Franschhoek Tatler - February 2015

February 2015

FRANSCHHOEK

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Bridge House Mile

A new musical Fyndraai

Q&A with Kurt Maske

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Community Sport Centre open!

Premier Zille, Mayor Sidego, UK High Commissioner among dignitaries

The Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre was officially opened by Premier Helen Zille who participated in Zumba dancing with Mayor Conrad Sidego after the official proceedings

Thursday, 15 January 2015, may well go down in Franschhoek history as the day that prospects for the valley’s youth greatly improved. It was the day the Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre and the adjoining Kusasa Early Learning Centre in Groendal were officially opened.

The project took a few years to come to fruition, with quite a few delays along the way, but on opening day those were all forgotten and a sense of anticipation and excitement permeated the grounds. A jumping castle and soccer games kept the young ones entertained while a group of traditional dancers welcomed guests and a marimba band entertained those already in the centre.

After the singing of the National Anthem, Phillip Green, the patron of Hope Through Action (HTA) – the charity behind the project, welcomed those in attendance.

He proudly pointed out that 100% of donations to HTA go to their projects. In the case of this sport centre it was R25 million rand – half of which came from 2 donors.

He also thanked HTA’s ambassadors Reuben Riffel, Ryk Neethling and Gary Kirsten for their involvement, as well as Mr Graham Power (CEO of Power Construction), Mr Fred Laker (Project Manager: Lyners Consulting Engineers), Mr Stefan Howells (CEO: SCORE), Mr Phil Bland (Chairman of HTA), Mr Doug Gurr (Trustee: The Kusasa Project), Mayor Sidego, Premier Zille and High Commissioner MacGregor for their roles in the project.

Mayor Conrad Sidego, in introducing Premier Helen Zille, described the centre as “a place where many dreams will be realised” and thanked HTA for their investment in the Franschhoek community.

Premier Zille admitted to not being a sportswoman of note, but said that she has learned – also from her own

Photo: Stellenbosch Municipality

sons – just what a positive effect participation in sport has in young people’s lives. Despite its challenges, she said, South Africa remains a country where “every individual who wants to make a difference can do so.” She also commented on the partnership model used to construct and operate the centre, remarking that it could present a good opportunity for a public-private partnership involving government in the creation of more such centres. She commented that it appears to her that HTA is transitioning from being a charity to becoming a movement.

SCORE, a South African NGO that already manages a similar centre in Mbekweni, will be responsible for the programmes at the centre. Their focus is not only on sport, rather they use it as the key to unlock the intellectual, psychological and mental well-being and development of the youth.

The centre houses a synthetic multisport pitch with seating for 300 spectators, training rooms, showers and meeting rooms. It can accommodate a number of sporting codes including soccer, cricket, netball, handball, volleyball, rugby and Zumba dancing.

The Early Learning Centre will be utilised by local public benefit organisation The Kusasa Project with their teachers and assistants providing foundation phase of education for Grade 00 to Grade 3s. The building has several classrooms as well as a staff room, computer and library facilities. When in full operation it will house 120 children.

After all the formalities were over the dignitaries toured the centre and unveiled plaques to commemorate this important event. www.hopethroughaction.com | www.score.org.za www.thekusasaproject.org

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Franschhoek Tatler

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February 2015

Bridge House Mile 2015 With summer temperatures already soaring you’d be forgiven if your thoughts inevitably turn poolside rather than workside… For a completely guilt-free way to get off work, cool down and do some good you may wish to consider entering the 2015 Bridge House Mile that takes place on 28 February at the Berg River Dam. This year’s race is presented by Skybound Capital and Glacier by Sanlam in association with WWF, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and SPEEDO. The day starts at 08h00 and will offer swimming events for all abilities, from development swimmers, junior and beginner events, to the main Mile swim.

Swimmers can choose to Swim for Nature (in support of WWF) in any one of the event categories: • 200m Fun Swim & Beginners | R50 • 200m Juniors (U10 to U12) | R50 • 400m Schools Solo Swim (U13 to U18) | R75 • 400m Schools Team Swim (U13 to U18) | R75 • 400m Beginners Swim (all ages) | R75 • Mile Swim (all ages) | R200 • WWF Swim for Nature (any distance) | R500 • WWF Swim for Nature (any distance + t-shirt) | R700 There’s more in it for participants than just some exercise. Entrants in the Mile event will receive a SPEEDO swimming cap, coffee and a boerewors roll at the finish line. Swimmers who choose to Swim for Nature will also receive a WWF branded glass water bottle and t-shirt (R700 category), plus a warm feeling

in their hearts for helping to save the planet!

Another way to do good while feeling good is the Panda Splash. Get friends and family to sponsor your swim by donating an amount for a specific distance.

The individual who raises the most money wins a getaway to Cederberg Nature Reserve including 2 nights for 4 people midweek.

Princess Charlene Foundation The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation (South Africa) has partnered with The Bridge House Mile to help develop swimming skills in the Franschhoek community.

Since October 2014, Mrs Colleen de Villiers and some Bridge House School pupils have been working very hard with the YEA Foundation under the guidance of Minnie Pietersen. A group of children from YEA and Haute Cabrière Estate have been involved in this project. It is hoped that about 20 children from the project will be able to participate in the 200m event at the Bridge House Mile.

The Princess Charlene Foundation will be assisting in the running of a swimming clinic. This will take place on Friday 27 February at the La Vie de Luc dam under the guidance of the Olympian swimmer, Terence Parkin, who is a representative of the Foundation. The foundation is also sponsoring medals for the 200m and 400m swim at the Bridge House Mile event.

Enter online at http://goo.gl/52Hu1w

Franschhoek’s famous pancake house Wilma Botha goes it alone When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. As with most over-used expressions there is value in this advice, but it’s far easier said than done. Somebody who’s doing just that though is Wilma Botha of The Famous Franschhoek Pancake House.

After weeks of rumours about her husband, Gideon, and the future of the business, the Tatler had a chat with Wilma at the popular eatery. Keen to get life and business back to normality Wilma confirmed that Gideon is suffering personal, psychological and debt problems and that he has left the valley and the business.

The Famous Franschhoek Pancake House has been Wilma and her daughter’s since mid-December and she’s resolutely dealing with both the ups and downs of running the business. “My staff has been wonderful,” she says “they could have left amid the uncertainty; instead they stood by me throughout peak season and beyond.”

It is clear that Wilma has a firm grip on the business and is ready for the year ahead. Asked about her wishes for 2015, Wilma smiles and says “To continue

Competitors take to the water at the 2014 Bridge House Mile

Landfill closure investigated Materials Recovery Facility to be constructed

Wilma Botha with her loyal staff

to serve only the best pancakes and home-made icecream to our guests – without any drama!” In her quiet and dignified way we’re sure she’ll do just that.

Break a leg, Wilma!

Von Hoesslin to lead agri-business portfolio for CCCI Established in 1804, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is the oldest member-based business organisation in Africa. It is mandated to serve, enable and lead business in the Western Cape.

In 2013 a large grouping of members in the agribusiness field requested the CCCI Council to consider creating a portfolio committee to deal with aspects of importance on their behalf. This committee was formed in 2014 and recently Franschhoeker Richard von Hoesslin was elected as its first Chairman.

Von Hoesslin, a long standing member of the Stellenbosch Branch committee, is a trained agriculturalist who has practiced in the area. He holds an Hons.BSc (Agric Econ) from Stellenbosch University and an MBA from UCT. Von Hoesslin was General Manager of Rustenberg Estate, Stellenbosch,

Photo: Gill Malcolm

Now supported by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation

in the 1970s and in the 1980s held the prestigious position of Admin General Manager of the thenlisted agricultural operation, Kanhym, outside Middleburg in Mpumalanga. On returning to the Cape he helped create Wonderland Foods, now part of the recently-listed Rhodes Food Group and started Frumark, a fruit marketing business pre-packing for Woolworths and PicknPay. Together with his son Graham he developed GvH Landscapes in Knysna in 2006. In 2008 he purchased a farm in the Harkerville area of Plettenberg Bay from where an indigenous nursery is now run.

Richard is resident in Franschhoek, an owner/ manager of La Fontaine Guest House, and very involved in community affairs in both Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

Stellenbosch Municipality recently received the draft Basic Assessment Report (BAR) regarding the eventual closure of the Stellenbosch municipal landfill site. The report was compiled

by Aurecon consulting engineers.

The Stellenbosch landfill site currently serves the entire municipal area, has been operating since 1966 and consists of three cells. Cells 1 and 2 reached their maximum capacity during 2013. This means that the third and newest cell is currently receiving all solid waste generated in the municipal area – except for the small amount that is recycled or otherwise diverted.

Cell 3 has a capacity of 600 000 cubic metres and opened in April 2013. By May 2014 it had already received 120 000 cubic metres of refuse. Stellenbosch Municipality is planning on extending this cell’s lifetime through efficient landfill operations and the diversion of green/ garden refuse and builders rubble. A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is to be constructed immediately to the south of Cells 1 and 2 later in this year. The MRF will also consist of a public drop-off facility, waste transfer station, storage area, a crushing facility for builder’s rubble and the chipping of garden refuse.

The landfill site currently receives between 3 000 and 4 000 tonnes of domestic waste and between 2 000 and 4 000 tonnes of builder’s rubble per month. No waste is currently being recycled or reused hence the need for the MRF. Once Cell 3 has also reached full capacity, Stellenbosch will have to divert its refuse stream to other landfills in the province, which are also rapidly nearing maximum capacity with no suitable new sites available.

According to the BAR, closure and rehabilitation of the landfill site will involve: • “Shaping and (land)scaping of the waste body; • The construction of storm water infrastructure; • Capping of the waste body … (in accordance

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with the relevant minimum requirements); • Concrete palisade fencing; • The construction of gravel service / maintenance roads; • Vegetative cover of the final landform; • The construction of the required end-use infrastructure; and • The establishment of a post-closure monitoring programme, particularly groundwater and post closure gas monitoring.”

• Five end-use options were identified by the project team, which were later reduced to two after a first round of public participation.

These were: • Public open space potentially involving a combination of green landscaping (indigenous vegetation and seasonal flowers), bee keeping and a community upliftment project (a community garden is proposed for the triangular piece of land immediately west of Cell 2). Methane gas extraction for beneficial use.

• A no-go option, i.e. doing nothing once the site has reached full capacity, was also included in the BAR. The draft BAR concludes that “The majority of impacts associated with Alternatives 1 and 2 during construction could be reduced to between very low and low.” For both these alternatives, a long term positive impact is foreseen with regards to water quality, aquatic habitats and flow modification through the establishment of a 30m riparian zone along the Veldwagters River.

The draft BAR does not express a preference for Alternative 1 or 2 (this will follow in the final BAR), but does state that the effects of the nogo option will potentially have high significance and thus effectively rules it out.

The final BAR is expected to be handed to Stellenbosch Municipality towards the end of February 2015.

February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

Robert Grogan exhibition at William Humphreys Art Museum The landscape paintings of Franschhoek artist Robert Grogan were exhibited at the William Humphreys Art Museum in Kimberley from mid-November 2014 through mid-January 2015.

The exhibition opened the evening of 13 November 2014 with a book launch of Grogan’s book, Kalahari Summer in photographs and oils, published by Struik. Grogan spoke briefly about the project, which took five years and involved living in the Kalahari during the summer rainy season. Grogan’s paintings reflect the lush beauty of the landscape transformed by rain into seas of colour, as well as the drama of the stormy skies.

Nuwe eerste burger na 2016 verkiesing

The William Humphreys Art Museum is considered one of the finest art museums in South Africa. It is named after its principal benefactor, William Benbow Humphreys (1889-1965).

Kalahari Summer in photographs and oils is available from the artist. Contact Robert Grogan at 076 270 4994.

Cellar Restaurant & Terrace

“I’m newly inspired every day. By the view from the restaurant of the valley beyond. By the restaurant itself, with its vaulted ceilings and crystal chandeliers. By the window in the restaurant that gives you a glimpse of the underground cellar and that reminds me of what I’m here to do: To pair amazing food with spectacular wines. So, when I’m

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wandering through the kitchen garden, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are never far from my mind. The WINESĂ?OFĂ?(AUTEĂ?#ABRIĂ‹REĂ?AREĂ?MYĂ?MUSES Ă?4HEYĂ?DElNEĂ? every culinary decision; they inspire every new idea.

The quest is deceptively simple: to make sure that every bite of food you take is made magical by a sip of matching wine.� – Ryan Shell, Head Chef.

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GPS Co-ordinates 33°54'51.63"S : 19° 8'7.90"E

For more information visit www.cabriere.co.za

Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit kry ‘n nuwe burgemeester in 2016 – ongeag van watter party die 2016 verkiesing wen. Die rede is dat die huidige burgemeester, Raadsheer Conrad Sidego, nie weer beskikbaar sal wees vir die pos nie.

Volgens Sidego was dit van die begin die plan dat hy net vir een termyn beskikbaar sou wees. Sidego, wat volgende jaar 70 jaar oud sal wees, het sy ouderdom en dat hy meer tyd met sy gesin deurbring as redes genoem.

Voor 2016 is daar egter volgens hom nog ‘n klompie dinge wat hy en sy span in die munisipaliteit wil bereik.

Andricus van der Westhuizen, DA parlementslid vir Stellenbosch, het aangedui dat die DA optimisties is oor sy kanse om weer in Stellenbosch te regeer na 2016. Hy het daarop gewys dat die DA in die 2014 verkiesing 65% steun in Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit geniet het en hard daaraan werk om sterk kandidate te werf, ook van buite die politieke arena.

Burgemeester Conrad Sidego

Franschhoek Tatler

4

February 2015

presented in association with “Les Vignerons de Franschhoek”

Noble Hill

Cosecha Restaurant’s

Chardonnay 2013

Fish Tacos

Noble Hill Wine Estate Tel: 021 874 3844 Email: info@noblehill.com

Ingredients: 3 corn tortillas; 3 kingklip planks, fresh, deboned (or other firm white fish); 1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded & dressed in chipotle mayonnaise; 2/3 cup citrus salsa (see below); beer batter for fish (see below); lime wedges; fresh coriander sprigs Method: Dip clean kingklip planks in beer batter to coat and deep fry until golden brown. Arrange warm tortillas upright “taco-style” on a serving plate using lime wedges for balance. Divide dressed cabbage between tortillas. Top each tortilla with a hot fish plank. Add more chipotle mayo, if desired. Top each taco with citrus salsa. Garnish with fresh coriander sprigs and a sprinkle of dry spice.

Beer batter for fish Ingredients: 1 beer (bottle or can), 1 egg, smoked paprika, salt; dry spice (our dry spice is a combination of dried chilies, cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, and other spices); flour

Maison Estate

The Kitchen @ Maison

Chardonnay 2013

Octopus terrine with black garlic aioli, white anchovies, radish & leaves

This wine shows fresh primary fruit aromas of citrus, lemon curd, and orange blossom. With aging of 1-2 years these characters will give way to darker toast and whiskey peat. There’s enough fresh fruit here to titillate the easydrinker, but structure to hold up to stronger flavours like roast chicken or duck.

Cellar Price: R105

Method: Combine beer and egg in a large mixing bowl. Add spices & season. Continue mixing, adding flour slowly until desired consistency.

Citrus salsa Ingredients: 1 orange; 1 red onion, minced; fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped; lemon juice; salt; dry spice as above Method: Segment the orange and cube into a small bowl.

Add minced onion and finely chopped coriander. Add spice & season. Moisten with a squeeze of lemon or lime.

Serves 1 (3 tacos)

Cosecha Restaurant Tel: 021 874 3844 Email: info@cosecharestaurant.com

A wonderful, rich roundedness is expressed in the dry meticulously balanced Chardonnay.

Crafted with whiffs of spice, citrus and, dare we say, scotch. Elegant balance between lees richness & prolonged freshness of citrus tones. Sensitively oaked (27% new oak). Worth cellaring for a few years.

Cellar Price: R150

Ingredients 1 octopus 1 head black fermented garlic 1 egg yolk 1 tsp French mustard Juice of 1 lemon 100g canola oil Garnish White anchovies Radish Herbs and leaves

Method - Garlic aioli Juice the lemon, add mustard, garlic and egg yolk, whisk with seasoning. Add oil slowly to emulsify, season at end as well.

Garnish with anchovies, radish slices, herbs & leaves.

Maison Estate Tel: 021 876 2116 Email: alice@maisonestate.com

Method - Octopus terrine Cook octopus in pot 45 min until soft. Rinse, and press in terrine mould overnight.

The Kitchen @ Maison Tel: 021 876 2116 Email: julian@maisonestate.com

Answer this easy question!

Name the Franschhoek estates whose wines were included in Decanter’s Top 50 list

How to enter

Send your answer to: tatlercompetition@gmail.com.

The winner will be informed by return mail before 15 January 2015.

Prizes have to be collected from the Franschhoek Info Office before end January 2015 or be forfeited.

Tel: +27 (0)21 876 3386 • email: info@fch.co.za www.fch.co.za

VISIT BOSCHENMEER GOLF ESTATE IN THE HEART OF THE WINELANDS Visitors are welcome – enjoy our 27-hole course and a newly upgraded clubhouse

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Bookings: Tel: 021 863 1140 or bookings@paarlgc.co.za

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848 Wemmershoek Road, Boschenmeer Golf Estate, Paarl Golf Club, 7646

February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

On and Off Course Lawrence Gould

My Brother Edwin with my Aunt’s Husband, Gerard, who lives very close to the offices of Charlie Hebro, attended the March in Paris. He sent me these photos with his comments. “I was there in Place de la RĂŠpublique! An impressive event. Made you feel proud to be French, although in all this self-congratulation at this extraordinary demonstration of unity I felt there was insufficient emphasis that this same “France deboutâ€? is the same that fostered the terrorists that perpetrated these horrific acts of violence. There is a malaise in the Muslim community that only they can sort out. I hope they do.â€? I hope they do too!

Quite remarkable was the print run for the next issue of Charlie Hebdo with the Prophet Mohammed on the cover. Normally only 60 000 it was raised to 1 000 000 and sold out in just a few hours. It was then raised to 5 000 000!

I make this a short and thoughtful column, as I reflect and absorb the consequences of a belief system that permeates revenge killings on people who argue with those beliefs and insist we shouldn’t ever disagree with them. The word malaise, in my brother’s comments, actually has several meanings; discomfort, uneasiness, discontent, queasiness and apprehension.

It needs thinking about; and I admire all those who marched with their posters “Je Suis Charlie’.

I have lived and worked in 16 countries and can genuinely say that everywhere, as well as South Africa, I have met and enjoyed the company of Muslims who proved to be excellent human beings. Surely they must have a malaise towards these events.

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Cellar Chat

Mark Tanner In some countries wine is a staple beverage, in others it is a luxury. South Africa falls into the ‘luxury’ category. Another country in this category is Brazil.

I am sure that when we hear of Brazil we conjure up thoughts of anything from the Amazon jungle to brain-numbing festivals with girls wearing gownless evening straps. What most of us don’t know is that a huge area of Brazil is devoted to viticulture – from Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte) to Rio Grande do Sol in the south, next to Uruguay (Porto Alegre).

These areas are on the same latitude as Mendoza and Santiago to the west, and they produce wines for the domestic market at every level including some showstoppers.

Cinzano and Moet & Chandon have invested heavily.

An interesting feature of Cinzano’s vineyard, which is located near Recife, almost on the equator, is that it produces two crops a year. ‘Naivasha’ vineyard in Kenya, also equatorial, is similarly interesting in that,

as they have no winter to speak of, the vine leaves have to be removed by hand in order to promote growth for the next harvest. An indication of some of the extremes we go to, to produce wines for an already over-stocked market!

Who knew that Bolivia produces twice as much wine as Jordan? Or that Zimbabwe has vineyards and so do Kenya and Tanzania?

Japan makes wine from grapes as well as from rice.

Buddhist missionaries spread the grape vine around Japan, as missionaries have done in other parts of the world. Choices in Japan are however limited to ‘vitis vinifera orientalis’ (Caspica), which produces a very acceptable white wine, and ‘Zenkoji’, a grape also known as Dragon Eye. Well, why not!

I once had a bubbly from Sweden of all places – Hendrik Akkersen I think it was called. It seems that the grapes were grown in tunnels. This sort of thing can give Ice-wine and Eiswein a whole new meaning!

So, it appears that wine can be made in some rather unexpected parts of the world. I am not sure how they compete with their more regular cousins but no doubt a wider spread of availability will result in some more adventurous food pairings.

What wine goes with Weetbix? If anyone has tried this pairing do let me know. I am determined to get the crinkles out of my cornflakes.

My brother Edwin at the solidarity march in Paris

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Wines Franschhoek proudly presents

WINE OF THE WEEK - FREE TASTING

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the Franschhoek A - Z

Haute Cabriere 31/1 - 6/2 Come and try Haute Cabriere’s famous Chardonnay Pinot Noir.

We love this wine beacuse it is well balanced and the taste is just yummie!

Two Elephants of Franschhoek 7/2 - 13/2 The new kid on the block. A fantastic white blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc and their brand new summer fresch RosĂŠ. Drink it at the pool or in the shadows under a tree.

Four Paws 14/2 - 20/2 Try Four Paws Calico, an unwooded white blend, and their Sauvignon Blanc perfect for warm summer days. These are wines for all occasions!

Now you can get it online at

Chamonix 21/2 - 27/2

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One of the most awarded wine farms in the valley. Our own favorite, the unwooded Chardonnay and the Rouge, a red blend which is one of the best price per performance in a long time.

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Franschhoek Wines at cellar door prices.

Open 7 days a week 23 Huguenot Road, Tel: 021 876 3185 •

Franschhoek Tatler

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La Bri – a refuge for wine lovers of each of the La Bri wines. In addition the selection of matching chocolates changes whenever new vintage wines are released. Cost: R55 per person Cheese Platters These delicious platters include five local estate cheeses from Dalewood Fromage (a perfect companion to La Bri wines), locally made Watermelon Preserve and Olives from La Bri Estate, crackers and more. Cost: R85 to share Biltong Experience This truly South African experience is a fun and informal way to taste La Bri’s top red wines with a selection of biltong and droëwors. Guests are encouraged to experiment with flavours and textures and see which pairings work best for them. Cost: R55 per person The La Bri tasting room is open to the public six days a week.

Guests can do a self-guided walk through the cellar and enjoy wine tasting on the cellar balcony with its magnificent views, or downstairs in the magical garden. Wine tasting, at R35 per head, is redeemable on purchase of two or more bottles of La Bri wines. Over and above the range of La Bri wines, The Cellar Door White at R80 per bottle and Cellar Door Red at R65 per bottle offer excellent value for money.

For visitors passing through or purchasing online, a door-to-door wine delivery service is offered. www.labri.co.za | 021 876 2593

La Bri with its intimate boutique winery tucked away among ancient oaks, with a cobbled driveway, historic buildings, low white-washed walls and rolling lawns is old Franschhoek at its very best. Being one of the first farms allocated to French Huguenots in the valley, La Bri is steeped in old world charm. The name ‘La Bri’ – derived from the French for ‘the refuge’ – is the perfect name for this estate safely nestled in the amphitheatre of the Franschhoek valley.

Were it not for the modern cellar shrouded by ancient oaks, one would feel one was living in the past. Old meets new at the cellar; where you will find beautifully packaged, handcrafted estate wines, with eye-catching labels featuring Cape flowers and herbs, and bold matching capsules. Each of the wines is linked to a specific flower that symbolises the characteristics of the respective wine and alludes to the relationship between wine and fynbos.

There is a strong focus at La Bri to attract visitors to the estate; offering a variety of interesting options for relaxed enjoyment.

Chocolate and Wine Pairing Chocolate and wine pairing may not be unique to La Bri, but this estate takes this synergy to a new level. The chocolates are handcrafted exclusively for La Bri by Franschhoek’s very own chocolatier, Huguenot Fine Chocolates, and carefully selected by La Bri’s cellarmaster, Irene Waller, to complement and accentuate the characteristics

February 2015

Boekenhoutskloof & Chamonix make Decanter’s Top 50 Making Decanter magazine’s Top 50 Wines of the World list is one of the most sought after accolades in the wine business. When the 2014 list was recently released only two South African wines made the cut – and they’re both from Franschhoek!

The wines that made the cut are Boekenhoutskloof ’s Semillon 2010 and Chamonix’s Chardonnay Reserve 2012.

Decanter compiles its list annually, based on the scores the wines achieved throughout the year (at least 18.5 out of 20) and that offer excellent value for money. http://www.decanter.com/wine/ labels/34609/2/top-50-wines-of-2014.

Left: La Bri’s Cellar Door Red is excellent value for money

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

SUMMER 2014/15

Enjoy dinner from La Petite Ferme’s famous à la carte menu, alfresco under African summer skies, to the sound of live music on our lawns.

Fridays from 18:00 till 21:30 | R50pp cover charge | Reserve your table 021 876 3016 | For further details visit www.lapetiteferme.co.za

FEBRUARY 2015

g

13 FEB James Stewart

20 FEB Tarabu

27 FEB Koba

6 MAR James Stewart

13 MAR Louise Day

20 MAR Tarabu

27 MAR Koba

MARCH 2015

6 FEB Louise Day

February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

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Transforming Education in the Franschhoek Valley South African Education system is in a crisis - but Franschhoek doesn't have to follow suit. The valley offers a contained environment that allows for the manageable implementation of new solutions. Franschhoek has 7 schools - with 6500 learners and 22 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres - with 600 pre-schoolers.

Bhabhathane focuses on: Early Childhood Development, Principal Enrichment, Teacher Enrichment, Parental Involvement and ICT. Bhabhathane is an ambitious, privately funded initiative, started in 2012 and overseen by the principals of the schools and the Chair of the ECD Forum. We are supported by local and international trusts and individual donors - like you!

For more information, a tour of one of our projects or funding opportunities please contact Lynn Campbell on 079 110 5890 or lynn@bhabhathane.org.za or Alastair Wood on 082 929 6111 or alastair@bhabhathane.org.za

A new musical home for Fyndraai Restaurant at Solms-Delta

Music and food have always been inseparable partners at Solms-Delta wine estate and with the recent relocation of its Fyndraai Restaurant to the estate's old stable building, the exploration of heritage food and rural music is now under one harmonious roof.

Adjacent to the estate's recently opened Music van de Caab centre, Fyndraai is now in a beautifully renovated space enlivened with notes of musical decor. Fyndraai's chef, Shaun Schoeman, is cooking up even more heritage food inspired by fresh indigenous produce grown in the Dik Delta Culinary Garden. Schoeman's menu has been renewed and refreshed with dishes like sticky glazed pork belly with Cape gooseberry and pickled spekboom, and a traditional Kaapse snoek parcel basted with lemon and wilde roosmaryn blatjang. "It's a more modern and grown-up Fyndraai in all respects, which I'm really loving," he says.

The move has freed up the former restaurant space, which now serves as the Solms-Delta Wijn van de Caab Tasting Room. There, the entire range of wines will be available for tasting either inside or outside on the veranda and lawn, along with a variety of local cheeses, charcuterie and sweet platters that are an edible expression of South African heritage.

The new Fyndraai is housed in what was once the old stables and workers' accommodation on the farm, and is significant for its association with the current and past farm workers, some of whom were born and raised in the building.

The musical theme is carried from the neighbouring Music van de Caab centre into the restaurant.

Colour photographs of the various musical ensembles and events that form part of the Music van de Caab project, line the restaurant's walls. Displayed alongside them are black and white photographs selected for their musical content from the Cape Archives, the Paarl Heemkring Collection and the Bleek & Lloyd Collection of the UCT Libraries Visual Archives. The indigenous photographs were taken by Dorothea Bleek, who went on many expeditions to study Bushman dialects and rock art in the Kalahari, Botswana, Angola and Tanzania.

The restaurant’s back wall has been brought to life with a vibrantly coloured mural that provides a timeline of the music of the Cape and its influences from around the world. From early human development to European colonization, the unmistakable beat of the ghoema drum, langarm and Cape Jazz, Cape music is a fascinating example of how contact finds cultural expression. With a timeline that stretches across the bottom of the mural, Cape music is situated within the wider world – from Mozart to Motown. From a distance, the influences read like a sheet of music, each note adding to the melting pot that is Cape music. Up close, each note invites further exploration, with interesting details of the Cape’s musical heritage.

There are two indoor dining areas: a room that seats 30, and a striking glass structure, which can seat up to 60. Additional outdoor seating for at least 60 is available on the stoep and the lawn. Each of the two rooms as well as the outside area will be available for private functions, as well as regular dining. www.solms-delta.co.za | 021 874 3937

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Franschhoek Tatler

8

Two days, or more?

Deciding how many days your child should spend at pre-school Many parents who enrol their children at a preschool for the first time, start them on a ‘two-day’ per week programme. It’s no different at Bumble Bee. The question is, why choose two as a starting point, rather than three or more days per week?

Before I answer that – and my answer may not be what you expect – let’s consider some basic preschool truths: Every child is unique, and each will experience being at preschool differently; not every preschool is right for every child; and good preschool programmes have been proven to have life-long benefits.

Back to the question, why two days?

Financial and family considerations are often, and justifiably, the first to dictate how many days a child attends preschool. It’s often more difficult for parents to get their heads around having an empty house a couple of mornings a week, than it is for their pre-schoolers. That was certainly true for me when my son started at Bumble Bee. Parents may also have very specific goals with

respect to sending a child to preschool. It may be to increase peer socialisation, help children overcome attachment issues or simply to get the child school-ready. In all of these, even limited preschool exposure is likely to be of benefit.

There are some legitimate child-centred considerations too. Younger children, or those with a full and varied routine, often take more naturally to a two-day per week option.

The two-day option is, however, not generally recommended for children with separation issues. The long break between the end of the two-day week and the start of the next makes separation adjustment quite difficult, with children seeing their time at preschool as the exception, rather than a norm.

Best practice suggests that parents opt for a five-day per week programme to start, and then scale back if that proves too much. In South Africa we tend to take the opposite approach.

Three-day per week programmes are generally the ‘safest’ option for children not

quite up to a full week – offering most of the benefits of a five-day programme, such as building relationships with other children and teachers, consistency of routine and cognitive development, without forcing parents to go cold turkey in the empty nest.

Full-week programmes are generally best for children preparing for a formal education environment, and are characterised by a focus on learning and consistent routine. Children who attend preschool for five days a week typically learn more, and more quickly than their three-day counterparts.

So, two days, or more? The answer is up to you.

Fortunately whatever the choice, you’re unlikely to be stuck with that decision. People change programs (and even schools) all the time so there’s no need to be afraid to try something different, in the interests of your child. Challenging them might just be what they need.

Brett Garner - The Bumble Bee Play School

www.thebumblebee.co.za| 021 876 4629

February 2015

February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

measure

Portulaca – A Timely Treasure Companies the world over can only dream of having staff arrive at work as punctually as a portulaca blooms in the morning. They are colourful, water wise, easy going and will fill a patch in your garden where not much else will thrive, what more could a gardener want?

What these gorgeous treasures need is sun.

Lots of it, in fact, the whole day long if possible.

Luckily most gardens have those patches where not much grows because it gets too much sun, and the soil is not terribly fertile because of the hammering it gets from the unrelenting rays. This is the perfect place for your portulaca and the once desert looking patch will turn into a fiery colour palette before you know it.

It’s quite simple, just remember to avoid areas with shade or waterlogged soil and don’t worry if the soil is not rich with nutrients because they’ll grow in sandy soils with practically no attention. Being waterwise little plants, keep the water in the tap until it’s needed and try not to pummel their soft leaves with hard overhead watering.

Plant your portulacas in rockeries, hanging baskets, pots, between stepping stones and even as a ground cover if that is what you need. Their eye-catching colours will make any of these areas impossible to miss. They are available in scarlet, orange and yellow for the bolder gardener or white and pastel shades for a more understated feel. www.lifeisagarden.co.za

mm/year 2002

824

2004

709

2005

916

Dam Levels

2013

1100

2003

2014

Month

Accumulative

Month

Accumulative

January

11

11

69

69

February

36

47

5

74

March

20

67

76

150

83

150

50

As at 19 January 2015 Steenbras Upper

99.0%

Steenbras Lower

56.4%

200

Wemmershoek

73.1%

2006

884

April

2007

1153

May

88

238

120

320

Voëlvlei

76.0%

June

246

484

260

580

Theewaterskloof

80.0%

July

139

623

135

715

Berg River Dam

82.2%

August

409

1032

162

877

2008

1217

2009

978

2010

740

September

131

1163

64

941

Total Storage

2011

830

October

61

1224

13

954

78.9%

2012

1079

November

242

1466

72

1026

This Time Last Year

2013

1471

December

5

1471

7

1033

81.3% - 99.7%

different

support

knowledge analyze

mm/month

increase

Estate

Frankie Brooks

Measured at La Cotte/Nerina Street for periods indicated

result

Environment

Plant of the Month

Rainfall Figures

Reliable

Street

It’s harvest time! All over town the roads are sticky from spilled grape juice. Tractors, bakkies, trucks and some often un-roadworthy modes of transport are groaning under their loads of grapes, plums and peaches. Even in the home garden February is a month of absolute abundance. Don’t let the heat put you off – this a month of great gardening joy and activity.

Watering is obviously important this time of year.

Unfortunately there is no blanket recipe for optimal irrigation. I have always advocated irregular deep watering, but have found that it is often not the most effective way. We have mostly clay soil here on the farm and the top few centimetres dries out within hours. This often leaves the plants wilted and stressed in the late afternoon. A finger test still shows moisture deeper down, but this is not where most root hairs are situated. Even with a thick layer of mulch the plants still stress. It is as if the dry mulch on top sucks moisture out of the plants. To combat this I have now started to cut my deep waterings (10 – 15mm) down to once or twice per week – this still stimulates deep root growth. I then water for short cycles daily – depending on the weather even twice daily. This tends to cool down the plants and keeps them healthy and actively growing. The important thing is to experiment – find what works best in your own garden and in your own soil. Most irrigation controllers can be programmed to facilitate this.

Your vegetable garden should fill your pantry with the most amazing array of veggies and fruit. It is fig season – one of the great joys of late summer. Not many fruits come close to a sun-warmed ripe fig straight from the tree. I made green fig preserve early on in the season, but might also try my hand at making ripe fig jam this year. Fresh ideas for using summer squash are always welcome – I swear I can hear mine grow! Beans should be picked regularly – almost daily.

The same goes for cucumbers, courgettes, brinjals and tomatoes. Process as soon as you have enough for a batch – one of the secrets to good preserves is fresh produce. Pick up spoiled fruit regularly – the last thing you want is to provide a breeding ground for fruit fly. I hate spraying against pests, even with organic sprays, but this year we seem to have a major problem with fruit and pumpkin fly. We use GF120 – a “safe” organically certified bait – on a weekly basis, but still find fruit that are stung. We can only hope that the experiments with releasing sterile male fruit flies will have the desired effect. Other pests that might

clear

Natie Ferreira

be a problem are various beetles eating away at your berries, beans and roses. These are easily removed by hand and drowned in paraffin or squashed underfoot.

If you find aphids you have done something wrong – probably added to much nitrogen to the soil.

February is not really a planting month, but it is a great month for preparing your seed beds for autumn sowing. All bare areas should be mulched with a thick layer of compost – fresh manure is not a good idea in summer. Weeding will keep you busy, but weeds are still better than bare soil. Try to prevent weeds from going to seed though. I have started to embrace weeds and see them as adding organic matter to the soil. I have a pull and drop approach – leaving the pulled weeds on the surface of the bed roots and all.

This serves as decent mulch and will slowly add back nutrients to the soil. Most weeds are deep rooted and mine precious minerals from deep within the soil.

A hot kitchen is not the most desirable place to be in in February, but if you can stand the heat there is plenty to do. I am definitely going to experiment more with lactic fermentation, sun drying and other non-cooking methods of preserving veggies and fruits. Now is also the time to get seriously creative with the daily salad. Try some new combinations and eat some normally cooked veggies fresh. Butternut can be freshly grated and marinated for an interesting salad and young beans and courgettes add a welcome crunchiness to green salads.

skills

Gardening in February

9

clean

key water

Information

Beautiful

quote

supply

Pool

Maintenance

PoolCure

Relationship

value

Swallows

Estate

Environment

Trust

tools

Sparkling Franschhoek

decision

Relax

flexible Management Comfort check support Home clean

result

clear

Honest

key

Service

Easy 5 Star Service

different

5 STAR HOME SERVICES • POOL MAINTENANCE • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • WE ONLY NEED ONE KEY

RIA: 072 347 5355 • EMAIL: ria@kingsley.co.za

Franschhoek Tatler

10

Franschhoek Prochorus

ACVV Franschhoek

Brett Garner

Ronelle Pinard

ACVV is not particularly known by most residents in Franschhoek. Some useful information: • The ACVV, formerly known as the Afrikaanse Christelike Vrouevereniging (Afrikaner Christian Women's Association) is a woman's movement in South Africa founded in 1904. It is the oldest welfare organisation in South Africa.

• It initially was Afrikaner-centred and conservative.

Women's organisations like the ACVV extended their operations beyond the realm of the home and became involved in Afrikaner education, identity and, inevitably, politics.

• The modern ACVV is multicultural, and the website carries the motto "Together in the Service of the Community" in Afrikaans, English, Xhosa (Sikunye kwiinkonzo zoluntu), and Setswana (Re mmogo mo ditirelong tsa loago).

AS an NGO, ACVV Franschhoek partakes in various events/projects in order to raise funds. You are welcome to contact me at the office on 021 876

Bhabhathane News Alastair Wood

The first five years Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by age five. It is during this period that the foundation is laid for how the next 80 years will turn out, primarily driven by the habits in which children are trained. In the Franschhoek Valley, we have 1400 children under the age of five; half of whom attend one of 22 local Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres. The other 700 do not and may be destined to arrive at school already behind their peers, not knowing how to hold a pencil, write their name or even count.

Each of the 22 ECD centres is run by a principal assisted by practitioners. These ladies are singularly motivated by their love of children and will do anything to increase their own ability to provide the children in their care with better learning.

Bhabhathane undertook a detailed survey of all centres to identify opportunities to help them all to become viable, safe, well-run learning environments in which children are given a strong educational foundation. The survey was conducted by ECD professionals from the Early Learning Resource Unit in Cape Town and was kindly sponsored by Franschhoek Prochorus. The summary results are: • The vast majority are in dire financial straits; meaning principals and practitioners are paid

Franschhoek Probus Club

Alta Malherbe

A Probus Club is a local association of retired or semi-retired professional or business people, (or others who have had a measure of responsibility in any field of worthy endeavour), who are of good character and are respected in their communities.

The Club meets regularly for fellowship and an extension of its members’ interests.

We would like to invite new members to join our

February 2015

When helping hurts

Anelisa Ntoshe

2670 if you’d like to assist.

The new Hope Through Action Sport Centre opened its doors in Groendal on 15 January with various events on the 16th and 17th. ACVV had the opportunity to sell eats and drinks and we are happy to say it was a huge success.

Miracles happen! We have a new social worker! We welcome Anelisa Ntoshe, our Xhosa speaking Social Worker for whom we are very grateful – she will work with the Mooiwater and Langrug community. extremely low salaries, with some receiving nothing at all • Only two centres, or 46 children, receive the government subsidy which supports feeding, educational materials and staff salaries • The quality of the learning environment for 0 – 2-year-olds and 3 – 6-year-olds is inadequate in many of the centres • Formal academic and ECD qualifications of principals and practitioners are less than adequate, although many of the principals have years of practical experience • Physical structures of nine centres need urgent attention as a result of space constraints, leaking roofs, poor flooring, and inadequate toilet facilities and plumbing • Governance, administration and parental involvement are generally poor with a lack of governing bodies and very few financial, HR and other essential policies and procedures.

All of this adds up to a substantial, multi-year upgrade programme which is required to bring nearly all of the 22 centres up to adequate and sustainable standards. Bearing in mind that another 700 0 – 5-year-olds do not attend any of the formal ECD centres the programme must also include a major parallel effort to establish home-based ECD facilities.

Bhabhathane is currently developing a detailed approach to tackling the above, working in partnership with the Franschhoek ECD Forum which comprises all the ECD principals. Substantial resources of time and money will be required, some of which has been generously donated by The DG Murray Trust, the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund and Nedbank, but more is required particularly from the local Franschhoek community.

For further information or if you would like to join a tour of ECD centres, please contact Lynn Campbell on 079 110 5890 or lynn@bhabhathane.org.za club. The joining fee is only R50 and then R100 per year. For this you will be informed of our meeting every month where we usually have a speaker.

On 2 February 2015 we will have a lunch meeting at 12h30 for 13h00 as usual at La Petite Dauphine (in Café BonBon or the Studio). Our speaker will be Kevin Butler who will be discussing his book “Parley with the Devil”.

Should there be any one locally who would like to make themselves available to do a talk for Probus during 2015 it will be welcomed and appreciated.

We enjoy any topic. Please contact Alta Malherbe on 021 876 3179 / 082 338 5873 to give her your details. We will be looking for speakers from April 2015. We would love to hear from you.

On a typical day the Franschhoek Prochorus office will have a number of visitors asking for help in the form of hand-outs of food, clothing or money. Until a while ago our stock response to these requests was to get some basic info about the person and their situation, and then set about meeting their material needs as best we can, given our decent stockpile of tinned goods and clothing. But through the course of 2014 we had a change of heart.

That change came about rather suddenly – and has a lot to do with a book by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, titled ‘When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself ’.

(While this isn’t a book review, Corbett and Fikkert’s effort is well-worth reading and is sure to challenge those keen to make a difference.)

Marcus Lynn, commenting online, highlights the following from the book: “One of the biggest problems in many poverty-alleviation efforts is that their design and implementation exacerbates the ‘poverty of being’ of the economically rich – their god-complexes – and the ‘poverty of being’ of the

economically poor – their feelings of inferiority and shame. The way that we act toward the economically poor often communicates, albeit unintentionally, that we are superior and they are inferior. In the process we hurt the poor and ourselves.”

As far as the work of Prochorus is concerned, the punchline of the excerpt above is this, outside of genuine emergency situations, each hand-out we make is as good as a slap in the face of the person asking for help. If not a slap in the face, a hand-out is certainly no hand up and is likely to perpetuate the unhealthy sense that life is about ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’.

What we’ve adopted as a result is an administratively more onerous, but far more beneficial, approach that allows for a basic initial hand-out with the expectation of a follow-up visit (with the onus on the helped party to make a return trip to our office) for feedback, prayer and counselling. A second parcel of goodies is available at this meeting and a simple plan of action is drawn up to ensure that a third visit isn’t needed.

Typically the plan will include collecting a CV and looking at strategies to reconnect the visitor with their family, a local church and / or a support group.

We’ve had a handful of third-time visitors since we’ve implemented our new strategy, and they’ve left us empty handed. For the rest, time will tell, but our initial efforts have been encouraging enough to fill us and the majority of our visitors with hope for 2015. If nothing else, we’ve been humbled to see God’s hand in the not-so-subtle exchange of our own god-complex for the dignity of those we’re called to help.

Best ever for Groendal Secondary School Groendal Secondary School (GSS) achieved its best ever matric pass rate of 86,2% – an improvement of 13.6% on 2013. In addition the school has produced its first ever learner with an A-aggregate.

Groendal’s Dux-learner, Merve Hughes, achieved four distinctions, an A-aggregate and was accepted as a B.Com student at Stellenbosch University.

Another 21 learners earned university exemption

and a significant number of these are prospective students at Stellenbosch University, CPUT as well as Boland and Northlink Colleges.

The school credits these achievements not only to the hard work of the learners, but also to the support they received from teachers, parents and the community at large.

Now it’s up to the Class of 2015 to emulate their predecessors’ achievements.

Bridge House Matrics bring home excellent results

Georgia-Anne Meihuizen

At the end of last year 56 Bridge House students wrote matric and all passed. It is the 18th consecutive year that Bridge House has a 100% pass rate. The school is exceptionally proud of Head Boy for 2014, Johan Vorster, who is the top Independent Examinations Board (IEB) student in the Western

Johan Vorster

Cape and the only Western Cape pupil placed on the IEB’s Outstanding Achievements List. He achieved 8 distinctions. Georgia-Anne Meihuizen also achieved 8 distinctions, which earned her a place on the Commendable Achievements list.

Hoërskool Franschhoek doen goed

By Hoërskool Franschhoek is daar angstig gewag op die uitslae van die 2014 matriekeksamen. 28 leerders, uit ‘n totaal van 31, het hul Nasionale

Senior Sertifikaat verwerf. Van hierdie getal het 50% toegang tot graadstudie behaal.

February 2015

Letters info@franschhoektatler.co.za

Moving on, puzzled Dear editor Franschhoek is a puzzling place. While one hand gives, the other one takes and you can’t but wonder about what makes it tick. And yet, once it’s in your blood...

This is the story of my most recent experience.

I have recently experienced, and am currently still fighting, some health obstacles which became the main causes of my being jobless and also losing my home. When I was released by the hospital it was with the understanding that I will go somewhere where I will have constant care. As my family was not willing to take on the responsibility (I am a single individual), Marianne van der Merwe and the ACVV stepped in and Fleur de Lis Old Age Home took me in with the help of generous donors. In the meantime, Mariet assisted me with my application for a disability grant. Due to the government being the government, the application was delayed and payment will only be made sometime in 2015.

In the meantime Fleur de Lis decided that since, according to them, I am not a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, it will be the Christian thing to ask me to leave. This despite the fact that I had nowhere to go and funds were made available for me to stay on by various other organisations in town. That was the reason given when I asked. Thank you Trinity Church, Shofar and ACVV. Marianne van der Merwe tried desperately to find me a safe haven, but the importance of money always overshadows everything and due to the ACVV’s lack of funds, she also had no success. Affordable accommodation is very scarce in town and it seems nobody can afford compassion. So it happened that after living here for 30 years, deeply and passionately loving this town and its people, Franschhoek threw me out like yesterday’s garbage.

With the help of two people, Lilly Coetzee from the SPCA and pensioner Jennifer Boonzaaier who offered to share her room with me, I carry on. (Lilly is also not welcome in Franschhoek and has to, despite her passionate and thankless work to help the valley’s needy animals, live in Lanquedoc.) Franschhoek people are just too money hungry, making living costs too high, while the individuals who keep this town going cannot earn enough to live here.

FRANCO offered to help with my day-to-day expenses and my fabulous friends who, despite going through hardships themselves, help where they can with prayers and gifts. It is a whole lot better than the night shelter in Paarl where Franschhoek dumped me. Even there, among the homeless people, I was blessed with the kindness of strangers who promised to help keep me safe, as they could see I was not physically able to do so myself. The SPCA undertook to take in my beloved pet cat and care for him to ensure that he doesn’t become just another stray. With everything in me, I THANK YOU. Will I survive this? Maybe ‌ maybe not. Is my heart broken? Oh, definitely!

Hospice News Colleen Douglas

Our Remembrance Service takes place on 15 February at the Vereenigende Gereformeerde Kerk, c/o Dirkie Uys & De Wet Streets. The service starts at 09h30.

The next Book Sale takes place in front of the Town Hall on 21 February from 09h00 – 13h00.

Franschhoek Tatler I have loved this valley so much for so long.

Rejection is never a good experience. To everyone who helped me ‌A huge thank you! I will never forget this and when I tell my story, I will tell of you and your kindness. May God bless you with so much grace that you feel you are drowning in it. As much as you have done for me, the town needs much more to bring about positive change.

Why am I writing this???

Franschhoek, PLEASE open your eyes, ears and heart. I know you have one. Look at what you are. Where is your soul, your grace? Mine is not the only ‘tough times’ story in the village.

There are more right here. You do not have to be a Christian to make a difference. There are not enough real ones around anyway. Just be human. Allow you heart to feel, to care. That is where great reward can be found. We all need love and grace. Your neighbour may go to bed hungry tonight despite the fact that he lives in a lovely home, mid-town. He may be lonely and just need someone to be there; anyone. His wife may be dying of an incurable disease and he has nobody to support him. His child may be a drug addict and there is nobody to support him. Look around you. Misery does not only reside with the jobless and homeless. It is on your doorstep. You do not have to search too far. It is right there.

We do not walk around with placards telling everyone what we’re going through. If you know of such situations please help, tell someone or ask someone to help.

Even the devil does not deny his children. Why do you deny your neighbour? This is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Cherish it. Take care of it. Let this town’s beauty be a reflection of the inner beauty of its citizens. I’ll be moving on now. You are staying.

How do you want to experience this town in your hour of need? What are you willing to do to ensure you get what you wish for?

Linda Kruger

Why not?

Dear Editor, Why can’t the large trucks stop coming through the main road of Franschhoek and turn off at Robertsvlei road?

Kind Regards Byron Plomaritis

Sport Centre a blessing Dear Editor, I can’t wait for the opening of the new Indoor Sports Centre in Groendal area of Franschhoek.

The facility will be of much use to the youth of Franschhoek as a whole. They’ll have a protected and state of the art place to play and who knows, we might even have our very on Makhaya Ntini or Brian Habana coming from that sports arena.

To all the sponsors, Stellenbosch Municipality, the community of Franschhoek and everyone who made this possible, a job well done! Our youth will no longer populate the streets of Franschhoek for the lack of something to do.

Some end up committing crime, instead they will be busy sharpening their various sporting skills in Groendal indoor sports Centre.

You’re blessed!

Abongile Mpolwane

Editor’s Letter

Siegfried Schäfer Dear Readers At the recent opening of the Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre in Groendal Premier Helen Zille said something that I’ve also found to be true in my own experience. She said that (and I’m paraphrasing a bit) “Hope is directly related to how involved individuals are in society.â€? Put another way, those who do most to improve society are also those who are most optimistic about society.

Going by what has been in the news recently I afraid there isn’t much apparent reason for optimism in South Africa. A case that particularly resonated with me was when (not-so) Independent Media accused journalist / commentator Max du Preex of factual inaccuracies when he wrote in a column what five judges have found before him – that Jacob Zuma is corrupt. Du Preez, being the principled man that he is, refused to apologise like his pliant bosses and resigned. Whatever happened to the media speaking truth to power?

In any event, here’s what Du Preez said about prospects for this year a few weeks ago: “Do you want things to be done, and done properly, in 2015?

Then do it yourself. Behave as if government is not going to deliver any services, and if it does, see that as a bonus.� “The poor management and planning, deployment of loyal cadres not up to the job, attempts at state capture, corruption and weak political leadership of the last decades are now really adding up and taking their toll. There are no signs that matters will improve in 2015.�

He doesn’t paint a hopeful picture, but he is taking action and putting his money where his mouth his

11 by continuing to speak truth to power.

On the international front the major mediarelated story of the past few weeks was, of course, the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack. This event also raises issues around the role of the media, multiculturalism and whether in a democratic society there are any limits on free speech. Anyone with a passing knowledge of Charlie Hebdo will tell you that they really push the envelope as far as free speech is concerned – often in rather crude ways.

Nevertheless, I don’t believe that anything that can be written – however offensive some may find it – is reason for killing. So, even though I’m not a Charlie Hebdo fan I will add my voice to those who say “Je suis Charlie.�

I suppose what I’m trying to say with the above is that if you want to see positive change you had better be willing to roll up your sleeves and do something. Carping from the side lines doesn’t help and certainly doesn’t bring hope; and I’m sure we’d all like to ensure that hope remains.

On a completely different topic: Has anybody else spotted people with red socks running around the valley on Friday mornings? I believe they congregate at the Protea Hotel‌ Until next month Franschhoek Tatler | 021 876 3460 info@franschhoektatler.co.za www.franschhoektatler.co.za

Deadlines - March 2015 Issue Ad Bookings: 12 February 2015 Artwork: 13 February 2015 Editorial: 12 February 2015

FWV News

Jenny Prinsloo

Franschhoek Wedding Showcase – 18 April 2015 Franschhoek is the ideal (and definitely romantic) setting to celebrate the most important day of your life. A sneak peek of what you can expect will be on offer at the inaugural Franschhoek Wedding Showcase on 18 April 2015. It’s the perfect showcase for all romantics to make their dreams a reality.

Exquisite views, world class venues, fine dining and award-winning wines will complete the package for this special day.

A trip to the Franschhoek Winelands over this weekend will get your creative juices flowing as well as

add hype and excitement in preparation for your ‘Big Day’. A selection of wedding suppliers will be pulling out all the stops to impress. They include venues, dresses, cakes, stationery, music, DJs, photographers, wineries and much more. An added attraction to the event will be the launch of Franschhoek’s online wedding registry. This allows the bride and groom to select wedding gifts from Franschhoek’s specialist shops and wineries.

To allow for a visitor-friendly showcase Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa will host a centralised venue. Not only is Franschhoek the most romantic wedding destination, but it is also the perfect weekend getaway. Use this weekend to relax and unwind and possibly arrange to visit some Franschhoek wine farms and other properties that specialise in weddings (generally by appointment only).

The showcase will be open daily between 10h00 and 17h00 and costs R80 per person entrance fee. Tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za or on the day at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa. For more information contact Franschhoek Wine Valley on 021 876 2861 or office@franschhoek.org. za or visit www.franschhoek.org.za.

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Franschhoek

We have appealed before for a small fridge for the triplets. They are desperately still in need of this fridge. I there’s anybody out there who’s able to assist us please give us a call on 021 876 3085.

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We’re not sure if it’s our breathtakingly beautiful mountains, our small village atmosphere or our superb food and wine that makes Franschhoek such a perfect place for romance, but it’s clear everybody finds it easy to say “I love you� while here. This year during Valentines weekend lovers, friends and families will again be spoilt for choice. From romantic dinners, to delicious picnic-style food and hearty breakfasts, there

will be something special to please every palate! For a list of Valentines offers visit www.franschhoek.org.za.

We are also spoiling one lucky couple with a fabulous prize. Simply tell us what you think it is about Franschhoek that makes it so staggeringly romantic and stand a chance of winning a spot for two in a themed Valentine’s Day cooking class at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards. You will be spending the morning side-byside cooking up a romantic French-inspired breakfast!

Enter our competition by emailing your thoughts to marketing@franschhoek.org.za. Entries close on Tuesday 10 February 2015 at 12h00.

Franschhoek Tatler

12

February 2015

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February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

Tatler Motoring

13

Volvo S60 T5 R-design

Photo: Giordano Lupini

Michele Lupini

generation 8-speed autobox geared for ultimate cruising – which Big White has delivered in grand style for most of our 10 000km so far. The car just gets on with it leaving us to enjoy a fuss-free ride, wherever we’re going.

But it’s quick too, at 6.4 seconds to a hundred, it’s as quick as it is economical with regular mid-6l/100km tank-to-tank economy to match.

Bigger than a Three Series but smaller than an E-class, the S60 also offers great value in a Swedish style of it’s own that will certainly make sure you don’t miss that Hun brashness. Oh, by the way, did I tell you that all next generation Volvos will also share a vastly advanced modular chassis and body architecture?

Well, that’s the Volvo way: the Chinese just invest the money, leaving the Swedes to weave their magic and provide you with a splendid Scandinavian option that’s becoming more compelling by the month and something not everyone would have believed, just a few short years ago.

Most importantly however, our Volvo is proving to be a brilliant driving companion – just ask Mr. Takis, Viv the Engineer or Tim from Essence – all of whom have shared in the magic of a great car.

Crocodile Tears We’ve been driving a Volvo for a while now – a white S60 T5 R-design – you may recognise it from around the village? Anyway, it’s proving something special.

Volvo has been through quite a bit as a brand lately; bailed out by Ford before that company started concentrating what it does best – which is build Fords! Most fans probably shed a quiet tear when the badge fell into Chinese hands.

Happily those proved crocodile tears – Geely invested wisely, leaving the Swedes to get on with it and as a result the brand is booming. Well, it started off a good base, didn’t it? Volvo has a penchant for safety and it has maintained that handsomely, but now it is building very clever cars in every other sense too.

That all-new Volvo-designed 2-litre turbo petrol, for instance is part of a modular all-four-cylinder future where that basic architecture will cater for all Volvo’s petrol and diesel needs going forward – from the lowest powered diesel to a monster supercharged and turbocharged 450kW range topper.

Our dreamy and fuss-free 180kW 350Nm lump drives the front wheels through a splendid new-

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14

Financial Matters Celia McGuinness

A financial to-do list for new entrepreneurs It might seem obvious, but prior to embarking on any new business venture, you need to make sure that your personal financial house is in order. Here’s a todo list to help you do just that.

Clear up existing debt Substantial debt and limited cash flow can hinder your business success. Reduce what you owe before launching your next project. To determine how much debt you need to pay off, figure out your debt-toequity ratio. (Tip: If yours exceeds 80 percent, it’s time to re-evaluate your financial plan.)

Invest in liability insurance One of the most important types of insurance for small businesses is a general business liability policy, which protects your company’s assets and pays for liability in any claims, such as medical expenses, breach of contract, errors and omissions, and more.

Make sure you have enough start-up capital This may seem like common sense, but lacking sufficient funding is one of the biggest traps that entrepreneurs get caught in. You need to consider all of the costs of doing business, such as taxes, licenses, equipment and supplies, as well as a commercial lease, merchandise, and payroll. How much is enough? It

Business Leadership Tony Frost

A New Year, a New Start!

The beginning of the year generally brings with it reflections of the year past as well as a desire to do things differently, or better, or, indeed to make a whole new start. This is as it should be.

Leaders should really be doing this all the time.

Let us reflect on how we exercise our leadership in the year ahead and whether it is the best we can do given the circumstances.

I read an interesting article by Max du Preez recently on active citizenship and it occurred to me that many of the principles he enumerated in his article could and should apply to leadership in our country.

Essentially he said do not wait for the politicians to fix things or create things, get on with it yourself and he then proceeded to give a list of really good examples of how we could do this.

The difference with this approach as far as leaders are concerned is that we should be getting things done through others. But the principles are the same: We should be taking action and encouraging those we lead to do the same. Waiting has never made anything happen.

So what is it that we can do differently to energise and motivate those we lead for the good of all in 2015?

1. Focus forward; do not get bogged down in the current difficulties and challenges. We are not going to be able to change the fact that Eskom cannot produce enough power so how can we show leadership by making the best of this situation. Whinging about it will not change it and whinging will not reflect well on you as a leader; it will certainly not motivate your team!

2. Engage frequently and deeply with your people.

Talk to them and even more importantly listen to them – leadership by listening around, if you will.

Listening to people gives them the sense that they and their opinions are valued. This will motivate them.

3. Ask everyone at all levels to offer solutions to challenges, and to give ideas of ways to do things

Franschhoek Tatler depends. But, according to many trusted business sites, if you raise 18 months’ worth of funding, you need to reach your goals within a year.

Leave room for error It’s easy to miscalculate your projected sales or budgetary needs, so have a Plan B for covering routine and unexpected expenses. For example, maintain a business savings account of readily available cash – enough to cover basic or emergency needs – in case your gross income or total outlay falls short of your forecasts.

Understand your tax obligations Small-business owners should plan ahead to minimize the amount they pay in taxes each year. You may want to seek advice from a tax consultant who can help identify what your monthly tax liabilities will be, what deductions you can take advantage of, and how you should classify your business from the start.

Take a few basic business courses One way to ensure your business starts off on the right foot is to educate yourself about the various aspects of running a successful enterprise. Enrol in courses related to accounting, management, business law, communications, and web design.

Hire a skilled, trustworthy accountant Accountants can be expensive, but the cost is well worth it to keep your books in order and your budget on track. A reliable accountant will show you where your money is being allocated, as well as expose any weaknesses in your financial plan.

These may all seem like logical steps in setting up a business, but sometimes it is simply bad financial planning that leads to the downfall of the start-up.

Hopefully these tips from The Tax Shop will help you avoid some of the pitfalls associated with starting an entrepreneurial endeavour. differently and better. Creativity and innovation are huge motivators.

4. Big Companies are looking for executives who are able to behave with empathy. It is becoming increasingly apparent that this is a critical ingredient in the make-up of top leaders. Empathy provides people with a sense of really being heard, of being part of the team that really counts. It also gives, the leader, a real understanding of the people and what makes them tick.

5. In a year that we are told is going to be challenging leaders need to spend time on positive emotions, creating beauty, laughing out loud even when this is difficult to do and making sure that there is time to have fun and to make sure that others are also having fun. This will lighten the atmosphere without taking anything away from the importance of performance. It will also make it easier for people to really engage without fear.

There are too many leaders who mistakenly believe that fear is a good motivational strategy. Fear does work, but is only a short term driver. It has no sustainable benefit. It depends totally on the leader who uses it and if he stumbles or leaves the whole edifice collapses. In addition, the best people know that they do not have to stay under that kind of leadership and will often leave. Those that remain do so because their options are limited and the result is that the leader has to drive them even more to get the same jobs done in the same time at the same quality levels. Often additional people are needed to fill the gaps that were not evident when the good people were still there.

Taking the empathetic approach takes courage. It is not the easy way, and not a short term fix, but it will build a more sustainable collective approach to achieving success.

I have often seen how teams are positively transformed when a leader follows this route. How the meekest people suddenly seem to gain confidence and perform at levels previously not thought possible. The leader needs to approach this way of leading in a consistent, relentless and patient manner. This will develop the team’s confidence in him.

Make 2015 a year when you open your arms and invite people in to share in the joys and challenges of leadership. It will lighten your load and grow your team to levels that you probably have only dreamed about.

Make this your plan for the year and the challenges will become part of the exciting adventure of success! tony@siroccostrategy.com

February 2015

Market Chatter

Keith Hodgekiss

The crystal ball As I write, midway through January, the oil price continues its decline, forcing analysts out of the dark corners to yell (yet again) that we are near the bottom of this extended rout. With the oil price having recently touched $44 a barrel, the question is when – and at what price – will it find its bottom?

The issue is complex and although history tends to repeat itself, no two events are identical. On this occasion we have many emerging markets that cannot afford to bring production to a halt, due to budget forecasting with revenues based on the oil price at a lofty $100 a barrel.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will not cut supply to avoid losing market share. Traders have also begun storing large amounts of oil using container ships. Demand is stagnant and the supply glut has only increased with the US’s shale gas boom.

When viewing the oil price on a graph, there seems to be technical support at around $40. Ultimately though, it is the fundamentals that will determine the price and we will only see the bigger picture in the latter half of 2015.

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene will table the 2015 Budget in Parliament on 25 February 2015.

The 2015 Budget will provide a better indication

of what we can expect to happen within the South African economy this year.

There is a general consensus of higher taxes, particularly against the higher income earners. With no crystal ball in sight, we can only draw on themes that might be present in the coming year.

A theme currently playing out is the strengthening of the US dollar, based on the end of their Quantitative Easing (QE) programme and the anticipated raising of their interest rates in the latter half of this year. Make no mistake that the US is the engine room of the world economy, with 2014 third quarter GDP numbers comfortably beating expectations.

A paradox the South African economy suffers from is that commodity prices move inversely to the price of the US dollar relative to major currencies, as can be seen in the graph alongside.

South African interest rates will rise this year after an extended pause in the cycle of increases.

Inflation is no longer a concern for policy makers as the oil price has provided relief. Unless growth accelerates, we might see a delayed announcement to increase rates.

The rand will gradually continue its decline against the major currencies on the back of the demand and price of commodities which, in turn, will deteriorate our terms of trade.

The stock market is still a way off its high and there are definitely opportunities out there. We will see a decent year for equities if our growth expectations improve and we focus on keeping our investment grade credit rating. All-in-all the crystal ball is somewhat misty, but there are a few strong themes to use as guidance for decision making.

Commodity Channel Index (CCI) vs Oil Price 2007 - 2013

TAX

INDIVIDUAL & CORPOR ATE

Accounting and B ookkeeping • T ax • P ayroll • Company Formation and Services • BEE Certification and Verification • Insurance & Investments • DTI Incentives • Foreign Exchange Email: franschhoek@taxshop.co.za

Phone: 021 876 2676 • Cell: 082 804 0764 Shop 3, La Rue des Roses, 2 Main Road, Franschhoek

February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

15

Book Review

Charlotte van Zyl

The Children Act by Ian McEwan Publ: Jonathan Cape, 216 pages

Kurt Maske Volunteer paramedic You registered as a student at the Durban University of Technology this year. What are you going to study?

I have been accepted to study the BHSc: Emergency Medical Care. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the highest qualifications one can get as a paramedic.

You studied marketing management before, how did you become interested in medical emergencies?

When I was young, my mother, Lodine, was called out to accidents and emergencies in the village and I use to tag along to see what was going on. As I got older I started helping her on calls and funnily enough, while I was studying marketing I went on a short medic course and after that I knew this is what I wanted to do.

You have been working as a volunteer in medical emergencies for a while. What is the best part of the work; and the worst part?

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working as a volunteer for about 5 years now. The best thing is being able to leave a scene knowing I have helped to save someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life.

The worst thing will obviously be losing a patientâ&#x20AC;Ś but as long as I know I did everything I could possibly do, it makes it a little better. It is hard not knowing whether a patient survived or not, because once they are loaded into the ambulance my work is done. If ER24 comes out, I usually phone the next day to ask if the patient is OK. I work for them part time so I know many of the staff.

To what extent in your experience are emergencies related to drug or alcohol abuse?

In this industry you get to see many things in one week which others wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see in a life time. From the amazing things like delivering a baby on the side of the road to heart attacks, strokes, car accidents and then the violent side like stabbings, gunshots, assaults, and many more. Unfortunately drug or alcohol abuse plays a big role in the emergencies I have to deal with.

Would you ever refuse treatment for someone -- if so, whom?

As hard as it is sometimes, nope. I would not refuse treatment.

Sometimes you get put in situations where you VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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MOOIRIVIER 6 February 2015

feel you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to help someone because they might have done really bad things and have a criminal record. But I will never refuse treatment. My Mom says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always be good to everyone, even if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do the same to you.â&#x20AC;?

You said you are prepared to work in danger zones. Why? Firstly, someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got to do it. Too many people sit at home and talk about it but no one wants to get involved, or even try and get experience, and help.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m prepared to because I want to help, even if that means putting my life in danger and going into the squatter camps at 3am. I also see it as a challenge as I am pushed out of my comfort zone and really have to think on my feet! It helps me to learn and grow at my job.

Do you have a professional goal in mind or are you following a path and seeing where it leads?

At the moment I am just focused on finishing my degree! Maybe going abroad for a year or two after my studies, not too sure, but will definitely return to my home town. My long term goal would probably be heading in the direction of a Trauma Doctor.

What will happen to your WhatsApp Crime & Traffic group and your clothing line?

My whatsapp groups will continue to run. I will be updating them as much as I can and I have made a list of all the best emergency contacts for everyone. I have made it simple, one A4 page, and have covered everything from fires to security, police and even snake handlersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; numbers.

As for my clothing line, DASH, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll still be doing that. I am in a partnership with a close friend. It has really taken off here in the Cape and we see it as a new opportunity to try get it up and running in Durban.

You are an unpaid volunteer, how do you get all your equipment and supplies?

I am lucky to be able to use the Lions Clubs medical equipment and supplies, but they would not be able to sponsor me without the help they get from the community. I would like to say a huge thank you to the people of Franschhoek for supporting the Lions Club at their fundraisers and also for supporting me and so making my dream come true. To the companies and individuals who donate extra money to me for petrol and cell phone bills, and to everyone for their kind messages and phones calls as I start a new chapter in my life, thank you.

Many of McEwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novels start with a commonplace incident that goes bizarrely wrong. A holiday balloon excursion turns into a nightmare when the balloon goes out of control. A little girl in a supermarket vanishes, never to be seen again by the distraught parents. A doctor gazes out of his London apartment window late at night and sees an airliner crash.

In â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Children Actâ&#x20AC;? McEwan shows how even in the most precise and thoughtful language of the law, particularly that part of it that pertains to children, there are events and circumstances that challenge the certainties of legal discourse. One of the examples he uses is that of a pair of Siamese twins who are so intricately conjoined that they share one vital organ. The weaker of the two is draining life out of the stronger. The law forbids a doctor to take a life, but unless a decision is taken both will die.

The central character of the novel is Fiona Maye, a High Court Judge specializing in family law and it is up to her to make a finding in this case. There is an unspoken feeling among her (male) legal brethren that family law is far less demanding than say criminal or international justice. However, her judgment is a model of rationality and ethical awareness. She finds her argument in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;doctrine of necessity.â&#x20AC;? This is an idea in common law that it is permissible to break

Have a BIG dinner for charity Olivia Giles was a successful commercial lawyer in Scotland when, in 2002, she contracted meningitis.

After being in a coma for 4 weeks, Olivia awoke to discover that her life had changed forever. In order to prevent her from dying, her hands and feet had been amputated and she faced a long and difficult struggle back to full fitness. Olivia overcame that struggle and was able to walk out of hospital on her new prosthetic limbs some 8 months after falling ill.

Aware that she had been given a second chance at life because of the fantastic medical support she had received in the UK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and that this opportunity was not available to millions of people in other parts of the world â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Olivia set up her charity called 500 miles (www.500miles.co.uk) in 2007. It provides treatment to allow disabled people in Malawi and Zambia to become mobile and so to become full members of their societies. Since it was established, over 4,000 people have been helped in this way by 500 miles.

Olivia and her husband have recently bought a house in Franschhoek and are looking forward to spending lots of time there in the years to come.

At the moment however, Olivia is focused on organising a major fundraising event called the BIG dinner which is happening on 7 March and which she hopes will raise R9 000 000 for 500 miles. The BIG dinner involves people all over the world having meals with friends and raising some money for 500 miles into the bargain.

Full details on how to get involved in this global initiative can be found at www.bigdinner.co.uk.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a splendid opportunity to have some fun for a good cause; so if you would like to give this global initiative a Franschhoek connection then please visit the website that explains how you can take part! www.bigdinner.co.uk

Olivia Giles

Big Screen Magic

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FIFTY SHADES OF GREY 13 February 2015

the criminal law in order to prevent a greater evil, and she rules that the weaker twin must die so that the stronger might live.

McEwan has gone to great lengths to research the finer points of the law (he handsomely thanks the legal experts in the acknowledgements) and he has to set his story within those confines. The next case that Judge Maye has to consider is that of a 17-year-old boy dying of leukemia, whose parents have refused to allow the necessary blood transfusion that will save his life. He is too young by a few months to make his own decision in this matter.

But now a complication beyond the scope of the law creeps into the plotline. Fionaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s husband of 26 years, Jack, announces he is going to have an affair with a 20-year-old statistician just to remember what passion was like. They are childless and have not made love in â&#x20AC;&#x153;8 weeks and a dayâ&#x20AC;? so this is not an unreasonable request according to some unwritten law of relationships. But she rejects this and flings herself into the leukemia case. Uncharacteristically she visits the boy in hospital and finds him to be beautiful and talented. In fact, McEwan creates a character so idealized that what she thinks she sees must represent the child she never had. Her ruling is predictable and the reactions of the parents and of the boy are wonderfully unpredictable.

This is fine story-telling.

The novel moves inexorably to a tragic ending, made all the more so because of an outstanding performance by Fiona when she accompanies on the piano one of her colleagues, who is an excellent singer. The maturity of her performance, the musical breakthrough she has made, stands in ironic contrast to the realities of both religion and of medicine which have a logic of their own, beyond the law.

This novel is undoubtedly worth the attention that the book needs to appreciate its finer qualities.

KINGSMAN 20 February 2015

MORTDECAI 27 February 2015

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SHAUN THE SHEEP 27 February 2015

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Franschhoek Tatler

16

Smalls LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL BOOK and can’t find it? Call John at the Armchair Explorer, we will source it for you.

Contact John Hicks 021 876 4129 GARDEN REFUSE REMOVAL: Please contact Adrienne for a quote. 072 850 7287 Relax! Let RIAPOOLS bring the sparkle back to your pool. Call: 072 347 5355 BOOK BINDING AND BOOK REPAIRS. Contact John 021 876 4129 or john@thearmchair explorer.co.za RIAPOOLS is this area’s premier pool maintenance company. For advice please call: 072 347 5355 PLASMA SCREEN ADVERTISING at BuildIt Franschhoek. High traffic area.

From R250 per month. Contact Johan Viljoen on 084 205 7157.

BABYSITTER: Honest, reliable lady to look after your children after hours. Please contact Adrienne for a quote. 072 850 7287 KITTENS AND DOGS looking for homes. Call Annette 021 876 3155 EXCESS BOOKS? Shelves creaking, moving house or just thinning out your collection? Contact John Hicks 021 876 4129 LIVE TURKEYS for sale at R150 each or R500.00 for five. Contact sabluberry@gmail.com

JOB WANTED: I’m Mike Richards, a Malawian national. I’m looking for a job as professional painter. I have a written reference from Mr James Calderwood – call him on 082 892 8925 – alternatively contact Mr & Mrs Tobin at tbytwo@ yahoo.com. I also have 2 years’ experience as a house cleaner. If interested please call me at 083 769 7711. Thanks JOB WANTED: My name is Elizabeth Gondwe. I’m a Malawian national and am looking for a job as a child minder or house cleaner. Please contact me at 073 289 5444.

MAILBOXES: Postnet Franschhoek.

R495 per year. Limited number still available. No “junk mail”. Phone: 021 876 3025 / Email: franschhoek@postnet.co.za PET AND HOUSESITTER: Professional, reliable and experienced Franschhoek resident available look after your animals and home on a short or long term basis. References available.

Please contact Lynn on 079 110 5890 or by email on tubbie59@gmail.com

SALES ASSISTANT: Town boutique seeks responsible, well-spoken sales assistant. Email CV to delport.annemarie@ gmail.com. Position immediately available.

ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED: I am looking for a 2 bedroomed house/ cottage/ flat in Franschhoek. I am a reliable, mature, female tenant with integrity and good values. Please phone 083 270 9555 PET-SITTER/HOUSE-SITTER/ CARE-TAKER: I am a responsible, mature woman who adores animals. I can also supervise domestic staff, pool and garden maintenance, car care, etc. You can trust me with your precious pets and belongings. Contact Sue at 083 270 9555 SALES ASSISTANT: Town boutique seeks responsible, well-spoken sales assistant. Email CV to delport.annemarie@ gmail.com. Position immediately available.

Smalls R30. Text Only, max 30 words. Leave, with payment, at Franschhoek Pharmacy before 15th of preceding month

February 2015

Welcome back swallows!

Do you need someone reliable to manage your home when you are not here?

To organise gardeners, cleaners, pay accounts etc.

Do you need someone to do grocery shopping while you are here or stock up before you return?

Reasonable rates and contactable references available

Contact Jean on 082 699 3574 | 021 876 2500 jeanbirrell@gmail.com

POSITION WANTED: My name is Precious Nonzuzo Siduka. I’m interested in an opportunity to be employed in the field of housekeeping or as a sales assistant. I am diligent, polite, thoughtful and hard working. In addition I’m good at working with people. I can be contacted anytime at 078 087 5627.

NAME BADGES: PostNet Franschhoek. R75 each. Silver, gold or White plate. Magnet fastening.

Made on site – professional express service! Phone: 021 876 3025 / Email: franschhoek@postnet.co.za

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February 2015

Franschhoek Tatler

17

FRANSCHHOE K

Franschhoek Tatler

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February Calendar

18h00-19h00. Venue: Lord’s Acre Community Centre, Franschhoek All welcome. No charge.

Contact: Theuns 071 678 5286

7 February Franschhoek Summer Wines Local wineries showcase their top summer wines. Venue: Leopards Leap Family Vineyards. Time: 12h00 – 17h00. Cost: R120 p.p.

Tickets: www.webtickets.co.za

Iyengar-Style Yoga Classes at Artemis barn, 18h00-19h00.

Friday morning 08h00 – 09h00.

Ladies class (pre/post natal, menopausal, recuperative) - also at Artemis Contact Danielle on 073 388 1404.

14 February

Tuesdays

La Motte Classical Concert Minette du Toit-Pearce, Albie van Schalkwyk and George Stevens The Art of Love. Venue: La Motte Historical Cellar. Time: 19h00.

Cost: R170 p.p. Reservations: 021 876 8000 or concerts@lamotte.co.za (Angela)

28 February Grande Provence Harvest Festival Picking, stomping, tasting… enjoying! Venue: Grande Provence.

Time: 09h00. Cost: R650 p.p.

(R350 p.p. under 12s) Reservations: 021 876 8600 or reservations@ grandeprovence.co.za (Barbara)

28 February Bridge House Mile 2015 Swim in the Berg River Dam in support of WWF Venue: Berg River Dam. Time: 08h00 – 13h00 Cost: R50 p.p. – R700 p.p.

Entries: http://goo.gl/52Hu1w

28 Februarie Afrikaans Ruk skop hul toer af Plek: Groendal Gemeenskapsaal Tyd: 20h00. Koste: R30 (beperkte aantal kaartjies) Kaartjies: 076 612 6677 (Jean-Marie) of by die deur

Mondays Recovery Support Group (support for people recovering from substance abuse) Time:

Mondays & Thursdays

Alcoholics Anonymous Time 19h00. Venue: NG Church Consistory. Contact 021 867 0983 or 073 125 0188 (Jeffrey) Backgammon Club Meets All welcome. Own board not required. Venue: Taki’s Place.

Time: 19h00. Info: Graeme Oliver - graeme@ poachedrhino. org or 072 815 8209

Fridays Friday Night Live at La Petite Ferme A la carte dinner and live music al fresco style. Venue: La Petite Ferme. Time: 18h00 – 21h30. Cost: R50 cover charge Reservations: 021 876 3016

Saturdays Franschhoek Village Market Breads, olives, ginger beer, pastries, plants, seedlings, breakfasts, coffee, crafts and more. Venue: Dutch Reformed Church Grounds. Time: 09h00 – 14h00

Church Services Franschhoek Methodist Church Sunday service 09h00 – all welcome. Rev Nuno Vergueiro 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509. Contact person: 021 876 2510 or 083 287 5756

NG Kerk Franschhoek Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen aanddiens meer nie. Ds Peet Bester. 021 876 2431.

Shofar Christian Church Sunday service 09h00. Pastor Theuns Pauw 021 876 3348 Roman Catholic Church Mass every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Methodist Church, Bagatelle Rd, Fhk. 073 488 6816 Trinity Church Anglican Communion Service Sundays 10h00.

Weekday Communion with Prayers Wednesdays 10h00. All services at L’Ermitage Chapel. Fr Gavin Mitchell (083 799 0726) or Fr Michael Pedder (082 460 7833).

ST George’s Anglican Church Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Rector Fr Joe Humbles – 021 874 1120 New Apostolic Church Le Roux Weg, Franschhoek.

Sundays 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt

Sport FHK Cycling Club Outrides Regular road ride on Saturdays to Stellenbosch and back followed by coffee. (MTBs also welcome). Venue: Meet at BP garage. Time: 07h00. Contact: Paul Barkley 083 302 9096 Franschhoek Tennis Club Social tennis is played at the Franschhoek Tennis Club on Fridays from 08h30 and on Sundays and Public Holidays from 09h00. During June, July and August starting times are 30 mins later. For more information contact 021 876 4184.

Jyotish Vedic Astrology Robert Rittel

The name February is derived from the early Roman pre-Julian calendar, after a festival of expiation, or catharsis. The Latin “februatio” refers to the ceremony of purification. Esoterically the month is connected with the cleansing of the feminine element in preparation for the beginning of spring. Aquarius is prominent in this month and known as the sign of discoverers, inventors, adventurers and visionaries.

Amiable and cheery by disposition, Aquarians tend to have plenty of social charm. That is why Aquarians may have a lot of acquaintances, and their individuality is non-negotiable, for they like to be the path that others are looking for.

ARIES, 21 MARCH – 19 APRIL: Mars has moved into Pisces and likes to be concerned with the greater good of fellow human beings. Those fires in your heart will illuminate others’ path and give us the ability to touch our primal human nature and spirit.

TAURUS, 20 APRIL – 20 MAY: An exalted Venus (also in Pisces) raises the question of intent, of having the courage to require truth from the core of the self.

Have you found the pathway to healing the shadow side of your indulgent nature? The headstrong bull controls the mind, creating certainty from self-doubt.

GEMINI, 21 MAY – 20 JUNE: The lordship of Mercury in Aquarius likes to be inventive with associations to find a common ground. Adopting dependability towards self and others makes acceptance the road to a quiet mind. Honouring means to show respect for the sacred shared space.

CANCER, 21 JUNE – 22 JULY: Emotions are taken very seriously and you could easily lose sight of the path by denying or doubting your own perceptions.

Give yourself the ability to laugh at yourself, and then you can see that lesson through obvious simplicity.

Only through believing can you see all facets.

LEO, 23 JULY – 22 AUGUST: It is a rare breed of human who can blend a free spirit, a decisive nature,

A While Ago February 2003

New CEO for Franschhoek Tourism On 7th October, the wine and tourism bodies of the Franschhoek Valley having combined to promote the wines and tourism attractions of “the gourmet capital of the country” launched a stylish new glossy brochure at Graham Beck’s architecturally impressive winery. It is part of an aggressive new marketing drive to keep Franschhoek as South Africa’s top wine tourism destination. To lead the marketing of the new organisation, Franschhoek Wine Valley has appointed Jo Sinfield as its new CEO. Jo was raised in the Cape and completed his education in the United Kingdom. He comes from an international sales and marketing background with an excellent track record of building brand profitability across cultures in a leading

February 2015 a deep respect for life, the love for adventure and an uncompromising sense of integrity into personal happiness.

It takes individuals who can hear the heartbeat of wholeness.

VIRGO, 23 AUGUST – 22 SEPTEMBER: It is time to see how to open your mind by casting aside your judgments. The reward for this kind of healing is authentic humility. Those who speak softly and are open to new ideas are at peace with themselves, for intelligence is built on profound sensitivity.

LIBRA, 23 SEPTEMBER – 22 OCTOBER: With the air signs very active, contentment teaches you to find the joy of being, rather than the joy of having or pretending. The Ancestors spoke of this state of grace and called it ‘walking in beauty’. The inner peace shines and allows others to see that contentment.

SCORPIO, 23 OCTOBER – 21 NOVEMBER: Patience is a quality that is necessary to have any kind of healing take place. The calmness that some people employ in their day-to-day lives is a sure sign of balance. Others have to do the talking, hurrying and fidgeting at all times, reflecting their agitation with life.

SAGITTARIUS, 22 NOVEMBER – 21 DECEMBER: The promises of tomorrow depend upon the way you honour your blessings, which are yours today. Are you wrapped up in taking and demanding ungrateful leadership? The insanity of greed plunders your potential to be resourceful.

CAPRICORN, 22 DECEMBER – 19 JANUARY: Human desire is the active ingredient that continues to create the self, unless thwarted by lack of imagination.

The limiting comments of others can also destroy your creative nature. Challenge everything you have been told and you will find ‘desire’, the root of creation.

AQUARIUS, 20 JANUARY – 18 FEBRUARY: A strong Saturn is looking for the honour of commitment, words that are sound and promises not broken. Actions speak louder than words and builds bridges from broken trust. Hypocrisy is a difficult dogma to get rid of.

PISCES, 19 FEBRUARY - 20 MARCH: If you have placed yourself above others instead of being an equal part, you may want to adjust your perspective.

Leading through example is a road that only the authentically humble can actually master.

For consultation please write to robert. vedicastrolology@gmail.com or call 073 312 1265 results-driven global organisation. In the wine industry he has worked for Graham Beck in the Cape, Chateau Ausone in St Emilion, France, and for Oddbins Wine Merchants in the United Kingdom. Before returning to South Africa and settling in Franschhoek Jo worked for the multi-national beverage company Seagram. Jo’s various pioneering roles included General Manager for the markets of Croatia, Yugoslavia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, based in Zagreb. He was then relocated to New York where he was responsible for developing the Chivas Regal and the Glenlivet Premium Scotch Whisky brands in the USA and Canada. After leaving New York he spent four months sailing solo in the Far East through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia before deciding that Franschhoek was the place he could plant some roots.

“We have a unique product – the scenic setting, food, wine and ambience,” says Jo. “The exciting merger between the wine and tourism bodies, the major employers in the valley, will maximise these in the most effective way.

Advance bookings already indicate that we will have a very busy summer season,” he concludes.

February 2015

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Who you gonna call?

Valley Home Watch!

When one leaves one’s home for a while, whether it’s for an extended or a short period, some apprehension creeps into one’s consciousness.

There’s the hope that all will be ok; that there will be time to clean and tidy up before departure; that apart from (heaven forbid) criminal activity, the windows, pipes, appliances, furniture and so on will be in good nick when one returns.

Franschhoeker Stuart Frodsham has stepped into the breach as it were with his Valley Home Watch. He says after talking to a number of swallows and others who periodically leave their homes in Franschhoek for a while, he saw a need for a professional home watch service by someone who lives here. Because Stuart is an IT consultant, his hours are flexible and because he loves Franschhoek, he would like to keep things nice.

Valley Home Watch is now up and running and Stuart says he will keep a select list that can be handled personally. It is not a security service, but a

property management service that does what owners would do if they were here. He advises people to engage a security company with whom he will keep contact. The services offered include holding keys for a sub- let, overseeing cleaning after departure and before return, stocking up, overseeing odd jobs, periodical checks and any manner of other things needing attention.

Stuart will also do bookings for his clients before they arrive and in fact collect them from the airport. He is very excited about a new security device which will be available within a month or two. It is an electronic monitoring device that picks up abnormalities in the house – humidity, temperature, cigarette smoke, noise and other problematic things.

Your worry and Stuart’s solution could be a good partnership. So, “Who you gonna call?” Stuart has said nothing about ghost busting, but you can certainly call him! www.valleyhome.watch | 073 215 9558

February 2015

Only charging

Key

2,8%

Company reg # 2012/179958/07

Location your online property company

+VAT

www.keylocation.co.za

Everyone wins

Paul & Pauline: Your local property people.

SA - 083 444 3580 or UK - +44 (0)7760 197385

Franschhoek

R9.49 Million

Bill Rawson expects 2015 to be a good year for property enterprise tends to find ways of 2015 is likely to be a year in circumventing these difficulties which the residential property and coming up with viable market continues to see alternatives where the state has let significant value growth and to them down. Rawson Developers, experience conditions in which he said, will roll out R1 billion the major estate agencies achieve worth of accommodation projects increases of at least 20% in their in 2015/2016 and the Rawson turnover. This was said recently Property Group, as indicated,

by Bill Rawson, Chairman of the expects to exceed the 21% growth Rawson Property Group, who that they achieved in 2014. added that in the current scenario, Rawson commented that the demand for accommodation in steady increase in tourists to the all of South Africa’s high density Cape will open up marketing areas still exceeds supply.

Bill Rawson opportunities to the more The whole of 2015, said enterprising Cape Town estate agents.

Rawson, is likely to feel the benefits of the largely “Last year,” he said, “the Western Cape Institute unexpected but big fall in the oil price: at a Brent of Estate Agents reported that a satisfactory Crude price of US$50.00 per barrel, it will, he said, number of the area's 1,4 million foreign visitors be easy for South Africa to contain its inflation actually ended up buying a property here. With the within the 6% target bracket. (He in fact predicted Rand at its extremely low levels and with air flights that inflation will be down to 5,5% by mid-year.) to South Africa becoming easier every year, I think Furthermore with significantly lower fuel prices, the that this figure could rise over the coming year by man-in-the-street will have slightly more disposable 50%.” income this year and is therefore again likely to turn Cape Town Tourism report that British Airways his attention to home ownership. will be operating additional services during the The shortage of housing throughout the peak tourist season and other airlines, notably country, said Rawson, will ensure that year-onQatar Airways and Edelweiss Air, are also arranging year house price inflation in the high density additional flights. This is yet another sign, said areas is above 10% and rents will continue to rise Rawson that tourism is looking up. by even larger percentages.

Rawson added that foreigners buying in South Developers, said Rawson, have continued to look Africa are on an easy wicket compared to those for viable densification opportunities in the high buying in many other countries as there are no density areas – despite the big prices now prevailing serious restrictions.

Although foreigners are – because the call for this type of accommodation expected to put down a 50% deposit, they are remains very strong. What is significant, he said, allowed to gear the rest with a local or overseas is that the skills required to recycle the buildings bond. In certain quarters, he said, the selling of so as to turn them into suitable accommodation property to foreigners is considered unpatriotic. It are more and more in evidence and are playing an should be remembered, however, that such people increasingly big part on the development scene. add significantly to the country’s GDP by the Along with the focus on urban areas, there will, money they spend here and, in his experience, in too, said Rawson, be an increased demand for a small minority of cases end up investing in local energy saving systems – and here the state must businesses, again to the benefit of the country as be more proactive and promotional because the a whole. average man-in-the-street, while recognizing the Whether you’re a local or a visitor Rawson importance of green energy saving systems, still Franschhoek is ready to assist with all your often does not fully understand them. property needs.

Asked if South Africa’s political performance www.rawson.co.za | 021 876 4579 or 072 991 6272 – particularly Eskom’s problems – is proving a (Janice Hicks) deterrent to investment, Rawson said that private

Sotheby’s celebrates 5 years in Franschhoek On 4 December 2014, Sotheby’s Franschhoek hosted a cocktail party at their office to celebrate their 5-year anniversary. The evening was well attended by valued friends and clients of Sotheby’s, who were treated to bubbly and delicious canapés (prepared by Duncan Doherty) in the courtyard alongside their offices – which was adorned with fairy lights. A great evening was had by all that attended despite the load shedding, which only added to the atmosphere of the evening as candles quickly replaced the fairy lights!

In addressing the guests, Principal Bev Malan attributed the success of Sotheby’s to the amazing support of the Franschhoek community who had placed their confidence in Sotheby’s to market their properties. Sotheby’s who have recently won a number of awards for their sales in and around Franschhoek, including one for “Franchise of the Quarter”, have established themselves as a team known for their trustworthiness and integrity and the feedback from their clients is testimony to this.

Whether you’re thinking of buying or selling, the team at Sotheby’s would be delighted to meet with you to discuss your property needs. www.sothebysrealty.co.za | 021 876 8480

EXCLUSIVE MANDATE EXCLUSIVE & SECURE - ALL OFFERS NEGOTIATED Nestling on just over 1450 Sq.m of manicured gardens featuring easy open plan living, all entertainment areas lead to patio, pool & impressive views.

For an exclusive viewing call Pauline 083 380 9999

Franschhoek

P.O.A

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LOCATED IN THE HEART OF FRANSCHHOEK A short stroll to the High Street, visit all the coffee shops , restaurants and side walk cafes. A finer holiday home you would not find. Ideal for travellers and the weekend retreats. Perfect for those who enjoy entertaining; it is open plan living at it best. A rare find and this price.

Call Pauline 083 380 9999

ATTENTION ALL PURCHASERS

Key Location has a selection of over 20 premier Franschhoek properties for sale.

Call Pauline to view these & many other fine homes, priced between R1.75 Million & R10 Million. www.keylocation.co.za Key Location ensures Buyers & Sellers a great deal.

Our fees are only *2.8% + VAT. “Quality service & genuine financial benefits”!

Paul 083 444 3580 Pauline 083 380 9999 “Over 25 years of property experience” * Key Location Pyu Ltd is not a VAT vending company, the above calculation is a formula

February 2015

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February 2015

FRANSCHHOEK

Bedrooms 6

Bathrooms 6 Garages 2

Franschhoek Tatler

R21 000 000

WEB 341 529

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FRANSCHHOEK

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 3 Garages 2

R9 950 000

WEB 342 219

This immaculate smallholding situated on 3, 6 ha of lush gardens, oak trees and two rivers running through it epitomises country living at its best. Offering a magnificent 800sqm manor house with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, dining room with fire place and glass stacker doors, main lounge with various lighting scenarios and wood burning fireplace, state of the art open plan kitchen with Lacanche cooker, wine cellar with curved brick ceiling and a beautifully fitted solid wood bar to mention but a few.

This beautiful thatch home is situated in an exclusive olive and vineyard estate on the edge of the village. The home boasts a large, double volume, open plan living/dining room with a big wood burning fireplace. The open plan kitchen with its modern finishes and smeg gas stove leads to a separate laundry/scullery with lots of fitted cupboards for extra storage.

KEVIN LAYDEN 082 300 9446 or 021 876 4592 & ESME WILDMAN 083 307 8039 or 021 876 4592

ADELL FERREIRA 083 964 1155 or 021 876 4592

FRANSCHHOEK

Bedrooms 3

Bathrooms 2 Garages 2

R4 650 000

WEB 342 595

RAWSONVILLE

Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 3 Garages 2

R18 028 000

WEB 337 655

Set in this beautiful mountain village this classic little home is ideally suited to a small family or else as an established holiday let home. It has 3 charming bedrooms, a large open plan living/dining room and kitchen which forms the focal point of this home. There is a separate scullery and the living/room areas lead onto a lovely north facing patio and pool area.

A wonderful opportunity to acquire this unique country treasure enveloped by the mountains close to N1 to CT. The property comprises of a impressive carefully designed 5 bedroom 3 bathroom home and a 2nd building shed has been converted into 2 cottages and a storage space/shed.Last but not least there is a 2 bedroom managers house. A wonderful botanical garden scattered with water features / streams and matured trees.

MELINA VISSER 082 419 9928 or 021 876 4592

MARIANNE VAN DER MERWE 082 921 3248 or 021 876 4592

PEARL VALLEY

R4 950 000

FRANSCHHOEK

R22 500 000

Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 4 Garages 2 WEB 317 643 Split level home on the lake, comprises 2 bedrooms en suite downstairs with sliding doors to pool patio.

Wonderful interior entertainment space boasting family room with BBQ, wetbar and gorgeous lake and mountain views. Upstairs flat has separate entrance and view patio.

Bedrooms 12 Bathrooms 10 Garages 2 WEB 342 728 This magnificent Cape Dutch style property with a myriad of choices is situated in the heart of the Franschhoek valley, neighbouring Sir Richard Branson’s Monte Rochelle. The manor house has a formal entrance hall leading to the expansive lounge and dining room, both with fireplaces. There is a well fitted kitchen and a wine cellar, storeroom and 5 en-suite bedrooms with the main leading out onto the veranda with outstanding views.

ELZA OBERHOLZER 083 764 4733

KEVIN LAYDEN 082 300 9446 or 021 876 4592 & ESME WILDMAN 083 307 8039 or 021 876 4592

Franschhoek Tatler

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February 2015

Franschhoek Sales & Residential Letting 021 876 2100 winelandsint@pamgolding.co.za

FRANSCHHOEK

R30 MILLION

Le Jardinet on Champagne. This magnificent home is set on 4,247sqm of agriculturally zoned land with spectacular views over vineyards to the beautiful mountains beyond. This immaculately maintained property boasts an excellent and unique position, allowing the discerning home owner a mix of contemporary and country living, just 1 km from the charming village of Franschhoek.

Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 5 Garages: 3 Web Access FWI1202709

FRANSCHHOEK

R6.8 MILLION incl VAT

FRANSCHHOEK

R9.8 MILLION incl VAT

Contemporary Classic. This newly built contemporary home is a delight with itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lovely open spaces, double volume ceilings and exceptional North facing views of the valley, vineyards and mountains. The perfect holiday or full time home.

Classic Sophistication. This beautiful thatch home is located in the secure, vineyard estate of La Ferme Chantelle. Beautifully

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 Garages: 1 Web Access FWI1202203

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 Garages: 2 Web Access FWI1127343

R9.5 MILLION

FRANSCHHOEK

On The River. This 28 hectare farm is ideally situated on the Wemmershoek River just 400m from Bridge House School.

designed to allow both for indoor and outdoor living. Spacious living areas and pretty views complete this top quality home.

FRANSCHHOEK

R12.5 MILLION

Beautiful 360° mountain views, mature fruit trees and an existing house in need of renovation.

Grand Lady of Franschhoek. A rare opportunity to purchase one of the true gems in the village of Franschhoek. A home that provides wonderful authentic charm with a beautiful mature garden and mountain views in the heart of the village.

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4 Garages: 2 Web Access FWI11200699

Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Garages: 2 Web Access FWI1195462

www.pamgolding.co.za/franschhoek

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Tel/Fax: +27 (0)21 876 3322

Fine & Country Franschhoek

DESIGNER HOME ON SECURE ESTATE

R10 750 000

This home has it all! Secure living, exceptional views, well thought-out design and immaculate finishes. This 4 bedroom home is well-suited to family living with large living areas including a double-volume lounge leading out to an undercover patio and 12m heated pool, a contemporary open-plan kitchen and dining room leading out to a poolside entertainment deck and garden, large separate TV lounge and an office/library. Each of the 4 bedrooms offers en-suite bathrooms and the main bedroom suite also includes a private sauna, outside shower and full dressing room. Also offers: guest toilet, double garage, mud room/staff lounge, staff bathroom with shower, separate scullery/laundry. Fully air-conditioned throughout.

4 Bedrooms en-suite | Double volume lounge | Open plan kitchen | Erf :1200m² | Web: 128366

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DOMAINE DES ANGES ESTATE

R5 950 000

Set amongst the vineyards in this prime estate, this beautiful 2/3 bedroom property has wonderful views over the vineyards and mountains. The main bedroom has a large en-suite bathroom and separate dressing room. The second bedroom also has an en-suite bathroom. A study, with wonderful views & potential to be turned into a third bedroom en-suite. The large double volume living/dining room with contemporary open plan kitchen has patio doors leading out onto a large stoep and lawns leading down to the vineyards. There is a second large stoep to the front of the house with enclosed garden area. A separate scullery, single garage, drying yard and off-street parking complete this lovely property. The Estate includes a club-house, swimming pool and tennis court.

2 Bedrooms en-suite | Study | Open Plan living and kitchen area | Erf: 986m² | Web: 128714

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SUPERB FAMILY HOME ON SECURE ESTATE

R8 500 000

This beautiful home consists of a large double-volume living area with open-plan living room, dining room and kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, dressing room,large office/studio with private upstairs patio, a laundry/scullery plus 3 garages. A separate, studio apartment with kitchen, bathroom and sauna offers extended family living or ideal rental opportunity. Outside there is a large covered entertainment lounge and sunny patio with amazing mountain views. A picturesque private garden steals the show with a large sprawling lawn and borehole, 12m swimming pool, mature trees. This is a rare prestige property and won’t be available for long!

Quality Finishes | Fantastic Views | Secure Estate | Erf Size: 1413m² | Web 76631

Centre du Franschhoek, 23 Huguenot St, Franschhoek, 7690 Tom: +27 (0)79 955 3114, tomc@fineandcountry.com Terry-Lee: +27 (0)82 650 9194, terryg@fineandcountry.com

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February 2015