village lifestyle
The villagers JANET MARSHALL
You've probably noticed Janet Marshall around the village. Her long, statuesque figure and striking ashen hair stand out from the crowd, as does her deep, mellifluous voice. She is as comfortable behind the Whalecoast FM radio mic as she is behind the Jazzfordian mic, as she sashays across the stage in a glittering gown.
Welcome to Stanford
What brought you to Stanford, and what has kept you here? I had been involved in an Environmental Festival in 2007 and became aware of our vital role in preserving this precious planet of ours. I decided to move to the country, make a lifestyle change and lighten my carbon footprint. I put out feelers and both Nikki Miles and Peter Younghusband contacted me, without the other knowing, and both offered me the same job. I drove out for the interview and within three weeks had moved to Stanford. I've never left. What do you do to unwind in winter time? Read, write, cook, become one with the couch and catch up on BBC programmes. Cuddle my cats. Being a radio presenter gives you a unique opportunity to be heard. What projects, ideas or people do you like to support in the area. Ah, the wonderful gift of being able to reach 25 000 people at any given time! I champion many causes like: • Animal conservation: Panthera Africa, The Plight of the African Penguin, Dyer Island Conservation Trust, Dr Sylvia Earle’s Hope Spots, Animal Welfare and adoption rather than breeding • Nature conservation: Whale Coast Conservation Trust, Grootbos, Platbos, The Green House • Making a difference in the community: Building for Zwelihle, The Just Get On With It Group, Recycling: Stanford Rotary Swop Shop, Penguin Promises • Tourism & Eco-Tourism • The Arts: Hermanus FynArts, Greyton Genedendal Classic For All To commemorate Youth Day, we have asked some local children what they plan to be when they grow up. What did you want to be when you were a child? I wanted to be an actress and have a talk show like TV Presenter, Donna Wurzel. What did you wear to you matric dance, and what was your favourite song at the time? I wore an elegant, black pants suit to The Vineyard Hotel, which was our official Matric Dance venue and a Grecian style, strappy, white dress for our second Matric Dance at the Chapmans Peak Hotel. You see, our High School decided that we were not allowed to take partners to our Matric Dance! So we organized our own. Actually both nights were fabulous, the first because we could have fun with our friends and the cool teachers, and the second because our dates were HOT! My favourite song was probably 'Freak Out' by Le Chic, a song we used as cheerleaders that year. You should have seen those outfits!
NEW FACES
We love being able to welcome new friends and families to Stanford. If you are new in the village, please let us know. Contact the editor, 082 667 0619, philippa.murray@gmail.com
My husband, Sam, and I moved to Stanford recently from the UK. We both decided that we were looking for a change of pace, better quality of life and somewhere quiet after our busy lives in England, to start a family. As soon as we arrived in Stanford we knew we had found the right place. Sam is from the UK but I grew up in Hermanus and feel very at home this side of the Overberg. Adél and Sam Field with Bertie So far we couldn't be happier. We have since welcomed a very naughty little Daschund puppy called Bertie into our lives and we are also expecting our first child in July. I am a fully qualified Nutritional Therapist and have started my business, The Hermanus Nutrition Clinic. I am passionate about good food and proper nutrition; I truly believe you are what you eat! So far my efforts have been well received and I hope to use my training to help people get healthy and eat well. Thank you to all the Stanfordians who have made us feel so welcome! Adél Field
wine talk
The parallel between politics & Port Tania Weich toasts the memory of the Soweto Uprising with port
Funny that! We commemorate political conflict in South Africa during the month of June, on Youth Day. Port, relegated to being served around Christmas time only, similarly has been conceived through conflict and is distinctive through its age. Due to dissent between the French and the British at the beginning of the 18th century, the Royal Navy was used to blockade the French ports and so stifled the French economy. And what, you may ask, does this have to do with you and me? In a wine glass… the short answer is, it prevented the export of French wines and Port was created. Due to lack of access to French wines, the British bought wine from the Portuguese. Because large quantities of wine had to be shipped from the Douro valley without being spoilt, the wine barrels were fortified with local brandy to keep the contents fit for bottling by the time they arrived back home. White port is drunk young and served with seafood and desserts. Ruby port is aged for no more than three years and drunk young as a delicious accompaniment to berry baked desserts. Late Bottled Vintage is left to mature in wood for longer (four to six years) and results in more character yet it is lighter than traditional vintages. Serve with soft cheeses. Vintage port is made from the best grapes in a single year. While the wine is kept for just two years in wood (then bottled unfiltered) these vintages can keep for decades. It is best appreciated on its own or with dark chocolate. Tawny port differs from the rest of the port community in that it is aged in smaller barrels and the wine is allowed to oxidise, which gives it the distinctive ‘tawny’ colour. Since the wine is already oxidised once opened, it can be kept for much longer than ruby ports, hence it being sold with stoppers instead of traditional corks. Funny that! Beauty conceived through conflict? Cheers! Here’s to toasting our beautiful cultural diversity throughout the year. STANFORD RIVER TALK 13