The Month
JANUARY 2009
15
Behind the Mike With Helen Naude from Franschhoek FM
much, but cortisone cream is great. I didn’t like the sound of that, but he says the fear of the cortisone component is unfounded. Tracy, the doctor, says those who develop the big bumps after the bites are allergic to the saliva of the mozzies (ugh). She supports the cortisone cream treatment and reassured us that the hives are a localised reaction which will not poison your system.
At Franschhoek FM we were as keen as everyone in the valley to welcome December onto our schedule and start the countdown to the Magic of Bubbles festival. In the studio I got up close and personal with one of the organisers, Geoff, to discuss the big day. He pointed out that the valley people were manning all manner of posts from reception, security, entertainment and catering to the obvious pouring of their own Cap Classique. Well satisfied with the clear involvement of the whole community, we headed for the monument on the appointed day and revelled in the excellence of this home event. I was delighted to invite a very pretty Franschhoek actress to the studio. Anneki Wilken, who’s going to grade 4, is a member of the cast of the South African movie Antjie Somers. Acting in a movie was a new and interesting thing for her to do, although like most actressess she really loves stage work. The scary part was being strangled in one of the scenes, and the best part was dressing up and having professional make-up she said.
In the conservation conversation on the 8th of December, Tony Frost discussed the speech which the CSIR scientist Dr Anthony Turton was not allowed to deliver at the conference in November. It was scary stuff, not because of the controversy, but because of the proof that the water situation in South Africa is very serious. There’s not much of it, it needs to be managed judiciously and greater scarcity could have a destabilising effect on the country, to put it mildly. We received the sad news that our foundersponsor, Dr Frans Koens, had died in Holland. His generous donation made it possible for us to start Franschhoek FM fifteen months ago. Prof John van Zyl came to the studio to pay tribute to this refined gentleman who donated his savings to people he didn’t know, so that they could communicate on radio. We are looking forward to broadcasting in the New Year. We also look forward to meeting the valley people who have something to say on air and especially those who feel they can write and/or read news on radio.
Robertson Rolball Run Riot By Phil Brown
The recently held all-day competition at Franschhoek Bowls Club saw Robertson take first place. Martin van Zyl, the President of Boland Bowls, led his team to victory in the ten team field. Franschhoek’s two teams of local heroes finishing a respectable third and fifth. It was obviously God’s will. The club would like to thank Agrimark, the main sponsor, for their invaluable support and their participation in the prize giving. From a public relations aspect the day was a huge success and it is our intention to make this an annual event. Well it’s about time the Argus Cycle Tour had a bit of competition. Sponsorship from local business was not in short supply as they contributed enough goodies to award every team a prize. Our benefactors: Haut Espoir, Mark Tanner, Elephant and
Barrel, La Veron, La Vie de Luc and MDC Max Datwyler from Paarl. All the club members pulled their weight on the day as events ran as smoothly as a Bruce Fordyce marathon. It is at this point that I must apologise to the masses of bowls fanatics in Franschhoek for not lifting first prize. But then your support on the day was conspicuous by its absence. Letters of remorse and guilt would be gratefully accepted. It has to be said that the team running the club are a sight to behold in the execution of their responsibilities. As are the teams we put on the green. Hey, we were just unlucky, okay? Amos (groundsman extraordinaire), thanks lad, you did a bloody good job. I love this game!
Two more ladies who do us proud honoured us with their presence in the studio. Lizelle Gerber, the white wine maker at Boschendal was very chuffed with her new rosé Cap Classique which she launched at the festival. Susan Erasmus the wine maker at Vrede & Lust, looked very relaxed for an award winning wine maker, and proved to be a fan of good screw caps. No sentimental embracing of cork! In the medical interviews I focused on the things which send us to the pharmacy and doctor’s rooms during the holidays. Our pharmacist,Gerhard, says there’s not much we can do about the big hives which develop after mozzie bites. Antihistamine creams don’t help
JANUARY 2009
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