that they too will make a donation towards the R 6 000 shortfall. It will be greatly appreciated if the Stanford Conservation Group can make a contribution to the project facilitation costs or identify potential funders in the Stanford community. Sheraine van WykEco-learning & Green House Awareness Centre Manager Whale Coast Conservation

Parkdream Stanford Local Art HarvestOn Tuesday, 16 June the exhibition 'Stanford Local Art Harvest' opened in the gallery of Stanford Harvest. Stanford is home to a variety of artists and the opening night was warmly supported by locals milling around, sipping soup and sherry, meeting artists and using the opportunity to buy original artworks. The exhibition is open until 19 July.

Art appreciation: Locals and artists enjoyed the exhibition opening at the Stanford Harvest.

Stanford Frog Monitoring ProjectHow citizens really make a difference in our village

Park time: Local teenagers and the Green Team working together.

Monitoring and measuring

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news and updates

Life is a funny old thing sometimes

Rotary’s annual Winter Warmth Project is not only about providing blankets to the poor and elderly of our community. It is also about providing jerseys or warm woollies to children from poor families. With only 35 hand-knitted jerseys and four baby blankets in stock we hoped we’d have sufficient, as funds are limited for purchasing these items. It is funny how things happen, though. Suddenly the need for jerseys was around 60 due to there being a lot of sick children this year in need of some extra warmth. What to do, what to do? Out of the blue we received a large donation of knitted jerseys, baby clothes and fleece blankets from a church group in Rondebosch. Oh what joy! Without hesitation Lana got stuck in and sorted the four huge bags. There were 57 jerseys in those bags. We had three pregnant girls (really young girls) in desperate need so were able to provide their babies with some clothing and blankets. Apart from these three, there were six other pregnant moms. We had exactly six knitted baby blankets. Two premature babies received clothing and small blankets. We had purchased 14 small fleece blankets and received 13 back in the donation. We’ve never been in a position to provide baby clothing in the past, and the recipients were very grateful. In the end we had to purchase 12 fleece tops because we’d run out of a specific size. The last thing was that there was no jersey for a child who is larger than her normal sizing, and Lana was planning to go out and purchase a fleece top for her. Then there was a knock at Lana's door and a neighbour handed over a hand-knitted jersey – the exact size for this young girl in need! This same neighbour donated three other beautifully knitted adult jerseys for elderly people, one of which has found a home with a woman who has cancer, a smile on her face and a brilliant sense of humour.Rotary Stanford

ROTARY STANFORD

Stanford at its bestLast month, Mark Beaumont, the Scottish cyclist who broke the world record for cycling from Cairo to Cape Town in 18 days, was invited to recuperate in Stanford by Karl van Zyl. Karl believed a stay in Stanford would be the best form of relaxation and recuperation after such an incredible achievement. Mark and his family dined at the Vine Restaurant and enjoyed the 'best ribs ever'. Karl also organized beer and wine tasting at the Birkenhead Brewery as well as Raka Vineyard. They were hosted by Brian and Jill Smith of Galashiels Lodge, a quintessential Scottish Guest House. Brian grew up in Edinburgh and the 'Lairds Locker' pub was much appreciated by Mark with its strong Scottish flavour. Mark, his wife, Nicky, baby girl, Harriet, and friend, Abigail, simply loved the village and have promised to come back again. Jill Smith

Brrrr: Penguins in the water, chickens on the bank

Veterans and first-timers share their experiences from the 2015 Plunge. This surprising winter sport of swimming in the wintery Klein River is in order to raise funds for the local soup kitchens, all supported by Rotary.

• ´Never in my lifetime did I think I would swap my position from being a chicken to being a penguin but friends convinced me and I am officially converted. The water was breathtakingly cold but the sun and gluhwein warmed us up in a minute. It was great fun for my kids to watch too and so nice to see the community spirit.´ Andrea Conrad

• ´The bright winter sunshine made the idea of jumping in quite appealing this year. Until I hit the water and was rudely reminded that it was the middle of June! The community camaraderie always makes me happy to live in Stanford.´ Jami Kastner

• ´After the initial loss of breath and shock to the system, the fun and frivolity of the occasion warmed up not only the quivering bodies, but the community too.´ Rosalind Nale

• ´It was very cold, but refreshing and so much fun!´ Ruby Walne

A taste of Wine & WisdomFor those who have never been to a Conservation Trust fundraiser, here is a selection of the questions posed by quiz masters, Wendy and Brian Cooke, at June’s trivial quiz night. Grab some friends to make up a team and join in the fun. 1. How many Comrades Marathon gold medals has Bruce Fordyce won?2. What is the capital of the Bahamas?3. With what name did Winston Churchill sign his paintings?4. What unit measures the heat of chillies?5. Which is the largest state in the USA?6. What is chlorophobia?7. What is an otoscope used for?8. Name the little theatre in Onrusrivier.(Answers at bottom of page)Wine and Wisdom is held on the first Thursday of the month at the Birkenhead Brewery. The fee of R50 goes to the Stanford Conservation Trust. For information contact Annie Ranger annie@reedcottage.co.za

1. NINE 2. NASSAU 3. CHARLES MORIN 4. SCOVILLE SCALE 5. ALASKA 6. FEAR OF THE COLOUR GREEN 7. CHECKING EARS 8. SPROKKELSTER

Thank you from RotaryAccording to the list of names, 82 plungers dived into the river while numerous chickens huddled around on the banks. Thank you to the following for helping pull off an exceptional day:Springfontein Estate for steaming gluhwein and hot chocolate,Mosaic Sanctuary & Graze Slow Food Cafe for the hearty soup and bread, Penguin Tutoring for intricate beaded penguin key rings for plungers and Tim Hague, Peter Ground and sons for preparations and making sure that area was demarcated and safe. Thank you to each and every penguin and chicken who attended and donated generously. The funds raised will go to the 'soup book' at Kobin's General Dealer to pay for ingredients for local soup kitchens which feed the elderly and disabled in our community. A total of R5 640 was raised. Anybody who still wishes to donate can contact Stephen (084 705 6719) or Ansie (082 320 0982) or donate directly to the 'soup book'.

5th Annual Penguin Plunge

Mark Beaumont and his family.

TAKE

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school talk

GANSBAAI ACADEMIA

DIE BRON

FUNIMFUNDO

Professor Jonathan Jansen, the rector and vice-chancellor of the University of the Orange Free State, visited Academia on 11 June. He is a good friend of the school and rates Academia highly because of the achievements and quality of two of our previous learners, Bianca De Koning and Andisiwe Wulana, who are studying at his university on fully paid bursaries facilitated by him. He delivered a spellbinding motivational speech using humour, his own life experiences and even a piano solo to illustrate his message that a person’s circumstances should not be an excuse in life to stop him from achieving. He told the learners that the current standard that is required to pass matric is not good enough to ensure their future and that they should aim to become their best. Afterwards Prof Jansen indicated that he aims to enter into a partnership with Academia that will see our top four learners this year and up to six learners a year thereafter receive bursaries to study at his university. The only criteria for these bursaries will be the achievements of our learners. On a sad note, we were shocked when we heard the news that one of our grade 10 learners, Musa Ngaleka was murdered in Stanford on 13 June. This friendly and humorous learner was a dashing soccer player who will be missed by his peers. Our condolences go to his family and friends. Three of our learners, Jay-Lee Swart, Melandi Steynberg and Zandre Otto were included in the Boland 0/18 Girls Rugby Team. They will play in the SA tournament in Durban during the school holidays. Jay-Lee, who has been selected for a second time, grew up in Stanford and attended Okkie Smuts before enrolling at Academia. Last year she shared the Sportswoman of the Year award with Zandre at Academia’s awards evening.Ernst Nieuwoudt

Bright shining starsThe Star Literacy Programme which assists children at Die Bron Primary School recently held an award ceremony for the learners who graduated in June. Congratulations to these hardworking young readers and thank you to the principal, Mr Lionel Pedro, for his support. The Star Literacy Programme would not function without the time and energy of the volunteers who help young learners learn to love literature.

What an absolute joy it was to take 16 isiXhosa Grade Rs and their teachers to a wondrous sea world with 3000 marine creatures on view including sharks, turtles and penguins; the Two Oceans Aquarium is one of the finest aquariums in the world. We set off early morning with our picnic basket packed, our little yellow Funimfundo T-shirts on, all very excited. The children shrieked with delight when Mango Airlines took off just above the kombi and gasped at the size of the ships in dry dock at the V&A Waterfront. We could have turned around and left for home after all of that excitement but there was so much more to come. Fikile met us at the entrance to the aquarium and shook each child’s hand before leading us into the enchanting world of the ocean. The 'Nemo Bubble Tank' was the beginning of our journey and what a hit it was! Then we were all ushered off to watch an educational puppet show with the message to keep our oceans clean and healthy. We popped in to say hi to the penguins, had the opportunity to touch all kinds of funny looking seaweeds and sea urchins, looked at the beautiful seahorses and then went to see the Great White sharks. This tank was on our agenda from the beginning of our journey and when we finally arrived the children were quite exhausted – a perfect time to sit down quietly, absorb what they had seen and stare at sharks, turtles and huge fish of all shapes and sizes. It was a fabulous outing which will never be forgotten! Funimfundo Pre-school is a Food 4 Thought project.Maryanne Ward

Graduates and mentors: (Front from left) IG Leonard, Achuma Khumsa, Devon Benjamin, Akha Twala and Josh Hendricks (Back from left) Keith Brown, Annie Ranger, Lindsay Frith and Di Castiglione.

Academic heads: Tommy Volkwyn, Ernst Nieuwoudt, Tommie Wilson, Jonathan Jansen, Kobus Koekemoer and Mona Matthews

Die Bron's prefects went on a leadership camp from 12 - 14 June. 17 Prefects attended the camp held at Uilenkraalsmond. The learners behaved themselves beautifully and had a great time. They eagerly took part in the work sessions. They have gained in confidence and leadership skills and are eager to implement their new skills at school. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the camp. Mrs. C. Nicholson

STAR LITERACY

(Front left) Alex Nicholson, Rowan Johannes, Keanu Dreyer, Me. K. Dreyer, Yongama Mqalekana, Lerato Hermanus and Wyzell Fourie (Middle from left) Kelly Hoffman, Duwayne Dyk, Me. I. Loff, Zinathemba Tyhaliti, Chantel Hendricks, Andrea Steeneveldt, Lizel Abrahams, Zimkitha Diza, Asiphe Siyo and Me. C. Nicholson (Back left) Me. C. Lucas, Nathan Tobias, Lehandra Swart and Masixole Sigwiji.

Two Oceans Kelp forest.

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DON’T MISS OUT! UPCOMING EVENTS AT DE HOOP COLLECTION

• 10-12 JULY: CHRISTMAS IN JULY WITH EMILE MINNIE Fun weekend with Richard von Geusau and his wonderful chocolate making workshop, a visit from Father Christmas, high tea and a performance by the talented Emile Minnie!

• 19-22 JULY: YOGA @ THE OPSTAL with Marianne WiidThe Yoga Retreat will provide an enriching experience in a venue that will unify your body, mind and spirit.

• 31 JULY - 2 AUG: WHALE OF TRAIL RUN @ DE HOOP Run along the Whale Trail Route on a 53km journey from the Potberg nature reserve to Koppie Alleen.

• 7-9 AUG: MTB POTBERG DE HOOP MOUNTAIN BIKE CHALLENGE – an exciting mountain bike weekend with 6 rides.

• 4-6 SEPT: WINE, WHALES & MUSIC @ DE HOOP A musical weekend with wines from the Overberg region. Richard von Geusau’s Chocolate-making workshop, high tea, gourmet food and wine pairing.

GUIDED ACTIVITIES | RESTAURANT | WEDDINGS

EVENT WEEKENDS | DAY VISITORS WELCOME

OFFICE DETAILS: Agent Jill Smith

Tel: +27 (28) 341 0708 Cell: +27 (83) 700 4103

6 Queen Victoria Street Stanford 7210

Email: Jill.smith@pamgolding.co.za

Office Email: stanford@pamgolding.co.za

Website: www.pamgolding.co.za

Pam Golding CEO, Andrew Golding made the street, for one night, his home. The 'Millionaire Mile' in Sandton CBD, was shut off and closed down on 18 June for the 'Sleep Out'.

Andrew Golding embraces the global trend of engaging business as a force for positive change. The movement toward shared values in today's society demands that business has a broader mandate than simply profit on its agenda.

The highly ambitious 702 Sun International CEO Sleep Out challenges business leaders to use their influence to raise awareness and funds to support a social cause - our vulnerable and homeless children. The beneficiary partner is Girls and Boys Town, a non-profit organisation that has taken vulnerable youths under its wing for the past 57 years, rehabilitating individuals, strengthening character, nurturing bonds and equipping them with the skills to navigate the world and create a future with purpose.

While one night on the streets will not begin to simulate the reality of South Africa's most vulnerable children, it displays solidarity and a commitment to use business as a force for change.

Andew has already raised R100 000 towards his participation on the one night. For more information, go to http://www.theceosleepoutza.co.za/participants.php

'SLEEP OUT' CHALLENGE TO BUSINESS LEADERS

7 km outside Stanford on Route 326 028 341 0693 · www.kleinrivercheese.co.za · info@kleinrivercheese.co.za

Klein River winter-favourite fondue packs available in the cheese shop!

STANFORD RIVER TALK 10

I am doing my best Blokkies Joubert imitation. Blokkies Joubert is a fictional character, a retired Springbok rugby player. According to legend he spent his latter years sitting in the slanting winter sun (which I am doing) watching the images flicker on the TV screen (which I am not doing). Recovering from major surgery takes time, unfortunately. It allows retrospection into the time one spent in the ICU, where, thanks to various drug-induced states of awareness, I was able to observe human behaviour on a number of fronts. There were nursing assistants and sisters who were dedicated to their work, and there were those who were there simply to collect the next paycheque. And there was a cleaner who operated in a zombie-like state pushing a mop, day in and day out. There were patients who tolerated the discomfort and those that railed against it. All these interactions went on 24 hours a day; I’m glad to be out of there! A friend has just returned from Mozambique. Sadly he reports that hundreds, if not thousands, of hectares have been stripped of their hardwood forests, the timber sold and land left bare and useless. Does anybody care? I doubt it. Under our old government (where things worked) we became known as a pariah state. Under the current government (where things do not work) we are rapidly becoming a pariah state. Internationally wanted criminals are allowed to come and go (from Waterkloof nogal!) while our merry President giggles away and appoints his praise singers to carry out various important functions of state. The rule of law is history. What can we expect next? Grexit looms! Will this cause the collapse of the international monetary system? It will certainly cause a lot of stress in Europe and the world economy. Will Russia bail them out? Will Angela Merkel blink? Some of these questions may have been answered by the time you read this. Right now, the world is holding its breath.

HORNS, 4 peopleWe found that our biggest problem was polystyrene packaging which is prolific in supermarkets. Polystyrene is difficult to recycle and is not processed by our local recycling plant. It takes more effort to drive to butchers, grocers and markets to buy fresh products without polystyrene but it is worth it for freshness, boosting small local producers and reducing waste.

Waiting for recoveryThe Old Boar has had time to observe

FINANCE MATTERS

Stanford River Talk used Facebook and email to send out a 1 Week Rubbish Challenge to local families and businesses. Families and businesses were asked to change their shopping, reduce their waste and increase their recycling in the month of June. They were then asked to send a photograph of the bin bags their family put out on rubbish day along with a comment on how they found the challenge.Thank you to those who participated. Why not extend the 1 Week Challenge to a month, and then a year? We can all benefit.

CHANCEYS, 13 peopleOne rubbish bin with three black trash bags, plus two bags of recycling! We spent this week sorting out stuff in the kids' rooms and also ended up with one full bag of clothes for Animal Welfare. We got a sober wake-up call about nine years ago when we moved to the country from suburbia. We were shocked to see how little garbage we put out weekly when we lived in the middle of nowhere compared to when we lived within a short drive to all kinds of 'goodies' like Starbucks Coffee and major shopping centres. When we saw how our footprint decreased in the country, we just decided that, no matter where we lived, we would be more mindful about wasting less and using things more carefully. We also changed our diets drastically when we moved to Kenya, eating more fresh vegetables (no packaging) and cutting down our boxed content to nearly nothing (it's way too expensive in Kenya, anyway!). We are so glad to have a robust recycling programme here that we can use. It's a good feeling knowing not only that things are reused but that work is created for those who need jobs.

In a surprise move the North West’s Brenda Fassie Municipality has announced new restrictions on the movement of dogs over its administrative boundary. From 1 November any dog owner wishing to bring his pet into the region will need to carry either the dogs’ Certificate of Pedigree or an affidavit from a veterinarian confirming ownership. Municipal spokesman Staffi Graaff advised that these regulations were designed to prevent dog trafficking.

She added that following similar legislation on the Cote d’Azur Brigitte Bardot had been arrested twice for driving her poodles into Monaco without proper documentation. A prominent member of the hospitality industry who asked not be named (we’ll call him Sol) said that this action could seriously impact on tourism in the region. Sol explained: 'The dog-loving clients of the casinos and resorts in the province will be looking elsewhere

for their entertainment. They might even start going back to Margate!'Meanwhile there are interesting developments in the Karoo dorp of Droogwater. Inspired by recent cover photo revelations featuring so-called celebrities, local sheep breeder Ertjie Koekermoer of the farm Geen Seesig, has come out of the pantry by revealing a secret passion for cake decorating. Says the father-of-four: 'My admission has left me feeling so much better, so unburdened. I will happily pose with some of my cupcakes for the cover of the Karoo Koerant. In a further attempt to reduce its losses, SAA has decided to fly only those sectors of its network that are profitable. This means that its remaining routes will be Kinshasa – Lumbumbashi and Abijan – Ouagadougu. When it was pointed out to spokesman Biggles Ntembi that neither of these routes reached SAA’s home base he agreed that this was a challenge. Oddly Biggles saw no irony in a situation in which Business Class–loving parliamentarians would now be forced to commute between Pretoria and Cape Town in planes bearing the name and colours of a former colonial power.Stay tuned.

SOAPBOX

With a pinch of saltMartin Ranger puts his spin on recent newsflashes

'Ertjie Koekermoer of the farm Geen Seesig, has come out of the

pantry...'

1 Week Rubbish Challenge

STANFORD RIVER TALK 11

Natalie 082 893 2282natalie@stanfordvillage.co.za

www.stanfordvillageproperties.co.za

Marianne 072 111 9321marianne@stanfordvillage.co.zawww.stanfordvillageproperties.co.za

R2 300 000 Spacious home on a double plot. Lots of extras including 4 bedrooms, double garage, laundry, 2 stoeps, etc .

R950 000 Delightful one bedroom lock up and go in Victoria Close. Come and join the 11 other happy homeowners in this cute and secure complex.

R2 600 000Position, position, position... This immaculate property has many advantages including the large plot, easy living areas, tasteful finishes, lovely deep stoep, proximity to the river and, last but not least, the unobstructed views.

SOLE MANDATE

SOLE MANDATE

JOINT MANDATE

R995 000 each Beyond special! Subdivided from the original Sir Robert Stanford's property in the historic centre of the village. These 1000sqm plots are alongside each other. Buy one or both ... You will be the proud owner of a magnificent piece of property steeped in history.

JOINT MANDATE

028 3410 961

Cosy cattery and kennel in lovely country atmosphere.Qualified dog trainer.

Well balanced diets, love and care.

vet talk

Like us, pets go through different life stages. Ageing is gradual and animals of different sizes and

backgrounds age at different rates. Organs deteriorate, senses decline and energy flags. You might notice Fido slowing down and being less eager to walk or play. He might be stiff in the morning or unable to jump up as quickly when called. Kitty might eat less or be less inclined to go outside or to hunt. Maybe they sleep more and are startled when touched. House training might be forgotten. However, with love and care pets can be kept happy and comfortable in their senior years. Good nutrition is vital to a pet’s health at any age and should be a priority from the start. Even if you adopt an older pet it will make all the difference to their general health. Exercise is also important – for dogs and cats. Fitter, slimmer pets live longer, are less likely to suffer from diseases like diabetes and suffer less from the effects of arthritis. Remedies ranging from special diets to medication are available to deal with diseases like arthritis or heart conditions that might develop in an older pet.

Dental check-ups from an early age will ensure that they do not suffer from sore mouths. Lumps should be seen to while they are still small enough to be removed easily. Grooming requirements change as the coat quality changes and older pets usually need more regular claw trimming. Make sure that your older cat has easy access to the house – a high window requiring her to jump might not be ideal. Older dogs need padded soft beds and possibly carpets on slippery surfaces. Your pet is another member of your family and deserves as much as you can give him. Forgive him, like you would an elderly person, when he forgets his manners or house training.

The new Stanford Animal Welfare shop (at Carsten’s corner) is up and running and we invite you to come and check out our amazing bargains. We wish to thank Liz MacMillan for her wonderful donation of kitchen cupboards, Ian Wilson for putting everything together, and Rob Snodgrass and all the other helpers involved in the removals. Cherry Wyrley Birch has retired from the shop and we thank her so much for all her years of hard work. We are urgently looking for more volunteers to man our shop for a few hours a day. Come on Stanford, by volunteering you can help our needy dogs and cats! Call Annie Ranger 028 3410 984 or ranger@reedcottage.co.za

SAWS shop needs volunteersSenior moments

Dr Olga Koorts offers advice on living with older pets

STANFORD RIVER TALK 12

Landscaping & irrigation services.

Mon - Fri, 7:30 - 17:00 Sat, 8:00 - 14:00

Tel: (028) 341 0691 Fax: (028) 341 0413

DIY - PAINT - PLUMBINGIRRIGATION - NURSERY

STANFORDJULY PROMOTIONS

References: http://www.iol.co.za/ http://www.enca.com/ http://mybroadband.co.za/

Off the grid, or gridlocked?Dassiesklip Wind Energy Facility, just outside Caledon in the

Overberg, has nine wind turbine generators with a total 27MW capacity and was officially opened on 18 February 2014. More wind farms are popping up around South Africa in a bid to harness sustainable and cheaper energy for our flailing grid. According to SA Wind Energy Association, wind energy can cost almost a third less than old-fashioned energy from coal-burning mega-stations, and that is not even taking into consideration the indirect pollution costs of coal burning. These wind farms plan to share not only their generated electricity but also shareholdings with local communities. They are also committed to socio-economic upliftment over the next twenty years. Eskom is committed to a twenty year power purchasing agreement and is mandated to support the project. We, as users of Eskom's power, all contribute to this wind farm. Solar farms tap into another abundant resource in South Africa. Huge solar farms like the Jasper Solar Power Project have come online around South Africa while others are still being built. Discussions around sustainable energy are essential. We have become accustomed to loadshedding and have left many decisions around energy up to the government till now, criticising the mistakes and applauding the innovations. We should all be poised to help. A small group of people has begun meeting in Stanford to grapple with how to get our village entirely off the grid and actually selling energy back to Eskom. Their primary focus is to resist the proposed nuclear plant at Bantamsklip by proposing a viable and better solution, and Stanford River Talk anticipates good news from them soon.Phil Murray

• Lutian Generator 8KVA with wheels - R11 800 • Lutian Generator 6.5KVA with wheels - R11 500

• Ellies light solar kit 4 - R2260• Ellies Led spotlight battery powered - R110

• Sika Raintite kit 5L assorted colours - R130

Prices Valid While Stocks Last. 1 - 31 JULY 2015 All Prices Include Vat.

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STANFORD RIVER TALK 13

nature talk

RAINFALL STATISTICS

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 ave

Jan 8.5 19 14 35 37 104 23.4 32.7

Feb 11 17.5 20 16 16 17 18.2 16.5

March 20.5 20 26 28.5 29 25 14 23

April 27.6 30 56 53.3 54 48 13.3 29.7

May 55 66.5 83 43.5 55 30 33.2 62.1

June 106.3 91.5 88 86 84 139 160 107

July 97.5 43 56 103 33 91 71

Aug 89 46 74 125 234 41 97

Sept 88 35.5 25.5 73 60.5 42 56.9

Oct 92 50 25 111.5 62 36 59

Nov 31 57 42 26 212 43 71.1

Dec 6 40 23.5 6 5 13 18.3

Year 632 459 533 708 881.5 629

Snails belong to a large group of animals called molluscs. Animals belonging to the molluscs group are all the sea snails with gills, like abalone and periwinkles, clams and bivalves

like oysters, mussels and the land snails and slugs. Even the octopus and squid belong to this group of animals. When we think of snails we think of the land snails that are called pulmonata. The name indicates that they have lost their gills in the evolutionary process and developed lungs. They usually live on land or in fresh water. These snails sometimes have shells but are sometimes 'naked' and are called slugs. The saddle on the slug is a remnant of the shell that it lost through evolution. Snails vary in size from microscopically small, to giant snails like the giant African snail that can weigh nearly one kilogram. Snails eat our veggies, garden plants and agricultural crops and can be real pests. You can try to eradicate them with snail bait pellets, you can keep geese or ducks, or do as the Europeans do and eat them. Prof. Willem Sirgel says that garden snails are not a problem in Europe. In fact they are even protected in Germany where they are not allowed to be collected certain times of the year. The common garden snail was imported from Europe and became a pest here because they do not have many natural enemies like parasites and predator snail species. There are predator snails that hunt other snails and then eat them. They even absorb the shells to supplement their calcium requirements. Can one really eat our garden snails? Of course; this is the same snail species that is prized as a delicacy and sold all over the world in restaurants. Just feed lettuce for a week and then boil them for a few minutes. Serve with garlic butter, and voila! Our own giant African snail was exported to Taiwan where it became an agricultural pest. They are also canned and sold all over the world. However the French connoisseurs regard them as inferior in taste.Fresh water snails sometimes carry parasites that are dangerous to humans and farm animals. Bilharzia is a tropical human disease and is hosted by a small fresh water snail. Liver fluke, a serious parasite that bores into the livers of farm animals and can infect humans as well, is hosted by another small fresh water snail that occurs in our area. Snails are hermaphroditic, which means that individual snails have both male and female organs. The courting process of snails is rather complicated and can continue for several hours. During the courtship, one of the snails assumes the role of the male and shoots a dart from its dart sack into its partner. This dart contains a chemical that sexually stimulates the partner. This is said to be the origin of the Cupid arrow or dart myth. The 'male' deposits a packet of sperm cells into the 'female' and the fertilized egg cells develop into eggs.

SnailsNaas Terblanche says to beat them, you should eat them

Since January 2002 I have been recording the amount of rain that falls on my erf on the corner of Daneel and De Bruin Streets. I check the gauge every morning at 08:00 and if I am away on holiday, the task falls to my daughter Jane. I have compiled graphs to reflect the monthly totals year by year as well as yearly totals, and the amount of rainfall to date compared with previous years. I often get queries from people involved in the construction industry who need to know when and how much it rained. They can claim a time extension to their contract period for delays caused by inclement weather and having a daily record is most helpful. ➜ Interestingly, by mid June this year I have recorded 215mm of rain compared to 414mm by the end of June last year. • The driest year was 2010 with a total of 522mm compared to the wettest year, 2013 which had a total of 956mm. •The yearly average is 687mm at the moment. The pattern also seems to be changing with the rainfall totals. From 2002 to 2007 totals were fairly consistent, then they dropped off every year from 2008 to 2011 and suddenly shot back up from 2012 to 2014 as we well know. • Besides being the wettest year, 2013 also holds the records for the driest month with December recording 5mm, and wettest month with August recording 235mm.• Every 1mm of rain that falls on 1 square meter of land equates to 1 litre of water. So if you have a 1000 square meter erf and you get 50mm of rain falling in a day you have received 50 000 litres of water on your property.

DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING IN AUGUST STANFORD RIVER TALK IS 20 JULY. PLEASE BOOK YOUR SPACE WITH

SANDRA AT 079 523 8453 OR DESIGN@STANFORDRIVERTALK.CO.ZA

Blame it on the rainSeymour Paterson shares his rainfall records with Stanford River Talk readers every month. He explains why records are useful.

Cannibal

snail:

The giant

African

snail

Seymour Paterson

STANFORD RIVER TALK 14

BEHIND GARAGE DOORSIn a bold move away from our usual pretty, feminine photograph collages, we decided to expose what is behind the padlocked garage doors of Stanford. Taking a sneak peak into a garage allows one to see the inner workings of someone's mind. What do you have in your garage?

The Stanford telephone directory lists personal and

business telephone numbers in and around the village.

3000 copies of Stanford telephone directory 2015/2016

will be printed and distributed for free throughout

Stanford, Hermanus, Gansbaai, Hangklip Kleinmond

and the Overberg.

ADVERTISING DEADLINE: 27 July 2015

CONTACT SANDRA FOR:CONTACT SANDRA FOR:• free telephone listing• free telephone listing• advertising bookings• advertising bookings• amendments• amendments

design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or phone 079 523 8453.or phone 079 523 8453.

telephone directorySTANFORD

STANFORD RIVER TALK 15

village lifestyle

The villagersHerman van Bon and Yvonne de Wit moved to Stanford in July 2011. They brought with them their love of succulents, their cameras and enthusiasm. Always at the Sunset Markets, fund raisers, and cultural events, they have become familiar faces around the village.

What brought you to Stanford? Car. But seriously; we love small villages especially those with a more cosmopolitan buzz. Stanford was the obvious choice in the Western Cape within reasonable distance from Cape Town.Has Stanford changed you at all, or have you changed it? No, and no. We are who we are and we don't intend to change the world although we should like to see changes such as more engagement between the communities, mutual respect, etc.What is your favourite pastime? Yvonne – gardening and hiking; Herman – reading, and beach and fynbos walks.What is your vision for Stanford in 5 years time? More green. See also second answer, ie. more engagement.What book, or books, are currently on your nightstand? 'The man from St. Petersburg' by Ken Follett.

The invitation to lunch came just when I needed it most; time away from my desk and a chance to meet new people – perfect. Dressed in my favourite skirt, my best knitted jersey and neat little boots which I’d bought in the UK, I felt good. I was a little late seeing as I wanted to stop and buy a slab of chocolate to take to the hostess. I parked hurriedly, got out, and in my usual fashion, dashed around the back of the car in the direction of the shop. Only I didn’t end up in the shop, because next to my car was a broken drain awaiting me, like a trap, and boy did I fall into it! As I felt myself go down, I heard my woolly stockings rip, felt my knee crash, and the palm of my hands graze – blood oozing and grit between my teeth. Besides the embarrassment of such an ungainly incident, those are not good feelings. My hair was in a mess, my glasses were scratched and I was about to burst into tears, when a kind gentleman appeared from nowhere, rushing to help me up:'Are you alright, Madam?' Then a youngster ran out from the shop carrying a chair and another, a glass of water, while the first gentleman was on the blower, calling an emergency number – very concerned people, tending to a hapless, geriatric victim of the mighty, faceless powers that be. And so I was soothed and patted and loved back to my, if somewhat shaken, self, refusing their offer of – 'Must we call you an ambulance, lady?' and 'Monnieworrynie, lady.' Such thoughtfulness and care. I drank the water and accepted the offer of a few plasters, then pulled myself together, and amidst many ‘thank-you's’ and ‘I’m fine's’ drove off to the luncheon, sans chocolate slab. Later that day, after a hot shower, Bactroban and fresh plasters, I sat on my little sofa with a cuppa and reflected on the kindness of those people – they couldn’t do enough for me. It felt almost as if I was a gift to them. Here was someone they could help and in return get that lovely feeling of usefulness and camaraderie, making me realise their kindness is no surprise but a basic human instinct. People naturally want to be kind, they are made that way: if they see someone hurt, their immediate reaction is to rush over and help and make it right. Unkindness is the loss of that instinct through a myriad of reasons, not least circumstances, society and fear. I don’t think anyone noticed my messy hair and the lunch was delicious.

The kindness of strangers

Emma Kriel was brought to her knees

So it’s school holidays again! The long winter holiday! Yay! During my 12 years at school I was brainwashed to the point that my inner child still becomes insanely excited at the mere mention of a school holiday – until my inner child realises that it is now a parent. A single parent. A single parent working from home. Suddenly reality sets in: THREE weeks trying to work at home while doing my best to keep my 10 year old happy, fed, stimulated and entertained at all times is going to be tough. Yet, this is what I look forward to:• Not having to get up when it’s cold and dark. I am not a morning person, and rising before sunrise just goes against my grain. I see no point in getting up before the sun does, and neither should anybody else.• I don’t have to conjure up a somewhat healthy-ish packed lunch to suit the ever-changing culinary proclivities of The Kid. • The chances of an early morning dash into the Spar in my kangaroo onesie are vastly reduced.

On the other hand, the parents who have outside interests like guest farms cannot desert the village quickly enough. Those with family in far flung places inevitably take advantage of the sojourn to places far and wide – even as far as Cape Town! This leaves about three kids in the village, which means that these poor remaining souls do quadruple duty on playdates to the point where even the parents are fed up with speaking to each other. We bravely battle through and eventually get to a stage where playing Xbox on a sunny Wednesday becomes completely acceptable. The food bill triples with the constant stream of kids hoovering everything in sight, and a clean house becomes a distant dream that fades amongst mud soiled clothing and dirty dishes (apparently eating a hot dog requires three plates, two mugs and six spoons). And, just when it gets too much, there is light – and a new school term beckons. I launder the uniforms with gusto and iron all of it the Friday before with great anticipation. I even polish the shoes. Because sleeping in doesn’t look so cool any more and by then I’d rather spend my mornings working than mass producing toasted cheese sarmies and Rooibos tea. And two weeks later I start looking forward to the next holiday – until the next holiday…

Village life and school holidaysKaren McKee's inner child has grown up

´apparently eating a hot dog requires three plates, two mugs and six spoons´

Joe-Heen Cornelius has been selected for the Boland U9 Netball team. If anyone is able to help her attend the Western Cape tournament in Riversdale from 7-8 August, please contact the Principal, Mr Lionel Pedro 028 341 0830.

Joe-Heen Cornelius, 'n leerder van Die Bron Primêr, is in die O/11 Boland Netbalspan opgeneem en gaan die naweek 7-8 Augustus aan die Wes-Kaap Interstreektoernooi in Riversdal deelneem. Hulle sal teen spanne van WP en SWD meeding. Ons wens haar sterkte en voorspoed toe. Ons vra ook dat persone wat 'n donasie wil maak om haar met uitgawes by te staan, asseblief die skoolhoof, Mnr. Lionel Pedro, kontak by 028 3410 830. Dit sal hoogs waardeer word.

HER

MAN

AN

D Y

VON

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Support a rising sportswoman

JOE-HEEN CORNELIUS

STANFORD RIVER TALK 16

SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPECIAL Hamburger & Milkshake R69Wednesday & Thursday only

Light Meals also available

BOOKINGS ESSENTIALAVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS

FOR DIRECTIONS AND FURTHER INFO: 081 021 2313 . 083 409 8126

FRIDAY - SATURDAY- Breafast and lunch, 9am - 4pmSUNDAY: Breakfast, 9am - 11amSUNDAY BUFFET: 12pm - 4pm

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Rooi Family and to everyone who had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Frikkie, who unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday 23 June.We were truly blessed to have had Frikkie in our lives for the past 8 years. He provided us with an environment that we could only have dreamed of, a beautiful indigenous garden complete with a thriving food garden and a vineyard. He used his excellent knowledge, talent and creative skills to oversee our little piece of heaven on Blue Moon.None of this was possible without his dedication and commitment.

Tribute to Frikkie Rooi6 November 1953 - 23 June 2015

A true gentleman, who brought so much into our lives, we are truly devastated by the loss of this great man.He will forever live in our hearts with great love and respect. His life will be celebrated daily through the wonders of his creation.Bev & Elmarie, Blue Moon

plant talkBy Suzanne Francois-Rossouw

Easy flowering perennialsIf you are new to gardening it is often very difficult to find easy plants that will be rewarding year after year. Planting packs of annuals every year becomes too expensive so flowering perennials are a better route to take.Here is a short list of brilliant starters for the inexperienced gardener.

YARROW (Achillea millefolium)This is a fast growing and spreading perennial that can grow up to a metre tall. The flattish flowers are borne on long stalks in summer and come in an assortment of colours, making them great cut flowers. They grow best in full sun and require regular watering. Once established the plants can be fairly drought tolerant.

DAYLILY (Hemerocallis sp.)Daylilies can be grown in almost any conditions. They prefer full sun, but will tolerate semi-shade areas as well. Like most bulbs this is a clump forming plant. Once established the clumps can be divided in winter to increase numbers. Flowering takes place over a long period in summer and autumn.

PERENNIAL SAGE (Salvia sp)The Salvia farinacea is a brilliant border plant that produces white or bright blue flowers in summer and autumn. In winter it can be propagated by lifting the clumps and dividing pieces with roots and shoots.

INCA LILY (Alstroemeria sp)This is an essential plant if you like fresh flowers in your home. The Inca lily is an herbaceous perennial that grows from spring to autumn. The plant produces flowering stems of about 60cm with brightly coloured blooms during the summer months. One thing I've learned about this lily is the more you abuse it the better it flowers. The experts will teach you to not cut the flowers when you harvest them. You gently pull them out of the ground with your hands. If you don't do that they stop producing flowering stalks.

STONE CROP (Sedum spectabile)When I was first introduced to the stone crop, I just loved the little succulent roses it made just above the soil. I soon found out that the plant got much bigger and more interesting as the months went on. The plant developed fleshy stalks of about 50cm with big grey-green leaves and pretty pink flower heads that attracted butterflies and other insects. They can grow in sun and semi-shade and prefer being planted in sandy well-drained soils.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 17

kitchen talk wine talk

Wine Trends

We are a complex species. This deduction has little to do with my gazing into the depths of a wine glass for hours. Rather, this consideration came about as winter creeps up on us with early evenings and chilly nights. It is the change in the seasons, in what we wear, in how our eating and drinking habits change, which has led me to wonder about the change in our wine appreciation trends through the ages. Back in the day, ladies were allowed the privilege of cooking with wine, while men lorded over the decision of which wine would be consumed with the meal. This was no hard task actually, when one remembers the golden rule back then, which was white wine was to be served with white meat and red wine… well, you follow. An aperitif was served before dinner, champagne with, and cognac after. Dare I say Champagne today without being emotionally bashed by hooded brows? Sweet wine was acceptable tipple only if you were not yet in formal employment, or fresh in the workplace and on a shoestring budget. More wine-mature consumers were ushered away from this outrage through the revelation that the least amount of residual sugar masks the essence of the flavours in wine. Red wines were reserved only for mealtimes. Thick and chewy and best served with a knife and fork – it may well have been the meal.Admitting the difference between a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc (yes, my best mate still doesn’t know the difference – beer, I am told, is better) was admitting you were a wine geek. At the same time, only wine snobs were/ are truly able to appreciate wine. Wine with cork stoppers were the only way to go. The bottle had to be glass. Wine was stored lying flat to gather dust until the time was right for consumption, or until the cork crumbled and the contents oxidised so that you were forced to chuck it, whatever came first. So, as the saying goes, I cook with wine all the time – sometimes I even add some to the food. I am no wine snob as I will drink beer if threatened at gunpoint. I applaud the consumer trend to learn more about wine, especially my own dedication to the cause that no wine bottle in my house shall gather dust. And as I consider that yesteryear wine advertising was directed at 'manly men', I resign from gazing into the depths of my glass and choose instead to pour myself another drink.

Tania Weich sips something a little more comfortable

• 2 large cucumbers (Israeli), peeled, quartered lengthwise and seeded• salt• pepper• 60 g butter• 200 ml cream• 3 egg yolks• 1 tsp wine vinegarCut the cucumber quarters into finger length pieces. Blanch them in lightly salted boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain. In a saucepan, melt the butter add the cucumber pieces and sauté them over a medium heat for 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Stir in the cream and allow it to reduce slightly. Just before serving, mix the egg yolks with the vinegar. Stir in a spoonful f the hot sauce, and return the yolk mixture to the pan. Reheat without boiling to thicken the sauce slightly. (Serves 4)

Too cool for cucumber?

ERWIN'STraditional German Meat Products

produced locally

Cell 082 441 5533 • www.erwins.co.za

Available at Stanford Saturday Morning Market and at Spar.

• 2 large cucumbers (Israeli), peeled• salt• 40 g butter• 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan or Gruyère cheese• pepper• grated nutmeg• 1 cup tomato sauce (the type you have with your pap at a braai)

Cut the cucumber in halves lengthwise, remove the inner spongy parts and seeds, and slice the firm outer flesh finely crosswise. Soak the cucumbers in 1 litre water with 1 tsp of salt for 30 minutes, then drain thoroughly in a sieve. Wash off the excess salt. Lightly butter a baking dish, sprinkle in 1 Tbsp of the cheese and arrange half the cucumbers in a layer. Season with salt pepper and nutmeg. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp of grated cheese over all. Cut 15g of the butter into very little bits and sprinkle them on top. Repeat with the remaining cucumbers, salt and pepper, cheese and butter. Pour over the tomato sauce and bake in the oven at 170˚C for 45 minutes. Remove and serve. (Serves 4).

Mandy, the provider of dew drop fresh salad greens at the Saturday morning market, has taken a break until September, as nobody is salading during the winter. In an attempt to keep the cucumber farmer in business, we need to look at the marvellous vegetable fruit with a new perspective and some daring. Here are two recipes that will make you wonder why you never looked further than the summer salad bowl.

Bryan Robertson lifts the curtains on cucumbers

CREAMED CUCUMBERS

CUCUMBERS ROMAINE Why not surprise someone with the gift of a subscription to Stanford's monthly newspaper, Stanford River Talk? We post copies every month to those who subscribe. We can even post copies to locals if you don't mind waiting a few days for the cogs of the postal service to turn. Please email design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za for more information.

SUBSCRIPTIONWsSttfe

STANFORD RIVER TALK 18

LIVING SOUNDTRACK

by Patrick Campbell

Whenever I walk down a Stanford street,I take great care where I put my feet.And I watch for the gobsAnd the doggies’ big jobsThat lie there in piles, some sloppy, some neat;Waiting for people to squidge with their feet.And I tiptoe aroundWith my eyes on the groundAnd wonder what horror I’m next going to meet.And the harder I look, I give you my word,The more I seem drawn to the tiniest turd.And the dogs see me coming and say, ‘Here’s a sap,Let’s nip round the corner and have a good cr*p.He’s wearing those shoes that have crinkly soles,With lots of small ridges and dozens of holes.And if we distract him by having a piddle,Nine times out of ten he’ll tread slap in the middle.’There’s nothing more pleases a dog’s simple witThan to hear the familiar cry of ‘Oh, sh*t!’

Acknowledgement: A. A. Milne, 'Lines and Squares'

To provide a richer context to my love of rhythmic music, it is important to reveal that my mother was a cinema usherette, with a torch, in the only picture house in the town of Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. I was lucky, since from the age of five I was enjoying films every night, assuming, that is, that you could see the silver screen through the cigarette smoke. Often it was twice over and B movies like 'The Three Stooges' – what an education! Loretta Young, June Allyson, Dorothy Lamour... oh, and there were some men like Al Jolson. Great men of music for me were 'The Glen Miller Story' (1954), 'Benny Goodman Story' (1956) and of course 'Rock Around the Clock' (1956). The soundtrack for many iconic films such as 'Gone With The Wind' (1939) and 'Casablanca' (1942) were familiar to many kids my age. Films such as 'The Best Years of our Lives' (1946) can be watched today any Saturday in Hermanus. Jazzfordian Rasheed, the local expert on movies, will direct you! In those early years, before I got my hands on an acoustic piano, my aunt recognised that I could sing while propped up on her kitchen bunker – yes, I was in the church choir. When you live in a small village like Macmerry (or Stanford), before you know it you are roped in to perform on stage (for example the Stanford Players). My granny spotted my dubious talent and had me join a ‘concert party’

(that’s what they were called) in a group of village minstrels. Here is an old newspaper clip from 1948 (a bit like the Stanford River Talk) reporting on the local impromptu artistes who entertained publicly, believe it or not, at a local Men’s Guild! My appellation of ‘master’ is truly dated and fascinating. One of my school contemporaries was heard commenting on my dolcissimo performance: 'If I hear ‘For Ever and Ever’ again, I shall faint!' The song was originally recorded by Dame Gracie Fields in 1948. (Gracie was a goddess and lived latterly in the Isle of Capri and I visited her grave in 2008 – another story related to my musical Italian background). I was bang up to date with my songs, Top Twenty stuff from Radio Luxembourg. In fact a similar unkind quip was also heard recently by a very unworthy Stanfordian in relation to one of my Jazzfordian colleagues’ swing jazz numbers: 'I hope I don’t hear that one yet again!' referring to an up tempo jazz number. Sentiments such as those are inevitable and to be expected but are not greeted joyously. My rebuttal is quite simple, even the top artistes repeat D.C. al Fine. How often have you heard Barbra Streisand repeating many of her legendary hits? At a very early age I was on stage and singing ‘like a lark’ with an unbroken soprano voice, repeating the hit songs of

the day (Cara Mia Mine), whether other naughty boys liked it or not. The Jazzfordian soundtrack will continue to be heard many times over because that is what we do. Next month I’ll tell you about the adventures of a sixteen year old country lad playing in a ‘real band’ and getting to grips with rhythmic ‘vamping’ whilst dreaming of jazz.

SCREEN TALK

It’s not often that a trailer creates such a level of anticipation as 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015) did for me. I really enjoyed the original 'Mad Max' movies, once I was old

enough to watch them of course, and even by today’s standards there were enough guns and explosions to satisfy the most committed action seekers out there. 'Mad Max' was originally made in 1979 in Australia and held the record for many years for being the most profitable film in relation to its budget. This helped propel Australia into its position as a powerhouse in the film industry and introduced audiences to a 23-year-old Mel Gibson. Thirty-six years later, Tom Hardy has replaced Mel Gibson as Max Rockatansky. Gibson does not even make a cameo appearance in this 2015 remake. My theory is that he has put too much energy into being Mad Mel in real life and the producers felt it too risky to involve him. Director George Miller (who was also involved in the first Mad Max movies) retains the dark tone and feel of the series and places a great deal of emphasis on the individual characters. It’s an Apocalyptic story set in a harsh desert landscape where crazed humans are left to fight for survival. Only the fittest survive. Max (Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) are the two lead protagonists and fight together to try restore order in this mad world. Max is a tormented soul with a tragic past and the audience is encouraged to empathise with his insane character. Furiosa is a take-no-prisoners female warrior and is brilliantly portrayed by Theron. The storyline is not fresh (obviously), but the Hollywood machine has made up for this as only they know how. Bigger is better. The cars, props, arsenal and sets built for this movie are quite incredible and for that reason alone it’s worth watching.Trivia: Charlize Theron reportedly shaved her head for the role of Furiosa and as a result had to wear a wig for her role in 'A Million Ways to Die in the West' (2014).

James Yeats rates this bigger and better remakeStanford streets

Soundtrack of lifeAndrew Herriot's musical knowledge was broadened at the pictures

art talk

Mad about movies

1948 clipping

STANFORD RIVER TALK 19

The career of the East India Company began in the autumn of 1599, when a group of London merchants held a meeting at which it was decided to form an association to open up East Indian trade. Quickly the ‘entrepreneurs’ raised ₤30 000 with which to equip a fleet of sailing ships. Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), by no means averse to a speculative venture, was petitioned for a royal charter and granted the request. On 31 December 1600, the East India Company was formally incorporated. The Charter gave some one hundred or so ‘mercantile adventurers’ exclusive rights to ‘trade to and from the East Indies’. Spices were vitally important to the Elizabethans. Because root-crops were not available to British farmers, they had very little with which to feed their cattle during winter. This resulted in a great slaughter each autumn. The meat was salted down in barrels.Salt, however, being equally scarce, gave little guarantee of its preservation. As months passed the salt-pickled flesh acquired an unhealthy flavour and it was this that gave rise to the demand for spices, particularly cloves, nutmeg, mace and pepper. For some time England had depended upon the Dutch and Portuguese for these essentials and because of the huge demand all over Europe, prices had reached exorbitant levels. This was one of the decisive reasons behind the determination of the Company to seek the ‘spice islands’. The earliest voyages by the East India Company took place in 1601. A joint stock company of a temporary nature was formed for each enterprise. For many years such expeditions flourished and the ‘adventurers’ reaped immense rewards. However, in 1657 the Company, threatened by others wanting some of the action, played a trump card by threatening to withdraw from India and to dispose of its properties there. This ultimatum forced Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), ‘Protector’ and de-facto ruler of England, to renew the monopoly which the Company had enjoyed for so long. In 1658 Cromwell died, and two years later the monarchy was restored under Charles II . The Company then entered a period of great affluence as Charles proved himself to be its very good friend. Cromwell’s ‘conditional’ Charter was rendered worthless. A new Charter was issued empowering the Company to appoint Governors in India, to wage war or to conclude peace with native princes, to administer justice, to acquire territories and, most importantly, seize and send home the ships of interlopers. The Company's star was now very much in the ascendant! Guy Winchester-Gould

Tales from the Raj

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Part 1: The East India Company

This compilation is the first article in a series entitled ‘Tales from the Raj’ and offers an overview of the period until 1947 when India gained Independence from Britain.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 20

FOR SALEDEFY AUTODRYER, good condition, R750. p Avril 076 698 5272

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

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

COMPUTER HELP Are you struggling with technology? Don’t know how to upload photos, use Windows, Facebook, etc? Call Ruby and I’ll happily come to your house to help! R50/hour. p 072 753 8411.

PET SITTER Do you need your pets to be fed or walked or loved while you are out of town? Call Sara (12 years old) 072 276 7906.

PILATES CLASSES p Jake Uys 079 468 9060.

TAI CHI & CHI KUNG CLASSES. Call Caro on 072 998 1995 for information.

THE LETTUCE CO – We are taking a winter break from the Saturday morning market. Orders can be sms’d directly to 082 213 0512 by Wednesday afternoons and will be delivered on Fridays.

PLEASE HELPNEW HOME NEEDED FOR BORDER COLLIE Freckles is 5/6 years old, loves chasing sticks and is in perfect health. He is loving, loyal and needs a new home urgently. p Elaine Hood 084 627 8127

There is an HONESTY BOX at Stanford Tourism where you can pay for your classifieds. Please enclose the amount in an envelope or design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • cell: 079 523 8453SMALL ADS: R1 a word • BOXED ADS: R95

classifiedsSave up to 40% on energy costs

Solar Geysers, Heat PumpsSolar Panels, Energy Audits

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BOXED ADVERTS ONLY R95 PER MONTH

AFRICAN HORSECOMPANY Private sale

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

guided multi-day trails & outrides along the whale coast

& through unspoilt nature reserves.+27 (0) 82 667 9232 omstables@telkomsa.netwww.africanhorseco.com

SIZE: 976m2 PRICE: R850 000

CONTACT DI ON 082 558 3916

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CORICRAFT 2ND HAND Santorini 2 Seater 2070mm Good Condition R 2 000 (Normal Price R 8 000)

Phone 076 698 5272

VISSERMAN TAKEAWAYBreakfast all day long. Takeaways and

deliveries. Remember, meals can be delivered every night, Friday and Saturday are braai days.

Please phone Hanlie 083 601 1182 or Michael 072 024 8091

My name is Eddie and I am looking for a new home. My folks have to leave me – can't take me with them. I am a Schnauzer cross Scottish terrier, lots of character and extremely affectionate. Up to date with vaccines.Phone 076 698 5272

Vintage beauty pedicures, manicures, facials massages, waxes, make-up

Jacolene 082 357 1245 Victoria Centre Stanford

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Vintage Health & Beauty

3 seater couch comprising of 2 wingback chairs and matching wingback rocker. Can be bought separatelty. Phone 076 698 5272

STANFORD RIVER TALK 21

STANFORD - RETICULATED DRINKING WATER RESULTSEscherichia 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 MAY JUNE

E. coli STANDARD (0/100ml) 0 0

Total Coliform bacteria STANDARD (10/100ml) 0 0

Heterotrophic Plate Count STANDARD (5000/100ml) 770 0

NG GEMEENTE STANFORD Sondae 9:00 in die kerkgebou. Office, tel 028 3410 966.ST THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH Morton St, contact Father Joseph Gabriëls 028 3410588First Sunday of the month 10:30 Communion (Afr) Second Sunday of the month 10:30 Service (Afr)Third Sunday of the month 08:00 Communion (Eng) Fourth Sunday of the month 10:30 Service (Afr)FULL GOSPEL CHURCH OF GOD cnr Queen Victoria & Bezuidenhout St. 09:30 Sunday service. Pastor Johnny van der Schyff • 028 3410 422.VG KERK (next to De Bron School) 10:00 Sunday morning. Maureen Diedericks 028 3410 691.STANFORD UNITED CHURCH, meets at St Thomas Church, Morton St. Interdenominational.English service at 6pm Sunday. Bible Study, 7pm Tuesday night at 45 Queen Victoria St. Secretary Kerri Brokensha 028 341 0077.

WHERE TO WORSHIP IN STANFORD

wee

kly

timet

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

Monday 11:00, Yoga, 084 685 2641, Viv von der Heyden, 23 Quick Street.Monday 17:30, Running Time Trials 5km, corner Adderley and Longmarket, last Monday of each month at Stanford Hills Estate.Monday & Wednesday, Canoeing, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877.Tuesday & Thursday 17:00 to 18:00, Tae Bo, Okkie Smuts School Hall, Ronnie 083 655 4521.Tuesday & Thursday 17:30, Cycling, cnr de Bruin & Moore Streets, Sunday 08:00 Caltex GarageDavid Morrison 082 321 7996, John Finch 082 378 1935.Wednesday, 18:30, Rotary Stanford Club Meeting, The Vine Restaurant. Everyone welcome. Malcolm 084 441 0961.Thursday 18:30 - 21:30 Heal Your Life® Evening Group Sessions 071 382 9033.Friday 08:30, Yoga, 084 685 2641, Viv von der Heyden, 23 Quick Street.Friday, Canoe Time Trials, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877.Saturday, 09.30am – 12:00, Stanford Saturday Morning Market, Stanford Hotel Veranda, 028 3410 591.

STANFORD - RIVER WATER RESULTSThe 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)Standard0-130/100ml

Under treated Sewerage Outlet poin(Jetty next to erf 396)

Above treated Sewerage Outlet point (Bridge R43 to Hermanus)

MAY 727 517

JUNE 2419 2419

WATER TESTING

local services & facilities

ACCOMMODATIONA Stanford Country Cottage 082 320 0982Bambi Cottage 082 781 1704Beloftebos Cottages 082 391 5331Morton Cottage 082 450 3970Mosaic Farm 028 313 2814Reiersvlei 082 213 0512Stanford River Lodge 028 341 0444The Country Cottage 083 553 0663Villa on the Bay 082 336 1573

ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICESMaryke Brandt 072 172 9545Allan Youens 082 903 4432

ALTERATIONS Cait's Sewing Services 083 358 6365

ARCHITECTUREGuy Whittle 076 113 2741Grant Anderson 072 364 3694Maureen Wolters 082 450 3970

ARTKunsklas 072 822 9970

BICYCLESBicycle servicing and repair 073 318 5078

CUPBOARDSYoure Style Cupboards 076 222 2063 082 327 6518COMPUTERS Compuworld SMB Solutions 084 705 6719

CONFERENCE CENTREMosaic Farm 028 313 2814

ESTATE AGENTSPam Golding 028 341 0708Stanford Village Properties 082 893 2282 072 111 9321

GARDEN SERVICESEarthworm Organics 072 825 7534

HAIRJeanne Retief 072 318 2478

HOTELStanford Hotel 082 781 1704

HOUSE MANAGEMENTStanford Country Cottages 082 320 0982Village Laundromat 072 616 0976

HOME MAINTENANCEStanford Country Cottages 082 320 0982

INTERIORSKiwinet 028 341 0209Maureen Wolters 082 450 3970

'MASSAGE & HEALTHStanford Health Practice 082 481 8285

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIESKlein River Picnics 028 3410 693Platanna River Cruises 073 318 5078River Rat Boat Cruises 083 310 0952

PETS & PET CAREStanford Kennels 028 341 0961Syringa Country Kennels 028 341 0961

PLUMBINGMike Moody 083 316 1872

RESTAURANTS1892 Stanford Spookhuis 028 313 2814Barke Restaurant 028 341 0116Marianas 028 341 0272Springfontein Eats 028 341 0651The Vine 028 341 0662

REMOVALSThe Little Removals Company 074 381 1111

TELEVISION/DSTVRod Dacre Television 073 160 4495

WEDDING VENUESBeloftebos 082 391 5331Mosaic Farm 028 313 2814Stanford Hotel 082 781 1704Villa on the Bay 082 336 1573

WINE CELLAR & SALESSpringfontein Wine Estate 028 341 0651 072 371 7546Stanford Hills Estate 028 3410 841

.List your business for just R12.50 a month (only R150/year). Email: design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or telephone 079 523 8453

STANFORD RIVER TALK 22

July WHAT'S ON

email your events to design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za

A message from the Christian Forum• Every Wednesday, Graze Farmers Market, 09:00 – 12:00, Get your fresh veggies at Graze Restaurant.

• Saturday Morning Market – every week 9:30 –12:00 Farmers, crafters and hobbyists have gathered together to bring you home-made and home-baked goodies from the heart!

• 2 July, Wine and Wisdom, 19:00, Wine & Wisdom Quiz Evening, Birkenhead Brewery. R50 pp, proceeds to Stanford Conservation Trust. Food and drink extra. Essential to book, contact Annie Ranger ranger@reedcottage.co.za

• 10 – 12 July: Christmas in July with Emile Minnie, De Hoop, See page 9.

• 19 – 22 July: Yoga @ The Opstal with Marianne Wiid, De Hoop, See page 9.

• 25 July, Christmas in July, Bona Deo, Hemel and Aarde Valley. Cost R1000 pp. Beneficiary is the Hermanus Pro Musica Choir who will participate in a choir competition in Austria in April 2016. Five members of this choir reside in Stanford. Pro Musica donates the income from every concert to various charities, and for once the choir will be the beneficiary – specifically to enable the choir members from disadvantaged communities to be part of the overseas trip. Anyone interested in attending the dinner (make up a table of friends!) or assisting the disadvantaged choir members can contact Marius Barnard at mariusbarnard@vodamail.co.za or 082 821 216.

• 31 July, Stanford Blue Moon Birding, 17:00See page 4. Enquiries: Marian Williams 083 303 4330

• 31 July – 2 Aug: Whale of Trail Run @ De Hoop. See page 9.

COMING SOON

• 6 – 10 Augustus, Kalfiefees 2015 skop af met 'n huldigingsprogram INGRID JONKER WêRELDWYD. Nog groot nuus is dat ons na baie jare se pogings uiteindelik vir Juanita du Plessis op die verhoog gaan kry! Frank Opperman, kom vertel ons van 'Die Klaagliedere van Ds Tienie Benade'. Uit die pen van die bekende skrywer, Leon Kruger, beleef ons wat dit is om skielik 'n 'Pienkvoet' in die huis te hê. Akteurs is Chanelle de Jager en Paul du Toit. Hou hierdie spasie dop vir nog nuus oor Kalfiefees 2015 in Onrusrivier, Sandbaai en Hermanus.Kalfiefees, 6 – 10 August in Onrus, Sandbaai and Hermanus. Shows include a tribute to Ingrid Jonker, and one by Juanita du Plessis, the well-loved Afrikaans singer.

• 7 – 9 August, Hermanus Wine & Food FestivalHemel en Aarde Village, www.hermanuswineandfood.co.za

The Winter season is upon us and trees seem dry or even dead, and yet there are trees which are starting to bud in expectation of something new – new life, new season, new hope and new experience. It is also the same for us; the Lord Almighty is holding out something new to us. All we have to do is grab hold of it. God’s Word tells us; Lam.3:23. 'The Lord’s mercies are new every morning.' What a wonderful promise to hold on to. So many times we feel weighed down by the circumstances and problems of the life we are living, and we forget that the Lord wants to make things new for us. Rev.21:5b also shows the Lord’s promise, 'Behold I make everything new'. Everything! That means He can make everything new for us: our life, our love and our expectations, the old, the problematic, the despondent, the dry and even dead dreams and expectations. He can rekindle the old fire and beauty of enjoyment and experiences, the joy of hearing someone laugh, of seeing the colours of a sunbird, the blue of the sky, the white of the clouds, the sparkle of the stars, the dew on the grass and the bliss of watching a sleeping baby. There was a time in my life when I suffered from constant headaches. One night at 02:00 I had a terrible headache and prayed, 'Lord, I am not living but just existing and I want to believe that this is not what You want for me. Please show me your will!' I fell asleep and woke up refreshed. When I went to catch the bus to work, I was struck by the wonderful sound of a cooing dove, I saw the bluest of skies and the sun shining brightly next to the moon. I looked down and saw millions of sparkling diamonds on the dead grass as the sun reflected off the frost – these were things I had not noticed for a long time. It all seemed so new. In the street I met a neighbour also going to the bus stop and I pointed these things out to him. 'Yes, it’s all systems go isn’t it?' was his reply. The Lord showed me that He can make what seems dreary to become new. We are reminded in Eph. 4:24. 'Put on the new man.' The Lord makes us new. Rev. Hildie Pansegrouw

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Dry and Wet Process Cleaning:• Carpets • Rugs and Mats • Upholstery • Mattresses

Neil Billson 084 557 8591neil.billsoninza@gmail.com www.organicpowerclean.co.za

STANFORD RIVER TALK 23

happy birthday If your birthday or a special occasion

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Belinda Heald 28 July

Lindsay Frith15 July

Bukho and Bukhosi Apolosi9 July

Tasha Saha28 July

Joe van Huyssteen 26 July

Tony Roper 7 July

Viv Gravenor 12 July

Ripley Robertshaw 6 July

Andrew Herriot7 July

Rasheed Khota 10 July

Wanya van der Walt24 July

Ronja Conrad 2 July

Melinda Jacobs2 July

Peter Ground2 July

Kilian Conrad 20 July

Marlize Hickman & Mar-Lizé Potgieter 2 July

Zephan Potgieter2 July

Lukhanyo Qonya22 July

Tina Louw28 July

Gian Bester23 July

Craig Templer 20 July

CANCER 21 JUNE – 22 JULYThe symbol of the crab is based on the myth of Karkinos, a giant crab that harassed Hercules during his fight with the Hydra. Cancerians are ruled by the mysterious Moon, and are both sensitive and sympathetic. The can be affectionate and also insecure.