The Herald Festive Shopper 2022

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Fun things to do with the family this festive season

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Tips For Surviving Christmas Christmas is upon us! As well as being a joyous time of eating, drinking and being merry, for many the festive season can also be one of the most stressful. Here are 6 tips to ensure you get the most out of the festive season and make it through relatively unscathed.

allowing yourself to watch one special TV show that you really want to see.

4.Everything In Moderation

Christmas seems to be all about excess – but there is not much enjoyment in feeling the size of a padded Santa suit or as stuffed as the festive turkey! The best advice is moderation – apply it to everything you eat and drink.

Drink moderate amounts of alcohol and try to alternate soft drinks or water with alcoholic ones. As for food, have a bit of what you fancy but try not to stuff your face if you can help it!

1.Plan Ahead Too many people spend weeks worrying about getting the shopping done – it's far easier to do it when you first start thinking about it. Start stocking up with the supplies as soon as possible – try getting a few items over the remaining weeks leading up to Christmas along with your regular shopping. As for presents, a great tip is to have an emergency supply, just a few small gifts to save you from embarrassment in the event of someone arriving unexpectedly with a prezzie for you.

5.Sleep Sleeping is the time when our bodies recover from the excesses of life. Drinking and eating too much can severely affect our sleep patterns, as can the frequent late nights that are a regular occurrence during the festive period. Over Christmas and New Year, many people are sleep-starved leaving them not fit for much after a few late nights, let alone being the life and soul of the party. Therefore, make sure you get some quality sleep – even if it is just a few hours.

2.Don’t Over-Inflate Your Expectations

Don’t expect to create the ‘perfect’ Christmas as it’s near likely to fall short of your expectations. The most important thing is for you and your family to have fun. That does not mean landing yourself in debt for the next 12 months by buying expensive gifts – just spending a bit of time together can be the best present. Remember, if something does not go quite to plan, it really is not the end of the world.

6.Don't Be On Your Own If you are concerned about being lonely over Christmas, either being single or unable to spend it with family, then do something about it now. Think about inviting a few others over who are in the same boat as you and consider offering your house as a venue for the event. Also try not to turn down any invitations to other festive events, provided that you are giving yourself a chance to recover in between!

Adapted from an article found on www.realbuzz.com

3.Don’t Try And Do Everything If you are responsible for cooking and hosting the Christmas Day activities, then don’t take it all upon yourself. Why not ask other family members to bring different parts of the meal, such as snacks, salads or desserts – don’t be afraid to ask for help. You could even rope in the kids to help out. Make sure you have some time for YOU, even if it's just

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Introduction to Nelson Mandela Bay Nelson Mandela Bay, an excellent value-formoney-familyfun-in-the-sun-holiday destination, named after Nelson Mandela – humanitarian, freedom fighter and world icon of peace – is located 763 km east of Cape Town, is regarded as the “official” gateway to the scenic Eastern Cape Province and the world renowned Garden Route. Nelson Mandela Bay, home to Gqeberha, Kariega and Despatch is the only metropolitan area that was allowed by the former president to bear his name. Nelson Mandela Bay represents a large percentage of South Africa’s biological diversity in that it is a meeting point for 5 of the 7 South African Biomes, and the area is renowned for its big 7 safari’s. The area also boasts a marine biodiversity second to none and has been declared the Bottlenose Dolphin Capital of the world. Amongst having two whale species all year round, Algoa Bay also includes the largest colonies of African Penguins and Cape Gannets in the world.

QUICK FACTS

● Nelson Mandela Bay is the Bottlenose Dol-

phin Capital of the world with approximately 28 500 Bottlenose Dolphins using the Bay, and has been declared an International Hope Spot for its Marine Biodiversity. ● Nelson Mandela Bay is the Mohair Capital of the world and processes most of the mohair produced in the world. (approximately 53% of all Mohair is produced in the Eastern Cape, followed by Lesotho with 20%) ● The area is Home to the Big 7 with Addo Elephant National Park being the only National Park in the world that is home to the Big 7 (Lion, Rhino, Buffalo, Leopard, Elephant and then the Great White Shark and the Southern Right Whale) ● Addo Elephant National Park has the highest density of African Elephant in the world making it the perfect place to spot these majestic animals in the wild. ● The city, named after Nelson Mandela, is

renowned for its Friendly People from a diversity of cultures ● The Bay boasts 50% of the endangered African Penguin in its natural habitat on the islands of Nelson Mandela Bay ● Bird Island has the largest colony of Cape Gannets in the World (approximately 70% of population) and can be seen in its full glory during the Sardine Run.

TOP EXPERIENCES Take time to journey into the heart of Nelson Mandela Bay. These top experiences offer the perfect combination of scenic beauty, enthralling history & exhilarating activities that define this beautiful corner of the Eastern Cape.

PURCHASE THE NELSON MANDELA BAY PASS This smartcard access card is your ticket to adventure as it provides you with free admission to a wide variety of attractions & activities in Nelson Mandela Bay.

SAVOUR GOURMET PLEASURES Try-out at a few of the premier dining out districts such as Richmond Hill, Baakens Valley and the Beachfront where many stylish restaurants serve tasty cuisine and where trendy coffee shops, deli’s and speciality wine shops have flourished.

BEACH & COASTAL ENCOUNTERS Gqeberha’s pristine beaches are legendary, three of which boast full Blue Flag status.

Wide expanses of golden sands and warm water are ideal for safe sheltered swimming, other water sport and beach leisure activities.

tween October and June ● African Penguin, Seals, Dolphins, Cape

Gannets and other Marine birds: All year

MICRO-BREWERIES The Craft Beer Industry is increasing in popularity amongst beer connoisseurs. Experience a Micro-Brewery tour and visit some trending micro-breweries as each has their own carefully crafted recipes, natural ingredients and uniquely flavoured profiles. The range of craft beers & artisanal ciders offers a variety of taste profiles.

HISTORICAL TREASURES Explore historical nuggets of interest in the city centre which showcases some of the finest architectural attractions. As the landing place of the 1820 Settlers, the area offers a wealth of treasures.

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK The only Park in the world to be home & habitat to the BIG 7: view the largest density of African Elephants on the planet, Cape buffalo, leopard, black rhino, lions & great white shark and seasonal southern right whale in the marine section.

ROUTE 67 Uniting Arts, Culture & Heritage, the route portrays 67 Public Art Works symbolising Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of work dedicated to the Freedom of South Africa & includes 67 steps leading up to the second largest flag in Africa.

FUN FAMILY ESCAPADES

Broaden your intercultural understanding by joining an expert guide on a vibrant, authentic & interactive tour through local communities of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Speciality activities include guided Segway beachfront tours, indoor climbing at Valley Crag Indoor Climbing Centre, recreational trampoline activities @ Gravity Indoor Trampoline Park, Indoor Go Carting at Algoa Grand Prix, Kariega Science Centre and VW Auto Pavilion automotive tour amongst others.

ECO MARINE SAFARIS IN ALGOA BAY

SCENIC EXCURSIONS

Opportunity to see 50% of the endangered African penguin population in their natural habitat, Cape Gannets, 4 different dolphin species with the largest Bottlenose Dolphin populations in the world, 4 whale species & various other marine species and birds on a boat charter.

The Dynamic typography and diversity of soft corals and marine life makes it a rewarding and exciting place to dive.

Venture out and explore picturesque coastal riches, hidden gems, exquisite lush countryside with country restaurants and quaint tea gardens along the Ibhayi Sunshine Saunter.

Enjoyable alternative options include a gourmet picnic or a wine and tasting at a small vineyard.

AUTHENTIC SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COMMUNITY BASED EXPERIENCES

Best times to view ● ● ● ● ●

Sardine Run: January - June Humpback whales: June - December Southern rights: July - October Great White Sharks: April - September Raggy Sharks: All year around, best be-

TRADE AND MEDIA TOOLKIT Our Trade and Media toolkit is developed in order to assist the media and public in promoting Nelson Mandela Bay on their own platforms in order to create more awareness of our wonderful city. Below you can find photos, videos, documents, research and stats, submit or view events, view our news releases and sign up for our newsletter.

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Mall Festive Décor with a Sustainable twist Our Theme for the 2022 Mall Festive décor is Upcycle, Reuse and Repurpose, this was captured beautifully by our Creative Director Nicky Christodoulou and the team. This year we invited well known designer Jason Kieck from ILULA Interiors and Designs to build on that theme and dress up our infamous and very popular mannequins. Jason introduced responsible design buy making all flower ornaments and mounded bodices from paper mache.

This objective provides beauty to items that would have been seen as waste and creates a positive mindset and environmental awareness during the season. Added to the creative design, mall décor was constructed from our old Christmas Tree branches. Using the bottom of the tress as our mannequins’ “skirts” and the top of the trees were reused and repurpose to make beautiful ceiling garlands. These were decorated with fairly lights and traditional baubles we had in our storeroom. Adding to a multiuse goal, we brought the outdoors indoors with beautiful bright bougainvillea cuttings and branches to dress the high ceiling in front of our Edgars Store where the designer mannequins are on display.

In the area linking the original mall to the waterfall area, the ceilings were donned with twigs and branches foraged from local open fields in our area, these were adorned in traditional Christmas decorations and lights to create a statement of sustainability and again honouring the theme to recycled, repurposed and reuse.

closed ● Normal Trading Hours resume on 27h De-

cember ● Restaurants and Play Park will remain open

Each area was carefully planned, and alEnjoy all the Festive Fun Walmer Park Has though elements remain similar from previ- to offer this Christmas with Extended Shopous years the style and design in our various ping Hours from 16th to 24th December ● 16 December: 09h00 wings of the mall were repo18h00 sitioned to show off the ● 17 and 24 December: magic and joy the festive sea09h00 – 17h00 son brings. ● 18 December: 09h00 – Thank you to our Décor 17h00 Team this year: Creative Di● 19 to 23 December: 09h00 rector and Project Manager: – 19h00 Nicky Christodoulou, Man● 25 December: Optional nequins Visual Artist: Jason Trading, some stores will be Kieck from ILULA Interiors & closed Design, Woodwork and Join● 26 December: 09h00 – ery: Algoa Custom Interiors, 17h00 Installation: Angelic Wonders, ● 1 January: Optional TradSteelwork: A&E Manufacturing, some stores will be ing, Photography: Brad Peens

later Bring the Kids to see Santa and have a Photo taken with him in Centre Court from 14 – 24 December daily from 10am to 4pm. This is bought to you by Walmer park Tenant Kodak Profoto Eglings. Kids can also send their Postcards to Santa and to WIN a R200 Walmer Park Gift Card. Printed Postcards will be available or you can write a special letter, this can be dropped off in the Santa Post box at the Information Kiosk from 7 – 23 December.

Have your Gifts beautifully wrapped at the charity run Gift wrapping station in Centre Court area from 14 – 24 December, all proceeds are in aid of the Lions Club of St. Croix.

Shoppers are also able to give the Gift of choice this year, a Walmer Park Gift card. The Information Kiosk will be open for sales throughout the festive season during Centre Trading hours.

“Our hope this during the coming month is that shoppers visiting our Walmer Park Shopping Centre to not only enjoy our variety of unique stores and tenant offerings. But also spend some joyful hours walking though the mall to experience our Decor showcase, we want shoppers to take photos of their favourite element and share it with friends and family around the world.” said Marketing Manager Deveda Bloem.

For more details visit the Walmer Park Shopping Centre Facebook Page or Website.

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Here are 8 easy ways to instantly make your home feel more festive

1. KEEP YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE SIMPLE We all have visions of switching up our tree decorations every year and experimenting with a new theme. It sounds fun in theory, but to save on stress and money, keep things simple. Pick out decorations you're drawn to in similar colors to create a cohesive look that'll last you for years.

You can of course gradually update your col-

Another quick way to show everyone you have this whole Christmas decorating thing down is to string up some fairy lights. Literally, just stick them around your door, throw them on a bush, or scatter them on a window sill.

What we love about fairy lights is how easy 2. GO FOR LOW EFFORT MAXIMUM they are to set up and how big of a difference 3. MAKE THE MOST OF CORNERS AND they make.

IMPACT DECORATIONS There are a few Christmassy decorations SMALL SPACES There are tons of clever ideas for displaying that, on their own, make a major impact. If you don’t have a ton of room for decorat- your fairy lights out there, whether you're ing, just make the most of empty surfaces. looking for indoor or outdoor inspiration.

This could be a window sill, the top of a console table, or a set of shelves.

6. SWITCH UP YOUR CUSHIONS FOR Use these areas to create a festive display. FESTIVE ALTERNATIVES This could be as simple as adding a festive How long does it take to change some pillow throw blanket, a scene of bottle brush trees, covers? A minute? Two minutes? Changing or one or two mini holiday houses. out your cushions or throwing on a new holiday-themed cover for them is a really quick way to instantly make your living room feel 4. HANG A WREATH ON THE FRONT more festive. They can be extremely ChristDOOR An obvious but super easy Christmas deco- massy or simply hint at the holidays. rating idea is sticking a wreath on your front 8. GET CREATIVE WITH CHRISTMAS door.

It tells everyone, "Look I'm organized, I'm fes- TABLE DECOR tive, and I'm most certainly not procrastinat- Okay, they're in the door, they've seen the ing decorating inside or ticking off my Christ- door wreath, now whip it off the door and stick it on the table with a candle in the cenmas list."

You can pick out a ready-made Christmas ter. Ta-daaa! A table centerpiece that hogs wreath that's full of holiday cheer for ease or the limelight without costing you extra. You you can make your own wreath that'll last could also bring in candles, garlands, and ornaments to fully decorate your table or dinlong after the tree comes down. ing nook.

5. STRING UP SOME OUTDOOR FAIRY This article was published on www.realLIGHTS homes.com lection by adding a few new baubles each year, but for ease, just make sure they match your other decorations somewhat. You might be after something more wild and colorful — either way, stay on theme and don't overcomplicate it.

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Botanical and evergreen garlands are the perfect examples of that, as are wooden bead garlands, lanterns, and jars of ornaments or pinecones. Go to town wrapping items around banisters or windows, sticking sprigs around pictures, trailing decor along your mantel, or creating a lovely tablescape.

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What to pack for holiday? |

5 essential things to bring with you One of the things that takes the most time when we prepare for trips is to organize the suitcase. Having to think about what to wear and always stay with the feeling that we forget something important. Therefore, it is usually very useful to prepare a list of things, which serves as a guide and makes the task much easier.

heart of the luggage, surrounded by clothes that can mitigate any impact. Your electronic staff is one of the most important things in the list of what to pack for holiday.

Remember to check before leaving if it is necessary to carry an adapter according to the type of the plug of the place you will visit.

Appropriate clothing

Basic prevention kit

To pack well, carry what you normally wear, not what you would like to wear and have not dared before using.

Going comfortable is important and it is not the time to experiment. A good trick to make luggage is to make sets of clothes, that is, to wear clothes that combine with each other so that you do not stop putting something on because it does not combine. Thus, if you are only going to travel a few days, you can make daily sets using several articles several days.

If it is a long trip, load with shirts, dresses, skirts or shoes that can combine well with each other. Also, think that laundries exist all over the world and that clothes can be washed and thus avoid going very heavy. If you are going to visit lots of temples, such as on a trip to India, remember to pack a scarf for modesty.

It is always necessary to carry a small first aid kit when you travel. Keep in mind that if you do not check luggage you cannot carry scissors or liquids of more than 100 ml. Important items include: pain relief, bandages, antihistamines, antibiotics, mosquito spray and - if you take medication for specific control of any disease - take enough chronic meds for the trip. Don’t forget your sunscreen and moisturizer in case of sunburn.

Money, cards and documentation Some hotels and car rentals ask for a credit card as a guarantee, and you never know when an unforeseen event appears. Remember to verify copies of the required documentation and keep them as back up.

Some tricks to reduce weight Avoid chaos in your suitcase by storing your clothing in packing cubes. An extra foldable bag or backpack might come in handy should you need to repack your luggage.

If you travel only with hand luggage, carry the bulkiest with you while you are in the transport. For example: if you go to a cold destination you could carry the coat outside and with the larger footwear so that it does not occupy so much volume in the suitcase.

Electronic equipment Remember that electronic equipment must be very well packed, to avoid damage. Good advice is to carry them in your handbag or in a suitable backpack to protect them. And so, do not check these items in the hold baggage. If you have no choice but to carry some of them inside the suitcase, remember to put them in the

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Jam-packed programme for Kouga Summer Festival KOUGA is gearing up for four weeks of non-stop fun at the first Kouga Summer Festival.

Set to take place from 9 December 2022 to 1 January 2023, the festival will feature live entertainment, a colour run, beach sport, Christmas carols, and loads of kiddies’ entertainment.

“We are very excited to be hosting so many activities at one festival right here in Jeffreys Bay,” said Mayor Horatio Hendricks.

“Kouga has set out to become the Events Capital of South Africa to increase tourist numbers and a festival like this puts us solidly on the right track.”

The festival will kick-off with a tourist welcoming campaign at the entrances to Kouga on December 9.

The opening of the season will take place at Dolphin Beach in Jeffreys Bay on December 10. Locals and visitors can look forward to kids’ entertainment from 09:00 – 12:00, followed by a

street float parade from 14:00 – 16:00.

The festive lights will be switched on at 21:00, followed by fireworks at 21:10.

The Beach Sports Tournament will take place from December 16 – 18, while the Colour Run will ensure fun on December 17.

The Kouga Summer Festival Roadshow will take to the streets from December 19 to 22 – visiting Hankey, Patensie, Loerie, Thornhill, Humansdorp, and Sea Vista.

An Outdoor Picnic and Christmas Carols, with guest artist Stephanie Baartman from Getroud met Rugby, will be held on December 23, followed by the Marina Mile on December 30.

The festivities will continue with a New Year’s Eve Celebration on December 31 – live entertainment from 18:00 – 23:50 and fireworks at 00:00.

There will also be plenty for the younger set to enjoy.

“The Kouga Summer Festival, a family festival, is the first of many,” said Hendricks.

For more information, visit Kouga Municipality’s Facebook Page.

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Road safety tips: Make your festive season road trip a safe one Planning the Journey and Rules of the Road ● Obey the rules of the road and carry your driver's licence with you. ● Plan the route to your holiday destination and give yourself enough time to reach the destination. ● Use a GPS navigation tool or a road atlas to plan your trip in advance. ● For peace of mind, try to stick to major routes or toll roads - If you are going to travel on the ‘back roads’ identify the towns along the route and what the distance is between them. ● Do not get stranded without fuel - Always plan ahead where you will refuel. ● Plan rest stops along the way and if you are travelling with kids it is a great way to let them know when and where you will be stopping. ● Always ensure that a friend or family member, who is not travelling with you, is aware of the route that you are planning to travel. Ideally, you should also update them on your progress of the journey. ● Try to avoid driving after dark if possible. ● Expect others not to be as obedient to the law as yourself.

Vehicle Fitness ● Make sure that your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before departure. ● All lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, exhaust system and tyres should be carefully examined for faults. ● Take your vehicle for a full check before embarking on your holiday travels!

● Check your shock absorbers before start- ● Infants between 0 months and one year of Ambulance: 10177 age, or up to 10kg in weight, should travel in ing your trip!

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Driver Fitness ● Have a good rest before you embark on Where do I report Bad Driving? your journey.

Know the Emergency numbers National Traffic Call Centre Number: 0861 400 ● Take safety breaks every 2 hours or Police: 10111 800 200km ● Do not drink and drive. If you intend to consume alcohol make alternative arrangements so you will not be behind the wheel. ● Remain alert at all times and avoid Driver Distractions such as NEW & USED CAR SPARES cellular conversations.

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Women leaders striving to place iconic Bay Stadium in the hearts of its citizens and sport lovers

newly laid grass pitch is developing well ahead of big international match

The icon Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium has captured the hearts of all sport lovers. The Stadium continues to position itself as a multi-purposes facility fit and ready to hosting events of any magnitude. With formidable women leaders such as Zikhona Prince, Sandiswa Silwana and Zimkhitha Mbonja, the icon arena strives to place its brand in the many hearts and minds of its citizens and international audience.

At the helm of the stadium management is Acting Stadium Manager, Zikhona Prince who was previously the Head of Finance Department.

Prince has established a strong and healthy relationship with municipalities, anchor tenants as well as other key stakeholders. She continues to provide sound human resource management aligned to the delivery of IBA strategic goals to ensure that the overall performance of the facility in relation to development and success of programs and competitions, financial management, facility utilisation, customer service and the presentation and condition of the facility.

Her scope of work has enabled industry leaders to take note of the Stadium’s world class venue offerings. The Stadium has delivered accident-free sporting events and provide customers the joy of the stadium experience.

“Now we have a state-of-the-art Sport Museum which keeps memorabilia, historic sporting infrastructure used throughout the existence of the stadium and video clips of

great NMB Stadium sporting moments”, says Prince.

Prince acknowledged that, “The main challenge about my role is not being taken seriously, because I’m in a male dominant industry. Lack of trust. Everyone expecting me to things their way. Being labelled as soft, weak, and too emotional simply because I’m a female. With that said, having a woman in a leadership position also encourages others to thrive. I believe that women are able to make bold and wise decisions as leaders, this helps make the team environment less authoritative and more cooperative bringing a familylike feel to the team.”

Everyone at the stadium works together to ensure smooth running on event day, some going an extra mile to assist where needed.

Prince calls on women to do everything to

the best of their abilities and be confident.

“Engage in discussion and keep up to do with what is happening around you and around the world and back less experience women for new opportunities i.e. give female colleagues a chance to manage projects”, added Prince.

Under Prince’s leader is the Stadium’s Technical Supervisor, Sandiswa Silwana who is responsible for electrical maintenance and installations, plumbing maintenance, IT systems, audio visual set up and system maintenance.

Silwana’s states that, “We always deliver beyond expectation and more pro-active than re-active, however one can check everything before the event but technically something can go wrong, hence being proactive is important. Silwana expresses that teamwork and enthusiasm from the staff and the happiness

Now we have a state-of-the-art Sport Museum which keeps memorabilia, historic sporting infrastructure used throughout the existence of the stadium and video clips of great NMB Stadium sporting moments

on the faces of our fans keeps her going. She believes that women must be encouraged to equip themselves for their personal growth and whilst experiencing challenges one must make their mark and excel in what they do.

Stadium Assistant Electrician, Zimkhita Mbonja assists in the maintenance of electrical systems in the stadium.

As a qualified Electrician Trade Tested, Mbonja ensures compliance of electrical systems in the stadium and responds to electrical break and guarantee minimal downtime of operation.

Mbonja believes that the extensive rollout of 5G technologies challenges the Stadium to need technology advancement in order to maintain energy saving efficiency. She is proud to be part of a team that work on the efficiency of the tripple play system and assists in running the stadium smoothly. Mbonja enjoys being of service and gets satisfaction from fixing things.

“There is always resistance, particularly in my field of work that is male dominated.

Women leaders are not trusted easily both by men and women. As much as it can be a male dominated profession, you can still be the best you can be. As women, we should not be afraid to speak up, work hard and empower ourselves.” added Mbonja.

The Mandela Bay Development Agency is currently at the helm of the R2 billion asset as the operator (under the guidance of the Municipality). We celebrate the women leaders and the incredible staff at the Stadium.

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