OCTOBER 2020
GARDENING IN CONTAINERS
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
Contents Editor’s Note
This magazine is designed & published in partnership by :
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Eldoglen Office:
A division of GLOVent Solutions www.glovent.co.za | chandi@glovent.co.za
• Building Maintenance
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• Eldoglen - a secure and healthy lifestyle
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• Garage Use
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• Sport Facilities Membership Fees
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Gardening in containers
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ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Jimmies Wishing Well
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Recipe of the month
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Contact our sales team
A division of Black Marble Media
Tel: 072 386 7347 advertise@blackmarblemedia.co.za Next Newsletter: DEC 2020
Disclaimer: This eMagazine is produced especially for residents of Eldo Glen Estate to provide updates and useful information. It is produced by GLOVent Media & Black Marble Media, on behalf of Eldo Glen Estate. Although every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of content, Eldo Glen Estate HOA and/or the Publisher, cannot be held liable for any inaccurate information, and may not agree with all opinions expressed in this publication.
OFFICE
EDITOR’S NOTE It’s the dreaded exam hall battle time of year again: best of luck to all our Eldoglen matriculants, learners and students for your forthcoming examinations. Not only do the Matric Class of 2020 have to bid farewell to schools, teachers and friends, they also have to prepare for one of the most important exams of their lives. You will be in our thoughts and prayers and we wish you the best of luck as you step into the future.
Rene‘
potties@iafrica.com
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OFFICE
Building
MAINTENANCE
All buildings of the Eldoglen HOA were recently renovated and painted and are looking real smart again.
The renovation project started with the inside of the squash court, where a contractor specialising in squash court maintenance, was commissioned to fix the court walls and floor to the standards prescribed by Squash SA. Following this, the outside was repainted to look brand spanking new. The netting of the multipurpose court, better known as the Astro, in Lira Crescent, was secured to ensure that unauthorised access cannot be gained by crawling underneath the net. Some repairs were also done on the surface of the facility. 5
The big pool at Lira Crescent was emptied to repair a fairly large portion of the one wall, where the fibreglass developed an edge which could be dangerous to people coming into contact therewith. The pool is beautiful again and used extensively, as are the other two pools in the estate. All cloakrooms were painted. Both the Main and East gates were also repaired and repainted, giving a fresh look to the entrances of Eldoglen. A leak was found in the fountain on the circle in Willem Botha Street. The stone
Inside the squash court
Inside the squash court
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BUILDING MAINTENANCE (CONT.) covering had to be removed from the spout to do the necessary waterproofing. The cone will now be re-plastered with special plaster to prevent recurring of cracks and leaks. Soon the fountain, which has become synonymous with Eldoglen, will be back to its former glory.
Outside repainted - Squash courts
Multipurpose court (astro)
Fountain on Willem Botha Street restored 6
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ELDOGLEN – A SECURE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE The recent robbery incident in Eldoglen served as a wake-up call to all involved in the Estate. Despite the long positive history of no serious security breaches in Eldoglen, residents became aware of the fact that security could be breached if everyone does not comply with the rules at all times and stay vigilant at all times. Such an incident can result in lots of emotions and fingers were pointed at the Board of Directors, the Management of the Estate, guards and in particular at some residents who do not adhere to the rules of the estate or allow access to their visitors and contractors in an irresponsible way, thereby compromising the safety and security of every person who stays in Eldoglen. Since the incident, the Board of Directors of the Eldoglen HOA and Management have worked relentlessly and considered many options for the further improvement of the security systems and in particular access control systems which are currently in place. Care was taken not to make over hasty decisions and clutching at straws by implementing measures which would not be better than the systems in place. Improved measures to eliminate possible weaknesses in the security system, were however implemented
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immediately. Further improvements to the security system including revised rules and procedures will be evaluated and implemented over time. Total eradication of breaches of security in any estate or other concern worldwide, is not achievable, as the human factor will always be involved. Some improvements and additional measures have been implemented.
These include:
• The tightening up of processes and security measures at the registration process. Cameras and audio recording have already been installed inside and outside the office. • Access control equipment, such as a scanner, call box and printer, similar to that used at the vehicular visitor entrances, will be installed in the registration office shortly. This will ensure that all domestic and contractor staff and other pedestrian visitors are registered in the exact same way as implemented at the vehicular accesses. They will all be required to make use of the turnstiles by following a strict process, after the resident where they work allow recorded access on their phone. This will also ensure excellent recordkeeping of all pedestrian registrations and granting of access calls. • Intensified scanning and notification procedures at the Main and East Gates, especially of courier and delivery service vehicles and drivers, including photographing of drivers in addition to the scanning of their drivers’ licenses. No assistants are allowed to accompany these vehicles. They are kept outside the gates to await return of their drivers. 8
ELDOGLEN – A SECURE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE (CONT.) • Noting the name of the resident to be visited, ensuring that delivery notes and invoices correspond with such information and ensuring that the resident is aware of the reason given by the driver for the visit. Unclear or incorrect documentation results in the vehicle being refused access to the Estate. Residents then have to collect the goods from the vehicle waiting outside the gates. • Closure of steel gates if required at vehicle entrances, by means of push button control from within guard rooms The ClickOn system will also be expanded to the North Gate for the use by regular visitors with preclearance codes only, to relieve the congestion at the Main Gate. Installation of the equipment will be done within the next two weeks. The enhancement of the camera system on the perimeter is also high on the priority list and final specifications are being negotiated with the suppliers and should be finalised and commenced with soon. Professional experts have been approached to investigate and provide quotations to the HOA with an updated comprehensive independent Security Risk Analysis, which will enable the Board to further reduce the risk of future breaches of the Eldoglen security systems by implementing the recommendations that will be forthcoming. It is reiterated that the success of any estate security system, also that of Eldoglen, is dependent on an equal commitment and participation by the HOA and the residents of the estate. If either
ELDOGLEN – A SECURE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE (CONT.) party fails to do their part or does not act with caution, the security system will not successfully serve its purpose. Residents who transgress security rules, as well as other lifestyle rules of the estate which they live in, compromise not only their own security and lifestyle, but that of all other residents. The importance of rule enforcement, not only of security rules, but of all house rules, has been brought to the fore and will be executed vigorously to the benefit of all rule abiding residents. Active participation and vigilance by Residents to ensure the upholding of the house, aesthetic and security rules of Eldoglen, will go a long way to ensure stability and security towards achieving the goal of creating and maintaining a secure and healthy lifestyle for all in Eldoglen. CAMERA SYSTEM
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GARAGE USE There are a number of residents that are too afraid to park their vehicles in the garage in case the vehicle gets scratched or a spider makes its home in the crevices because their garages are filled with store stock, vehicle parts, tyres, home overflow etc. Vehicles are being parked on driveways and sidewalks in order to avoid the chore of a good old spring clean. All those old clothes and furniture will be put to good use by charities or the hospice. Are you storing unused equipment that you are hoping will come in handy again someday? Are you perhaps using the garage as sleeping quarters for domestic personnel? Why are residents so reluctant to utilize their garages for the purpose they are meant for – as clearly defined in the Municipal by-laws and the Eldoglen House Rules? The vehicular clutter caused by vehicles being parked in driveways and on sidewalks day and night, is really not conducive to maintaining a secure and healthy lifestyle for all residents of Eldoglen.
GARAGE USE (CONT.)
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GARAGE USE (CONT.)
What should be stored in your garage? The purpose of a garage is to store vehicles in. Eldoglen House Rules 13.5 and 13.7 stipulate the following: 13.5. Garages shall be utilised for storage of vehicles and may not be used as storage space in such a way that the number of vehicles which the garage was designed for, cannot be accommodated therein. 13.7. Garages may only be used for such purposes for which it was initially designed or for purposes indicated on the approved building plan and subject to Municipal by-laws, regulations and ordinances. Garages may specifically not be used as sleeping quarters for residents or employees. To ensure that these very ignored house rules are abided by and to assist residents in cleaning out their garages that have not been cleaned for a while, The HOA will exercise its right of inspecting the use of garages in the estate. The house rules will be strictly enforced and if transgressed, punitive measures will be implemented against those residents who do not comply.
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OFFICE
SPORTS FACILITY MEMBERSHIP FEES For those Eldoglenners who play tennis, squash or use the astro, here is good news. In order to encourage Eldoglenners to make use of these facilities and spend quality time with friends and family, the Eldoglen Board of Directors have reduced the membership fees. 12
MEMBERSHIP FEES (CONT.) The new fees from 1 March 2021 for the 2021/22 financial year are: • Reduced from R750,00 to R350,00 per facility per annum • Reduced from R 375,00 to R200.00 per facility per six months (September to February)
And then there was a-splishin’ and a-splashin’ – use of the swimming pools are free!!
A new short-term quarterly membership fee, R150.00 per facility, was also created, as requested at the AGM held in August 2021. As an added benefit to residents, this fee will be applicable for the remaining four months of the current financial year – 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022. These sports facilities are for the use of all members (home owners) of the Eldoglen Home Owners Association or principal tenants of properties in the estate and their households. To ensure orderly use of sports facilities, home owners and principal tenants are required to register as members of the individual sports code practised at the relevant facility and pay the required membership fee. The member will then also be registered to access the FastCourts booking system, which will allow prior electronic booking of a facility for a specific period of time. The purpose hereof is to prevent congestion at the facilities.
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GARDENING IN
CONTAINERS If you are confined to limited space and you don’t have access to large patches of ground to do gardening, you can create an awesome flower garden or even grow your own vegetables with little basic equipment. All you basically need is a sunny area, for example a patio or a balcony, a few good pots, good potting soil and a watering can, and you are ready to start gardening.
and a more stable soil temperature is achieved when good potting soil. You can mix your own potting soil mix by using two parts potting soil, one part river sand, using terracotta pots. and one part compost. Non-sensitive plants can be planted in any kind of container as long as the golden rule of good drainage The potting mix can be altered to get the optimum is applied. It is always important to drill a few holes in growth out of specific plants, for example river sand the bottom of the container and to cover it with rough can be added to the mix to improve drainage if you want to grow succulents and water wise plants. It is a material for example small stones or broken bricks. good idea to add agricultural lime to the potting mix. The preferred pots to use are terracotta pots. The terracotta pots are better due to the fact that they are Chunks of bark chips can also be thrown into the The lime neutralizes the PH of the soil and a neutral PH made from clay. The clay pots help the plants to breath bottom of the pot and the rest can be filled up with a stimulates the growth of plants.
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GARDENING IN CONTAINERS (CONT.)
The choice of which plants to use in your container garden can be quite daunting. If you are planting vegetables or herbs it is a good idea to plant vegetables that you and your family like to eat. Start with the basics, for example common herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley, mint and origanum. Beautiful flowering plants and ornamental plants can be mixed in one container. Flowering edible plants, for example violas, can be mixed with herbs to create a healthy flowering pot plant garden. When it comes to watering your container garden, there is a golden rule and that is to make sure that the plants are dry by using your finger to test if the soil is dry or not. Make sure that the excess water drains out of the container to make sure that the plants’ roots don’t stand in the water for long periods. Watering your plants in the mornings or in the evenings is still a good idea. It is important to supplement your potting soil regularly with plant fertilizer. The fertilizer can be in granule form or in a liquid. Liquid fertilizer can be sprayed on the plants and the treatment can be repeated up to four times in a grow season. If you use your imagination and do a bit of research, a beautiful landscape can be created that bring you hours of pleasure and satisfaction in the year to come. 15
JIMMIES
WISHING WELL
Have you ever heard the expression that someone is trying to achieve something, but that for every step forward, they go two steps backward? It normally refers to a psychological situation, like when you really try hard to do maths in school, but you seem to just not be able to do the right calculations. And, even worse; the harder you try, the worse you perform. For most of my life, I did not fully understand what the expression really meant. I mean, who in their right frame of mind would take one step forward and then two backward? That is until I recently, in my fairly advanced state of age, experienced the physical reality of this. So, let me try to tell you all my story and I hope that you will then understand.
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Far away from here, in the lower reaches of the Kalahari and in the upper reaches of the Karoo, between the two small towns of Olifantshoek and Groblershoop, in the heart of the Northern Cape, lies a small little desert nature reserve called Witsand (White Sand). Besides sand and scrub, there is not much
Jimmies Wishing Well (CONT.) on hands and feet and sometime on your belly. It is not as high as the dunes in Namibia or in the Sahara. In fact, it is perhaps a twenty-meter-long climb with a 55-degree elevation. The problem is that if you take a step forward and put your weight on your foot, it slides downward. So, progress is very slow and tedious. It takes a lot of energy Even the sand in Witsand has something more to offer. to just feel like you’re making progress. As the name says, the sand there is mostly white. There is even a fairly big expanse of sand called the White Desert Well, I made it. I set myself the goal to reach the top and in one part of the reserve. This desert is white - and I I did. Better still, my Dearly Beloved also did it! It took her a little longer, but she got to the top. (Did I say that mean whíte - like snow, so white. we are not that young anymore)? Wow, I am proud! I The real natural phenomenon, however, to be found in roared with pride on the roaring sand. No, we roared Witsand, is the roaring sand. Yes, roaring sand. The with pride, even though the sand did not roar (I thought sand actually roars when one walks on it, you know, like I heard something, but…) due to the climatic conditions a lion far away, the sand roars. It is really something to on the day. Believe it or not, it was too cold. experience. I wish that very person will realise that, even though one To get to the roaring sand is no mean feat. One has to might slide backwards in certain life situations, one can climb a sand dune - and I mean a sand dúne. Not an anthill always eventually reach the top, the goal - if you put your or even a mole hill. It is a proper sand dune. You cannot mind to it. Do not grow impatient and challenge yourself (not allowed) drive up with your 4x4 or take a cable car to the utmost of your abilities. up there. You have to climb, with your feet, sometimes to this little reserve, except for a wonderful birdlife, beautiful Oryx (Gemsbok) and Springbok, and many small mammals and insects - a wonderful biodiversity in a very harsh area with an even harsher climate and very little rain and surface water.
NEVER GIVE UP, JUST LOOK UP!
RECIPE OF THE MONTH :
MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN PITA POCKETS Sautéed chicken stuffed pita pockets are flavour enriched with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, creamy dill yogurt sauce and crumbled feta cheese – perfect for a summer’s day.
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https://www.readyseteat.com/recipes-Mediterranean-Chicken-Pita-Pockets-8036
RECIPE OF THE MONTH: SERVINGS: 6 TOTAL TIME TO PREP AND MAKE: 30 MIN WHAT YOU NEED: • • • • • • • • • • •
2/3 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt, divided 2 tablespoons olive oil 500 g boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin slices 1 small punnet of fresh cherry tomatoes 3 whole wheat pita pocket breads, cut in half 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber 3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese 1/2 sliced red onion
1. Stir together yogurt, lemon juice, dill and 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt in small bowl; set aside. 2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. 3. Spread yogurt mixture evenly inside pita pockets; top with cucumber slices and diced tomatoes. Divide chicken mixture evenly and spoon into pita pockets; top evenly with cheese and red onion. 4. Serve immediately.
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