March Stanford River Talk

Volume 79 | MARCH 2012 | Stanford’s monthly newspaper | R13.20

The rhythm of Blue Moon Stanford Hills Estate On the right, you will see your 2012 Jackson’s Pinotage in its natural environment. At time of going to press, these full bunches of grapes (small berries mean great flavour!) will be lovingly picked by hand, and carefully treated to get the very best out of what nature has provided.

Look out for new vintages of Jackson’s on the shelves!

Our charming rustic cellar now open for tastings and sales.

Every Saturday 10am -1pm. And any other time you want … just give us a call!

028 341 0841 info@stanfordhills.co.za w w w. s t a n f o r d h i l l s . c o . z a

R43 Stanford

Kiwinet creates bespoke mosquito nets that add elegance to any bedroom décor. Beautifully styled Suspended and Fitted Four-Posters are our speciality.

Special discount for Stanford Residents +(27) 028 341 0209 info@kiwinet.co.za • www.kiwinet.co.za • 36 Daneel Street Stanford, 7210

picnics, tasting, shop& play-park 7 km outside Stanford on Route 326 028 341 0693 | www.kleinrivercheese.co.za Weekdays 9-5 Saturdays 9-3 Sundays 11-3

Terroir driven wines

Complimentary wine tasting, by appointment www.springfontein.co.za • marketing@springfontein.co.za • tel: +27 (0)28 3410 651 • after hrs 072 371 7546 • fax: +27 (0)28 341 0112 STANFORD RIVER TALK 2

editorial notes

letters to the editor

It’s harvest time on our wine farms and we are being spoilt by nature’s bounty – huge bunches of hanepoot grapes sold at the side of the road are a welcome sight for weary travellers in need of a quick pick-me-up.

To celebrate Stanford’s harvest, we look forward to the Oesfees on 7 April, at Sir Robert Stanford Estate. We hope to see you there.

This month we feature Blue Moon Farm and its residents on page 14. There are good and kind people living in this community and they are accomplishing extraordinary things.

Stanford will be recognising Earth Hour 2012 on 31 March with the rest of the world. The Village Green will be alive with activities. Please see page 5 for details

Please send your letters to ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or to PO Box 228 Stanford, 7210. Try to keep letters as short as possible (100 words or less) and supply your name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend, abridge or reject any letter.

Advertising Stanford

Thanks for a brilliant ‘Stanford Local’. Everyone who picks up Stanford River Talk and reads it remarks on how lucky we are to have such a magic village magazine.

Mine eventually moves to my office so every month it is seen and read by many … often resulting in my colleagues visiting Stanford!

Tony Richardson, Gauteng

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: The Blue Moon Rhythm band – Llewellyn Alberts and Daniel Boshoff – at home on the farm. Photo by Mishak Boshoff.

MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS Janika Dorland, Howard Donaldson, Andrew Herriot, Peter Hood, Alexia Lawson, Jamie Kastner, DM, Don MacIver, Phil Murray, Ansie Reitsma, Suzanne-Francoise Rossouw, Fred Smith, Naas Terblanche, Bea Whittaker, Aron Gcotyelwa, Tania Weich and Peter Younghusband.

CONTACT US Michelle Hardie – editor ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za , 079 2911 588 Sandra Slabbert – layout design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za , 079 523 8453 www.stanfordrivertalk.co.za Editorial Contributions & Disclaimer Editorial contributions are welcome and should include top quality photos where relevant. Articles will be printed under the contributor’s name or an accepted nom-de-plume if the full name and address is provided. All contributions are voluntary and not paid for. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend, abridge or reject any article. Opinions of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the editor. Copyright All material in this issue is copyrighted, and belongs to The Really Famous Publishing CC unless otherwise indicated. No part of the material may be reproduced without prior permission. Published and printed by The Really Famous Publishing CC.

Great publication I want to congratulate you and the contributors on this excellent publication. It introduced us to the activities and happenings, the people and the places of Stanford even before we moved here. I am sure it contributed to our decision-making as well.

The standard of the cover photographs and the paper gives it a ‘cut-above’ quality and therefore deserves a special place in my house, where it can be seen and read.

Thank you. Hester Venter

Caring village

Stanford Animal Welfare Society wishes to thank everyone who has donated to our cause over the last year. Whether it was a monetary donation or goods delivered to our Animal Welfare Shop, we appreciate your generosity. We could not continue sterilizing, vaccinating and treating all the needy pets without your help, as we are not receiving any formal funding at the moment. It is good to know that there are so many caring people in our village. Annie Ranger, Chairman Stanford Animal Welfare Society

Spar celebrates February 23rd has marked our first year in Stanford. What a journey it has been!

On 1st April we will also celebrate our oneyear anniversary of taking over the SPAR. Time has flown incredibly fast, in such a great little town!

We would like to thank all Stanfordians for bearing with us, being patient and helping us to make the Stanford SPAR, a ‘My SPAR’, again.

We have had trials and tribulations, but we think we are getting there. We would never have been able to get this far without good hardworking staff, every person in Stanford who supports us and Faith from Above.

We would like to invite anyone who has not

been back into the Stanford SPAR to come and take a look, have a chat with us, and tell us if there is still something that you would like to see in the SPAR. We take our customers’ and friends’ opinions seriously and we are always looking at ways to improve.

For those of you that do not yet know, we now also sell electricity, have a bill payments machine and you can even pay your traffic fines with us! No need to rush to Hermanus to get your telephone bill sorted when Stanford municipality is not open.

Thank you Stanford! Without you we would never have been able to move to such a stunning village!

Glenn & Gianni Roodt

STANFORD RIVER TALK 3

letters to the editor

Tam-a-shatter May I respond, light heartedly, to the anonymous Smith who used the context of the prestigious Burns Supper occasion held locally, to reflect on the ‘Might of the Smith’ (SRT Feb 2012). This is quite laudable for the most popular name in English, but severely contentious. I applaud those of us in the community, who uphold their surname with such reverence. I wish I could say the same about my surname (Herriot = serf). I have to be proud of it!

The anonymous Smith (May I call you Tam?) took issue that the Chieftain of the Macpherson’s chose to include the Smiths within his sept (clan) with 63 other families. (http://www.clanmacpherson.org/assocfamilies.html). It was a friendly gesture. So Tam, the Macphersons will only bother you if you are in need.

It would have been relevant if Tam had mentioned Adam Smith (the great Scottish economist who wrote The Wealth of Nations) or even John Smith, a modern politician, who would have been Prime Minister long before Tony Blair but for an untimely death.

On checking with the seminal text on Human Accomplishment

by Charles Murray (HarperCollins, 2003) there was little reference to the achievements of the Smiths apart from Adam. Tam could have mentioned the Smithsonian Institute USA, founded by an Englishman by the name of Smithson.

‘Ah Tam, Ah Tam thou’ll get thy *fairin’ (Burns). The Smiths according to Murray were ‘brick layers’. They laid foundations with their special skills in metal but did not contribute to theoretical discoveries compared to Aristotle and Newton. William Smith is mentioned as a great Earth Scientist.

Andrew Herriot, *gift

History teacher, Phil Murray, comments

Surnames only became popular and hereditary in the 1200s and 1300s in Britain, but were used, before then, to identify people by their occupation (i.e. blacksmiths or stonemasons), by their personal characteristics (i.e. grey or young), or geographical locations (i.e. hill or wood). These ‘last names’ were not automatically passed on to following generations, until Henry VIII passed a law that babies be registered under their fathers’ surnames. Of course, the point about Smiths being significant to the scientific and technological advances of all societies, is persuasive.

Stanford kry 10 uit 10

Hoe weet enige een wanneer jy jou aftree ‘mekka’ soek, dat jy die regte besluit neem?

Jy hou jou twee jaarlikse Kersfees met kinders en kleinkinders binne 6 maande van aankoms. Jy steur jou aan gerugte van inkope soos vir ‘n weermag voor die tyd, want geen naburige dorp is begaanbaar nie. Jy het slapelose nagte want jy weet nie of die 1 tot 40-jarige stadsjapies iets nuuts gaan kry wat amuseer nie.

Dankie Stanford en al die kreatiewe inwoners vir piekniekplekke met heerlike kos en speelplek; duinespeel en sommer ‘n sandvassit sessie ingegooi vir meer avontuur; strand- en koffie-uitstappies; uiteet by die elegantste plekke; spookvroue soek tussen melkhoutbome. Vroegoggend met ‘n boot op die rivier gaan vaar...perdry...dagmarkte...aandmarkte; krieket met ‘n anderse ‘hou’.

Die heel beste is die fietse...so veilig en besorg is die inwoners dat dit selfs vir ‘n 8-jarige moontlik is om skemertyd nog van die een kant van die dorp tot die anderkant te baljaar...en vir die ouers en grootouers om ‘n slaapdoppie te gaan drink by die plaaslike ‘oog’, en met groot pret mekaar te ‘dice’ huistoe.

Hester Venter STANFORD RIVER TALK 4

Magical morning

Stanford Garden Club would like to thank Jan and Madre Malan for hosting an amazing morning at Sir Robert Stanford Estate. Madre, you entertained us with companion planting. Lydia, you delighted us with the grappa tasting. Alta and Willem you took us on an enjoyable tractor ride through the vineyard. Jan, you treated us with a wine-tasting on the mountain and then surprised us with a gift of hanepoot grapes! A truly magnificent outing and one we will always treasure. Thank you so much for your hospitality. Stanford is blessed to have such a beautiful estate so close to us.

Annie Ranger, Stanford Garden Club

Visitors teach us

Since the start of the Christmas holidays, Funimfundo Pre-School has enjoyed a stream of visitors, some local, but mostly from abroad. Our demonstrative and confident children welcome visitors with huge enthusiasm and excitement and proudly show them our new classroom, all their donated toys and of course their fabulous artwork. We have received all kinds of generous donations and have also learned a thing or two about our children, which we would never have known, had it not been for our visitors.

We have discovered that our children have no idea what strawberries are! Penny Findlay’s strawberry jam was a huge hit and our children loved it so much that they keep asking for more.

This has prompted us to source strawberry runners, which we look forward to planting and harvesting in our new veggie boxes. We have also discovered that they believe that every European man who visits our school is also called Roland! We now take the time to introduce our visitors by name to the children.

Top of Funimfundo’s wish list for 2012 is PAPER. We are very happy to use the back of old scrap paper. If you are able to assist with paper or you want to visit Funimfundo, please contact me on 028 3410 401.

Maryanne Ward

Stanford Conservation Trust AGM Thursday, 29th March 2012 at 18h00 in the Municipal Boardroom Agenda to follow

WARD COMMITTEE FEEDBACK February 2012

NEW PROPERTY VALUATIONS Please read Ward Councillor, Dudley Coetzee’s article (right). PLEASE NOTE: Do not complain in August when you receive your new rates bill, as it will then be too late! You have to object before 4 April 2012.

PLOT CLEARING POLICY The new plot clearing policy is open for inspection at the municipality. Objections need to be lodged by 5 March 2012.

ENHANCEMENT OF RIVER FRONTAGE AND WANDELPAD The document drawn up with your input has been submitted to the municipality for further attention. The environmental officer responsible for Stanford, Liaan Geldenhuys, has subsequently walked the route to familiarise himself with our suggestions.

He has also met with other role players, such as the estuary manager, and our local administration officers. All work carried out along water courses will be in accordance with an agreement reached between all parties involved.

The ward committee’s request for attention to law enforcement during the Easter weekend has been taken up by the municipality and the placing of poles to prevent boat launching will most probably be done before the holiday.

PARKING AROUND THE MARKET SQUARE This project is still on the cards and funds have been requested to start with the project in the next financial year. It forms part of a larger picture which also takes into account storm-water drainage (road and market square) and the surfacing of the two roads adjacent to the square.

WARD-SPECIFIC PROJECTS Every year R500 000 is allocated to each ward for ward-specific projects. The projects in Stanford include: an improved surface for the soccer field (R50 000); the clearing of invasive alien vegetation (R30 000); raised intersections in Thembelihle (R40 000); a master plan for storm-water drainage in the business park (R100 000), and the resurfacing of the sidewalks in Queen Victoria Street (R150 000).

The soccer field surface is in the process of being improved; the second contract for clearing invasive vegetation along De Bruyn Street started in the last week of February; the contract for the raised intersections has been awarded; the storm-water master plan has been completed; and the sidewalks are being resurfaced at the moment.

The R500 000 has to be spread throughout the ward, which includes Baardskeerdersbos, Pearly Beach and Buffeljagsbaai.

REMOVAL OF INVASIVE ALIEN VEGETATION The second contract to continue the clearing of invasive alien vegetation (mainly poplar) in the watercourse adjacent to De Bruyn Street has started. Due to complaints from residents, the larger poplars will not be felled this year. In the meantime the Conservation Trust will be planting trees along De Bruyn Street to provide shade and improve the street façade. Anyone willing to contribute to the tree fund (R100/tree) can contact Tracy Paton on 028 3410 042 or email purple.pumpkin.tracy@gmail.com.

KHOISAN WORKING FOR THE COAST PROJECT Since the ‘Orange Teams’ have started operating, there has been a tremendous improvement in the overall appearance of all the coastal towns. As Stanford is situated on the Klein River Estuary, we also benefit from this governmental job creation project. The next time you see the Orange Team working in the blazing sun, please offer them some cold water. And if you think they are doing a good job, please show your appreciation by sending an email to our local municipal area manager, or the Khoisan project manager, James Janse van Rensburg, at james@khoisanimplementation.co.za.

news & updates

General Property Valuation Roll

The General Valuation Roll for the financial years 2012/2013 to 2015/2016 for all properties in the Overstrand, is now open for inspection at municipal offices.

I would encourage all property owners or other interested persons to make use of the opportunity to inspect the valuation roll in respect of their properties. Should you wish to lodge an objection with the Municipal Manager regarding the valuation of your property, please do so before 4 April 2012, when the window period for the lodging of objections will close. The prescribed form for lodging of an objection is available from municipal offices in Stanford, Hermanus or Gansbaai.

Completed forms can also be returned to any one of the municipal offices. The valuation roll can be viewed on the municipal website www.overstrand.gov.za. Please note that objections may only be lodged in relation to a specific property and not against the valuation roll in general. For enquiries please contact the municipal office or Carien de Beer at 028 313 8331 or by email at cdebeer@overstrand.gov.za Dudley Coetzee, Ward Councillor

Watts up?

Earth Hour was conceived by the World Wildlife Fund and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights.

Following Sydney’s lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008.

Earth Hour 2011 was the biggest year in the campaign’s fiveyear history, reaffirming it as the largest ever voluntary action for the environment. It took place in a record 5,251 cities and towns in 135 countries and territories in all seven continents. It had an estimated reach of 1.8 billion people across the globe. In addition to this, the campaign’s digital footprint grew to 91 million.

STANFORD EARTH HOUR 2012

Join us on the Village Green for your Stanford Earth Hour Unplugged on Saturday March 31, from 6.30 – 9:30 pm. Visit the demo area where solar items and wonder box cooking will be put to the test; enjoy an enchanting music and entertainment programme and stroll around a variety of food stalls. Please watch the press and Grapevine for a detailed programme of activities.

Rina de Wet

STANFORD PROPERTY SALES

Three properties were issued with sales certificates in December 2011, three in January 2012 and eight in February 2012 (These figures include name transfers.).

CRAFT IN THE COURTYARD Variety of arts & crafts MARCH 24 8.30 a.m – 12.30 p.m.

STANFORD HOTEL COURTYARD BREAKFASTS ON SALE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CRAFTERS STANFORD RIVER TALK 5

ROTA RY C LU B O F STA N F O R D IN MARCH STATIONERY STARTER PACKS Our idea was to purchase starter packs for as many disadvantaged kiddies as possible for the beginning of the school year. Once Natalie Husk started chatting to the schools , she realised that the older children were just as much in need of tools like calculators, dictionaries, etc.

Rotary approached a very helpful Kathy Friedlander from Waltons in Hermanus who agreed to give us a substantial discount on our order – total order was about R6 000.

The stationery arrived; boxes and boxes of crayons, rulers, pencils, glue, Pritt sticks, erasers, calculators and dictionaries. We distributed to our local schools, Okkie Smuts, Die Bron and St Pauls. This included a large donation of pens from Barclays Bank, UK, which came via swallows, Nic and Moira Clarke.

The last of the Serve-a-Village volunteers’ donations of stationery, flash cards etc were also distributed to the schools above as well as the Star Literacy programme at Die Bron and Buzzy Bees pre-primary school next to Okkie Smuts. We hope to continue supporting all schools in our area in the future.

KEEPING WARM PROJECT

OUR CLUB IS GROWING

The start of cold weather is not far away, so we are starting to get into gear for the ‘keeping warm’ project (which usually kicks off in April). We are collecting funds to purchase blankets, warm clothing and shoes for those less fortunate. Please contact Ansie (082 320 0982) to pick up any donations from your homes or drop them off at Stanfordinfo. Rotary members will collect and distribute among those in need.

We welcome three new Rotary members, Tony Coates, Peter Kastner and Stephen Stocks. Tony and Peter will be handling fundraisers and event organising while Stephen is our new treasurer. We look forward to some interesting and adventurous fun events in 2012 during which Rotary Stanford intends to collect funds for ongoing projects. Please be on the lookout for announcements in both SRT and the Grapevine.

OKKIE SMUTS KOSHUIS TRIP Twelve underprivileged kids (6 boys and 6 girls) from the Okkie Smuts Koshuis have been invited on a holiday of a life time to the Kalahari. Uppington’s Rotary Club are sponsoring their accommodation, meals and activities whilst Rotary Stanford has been asked to contribute to travel costs. A percentage of the funds raised during our wine raffle at the evening market and also some of the funds raised at the Car Boot Sale on 25 February 2012 will go towards renting a small bus for Gerrie, Adana and the kids to travel to Uppington for this special visit. If anybody would like to help sponsor this trip, please get in touch with Natalie (082 893 2282), who is our Rotary project leader for schools and their activities.

UPDATE ON LITTLE ABIGAIL Abigail Hoogbaard is doing well at Pionier School. According to her teachers and the hostel staff, she made much progress in expressing herself whilst her balance, coordination and fine motor skills have showed a marked improvement. It is clear that the dedicated care and specialised education at Pionier School are preparing Abigail to become a fully integrated member of her community.

SOUP KITCHENS NEED SUPPORT While we would like to extend our sincere thanks to those who regularly donate to our soup kitchen basket at the Spar (which is now ‘hidden’ behind the door on the right hand side as one leaves the Spar), our soup kitchen stocks are getting dangerously low. Thanks to Dr Wendy Cooke and Malcolm and Debbie Bury who always provide bags of veggies whenever there is some kind of ‘special’ at the Fruit & Veg in Hermanus. Any donations (goods & cash) in this regard will be highly appreciated. Please call Ansie (082 3200 0982) or Cathie (083 662 9497) if you need any more information in this regard.

Sincere thanks also go to the Duivesteins who, in lieu of buying each other Xmas presents in 2011, donated the money they would have spent towards the ‘soup kitchen book’ at Kobin’s Stanford General Dealer. This ‘account’ was started with the Penguin Plunge 2011 donation and is still being used to purchase foodstuffs for the soup kitchens.

We would like to request that the restaurants/shops in the village donate dayold bread, unused left-over food or goods that have reached their sell-by date.

Our volunteer ladies are very creative in making tasty, nutritious meals from these ingredients.

EVENING MARKET RAFFLE & CAR BOOT SALE We would like to thank all the businesses who have contributed to prizes for the monthly Rotary raffle draw at the evening market. The prizes are usually wine from Raka, Walker Bay, Brunia, Stanford Hills, Springfontein, beer from Birkenhead and also a meal voucher from Hennie’s Pub & Grill.

A special word of thanks to Rebecca and Bianca Bysshe who have been lucky enough to win the raffle a couple of times and ALWAYS return the prize to be raffled at the next market. We really appreciate this!

The Rotary Car Boot Sale is becoming very popular. Our thanks to Christine Farrington, Rosalind Nale, Steph Richards, Elma Hunter and Mari Calitz who donated goods for us to sell at the market. All the proceeds of the above fundraisers go towards ongoing Rotary projects – we will normally announce the recipients on the poster advertising a particular date.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 6

Rotary has started 2012 with energy and enthusiasm – an update on what’s been happening in the club

OPEN EVENINGS MARCH Alex Farrington-Schomburg will be the next speaker at Rotary’s ‘open evening’ on 28 March at the Art Café, 6pm for 6.30pm. Alex, who is working in Kenya, will be sharing stories and showing a short film of her life there integrating East African craft producers into Fair Trade in Europe.

MAY Sally Filmer’s daughter-in-law, Julie, will be give a presentation called ’To Uhuru peak and beyond’. Her riveting talk will inspire you to, ‘never give up – even when all you’ve done is not enough!’ Date to be announced in the next issue of Stanford River Talk and the Grapevine. Also look out for posters in the village that will advertise this evening.

letters to the editor

Crime situation for Stanford policing area For the month of February 2012 the following crime categories are compared to the same month in 2011.

February 2012: contact crimes (crimes against a person): decrease of 6 cases; contact related crimes (arson and malicious damage): decrease of 3 cases; property related crimes – decrease of 1 case; other serious crimes – stable – no increase; drug related crimes (police initiated) – increased by 7 cases; drunken driving (police initiated) increased by 1 case; illegal dealing in liquor (police initiated) increased by 1 case.

In the last month (February) Stanford SAPS have started vigorous action against drug outlets and illegal shebeens. Several successes have been achieved in this regard and the following drugs were confiscated:17 stoppe dagga; 1 small bag of dagga; 1 gram of tik; 2 ¼ mandrax tablets; ½ parcel dagga; 10 dagga plants; 2 tik lollies; 1 full parcel dagga; 4 grams loose dagga.

SAPS PUBLIC MEETINGS In March the Stanford SAPS will be having four public meetings at various venues. These meetings will be held for the public to give their input and to raise any concerns they might have about service delivery.

All members of the public are invited to these meetings and all input will be appreciated.

The venues are as follows: Town area: Okkie Smuts School Hall: 8 March at 18:30; Skema area: Municipal Community Hall: 15 March at 18:30; Thembelihle area (HOP area): Hop la da Hall: 22 March at 18:30; Die Kop / Kompong area: pre-school hall: 29 March 2012 at 18:30.

SGT R J GOUWS, Stanford Police

PHOTO: SCOTT RENNIE

Entranced in Stanford

Anyone driving towards Cape Town last weekend (Saturday, 25 February) would have witnessed thousands of cars whizzing towards Stanford for a 24-hour trance party on a farm outside the village. Some 2 500 people arrived to experience the beauty of our landscape and our hospitality.

These parties happen regularly all over South Africa and are patronised mostly by students, and young professionals. Disc jockeys were flown in from Europe, and people came from all over the country to attend.

Alien Safari, the production company who organised the event, runs a slick operation and has been putting on these parties for 17 years. They had their own security, medics and trained firemen.

A few adventurous and mature Stanfordians went to the party to see what all the fuss was about.

‘It was wonderful to see the interaction between uniformed police on duty to ensure everything ran smoothly and the party goers who were only there to have fun,’ Natalie Husk ‘I was struck by how safe I felt. I never experienced any aggressive behaviour and I felt entirely comfortable sitting on my blanket, sipping tea, and enjoying the spectacle,’ Michelle Hardie ‘I was amazed by the quality of the set that they built for the DJ stage, and the effort that went into the décor. It really was a world-class party, and the clean-up operation afterwards was something to behold; teams of people combing the area, CSI-style, to make sure that every last bit of paper was removed. All in all, very professional and a great success.’

Jami Kastner

Fire update Local firefighter, Graig Niemand, updates us on the fire situation since our report in last month’s issue After a few days of cool weather, we’re still having flare-ups at White Water Lodge, Blue Gum and in the mountains. Exhausted firefighters still recovering from long hours since the big fires have had to put out hotspots along the riverside and at the entrance to Blue Gum. The unit from Stanford has responded almost daily to flare-ups in this area.

On Friday 17 February, a new fire broke out in Kleine Street. Within minutes the unit was on the scene and managed to get the blaze under control, but unfortunately we had to rush to a caravan on fire in the Tembelihle area. By adding foam to the water we managed to stop this blaze from setting homes on fire. Reinforcements were also called in from Gansbaai in case the bush fire in the Kleine Street area got out of control. No one got hurt at the caravan fire and it was unknown how it started. Back at the bush fire, we’d done a back burn to bring it under control and two vehicles helped to put the blaze out.

But on Saturday 18 February, it flared up and then on the Sunday it started again, so I called in reinforcements to do a block burn to prevent further flare-ups in this area.

All went well with this and then another call came in. A bakkie with 17 passengers and a boat went offroad and caught alight on the gravel road between Pearly Beach and Elim. One unit left Stanford to put out the fire which had spread into the bush. Two people died in this incident. While busy with that scene another bush fire was reported behind Gansbaai Spar. Luckily the Blue Gum fire was out and the two units went to assist in Gansbaai.

On Wednesday 22 February another flare-up was spotted above Misty Mountains. A strong south westerly wind made it difficult to get air support or to get ground crew near the scene. But luckily the wind was in our favour blowing the blaze onto the old fire area and a few raindrops during the night was the cherry on top to put out the flames.

We are monitoring the situation all the time. If you spot any fires please call our standby tanker or the Overstrand Control Room on 079 5077 326 or 028 312 2400.

Farewell Whites!

Stanford says goodbye to Dean, Stephanie, Kayla and Joshua who have sold the beautiful house opposite the Klip Kerkie that they called home for 11 years.

We wish them many happy years in the new house that Stephanie will no doubt be remodeling into something special; warm, cosy, and a wonderfully happy family home.

We will be visiting! Love Natalie and Marianne STANFORD RIVER TALK 7

municipality news WATER QUALITY

The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) recommends that municipalities from time to time publish information on the quality of drinking water supplied to consumers as well as waste water effluent quality results.

Water quality is measured against code 0241 set by the South African National Standards (SANS) for drinking water. SANS’s Class I standards can be regarded as the ideal quality for drinking water, while SANS Class II water can still be regarded as fit for human consumption but with the proviso that it should be attended to over the long term.

On the accompanying drinking water quality table the average scores attained by its eight water schemes over the past three months can be seen. Water samples are

collected monthly from 55 points and sent to accredited laboratories for analysis. Thirteen different bacteriological, chemical and physical parameters are measured regularly.

Overstrand Municipality’s water quality is of an outstanding quality, with 90% of the average results complying with Class I standards, a further 9% with Class II and only a 1% aesthetic parameter falling outside the Class II standard. Upgrades currently being planned or already in process include the Preekstoel water purification works in Hermanus, a new water purification plant at De Kelders and the commissioning of new boreholes at Stanford.

Effluent quality is measured against standards set by DWA, which are classified as either General Standards, or Special Standards. At all five Overstrand

Municipality’s waste water treatment plants, the General Standards are applied by DWA. The table for waste water treatment illustrates Overstrand Municipality’s average effluent quality parameter measurements at the five treatment plants over the past three months, compared with the General Standards of DWA. Samples are taken for analysis on a monthly basis by accredited laboratories.

Overstrand Municipality’s final waste water effluent quality complies with the General Standard in the case of 88.2% of the average measurements. Improvement projects are currently in progress at four of the waste water treatment plants. * The water results published monthly in SRT will resume in the next edition.

QUALITY OF FINAL EFFLUENT FROM WASTE-WATER TREATMENT WORKS September 2011 - November 2011 Description of test pH Settleable solids Electrical conductivity Faecal coliform bacteria Chemical oxygen demand Ammonia nitrogen Nitrate nitrogen Nitrite nitrogen Total suspended solids Ortho-phosphate Dissolved oxygen

Unit (pH) (ml/l) (mS/m) (count/100ml) (mg/l) (mg/l as N) (mg/l as N) (mg/l as N) (mg/l)25 Max (mg/l as P) (mg/l)

DWA General Authorisation Standards

Average test results for final effluent test samples at: Gansbaai Hawston Hermanus Kleinmond

5.5-9.5 150 1000 75 Max 6 Max 15 Max 0.1 4.3 10 Max -

6.8 0.0 149.7 0.0 27.0 0.3 13.7 0.1 4.0 3.2 -

7.5 0.0 144.0 0.0 56.9 11.8 2.0 0.1 4.3 3.2 2.8

7.4 0.0 181.7 133.3 56.8 5.3 3.1 0.6 9.0 3.3 -

7.4 0.0 93.3 750.0 93.5 23.4 8.0 0.1 4.0 7.2 -

Stanford 7.0 0.0 132.0 0.0 46.7 0.4 15.9 6.4 -

DRINKING WATER QUALITY September 2011 - November 2011 Description of test pH Electrical conductivity Turbidity Colour Calcium Chloride Fluoride Total dissolved solids Iron Manganese Aluminium E.coli

Unit (pH) (mS/m) (NTU) (mg/l as Pt) (mg/l as CaCO3) (mg/l as Cl) (mg/l as F) (mg/l) (μg/l as Fe) (μg/l as Mn) (μg/l as Al) (count/100ml)

Standard per SANS 0241 Class 1 Class 2 5.0-9.5 4.0-10.0 <150 150-370 <1 1-5 <20 20-50 <150 150-300 <200 200-600 <1.0 1.0-1.5 <1000 1000-2000 <200 200-2000 <100 100-1000 <300 300-500 0 0

BOREHOLES AND WELLPOINTS The Overstrand Municipality is inundated with queries regarding procedures for sinking boreholes and well points.

Property owners are advised to notify the Client Service Centre of the municipality before sinking a borehole or well point, and to register it. Registration costs R40, and the Municipality will issue a borehole notice, which must be affixed to the boundary fence/wall.

The municipality may also require the STANFORD RIVER TALK 8

Hermanus

Stanford

Gansbaai

Pearly Beach

9.1 45.6 1.9 4.7 18.5 101.2 0.2 440.0 186.7 73.3 266.7 0.0

7.5 72.8 0.3 3.7 63.0 111.7 0.1 586.7 20.0 <40 31.3 0.0

7.77.6 105.1 0.20.2 1.020.3 17.5 204.7 0.20.1 800.0 40.0 <40 100.0 0.00.0

5.6 7.6 45.0 1.1 0.8 406.3 17.2 115.0 0.1 0.2 396.7 13.3 <40 53.3 0.0 0.0

owner or occupier of any premises who intends to sink a borehole to undertake an environmental impact assessment for such intended borehole before sinking the borehole. Boreholes are also subject to any applicable requirements of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act nr.36 of 1998).

In a recent edition of a newspaper, a resident suggested that by using a well point, property owners could not only water their gardens, but could also use it for domestic purposes. Section 51(7) of the Municipality’s Water By-law requires that such water should

Baardskeerdersbos Buffelsjags 28.8

158.7

2.7 7.6 87.3

76.8 367.3

256.7 506.7 80.0 386.7

1183.3 106.7 <40 73.3

comply with the SANS 0241 drinking water quality standards at all times. Water supply from a borehole or well point may under no circumstances be connected to a water installation which is also connected to the municipal water supply.

The municipality encourages the practice of rainwater harvesting for irrigation purposes.

Rainwater tanks are not deemed to be fixed constructions, and may therefore encroach over building lines. Prior consultation with neighbours affected by the erection of rainwater tanks is however advised.

news & updates Welcome to Stanford THE THERONS For Jenna and Eugene Theron this is more of a Welcome Back! Jenna was born and grew up in Stanford and Eugene grew up in Hermanus.

They were married in Stanford in 2008 after which they moved to Durbanville. Their ultimate goal, however, was to return to Hermanus/Stanford.

After living in Durbanville for over four years, the opportunity finally arose for them to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and get back to country living.

Jenna undertakes Environmental Impact Assessments for a Cape Town-based company where she has been working for a number of years. She is fortunate enough to be able to work from home, driving to the Cape Town office twice a week. Eugene is currently working on a berry farm in the Hemel and Aarde Valley where they export the majority of their berries overseas.

THE STOCKS Clare and Stephen arrived in Stanford last October via Hillcrest, KwaZulu Natal, Stratford-upon-Avon, Hay-onWye, London, Ladysmith KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland, Durban, UK, etc, etc, etc… ‘If you see the owner of Pickfords in a new BMW, we paid for it!’

Stephen started in hospitality and after 16 years realised that it’s not normal to work seven days a week with split-shifts for very little pay. The siren call of IT resulted in a lot of money and time invested in training and so it remains his career of choice after 18 years.

Clare, whilst trying to keep Stephen in line, loves gardening and is busy renovating their new home.

‘We enjoy travel, good food (thanks Jero, Madre, Mariana and all other local eateries) and the quiet life (who are we kidding?).

The end result is Stanford – though when we visited the second time to buy out new home, someone had put a mountain on the edge of the village – must have had too much wine on our first visit to notice it!’

The Wednesday call of Rotary Club of Stanford has been heard and through Rotary they hope to give a little back to the community.

Rogue gnome update

F

ollowing the report of the ‘Rogue Gnome’ in last month’s River Talk, it seems that the article was a bit misleading and, in fact, damaging to the gnome’s good character. I was approached by the gnome – his name is Peter-Gnome by the way – a couple of weeks ago. Peter-Gnome, it seems, has not been stealing, but only trying to work in return for sustenance (aren’t we all?). He is upset about the unfounded allegations of burglary, and has stated that if this were true, surely by now the police would have come to question him.

As he quite logically told me, if the police aren’t interested in him, then he must be innocent!

Anyway, our talk got around to work (the real reason for his visit) and it turned out he had none, and would I be willing to give him a job on Platanna as a deck hand? I thought about it for oh, about a second, and gave him the job.

We thought maybe we could use him as a lookout (I can’t spot ALL the birds ALL the time) but it turns out he suffers from something called ‘Ornithophobia’ (he says) – I had to look that up on Wikipedia ...

I think, fortunately, we discovered on our first cruise together (and last, as it turns out) that he suffers from sea-sickness too. We don’t think he’s quite got what it takes to be a sailor. So, I now have Peter-Gnome squatting here at Platanna Towers, and need to find him a new job (preferably with accommodation) SOON. Anyone in this wonderful community willing to help him help himself?

Tim, Skipper of Platanna River Cruises

Preserving our heritage Stanford’s Heritage Committee is a subcommittee of the Stanford Conservation Trust, concerned with protecting and conserving Stanford’s built heritage and ensuring that any development is aesthetically consistent with that heritage.

We are registered as a conservation body with the provincial heritage agency, Heritage Western Cape. This tasks us to review and comment on building plans in the proclaimed Stanford Conservation Area and buildings older than 60 years, from the municipality and private developers. In addition, we encourage people to come and discuss their plans with us at concept stage.

Our committee meets twice a month. Dates are available at the municipal office.

The committee has published two booklets: Stanford Style to guide developments in the village, available from the municipal office, and Historic Stanford on Foot which describes our local historic buildings, available from Stanfordinfo.

Among other activities, the committee organised a successful Heritage Weekend in 2007 as part of the village’s 150th anniversary celebrations, and managed the restoration of the Anglican Church in 2009, for which it raised some R130 000.

It continues to lobby, particularly Overstrand Municipality and Heritage Western Cape, regarding several measures for protecting Stanford’s heritage assets. Keith Brown

SATURDAY, 24 MARCH 13 Morton Str, Stanford 10:00 – 15:00 Furniture * Kitchen Lights * Toys * Clothing Vintage

The committee: (front from left) Beryl Maxwell, Irene Tomlinson, Dorothy Duval;(back from left) consultants Guy Whittle and Bernie Oberholzer, Royd Frith and chairman Keith Brown. If you would like to get involved in preserving the village’s heritage, please contact one of us or email Keith on keithb@hermanus.co.za STANFORD RIVER TALK 9

business talk FINANCE MATTERS The Old Boar on price increases I was never much good at Latin at school so that is meant to mean ‘bite the bullet’. It seems that we will be doing just that this year. Petrol tax has been increased by 28c/litre; cigarette tax is now over 50c per cigarette; beer 101c per can; and spirits R36 per 750ml bottle. These are all permanent components of the various prices.

Electricity tax is increased to 3.5c per kWh which will add to the cost of everything but we still do not know how much the electricity tariff will rise this year or how much the municipality will mark that up by.

Dividends, which were effectively tax-free previously, are now taxed at 15% of which 6.5% represents a net decrease in your pocket. Capital gains taxes have also been increased.

Medical expenses, never the easiest to claim for tax purposes, have now become more complex. The only thing I am sure of is that somehow we will lose some of the benefit enjoyed up to now.

Looming on the horizon is the revaluation of all properties for the purpose of determining our rates. Many municipalities are bankrupt due to maladministration. One thing is for certain – they cannot do with less money so, despite property values having fallen 20-25%, you can expect your rateable value to be increased. Are we getting value for our money?

The good news is that if you are over 75 they have increased your rebate by R130 – almost enough for a bottle of Scotch for Christmas! In the meantime – chewum plumbum!

New hair salon

M

y greetings to all in Stanford! I recently arrived here and look forward to being of service. I guess when you start a new business people want to know your credentials and capabilities. As I have a few years’ experience in the industry I’ll try to keep it brief and hope it meets with your approval.

I qualified as a hairdresser in Cape Town. I received a scholarship and specialised in precision cutting at Toni & Guy’s school of hairdressing in London. I worked for two major international German manufacturing companies – Wella SA for four years in Cape Town after which I became technical Manager for Schwarzkopf in Johannesburg for five years. During this time I specialised in colour in Germany and represented SA in the world hairdressing championships for colour in Washington, USA. My job was to train hairdressers in product knowledge, skills and the latest international trends in SA, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mauritius, regularly visiting our head office in Hamburg (Germany) to receive updates and training.

In 1999 I packed in my corporate persona and opted for the countryside heading for Hermanus where I had spent many childhood holidays. I opened Hair dot com that year but not before I crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a 38ft Catamaran. In the last decade I have owned five salons in Hermanus. After selling a business I would travel for inspiration. I spent a year working at a ski resort in Canada (Whistler) and travelled extensively in the Indonesian Islands, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Five years ago I was blessed with my beautiful daughter Sarah. My life is now ruled by this gorgeous five-year-old girl. I am sure if you read between the lines you’ll see it’s been a busy and interesting journey. I am here to offer my services as a plain and simple country hairdresser and raise my daughter in a loving community. As they say it takes a village to raise a child.

Opening beginning of March. As requested, I will be charging recession prices. Meet me at my salon at the Stanford Centre (next to the Stanford Galleries and The Art Café).

Jeanne Retief

STANFORD RIVER TALK 10

T

here are very few certainties in today’s world, but death is certainly one you can bank on. If you die without leaving a will, legislation determines exactly who gets what.

We would recommend you have a will for the following reasons: your wishes are followed; to protect the interests of your spouse/partner and children; to maximize the benefits to your heirs by limiting the taxes and duties that will be paid by your estate; and to ensure the smooth administering of your estate.

Drawing up a will is not a simple process. It is governed by legislation that deals with how it must be signed, dated and witnessed. If done incorrectly, there is a risk that it will be invalid. All persons 16 years and older are competent to make a will.

If you already have one, it is important to review it regularly,

and whenever your personal circumstances change (for example, divorce/death of a partner/purchase of property/ starting a new business).

Perhaps one of the most important reasons to have a will is to nominate an executor, who acts on your behalf to ensure that your final wishes are carried out correctly. It is possible to nominate a spouse or close relative who can then approach a professional to act as an agent to wind up the estate. Professional executors/ agents also have the requisite qualifications and experience to enable the Master of the High Court (who is the person who confirms the appointment of an executor) to dispense with the costly requirement of an executor, who does not have this experience, having to lodge a bond of security.

We would urge all of you who do not have wills or wills that need to be updated to seek the services of a professional to ensure that your will correctly expresses your last intentions. We at Alcock & Associates have over 20 years’ experience in the drafting of wills and administration of estates, so we are happy to assist you.

sport talk

wine talk

Growing numbers

The Stanford Striders Running Club has become hugely popular. Every Monday at 6pm (cnr Adderley & Longmarket) adults, teenagers and young children can been seen either walking, cycling or running around the village, some faster than others, in a quest to beat the clock.

Due to space constraints, we are unable to print everyone’s name and times trial results. We are working on the best way to publish them.

Strand veld hikes The Strandveld Hiking Club began the 2012 season with a walk in Hermanus on Saturday 5 February 2012.

The hike began at Sandbaai and followed the coast line to Vermont and beyond to the Nature Reserve. We then returned to the tidal pool where the hike ended. It was an easy walk with beautiful views of the rugged coast line, sightings of many bird species as well as views of Hangklip in the distance.

It was in the reserve that one of the walkers found pieces of pumice (chunks of solidified lava from an eruption) at the high-tide mark and explained its origin. Evidently a volcano erupted at Krakatoa in the Pacific Ocean in 1883. Pieces of pumice were light enough to float and weeks after the eruption large pieces began drifting in with the tide along the coast of Madagascar, as well as South Africa.

Should you require details of the club or specific walks please contact Roelof 082 552 5444 or Dave at 079 410 1342 Saturday 7 April 2012: EASTER SPECIAL. Swartkransberg.

Beautiful views towards our coast line, especially Walker Bay. START: 07.00 Gansbaai Info. Steve Cilliers 082 4441 367.

COST: R20.00 pp Saturday 5 May 2012: Long sea hike from Brandfontein to Suidersee. START: 08.00 at Gansbaai Info.

Roelof Diener 082 5525 444. COST: R60 pp

Time to mix water with wine

by Tania Weich

It is prime harvest-time in the winelands … and life is hectic. Never mind that I am kept well away from picking berries at the crack of dawn, 1) because rumour has it that I may consume copious amounts of Chenin Blanc grapes before they are fermented, and 2) because the only thing that I associate with dawn is deep sleep. However at a reasonable hour, I am swept off my feet delivering Sauvignon, Chenin, Chardonnay and the other beloved cultivars of summer. SA sipping is on the upswing. Fantastic!

STANFORD ‘OESFEES’ Commendably, Cato Terblanche of Vaalvlei Winery has taken on the responsibility of finalising one of Stanford’s biggest events, the Stanford Harvest Festival. As Cato’s dedicated sidekick, my contribution is to end my working day with a couple of glasses of wine – a toast to Cato and to the inevitable, impending success of the ‘Oesfees’ on Saturday 7 April.

PENGUIN PLUNGE And within the proverbial blink of an eye (or the pop of a cork) it will be winter again, that time of the year when we proudly mix water with wine at the Penguin Plunge. Stanford River Lodge is once again host to our annual community/charity event – whereby participants pay a donation to voluntarily immerse themselves in the icy cold water of the river, for gluhwein and goodwill.

Springfontein Wine Estate extends an open invitation to join in the country camaraderie on 16 June 2012, at 12 noon.

Please mail marketing@springfontein.co.za if you are brave enough to take the plunge.

* Please bear in mind that hikes can change without prior notice, as weather, tides etc. is taken into consideration. For more details please contact respective leaders.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 11

SOLD BY US

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

Natalie 082 893 2282 natalie@stanfordvillage.co.za www.stanfordvillageproperties.co.za

Stanford Bricks For all your requirements of Cement Bricks, Blocks, Stone, Mix, Crusher Dust, Filling, Sand, Gravel

Braai & Fireplace Wood Russell Metcalf: 082 898 4889 Lerouxna: 028 341 0685 russell@walshacres.co.za

STANFORD RIVER TALK 12

Walshacres

carstairs max & I

nature talk

NIGHT SKY

B

By Peter Younghusband

By Fred Smith, Astrophysicist

etelguese is Red Giant star in Orion, prominent in our night skies. It is red because it’s old and dying. ‘Old’ is a relative term. It is only 10 million years old and near the end of its life cycle, yet our sun will live a thousand times longer than Betelguese.

Why the difference? This is a paradox in astronomy. Massive stars live a shorter life than less massive ones, and Betelguese is massive. A massive star has a larger core where its energy is produced. A larger core means more energy produced and more fuel used to do it. Although almost 20 times more massive than the sun, Betelguese produces about 140 000 times more energy, thus using its fuel faster and living a shorter time.

Betelguese’s core is now burning and producing heavy elements, requiring higher temperatures. This heat goes into the outer layers of the star and expands them outwards. Betelguese is about 1 800 times the size of the sun. When all the fuel is used up, the core collapses and explodes releasing as much energy, in 10 seconds, as our sun will produce in its entire lifetime. This will probably happen sometime within the next million years.

FROG OF THE MONTH Naas Terblanche is a frog fundi. Here he shares his knowledge of these extraordinary amphibians

T

he local people of the Overberg call the Cape Mountain Rain Frog, Jan Blom. I don’t know why, but it’s probably because the frog’s face looked like a character with the name of Jan Blom. See the photo below.

Male rain frogs only call in the daytime when it is rainy or very overcast. You can hear their whistling calls from afar but when you venture close, they keep quiet. We have 15 species of rain frogs in South Africa. Two of these species occur in the Stanford area, the Sand Rain Frog and the Cape Mountain Rain Frog. They are very small – only about 30 to 40 mm. The genus name for rain frogs is Breviceps which means short (brevi) head (ceps). This is a very apt description because they all look like little bull dogs with their short snouts. Rain frogs are endemic to South Africa, they occur nowhere else in the world.

You would be considered very lucky to see a rain frog, because they spend most of their time underground. They dig themselves backwards into soft ground where they lay their eggs. The eggs are then covered with a sticky substance, to keep them moist and to protect them.

The eggs hatch and little froglets with tails emerge. They stay in the underground nest until their metamorphosis from froglets to frogs is completed in about two months. When frightened, rain frogs inflate themselves into a spherical ball.

In our wine tasting room, on Vaalvlei Farm, we have a permanent audio visual display on local frogs.

You are welcome to come and see what the rain frogs and other Stanford frogs look like and to listen to their sounds. www.vaalvlei.co.za

Carstairs was in literary mode and when it happens it is best to seize such moments before they flicker out.

This one happened while we were sitting in front of the Art Café. Max was dozing at our feet. It was a perfect afternoon. A little bird sang in the tree above us and all was well. Just then the Stanford municipal sewage wagon manned by its brave and trusty crew rumbled past. The bird lurched out of the tree, fluttered around, shaking its head and finally flew away. Carstairs quickly lit his pipe and revived us with puffs of his aromatic and healing Rum & Maple blend. Soon the perfect afternoon, which had dimmed a bit, came back. The bird did not. Yet all was well again.

Carstairs picked up the book he had been reading. It was called Too close to the sun by Sara Wheeler, about Kenya in the good old days. He opened it again and said, ‘Listen to this.’ quoting a phrase attributed to the late Swedish writer Karen Blixen: ‘It is interesting to talk to Britishers who have been to war or who are going to war; none of them are afraid, of course, but sometimes you get the impression that this is more due to a certain contempt for life than what we usually call courage.

There seems to be no loss in the world which they will really lament as there seems to be nothing they really “love”: not their mothers, their mistresses, their children – except perhaps their dogs!’

We both looked at Max. ‘It’s true,’ I said. ‘We do love him.’

‘Yes, indeed we do,’ agreed Carstairs. ‘But I don’t know what this Blixen woman is about when she says the Brits don’t love their mothers and mistresses and so on. I remember in Cairo during the war there was a girl …’

‘Yes, yes – all right Carstairs! Don’t get onto the subject of the war again. It’s boring – and we got a lot of nasty mail after your claims that the Australians left condoms lying around in Tobruk when the South Africans took over.’

‘Not only that, they took all the beer with them …’

‘Well shut up about it. If you guys had worried less about the beer you might have been better able to hang on to the place and not hand it over to the Germans.

Carstairs sighed. ‘Well, getting back to this book, it says here she had a boyfriend who had an aeroplane and he used to fly off in it every now and again and one day he crashed it and got killed and naturally for her it was a bad experience, so maybe it merely soured her outlook on the subject of men.’

‘Quite so, Carstairs, and there is also the factor that many British men tend to talk to their dogs more than they talk to their women and as a result frequently lose their women to more talkative and exotic types such as Frenchmen, Italians, Spaniards and Greeks who spend less time going off to wars and flying away in aeroplanes – and understand what staying at home and sitting on couches and chatting is all about.’

The conversation had woken Max, who had taken no part in it but watched the passing traffic through narrowed eyes. Suddenly a bakkie passed by with a barking Labrador on the back of it and old Max overcame his arthritis enough to stagger to his feet and chase after the bakkie barking epithets. It was enough to cause a momentary traffic jam outside the Art Café.

We leapt up, ran after Max, two old men chasing an old dog and brought him back, everyone panting.

‘Sometimes,’ puffed Carstairs, ‘I think we love our dogs too much too.’

STANFORD RIVER TALK 13

The luminance of Blue Moon In recognition of Earth Hour 2012 we introduce an eclectic group of fascinating people living on Blue Moon Farm

E

arth Hour raises awareness of sustainability issues. It is an invitation to change your world. There’s more to it than switching off lights for an hour once a year. It’s about giving people a voice and working together to create a better future for ourselves and forthcoming generations on our planet ...

Mother Earth.

Here on Blue Moon Community Farm, we follow a similar ethos of sustainability and working together for a better future. There’s lots going on ‘up here over the river’; interesting experiments constantly on the go from ‘rocket-stoves’ to sophisticated donkeyboilers; solar-energy installations to straw-bale domes. We all grow our own organic vegetables and enjoy a constant supply of free-range eggs. We produce and collect ‘heritage seeds’. Many ‘wanderers’ have moved through Blue Moon. They stay with us for a few months – sometimes years – impart their respective knowledge; help where they can and then move on. We offer a hand-up to those less fortunate, never a hand-out. We are always happy to host a party or provide a venue for any function. There are ‘experts’ living here who are ‘walking their talk’ in sustainability solutions and organic practices. We welcome new ideas and are willing to share ours. Anybody who would like to visit us is more than welcome but please phone first. Trespassers will be vaporized!

Craig Templer

THE TEMPLERS

DANIEL BOSHOFF

I love this farm. It’s been my home for eleven years and there’s nowhere I’d rather be. There’s room for the soul to breathe and I have the most awesome neighbours who’ve put up with Lew and I rehearsing for our band, The Blue Moon Rhythm, on week nights for a year. Lately my ol’ man has been creating alternative stoves and ovens that run on wood, even a hot and cold smoker. As I am a chef, these are great fun to use, especially when cooking with fresh produce from a fellow farm-dweller’s veggie garden. Fresh air with a side serving of the easy life is the dish of the day, and I’m already stuffed … but ready for seconds!

We have been on Blue Moon for 13 years.

In that time we’ve watched each other grow; we’ve watched our trees and veggies grow; we’ve watched the Blue Moon community grow and we’ve realised that free-range chickens are a pain in the.....! We also realise that we are mere custodians of our patch and feel honoured to have the privilege to conserve and grow it for those coming after us. Blue Moon has changed a lot over the years. We’ve had the pleasure of visits from those before us, elders who grew up here as children. We have found authentic stone hand-axes and tools from ancient past and

we’ve buried-time capsules for the future. We play a lot here; from climbing trees to building hide-away bases in the bushes. We have a menagerie of animals and often a menagerie of children running around. We like adults too. We love receiving visitors, just bring your own milk ... never enough of that. Without friendship and support from the communities of both the village and the farm, we would have shrivelled up and faded away long ago.

We have laughed uproariously with you and cried bitterly with you too. We arrived in Stanford not knowing what to expect and have come to learn that we are very blessed indeed.

Happy Templers: Arron, Bryn, Cath, Craig and Rachel.

TERRY DANKS

1999 was my ‘annus horribilius’, with one exception – BLUE MOON. That April Tor, Anton and myself attended an auction where we got to bid for, and buy, Blue Moon. Blue Moon isn’t a farm, a community or even heaven-on-earth. It is simply the place where I am able to drop the pretences and be myself.

During the past 13 years I have lived through some rather testing situations but through it all Blue Moon has held me tight and given me the strength and resolve to put a smile on my face, a glint in my eye and hope in my soul.

I can proudly say, ‘I AM TERRY DANKS AND BLUE MOON IS MY HOME.’ STANFORD RIVER TALK 14

LLEWELLYN ALBERTS

Blue Moon Farm has been an incubator for me for the last two years, giving rise to the Blue Moon Rhythm band with Daniel; the development of a series of chandeliers and the opportunity to explore medieval poetry, history and philosophy. Anton’s vision has produced a remarkable community and the owners of Blue Moon are wonderful people.

THE WEBSTERS

The Webster family consists of three generations of women, Catherine 30, Jocelyn 60 and Joyce 94 who are extensively assisted by Mary 34. The Websters moved to Stanford to have a better quality of life and living on Blue Moon farm gives the family a completely different life style. Catherine is a trained life coach and PR. Jocelyn has her PhD in biotechnology and has travelled widely to help build biotechnology in Africa.

Joyce was a decoder in the prime minister’s office in New Zealand during the 2nd World War and went on to have a varied career only retiring in her 70s. ’We all enjoy living in Stanford and find the caring approach of people in the area makes a big difference to our wellbeing,’ says Jocelyn.

Three generations: Jocelyn, Catherine and Joyce.

THE GREENS

We moved from Cape Town to Stanford in 2000, looking for country lodgings. We met Russel and Nina Metcalf and lived on Walshacres farm for three years and while there ran the Stanford Art route for 2002.

We met Val Crocker during this time and Anton through the Montesorri school who knew we were interested in a community lifestyle so when Tor Bovim’s rondavel became available, Anton introduced us to the farm and we moved there in 2003. We have been resident here since and have enjoyed growing our family: Tegan 17; Axton 12; Zavier 7; dogs; cats; and chickens in peaceful surroundings. We have enjoyed the freedom of sharing ideas, resources and space. Our site was barren after the clearing of aliens so we have been able to plant a large garden, create a nursery, an earthworm farm and freerange chicken project. Gail runs her business, Dizi Hats, from home.

Blue Moon is a fruitful environment in which a diverse group of people have found a way to live sensibly away from polluted, stressful urban environments.

Quentin Green

The Greens: Quentin, Zavier, Axton, Tegan, and Gail (taking the photo).

ANTON BOSHOFF

I was born and bred in Durban until I was six years old, and then our family of six went sailing. My teenage years were spent cruising the oceans and coastlines of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

For my early adulthood I was based at St Maarten in the Eastern Caribbean. The family yacht was used for charters and we acquired a restaurant.

During that time I qualified as a pilot and Airframe and Powerplant engineer in the USA. After about a decade in the aviation business I met my partner and we returned to South Africa, bought a yacht and went sailing in search of a place to settle and raise a family.

After stopping at the Azores, Ireland, Wales, England, Portugal and Madeira, we settled on Brazil. We lived on an Estancia in the hinterlands of the State of Rio de Janeiro for a couple of years and then returned to South Africa around 1993.

We moved to the Overberg staying first at Crystal Kloof, then in Stanford.

Once Blue Moon was started I moved here and have experimented with straw bale, cob and wattle and daub building. Now I am working on efficient wood burning stoves and water heaters. Also I am looking into local milling of staple grains to provide a healthier option to the denatured commercial products in use.

VAL CROCKER

I was born in Johannesburg, matriculated at Jeppe High, married and went on to work in the exciting atmosphere of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

My husband died and my world collapsed for a few years. Then the adventure bug bit me and in my late twenties I headed off to Zimbabwe in my old Wolseley.

I spent four years working in Harare, and playing on Lake Kariba with my new partner and his speed boat. His dream was to build a yacht in Durban and sail to the Caribbean. Four years later we had built a 10-metre ferro cement schooner and set sail in 1979 from Durban to Cape Town. But a mighty Cape storm tossed us about off Cape Aghulhas and we were dismasted and struggled into Mossel Bay for repairs.

Three months later we touched base in Cape Town and set off for St Helena Island, South America and the amazing islands of the Caribbean. I enjoyed the different flavours and nationalities of the lower islands, arrived in St Maarten (Dutch and French), dropped anchor and the next day I was working on a twentymetre catamaran taking 30 tourists to the exotic French island of St Barths … tropical waters, sunshine, sailing, diving, travelling …

I stayed almost twenty years but after a visit to SA in 1995 I bought a piece of land on the R43 and returned home with car, dog and cats in 1998. Esje DuToit was one of a few sisters who owned the farm and when they auctioned the farm I bought into it with eleven shareholders. I live happily near the village of Stanford with a rooster and his three hens, fruit trees and a small vegetable garden. I love sport but especially I love rugby and cricket This year my nephew, Josh, left Johannesburg to join me. He attends Okkie Smuts Primary School, loves animals, being outdoors and hectic action play of any sort. Two crazy, spoilt and loving Jack Russels also share our space in our rondavel on Ouheerskraal. (continued overleaf) STANFORD RIVER TALK 15

The luminance of Blue Moon

ADAM & MAAIKE

Adam Marshall and Maaike Heger have been on Blue Moon Farm since July 2010. Maaike is originally from Holland and travelled extensively before ending up in the Western Cape. Adam was born in Johannesburg but moved around for his work in the building industry. He came to the Cape shortly after meeting Maaike. They love living on Blue Moon as it offers a tranquil lifestyle and has the right environment to focus on what they are passionate about. Maaike facilitates people solving their difficulties through her Kinesiology practice, while Adam owns Carbon to Zero which helps people to reduce their energy consumption.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 16

NIC LAUER Blue Moon is a spontaneous combustion of different ideologies. The farm ignites and unites a lot of people and their passions. It’s a consistent environment where people live together to try to achieve harmony. It’s not without its up and downs, but we do manage to achieve a type of equilibrium. I have been one of the shareholders since its inception.

During my school years I lived in Sandy’s Glen, also in Napier and I spent some time in Cape Town. Now my home is on Blue Moon Farm where I live with my sister, Tammy, and brother, Jessie. I don’t work here, although during harvest I help out if I am around. I am a construction manager in the film industry and go all over the world for my work, but mostly I work in Cape Town.

I am an avid supporter of alternate energy and here at Blue Moon I have designed and installed a sun-tracking photovoltaic system which gives me all the electricity I need. Alternative renewable energy projects which keep me busy when I come home create hot water and heating and some fresh things from the garden keep me alive.

DID YOU KNOW?

Blue Moon Farm was originally owned by well-known historian and writer Esje du Toit’s family. It was named Blue Moon by the current shareholders because the title deeds were signed in the month of April 1999 during which time there were two full moons in one month.

Stanford Sunset Market salutes you!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all Stanford citizens, your friends & family & visitors - for your unswerving encouragement and enthusiasm.

Our Market has the support of the whole Community. In order for it to stay that way, please note: 9All children under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by and under the supervision of an adult; 9Please place your litter in the bins provided; 9Wine glasses are available for rent, please support us by using this facility; 9The right of admission is reserved; 9The normal rules relating to parking apply, so please park with care; 9The normal rules relating to drinking in public will be enforced outside of the Market’s boundary. |

ENJOY OUR MARKET |

Thank you: Malcolm and Peter banner hangers; Kevin, Natalie, Marianne housing bales; Basil and Bea’s ongoing support and backing; Mark & Mandy bales and new covers; Jan M for license; Indica Squires my resourceful and gorgeous assistant; to all the MIB’s (men in bakkies), who have assisted me without fail; all the late night helpers and unsung heroes AND...to all our dedicated and charming stall holders.

March and April Sunset Market dates to be confirmed, due to Earth Hour and Easter events.

Watch press and Grapevine for details. A BIG heartfelt thank you! Rina de Wet

We now have a bill payment machine!

Pay your Telkom bill or your DSTV account, buy electricity and much more!

We also now do deliveries for a small fee – so if you cannot come to the shop, we will bring the shop to you!

All this only at My SPAR – Stanford!

If you have any comments or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us or fill out a customer care form at one of the tills.

My

Stanford SPAR & TOPS Tel: 028 341 0748 Fax: 028 341 0894 E-mail: stanfordspar@gmail.com STANFORD RIVER TALK 17

art & culture Aron’s word The miniskirt and human rights Bayethe my compatriots! South Africa is turning into a Banana Republic (where you do as you please). Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to my democratic column and to send words of gratitude to all my current readers; without you there would be no ‘Aron’s word’.

With due respect to South Africa, this thing of ‘I have rights’ doesn’t take this country forward, rather it keeps it standing still. March is Human Rights month and I understand women made an impact on 21 March 1960 but that doesn’t give them the right to abuse men. How many men died fighting to achieve freedom? Now all women are playing their

victim cards of ‘women abused’ in both preand post-1994. My question is: who abuses them because the men pre-1994 were at war, on mines or in exile, so what are they trying tell us?

I was watching TV a few days ago and saw women protesting, claiming their right to be naked in public. It was like I was dreaming.

Also – hearing the honourable Justice Minister support the women by receiving their grievance memorandum with the words: ‘I like short skirts’. Oh my God! Where are we going in this nation? With all due respect; this country is a Banana Republic. How will we be able to differentiate a normal person from a prostitute? Who will respect a person wearing half-nothing? Imagine those women are the Members of Parliament going to work in the Houses in short skirts, or let’s say half-naked.

WORDS OF WISDOM What is honour?

It is a concept that has slowly declined over time and, in our modern world, it has been replaced by conscience, or faith, or the law, or the rights and duties within a society.

Honour, itself, has no strictly enforced rules but relates to a person’s personal dignity and character based on honesty, fairness, morals, ethics, responsibility and trust. We all form a code of honour which determines our character, our quality of worthiness and respectability, and our personal level of commitment to doing what is right.

William Shakespeare He who steals my purse steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing; ‘Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed.

Ludwig van Beethoven To me the highest thing, after God, is my honour.

Hamlet – William Shakespeare This above all: to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

What is your personal code of honour?

BirdLife WalkerBay AGM Tuesday, 27th March 2012 at 18h00 in the Stanford Galleries Art Gallery Agenda to follow STANFORD RIVER TALK 18

What will other nations think of us?

I’m sorry Mr President and Mr Justice Minister, as a Xhosa man I make the rules in my house and whoever lives with me must dance to my tune; there is no one else who may claim his or her rights in my house. We can’t live like a spoon – the spoon carries food while you carry it. I’m urging all men to boycott these unlimited rights because we won’t benefit from them at all, rather we will be victims.

Maybe it’s time now, as men, also to claim the right not to be questioned about our doings or about coming home late. Human Rights should be balanced and the law should not hear with only one ear, the ‘women’s ear’.

Tell me your thoughts regarding the miniskirt. Are they a good idea or not?

Email me: 45465630@mylife.unisa.ac.za

Playing By Ear Andrew Herriot remembers the queen of pop WHITNEY ELIZABETH HOUSTON (1963 – 2012) Whitney Houston singer extraordinaire and popular music diva was found dead in a hotel room in LA on 11 February 2012 with no evidence of suspicious circumstances recorded. Our SRT readership, yet again, mourn the loss, this time, of a young, highly talented legend and pop idol in the music world. Much has been written about her rise to fame and sadly much has been reported about her drug addiction and marriage break-up from rapper Bobby Brown in 2007 (married 1992). The legacy of such a super star is impossible to enunciate. Cissy Houston (mother and a great soul singer in her own right), Dionne Warwick (cousin to Whitney and niece to Cissy) and Aretha Franklin (Godmother to Whitney) all paid immediate tributes and mourned the loss of an iconic family member.

From the age of 11 at the local New Hope Baptist Church at Newark in New Jersey, where she now lies, Whitney was identified as someone special and was carefully nurtured to stardom by the close-knit family. In the mid 80s my daughter, Mandi, introduced me to Whitney’s music. I was staggered that I had been missing something different and extraordinary.

It is that generation, not just mine, who feel cheated that a legendary singer with a she has gone. We must all concern for humanity and remember the 1985 awardwinning hit ‘How Will I Know’, freedom the 1986 hit ‘Greatest Love of All’, the 1987 hit ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, the 1990 hit ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ and of course the gigantic theme from her first film The Bodyguard, ‘I Will Always Love You’ co-starring a young-looking Kevin Costner.

At the Mandela 70th birthday tribute in London in 1988, Whitney joined a veritable star-studded array of artists, performers, dignitaries and famous people. She sang ‘Didn’t We Almost Have It All’. Madiba thanked Whitney in 1994 when she sang for him at a State dinner in the White House, USA, hosted by President Bill Clinton. Whitney said, ‘In 1988 I sang for an inmate, tonight I sing for a President.’

That is how we must remember her, a legendary singer with a concern for humanity and freedom, who left us before her time.

Whitney was buried privately on Saturday 18 February at Newark.

WORKSHOPS, CONCERTS & ART WHAT A DRAMA! I am delighted to announce the growing success of our children’s drama groups. It is a great joy and pleasure to bring this fun-filled activity to our community. The skills offered include: all the physical aspects of drama, like voice training, speech, mime, movement, bodywork and fine motor skills application, as well as, listening, assertiveness, observation, respect and sensitivity to teamwork. And when the teams of stars and heroes are ready to show-off, we will invite you all!

Beatrice Pook 082 4818 285 CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP

Stretch your body, open your mind and expand your creativity with Merle Levin and Leli Hoch. In this workshop we will alternate easy stretching movements with writing exercises to explore how a relaxed body and an open mind can inspire and liberate your creative voice. What will emerge?

Merle Levin is a South African born writer who offers creative writing workshops across the globe. She also facilitates Silent Retreats at a monastery in Venice and presents a workshop on brilliance, based on the work and writings of Leonardo da Vinci. Merle is the author of several published fiction and non-fiction books. Leli Hoch is a certified yoga teacher.

For more information, email Leli on info@lelihoch.co.za.

CAMPHILL FUNDRAISER

The Celli Family, a group of 12 professional international cellists based in southern Germany, will play at Camphill Farm Community on March 12. The group was formed about five years ago under the direction of cellist Prof. Hans Eric Deckert from Denmark, who studied with Pablo Casals and also worked extensively with the famous conductor Sergiu Celibidache.

The group’s aim is to show that music has the possibility and the power to combine all differences between human beings by staying under the greatness of the music itself. Each individual of the group, besides having the responsibility towards the group, must be able to ‘let go’ and to create space for listening. Only in this way can the music become a social language, connecting across all barriers. This demands intensive co-operation, practise and repetition. The 12 cellists meet several times a year under guidance of Prof Deckert to practise and deepen their work. The series of practise sessions culminates in a number of concerts. They have performed all over Germany and last year undertook a concert tour to Egypt.

Tickets are available at Greenways in Gateway, or contact Ruth on 028 313 8255.

OPPORTUNITY ART 2

A

s a result of the resounding success of Opportunity Art in January 2011, Overstrand Hospice has decided to host a similar event on 24 March this year starting at 3pm at the Hermanus Civic Centre and Auditorium. The event will consist of an Art & Music Demonstration

by Dale Elliot, an ArtBazaar (sale of paintings) and an auction. At last year’s event R195 000 was raised.

This year Overstrand Hospice is introducing a new and exciting element by inviting 21 local artists to participate in painting a piece of a collage puzzle – in their own, unique style. Each artist will be given a blank canvas which will form part of the bigger picture – a beautiful scenic photograph by Ken Moore. The installation of this collage will take place at the Municipal Auditorium during Opportunity Art 2.

Overstrand Hospice relies on the generosity of the local art community and volunteers offering their services and time free of charge. The aim of Opportunity Art 2 is to raise much-needed funds for the Hospice, but also to support a wider campaign of art education and appreciation within the Overstrand. All primary schools

in the Overstrand will have the opportunity to participate in this year’s Opportunity Art. The art classes of each school have been provided with a photo relating to their particular area. These paintings will be on display at the local tourism offices along the Cape Whale Coast and also on the evening of Opportunity Art 2.

Overstrand Hospice is asking all artists (professional and amateur) to donate paintings to Opportunity Art 2 for sale at the ArtBazaar. Donated paintings can be dropped off at the offices of the Overstrand Hospice at 10 Hope Street or at the Hospice shop next to the Hermanus Times office.

All paintings on the auction list can be viewed at Bellini a week before Opportunity Art 2.

For more information, contact Dieter on 028 312 4679 or 082 659 2318 or email dieter@whalemail.co.za.

Dickens remembered

CHARLES JOHN HUFFAM DICKENS (1812 – 1870) On 7 February the world celebrated the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth. Whatever your nationality, indeed whatever language you use, many of you would have had an experience of reading, studying and being aware of the massive influence that Charles Dickens continues to have on modern literature. To say he was iconic is an understatement. He was famous in Victorian times in England for his evocative classic novels, short stories and essays. How many of you (of a certain age!) remember ploughing through thick tomes such as Hard Times, Little Dorrit, Nicholas Nickelby and A Tale of Two Cities. We will all remember the symbolic quote of the austere age in which he lived, ‘Please Sir, we want some more.’ (Oliver Twist). We cannot forget Tiny Tim Crachit in A Christmas Carol, Miss Havisham in Great Expectations and Wilkins Micawber in David Copperfield (Annual income £20, annual expenditure £9-19s6d; result happiness. annual expenditure £20-0s6d; result misery). TV adaptations of Dickens’ books have in recent times led to a huge resurgence and interest in reading Dickens. Why not choose one and enjoy it?

Andrew Herriot STANFORD RIVER TALK 19

OUT OF THE HAT

The only football fan in the village Should a television channel make a sitcom about Stanford and we crazy characters who inhabit it, there would be only one role for me.

Y

ou will have watched every episode of the BBC’s hilarious ‘Little Britain’, right? Good. I knew you had. So you’ll be aware of Matt Lucas, clad head to toe in rubber, playing the part of ‘The Only Gay in the Village’. To remind you, Dafydd is often to be found sitting at the village pub, complaining to the barlady about how he feels so alone and alienated as ‘the only gay etc’.

This is me. Except for the fact that, while Dafydd is alone and gay, I am alone and, yes, ‘The Only Football Fan in the Village’. But I have only myself to blame. I don’t live in Soweto. Where ‘soccer’ is religion. I live in Stanford.

Where rugby is even more important than that. In fact, it’s up there with brandy-and-coke.

Listen, I’m not rugbyphobic. Some of my best friends watch rugby. When I go to the pub, not to watch football but to socialise, and see some sad soul sitting on his own, glued to a rerun of the 1987 Danie Craven Week final, I don’t get really drunk and wait for the decisive moment in his match – when somebody is about to score the match-winning try – before going over to ask him if it is true that his wife bought six lemon curd tarts at Brydon’s market stall that morning.

No, I don’t. I respect the unalienable right of a man or woman of any race, religion, creed or sexual orientation – even Blue Bulls fans – to sit in the pub and watch the Kazakhstan under-14 C tiddlywinks team practise for their upcoming match against Azerbaijan.

So, for crying in Schalk’s jockstrap, why won’t Stanfordians leave me alone to watch a chuffing football match? The only time I completed a full 90 minutes without being asked an inane question, or cuffed around the back of the head and asked or been forced to politely refuse nine Springbok shooters and join some random drunken orgy, was when Hennie kindly locked me inside his pub late on a Monday night, allowing me to watch Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers play out a brain-jellyingly dull 0-0 draw.

Actually, my round ball reverie was disturbed. Nicholas, Hennie’s gardener, was cleaning the kitchen and, hearing my howls of disgust at Liverpool centreforward, Andy Carroll’s inability to control a pass, he wandered through to see what was going on. ‘Ah, soccer,’ he said, and sat down. Quietly.

‘Terrible game, Nicholas,’ I said, watching Carroll waste another good pass.

Nicholas turned around to me with a huge smile on his face and said: ‘That big centre-forward... he not so good, huh?’

I nearly hugged him.

Fred Hatman * I would like to thank Hennie and Daleen for always letting me watch football in their pubs. I would also like to thank Nicholas for giving me hope. And tell him I’m coming round to his place next time Liverpool plays.

Cosy cattery and kennel in lovely country atmosphere.

Qualified dog trainer.

Well balanced diets, love and care.

028 - 3410 961 STANFORD RIVER TALK 20

Riding on a loose rein with Jane Ellis

Adapting to the times – a Zimbabwean pensioner’s perspective on surviving neighbours and power cuts You know the sort of person, there are probably several in your village: retired, hard hit in some way (bed ridden spouse? difficult spouse? bad hip? two bad hips?) but in spite of this what everyone says about he/she is: ‘Aren’t they wonderful!’

Much of the admiration also centres on the fact that not only does X cope, he/she does so with good cheer and a genuine smile.

At the time of writing, my Harare suburb is currently into a week of hell and tempers and nerves are vibrating. A 10-day landline collapse followed by a two-day water cut turns out to have been merely a prelude to an on-going (four days to date) electrical power failure.

The subtext to amenity failures is the very bad effect it has on reasonable, mature characters. One neighbour got drunk; another – raving through the hedge to me in unprintable language – tripped over a rock, badly injured his leg and had to go to an emergency clinic. A third was so enraged he falsely accused a good friend of stealing keys. Calm and fairly pleasant in public, in private I flung myself on my bed (unmade) and howled like an old she-wolf lost and hungry on some Siberian steppe.

But one neighbour: retired, widowed, financially frail, endlessly working, endlessly helping others tries to keep us all tranquil. She offers to cook on her gas stove; finds money to pay for yet another set of spare keys; and changes dressings on the cut leg.

‘Isn’t she wonderful?’ we all chirp as we continue to inwardly sulk and swear.

Meanwhile it has taken three days to pinpoint the power problem and at the time of writing (by hand, computer uncharged ditto cell) it is not known when the fault will be rectified.

An electricity authority technician phoned just now (sneakily I had been onto HQ) and said: ‘It’s a cable fault ... we have to dig ... employ diggers ... get the machine ... machine broken down ... rain. I hope it’s fixed today but it’s not easy and rain ...’

I got the picture, well sort of, thanked him for his courteous explanation but simultaneously recalled that last time there had been a cable fault it had taken two weeks to fix.

THE SONG OF THE GENERATORS Power failures mean generators grind into action and they are as varied in character as the suburb’s residents. The big machines purr and hum almost soothingly day and night. The small ones rattle and roar, are turned on and off and emit strong smelling all-pervasive diesel fumes.

My neighbour (bad leg no better) has the loudest, smelliest generator. Think 50 vuvuzelas, four notes down scale, with you in a small room and you’ll get the idea. It’s mind destroying but equally hard to complain as he’s a displaced farmer. To have lost your life’s work escaping with only an ancient generator; two ancient dogs and a desolated wife to then be verbally abused by neighbours seems a bit much. Even for this one who certainly isn’t wonderful.

The Tack Shop has just had its delivery of new goods. The order went to The Tackroom in Plettenberg Bay and then had to go back to the Western Shoppe and then Stanford. At LAST! 028 3410 034.

THE TACKROOM

coffee corner

Coffee Corner Riders are out in full again.

You can’t miss us on a Saturday morning having that ‘drooliscious’ cup of coffee.

028 3410 034

Teddy bear season has begun - over 100 to be made this year, but it will still be business as usual at the shop.

083 358 6365

Special RegimA Promo day in Hermanus on 22 March.

Book your space between 9 - 4 for our RegimA promo day.

Buy any TWO products and get a FREE peel treatment.

beauty and wellness centre

OR Buy three products and get a FREE peel and FREE Cleanser.

028 313 0660 Happy birthday Natasha!

Hair By Belinda

This month at Hair by Belinda: Bring along your River Talk and get 10% discount for a blow wave!

072 329 7753 Tuesday - Friday 9:00 - 16:00 • Saturday 8:30 - 13:00

Cell 082 876 0492

Architects & Planners Stanford Consultants Development

Fax 086 7299 123

guywhittle@mweb.co.za

Can anyone guess which house this is?

architect & interiors

info@syringastud.co.za • 082 450 3970

Can you believe that Jenny Kling brought 22 of her girlfriends to Stanford for a friend’s Kitchen Tea. They all slept in Morton and Cobblers and had a ball on the River Queen. A pyjama party like no other! info@syringastud.co.za • 082 450 3970 STANFORD RIVER TALK 21

food talk

Fig jam for the soul Frances Hardie traces memories of a sixties childhood

M

y grandparents’ enormous fig tree was a significant presence in family life. Every summer it produced two crops of plump white figs – sweet and pungent – an embarrassment of riches which meant fancy footwork in the kitchen.

The first crop began budding before the leaves emerged, and my grandfather assumed a proprietary vigil against the buttery-bummed birds of the neighbourhood, who knew a good thing when they saw it. Come November he would start protecting prize specimens, in brown paper bags he saved from his weekly forays to Zerban’s German confectionery in Gardens.

‘Ishy, ishy, ishy!’ he laughed conspiratorially at me, tying the string lovingly around their necks.

Then he’d go off and make coffee, in his Great-Trek coffee pot, like holy water, which he served ceremonially with rolls and jam.

He serenaded his hairy green babies with Wagner, Mozart and Beethoven, issuing at top volume from the lounge where he would sit, transported, a damp Rothmans International

clenched between his yellowy old fangs.

By mid December the first crop (larger and firmer but less numerous than the second) was ready for groenvyekonfyt, and in the run-up to Christmas all was abustle in the kitchen yard. Stienie, the asthmatic family retainer, would prepare the green figs, immersing them in caustic soda solution, which foamed up alarmingly as it ate away the hairy outer skins.

This was a dangerous pastime, and I admired her deft composure at the lip of the smoking cauldron. She rinsed the denuded figs and soaked them overnight in a solution of slaked lime, to make them crisp, and the next day my grandmother would cook the konfyt, a fog of syrupy spiciness filling the kitchen.

By Christmas there were fresh figs on the breakfast table, with the promise of many more in the rapidly swelling second crop, and soon it was high season. We gorged ourselves, fingers itchy from the excoriating sap, feet black and sticky from the moist, fragrant earth deeply shaded under the massive tree, chinks of sunlight filtering through the canopy to the cloister beneath.

My grandmother made jam with the abundance of fruit, and would put up a year’s supply in large glass-lidded jars, her hair tied up in a scarf, cheeks pink, her apron damp.

She followed her mother’s simple method: equal weights of peeled fruit and sugar, with the juice of at least two lemons and several slices of fresh ginger per kilogramme of fruit.

This she let stand overnight, for the sugar to melt, and the next day she would heat it very slowly to the boil, skimming off the foam and pips that rose to the surface. She kept it at a gentle boil for about an hour, without a lid, until the syrup thickened on a chilled plate and was pronounced ready. She ladled the fiercely hot jam into a phalanx of sterilised jars, sealing them tightly, and lining them up in the cool, dark pantry.

She said it was better to make several smaller batches than a large one, which kept her on the hop for several weeks. And no sooner were the figs finished, when the grapes began!

But thereby hangs another tale …

Overberg Agri Stanford Nursery Birthday month.

Great specials up to 50% off selected trees, fruit trees, shrubs and ground covers.

STANFORD DIY - PAINT - PLUMBING IRRIGATION - NURSERY - ATM Landscaping & irrigation services.

Mon - Fri, 7:30 - 17:00 • Sat, 8:00 - 14:00 Tel: (028) 3410 691 • Fax: (028) 341 0413

028 3410 691 STANFORD RIVER TALK 22

LudwigÊs Copper Count-N 200ML R 33.95

Neutrog Blade Runner 15KG R120.95

history talk

Stanford – a good place to ‘ley’ your head down Phil Murray talks to us about ley lines

H

ave you heard it said that if a business like a shop or restaurant, despite having all the necessary ingredients to succeed, fails, that it must be ill-fated due to its location on a ley line. Or alternatively, a particular place may possess a strong feeling of spiritual beauty which sets the soul singing, that it must be located on a ley line? Who hasn’t heard a reference to Table Mountain and Stonehenge sharing ley lines or, for that matter, our very own Stanford being slap-bang on a node of multitudes of powerful ley lines?

Well, I am no mystic, no feng shui guru, and certainly no expert, but ley lines are intriguing things and I want to know more.

The World Wide Web is also a fairly intriguing place and, again, I am no expert, but it doesn’t seem the right place to get a low down on ley lines. Wading through websites that ward off demons, others that seem to be portals for self-publishing wack-heads, and any number of grid-patterned, speckled maps, do not sit well with a history teacher who prefers to bounce primary sources and secondary sources off one another. One critic said there exist so many prehistoric cultural

sites in England, that one couldn’t possibly draw a straight line anywhere on a map without hitting one, so here is what I have come up with thus far: Alfred Watkins was an amateur archaeologist who published his theory in 1921 of there being naturally straight ley lines, used as foot paths when people navigated by line of sight. Ley lines are straight lines which run through natural and sacred prehistoric sites like mountain ridges, river valleys and archaeological ruins. The straight lines form a grid-like pattern of large triangles which cover the globe, linking what are called ‘hot spots’, at each node. These hot spots are believed by some, literally, to be where there is increased volcanic activity and tectonic plate movement, like in the Bermuda Triangle, and Japan’s Devil’s Sea. Some believe the lines are power lines which resonate the earth’s energy and this has given them the reputation of being pseudoscientific. Some mystics and pagans believe that the lines are pathways for spirits or fairies, and are particularly powerful in churches and cemeteries. They also believe that the energy of a ley line travels; hence

IN MEMORIAM

WILFRED ARENDS, 3 April 1958 – 4 February 2012 Wilfred was a very special man. His kindness to his fellow man, love for his family and sincere dedication to his work was an example of all that is good in our community. He was first employed by my parents as a young man. His loyalty to our family never wavered. Wilfred’s promotion to foreman at Stanford Hills made him so proud, and allowed him the opportunity to show what he was capable of. His sudden death left us all reeling, and we will miss him every day. Our thoughts are with Francis and the children. Jami Kastner

Environ® is a scientifically proven vitamin-based skin care

connected places share similar energies.

Well known South African astrologer, author and sangoma, Rod Suskind, says that ley lines make no sense outside of Great Britain, and that they are largely based on ‘ignorance, misinformation and misunderstanding of other beliefs or knowledge.’

To rein in this little ditty, Stanford does nestle against a spectacularly beautiful chain of Klein River Mountains. It lifts its head and shoulders above the Klein River and the Hermanus lagoon, and it lies in a spot which would easily fall on a natural line-of-sight route for travellers. The village itself is beautiful, and attracts people with wandering spirits, who are on a quest to get away from the city rat race.

Something feels magical about Stanford but what do I know? Electro-magnetism, silver pathways for spirits, lines that channel the earth’s energy, or coincidental streaks in nature.

And Rod Suskind finishes off by saying, ‘The Overberg is quite powerful enough just as mega mother earth rock without us having to project our fantasies onto it.’

Stanford Ratepayers Association ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY 16 MARCH 2012.

VENUE: MUNICIPAL BOARDROOM, STANFORD 18:00 for 18:30

system, providing results that transform your skin through a range of products for every phase of your life.

Lexi Lawson, your registered Environ consultant, is only a phone call away. Contact her on 082 4959391 for a consultation or to place your orders.

New members can join at the door.

Everybody Welcome elmian@iafrica.com or PO Box 163 STANFORD RIVER TALK 23

classifieds There is an HONESTY BOX at Stanfordinfo where you can pay for your classifieds.

Please enclose the amount in an envelope.

SMALL ADS: R1 a word • BOXED ADS: R77 info@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • cell: 079 291 1588

FOR SALE

LIVE FAT SHEEP-LAMBS. Can be processed for your freezer if require p John on 082 950 6007.

LOGIK MOBILE AIRCONDITIONER 14,000 btu aircon,14,000 btuheating. R900. p Cathie or Tony 028 341 0277.

SINGLE BED comprising base, top quality mattress, headboard.

As new. p 028 341 0368 / 072 299 3449.

VACANT PLOT HERBERTSDALE: Off-the-beaten-track village, where the Langeberg and Outeniqua mountains meet. 60 km inland from Mosselbaai coastline and gateway to the Klein Karoo.

R575 000. p Paul 082 7408 046.

VILLAGE LAUNDROMAT Washing • Tumble Drying • Ironing Dry Cleaning • Steam Cleaning • Carpets Mon – Fri 8.30am - 5pm 25 Queen Victoria st, Cell: 072 616 0976

Kinesiology For improving, restoring and maintaining health on a mental, emotional or physical level.

R300 for the first session R250 for any session thereafter Maaike Heger maaikeheger@gmail.com 072 683 5648

OFFERING

ADULT HORSE RIDING CLASSES. p Jake Uys on 079 468 9060.

DOMESTIC WORKER. Hard working and reliable p Serika 073 967 1629. For reference p Sandra 079 523 8453.

RELIABLE & HONEST PAINTER. No job too small. Contactable references p Wilson on 072 223 2511.

SPECIALIZED KEYBOARD JAZZ TEACHING. p Andrew Herriot at 072 5717 846 or aherriot70@gmail.com for more info.

SERVICES

HOUSE CLEANING Need you house/flat cleaned? Bed linen changed? Washing & ironing? Washing itemised ready for laundry collection? p Desiree on 074 353 1884. Refs available.

PLOT CLEARING BY TRACTOR. Grass, weeds, Port Jackson bushes.

Fast efficient, cheap. p John on 082 950 6007.

RENT

SELF STORAGE AVAILABLE. 72 SQ.M.+- 300 cubic metres. Partial mezzanine floor. Alarm. p John on 082 950 6007.

10 HECTARE PADDOCK: At Oak Grove Farm (8km from Stanford on Salmonsdam road) R150.00 per month per horse or R500 for whole paddock. Has water and shade. p Stuart 072 439 3771 or Trish 082 091 3914. Email: info@oakgrovefarm.co.za.

AFRICAN HORSE COMPANY

guided multi-day trails & outrides along the whale coast & through unspoilt nature reserves. +27 (0) 82 667 9232 omstables@telkomsa.net www.africanhorseco.com

SA lady 53 years old having moved to Stanford is looking for permanent or temporary job.

Well experienced in taking care of disabled children as well as elderly people.

Schools, retirement and similar homes, also private.

Available immediately.

Marcelle 079 8123 414

Suidsee Verkoeling Nuwe kontaknommer: Tel: 087 808 2175 Sakkie Myburgh: 083 771 0753 Alle huishoudelike herstelwerk

GERT’S GARDEN SERVICES For all your gardening needs.

Fully equipped with lawnmower, weedeaters, etc Reference available and highly recommended.

Call Gert on 072 358 7093

WHERE TO WORSHIP IN STANFORD NG GEMEENTE STANFORD Sondae 9:30 in die kerkgebou. Office, tel 028 3410 966.

ST THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH Morton St, contact Father Joseph Gabriëls 028 3410588 First Sunday of the month 10:30 Communion (Afr).

Second Sunday of the month 10:30 Service (Afr) Third Sunday of the month 08:00 Communion (Eng) Fourth Sunday of the month 10:30 Service (Afr) FULL GOSPEL CHURCH OF GOD cnr Queen Victoria & Bezuidenhout St. 09:30 Sunday service. Pastor Johnny van der Schyff • 028 3410 422.

VG KERK (next to De Bron School) 10:00 Sunday morning. Maureen Diedericks 028 3410 691.

STANFORD UNITED CHURCH ST THOMAS CHURCH, meets at St Thomas Church, Morton St. Interdenominational.

English service at 6pm Sunday. Bible Study, 7pm Tuesday night at 45 Queen Victoria St. Secretary Kerri Brokensha 028 341 0077.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 24

ROTARY TALK Alex Farrington-Schomburg talks about her life and work in Kenya. Wednesday 28 March. Art Café.

6pm for 6.30pm. FREE.

SUPPLIED BY Jake Uys

STANFORD STREET MILE Saturday 3 March Okkie Smuts fundraiser. 8:30 am. Village Green Entry fee: R10/adult and R5/scholar AND GO-CART RACES Saturday 3 March. Okkie Smuts fundraiser.

9am to 1pm. Village Green.

Food & refreshments will be available.

RAINFALL STATISTICS

What’s on in March?

STANFORD SUNSET MARKET Friday 30 March.

6pm to 8pm. Village Green. Contact Rina on 083 604 0808.

STANFORD CANOE RACE Saturday 31 March.

Klein River 08:30. Call Stanfordinfo on 028 3401 340.

STANFORD EARTH HOUR Saturday 31 March 6.00 -9.30 pm. Village Green. See page 5.

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

ave

Jan

17

11.5

12

8.5

19

14

35

16.7

Feb

22

39.5

25

11

17.5

20

16

21.5

March

14

49

27

20.5

20

26

26

April

45

70

21.5

27.6

30

56

41.6

May

78.5

45

31.5

55

66.5

83

59.6

June

45

75.5

50.5

106.3

91.5

88

76.13

July

137

102.5

76

97.5

43

56

85.3

Aug

65

66.5

71.5

89

46

74

68.6

Sept

27

49.8

74

88

35.5

25.5

45.7

Oct

61

73

39.5

92

50

25

56.7

Nov

41.5

89.5

91

31

57

42

58.8

Dec

20.5

37

35

6

40

23.5

27

Year

573.5

708.8

554.5

632.4

459

533

THE DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISING IN APRIL EDITION IS 20 MARCH 2011 design@stanfordrivertalk.co.za • 079 523 8453

ROTARY CAR BOOT SALE 31 March, 9am to 1pm, Village Green. Contact Jeudi Hunter on 082 839 4541.

WINE & WISDOM Thursday 5 April 7pm, R40 pp, Stanford Art Café. Contact Annie Ranger on 028 341 0984.

PUZZLE HITORI 6 6 2 3 4 2

1 6 4 5 2 5

2 5 5 1 5 3

6 5 3 2 1 2

5 2 6 6 6 1

C o n c e p t iP su z z l e s

4 4 1 2 5 2 09083500001

Each puzzle consists of a square grid with numbers appearing in all squares. The object is to shade squares so that the numbers don’t appear in a row or column more than once. In addition, shaded squares must not touch each other vertically or horizontally while all un-shaded squares must create a single continuous area.

weekly timetable

© www.conceptispuzzles.com

M A R C H T I D E TA B L E Sunrise Sunset 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

0631 0632 0633 0634 0635 0636 0636 0637 0638 0639 0640 0641 0642 0642 0643 0644 0645 0646 0646 0647 0647 0648 0649 0650 0651 0651 0652 0653 0654 0655 0655

1921 1920 1919 1917 1916 1915 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1907 1906 1904 1903 1902 1900 1859 1858 1856 1855 1854 1852 1851 1850 1848 1847 1845 1844 1843 1841

HIGH WATER time height 0825 1.27 1021 1.23 1151 1.30 0033 1.32 0118 1.48 0156 1.64 0232 1.79 0308 1.91 0345 1.99 0423 2.01 0503 1.95 0546 1.84 0632 1.67 0730 1.48 0852 1.32 1042 1.27 1210 1.32 0043 1.41 0129 1.52 0206 1.62 0239 1.70 0310 1.75 0339 1.77 0408 1.77 0436 1.73 0504 1.67 0533 1.59 0605 1.50 0645 1.39 0744 1.29 0927 1.24

time 2115 2325 ---1248 1333 1412 1450 1528 1606 1646 1727 1811 1903 2014 2159 2338 ---1307 1349 1424 1455 1525 1554 1622 1649 1717 1746 1821 1907 2029 2229

height 1.16 1.20 ---1.42 1.55 1.67 1.78 1.85 1.88 1.85 1.77 1.64 1.48 1.33 1.26 1.31 ---1.41 1.50 1.58 1.64 1.68 1.69 1.68 1.65 1.59 1.51 1.41 1.31 1.23 1.25

LOW WATER time height 0141 0.82 0349 0.87 0542 0.80 0644 0.68 0727 0.54 0805 0.40 0842 0.29 0919 0.20 0957 0.16 1036 0.17 1117 0.23 1202 0.33 0013 0.40 0111 0.54 0236 0.66 0428 0.69 0600 0.62 0701 0.51 0743 0.42 0817 0.35 0847 0.30 0915 0.28 0943 0.28 1010 0.31 1038 0.35 1107 0.42 1138 0.50 1213 0.60 0021 0.69 0116 0.79 0303 0.85

time 1503 1701 1817 1905 1943 2018 2053 2128 2205 2244 2326 ---1253 1359 1539 1726 1838 1925 2000 2030 2058 2124 2150 2217 2244 2312 2343 ---1259 1410 1600

height 0.81 0.79 0.68 0.54 0.40 0.28 0.19 0.14 0.13 0.17 0.27 ---0.47 0.60 0.69 0.66 0.56 0.46 0.39 0.33 0.30 0.30 0.32 0.37 0.43 0.50 0.59 ---0.69 0.78 0.79

Information supplied by the Hydrographer, SA Navy © 2010. Not for navigational purposes. The Hydrographer is not responsible for any transcription errors. The use of the provided information is entirely at the user’s own risk.

Monday 5h30 to 6h45pm Vinyasa Yoga with Leli, Studio @ Art Café, Leli, 082 350 0253.

Monday 6pm, Running Time Trails 5km, corner Adderley and Longmarket.

Monday & Thursday, 5.15pm - 6pm, Pilates, The old Beauty Spot Studio, above Tops Bottle Store, Tracy: 082 441 8307.

Monday & Wednesday, 5pm, Canoeing, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877.

Tuesday (5pm to 6pm) & Friday (8.30am to 9.30am), Tae Bo, The old Beauty Spot Studio, above Tops Bottle Store, Ronnie 083 655 4521.

Tuesday 8:45 to 10am, Iyengar Yoga with Marianne, Studio @ Art Café.

Thursday 8:45 to 10am, Vinyasa Yoga with Leli, Studio @ Art Café, Leli 082 3500 253.

Cycling, Tuesday & Thursday 5.30pm cnr de Bruin & Moore Sts, Sunday 6am Caltex Garage David Morrison 082 321 7996, John Finch 082 378 1935 Wednesday, 6.30pm, Stanford Rotary Club Meeting, Art Café. Everyone welcome.

Friday, 5pm, Canoe Time Trials, Slipway Church St, John Finch 028 341 0444, Jan Malan 082 452 9877.

Saturday, 10am – 12pm, Stanford Saturday Morning Market, Art Gallery Courtyard from Enquiries call Art Café (028) 3410 591.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 25

local services & facilities ACCOMMODATION Beloftebos Cottages B’s Cottage De Klein Rivers Valley Fairhill Nature Reserve Morton Cottage Mosaic Farm Oak Grove Farm Reed Cottage Walshacres Riverside Stanford Country Cottages Stanford River Lodge The Country Cottage Upton House Villa di Baia

082 391 5331 028 341 0430 028 341 0048 079 495 2971 082 450 3970 028 313 2814 082 091 3914 028 341 0984 082 614 6322 082 320 0982 028 341 0444 083 553 0663 079 777 5983 082 336 1573

ACCOUNTING & TAX SERVICES Maryke Brandt 072 172 9545

List your business for just R12 a month (only R144/year).

Email: info@stanfordrivertalk.co.za or telephone 07929 11588.

ELECTRICIAN H.C.D Electrical

079 182 8825

ESTATE AGENTS Graham Property Consultants 028 341 0641 Marlene’s Properties 082 732 1284 028 341 0929 Michael Thompson 083 225 7367 Pam Golding 028 341 0708 Stanford Village Properties 082 893 2282 072 111 9321 FIREWOOD Walshacres 028 341 0685 082 898 4889

ALTERATIONS Caitlin’s Dressmaking

083 358 6365

GARDENS & NURSERIES Helen’s Garden Service Krige Tree Services Walshacres Willowdale Nursery

ANTIQUES/FURNITURE Sir Robert Stanford

028 341 0048

HAIR Jeanne Retief

072318 2478

ARCHITECTURE Maureen Wolters

082 450 3970

ARTS, CRAFTS & GIFTS Ons Winkel Traderoots

HOUSE MANAGEMENT Stanford Country Cottages Village Laundromat

082 320 0982 072 616 0976

028 341 0647 084 643 4504

HOME MAINTENANCE Stanford Country Cottages

082 320 0982

BEAUTY AND WELLNESS La Femme

028 313 0660

INTERIORS Kiwinet Maureen Wolters

028 341 0209 082 450 3970

BOOKS Sir Robert Stanford CAR CARE J & J Motorwerke

028 341 0048 028 341 0410 071 219 9212

CONFERENCE CENTRE Mosaic Farm

028 313 2814

CONSTRUCTION Stanford Bricks

028 341 0685

DRIVING SCHOOL Drive with Cait

083 358 6365

NEWSPAPER Stanford River Talk

082 977 7080 082 658 0427 028 341 0685 082 899 1172

079 291 1588

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES African Queen River Cruises 082 732 1284 028 3410 929 Klein River Picnics 028 3410 693 Platanna 073 318 5078 River Rat Boat Cruises 083 310 0952 PEST CONTROL Overberg Pest Control

Stanford Kennels Syringa Country Kennels

028 341 0961 028 341 0961

PLUMBING John Hardie

079 291 1611

PRINTING & PUBLISHING The Really Famous Publishing CC 079 291 1588 RESTAURANTS 1892 Stanford Spookhuis Art Café Stanford Gallery Havercroft’s Madré’s Kitchen

028 313 2814 028 3410 591 028 3410 603 028 341 0647

SECURITY JSK Wrought Iron Safe Security

083 591 9600 028 341 0801

SOLAR South Coast Solar

079 291 1611

TAXI SERVICE Anytime Transfers

082 858 6765

TRUCKS & TRANSPORT Stanford Bricks

028 341 0685

WEDDING VENUES Beloftebos Mosaic Farm Sir Robert Stanford Estate Stanford Hotel

082 542 9556 028 313 2814 028 341 0647 082 781 1704

WINE CELLAR & SALES Brunia Wines Sir Robert Stanford Estate Springfontein Wine Estate Stanford Hills Estate

028 312 2225

PETS & PET CARE

Rural and river retreats in tranquil surroundings, Stanford Country Cottages are situated throughout the village and surrounding area. Perfect getaways from stressed city living, they offer a unique base from which to explore this magical village and the fascinating Cape Whale Coast & Overberg.

028 341 0432 082 783 7257 028 3410 647 028 341 0651 072 371 7546 028 3410 841

police: 028 3410 601 / 10177 ambulance: 10177 municipality: 028 341 8500 fire & rescue: 079 5077 326 overstrand emergency: 028 313 8000 / 313 8186

Only R143 per month for this size advert!

BOOK YOUR SPACE AT

Tel: 028 341 0965 • Cell: 082 320 0982 enquiries@stanfordcountrycottages.co.za www.stanfordcountrycottages.co.za STANFORD RIVER TALK 26

DESIGN@STANFORDRIVERTALK.CO.ZA OR 079 523 8453

Celebrations in Stanford

If there is a birthday coming up or special occasion you want to share with the village please email ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za

More birthdays

Katie Gordon 13 on 9 March

Josh Wenke 13 March

At long last: Congratulations to Michael Dyson and Margaret who tied the knot on Valentine’s Day!

Val Crocker 25 March

Mari Calitz 19 March

Dean White celebrates his birthday on 28 March and his 13th wedding anniversary with Stephanie on 6 March.

* Frans van Klaveren 3 March – 70 th * Elzane Steynberg 4 March – 70th * Janeen Vallenduuk 6 March * Callum Ground 9 March * Shameela Abrahams 13 March * Roline Klaasen 28 March

Congratulations to Nic and Tracy Bednall for their 20th wedding anniversary on 14 March.

STANFORD RIVER TALK 27

MICHAEL THOMPSON

ESTATES

stewart@alcock.co.za LIVE & WORK IN THE VILLAGE

EIENDOMME

R2 350 000.00

www.mtestates.co.za

RENTALS 1. 3 BED, UNFURN, SINGLE GARAGE PLUS CARPORT AVAIL IMMED R6 500 PM 2. 2 BED, UNFURN, LARGE GARDEN, AVAIL MID MARCH R3000 PM 3. 3 BED, PARTIALLY FURN, AVAIL IMMED R3750 PM 4. 2 BED FULLY FURN WITH ALL MOD CONS, AVAIL 9 MARCH, R6000 PM 5. FULLY FURN,3 BED, 2 BATHROOMS, POOL, AVAIL 1 MAY R6000PM

5 BEDS, 3 BATHS, SWIMMING POOL, CHEF’S QUALITY KITCHEN, GARAGE AND ESTABLISHED GARDEN.

LIFESTYLE LIVING

R3 950 000

10 KMS FROM STANFORD, 5 BED HOME, ALL THE MOD CONS. PLUS 1 BED GUEST/ MANAGER’S COTTAGE. 37 HECTARES UNSPOILT FYNBOS. OWN WATER SUPPLY.

WEEKEND GETAWAY

6. HERMANUS – 6 BED (ALL EN SUITE) FULLY FURN, POOL, ALL MOD CONS, AVAIL IMMED, R21 000PM

R1 395 000

SIMPLY STUNNING!

3 BED, 2 BATH HISTORIC COTTAGE ON LARGE ERF (1200M2) WOODEN FLOORS, DOVER STOVE.

R1 595 000

3 BEDS, 3 BATHROOMS. AWARD WINNING GARDEN. NEXT TO VINEYARD.

Struggling to sell? Why not put an A+ tenant in your property – we have prequalified tenants waiting to move in. STEWART 074 126 7770

beauty and wellness centre

POST HOLIDAY SPECIAL FOR MARCH !

Have one of our facials, Gatineau, RegimA, Theravine or Just Pure and receive a FREE lash/brow tint as well as a hand massage ALL for the price of your normal facial!

Book your appointment TODAY 028 313 0660 ALSO AT MORTON SQUARE STANFORD ON TUESDAYS 1 8 H O P E ST R E E T, H E R MA NU S • 0 2 8 3 1 3 0 6 6 0 • i nfo @ l afe m m e h e r m a n u s .c o .za