Franschhoek Tatler - October 2014

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THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

2

October 2014

Dam viewpoint a disgrace

2 ton skenking aan DBV

A reader recently informed the Franschhoek Tatler that the viewpoint next to the wall of the Berg River Dam is in a sorry state. We went to have a look.

The scenic drive towards the dam wall, admittedly with the odd bit of litter along the road, was quite a contrast to what we found on arriving at the view point’s parking area. Two overflowing rubbish bins had been turned over and litter was blowing everywhere. The bins not being baboon-proof bins – a rather basic oversight in the Cape mountains – meant it was impossible to tell whether two- or fourfooted baboons were the culprits.

Walking the short distance to the amphitheatre at the top of the wall we noticed that all the metal grates covering the drainage holes at the side of the road have been stolen. The resulting holes are large, deep and very dangerous. Based on the size of plants growing in the holes it seems that it has also been a while since anybody has bothered cleaning the drainage systems.

Things didn’t improve when we got to the amphitheatre. More litter, vandalism and lack of maintenance. The only consolation was that if one could block out the mess at one’s feet and look over the dam to the mountains, or down the valley, the views are spectacular.

Franschhoek se DBV het op 10 September ‘n reuse skenking van nie minder nie as twee ton droë hondekos ontvang. Die hondekos is geskenk deur die nuwe dierekoswinkel in die hoofstraat – Canine and Feline Café.

Volgens Hanno Koen van Dogsense Dogfood en Canine and Feline Café het hulle ‘n passie vir verantwoordelike troeteldiereienaarskap – iets waarmee daar maar in Suid-Afrika gesukkel word.

“As gevolg daarvan word daar geweldig baie druk geplaas op organisasies soos die DBV om die verantwoordelikheid op hulle te neem om vir ons viervoetige vriende te sorg. Ons hoop met die skenking kan ons ook ‘n bydrae lewer om druk van die DBV af te haal, wat nie aldag die fondse het om vir al die diere te kan sorg nie.”

Die DBV se Maggi Marjoram het gesê dat die skenking baie diere gaan help asook hulle eienaars – van wie baie tans noustrop trek. Dit gaan die DBV ook help deur dat hulle nou hulle eie beperkte fondse kan gebruik vir sterilisasie, dieregesondheidsprobleme,

Rubbish is blown all over the parking area On our way back to town we stopped off at the municipality where we were informed that the area in question belongs to the Department of Water Affairs and that it’s their responsibility to maintain and clean it.

Enquiries to the Department’s Media Liaison in Pretoria and Cape Town office went unanswered.

Regional Western Cape Farm Worker Awards function

Die DBV se Inspekteur Lily Joubert saam met Hanno Koen van Canine and Feline Café by ‘n deel van die 2 ton hondekosskenking.

dip, ontwurming en veral die bekamping van wreedheid teenoor diere.

Canine and Feline Café | 021 876 2060

Municipality upgrades Franschhoek water infrastructure infrastructure improvements may minimise the need for future water restrictions in the Franschhoek area.”

Regarding the state of Dirkie Uys and Uitkyk Streets the municipality explained that: “These road surfaces were damaged during the previous water pipe replacement project, which is now complete.

Replacing the damaged road surfaces in Uitkyk and Dirkie Uys Streets after the completion of the water pipe replacement project would have been wasteful as a section of the new bulk supply pipeline also follows these streets and construction would again have damaged the newly constructed road. Therefore it was decided that replacement of the damaged road surfaces will be postponed until all construction is complete.”

Stellenbosch Municipality is hard at work building a new bulk water supply pipeline, pump station and water reservoir in Franschhoek. The project that started in February 2014 should be completed by early 2015 – if weather conditions are favourable.

In a press statement the municipality apologised for any inconvenience during construction and kindly requested residents’ patience while they “move towards improving service delivery in the Franschhoek area.”

According to the statement “The aim of the project is to provide constant good quality drinking water to Franschhoek residents. The construction of the pipeline may damage road surfaces and residents may experience temporary road closures in affected areas.”

The municipality has also indicated that “The

Kishou!

Franschhoeker wen internasionale tennistoernooi FLTR: Charnine Sobey (Department of Agriculture: Farm Worker Development Co-ordinator), Brinley Williams (Plaisir de Merle), Francis Abrahams (Plaisir de Merle), Rose van Wyngaardt (La Motte), Christie Davids (Regional Farmworker of the Year 2014), Niklaas Absalom (La Motte) and Pieter van Zyl (Shoprite).

The first annual Regional Western Cape Farmworker Awards Function was held at Haute Cabrière on 3 September 2014.

In her speech at the event Franschhoek Wine Valley’s Development Co-ordinator, Jomine Johannes, quoted Nelson Mandela to emphasise the importance of education. Mandela said: “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”

The competition was initiated in 2002 in the Hex River Valley and started with only 36 entrants. In 2005, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture became financially involved with the competition and sponsored it in partnership with Sanlam. Since 2012 Shoprite has been the competition’s main sponsor by contributing R750 000 (annually).

This year 15 regions participated with Franschhoek as a first year participant. The Franschhoek regional

event has taken the place of the Franschhoek Wine Valley Farmworker of the Year award held in previous years.

The annual Farm Worker of the Year Competition is hosted to give recognition to farm workers for the important and valuable role that they play towards the sustainability and growth of the agricultural sector in the Western Cape.

The winners of the various categories were: General Worker: Francis Abrahams (Plaisir de Merle) Tractor Driver: Brinley Williams (Plaisir de Merle) Social Development: Rose van Wyngaardt (LaMotte) Junior Management: Christie Davids (Anthonij Rupert Wines) Best Potential Farmworker of the Year 2014: Niklaas Absalom (La Motte) Regional Farmworker of the Year 2014: Christie Davids (Anthonij Rupert Wines) All the category winners will be participating in the final adjudication held in Stellenbosch on 9 October.

First time winner

Franschhoeker Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg is die 2014 Internasionale Tennis Federasie (ITF) Mauritius Ope onder-18 toernooi se enkel- en dubbelspelkampioen.

Sy het die titels einde Augustus verower nadat sy in die enkels semi-finaal moes afreken met die eerste gekeurde Katie Poluta, ook van Suid-Afrika, wat meer as 150 posisies hoër as sy op die ITF ranglys is. In die finaal het sy met die sewende gekeurde, Nicole Petchey, afgereken. Janse van Rensburg en Poluta het saamgespan om die dubbelspeltitel te wen.

Die week tevore het Janse van Rensburg deelgeneem aan die Petit Camp toernooi, ook in Phoenix, Mauritius. Daar het sy in die finaal van die enkelspel vasgeval, maar ook die dubbels gewen. Spelers van o.a. Hong Kong, Taipei, Maleisië, Israel, Italië en Brittanje het aan die toernooie deelgeneem.

Wat Janse van Rensburg se oorwinning so merkwaardig maak, is dat sy 18 maande gelede ‘n baie ernstige kniebesering opgedoen het. Sy was pas gekies om SuidAfrika te verteenwoordig by die Afrika Spele vir onder-16 spelers toe sy haar kruisligament geskeur het. Na ‘n knieoperasie en gepaardgaande rehabilitasie was daar tye dat sy gedink het sy sal nooit weer kan tennis speel nie. Sy het selfs ernstig begin gholflesse neem omdat dit minder stremmend op die knie sou wees.

Sy het in Januarie vanjaar weer begin speel en stadig maar seker weer haar pad begin oopveg, van ongeveer 90-ste op die Suid-Afrikaanse ranglys, tot nommer 3 in die onder-16 afdeling, waar sy nou is, na haar goeie vertonings in Mauritius. Sy is ook nou 326-ste op die

Rouxanne Janse van Rensburg ontvang haar wennerstrofee ITF se ranglys van onder-18 spelers wêreldwyd, nadat sy in Januarie vanjaar glad nie op die ranglys van meer as 2000 spelers was nie.

Janse van Rensburg beplan om hierdie maand aan nog twee internasionale toernooie in Stellenbosch deel te neem en hoop om haar ranglysposisie verder te verbeter.

Sy hoop om ‘n goeie aanbieding te kry om oor twee jaar in die VSA te gaan studeer.

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Jason Boonzaaier, sponsored by the CHIC development foundation, recently won his first cycling race – a criterium event near Stellenbosch.

(The Franschhoek Tatler will bring information about this local NGO and its cycling-based programme in a future issue.)

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October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

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‘The Arch’ welcomes cancer survivors Walk of Hope On Saturday, 6 September, cancer survivors took part in a walk of hope and made their mark of hope on a giant canvas of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu – who was on hand to lighten spirits.

The event was organised by the Out of Africa Children’s Foundation which was established in 2007; inspired by Kim Highfield’s personal experience with cancer when her daughter was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 3 years. (She is now a cancer survivor, living a normal healthy life.)

‘The Arch’, as the Nobel-prize winner is affectionately known, was in good spirits throughout. Tutu said that those who took part in the walk of hope showed Ubuntu – the African philosophy that ‘I am because you are.’ Looking healthy, but fragile, Tutu – a prostate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu with Kim Highfield, cancer sufferer – said that like all cancer CEO of the Out of Africa Children’s Foundation. sufferers and survivors he is sustained by True to form Tutu took the time to shake the hands the love and caring of so many people around him. of everybody present and high fived the younger The Arch sat down to enjoy a number performed ones! He also cracked jokes freely, claiming to know by children of the Dominican School for the Deaf. that St Peter took a selfie with Madiba when he After the performance his chair was surrounded by arrived at the pearly gates, that he has a ‘hotline to admirers wanting a photo with him. upstairs’ and that in heaven they have special halos for The event concluded with two cancer sufferers Earl all South Africans! and Jenna adding their hand prints to a giant canvas of Tutu.

American students visit informal settlement A group of students and lecturers from George Washington University in the U.S. visit Langrug on Sunday, 10 August.

David Molorane, manager of Batho’s Place and a registered tour guide, took the visitors on a tour of the township. The visitors got to help out at a soup kitchen, stopped off at the public wash house, saw how easy it is to create a small backyard garden, shopped at David Molorane with the American students a spaza shop, visited a local After the interview Molorane and his wife, Lebo, tavern and inspected the new Inam Educare Centre. received ‘medals of recognition’ from the visitors for Although the children weren’t there the visitors still the work they do in the community. “The things we benefitted from the opportunity to interact with some do in our community we do with all our hearts. We are of the locals. passionate about it and love what we are doing,” he said.

Molorane was then interviewed about conditions Molorane expressed his gratitude to Franschhoek in the informal settlement – especially regarding Pick n Pay for their support and also to Franschhoek healthcare and education. According to Molorane the Arts and Culture for entertaining the visitors. interview was both “emotional and touchy.”

Nuwe salon eienaar Franschhoek Hair and Beauty in Franschhoek Square het ‘n nuwe eienaar en ‘n indrukwekkende lys behandelings om van te kies. Joáni Visser, ‘n gekwalifiseerde skoohheidsterapeut en stilis, is die nuwe eienaar. Haar vriendelike kollega, Rika Cloete, is ‘n ervare haarkapper. Joáni is in bevel van skoonheidsbehandelings, grimering en haarstilering terwyl Rika die haarsny, -kleur en –behandelings doen. Hulle beplan ‘n amptelike bekendstelling op 1 November.

Dit was nie ‘n moeilike besluit vir Joáni om die salon oor te neem toe sy die advertensie sien nie, sy het voorheen by spas in Franschhoek gewerk en was reeds verlief op die wynlande. Na drie jaar van haar beroep beoefen op skepe van Celebrity Cruises en Princess Cruises het sy uitgesien daarna om aan wal te bly. Haar vriendskap met Rika het juis op die skepe begin en die salon is ‘n welkome geleentheid vir beide.

Joáni sê die grimeermode is tans sterk lipkleure en meer neutrale grimering vir oë, alhoewel die ‘smoky’ voorkoms steeds in is. Sy doen graag grimering vir bruide en spesiale geleenthede en be-oog om ook na klïente uit te gaan. Haar fokus tans is om kliënte in die salon spesiaal te laat voel en sy bederf almal met kopen handmasserings; pensioenarisse kry Donderdae afslag; daar is maandeliks spesiale aanbiedinge en die vibrasie stoele is steeds in gebruik! Mans het nie net “man”icures om na uit te sien nie, hulle kry ook voetbehandelings, gesigsbehandelings en kan aanmeld vir ‘n warm handdoek skeer.

As student was Joáni naaswenner in ‘n grimeer en stilering kompetisie en sê sy hou daarvan om vir fotosessies en rolprente interressante voorkomste te skep. Haar na-uurse passie is Latyns-Amerikaanse danse.

Bestaande en nuwe kliënte, vroue, mans en kinders, hou reeds die salon besig en die twee dames sien daarna uit om meer Franschhoekers en toeriste te verwelkom.

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THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

4

October 2014

presented in association with “Les Vignerons de Franschhoek”

La Motte

Pierneef à La Motte’s

Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Steamed artichokes with fennel

Made from grapes from several areas. 8% Semillon added for complexity. Intense gooseberry, followed by green apple, melon and lemon on the nose. The natural acid is covered by the gentle, full and creamy palate. Refreshing as aperitif and perfect with salad, seafood and spicy foods, such as Thai or Chinese.

Cellar Price: R60 La Motte  Tel: 021 876 8000  Email: info@la-motte.co.za

Lynx Wines Blanc de Noir 2014 A summer time wine that is light, low in alcohol and above all fresh. Elegant strawberries and peaches dominate the nose of this wine that is made 100% from Merlot grapes that were harvested early to retain the freshness and to keep the alcohol down. To obtain the delicate pink colour the juice was left on the skin for only and hour and a half.

Cellar Price: R60 Lynx Wines  Tel: 021 867 0406  Email: winemaker@lynxwines.co.za

Ingredients: 2 Tbsp (30 ml) olive oil 2 onions, thinly sliced 2 fennel bulbs, thinly sliced 4 cloves garlic, sliced 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 tsp (5 ml) mustard seed 1 tsp (5 ml) ground coriander ½ tsp (2,5 ml) freshly ground pepper ½ tsp (2,5 ml) grated nutmeg 2 Tbsp (30 ml) sugar ½ cup (125 ml) vinegar ½ cup (125 ml) dry white wine 8 artichokes, cleaned and placed in lemon water 4 cups (1 litre) vegetable nage (stock)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper Method: Heat a stove-top casserole dish or saucepan, add the olive oil and sweat the onions, fennel, garlic and thyme for 5 minutes.

Add the mustard seeds, spices, sugar, vinegar and wine. Place the artichokes on top and steam with the lid on for 5 minutes, to retain good colour.

Add the vegetable nage, season with salt and pepper to taste and cook for 15 - 20 minutes until the sauce is thick and the artichokes tender. Check seasoning.

Pierneef à La Motte  Tel: 021 876 8000  Email: pierneef@la-motte.co.za

The Salmon Bar’s ‘Salmon and Trout Journey for two’ A selection of stylishly displayed: Fresh salmon and trout sashimi Cold smoked salmon trout Hot smoked salmon and trout Salmon gravadlax Sliced avocado Dipping sauces of crème fraiche, mayonnaise and soy Served with lemon and salad garnish, caper berries and bread basket. (All ingredients available at The Salmon Bar) The Salmon Bar  Tel: 021 876 4591  Email: info@thesalmonbar.co.za

The SPCA received a donation of 2 tonnes of what?

Send your answer to: tatlercompetition@gmail.com. The winner will be informed by return mail before 15 October 2014. Prizes have to be collected from the Franschhoek Info Office before end October 2014 or be forfeited.

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

More on the Ryder Cup My focus this month is the Ryder Cup, which will be completed by the time this column appears.

I guarantee there will be memorable moments at Gleneagles in Scotland, primed by great competition and emotion between the European and American golfers.

One European player who will cherish the opportunity is Stephen Gallacher, who needed to come no less than second at the Italian Open to automatically qualify. He missed this by one shot, coming third. Fortunately Ryder Cup Captain, Paul McGinley, chose Gallacher as one of his wild card picks. A Scotsman, regularly playing out of Gleneagles, the home crowd will assure Gallacher immense support. I know Stephen’s uncle, Bernard Gallacher OBE, will also be delighted, as he himself was an eight-time playing participant and three times the non-playing captain.

I have never been to the Ryder Cup, but I can claim to have met three of the captains. Indeed I first met Bernard Gallacher when he was the resident professional at Wentworth, a position he held for 25 years – a gentleman and a true professional in both his work and play. Sam Torrance, who was the winning captain in 2002, I met in Barbados and I recall an amusing incident at the Sandy Lane Golf Club.

Torrance was playing an exhibition match against his good friend and fellow professional Michael King – known to all his friends as ‘Queenie’. Their games back in England, usually at the renowned Sunningdale Golf Course, were legendary for the side bets they played for. No different in Barbados.

As King was about to putt on one of the holes, the following crowd was utterly silent. Just as ‘Queenie’ was about to putt a loud cry of ‘quiet please’ came from Torrance, resulting in a badly missed putt. The

friends laughed at this, and the gamesmanship that followed was something to behold.

The third Captain was none other than Jack Nicklaus, who I have mentioned before in this column. A golfing legend whose focus both on and off course is quite exceptional and explains why his attention to detail has garnered him a reputation for designing some of the world’s best courses, one of which is Pearl Valley.

His pinnacle at the Ryder Cup is folklore in sporting history. The competition ended in a draw at 16 points each, when Jack Nicklaus conceded a missable putt to Britain’s Tony Jacklin at the 18th hole, in one of the most famous gestures of sportsmanship in all of sport. The event ended in a draw, the first in Ryder Cup history.

Nicklaus said to Jacklin, “I don’t think you would have missed that Tony, but I didn’t want to give you the chance.”

Off Course I am delighted to note that the tower clock at the Pick n Pay entrance is working! My first boss once told me to ensure all visible clocks are working – otherwise people will think we don’t care enough. Congratulations to those responsible.

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Commander J.P. Smythe, DSC, R.N.R., RD, of the Union Castle Line’s flagship, in his advice to passengers in 1967, maintains that “In order that table wines may be served in the correct condition it is advisable to give notice of your requirements in advance”. Excellent council indeed.

If I were a frequent traveller I would fully expect my choice of Chateaux Palmer ‘Sirius’ 1956 to be served in a classically appropriate balloon glass to accommodate bouquets and flavours. My neighbour on the other hand might well have his or her ‘Plonk de Plonk’ tendered in an enamelled mug. An unfair comparison, but it does remind me of my very first encounter with the fruits of the vine.

As an elderly teenager, fresh from school, my father found me employment with Messrs Jeffares & Green, consulting civil engineers, as a ‘booker’ – someone who records the readings from the surveyor at the theodolite.

We were surveying a new railway link between Goba, on the Mozambique border, and an iron ore mine in Swaziland. Being the junior member of the field party I was responsible for food and drink supplies. We were camped on the bank of the Usutu River near a small party of Portuguese contractors drilling for water, so I would fetch their supplies too.

Once I delivered a huge 20 litre demijohn encased in a wicker basket and with a Plaster of Paris cone over the cork – pale green, white wine from Dao in their homeland. They insisted that I down the offered tin mug of now warm vino. After a second mug my surroundings began to move about a little and I sensed that I should move on to my own camp. Which I did, one eye closed, one hand on the wheel and no damage to the Land Rover.

We were a party of four surveyors. The following day one of our party left for Johannesburg, without explanation, except that it was urgent. A couple of days later he returned and that night, sitting around the campfire, he went to his tent and brought out a bottle of Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin champagne.

Smiling from ear to ear he explained that in his absence he had married his sweetheart to whom he would return after our contract. With whoops of congratulations he opened the warm bottle (no electricity – or even paraffin fridge) and poured each of us a generous quantity in, you’ve guessed it, tin mugs.

More recently I joined a group of Cape winemakers in the KZN Drakensberg relaxing for few days after the Pietermaritzburg Wine Pageant. A cold drizzle swept over us as we tried to fry a trout. For a salad we only had lettuce, but a good splash of bubbly made a fine dressing.

The rest of the bottle was enjoyed from tin mugs.

Let’s not be too fussy over our choice of drinking vessel, it’s the occasion that counts and sticks in the memory.

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Bernard Gallacher, three times Ryder Cup captain

Jacklin and Nicklaus – the draw

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THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

6

ABSA Pinotage Top 10 laurels for Allée Bleue Allée Bleue’s Pinotage 2012 has been selected as an ABSA Pinotage Top 10 wine for the third time. This time it’s different though as it’s the first wine classified Wine of Origin Franschhoek – made from grapes on the farm – to be awarded this honour. It is also Allée Bleue winemaker Van Zyl du Toit’s first title in this event.

The previous two Allée Bleue wines to feature in the ABSA Pinotage Top 10 were made by Du Toit’s predecessor, from grapes source in the Piekenierskloof.

The ABSA Pinotage Top 10 is an annual championship hosted by the South African Pinotage Association to highlight the best wines made from this uniquely South African cultivar.

“We’re delighted with this result,” says Allée Bleue general manager Ansgar Flaatten. “It’s certainly a just reward to everyone involved.

“We’ve been working for a number of years on that vineyard and invested in attaining the quality we desire.

The recognition given by this award is testimony to this

work and investment, as well as the quality that Franschhoek is capable of.”

According to Du Toit, the soil type that produced the grapes for the winning wine is drastically different from the rest of the farm. “The same stone ridge crops up in this vineyard as in our top block of Shiraz,” he says.

Special attention is given to pruning, suckering, green harvest, and then at harvest, so that only the best grapes arrive at the cellar. Some of the grapes are discarded in the process, so the block produces only about 7 ton/ha.

The Allée Bleue Pinotage 2012 is a full-flavoured, rich and elegant wine that is intense brick red in colour. On the nose there’s upfront fruit aromas of ripe cherries and plums, followed by flavours of sweet vanilla pods, liquorice and some cedar wood on the palate. The wine is available from the farm as well as leading retailers. The Cellar Door price is R150. www.alleebleue.co.za | 021 874 1021

October 2014

Protea range upcycled with new finery Anthonij Rupert Wyne’s Protea range has received a new contemporary look. The easy drinking range’s innovative new packaging has been designed with the purpose of ‘upcycling’ in mind, i.e. to create attractive features in and around the home after the wine has been enjoyed.

The range celebrates the Protea, one of the characteristic plants of the Cape Floristic Region – the world’s smallest and most diverse floristic region. The heritage of the vines is depicted in the eye catching prints on the bottles and encapsulates the winemaker’s vision for this range of marrying the old with the new. The distinctive packaging allows for re-use and recycling thereby prolonging the life cycle of the product, ultimately helping to conserve the environment.

The range was named as one of the winners at the 2014 WorldStar International Award for Design in the beverages category, which took place earlier this year in Düsseldorf. The look is the brainchild of award winning designer, Mark Eisen, who is internationally recognised for

his take on modernism, visible in his fashion collections and a variety of creative special projects. Mark’s Cape-inspired prints on the bottles add an enduring element to the Protea range.

After the wine has been enjoyed and the table cleared, these bottles challenge us with endless creative possibilities. Why dispose of a functional piece of art? A plethora of possibilities present themselves when faced with these appealing prints. Why not: • take your bottles to a professional glasscutter and have them transformed into cups, vases and planting pots; • have your bottles melted to be used as placemats or even seats; • build a Protea bottle rack; • add a serving top to a bottle, transforming it into an ornamental sauce container.

Available directly from the farm or from select specialist wine shops and retail outlets nationwide, the white wines retail for approximately R49.99 per bottle and the reds for R59.99 per bottle. www.rupertwines.com | 021 874 9041

Double delight for Bellingham In a first for a South African wine producer, Bellingham has been announced as one of the winners of the 2014 Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition, as well as a victor at the inaugural Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge, respectively. Both competitions took place in August and Bellingham is justifiably proud of their achievement with these two distinctly South African varietals in the same year.

The Bernard Series Pinotage 2013 secured a place as one of SA’s Top 10 Pinotages, while Bellingham’s Old Orchard Chenin Blanc 2013 made it on to the list of the Top 10 Chenin Blancs in the country.

The man behind these award-winning wines is Bellingham winemaker, Niël Groenewald. After graduating from Stellenbosch with a BSc and working as a wine consultant in Russia, and then embarking on study tours from France to New Zealand to the USA, he applied his knowledge and passion to create some of South Africa’s best wines. Adding an Honours degree in Oenology from Stellenbosch University and recently an Executive MBA from UCT Graduate School of Business, Niël could be called the ‘brains behind the bottle’.

The Bernard Series Pinotage 2013 is one of four red wines in the range created to pay tribute to the maverick

spirit of the founder of Bellingham, Bernard Podlashuk.

Niël describes the Pinotage as displaying liberal black cherry, ripe mulberry and raspberry confit aromas. These aromas deliver a mouthful of plum pudding, smoked meat flavours and savoury hints of truffle that combine with hints of violet and winter spice oak. The result is a long, succulently fruited finish. The wine is available from select specialist wine stores nationwide and retails for approximately R170 per bottle.

Chenin Blanc is South Africa’s most widely planted grape and one that has a special place in Niël’s heart, particularly older bush vine Chenin vineyards. Chenin has gained international recognition for the rich, textured and complex wines that it produces in South Africa.

The uniquely styled Old Orchard Chenin Blanc 2013 is exported mostly to Scandinavia and is best described as showcasing beautiful aromas of honeysuckle, citrus, lime and spice. The majority of the wine was matured in second-fill French oak barrels adding complexity to the wine. Full-bodied, rich and round with a lingering aftertaste.

Although not available to purchase from outlets in South Africa consumers can purchase the wine at R95 per bottle directly from the Bellingham Tasting Room in Franschhoek.

Paulina’s at Rickety Bridge goes green

FRAN SCHHOEK

Wines Franschhoek proudly presents

WINE OF THE WEEK - FREE TASTING

Black Elephant 4/10 - 10/10 Paulina’s Restaurant at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate recently underwent some renovations. Along with the improvements they decided to include a green change by incorporating the ecological cleaning product range from Delphis Eco. Manufactured with a plant base, Delphis Eco carries the coveted European Union Ecolabel accreditation. Head

Chef Melissa Bruyns says: “It has always been important to us to be as environmentally friendly as possible and we felt that one of the ways we could do this was to look into utilising chemicals that are nontoxic and biodegradable.” Pictured in the photo is Nick Groves of Delphis Eco and Head Chef Melissa Bruyns.

Come and taste the new Amistad Syrah and other great wines during the week.

Meet the winemaker Jacques Wentzel on Saturday 4/10 from 11:00 - 14:00.

Lynx 11/10 - 17/10 Come and taste the fantasatic Grenache from Lynx and other great wines.

Meet the winemaker Dieter Sellmeyer on Saturday 11/10 between 11:00 - 14:00.

La Chataigne 18/10 - 24/10 Taste the new release Kastanje 2014 and other great wines from La Chataigne.

Meet the owner Richard Parkfelt on Saturday 18/10 from 11:00 - 14:00.

Four Paws 25/10 - 31/10 Taste the stunning new Sauvignion Blanc and other great wines from Four Paws.

Meet Gerda Willers the winemaker on Saturday 25/10 between 11:00 - 14:00.

Franschhoek Wines at cellar door prices.

We are open 7 days a week.

23 Huguenot Road, Tel: 021 876 3185

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

Music to my ears!

Old MacDonald is a much despised man in my home. To be honest, I really wish he hadn’t bought a farm with so many noisy animals and I resent the fact that someone chose to write a song about him. That Old MacDonald is currently a drive-time favourite in our car, means I’m not terribly enamoured with CD makers either at the moment.

Academically there are three major sets of skills developed through music. Your child’s listening skills are exercised when they listen to loud, soft, slow or fast music. Their language and vocabulary skills are improved through listening and singing along to songs and the patterns and sequences of beat and rhythm help develop valuable mathematics skills.

There are also many emotional benefits. If you are anything like me, music can lift your mood in a matter of seconds – from a good old Roxette number, to a powerful revolutionary “Do you hear the people sing” from Les Miserables! As with adults, music elicits an emotional response in children and develops their emotional understanding of the world. It relieves the stress little ones feel and helps them deal with simple day to day things like brushing teeth or going to bed etc. A song can really make any task, activity or day better.

Research suggests that young children should be exposed to a variety of music, not only nursery rhymes.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a break from ‘Old MacDonald’ and doing some of the ‘Hippy Shake’ in the kitchen now and then. Rock, pop, classical and the blues are all great. Obviously bad language or explicit topics in songs should be avoided, so it’s safe to say that Linkin Park falls outside the pool of choice.

Without sounding too much like Julie Andrews – it’s a good move to make your house, car and life “alive with the sound of music!”

Jenny Karsen | The Bumble Bee Play School

7

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

8

Tatler Motoring

CHINA CHARGES ON JMC has been selling dependable bakkies at bargain prices for quite some time on the SA market, but that’s all set to change. Now Jailing Motor Company is set to take a giant step forward with the launch of the all-new Vigus range of Double Cab 4x4 and 4x2 diesel and petrol powered bakkies. Designed with looks to compete with any locally available rivals, the new contender comes in the choice of a 100kW 201Nm Mitsubishi 2.4 litre 4G69 MPI petrol and the 90kW 290Nm 2.4 litre JX4D24 Diesel Puma engines.

October 2014

X MARKS THE SPOT BMW seems intent to see its range cater for every possible taste. This new X4 now extends the broader 3-series model group to a splendid coupé SUV that looks quite the part – it’s a five-seater with the front passengers sitting lower than in an X3 while still maintaining generous people space to keep true to its utility promise.

The X4 comes in Standard, M Sport and xLine trim packs and five engine choices – the 135kW 270Nm xDrive20i base petrol; the 180kW 350Nm xDrive28i and the 225kW 400Nm 3-litre turbo-six xDrive35i. The two turbodiesels are the all-new 140kW 400Nm xDrive20d and the 190kW 560Nm xDrive30d, all packing BMW’s superb 8-speed automatic gearbox in a forceful, fast, frugal and fluid package.

VIVO REJUVENATED Four years and 150 000 units sold later, South Africa’s best-selling Polo Vivo has benefited from a minor facelift, a realigned equipment line-up and some enhanced features, including standard ABS, across the range and a new equipment line, called Conceptline, that joins Blueline, Trendline and Comfortline derivatives, while GT and Maxx hatch models also remain. All Vivos get new interior trim with a leatherette gear knob and fresh red and white-lit instruments. The only locally built model in the very competitive entry-level hatch segment, Vivo is also the dominant passenger car in South Africa since 2010 and now boasts local content of close to 70%.

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

Gardening in October

Natie Ferreira

Why they didn’t put another month between September and October I still cannot understand.

One moment we were still in hibernation and the next we are running after spray nozzles and irrigation fittings and hand tools and buying seedlings and seed and rushing to get everything in the ground in time. These are the months we look forward to all winter, but when they arrive we are so overwhelmed with all the urgent tasks that we forget the important bit – to enjoy our gardens. Gardening is a hobby and we shouldn’t forget it.

Fortunately the warmer weather should bring with it some new-found energy and what better way to apply this than to support the hobby that we all love. In October I would focus most of my energy on the vegetable garden. Serving a wholesome salad or some oven baked vegetables that in their entirety come out of your own garden is one of the most rewarding benefits of gardening. All sorts of summer veggies can be sown now. Buying some nursery grown seedlings will give you a head start and will fill the gap until your own seedlings have matured. There are some pest that can be troublesome now – slugs and snails, cutworms and aphids being some of the baddies. Just remember that we grow our own food also for the health benefits and you don’t want to get any nasty chemicals into your system.

Keep your insect and fungus control strictly organic as far as anything edible is concerned. I might sound like a broken record, but mulching is one of the best practices you can learn – it not only conserves water, but also suppresses weeds.

Regular monthly tasks include keeping up with your rose spraying program, mowing the lawn regularly, mulching, feeding and weed control.

On feeding I tend to favour a shotgun approach – I fertilise with a balanced organic fertiliser containing most of the micro and macro nutrients and hope that the plants will get what they need.

The same goes for foliar feeds – a balanced product like Sea-Grow or Nitrosol will sort out most deficiencies.

If you haven’t tested your irrigation system yet you better do that now. It is amazing how many nozzles get blocked by insects and other critters during winter. You might also get a few surprises with pipes that were punctured during your spring plantings. Automatic irrigation systems do save water, but we don’t yet know how strict the

water restrictions will be this coming summer.

A few years ago there was a complete ban on sprinkler systems. It is always a good idea to look at alternative sources such as borehole water or grey water recycling. Planning your garden with different zones as far as water needs are concerned is another responsible option.

October is still a great month to plant new shrubs and trees. The nurseries are stocked with all sorts of temptations. Buying new plants is one of the great joys of gardening. There are some exciting new indigenous plants available; go visit your local garden centre to have a look. Modern hybrid Proteas and pincushions are easy to grow and worth a try. There are also some new agapanthuses available that I am very excited about.

We are definitely in the “in between season” season now as far as preserving is concerned. There is not much of a glut of anything in my garden, except for salad greens. I do have a truckload of strawberries that are half-eaten by Guinea Fowl.

Those I might make into decent jam or jelly. Does anyone have a good Guinea Fowl recipe…

9

Plant of the Month

Frankie Brooks Salvias Saving Grace

Salvias are their own saving grace hence their name being very aptly derived from “salvere”, which is Latin for “to save” or “to heal”. The plant has always been believed to have medicinal properties, from ancient Greek and Roman times, with results so compelling that even modern-day trials are still being carried out today.

Although most commonly referred to as Red Salvias, Salvia splendens is actually available in a whole range of colours! With brilliant bursts of colourful flowers that can be enjoyed outdoors and then cut for extended enjoyment in a vase, indoors, they’re capable of warming all areas of your home and heart. Don’t be shy when it comes to deadheading or using them for cut flowers as this will encourage new flushes of flowers, leaving you wondering if you’d even removed any to start!

Salvias do well in both full sun and dappled shade but if you’d like a richer red in your garden, go for as much sun as possible as it seems to enhance it.

Salvias are not partial to drought but they’re also not very thirsty, a nice middle ground plant. Giving them

adequate water in well-draining, composted soil, with a little extra during dry spells and success will be yours for the taking.

Whether you’ve a container to fill, bed to edge or a few gaps to fill between some shrubs and perennials, Salvia splendens is the annual for you so pop into your local garden centre and introduce some colour into your life today. www.lifeisagarden.co.za

Rainfall Figures Measured at La Cotte/Nerina Street for periods indicated

mm/year 2002

1100

2003

824

2004

709

2005

916

2006

884

2007

1153

2008

1217

2009

978

2010

740

2011

830

2012

1079

2013

1471

mm/month 2013

Dam Levels 2014

Month

Accumulative

Month

Accumulative

January February March April May June

11 36 20 83 88 246

11 47 67 150 238 484

69 5 76 50 120 260

69 74 150 200 320 580

July August September October November December

139 409 131 61 242 5

623 1032 1163 1224 1466 1471

135 162

715 877

As at 15 September 2014 Steenbras Upper Steenbras Lower Wemmershoek Voëlvlei Theewaterskloof Berg River Dam

101.9% 97.2% 99.0% 100.1% 101.3% 100.0%

Total Storage 100.6% This Time Last Year 99.6 % - 102.8%

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

10

ACVV Nuus

Hospice News

Riana Pretorius

Helen Siebert and Brett Garner

A huge thank you to Reuben & Maryke Riffel and Ryan for organising our first Golf Day, which was held on 12 September at Pearl Valley Golf and Country Estate. Wonderful prizes were won and trophies awarded. Auction items raised R22 000.

All of these items were donated by very generous businesses and individuals. It was a brilliant day, helped by stunning weather, and enjoyed by all who participated. It is definitely on the calendar again for next year – keep 11 September 2015 free.

and Meg at Kitchen Aid; Taneea at KerstonFoods; Chazelle at Samsung; Maggie and Karen at Delaire Graff; Wanda at Leopard’s Leap and La Motte; Johnathan at Avondale; Jessica and Andy from Three Streams; Bianca and Carl at Pearl Valley; Jeff and Jo-Marie from KWV; Inge and Marc from Boekenhoutskloof; Tim from Vinimark; Inge and Loesje from La Bourgogne; Tarryn from Riedel; Tiaan and Cynthia from L’Ermitage; Chantelle from Robertson Small Hotel; Leigh from Abalone House; Yolande from Cape Legends; Cathy and Gary from Ngwenya Glass; Fanie from Blaauwklippen; Lauren from Le Creuset; Michelle from Carol Boyes; Gray, Libby and Najuwa from Quivertree; Steve and team from Terbodore; ANPA; Rosita and Derek Manser; Who’s Murray?; Groot Constantia; Wernher from Culinary, Werner and Nadette from Richeneau; Ben from Middlevlei; Zian from Noop and Nick from Franschhoek Pass Winery. Without your support the Reuben Riffel Golf Day in aid of Franschhoek Hospice would not have been so successful.

Remember our walk on 11 October. We are planning to walk along the Berg River Dam, please contact Hospice for further details. R30 pp includes water and your butterfly ‘tattoo’. Starting time 08h00.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the walk!

Our Safari Lunch takes place on 22 November, please book your tickets now as there is limited seating and we have started to sell tables of ten already. Live entertainment will be provided by Fran and Nico.

Delicious potjiekos, lucky ticket prizes, raffles and loads of fun.

The Christmas Carols Service will take place on 7 December at the NG Kerk, at 19h00.

Finally the triplets we’ve been supporting are growing beautifully, but their mother is now in need of a little bar fridge and educational toys (6-12 months). Can anybody help?

Christian von Palace, Kevin Hill and Reuben Riffel

In addition to the aforementioned we would like to thank the following: Lynne at Spar Distribution and Josephine at Vineyard Spar Paarl; Susanne, Ulf

The triplets are healthy and growing fast

Franschhoek Probus Club

Alta Malherbe

Luncheon Meeting – 6 October 2014 12h30 for 13h00 La Petit Dauphine – Studio/Café Bonbon 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 member’s interests.

We would like to invite new members to join our club.

The joining fee is only R50 and R100 membership per year. For this you will be informed of our meeting every month where we usually have a speaker.

For October we have David Davidson from

Kirstenbosch who will be talking about the Chelsea Flower Show. At our November meeting Joe Bloemarts will speak about Development Aid. Those who have not yet paid, please bring along your membership fees for 2014.

As usual, our meeting will be on the first Monday of the month, which will be 6 October 2014, at 12h30 for 13h00 at La Petit Dauphine in Café BonBon or the Studio. We order from a limited menu and each pays their own account. Please bring cash.

Should anyone, who is not a member, want to join us for lunch, please contact Alta Malherbe on 021 876 3179 / 082 338 5873 to reserve a seat. Members will receive an invite to reply to.

See you there!!

Bhabhathane News Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds In recent months much has been shared about the Early Childhood Development (ECD) needs in the Franschhoek Valley. The majority of our pre-school children are not properly fed, need sound educational input and lack the kind of societal and familial support needed to secure a firm foundation for their respective futures. With more than a thousand children who fall into this category, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number who need attention; but perseverance and sound strategies yield results. By way of example, a Bhabhathane initiated feeding programme that previously catered for 250 crèche and play school children now caters for more than 800!

With the tremendous strides made in feeding the bodies of the children impacted by Bhabhathane, the stage is now well-set for the feeding of their minds.

The first of a number of training initiatives aimed at local ECD practitioners took place at the end of August at the Lord’s Acre Mission under the auspices of a Nedbank sponsored training programme.

The three day workshop included background theory on child and cognitive development, approaches to education, and the use of toys to facilitate learning. Further training included input on language development, an understanding of the importance of proper spatial and gross motor skills development, and warning signs of a lack of development in key areas.

For many of the practitioners, still undergoing or

Dis heerlike lente, die winter‘s verby… Op 1 September 2014 was dit ‘n heerlike lente vir die kinders van Sunbeam Crèche in Groendal. Die ACVV organisasie was 110 jaar oud en dit is behoorlik gevier met ‘n fantastiese partytjie wat deur Penny by die crèche gereël is. Daar is vir 40 kinders elk ‘n partytjie hoed, “bubbles” en ‘n fluitjie gegee.

Vir ekstra geraas is daar raserige bandjies om elkeen se enkels gebind. Juliana – ‘n ware juweel – het twee groot ‘smartie’ koeke gebak. Sy het ook gesorg dat elke kind ‘n verrassingspakkie kry. In die pakkie was lekkers, sjokolade en ‘n koeldrank. Ronelle het speletjies met hulle gespeel en vir hulle vertel hoe spesiaal en waardevol hulle vir Jesus is.

Juliana – ACVV Ondervoorsitter – het soveel liefde wat sy met die kinders deel. Sy sorg gereeld vir verwaarloosde en getraumatiseerde kinders. Juliana bad hulle, trek hulle mooi aan en sorg vir ietsie te ete en te drinke totdat hulle in veilige sorg geplaas kan word. Dit sal wonderlik wees as die gemeenskap haar kan help met doeke, formule melk, kos en klere. Die

skenkings kan by die ACVV kantoor afgelewer word.

Hiep hiep… hoera vir Juliana! Ek glo dat die kinders in Franschhoek en omgewing nog baie saam met jou partytjie gaan hou. Baie dankie vir al jou moeite.

Wees dankbaar….ander het minder.

Tel: 021 876 4886 / 078 803 6751

Franschhoek Lions Club Lodine Maske

Left: The Lions Club of Franschhoek recently inducted two new members into the club. In the photo Ashley Bauer (far left) and Deon Veldsman (far right) appear with Wayne Buckly (President), Retha Stigant (Zone Chairperson) and Clint Watt (Sponsor). At the same meeting Clint Watt was awarded the Franschhoek Lion of the Year Award for 2013-2014.

Right: The Franschhoek Lions Ladies visited the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch on 26 August.

They visited the cancer and the burn unit wards where about 60 kids are treated at any given time. The children were entertained by a magician and each child received a teddy bear and a cup cake.

Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival Spring, glorious spring and the valley is looking fantastic. Guest houses and restaurants are filling up and the village is buzzing. October also means that it’s time for Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival. This year the Festival has been expanded to three days – Friday 31 October from 11h00 – 17h00, Saturday and Sunday 1&2 November from 09h00 to 17h00.

The gardens have never looked better than they do this year. There are several perennial favorites on show as well as some gardens that are only shown once every few years. New to the Festival is La Motte’s private gardens.

The center of the village will be everyone’s favorite stop for tea, bubbles, live music and the always-popular plant sale. These go very quickly so arrive early for the best selection. Near the plant sale area is where you will also find this year’s Pot Gardening

competition.

Twenty keen gardeners from the local townships and rural areas have been hard at work planning and potting up their entries. A team of judges led by Natie Ferreira from Pink Geranium will have a difficult time selecting three winning pots from what is sure to be a beautiful display.

Tickets are R100 per person for a day or weekend pass. There is a group discount for 10 people or more at R80 per person. Tickets are available on the days in front of Town Hall, at La Motte and Montpellier. Brochures are now available at the Tourism office, many local merchants and most nurseries and garden centers.

Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival is sponsored by the Lions Club in benefit of Fleur de Lis home for the aged.

Photo: Eddie Wilson, Foto Artist Studio.

Colleen Douglas Our AGM, held on 26 August, was extremely well attended and our guest speaker Brett Garner entertained and intrigued us with the ‘5-minute personality test’. You had to complete a questionnaire, scoring your strengths, weaknesses and limitations.

Your highest score in one of the four categories defined your personality as either a Lion, an Otter, a Golden Retriever or a Beaver. It was astonishing how accurate this was. A thoroughly entertaining evening was had by all.

October 2014

FRANSCHHOEK WINE VALLEY NEWS Vote for Franschhoek in this year’s #KlinkAwards

waiting for formal education training, the input proved invaluable and led to almost immediate application in the classroom. Along with the theoretical input, Nedbank sponsored a number of toys and teaching resources that will add colour and value to many of the local classrooms.

Bhabhathane would like to thank Nedbank for its generous sponsorship of the training programme and congratulates the many ECD practitioners who committed themselves fully to the training.

Thanks to you the dream of a meaningful education metamorphosis (Bhabhathane) is being realised.

For more information about Bhabhathane contact Jennifer Court on 079 492 7455 or jcourt@polka. co.za

Calling all Franschhoek Wine Valley fans! The Klink Awards are once again inviting foodies, wine lovers, outdoor adventurers and wine farm visitors to show their love and appreciation for South Africa’s Winelands by voting for their favourite nominees in the annual consumer-driven, interactive wine tourism awards.

Last year Franschhoek, regarded as one of South Africa’s leading wine producing regions and gourmet capital, walked away with the title of The ‘Happy Times’ Award for Most Memorable Wine Route for the second year in a row. This is thanks to the support of the loyal Franschhoek enthusiasts.

This year the valley has once again been nominated for the same award, as well as the Crowd Pleaser award for the annual Franschhoek Bastille Festival. This year the event celebrated its 21st anniversary, and over the years has become a social calendar highlight attracting visitors to the area from across South Africa.

We are also proud of our members who have been nominated and encourage your support for them in their respective categories: Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards (Best Child-Friendly Venue on a Wine Farm); Bread & Wine (Great Food and Excellent Wine); The Restaurant at Haute Cabrière (Great Food and Excellent Wine); Lust Bistro &

Bakery (Best Deli on a Wine Farm); Babylonstoren Deli (Best Deli on a Wine Farm); Backsberg Wine Estate (Most Green Wine Farm); The Tram at Anthonij Rupert Estate (Most Unusual Attraction on a Wine Route); Babylonstoren Garden (Most Unusual Attraction on a Wine Route); Anthonij Rupert Estate (Best Cellar Tasting Experience); Rupert and Rothschild Vignerons (Best New Cellar Door Attraction); La Petite Ferme (Best Accommodation on a Wine Farm) and Pierneef À La Motte Restaurant (Best Gourmet Restaurant at the Cellar Door).

Travellers to Franschhoek are always assured of an unforgettable experience which includes visiting some of South Africa’s top wine farms, dining at the finest restaurants our country has to offer, warm hospitality and picture perfect views. By voting for Franschhoek you, as the consumate foodie, wine lover, outdoor adventurer and wine farm visitor will be giving us your seal of approval. Show your love and appreciation for one of South Africa’s popular winelands destinations by voting for Franschhoek in these annual consumerdriven, interactive wine tourism awards.

To vote, please visit www.winetourismsouthafrica. co.za/klinkawards. Voting closes on 31 October 2014.

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

Franschhoek Tatler 20 years old A word from editors past

Dear Readers, It’s just about 14 years since we arrived in Franschhoek.

While I may have retired, watching the sun go down while sipping a Sauvignon Blanc on my stoep wasn’t what I had in mind after our first six months refurbishing The Garden House. And as I don’t play golf or bridge, I was open to offers. One I didn’t expect was one from Monte and Gary to buy the Tatler! It will only take a few days each month they reassuringly told me. And it’s just right for you they said. So I went to see feisty Louise Jackson - co-founder, editor, distributor, sales agent etc. etc. of the Franschhoek Tatler. It may take a bit more than a few days she said – but not much more. But I don’t really know anything about Franschhoek, I said, thinking that such knowledge might be a pre-requisite for the position.

I was told not to worry about that as regular articles like Wine News from Ludwig Maske and In en Om Franschhoek from Izak Rust made up almost all the editorial; and all I had to do was put it together! And so, I thought, why not? What a wonderful way, I thought, of meeting the real people in all the different communities that make up this wonderful place. And so it proved to be.

Those of you who were here in 2002 (when I took over) may remember that the Tatler was then 8 pages in

black and white with an occasional splash of colour. I couldn’t leave it at that but being the new kid on the block and worried about the effect of any sudden change I adopted a softly, softly approach. And so first there were a few pages in colour and then it was all colour and there were more and more pages in each issue and settled at 20/22 pages and occasionally 24 pages.

After 8 years it was time for someone else to take over.

There were approaches from some of the big newspaper groups but it is the Tatler’s roots in our community that make it what it is. It is, I believe, read and respected in all sections of our community and is part of the glue that binds us together. If this role for the Tatler is to be continued, whoever is its editor must be local and passionate about Franschhoek. I was, therefore, absolutely delighted when Siegfried agreed to take it on.

I am also delighted that since he became editor the Tatler has gone from strength to strength and he has taken it to a level that I could not have achieved.

Although putting each issue together took up very considerably more than the few days each month that I was led to believe it would take, being editor of the Tatler was wonderful experience, a pleasure and a privilege.

Dear Siegfried, A discussion over dinner about how no-one ever knew what was going on in Franschhoek led to the idea of starting a local newspaper. Louise Jackson and I started first issue in September 1994. Colleen Goosen was our ever-patient graphic designer and Debbie Nortje made all the copies on a HUGE photocopy machine at her then house in Akademie Street. Our first issue was a little larger than A4 folded, and we progressed to a second issue which was A4 and stapled. We all helped with the photocopying, stapling and distribution for over a year, in fact until December 1995 after which Paarl Post took over the printing and took it to its current format. We pinched the slogan “no FT no comment” from the British Financial Times until at some point we were asked politely to desist!

We soon discovered it was not easy selling advertising in a small village while at the same time allowing free speech in our ‘Letters to the Editor’. I can remember on one occasion printing a letter of complaint from an overseas visitor about an unsatisfactory meal at a landmark Franschhoek restaurant, which was promptly followed by the cancellation of said restaurant’s advertising! Poor Louise had the job of debt-collecting and once after collecting a late payment from a not-quite sober Ralf (the old Ralf ’s Restaurant) he threatened to sue us; insisting he had paid twice. Luckily for us we had local attorney Hendy Snipelisky on our side!

A further brush with trouble came when Grant Fear wrote an uncomplimentary letter about Mrs. Podlashuk of Bellingham, despite being advised against doing so

by Louise. Of course she threatened to sue him AND the newspaper until Louise calmed the troubled waters and sent Grant to apologise, cheque in hand towards one of her many charities!

It was a lot of work but also lots of fun putting the little newspaper together, along with stalwart supporters like Ludwig Maske with his wine column, Sue Norman with the gardening news, and Elize Hockings’ Book Review. Polly Perry helped with SPCA news, the late Betty Louw with Franschhoek Trust news, and many local contributors too numerous to mention here, who made the Franschhoek Tatler something to look forward to each month. Three years later, after the birth of my second child, Oliver, and the demands of my job at Chamonix, I left Louise to carry on alone. The newspaper by then was wellestablished with regular advertisers and contributors, and we felt we had achieved our goal of keeping local residents informed.

It has been fantastic to see that twenty years later the Franschhoek Tatler has stood the test of time, despite healthy competition over the years from other publications.

Best wishes,

Dear Siegfried I can hardly believe that it’s been twenty years since Caron Joubert (previously Failé) and I first decided that Franschhoek needed a newspaper! The third member of our starting line-up was Debbie Nortje, who sold advertising for us.

Debbie also printed the first few issues at her house when they were A4 size. When the Tatler grew to A3 size we went to Paarl for the printing.

When Caron became pregnant, after three years with me, I reluctantly carried on alone. I wasn’t computer literate – that was Caron’s task – and I pasted everything up by hand, designed the newspaper, counted words and measured spaces before sending it for the printers to do the rest! After a short while I was persuaded to learn to use the computer and eventually I could design the whole thing electronically and forward it on disc. Progress!

The two April Fool’s jokes that created the biggest stirs were around the time when Franschhoek Municipality became part of Stellenbosch Municipality.

It so happened that at that time Michael Jackson was in South Africa so I wrote that he had been to Franschhoek for lunch and when he heard that the Town Hall was no longer in use, decided to buy it and turn it into a casino. Wow! I got frantic phone calls from all over – “How did I know?” “Who told me?” to which I would always reply “I am not at liberty to divulge that information.”

The second was when Pavarotti did a tour and performed in Stellenbosch. I wrote that he’d come to Franschhoek for lunch and a tour of the area, fell in love with the nature reserve and bought it from the Government and was going to turn it into an up-market ski resort. He had already imported the snow making machinery and together with a bunch of celebrities, intended to build a five star hotel at the top of the Pass Road. It was a hoot! I never realised there were so many people who could be so easily duped!

Another one I remember is about David Jenkins who built columns along the front of his house so that it looked like a mini White House. That one was easy to pull off, as it so happened that Bill Clinton was very obliging and also came to Franschhoek and decided he’d like to buy it for a summer getaway for his family.

General consensus was that David would be furious with me, but in fact I opened the door one evening to find his PA standing there asking if I’d let David have twenty extra copies of the Tatler to send to his friends overseas. So I charged him R5 a copy!

I had a few instances of bullying and a couple of people attempted to sue me, but apart from that, it was a breeze and an experience I was glad I hadn’t missed!

I started off a well brought up English woman from a sheltered background and became street wise and astute, thanks to the Tatler and its readers!

Best of luck for the next twenty years!

Barry Phillips

Caron Joubert

11

Editor’s Letter

Siegfried Schäfer

Dear Readers John Lennon wrote that “Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” I have a friend who holds a similar view. He maintains that you must have a plan on how to get from A to B, even if implementing it ends up taking you to F. The point is that if you didn’t begin with a plan you’d never have set off on the journey that ended up taking you to F and you probably would’ve learnt far less along the way.

Another way to get to somewhere other than you were planning on going is to be so busy that you fail to see the forest for the trees. In management speak this is the equivalent of doing things right, but not doing the right things! This recently happened to me and I missed a birthday as a result. Although it has been on my mind for a while I completely missed the Tatler’s twentieth birthday last month… Yes, our village paper is no longer a teenager. (I do hope though that it’s not a case of ‘small children, small problems; big children, big problems!’)

I thought it would be illuminating to contact the people who worked on the Tatler in the past and ask them to share some memories of the experience with current Tatler readers. You’ll find their contributions elsewhere on this page along with a few items from that very first Franschhoek Tatler to take you down memory lane.

What I found most interesting is that plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose! The format and the technology may have changed, but the issues confronting the editor seem to have remained much the same. My top 3 issues would have to be typos (or worse), holding contributors to deadlines and what to do with the material that you’d love to print, but would probably be risking life (and cash flow) for if you did!

You’ll notice that I deliberately didn’t mention my own deadlines. I’m comfortable with deadlines. Like Adam Savage I believe that “Deadlines refine the mind. They remove variables like exotic materials and processes that take too long. The closer the deadline, the more likely you’ll start thinking waaay outside the box.” This can be quite useful if harnessed properly.

For example, when I started writing this letter I had no idea how I was going to fill the page, except to say something about the Tatler’s missed birthday.

Now I’ve already quoted three eminent people, said something in French, rationalised last month’s oversight and filled the allocated space. There may be a lesson in there somewhere… perhaps that action brings results – even if they’re not quite the ones you were anticipating.

Hang on, isn’t that where I started? What the heck… Oh, just enjoy the read!

Until next month

Franschhoek Tatler Tel 021 876 3460 Email info@franschhoektatler.co.za Website www.franschhoektatler.co.za Deadlines - November 2014 Issue - Ad Bookings: 15 October 2014 Artwork: 16 October 2014 E ditorial: 15 October 2014

Letters

Thanks from VIRGIN ORANGE Dear Franschhoekers Almost a year ago we completed our first marathon.

A stunning journey, filled with lots of fun, injuries, energy drinks and sweat.

We would like to thank all of you for the amazing support on the road during the weeks of preparation and more important, for the tremendous generousity towards our challenge to raise funds for the kitchens at Wes Eind Primary School and Dalubuhle!!

We raised so much money for the Kusasa Project Breakfast Club that we were able to achieve everything we dreamed of.

The kitchen at Dalubuhle had a total make-over.

At Wes Eind we supplied the necessary kitchen equipment as the whole school just went through a big renovation process. May these be long lasting investments!!

The marathon bug has bitten us properly and we’re now training for the Amsterdam Marathon, bringing Virgin Orange back ‘home’. We’re looking forward to a flat running experience! Keep on supporting us on the road, we need it!

Please continue to support The Kusasa Project; it is appreciated so much by all the little children they are looking after!

Before

After

Louise ‘Weez’ Jackson

VIRGIN ORANGE – Margot Janse and Saskia Blaisse Banking details: Beneficiary: The Kusasa Project Bank: Nedbank South Africa Account Number: 1670005186 Branch Code: 167005 & SWIFT Code: NEDSZAJJ www.thekusasaproject.org | 021 876 3735 Thanks, Medicare EMR Dear Editor On behalf of the Langrug Community, I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to Mr Garth Van Zyl, Monika and their friends. If it were not for your support and quick response to my calls and those of others in Langrug many people would have lost their lives.

On a recent Friday morning a little girl (1 year and 7 months old) was unresponsive. My friend Roger and I had to give her CPR for about 15 minutes while we were waiting for the ambulance from Stellenbosch. My friend Vlam called Garth & Monika and it took them only 10 minutes to be with us. The baby woke up just five minutes

info@franschhoektatler.co.za

before Medicare arrived and they took over from us. It took the ambulance an hour and half to reach us.

On another occasion there was a knock on my door at 23h20. A number of ladies were looking for help.

There had been a fight between partners and the girlfriend was bleeding terribly from her head and nose.

Again it took the ambulance an hour and a half to get here, while the woman became weaker and weaker.

Monika arrived just 10 minutes after my call. When the ambulance arrived the ambulance paramedics did not even get out of the ambulance until the other paramedics asked for their help.

I think Franschhoek deserves to have its own ambulance, or two, and the people manning them should be from the Franschhoek community.

I so wish that Mr Van Zyl and his Medicare crew could get sponsorship and unconditional support for the phenomenal work they are doing for free for less fortunate people.

I would like to call on everyone to help me with 10 first aid kits and lots of surgical gloves. I will then make sure each crèche in our township gets a first aid kit and gloves. I will keep one first aid kit for myself so that I can be able to help whenever I can.

Your help will be very much appreciated.

Best regards Teboho David Molorane

bathotours@gmail.com | 082 090 8660 Help us Spread the Christmas Cheer Dear Tatler Readers We are calling for help to Spread the Christmas Cheer in the Franschhoek Valley.

The Spreading the Cheer Project is on a mission to spoil the kids of Franschhoek during Christmas.

It is our second year and we have big plans! In 2013 we managed to warm the hearts of 230 children and we have a goal to reach 500 in 2014. This is a massive task, but we feel it is possible if the Franschhoek community as a whole stands together to give to our children.

What it entails…

It’s easy! Let us know the age and gender of the child who you would like to Spread the Cheer to and we will send you a child’s name. You then find a box (no bigger than a 6 bottle wine box), decorate it and fill it with ALL of the following: Spreading bathroom essentials – a face cloth, bar of soap, a toothbrush and a tube of tooth paste Spreading of knowledge – something educational Spreading fun – an age appropriate toy Spreading warmth – an item of clothing Spreading treats – something sweet If you would prefer to make a financial donation, we are happy to pack your box for you. Please contact us for our bank details.

We will also be needed many more hands this year to help reach our goal so if you have some time you would like to volunteer please, do not hesitate to let us know. We will need help collecting boxes, wrapping boxes, making sarmies as well as joining in on the Christmas party fun.

We look forward to hearing from all of you, and let’s Spread the Christmas Cheer. spreadingthecheerproject@gmail.com or 084 877 4535 (Leigh) Thanks for your support, The Spreading the Cheer Project

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

12

October 2014

Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October 2014

NG Church, Franschhoek Joanna Frankel (violin)

Christopher Duigan (piano)

David Salleras (saxophone)

New York-based concert violinist Joanna Frankel and Christopher Duigan play sonatas

by Beethoven and Brahms to open the MUSIC FESTIVAL on a substantial note. Music from de Falla, Arvo Pärt and others complete this diverse programme that seek to demonstrate something of the breadth and scale of the violin’s magnificent repertoire Frankel divides her time between the USA as a member of Carnegie Hall’s ‘The Academy’, a groundbreaking initiative training young musicians to be 21st century arts leaders, and Concert Master of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban, South Africa.

Leading South African concert pianist and Steinway virtuoso Christopher Duigan plays a classical piano recital. Duigan chooses a bold selection of dramatic music for the church recital, renowned for its spacious acoustic and magnificent piano. Included is ‘Harmonies du Soir’ - Franz Liszt, Scherzo No 2 op 31 – Frederic Chopin, and music by Russian composers Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scriabin. Central in the programme is Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 57 ‘Appasionata’. Duigan’s recent performance of the Beethoven, one of the composers most intense and dramatic compositions, drew stellar reviews at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

Regarded as a world leader in classical saxophone playing David Salleras returns to the Classic Music Festival in Franschhoek following his visit in 2012.

Based in Barcelona, Salleras has subsequently formed an ongoing creative partnership with Christopher Duigan (piano). Their programme for this Sunday morning concert includes their own compositions plus music with strong world music influences from Spain, Greece and Argentina - by Pedro Itturalde and Piazzolla.

Salleras’ unaccompanied saxophone solos, now regarded as repertoire standards, are performed by saxophone players worldwide. This promises to be a varied and thrilling performance by one of the world’s leading exponents of the instrument.

Supported by LA FONTAINE GUESTHOUSE

Supported by EBONY

Friday 24 October 7:30 pm NG Church, Franschhoek

Saturday 25 October 11:30 am NG Church, Franschhoek

Sunday 26 October 11:30 am NG Church, Franschhoek

Tickets for the NG Church Concerts: R100 are available at www.webtickets.co.za and the door. Performance time: (70 mins)

Café Bon Bon at La Petite Dauphine

Galleries

a GRAND SOIREE

BON BON FINALE

A ROLLING OPENING

AMIGOS PARA SIEMPRE A Spanish, Latin and Italian mix of popular music in one concert brings a highly energetic and passionate soiree to the Classic Music Festival in Franschhoek. Leading South African baritone Federico Freschi joins Christopher Duigan in this dynamic production.

Freschi sings Neapolitan songs including ‘O sole mio’ and ‘Santa Lucia’ accompanied by guest musician James Grace on the mandolin.

David Salleras (saxophone) joins Freschi in ‘Granada’ adding authentic Spanish flavour in his accompanying improvisations. Grace and Duigan play a Latin selection from their popular ‘Together Again’ programme and they join Salleras in flamenco inspired music.

An unbeatable selection by four outstanding performers.

Festival musicians gather in one festive performance playing favourite choices for an elegant Sunday Lunch Concert. Music for violin, piano, guitar solos, songs from the classic musicals plus magical moments are to be enjoyed in a varied presentation. Musicians are Joanna Frankel (violin), David Salleras (saxophone), and Federico Freschi (baritone) with James Grace (guitar) with Christopher Duigan (piano).

A new concept that combines the Marriott Classic Music Festival with the annual Art in Clay Festival, also opening this weekend in Franschhoek.

Three exhibition openings, complimentary food and wine and spontaneous snippets of music on the hour (3:00, 4:00 & 5:00 pm) are to be enjoyed, in each gallery. The galleries, all within walking distance of each other, host openings with a twist.

Booking: Café Bon Bon 021 876 3936

Supported by EBONY, IS ART and DAVID WALTERS AT THE CERAMICS GALLERY

Saturday 25 OCTOBER 6:30 for 7 pm Café Bon Bon at La Petite Dauphine R400 includes a three-course meal

Booking: Café Bon Bon 021 876 3936 Sponsored by MARRIOTT

Sunday 26 OCTOBER 12:30 for 1 pm Café Bon Bon at La Petite Dauphine R400 includes a three-course meal

Sponsored by MARRIOTT, The Income Specialists

Saturday 25 OCTOBER from 3 pm EBONY, IS Art and the Ceramics Gallery THREE ROLLING EXHIBITION OPENINGS

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

13

Stellenbosch is SA’s Arbour City for 2014 The Stellenbosch Municipality won the Arbour City Award for 2014 underpinning its strategic objective to be the greenest municipality in South Africa.

The award was presented to the Executive Mayor, Conrad Sidego, Gerald Esau and Portia Bolton at a gala function at Mofolo City Park, Soweto, on 1 September 2014.

The Arbour City Awards is a partnership programme between the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Institute for Environment and Recreation Management and is Total South Africa. The purpose of the competition is to encourage local municipalities to green their areas of jurisdiction, especially informal settlements.

Participating municipalities had to fulfil a number of requirements; among these were a portfolio of evidence showing a greening policy or strategy; a tree register; maintenance plans and budget; a

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Chiropractic Specialist Clinician

Stellenbosch Executive Mayor, Alderman Conrad Sidego, Portia Bolton and Gerald Esau receive the Arbour City 2014 Award from Pansy Mekwa (Total SA) and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Bheki Cele.

portfolio of evidence in videos or pictures depicting projects, sites, and special trees.

“Stellenbosch is a very proud town today, a very proud community”, said Mayor Conrad Sidego.

“This award did not just happen to come our way come. We worked hard and creatively to achieve

this. The Million Trees Project is one of a number of innovative projects that drives us and motivates us to increase the quality of life of everyone in the greater Stellenbosch community. The challenge now is to build on this performance, and remain the greenest city and municipality in South Africa”.

Low back, Mid-back and Neck Pains Myofascial Pain Syndromes (“trigger points”) Sciatica & Brachial Neuralgia TMJ Problems Sports Injuries Headaches Arthritis

57 Cabriere Street, Franschhoek, 7690 Cell: 073 227 1851

Book Review

Charlotte van Zyl Arctic Summer

By Damon Galgut. Publ: Umuzi Press, 375 pages.

Damon Galgut has established himself as one of South Africa’s most gifted writers through novels like “The Good Doctor” and, more recently, “In a Strange Room.” In his latest book “Arctic Summer” he has produced his best work so far.

It is several things. Firstly, it is a description of the life of the writer E.M. Forster between 1911 and 1924, the time that it took him to write “A Passage to India.” Secondly, it is an analysis of the love-hate relationship between Imperial Britain and colonized India, in other words of power and dependence. Lastly, it is a critique of “A Passage to India” and an attempt to explain the mystery of what happened in the Marabar caves between the repressed English woman Miss Quested and the lively, irrepressible Aziz. Did he assault her?

Was she confused by the inexplicable echo in the caves?

Or is it proof that Western rationality will never be able to accommodate Eastern mysticism?

Although it is a description of Forster’s life, it is not a conventional biography. This is a notable achievement by Galgut, because he catalogues Forster’s several trips to India, his stay in Alexandria in Egypt where he met the Greek poet in exile C.P. Cavafy, and his time on Malta as a bureaucrat during the war, when he categorized the injuries that soldiers suffered. He also carefully notes the main loves in the life of this archetypical English, retiring, perpetually middle-aged writer who eventually confessed that he was a “minorite” (that is, homosexual).

His passions were for the exotic male. Amongst these were Sayed Ross Masood, an Indian student, whom he loved unrequitedly his whole life, Mohammed el Adl, the Egyptian tram conductor, whom he supported, even while Mohammed was married and dying of TB, and, finally, Kanaya, VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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a barber at the court of the half-mad Maharajah of Dewas, through whom he discovered the attraction of cruelty as a part of a sexual relationship.

The complexity of all this tremblingly offered and often unreciprocated love is relieved by the chorus of Bloomsbury figures and other Bohemian characters like Virginia Woolf and Edmund Carpenter, whose actions and lives are only slightly more unfulfilled than Forster’s.

The work doesn’t clarify or explain the life of the character. He is shown to be a multifaceted human being who also happened to be a published author. Galgut’s extensive research into his diaries and letters enables him to get to the inner self of this repressed character, a self that was only revealed publicly when his openly gay novel “Maurice” was published after his death.

In a live interview in “The Economist” Galgut states he himself has divided his life between India and South Africa over many years. That is obviously why he can write with firsthand experience about the interplay between love and hate, dependency and resistance in the relations between European powers and their colonies.

Interestingly, he also says that in his own novels he, like Forster, attempts to deal with the intertwined themes of love, race and politics.

Galgut has illuminated those aspects of Forster’s life that explain some of the complexities (as well as revelations) of his last and greatest masterpiece, “A Passage to India.” In some ways he has done this by becoming a ventriloquist. His style has many of the cadences and patterns of the original, and the novel that he has written of love, race and politics could have been written by the master himself. This is a book to savour.

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THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

14

October 2014

Financial Matters

Celia McGuinness

VAT Registrations - Claiming inputs before the effective date The Taxation Laws Amendment Act, No 31 of 2013, introduced amendments to the VAT registration provisions contained in the ValueAdded Tax Act 89 of1991 (“the VAT Act”), aimed primarily at streamlining the VAT registration process. These amendments came into force on 1 April 2014. An enterprise or person can register for VAT in one of two different ways. Firstly, there is registering as a VAT vendor on the voluntary basis. This is when a person or enterprise has already made taxable supplies exceeding R50 000 in a 12-month period or reasonably expects that the R50 000 threshold will be exceeded within 12 months from the date of registration. SARS might ask for a business plan to confirm that it seems reasonable that you will reach the R50 000 threshold. Secondly, compulsory registration is required if the taxable supplies of an enterprise exceeds R1 million in any twelve month period.

Registration in such cases must be made within 21 days from the date of liability to register.

Persons who have a written contractual obligation to make taxable supplies exceeding the R1 million threshold in a period of 12 months, will be also liable to register for VAT. One of the questions we have received on numerous occasions is whether a taxpayer that has registered for VAT can claim VAT inputs on goods or services acquired prior to being registered as a VAT vendor. You would need to establish the effective date of the VAT registration when looking into this. For voluntary registrations, the effective date of registration will be determined

by SARS and will be the date on the document received from SARS confirming the registration.

For compulsory registrations, the effective date is

the end of the month when the taxable supplies made exceeded R1 million. We have found in practice however that the effective date is the date SARS registers an entity for VAT which often differs from the above date at the end of the month when an entity has reached the threshold. For scenarios where there is a contractual obligation to make taxable supplies greater than R1 million in the following twelve months the obligation to register then arises (in terms of section 23(1)(b)) at the commencement of the month ‘where the total value of taxable supplies in terms of a written contractual obligation will exceed the R1million amount in the 12 month period from the commencement of the said month.’

Output VAT must be levied on all taxable supplies from the effective date of registration and Input VAT must be claimed on all purchases as well (excluding exempt and zero rated purchases).

The grey area is whether input VAT can be claimed on goods or services acquired from registered VAT vendors prior to the effective date (goods and services purchased from non-vendors obviously don’t apply). VAT can be claimed on these goods or services provided they were on hand at the effective date of registration and the deduction must be made within five years from the effective date.

VAT can be claimed on these goods and services purchased if these goods and services are applied in any tax period by that person (now the vendor) wholly or partly for consumption, use or supply in the course of making taxable supplies. The amount of VAT to be claimed will be calculated by multiplying the lesser of the cost of the goods or the open market value at the date of VAT registration by 14/114.

Business Leadership Leadership is a Collective We have often been given to glorying and edifying the “Leader”.

This is understandable as so often it is he or she that stands out from the crowd. It is the leader that takes stock of the situation and charts a new course. It is the leader that helps those around him or her to decide to be or do something.

This is all as it should be. Indeed we expect or should expect these things from our leaders.

But, and it is a big but, imagine if the leader has no-one around him or her to experience these attributes. Imagine, again, if nothing happened even with the leader’s best efforts? And… what actually is the purpose of leadership if it is not about creating collective effort?

Of course the efforts and behaviour of the leader are important. The impact of the leader can be profound as we have seen so many times in so many places. When one asks people to give the name of the leader they most admire very few even have to hesitate and most will give the names of more than one iconic leader. It is clear that individuals can, do and should have an impact.

However, too often we think of leadership only in terms of the individual. Leadership is not about the individual though. On his or her own he or she is nothing – just an individual.

Too often unfortunately leaders begin to believe their own PR and become completely absorbed in themselves and their own desires, wants and needs and forget that the power they have has been lent to them and they are nothing more than custodians of this power and should be building it

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and nurturing it to hand onto the next generation in a better state than when they received it.

The purpose of leadership therefore is twofold: • To visualise and communicate a clear vision of a different future; in other words to stand for something important, and • To generate collective effort to ensure that the change actually happens The job of the leader is not to elevate his position and to focus on himself but to ensure that there is community commitment. His purpose is not to hear the sound of his own voice but to generate energy and an enthusiasm to work together for the common good; his drive must be to knit the group of people into a team that believe in themselves and in the vision for which they stand; his focus must be on creating a culture of leadership where everything the team tackles is done to the very best of their capability; his energy must be to create a team with a collective soul that outsiders recognise and aspire to.

These are not easy tasks. They demand much of the leader. The result of success at them, though, will write a legacy for the leader that even he or she may be surprised by.

It is not possible to have leadership in a vacuum.

The entire being of the leader should be focussed on helping a group of people to reach heights they never dreamed possible and to enjoy getting there!

Leadership therefore is only about the collective. tony@siroccostrategy.com

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

October 2014

15

Results in Practice of Tim Noake’s diet Kerkdames verbly kinderharte Over the last year or so I have had time to observe the results, in my private practice, of Tim Noakes’ high fat, high protein, low carbohydrate diet. In general, I tend to see a lot of women who have tried the high fat, high protein diet and have lost very little weight, despite their husbands losing weight successfully on the same diet. Some women do lose weight on Noakes’ diet, but put it all back on with time while others don’t lose anything.

I have several theories that can possibly explain this gender trend that I see in my practice: 1. Men seem to enjoy the high fat, high protein, low carb diet a lot more than women do, which means that men are a lot more compliant on the diet than women are. Having said that, Kim Hofmann (RD) makes the observation that a lot of her clients who are trying to follow Noakes’ diet, find it hard to follow and often cheat, even if it is just with the ‘healthier carbs’. So it doesn’t seem to be that sustainable in the long run.

2. Women seem to crave carbohydrates a lot more than men do, and that may be related to the serotonin boosting effect of carbohydrates. Serotonin is the “feel good hormone” that may decrease when women feel depressed or are pre-menstrual. That is why women crave either sweet or starchy foods when feeling tired or hormonal – they never crave a fatty steak!

3. Noakes’ diet seems to be largely beneficial for those with insulin resistance which is characterised by fat storage in the tummy area. (Professor Noakes himself has tried to stress this factor himself in the past but this message seems to get lost in the excitement of the diet’s “fadness” or “fanatism”.)

Now it’s a well-known fact that women generally store fat in the region of their thighs (which gives them a pear shape) and men store fat in their tummy areas (which gives them their apple shape). So men are more likely to be insulin resistant than women which might explain why the diet works better for them.

4. As a general rule, men seem to do better on diets that involve restrictive eating and focusing on weight loss. This may be because, again as a general rule, men don’t seem to have the same emotional issues around food. Men tend to put on weight because of a lack of exercise and eating the wrong foods, while women tend to put on weight because they use food to satisfy emotions. Therefore overweight women generally don’t have weight problems, they have disordered eating (which really is a nice way of saying an ‘eating disorder’) and diets make this syndrome worse.

Obviously some men do have the same emotional issues attached to eating and then the above would not apply to them.

Either way, recent studies have shown that it doesn’t

‘n Groep dames van die Franschhoek Congregational Kerk se Vroue Vereniging het op Sondag, 24 Augustus, ‘n welwillendheidsbesoek aan die kinderafdeling van die Paarl Hospitaal gebring.

Lena Paulse het vooraf by Suster Alida Hamman uitgevind watter behoeftes die kinderafdeling het waarmee hulle dalk kon help. Suster Hamman het gesê hulle benodig baba komberse, inkleurboeke en kryt.

Al die lede van die Vroue Vereniging het bygedra tot die benodighede en is 11h00 die Sondagoggend deur Suster Alexander ontvang wat hulle op ‘n toer deur die verskillende afdelings geneem het. Die besoekers het met al Die Congregational Kerkdames tydens hulle hospitaalbesoek die kinders gesels en vir die jongstes kombersies en die oueres inkleurboeke en kryt gegee. trane keer nie, om te dink dat iets so klein mense Paulse sê “Dit was vir ons ‘n riem onder die hart se harte kan bly maak. Ons dank God elke dag vir om te sien hoe bly die gesiggies raak vir so `n klein wat ons het, en dat ons nog iets goed vir ander kan gebaar. Selfs in ons gemeenskap waar ons kos pakkies doen. Ons visie is om meer vir ons gemeenskap en aan behoeftiges oorhandig kan mens soms nie jou gemeente te doen.”

really matter how you lose the weight as long as you reduce your total daily calories and you learn to eat and exercise in a way that enables you to maintain your weight loss forever. Personally I would rather lose weight and maintain it by eating a more balanced diet, as life is too short to never eat pasta, pizza or a delicious panini!

Also it is important to weigh up the possible negative side effects on each individual, of following a high fat or high protein diet. I consulted one female client who’s total cholesterol went up to 7.5mmol/l (LDL = 5.3) on Noake’s diet and dropped back down to 6.1mmol/l (LDL = 4.21) only a few weeks after stopping his diet. Constipation, kidney strain, etc. are just a couple of the other possible side-effects. My colleague Kim Hofmann is also seeing a lot of clients with high uric acid and gout from the high protein diet. Long term side effects may include a decrease in bone density due the high protein diet and the low intake of dairy, cancer risk due to not eating enough fruit and fibre, etc.

Please note that some of the above theories are anecdotal and are based on the personal observations of the author.

Karen Protheroe (RD)

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

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October 2014

Smalls R30. Text only, maximum 30 words.

Leave, with payment, at Franschhoek Pharmacy before 18th of preceding month  KITTENS AND DOGS looking for homes.

Call Annette 021 876 3155  LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL BOOK and can’t find it? Call John at the Armchair Explorer , we will source it for you. Cell: 082 361 0090  BABYSITTER: Honest, reliable lady to look after your children after hours. Please contact Adrienne for a quote. 072 850 7287  GARDEN REFUSE REMOVAL: Please contact Adrienne for a quote. 072 850 7287  MUSIC LESSONS: Guitar, Bass, Keyboard and Drums. Contact Nicholas Kerr, BMus 082 430 9383  DANCE INSTRUCTOR required for social dance studio in Paarl. 021 870 1177 / info@ phoxdanceacadmey.com  Relax! Let RIAPOOLS bring the sparkle back to your pool. Call: 072 347 5355  SPRAY PAINTING: Does your garden furniture need a facelift? Contact Titch for a quote for any spray painting needs you may have. 073 636 0776  RIAPOOLS is this area’s premier pool maintenance company. For advice please call: 072 347 5355  SALES REPRESENTATIVE: Independent publishing house seeks part-time advertising sales representative in Boland region.

Commission only + phone allowance. Own transport essential. Previous sales experience a recommendation, but not essential. Send CV including references to bolandadsales@ gmail.com  WEEKEND SUPPORT for guesthouse.

Please send CV to infograpefarm@gmail.com

 WERK GESOEK: Ek is ‘n 42-jarige Afrikaans sprekende dame. Ek soek enige huiswerk, skoonmaak werk of kinder oppas werk. Ek het 14 jaar ondervinding en is bereid om meer te leer. Ek’s ook baie lief vir kinders. Referente: Mev Strydom 083 235 8286, Mev Pretorius 083 642 1782. Kontak my by 060 880 2000  HONEST HARDWORKING Malawian man looking for a job as driver / house / gardening.

Has 10 years driving experience and 2 years driving farming machinery. Handyman. Call me on 084 719 0587  JOB WANTED: I am looking for a job as a house cleaner or child minder. My name is Elizabeth Gondwe, a Malawian. Please call me at 074 406 5393.  BOOK BINDING AND BOOK REPAIRS. John Hicks 082 361 0900 or john@thearmchair explorer.co.za  FOR SALE: Pierre Cronjé demi lune (halfmoon) side table in polished mahogany. 40 cm wide. Signed and numbered. Superb quality and condition. Originally cost R22 500.

Will accept R6990 o.v.n.o. Tel 021 876 2222  TWO BEDROOM COTTAGE to let from 1 October, central to village. Please contact Janet Brewer on 078 295 6883. E-mail kazuri@lantic.net  PLASMA SCREEN ADVERTISING at BuildIt Franschhoek. High traffic area. From R250 per month. Contact Johan Viljoen on 084 205 7157.  KADIS BOOKKEEPING General book keeping on Pastel for small businesses on asneeded basis. Reasonable hourly rates. Call Robyn Kadis 072 999 8581

ELECTRICAL

SERVICES

• Installation, repairs & maintenance on all commercial, industrial & residential properties • Air conditioning installation & maintenance • Thermal imaging Jacques 082 547 0535, Anton 071 303 0847 info@elecon.co.za

 GUITAR, BASS & DRUM LESSONS Versatile music lessons with progressive rock musician Nicholas Kerr. Contact: 082 430 93 83.  BAKKIE HIRE Toyota Hilux: for as little as R184.58 per day; an excellent option for extended rental periods. Nissan NP200 with driver: perfectly convenient for picking up and delivering your goods. Contact: Nicholas Kerr, 082 430 93 83.  HOUSE SITTER Experienced house sitter ready to look after your house and take care of your pets. Contact: Nicholas Kerr, 082 430 93 83.

FRANSCHHOEK’S

FOR BUILDING • GARDENING • RENOVATING SITUATED BEHIND BP GARAGE • WE SPECIALISE IN: TOOL & EQUIPMENT HIRE Brush Cutters, Lawn Mowers, Chain Saws, Concrete Mixers, Drills, Compressors, Pumps, Jackhammers SERVICING & REPAIR Light Industrial Equipment RUBBLE & REFUSE REMOVAL DELIVERIES LIGHT DOMESTIC MOVES PORTABLE LOOS CLEANING of businesses and other premises

always at your service

072 378 1916 or 021 876 4123 Email: onhireo@gmail.com

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

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Cell: 083 252 1054 Fax: 021 876 3501 E-mail: wwt@iafrica.com

FRANSCHHOE

K

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

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A while Ago September 2003

By-pass road, huge new dam for Franschhoek?

What will Franschhoek be like when the 2004 Olympic Games take place in Cape Town?

The town’s population could well have doubled from its present 4 500 to 9 000.

The number of houses in Franschhoek will have increased from the present 900 to about 2600.

The new structure plan being drawn up by consultants provides for this, protects valuable agricultural land and conserves the aesthetics and ‘feel’ of Franschhoek. It calls for smaller plots n all new developments. La Pinede township, the ground immediately adjacent to the tennis courts, limited ground at the Western end of Franschhoek and the Mooiwater will be completed. Only then will new suburbs occur between Franschhoek and Groendal, between Paarl road and the Wagon Wheels road.

A by-pass road is contemplated running along the Wagon Wheels road linking up to the pass at the rubbish dump.

Another project is the new Skuifraam dam in the Berg River behind Robertsvlei. While the dam is being built about 5000 contract workers will be busy on it. Where will they be housed? The Franschhoek

October Calendar Council has already said they do not want them. Will the dam be opened to tourists or not? At present the government will not commit itself. One can be sure that this matter will create much controversy in Franschhoek.

Other changes are likely. The Franschhoek and Groendal secondary schools, due to the lack of money, could probably be made to share their sports facilities with twin schools. The hostels at Franschhoek School will probably be closed and converted into hotels or flats as the school fills up with local children and need for boarding facilities falls away.

The municipal boundaries might be extended to the Wemmershoek River and Boschendal once the R.S.C. is scrapped. What taxes can the farmers expect to pay?

What services will they receive?

There will be more intensive farming on the smaller, sandy soil farms. These farms will be labour intensive and some of the workers will be housed in town creating much of the projected population growth.

Vineyards will be relocated higher up on the hills and Franschhoek will become known as the Cape’s premier red wine area – especially from those farms with West facing slopes.

24 - 26 Oct MARRIOT FRANSCHHOEK CLASSIC MUSIC FESTIVAL Spring Concert with Hanneli Rupert (Mezzo-soprano) and Albie van Schalkwyk (Piano). Venue: Dutch Reformed Church & La Petite Dauphine Time: See programme elsewhere in this issue. Cost: DR Church: R100 p.p. La Petite Dauphine: R400p.p. Reservations: DR Church: www.webtickets.co.za or at the door. LPD: 021 876 3936

 Cancer, 21 June – 22 July: Every pattern in the universe can be found replicated in nature and in the emotional ‘environment’ at home. The water element travels from clouds to earth, only to return to the heavens. It teaches us the lesson of ‘going with the flow’.  Leo, 23 July – 22 August The Sun in Libra is debilitated and looks for certainty of actions and promises. Leos like to be prominent and this is an act of insecurity. Ask yourself how often you feel disconnected. Observe the subtle language of the heart within others, as sensitivity can only be achieved by using all the senses.  Virgo, 23 August – 22 September: To deny the need for silence is to deny the thought processes that give life its needed perspective. Creating and recreating the smallest nuance gives new meaning to the whole picture.

As long as confusion is knocking at your door, it will not be opened for you.

25 Oct

Visit 10 beautiful gardens. Venue: Participating gardens. Time: Fri: 11h00 – 17h00, Sat & Sun: 09h00 – 17h00. Cost: R100 p.p.p.d. or a weekend pass. Tickets:

 Pisces, 19 February - 20 March: Faithfulness knows that devotion cannot waver, or be replaced. Your constancy is reflected in every deed that you embrace. Be willing to go the distance and let everybody know that you respond by ‘faith’.

Sunday 10h00. Fr Gavin Mitchell 083˜799 0726. All Services are held at L’Ermitage Hotel Chapel in Franschhoek.

Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Rector Fr Joe Humbles – 021˜874 1120

FRANSCHHOEK OPEN GARDENS

 Aquarius, 20 January – 18 February: Every living thing has a sacred point of view. When you respect those viewpoints, without having to inflict ‘yours’ upon others, you will see the ‘sacred spaces’ of all life forms. When you hear the voices of clarity in you, there is no more room for fears.

TRINITY CHURCH FRANCHHOEK

Tuesdays

31 Oct - 2 Nov

 Capricorn, 22 December – 19 January: Take your joy in many forms for the warmth of tender arms. ‘Mother Earth’ will hold the best creation you can be. The desires of the imagination are the ingredients of creation. When you think you know it all, your creations fall short.

Mass every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Methodist Church, Bagatelle Rd, Fhk. 073 488 6816

ST GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, GROOT DRAKENSTEIN. Sunday

Venue: Simondium Country Lodge.

Time: 09h00 - 18h00 daily, except Sunday 09h00 - 15h00. Cost: R30 p.p.

Info: 021 874 1046 or www.festiveideas. co.za

 Sagittarius, 22 November – 21 December: Mars here has the approach of shooting first and then asking questions. Can you embrace the truth of your answers, for the victories over others’ pain? To change the focus – with no need to defend – is the mastery of balance, reflecting how you grow.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Artemis barn, 18h00-19h00.

Contact Danielle on 073 388 1404.

Robert Rittel

 Gemini, 21 May – 20 June:The messenger of the heavens is crossing through Scorpio and likes to escape with ‘secrets’.

Embrace the openness (where no judgment resides), with acceptance from the core of the self, and you will find the path of healing from the “stranger” in yourself.

25 boys from the Diocesan College Music Department will entertain guests at a Garden Party held in aid of St George’s Church, Groot Drakenstein. Venue: Môreson (not the wine estate!) Time: 15h30 Cost: R100 p.p. Info: 021 876 2121 (Alison)

IYENGAR-STYLE YOGA CLASSES at

FESTIVE IDEAS MARKET

 Scorpio, 23 October – 21 November: There is nothing that has been ‘done’ to you or that you have ‘done’ to yourself that the great divine mystery cannot heal. Fixed water is like the essence of a medical tincture which needs only the willingness to receive the ‘healing’. Become responsible for your greater good.

BISHOP’S BOYS PLAY AT FRANSCHHOEK GARDEN PARTY

Seven galleries host ceramics exhibitions. Look out for special event such as pop-up meals and musical interludes. Venue: Grande Provence, La Motte, Art in the Yard, Kim Donaldson Gallery, IS Art, The Ceramics Gallery, Ebony. Time: Respective opening hours Cost: Free, except special events. Info: waltware@mweb.co.za 021 876 4304

Jyotish Vedic Astrology

 Taurus, 20 April – 20 May: Venus has moved to Libra and it has lordship in this asterism as well: a sure sign of selfimportance and the need to be right. Do not deny the truth by discrediting messengers who want to share knowledge freely, as those truthful insights will endure.

Sunday service 09h00. Pastor Yannis Acavalos 021 876 3348

ART IN CLAY

29 Oct - 2 Nov

 Libra, 23 September – 22 October:The Sun is providing light for all! Venus enjoys the glamour, which is beautiful, but has no lasting effect. The landscape of the heart varies from person to person; the cardinal air is the wind, to cleanse the inward breath, for lasting solutions to speak. Share your dreams that have been denied.

SHOFAR CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1 Nov

meer nie. Ds Peet Bester. 021 876 2431.

Mondays & Thursdays

Alessandro Taverna (Piano). Venue: La Motte Historic Cellar. Time: 18h30 for 19h00. Cost: R170 p.p. Reservations: 021 876 8000 or concerts@la-motte.co.za (Angela)

Last month our final Guess Where? photo appeared. Did you recognise the gable?

It is the front gable of La Rhône, next to Boschendal. The property was first granted to Jean Gardé, a French Huguenot, in 1691. The H-shaped Cape Dutch homestead however was built by Pieter Joubert, a later owner, in 1795. The gable is an example of the early neo-classical style with its pediment and pilasters. The house shows some similarities to that on Boschendal, especially in the elegantly curved tops of the window frames and encircling stoep.

On the day at Franschhoek Town Hall, or La Motte or Montpellier gardens on the way into the valley.

25 Oct - end Nov

LA MOTTE CLASSICAL CONCERT

Guess Where?

 Aries, 21 March – 19 April: Mars, the ruling planet, is in Sagittarius and is a sign of fiery projections of your choices and dreams. Containing your passions, desires and impulsiveness will teach you that patience overcomes strife and allows you to see clearly.

October 2014

1 Nov

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Time 19h00. Venue: NG Church Consistory. Contact 021 867 0983 or 073 125 0188 (Jeffrey)Franschhoek

Saturdays 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

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

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: 08h00.

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.

October 2014

THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

How to get started on your property investment portfolio Taking the initial steps to building a property portfolio can be a daunting task. Especially so for young people who are trying to sustain themselves without direct financial support, mostly because they are unaware of the avenues and procedures involved in getting a foothold in this market. “Starting a portfolio at a young age does not need to remain an elusive dream.” This was stated recently by Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson Property Group.

In order to build confidence and master the fears that come with starting a new investment, says Rawson, thorough research and planning need to be done. Would-be property investors need to explore all of their options and educate themselves before taking action.

Some of the main points to considered are: • How to structure the ownership investment (e.g. sole owner, partnership or trust) • How to finance the investment and what assistance is available to you, if any (e.g. tax rebates, urban development zones, surety and investment partners) • Which bank to use for the mortgage finance • Where to buy • What type of property to buy (sectional title, freehold, residential, commercial, etc.) and • Whether to renovate the property or not Of these points, says Rawson, the most intimidating and daunting is the question of how the property will be financed. Getting approval for a mortgage bond and actually paying off the bond each month can be quite a challenge for a young person or family.

There are however a few options available to them to ease this challenge.

If the investor has someone who is both willing to help and is in a strong enough financial position, usually a parent or family member, they can stand surety for them. This means that they agree to pay any bond repayments that the investor fails to pay on their own. For someone with a reasonable amount of disposable income, this can be a great option as they will only be paying the difference between the bond repayments and the rental income that they receive from the property – and in some cases this rental income can cover the entire monthly bond repayments.

Another means of assistance in getting your investment started, says Rawson, is by going into the venture with additional investors. This can be quite risky because if one person defaults on their

Key

portion of the payments, the responsibility will fall on the others. It is therefore essential to invest with people you know, trust and that you are certain are in a position to always come through, i.e. close friends and family. Be sure to have a thorough partnership agreement drafted by an attorney so that there is a mechanism to deal with any transgressions or situations that may arise.

The banks, Rawson said, are likely to approve a bond that is held jointly by two or more people because it spreads their risk, and the combined salaries of the investors will likely prove more than adequate for their loan criteria.

Another important factor that a young property investor needs to consider, says Rawson, is what type of property to buy and where to buy it. “In my opinion”, he said, “a low priced residential unit, in an area where year-on-year house prices are increasing faster than inflation and perhaps where future renovations can take place, is the safest bet to take for someone in this situation.”

“A prime example of a very young investor who succeeded in breaking into the property market,” said Rawson, “is a case where one of our franchisees, sold a property to a young man just starting his career.”

The young man as buy-to-let investor asked his parents to stand surety for him and bought the property for R503,000 on a 100%, 20-year, prime rate loan (which is now at 9,25%).

The costs involved each month include a mortgage payment of ± R4 606 and levies, security and tax fees which, combined, come to ± R1 200 each month — his total monthly payments, therefore totalled ± R5 806. With the R5 000 rent payment that this investor receives, he is only paying a total of ± R806 per month from his own pocket.

By using the bank’s money to finance his investment he is, in essence, paying R806 for R4 606 worth of capital.

Even if interest rates increase each year, the investor’s rental will increase too, offsetting the effect of the rates increase.

In this situation, says Rawson, it is obvious that the young investor found himself in an almost perfect set of conditions, which enabled him to achieve such an advantageous outcome. Although not everyone will find themselves is such a position, there are still similar opportunities that young people can take advantage of.

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THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

October 2014

October 2014

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THE FRANSCHHOEK TATLER

October 2014

LARGE VILLAGE HOME SET WITHIN A BEAUTIFUL MATURE GARDEN ON A LEVEL DOUBLE PLOT WITH VIEWS. This property is located in a quiet village street on a 2320sqm plot.The main house offers 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite) with ample opportunity to reconfigure the living areas to create a seamless flow between the interior and the exquisite garden. An upstairs mezzanine office provides a quiet space with lots of light and views of the living area below through double volume glass walls. A separate cottage provides 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a small kitchenette with its own private garden, separate access and parking. The large garden is a delight with the perfect balance of light and shade to suit all the seasons. A character pool is filled using lei water while a large magnolia tree frames the views over the village towards the vineyards and slopes of Mont Rochelle.This is a unique opportunity to own a very special property.