Splash Magazine - October 2023

CONTENTS What’s inside...

Editor: Peter van Schaik

Copy-Editors: Kathleen Botha &

Hanneke van Schaik Design:

Peter van Schaik

P4

Land based whale watching

P6

Love.Ability - Hermanus Wheelchair

SPLASH Tel: 074 717 2582 Postal Address: P.O.Box 199 Onrus 7201

SPLASH Magazine

Assosiation P8

OVSRA Safety series

P10

SwimFin review

P12

What caused the mid September

Available as a quarterly printed magazine distributed free to the public, and as a monthly e-magazine.

Fore more info visit

www.splashmedia.co.za high tides?

P14

The scandalous story of Elvis Presley and the illegal Dutchman

P16

Summer Burger Recipe

Cover artist Leon Muller +27 28 313 0376 Art Thirst Contemporary Gallery 17 High Street Hermanus

Keeping SPLASH connected 086 1234 777 www.maxitec.co.za Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or SPLASH Media. Copyright © - Splash Media CC - All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied by any form or means without prior permission of the publisher. The Publisher or SPLASH Media are not responsible for any unsolicited material.

TIDES Local high and low tides.

Click or scan here to get your tide chart for today.

Onrus | Hermanus | Gansbaai

NB NUMBERS Important local contact numbers.

Security Companies

Municipal Offices & Services Hermanus

- 028 313 8000

ADT

- 086 12 12 306

Kleinmond

- 028 721 8400

Safe Security

- 086 07 77 911

Gansbaai

- 028 384 8300

Securi Team

- 028 313 1888

Stanford

- 028 341 8500

Seraphim Security

- 087 018 0136

Municipal Services

- 028 313 8111

Traffic Services

- 028 313 1044

Fire & Rescue

- 028 312 2400

Safety & Security

- 028 313 8980

Law Enforcement

- 028 313 8996

Hermanus Police

- 028 313 5300

Neighbourhood Watch Groups Alpha Afriforum NHW

- 082 042 8467

Hermanus NHW

- 076 077 3570

Voelklip NHW

- 082 395 8831

Welfare

National Sea Rescue (NSRI) - 087 094 9774

Child & Family Services

Ambulance Services

Animal Services

- 028 313 0831

Provincial Ambulances

- 028 492 0032

Hermanus Animal Welfare - 028 312 1281

St John’s Ambulance

- 076 585 0899

Baboon Hotline

Critical Medical Care

- 066 222 7219

Hospitals MediClinic Hermanus

- 086 173 2826

Hermanus Provincial

- 028 312 1166

Voëlklip

- 072 028 0008

Betty’s & Pringle Bay

- 069 1515 962

Snake catcher Corné Uys

- 076 075 8004

Jonathan Powers

- 082 352 6000

N

estled along the rugged coastline of South Africa, the picturesque town of Hermanus has earned its reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for land-based whale watching.

This charming coastal town, with its stunning natural beauty and rich history, offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the majestic Southern Right whales in their natural habitat. In this article, we will explore the enchanting world of land-based whale watching in Hermanus while delving into the town’s intriguing history.

A Brief History of Hermanus: Before we dive into the captivating world of whale watching, it’s essential to understand the historical tapestry that weaves through Hermanus. Originally known as Hermanuspietersfontein, the town was named after Hermanus Pieters, a teacher who settled in the area in the early 19th century. Initially, Hermanus served as a small fishing village and a hub for trade.

However, the town underwent a transformative period in the late 19th century when it was officially declared a health resort. The clean air and pristine surroundings attracted many visitors seeking respite from various ailments.

With time, Hermanus evolved into a popular holiday destination, attracting tourists with its breathtaking coastal scenery and warm hospitality.

The Whales of Hermanus: The real gem of Hermanus, though, is the breathtaking spectacle of Southern Right whales gracing Walker Bay with their presence. These gentle giants visit

4

the waters off Hermanus from June to December each year, embarking on their annual migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters of South Africa to breed and rear their calves.

What sets Hermanus apart is its unique geography, which allows for incredible land-based whale watching opportunities. The town boasts an extensive cliff path that hugs the coastline, providing numerous vantage points for whale enthusiasts to observe these magnificent creatures from the shore. This proximity to the whales has earned Hermanus the moniker “The Whale Capital of the World.”

The Whale Watching Experience: Visitors to Hermanus are in for a treat when they embark on a land-based whale watching adventure. The cliff path that stretches for kilometers along the coast offers an array of lookout points, making it easy to spot whales frolicking in the bay. You might even be lucky enough to witness a breach, where a whale leaps out of the water, creating a spectacle that is both awe-inspiring and humbling.

Local tour operators and guides also provide informative insights into the world of whales, enhancing the experience with their knowledge of these magnificent marine mammals.

Additionally, binoculars and telescopes are often available for rent to ensure you get the best view possible.

Conservation Efforts: Hermanus takes its responsibility to protect these endangered whales

seriously. The town actively promotes responsible tourism and adheres to strict guidelines to minimize disturbance to the whales. Boats are required to maintain a respectful distance from the creatures, and noise pollution is kept to a minimum.

Additionally, the Hermanus Whale Crier, a local icon, plays a crucial role in monitoring and reporting whale sightings.

His distinct kelp horn signals the presence of whales, alerting both locals and tourists to their arrival.

Beyond the Whales: While whale watching is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Hermanus, the town has much more to offer. Its vibrant art scene, charming shops, and delectable seafood restaurants add to the overall appeal. Don’t forget to explore the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a renowned wine region just a stone’s throw away, where you can savor some of South Africa’s finest wines.

In conclusion, Hermanus is a coastal gem that marries its rich history with the awe-inspiring beauty of Southern Right whales. Land-based whale watching in Hermanus offers an unforgettable experience, a chance to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat while immersing oneself in the unique charm of this seaside town.

Hermanus is not just a destination; it’s an opportunity to connect with nature and create lasting memories. So, when planning your next adventure, make sure to include Hermanus on your list of mustvisit places.

The red house on Aberdeen

St Peter’s Lane

Around the corner from the golf course

From R500pps/night Including Breakfast

Hermanus Accommodation 319 Main Road, Hermanus cheshamhousehermanus@gmail.com

5

is not a feeling.

It’s an

T

hat is the belief of Louine Boothway, the manager of Love.Ability - a not-for profit that has become the home of 58 differently abled people from across the Overstrand.

At its heart is Ability House, a workshop space in Hawston where members come to socialise, share lives and learn skills.

Love.Ability is the income generating arm of the Overstrand Wheelchair Association, Louine explains.

“We support the most amazing people - they’re people who’ve faced great difficulties, and have overcome it, and as a result have a lot to share with the world in terms of love for themselves and love for those around them.

“Government provides some grants, but it is not enough, so we supplement income by making and selling products.”

In the Ability House garden everyone pitches in where they can, growing vegetables and herbs - some of which are used to make eco-friendly products such as lavender cushions and nettle pesto. Their other key program is focused on making eco bricks - empty Coke bottles stuffed densely with single use plastics. These bricks not only help clean the area of plastic harmful to the ocean, but can be used in surprisingly durable structures, including furniture and even walls.

“We’re currently building a proof of concept wall out of these bricks, to show the use of sequestered plastic for building large structures,” explains Louine, who passionately believes in creating sustainable revenue streams, rather than depending on handouts.

But to kickstart this vision, investment is required. Louine is currently looking to raise funds to make Love.Abilty merchandise such as hoodies and tote bags to sell and spread the message of the “good vibe tribe”, as they call themselves.

“Our people are very talented, but we need a boost with equipment, such as sewing machines and laser printers, so that we can expand our workshop.

“We also desperately need a large, disability-friendly vehicle with which to transport our members to places like Hermanus Market, where we can meet our customers and trade our goods.

“What I can tell you is that no one who comes and visits and experiences the spirit here, leaves untouched, so we really want to give more of the Overstrand the opportunity to meet these wonderful people.”

People like Gregory, who with his big smile rolls around the area collecting bread tags - for every 1000 of these little pieces of plastic discarded daily, they’re able to fund one wheelchair.

Look out for him, or drop your bread tags at Abilty House, St Andrews Church, Church Street, Hawston.

You can also send donations for Love.Ability by getting in touch at owa@whalemail.co.za Don’t forget to join us on Facebook.

For a peak inside Ability House, click here.

6

By Elizma Nolté

Visit the showroom to view our Office Chairs

22 Arum Road

028 313 0003

hermanus@officenational.co.za

PA N E L B E AT I N G & S P R AY PA I N T I N G PA N E L B E AT I N G & S P R AY PA I N T I N G

A P P R O V E D B Y A L L M A J O R C A R M A N U FA C T U R E R S A P P R O V E D B Y A L L M A J O R C A R M A N U FA C T U R E R S & I N S U R A N C E C O M PA N I E S & I N S U R A N C E C O M PA N I E S

Ontspan. Herlaai. Herhaal.

Terwyl nog ‘n besige jaar einde se kant toe staan, is dit tyd om bietjie af te skakel en ‘n welverdiende blaaskans te geniet voor die volgende jaar begin.

Now also VW and Audi approved.

Dankie dat jy Sanlam as jou vennoot gekies het op jou finansiële reis. Soos altyd, is ons toegewyd om jou te help om vir die toekoms te beplan en jou finansiële doelwitte te bereik. Want ons weet dat jy vandag met sekerheid kan leef as jy seker is oor môre.

Geniet die vakansie! Mag dit ‘n aangename tyd saam met familie en vriende wees. Ek sien uit daarna om ons vennootskap in 2023 voort te sit.

Antonie Prinsloo

Senior Finansiële Beplanner 028 316 1338 | 082 494 6393 antonie.prinsloo@sanlam4u.co.za

028 313 2162 | Find us at Mussel Centre, Hermanus Join SPLASH Magaziine on Facebook

Sanlam Lewens is ‘n Gelisensieerde Lewensversekeraar, Verskaffer van Finansiële Dienste en Geregistreerde Kredietverskaffer (NCRCP43)

7

Onrus Vermont SRA Online Safety Series

W

elcome to the first in a series of articles aimed at keeping you and your family safe online.

As a safety and security stakeholder the OVSRA regularly attends SAPS Joint Operational Committee meetings at the Hermanus Police Station. One of the biggest issues raised every week are commercial crimes. These are white collar crimes i.e. fraudulent, financially motivated, non-violent crimes.

Unfortunately, the majority of people affected by these crimes are amongst the most vulnerable in our community – older, retired individuals who are not always tech savvy, and easily fall prey to online scams.

Should you receive an unsolicited telephone call from a bank, BEWARE. Bank employees are not allowed to request personal info in this way. Keep details like your pin and password secret. Don’t provide confidential information to anyone whom you haven’t called yourself. Don’t accept any Approve-It messages if you are not in the middle of banking online.

The best way to protect yourself is to install the truecaller app which highlights if incoming calls and SMSes are spam or not, affording you the chance to ignore the call/message and block it yourself. Both basic (free) and premium (paid) versions are available.

Stay informed about scams. As a rule of thumb, if contact was not initiated by YOU it is highly likely to be a scam. Stay alert, be shrewd and think twice. Don’t take any unnecessary chances otherwise you might join the ranks of thousands of unsuspecting individuals who have made scammers rich.

If you suspect that you are the unfortunate victim of commercial crime, please report it to your bank immediately and visit SAPS in order to make a case.

Please make a difference by sharing this information with the older members of our community, and say they should call you if they are uncertain how to proceed.

Written by Meredith Thornton, Onrus Vermont SRA. Tel. 079 469 8606

BE TECH SAVVY Don’t become a victim of online scams!

Don’t be tricked or tempted to click on any links in SMSes – they may be malware that hacks your phone, or takes you to a fake, yet authentic-looking website. Remember, these people are professional scammers, tricking you into believing that they represent a trusted company.

Some of the ways they can catch you out are: • You are made an offer that you never signed up for, or you are lured with the promise of a valuable prize - but if you didn’t enter a competition, how could you have won it?

• The same applies for SMSes that request that you deposit a small sum for a couriered parcel (yet you didn’t order anything).

• You are asked to provide personal/private account info via a hyperlink or over the phone.

Sometimes there are even more subtle clues: • Check the SMS for spelling and grammatical errors and proceed with caution, but preferably delete it immediately.

• The email address mentioned is from a free service like gmail and it doesn’t match the company’s domain e.g. AName@standardbank. co.za (legitimate) vs standardbank@gmail. com (suspicious) or AName@standrdbank.co.za (suspicious) 8

Tel: 079 469 8606

HIGH HIGHPRESSURE PRESSURE CLEANING CLEANING HIGH PRESSURE CLEANING HIGH PRESSURE SERVICE SERVICE SERVICE CLEANING HIGH PRESSURE HIGH HIGH PRESSURE HIGH PRESSURE PRESSURE HIGH PRESSURE Onrus Liquors.

Onrus Trading Post, Main Road, Onrusrivier.

Tel: 028 316 3553

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HERMANUS

PROPERTY SALES

PROFESSIONAL PROPERTY PEOPLE

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL? ALLOW ME TO ASSIST YOU ON THIS IMPORTANT JOURNEY. PAUL VAN JAARSVELD

paul@hpsonrus.co.za

071 624 7486

Contact us for sales, service and repair of Apple Mac and PC 074 717 2582

talktopeter@icloud.com

9

W

ith the summer break approaching lots of families are soon heading off on holiday.

If you have young children then buoyancy aids for the pool are essential.

We’ve been lucky enough to be sent a Swimfin to try out. As a swimming teacher I’ve used lots of different aids, so how did the swimfin measure up?

If you haven’t seen a Swimfin before then they basically look like a shark’s fin that straps on to the child’s back. It’s made from EVA foam which is lightweight, feels really durable and dries quickly. The two straps are secured using velcro so can be adjusted to the size of the child. Larger straps are available if ‘big kids’ want to give it a try. The standard Swimfin straps are aimed at children age 2-12 years (younger children can use it but must be able to support their own body. Do not put it on a baby!)

Having never used a Swimfin before I wasn’t sure how well it would support a child, especially a non-swimmer.

I tried it out on my son Cody who is 6 years old and a weak swimmer. He can swim 10 metres on his front and back unaided. The straps of the Swimfin fit comfortably round him and he was so excited to try it out!

I got Cody to try out swimming on his front with the fin.

The fin helped him achieve a flat body position in the water and he loved being a shark! We then had a go at swimming on his back which he actually managed really well. I was suprised as didn’t think it would be very easy on his back. The Swimfin gives a good amount of support though to get a horizontal body position in the water.

Rolling from front to back was a little tricky and he used his arm to help push the fin round but was able to do it on his own.

The big test was to see how the float faired with Cody in an upright position in the water as this is how nonswimmers tend to be. The fin was completely submerged beneath the water to give him enough support to stay up. He was able to tread water and move around comfortably. The fin didn’t push him face-down as I expected which is great. When Cody jumped in to the pool the Swimfin brought him straight back up to the surface. He had a go at trying to swim under water with the fin on but despite kicking with all his might the fin kept him afloat – as it should!

10

I’m really impressed with the Swimfin and look forward to using it more on our future trips to the pool. Cody loved wearing it and found it very comfortable.

The straps didn’t rub his skin at all.

If your child is particularly

sensitive then put a swim top on them and the

swimfin over the top.

The play element of this being shaped like a shark’s fin means kids will love wearing it.

They have their arms free to practise swimming which is a big plus compared to arm bands or a swimming noodle. It also allows children to learn to support themselves in the water far better than a swimming jacket as well. We highly recommend it!

Kate from Moms Family Fun

R520vat incl Order your SwimFin now, send an e-mail to

splash@splashmedia.co.za

BRANDERPLANKRY DUIK EN SNORKEL HARDLOOP HERMANUS HOËR SKOOLKLERE KITARE KRIEKET ONTSPANNINGSDRAG SKAATSPLANKE VISVANG STAAN ROEIPLANKE KANOE’S EN VEEL MEER.

MAANDAG TOT VRYDAG: 08H30-17H00 SATERDAG: 08H30-15H00 SONDAG: 09H00-13H00

VIND ONS IN ONRUS, HERMANUS EN GANSBAAI

I

n the ever-changing rhythm of our oceans, the dance of the tides is a captivating spectacle orchestrated by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. This natural phenomenon, fundamental to coastal life, manifests in various forms, each telling a unique tale of celestial influence.

Semidiurnal Tides: In many coastal regions, the tides follow a semidiurnal pattern. This means that within approximately 24 hours and 50 minutes, there are two high tides and two low tides of roughly equal magnitude. The moon’s gravitational force, coupled with Earth’s rotation, gives rise to this predictable rise and fall of ocean waters.

Diurnal Tides: Contrastingly, some areas experience diurnal tides, where a single high tide and a lone low tide dominate the daily tidal cycle. These tides are common in regions closer to the poles and are primarily influenced by the moon’s gravitational pull. The simplicity of diurnal tides belies the intricate cosmic forces at play.

Mixed Semidiurnal Tides: For certain coastal stretches, mixed semidiurnal tides prevail. Here, two high tides and two low tides occur each day, but the heights can differ significantly. This variability arises from the changing angles and distances between the Earth, moon, and sun. It’s a delicate equilibrium, shaping the diverse tidal landscapes of our planet.

The Moon’s Influence: At the heart of this tidal ballet is the moon.

As our celestial companion orbits Earth, its 12

gravitational pull exerts a magnetic influence on the oceans. When the moon is directly overhead or on the opposite side of the Earth, the gravitational forces create high tides. These are aptly named spring tides. Conversely, during the moon’s quarter phases, when it is at right angles to the sun, neap tides occur. These are characterized by moderate tides due to the gravitational forces partially canceling each other.

It’s awe-inspiring to consider that the simple act of the moon tracing its path across our skies is the underlying force behind the ebb and flow of our oceans. The tides, a manifestation of the intricate cosmic ballet, remind us of the profound interconnectedness of celestial bodies and our planet. As the tides continue their eternal dance, they serve as a testament to the enduring harmony between Earth and the cosmos, a reminder of the majestic forces shaping our world.

Click here for more detailed information on the moon and it’s ifluence on the tides. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/ moon/tides.html Click here for more info on what exactly caused the extreme high tides we experienced in mid September.

Ghomsi Frank, PhD candidate at the Department of Oceanography. https://omny.fm/shows/afternoon-drive-702/ what-are-the-spring-tides-so-severe

Blockhouse Shutters Clearview Burglar Bars Mosquito Screens Roller Blinds Exterior Blinds Venetian Blinds Window Film

We offer a Ten Year Warranty on weathering. Our other products include Window Blinds, Window Film/Tinting, Lock Latches and Blockhouse Security Shutters. We operate along the Overberg East Coast, covering Gansbaai, Hermanus, Sandbaai, Onrus, Caledon, Betties Bay and Kleinmond.

The scandalous story of Elvis Presley and the illegal Dutchman wrecked his creativity, and then his body.

I

If you happened to be on the gaming floors of the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas during the early-to-mid 1970s, there’s a strong chance that, no matter what time of day or night you entered, you’d spot a six-foot-tall, grossly overweight man in front of the roulette table. With an elephant-head cane resting by his side, a cigar clamped into his mouth and a cheap baseball cap sat awkwardly on his huge bald dome, this man was, with a grim determination, seemingly going out of his way to lose incredibly large sums of money.

There were more than a few men who would have roughly fitted this description in Nevada half a century ago. But this gambler was far from a daytripper to the casino. He considered the roulette wheels and the craps tables to be his “other office”, spending, at times, 12-14 hours a day there. His actual office was located on the fourth floor of the same building. Occupying a suite of rooms, the hub of Colonel Tom Parker’s operation looked like the concession stand of a particularly cheap and tawdry travelling fairground. Paper hats, glossy posters, souvenir programmes and gaudy key rings covered the room from top to bottom. But the memorabilia wasn’t for a rodeo or travelling circus.

It was for the greatest showman in rock ‘n’ roll history: Elvis Presley, aka ‘The King’.

Played by Tom Hanks in the new biopic Elvis, directed by Baz Luhrmann, Colonel Tom Parker remains, 25 years after his death, and nearly half a century after the death of his only client, the most memorable and divisive manager in the history of show business. It was the Colonel who propelled his “boy”, as he would refer to him, from being a local celebrity in Memphis to being the most famous and successful performer on the planet.

But the Colonel was also the man who most hold responsible for Elvis’ stagnant years making appalling movies in Hollywood. He’s also held culpable as the man whose gambling addiction and debts to Vegas casinos contributed to Presley being forced to spend years in an unending cycle of matinee and midnight shows which slowly 14

It was only after Elvis’ untimely death in the bathroom of his Graceland home in August 1977 at the age of just 42 that the truth emerged about this P.T. Barnum-esque character who transferred his skills in hucksterism and cunning from the travelling carnivals to the biggest stages on earth. Almost everything about the Colonel was a fabrication. His name wasn’t Tom Parker and he certainly wasn’t a military colonel, merely an honorary one who was given the title by the governor of Louisiana.

Parker always claimed he was from West Virginia, but, three years after Elvis’ death, it emerged that the man who managed The King was actually born Andreas Cornelis Dries van Kuijk in Breda, the Netherlands, in 1909. Stowing away on a cruise liner to the States in 1929, the Colonel lived for decades in fear of being discovered as an illegal alien.

Despite his lack of papers, Parker managed to enlist in the US Army, although he then went AWOL and was imprisoned briefly for desertion in 1932. It was only after this unhappy period that the Colonel found his natural home, working in travelling carnivals that toured the American South.

He adored telling his old ‘carny’ conman stories.

He would paint sparrows yellow and sell them as canaries. He sold hot dogs that had no ‘dog’ at all in the middle. He even put chicken feed onto a hot wax cylinder and charged people to watch his ‘dancing chickens’ as the animals would jump on their blistered talons attempting to peck at the food.

Many of the travelling carnivals of the 1940s and 1950s had musicians as part of the caravan and the Colonel began his managerial career by looking after now-long-forgotten country singers, including Eddy Arnold and Gene Austin. Signing a boy called Elvis Presley from Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1955 was the beginning of a working relationship that would last continuously until The King’s death.

There’s no doubt that the Colonel worked wonders in negotiating hard bargains for his client, getting him signed to RCA Records, maximising the financial returns and keeping Elvis’ name in the spotlight, even when the singer was drafted into

the US army and unable to record for two years.

Yet Elvis’ decline in the 1960s into increasingly embarrassing movies prompted the beginning of a conflict that would result in the two men being barely on speaking terms by the time of the entertainer’s death.

Elvis’ films always made money, despite their wretched quality. This, as far as the Colonel was concerned, was the bottom line. But for Elvis, a creative artist who knew The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys were making him seem an archaic irrelevance by the mid-60s, the desire to rediscover himself as a musician, not a middling actor, led to increasingly bitter disputes with his manager. Grudgingly agreeing to arrange Elvis’ eventual return to the stage in Las Vegas in 1969, the colossal success of his early comeback shows in the desert prompted Presley to push the Colonel to plan a world tour, something he had wanted to do for years.

But the Colonel made an art form out of creating excuses. Citing everything from ‘security’ when an offer came in to tour Japan, to claiming that there were no stadiums big enough overseas to host an Elvis concert, he succeeded in batting off every invitation, all to Elvis’ intense irritation.

It’s clear that Parker feared not being allowed back into the States should he ever leave the country. What remains a partial mystery is why, with the Colonel’s incredible collection of contacts, he didn’t come clean and simply attempt to sort out his citizenship. He counted President Lyndon Johnson among his personal friends. So it would appear that some discreet behind-the-scenes negotiations could have resolved the problem without too much fuss.

One reason why the Colonel didn’t do so is theorised by his biographer, Alanna Nash. She suggests the possibility that the Colonel’s evasions were due to a murder he committed in the Netherlands, which prompted his hasty departure across the Atlantic. But this allegation is based on nothing more than an anonymous letter accusing Parker of killing a greengrocer’s wife 50 years prior. The letter offers no evidence or first-hand knowledge of events, and the man who received the missive, a Dutch journalist named Dirk Vellenga, didn’t even mention it in his own book on Elvis and the Colonel. It’s possible that Parker could have known the victim and been familiar with the Dutch neighbourhood where the killing took place. But beyond this, in true Parker style, there is nothing more solid than cigar smoke at which to grasp.

During the 1970s, as The King tired of the repetition of his Vegas engagements and descended ever deeper into prescription drug addiction, a new routine emerged. Elvis would sleep for the day in his penthouse suite, while down on the gaming floor the Colonel would be steadily increasing his losses at the craps table and the roulette wheel.

“Colonel Parker was probably one of the most

degenerate gamblers I have ever known in my life,” said Lamar Fike, a member of Elvis’ notorious Memphis Mafia group of friends and hangers-on.

“In Nevada they used to say that his money wasn’t worth anything. In a period of an hour-and-a-half I saw him lose over a million and a quarter [dollars]”.

It was, in part, the money that the Colonel owed the casinos which ensured that Elvis would continue playing Vegas right up until the end of 1976, just eight months before his death.

The Colonel outlived his sole client by 20 years and remained bullish and typically frustrating as an interview subject right until the end. “I don’t think I exploited Elvis as much as he’s being exploited today,” was one comment he made in an interview in 1980, which perhaps came closest to an admission that his management style might not have utilised his client’s immense talent to its fullest potential. Yet Elvis himself, for reasons that have never become entirely clear, failed to find the courage to fire the Colonel. Sued by the Presley estate for fraud in 1983, six years after The King’s death, and evicted from his suite in 1984, Parker continued to live and work in Vegas as a consultant for Hilton Hotels until a fatal stroke in 1997.

By the time of Elvis’ death, the Colonel was said to owe the Hilton Hotel group around $30 million in gambling debts. After his own death, the Colonel’s estate was worth barely $1 million, despite most estimates putting Parker’s earnings during his lifetime as being in excess of $100 million. Ultimately, the shrewdness of the business deals that Parker negotiated for Elvis were entirely in vain. Despite taking 50 per cent of all the profits from Elvis’ career, Parker was no less gullible than the ‘rubes’ whom he delighted in exploiting in his carnival days. The Colonel himself ended up being the greatest sucker of them all, giving back almost his entire fortune to the Hilton croupiers.

Whatever it was that forced Andreas Cornelis Dries van Kuijk to flee the Netherlands, never making contact with his mother and father again, it was something that he did not want to talk about.

Yet whenever the Colonel was asked about his treatment of Elvis, he was always ready to reply with the same response. He would snarl, stamp his cane, and repeat his time-worn reply: “I sleep good at night.”

Summer Braai Burger Directions For the sauce, whiz all the ingredients in a small food processor. Chill.

Place mince, breadcrumbs, grated onion, garlic, parsley, parmesan, mustard and egg in a large bowl.

Season well, then, using clean damp hands, form into 6 patties.

Chill for 30 minutes.

1kg beef mince 1/2 cup (35g) fresh breadcrumbs 2 red onions, 1 grated, 1 thickly sliced 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley 1/4 cup (20g) grated parmesan 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 egg 6 rashers streaky bacon, halved Olive oil, to brush Brioche buns, split, toasted 2 vine-ripened tomatoes, thickly sliced, rocket and basil French fries (optional), to serve 6 slices tasty cheese HOMEMADE SPECIAL SAUCE 1/2 cup (150g) whole-egg mayonnaise 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 dill pickle, chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika

Grease a barbecue plate and preheat to medium-high. Cook onion rings, turning once, until lightly charred. Cook bacon, turning, until crisp. Keep warm. Preheat a braai grill or chargrill pan to medium-high. Brush patties with a little oil and cook for 2-3 minutes each side until lightly charred and cooked through.

Spread a little sauce over the bun bases, then layer with rocket, basil, onion, tomato, bacon, cheese and patties.

Drizzle over the sauce, add more rocket and top with bun lids.

Serve with French fries, if using.

16

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