Download Magazine - fwg.co.za

Meet our Tennis Pro 

BMX Racing 

Get lost in Lisbon 

Irene Village Market 

Valentines Day Tips 

Published in close co-operation with Fourways Gardens Home Owners Association 

Photo by Thinus van Staden 

Taken at Fourways Gardens 

Published in close co-operation with Fourways Gardens Home Owners Association 

Published in close co-operation with the Fourways Gardens Home Owners Association 

ISSUE I S S U E 3 1 0 2011 2 0 1 0 

ISSUE 1 2012

26 

32 

CONTENTS 

Important Numbers 

Estate Office: 

(operating hours 08h00 – 16h30 – Monday to Friday) 

Estate Manager: 

Corné Meyer 

Estate Security: 

Security and Compliance Manager – 

Johan van Schalkwyk 

Control Room 

Emergency and Medical Response 

Estate Events & Club Operations Manager: 

Judy Veale 

Clubhouse 

Table Reservations, Party Bookings 

and Take Aways: 

Council Service and Enquiries: 

In case of emergency: 

Police/ Flying squad 

Life Hospital 

Eskom 

City Power 

Joburg Water 

Water/Sanitation/Sewer problems 

Fraud and Corruption Hotline 

Metro Police 

Fire and Ambulance 

011 465 7731 

info@fwg.co.za 

011 465 7731 

corne@fwg.co.za 

083 788 5038 

johan@fwg.co.za 

011 465 5465/6 

011 467 1400 

011 465 7731 

judy@fwg.co.za 

011 465 0937 

011 375 5555 

10111 

011 875 1000 

086 003 7566 

011 375 5555 

011 375 5555 

011 375 5555 

0800 002 587 

011 490 1600 

10177 

Estate News 

05 From the Estate Manager 

06 Eddi wins Technology Awards 

08 Security update 

10 Introducing our new Clubhouse Caterers 

13 Schedule of Hall Activities 2012 

15 Profile of our Tennis Coach 

18 Running Club News 

21 Planning for Valentine’s Day 

Travel 

24 The search for the best pink champagne 

26 Travel: Lisbon 

30 Irene Village Market 

32 Birding: Re-naming the Plover 

34 Keeping Your Pool Clear 

39 Exotic Pets: Parrots 

40 Children’s Christmas Party 

Lifestyle 

42 BMX 

45 Valentine’s Recipe 

47 Divorce 

49 Book Reviews 

51 FWG Approved Estate Agents 

52 Togetherness and the Fourways Express 

40 

15 

FOURWAYS 

GARDENS

Lifestyle Estate Manager • • 

On behalf of the Fourways Gardens Home 

Owners Association, Trustees and Staff, I 

would like to wish all our residents a very 

happy, healthy and prosperous 2012. 

While we look forward to the year ahead amidst 

concerns over the local and World economies, there 

are nevertheless small things that we can do here 

in Fourways Gardens to make everyone’s lives more 

enjoyable. Some of these actions, or non-actions, 

simply boil down to being considerate towards 

those around us. 

USE OF MOTORISED BIKES, QUAD BIKES, 

MOTORISED SCOOTERS AND VEHICLES 

As the roads within the Estate form part of the Town 

Council’s jurisdiction, they are not excluded from the 

regulations set out in the National Roads Act 93 of 

1996. Please make sure that all motorised vehicles 

are roadworthy, legally licensed and registered 

before they are used. We further urgently request 

that no children be allowed to drive around the 

Estate unless they have a valid driver’s licence. JMPD 

will be on the Estate on a regular basis to conduct 

law enforcement operations. 

Estate Manager 

TRAILER PARK SITUATED ON K56 

We are in the process of cleaning and upgrading 

the Trailer Park situated on the open land (K56) 

adjacent to Phase 2. If you have any boats, 

caravans, additional vehicles or trailers parked 

there, please update your details and/or register 

these vehicles with the Estate Office. 

SECURITY FEEDBACK 

For the period covering December and early 

January, we are pleased to report there were no 

forced entry or perimeter incidents. Thank you to 

those residents who informed us that they were 

going away on holiday. It helped us tremendously 

in ensuring that we had an incident-free Festive 

Season. 

MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT 

We would like to remind you that the maximum 

speed limit is 40 km per hour. Remember, this is 

a family Estate and we certainly do not want any 

child, pet or accident related incidents to occur 

at any time! 

Regards 

Representatives of the security, maintenance 

and garden staff of Fourways Gardens receiving 

gifts for their families and children in celebration 

of Christmas. The gifts were donated by the 

children of Fourways Gardens residents. 

The Fourways Gardens Estate Magazine focuses on the Fourways Gardens Residential Estate. The magazine is distributed to all residents at the guardhouses. 

The magazine is co-ordinated and published by EIA Publishing (Pty) Ltd on behalf of Fourways Gardens Homeowners Association. The opinions of workers and 

personnel of EIA Publishing (Pty) Ltd do not necessarily reflect those of the HOA of the Fourways Gardens Residential Estate. 

PUBLISHER - EIA Publishing (Pty) Ltd www.eiapublishing.co.za 

SALES MANAGER - Martin Fourie: 072 835 8405 - E-mail: martin@eiapublishing.co.za 

ADMIN MANAGER - Zandré Lindeque: 084 662 0001 - E-mail: zandre@eiapublishing.co.za 

EDITOR - Bev Hermanson: 071 205 9502 - E-mail: bevh@tjmedia.co.za 

FWG Magazine Co-ordinatior: Judy Veale: 072 443 2667 E-mail: judy@fwg.co.za 

ADVERTISING - Alexandra Kennedy: 082 336 5060 - E-mail: alexandrak@nowmedia.co.za 

Ross Speirs : 082 454 1474 - E-mail: rosss@nowmedia.co.za 

LAYOUT - Karien van Wyk: karien@eiapublishing.co.za 

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY - Jaqui White: jacqui@vividimages.co.za 

PRETORIA OFFICE - Tel: 012 348 5109 , Fax: 012 348 1647, • Ground Floor Block B East Newlands Office Park • 261 Lois Avenue • Newlands • Pretoria 

The next booking deadline for Issue 2 of 2012 is 10 February 2012 

Fourways Gardens | Issue 1 2012 • 5 

40

Estate News • 

Eddi 

wins technology 

awards 

The eddi team extends a heartfelt 

thank you to all residents who have 

supported their project over the 

past year and wish you a peaceful and 

prosperous new year. An exciting accolade 

is that the eddi has recently won the 2011 

eta award under the ‘Innovation’ category as 

well as the TT100 award for ‘Management of 

Technology’. 

For residents who are not familiar with 

eddi: Power Utilities and Municipalities 

have embarked on a proactive joint project 

that will enable residents to become energy 

aware and consequently more energy 

efficient. 

By means of smart grid technology and a 

FREE electricity demand display instrument 

called eddi, they are committed to assisting 

residents with monitoring their energy 

consumption in order to maintain a healthy 

balance on the national grid. Eddi allows 

you to keep track of your household’s 

electricity usage in near real-time. A view of 

near real-time consumption will assist you 

with familiarising yourself with the amount 

of electricity that each appliance consumes 

when functioning optimally hence you can 

now detect faulty appliances. This nifty 

tool can lead to diligent energy saving 

behaviour, which in turn means reduced 

electricity bills. 

If you are a resident of Fourways Gardens, and you 

would like to get an eddi, please send an email to 

info@myeddi.com, with the following information: 

•Your name and surname 

•Your full address i.e house number, street name 

and the Phase that you reside in 

•Your contact details. 

Some additional benefits of having the device: 

• You can track high energy consuming appliances and take action to reduce 

usage eg: by using geyser timers. 

• Your Utility can communicate important information to you via text messages 

on your eddi. 

• If you have a PC and internet access you can visit their consumer consumption 

site to view historical data about your water usage and carbon footprint 

generated as a result of your electricity consumption, which is available 

exclusively to eddi customers. Log onto www.lvss.co.za and register now! 

• Through this innovative technology your Utility can make certain users 

‘critical’ so that that they are not cut off during periods of high energy 

demand e.g. traffic lights, police stations, guardhouses etc. 

• You have real time detection of electrical faults in your area and quicker 

reconnection if you service has been disrupted. 

• Through the new smart grid technology, your Utility will be able to 

retrieve accurate usage information for your premises instead of relying on 

estimations. 

• There is no need for any installation of the eddi and the the eddi team do not 

require access to your home – eddi is a simple plug and play device that can 

be used at any available 3 pin wall socket. 

For eddi technical assistance or help with the consumer 

consumption console, send an email to support@myeddi.com. For 

general eddi information, send an email to info@myeddi.com. 


The eddi girls with a delighted customer

Security • 

A letter to RSS and the Fourways Gardens Management 

Dear Nikki and Bremmon, 

On Wednesday the 11th of January, I placed an emergency call to RSS in Fourways Gardens as my father was complaining of chest 

pains. He had just come out of hospital where he had been treated for pneumonia. 

I was approximately 10 minutes away, and during that time RSS called me to tell me that a paramedic was on her way. Kerry called me 

to get more information and to confirm that she was on her way. When I drove into my driveway, Kerry was already attending to my 

father and calmly called an ambulance and began emergency treatment. 

We left with the ambulance, Kerry driving me to the Olivedale Clinic in 5pm traffic as I did not know the way. My Dad was 

immediately admitted to the Cardiothoracic ICU. 

Kerry stayed with my Dad while nurses attended to him, as his condition was now critical. She also stayed with him while I went to 

Reception to do the admission and when I was finished, she explained to me what was actually going on. 

My father is still in the CTICU at Olivedale and almost died on Wednesday evening, remaining critical and unstable for 3 days. He is 

now off the ventilator, and whilst still very confused from all the drugs, he is eating and drinking and will be in a normal ward in a 

couple of days. 

I would like to commend Kerry Keith for her professionalism, her empathy and her very quick appraisal of a very serious situation - 

ultimately saving a life. 

She is a credit to your organisation. 

Yours sincerely 

Fran Webster 

Resident : Fourways Gardens 

FOURWAYS GARDENS 

DOMESTIC WATCH 

Month Day Date Time Venue 

Feb Thursday 16th 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Mar Thursday 22nd 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Apr Thursday 19th 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

May Thursday 24th 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Jun Thursday 21st 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

July Thursday 19th 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Aug Thursday 23rd 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Sept Thursday 20th 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Oct Thursday 18th 11h30 Fourways 

Gardens Club 

House Phase 2 

Nov Year end party TBC TBC To be 

confirmed 


2012 CRIME PREVENTION MEETINGS 

All meetings are held at the Club House (Phase 2), 

69 Camdeboo Road Fourways Garden 

At 11h30 every second last Thursday of the month 

• MAD (Making A Difference) DomesticWatch is not a 

course it is an ongoing process of building confidence, 

sharing information and teaching valuable lessons in 

crime prevention and how to become an informer without 

putting lives in jeopardy! 

• Certificates of attendance are given to regular attendees in 

November at the BIG ceremony. 

• The Police attend when they can to add valuable 

information & special guest speakers are invited to cover 

certain important topics. 

• Refreshments are served and any contribution towards 

these will be appreciated. 

• All employees & employers are encouraged to attend. 

• The meeting starts promptly at 11h30. Registration 

11h00. Lesson duration 1 hour.There is no charge for 

attendance. 

• Aprons andT-shirts available with MAD logo \ 

– R60 each. 

For any further information: 

call Penny Steyn 082 461 6968 or email 

madpenny@absamail.co.za

Clubhouse • 

New Operators 

We’d like to introduce 

ourselves to those residents 

we’ve not yet had the 

pleasure of meeting. 

We were appointed in Mid Nov 

and hit the ground running on 

the 1st of December 2011. We 

have catered for a number of 

large functions, Pizza nights, 

Pub Night Buffets and the 

Children’s Christmas Party, 

where we served cake and 

scones to 400 people. We 

also had incredibly successful 

Christmas and New Year’s Eve 

Parties. 

@ the Clubhouse 

We hope to meet everyone 

in due course. We’re planning 

a few exciting functions and 

would love everyone to join 

us! 

Thank You to all those 

residents who’ve ‘given us a 

chance’ and who continue to 

support us. We look forward 

to your continued support 

and truly appreciate the 

positive response we’ve 

enjoyed thus far. We hope to 

see more folks sampling our 

fare at the Clubhouse and 

enjoying our take-outs. 

FWG Clubhouse 

WHERE FAMILY & FRIENDS EAT, DRINK & ENJOY GOOD TIMES - Since 2011 

CHRISTMAS DAY 25 DEC 2011 

What a FAB Turn-out ! 

A very big Thank You to all those 

FWG residents who ‘dared’ to test 

the waters with new Caterers for 

this special day! We were told, 

quote: “No one will come. Most 

people are away on holiday!” 

Thank goodness we followed our 

instincts and were jam packed on 

Christmas day. We served a plated 

Avo & Prawn starter and the 

Mains were all on the Carvery 

Buffet where guests enjoyed 5 

different roast meats and loads of 

veggies, roast potatoes and salads. 

Children had loads of fun on the 

Club’s new waterslide. 

We hope to see you all next 

Christmas!! � 


Kindest Regards 

René & Deborah. 

All our Pizzas, Pastas and most Mains are available for 

take-out. Delivery Free within FWG & close proximity. 

Contact Deb, Charl or René 

011 465 0937 / 082 041 6758 / 082 569 1869

Lifestyle Clubhouse • • 

VALENTINE’S MONTH 

11 Feb – FWG VALENTINE’S DISCO kindly sponsored by 

Heronbridge College. Meet from 5pm. Disco starts at 7pm. 

14 Feb – ROMANTIC CANDLELIT VALENTINE’S DINNER 

Couples will be serenaded by musicians while being treated to 

a 3-course dinner accompanied by a bottle of Cap Classique. 

Bookings essential. Call 011 465 0937 

to make your reservation. 

FWG FAMILY FUN WALK 

GERMAN BEER GARDEN 

21 March – Human Right’s Day 

FWG Family Fun Walk in the morning 

kindly sponsored by FWG Running 

Club & Lew Geffen Sotheby’s – 

German Beer Garden, Gluhwein, 

Bratwurst, Schnitzels, Bokwurst – a 

German Feast in the Garden for 

Friends & Family. 

Children’s entertainment 

provided. 

NEW YEAR’S 

EVE PARTY ! 

Happy 2012 

Lots of dancing, eating, drinking ….. Thank 

you to all residents who shared New Year’s 

Eve with us. Thanks for the great support 

and for seeing the old year out and the new 

year in at our Clubhouse …. for making the 

special effort to dress the part. You all did 

the theme justice and the ladies looked 

especially sexy & ravishing in corsets, lace 

and feathers. Gents looked great in glittery 

tophats and bowties. 

We’re easing into the New Year after being 

dumped into the deep end on 1 Dec …. 

Looking forward to hosting more birthday 

parties, Weddings, Work functions, 

Conferences, Toddler Town parties & Kid’s 

movie nights, so please watch this space � 

We wish you all a wonderfully happy and 

very prosperous New Year ! 

FWG Clubhouse 

WHERE FAMILY & FRIENDS EAT, DRINK & ENJOY GOOD TIMES 

- Since Dec’11 


SAINT PATRICK’S DAY 

17 March will soon be 

upon us and we welcome 

all those who become 

Irish on St Patrick’s Day 

*WINK*WINK*WINK* 

Please join us for some 

tasty Irish Fare, Beer on 

Tap & some great Irish 

Music!

Clubhouse • 

FOURWAYS GARDENS SOCIAL & RECREATIONAL CLUB 

WEEKLY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE – 2012 


Park Activities: 

Boot Camp – Monday, Wednesday, Friday : 

08h00 and 09h00 hourly; Monday, Wednesday, 

Thursday : 17h30 for an hour Brendan McBirnie 

083 725 7161 / 011 705 3068 Rhona Williams 

083 600 1868 

Tennis – phone Estate Office for bookings on 

011 465 7731 or contact Pierre on 011 465 5563 

for further information

Fourways Gardens | Issue 1 2012 • 14

Clubhouse • 

Tennis Pro 

Tennis is a wonderfully social game and you can 

play just about anywhere in the world, so long as 

you can walk and hold a racquet. 

– PIERRE TORRENT 

Our Fourways Gardens Tennis Pro, 

Pierre Torrent, arrived in South 

Africa with his family at a time when 

hoardes of people were fleeing the country. 

Having visited Johannesburg, Cape Town 

and Knysna in 1992, he came back with his 

wife and children of 2, 4 and 6 years in 1994, 

the year of the first democratic elections 

in the country. They settled in Fourways 

Gardens and Pierre has stayed here ever 

since. 

“We were looking for an ideal place for the 

kids,” he explains, “and also a place that 

provided an opportunity for me to teach 

tennis. There was nobody coaching tennis at 

Fourways Gardens, so I made an arrangement 

to teach at the Estate. We bought a house 

within walking distance of the clubhouse and 

tennis courts so it is very convenient.” 

Pierre Torrent with two 

of his students 

Pierre was born in Monthey, in Vallais which 

is part of the French part of Switzerland. 

He started playing tennis when he was 12 

and became hooked immediately. He was 

the junior champion of Vallais twice before 

going on to conquer the senior tennis 

championships in the province, playing in 

tournaments with many top players, such as 

Bob Hewitt and Fred Stolle. 

To qualify as a Tennis Pro, he attended a 

2-week camp which was followed by 3 

years of training and coaching. He then 

wrote an exam and received his Coaching 

Diploma. He started his coaching career in 

Vallais, where he trained many of the top 

junior tennis players in the area. He then 

coached in Montana le Crans and Zurich. 

As indoor tennis was not yet in vogue, this 

only occupied his summer months and 


By Bev Hermanson 

he decided to fill his winter breaks with 

travelling to different parts of the world. 

“Traditionally, tennis coaches would be ski 

instructors during the winter months, but 

for 7 years in a row there was no snow on 

the Alps over Christmas, so I decided the 

best was to travel to other countries.” 

Over a number of years, he travelled to 

Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand and 

Phuket, to coach there. As a tourist, he 

also visited Guatamala, Central America, 

Colombia, Equador, Sri Lanka, India, 

Malaysia, Singapore, Egypt and Israel. 

Apart from tennis, tennis and more tennis, 

Pierre enjoys swimming, gym, reading and 

keeping himself fluent in French, German, 

English, Spanish and Italian. 

To contact the Fourways Gardens Tennis Pro, 

call Pierre Torrent on 0749095094

Estate News • 

Fourways Gardens families 

Ever wondered who those people 

are who run around our estate in 

luminous bibs once a week? 


Who are these people? 

By Hayley Parry 

Photography: Jacqui Whyte 

Fourways Gardens estate has its very own running club. 

It’s called the ‘Fourways Road Runners’ and the club’s 

home is our very own estate. The club itself is made up 

of a mixture of members – some are residents, others 

aren’t. Some are fit and fast. Others are not so fit. And 

not so fast. Some walk, some run 5kms and some run 

ultra marathons. There is even a smattering of expat 

runners who have found a running club, and friends, in 

our estate. The one thing that they all have in common? 

They all love running, the idea of being fit and healthy, 

meeting and socialising with friends new and old, or 

some variation thereof.

Estate News• 

So they run. How exactly? 

As the club caters to members of all 

levels, there are various ways residents are 

welcome to get involved. The best thing 

to do is to come down to a time trial one 

Thursday evening. Everyone meets at the 

gazebo in Phase 2 around 6ish and the 

run starts at 6:15pm. There are two routes: 

a 5km course and a 4km course. Most 

of the runners typically either run/walk 

5kms or 8kms (4km course twice). There 

are timekeepers at the end to take times 

if you’re into that kind of thing. If you’re 

not, don’t let the word ‘time trial’ keep you 

from joining in the fun a moment longer. 

It’s a misnomer in that no one really cares 

about your time. Except for, maybe, you? 

If you’d like to benchmark your fitness and 

continually try and improve your time, it’s a 

great way to do it. If not, the time keeping 

isn’t relevant. 

And if you’re not new to this, or time trials, 

you might be wondering what else is on 

offer. Firstly, there is a Quality Session which 

is held every Tuesday evening, also from the 

gazebo. The aim? To make you fitter, faster 

and stronger, incorporating various training 

techniques for hills, speed work and core 

strength. As the club caters for all fitness 

levels, runners simply push themselves as 

far and as fast as they’d like to go, whilst 

under the guidance of a trainer who directs 

all the sessions. So whether you want to get 

fitter for the upcoming hockey season, or 

need a stronger core to help reduce your 

injuries in the run-up to Comrades, joining 

these sessions will help you improve your 

fitness. 

There are also ‘club runs’ that are held most 

Saturdays, so that members can do a longer 

run with fellow members and friends on the 

weekend – either in addition to a race on 

a Sunday or instead of it. Most Saturdays, 

the runs are between 15km and 25km 

and all of these details are communicated 

to members on the club’s website and in 

newsletters. 

And the fun part? 

You mean running up, down and around 

Fourways Gardens isn’t enough fun for you? 

Well okay then. The club is a social one and 

so it’s a great way to make new friends, and 

even meet neighbours in the estate that 

you don’t yet know. Members often stay for 

a few drinks or dinner after the time trial 

on a Thursday, and there is an active social 

calendar throughout the year that includes 

a New Members Evening, a Quiz Evening, 

pre- and post-Two Oceans and Comrades 

Parties, a Beer Bus Cruise Jog and an End 

of Year Awards Dinner. Members also 

gather at the Fourways Road Runners tent 

which is present at most races on a Sunday, 

complete with a mini bar and chairs for 

weary legs that have earned a rest! 

FWRRA TRIATHLON 

Fourways Roadrunners Triathlon was formed in 2008 due to the growing number of 

members that were participating in both duathlon and triathlon events. This subsection 

aims to provide an identity and a home to multi-sports athletes, offering 

community, club training times and support to these athletes. 

DEVELOPMENT RUNNING 

Fourways Development Running has come a long way. After many years of support, 

the Diepsloot Running Club is up and running and providing an essential service to 

the Diepsloot community, helping needy adults and children through running, to 

develop focus and confidence through the achievement of their own goals. 

ABOUT THE CLUB 

Fourways Gardens Road Runners 

Association (FGRRA) is a sports 

club affiliated to Central Gauteng 

Athletics. It is based in Fourways 

Gardens. The primary aims of the 

Club are to promote the sport 

of road and trail running within 

the area. There is a record of 

understanding, together with a code 

of conduct, that governs the use 

and access to the Fourways Gardens 

club and facilities by the FGRRA 

members. This relationship has been 

one of long standing since 1996 has 

benefited all concerned, bringing 

greater numbers to the Clubhouse 

and adding to the lifestyle within 

Fourways Gardens. In 2011 alone 

there were over 50 resident 

members. The club is open to all age 

groups with discounts for families. 

How do you get involved? 

It’s easy. Log onto www.fourwaysrunners. 

co.za and take a look at the membership 

page for all the details. Alternatively, 

come down on Thursday and join us for a 

time trial. We’re that sure you’re going to 

enjoy it! “Bring your family too,” says Dayle 

Wheeler, chairman of the running club. 

“There is a fantastic atmosphere at the club 

on a Thursday night, where the kids enjoy 

running around on the lawn and playing 

with their friends, whilst their parents 

try hard to work off the pizza they know 

they’re going to enjoy afterwards! I look 

forward to welcoming more residents into 

our club and suggest that 2012 is the year 

you take the plunge.” 

See you at time trial 

on Thursday then 


SCHEDULE OF PRACTICES AND RUNS 

Tuesdays: Quality session @ 6:15pm 

Thursdays: Time Trial @ 6:15pm 

Where: At the Gazebo, Phase 2 

Saturdays: Club runs. 

Distances and dep times/ venues vary 

Sundays: at races around Jo’burg 

We have a FRR tent at most big races 

where members meet 

How much does it cost to join? 

Residents: Single R435, Family R700 

How do I join? Check out the website 

www.fourwaysrunners.co.za for all the 

info or contact: 

Dayle Wheeler on 0761847291, or 

Hayley Parry on 084 5802768 or E-mail 

Hayley on hayleysparry@gmail.com.


Lifestyle • 

A tribute to love 

In this country, Valentine’s Day is not 

quite as commercialised as Christmas 

and Easter seem to have become, but 

that’s actually good news, as it opens up 

lots of opportunities for you to become 

creative and devise gifts and special treats 

put together with love. Don’t forget your 

children in your plans. Helping them to 

make special cards and gifts for their 

friends (and teachers) is something that 

adds lots of excitement and intrigue to 

their day and leaves them with wonderful 

memories. 

For your loved one, starting with breakfast 

in bed is compulsory. Prepare your 

decorations in advance, though, and 

opt for a menu that can be put together 

quickly so that you don’t run late for work. 

As this year is a Leap Year, it’s totally 

acceptable that a lady proposes to her 

man on the 29th of February. If you are 

one of those brave women, you may 

consider giving your partner a simple 

card promising more to come on the 29th 

of the month. In that way, you can delay 

the celebration of your love until that 

auspicious day. 

A love coupon is a form of IOU 

that contains a promise from you to 

your loved one to engage in a romantic 

activity at a time in the future. Your 

romantic promises may include a night 

of kisses and cuddles, an evening of 

dinner and dancing, or a romantic 

weekend away, for example. Of course, 

if you’re more practical and know your 

partner would appreciate it, it could 

include chopping down a troublesome 

tree, fixing that leaking tap or washing 

the dishes, for a change! 

If you are already married, or tying the 

knot is not on your agenda, here are 

some tips that can make Valentine’s Day 

special for your loved one: 

• Cupid’s Coupons or Love Cheques 

printed on lightly coloured paper 

can be stapled together into books, 

or coupons can be left around the 

house offering favours that can be 

redeemed at a future date. 

• It is still early enough in the year to 

have a customised calendar made, 

reflecting all your happy times 

together, spread out over 12 months. 

• Order a canvas block mount of you 

and your loved one as a reminder of 

your special bond. 

• If you want to give flowers, order 

them from your local florist well in 

advance. Red flowers are extremely 

scarce on the 14th of February! 

• Don’t forget the chocolates, jewellery 

and pink champagne. 


For the kids: 


• Plan a Valentine’s Party with the 

traditional red and white theme. 

• Make chocolate hearts – you can get 

the moulds from the nearby catering 

shop – and parcel them in pretty 

gauze bags for your kids to hand out 

to their special friends. 

• Make love potions for them to take 

to school, instead of their usual cold 

drink. 

• Encourage them to compose their 

own poems, which you (or they) 

can type up, print out and slip into a 

handmade Valentine’s card. 

• Order a Valentine’s Heart Puzzle 

(from www.picsalive.co.za) featuring 

a photograph of the family and 

let them piece it together. You can 

frame it once it’s been completed. 

Love potion 

Ingredients 

• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries, slightly thawed 

• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries, slightly thawed 

• 1 cup white grape juice (or apple juice) 

Instructions 

Place the ingredients in a blender and mix 

on High until you have a uniform colour. To 

make the potion thicker, add more fruit; to 

make it thinner, add more juice. 

For more information, visit: http://familyfun. 

go.com/valentines-day/valentines-dayrecipes/valentines-day-breakfast-ideas/ 

berry-sweet-love-potion-678953/

Lifstyle • 

Here are some more ideas from HiLIFE, a local company that 

specialises in experiential gifts -that can be purchased in the 

form of vouchers from CNA and many other local stores 

Dance Lessons for two 

Explore your union on the dance floor, let 

your passions ignite and your hearts rejoice, 

as Dance Café guides you through a series 

of romantic, rhythmic steps that will reaffirm 

your emotional attachment and add 

mystery. 

An Exotic Picnic for two 

Your picnic site is in an unique setting under 

the giant willow trees on the banks of the 

Crocodile River, in the Rhenosterspruit 

Nature Reserve. Indulge yourselves relaxing 

under Caribbean umbrellas on soft blankets 

and scatter cushions and watch the black 

ducks frolic in the river while cormorants 

hunt from the weir a few meters away. 

Your picnic includes a bottle of wine and 

three gorgeous, sumptuous, picnic baskets 

which are filled with culinary delights. This 

is a very special, relaxing and romantic 

treat and includes a special gift upon your 

departure. 

Entertainment for two 

Enjoy an unforgettable show with delicious pizza 

and refreshing drinks at The Barnyard Theatre 

of your choice. Upon your arrival you’ll receive 

a cocktail and be ushered to your specially 

prepared seats. You will then be able to order the 

pizza of your choice from their exciting menu 

and be treated to a bottle of fine red or white 

wine. Sit back, relax and be entertained in the 

spectacular way that only The Barnyard theatres 

can produce. 

The Ultimate Bush Getaway for two 

Intimately settled on the banks of 

the evergreen Phalala River in the 

malaria free Waterberg, the fivestar 

Witwater Safari Lodge and Spa 

facilitates relaxation in breathtaking 

surroundings. 

You will be pampered in their awardwinning 

Spa with scented sea salts, 

then snugly wrapped in soft, warm 

linen. 

Dine in, silver service gourmet style; 

or out in the sunset’s glow and candle 

light. Decor, Nature’s original, the menu 

African barbeque delight stretching far 

into the night. 

Then settle into your own luxury tented 

suite for the night. Wake up to the 

surrounds of the majestic Waterberg 

Mountains, before going out to explore 

the bush and meet with an abundance 

of game and birdlife. 

Dinner for Two at Le Canard 

Join the Le Canard team in 

Morningside, Sandton for an evening 

of fine cuisine and superb service. Le 

Canard is one of the most exclusive 

restaurants in town and many 

dignitaries and esteemed gourmands 

dine there. You will be treated to 

a three-course meal from a menu 

composed especially to enhance your 

dining experience, accompanied by a 

selected bottle of red or white wine. 


Moonlight Night Spa Experience for 2 

Share the soulful relaxation of a true African 

pampering experience with your significant 

other. Restore body, soul and mind with 

a traditional hot stone full body massage, 

using a special blend of oils, followed by 

an African head and neck massage and 

indulge in a Royal Foot massage from 

the knees to the toes. Dinner is served 

with a complimentary bar service. Prior 

to departure, a tot of Amarula is served 

together with an imported chocolate. 

Art of Sushi making for 2 

Enjoy learning the art of sushi-making 

together with your partner along with an 

authentic Japanese chef. Chef Miyamoto 

offers you personalised instruction on the 

art of sushi-making, allowing you to benefit 

from his wealth of experience. 

Start your morning with a live 

demonstration from Chef Miyamoto on 

how to make sushi. Thereafter, you will 

learn, step-by-step, how to make your 

own California Rolls, Maki Rolls and Hand 

Rolls. Sit down with your partner and 

enjoy your own sushi along with a bowl 

of miso soup and wine! Each guest leaves 

with knowledge of how to make sushi and 

a special gift! The package includes the 

ingredients, training and lunch with wine. 

Romantic Flight for two 

Enjoy a scenic flight in a pristinely-kept V-Tail 

Beechcraft Bonanza, which will ensure the 

memory of a lifetime! During a pre take-off 

briefing, your pilot will discuss the route to 

best suit your preferences and make your 

flight most memorable. 

Suggested routes would be over Soccer City, 

Johannesburg’s CBD, over Nelson Mandela 

Square and back to Lanseria. (Alternatively 

take a northbound flight over the 

Hartbeespoort Dam.) Also included is a R100 

voucher for your choice of refreshments at 

the Lanseria Wiesenhof Restaurant. 

For more information visit: 

www.hilife.co.za 

www.picsalive.co.za 

www.valentinesdaycoupons.com 

http://familyfun.go.com 

http://holidays.lovingyou.com

Valentines Disco 

Valentines Disco 

th 

11 February 2012 

At the Clubhouse 

Meet from 5pm onwards 

Meet from 5pm onwards 

for loads of fun 

Jumping Castle, Face Painters, 

Balloons and lots lots more 

Disco starts at 7pm 

(ages 6 -14) 

Proudly sponsored by 

Proudly sponsored by 


Lifestyle • 

The search for the most delightful 

As we know, the name champagne 

may only officially be used to refer 

to the sparkling wines produced in the 

Champagne region of France. To be 

included in this category, the sparkling 

wine can only be made using three grape 

varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and 

Pinot Meunier. Perhaps one of the most 

famous brands of champagne to come 

out of this district is Dom Pérignon, which 

retails in this country for over R2000 per 

bottle. 

On the South African scene, there are 

many superb sparkling wines to titillate 

the taste buds. Amongst them are some 

masterpieces that can rightfully take their 

place amongst the best in the world. 

A visit to Liquor City in Broadacres revealed 

an entire isle of champagnes and sparkling 

wines to choose from. Below are some of 

the pink sparkling wines that are worth 

considering: 

No celebration is quite the 

same without a glass of 

bubbly to mark the occasion. 

Under R50 

5th Avenue Cold Duck 

Four Cousins Pink Sparkling Wine 

Four Cousins Red Sparkling Wine 

JC le Roux Naturally Delicate Red La 

Chanson 

JC le Roux La Fleurette 

Under R100 

Boplaas Pinot Noir 

Mateus Brut Rosé (from Portugal) 

Beyerskloof Brut Pinotage 

Kloovenburg White from Red Brut 



Below are some of the pink sparkling wines that are worth considering: 

Some comments from the experts: 

For a reasonably inexpensive pink sparkler, 

the JC le Roux La Chanson is a lively rubyred 

sparkling wine that has a delightful 

blend of fruity flavours that hint of 

strawberry and plum. 

The Weltevrede Philip Jonker is described 

as feminine, elegant, stylish yet 

unpretentious, blushing and attractive. 

The Graham Beck Brut Rosé has a charming 

silver-pink blush and exuberant character 

that is flirtatious and fun. 

Pongracz is one to keep an eye open 

for – in 2011 it was awarded the title of 

South Africa’s Best Non-Vintage Brut for 

the second consecutive year and bagged a 

Veritas Gold Medal. It was also only one of 

two South African wines to win a medal at 

the 2011 Effervescents du Monde held in 

Dijon, France. The Pongracz Brut Rosé offers 

a wonderfully foamy mouthful of black 

berry fruit flavours and delicate yeasty 

tones to enthral the palate. 

Villiera Methode Cap Classique has a 

Tradition Rosé Brut that is described as 

Under R150 

Boschendal Brut Rosé 

Colmant Brut Rosé 

Graham Beck Brut Rosé 

Krone Vintage Rose Cuvee Brut 

Pierre Jordan Cuvee Belle Rosé 

Pongracz Brut Rosé 

Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut Rosé 

Villiera Brut Rosé 

Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut Linoelize 

FRENCH CHAMPANGES – all over R500 

Moet & Chandon Rosé Imperial 

Taittinger Prestige Rosé Champagne 

Veuve Clicquot Pousardin Rosé Champagne 

joyful, rich in flavour with a long finish, 

while the Villiera Vintage Reserve Brut Rosé 

2000 Magnum is filled with a rich coppercoloured 

sparkling wine that has fine, lazy 

bubbles. 

However, when the owner of the store, 

Barney Fourie, was put on the spot to 

recommend the best pink bubbly for 

Valentine’s Day, he went straight to 

Kloovenburg’s White from Red. 

“Value-for-money and quality-wise, you 

can’t go wrong with Kloovenburg’s White 

from Red,” he says. 

Kloovenburg’s White from Red Brut 2011 is 

an elegant sparkling wine gracefully crafted 

from selected premium quality Shiraz 

grapes. Its bouquet hints of wild cherries 

and candy floss. It has a crisp dry finish that 

is complemented by a fruity palate and 

its slightly salmon pink colour makes this 

bubbly an excellent accompaniment to 

both an informal picnic and a sophisticated 

dinner party. 

LET YOUR HAIR DOWN 

After the civilised formalities of the day are over, you may want to let loose a little. For that, 

you could opt for some Cactus Rose Mexican Tequila, Liquid Libido, Kiss Shooter or Hot Sex. 

Or you could mellow over a small glass of Merry’s Strawberry Cream.


Travel • 

Lisbon! 

A bit of clutter, but a whole lot of 

personality characterises Portugal’s 

medieval capital. 


By Natalia Rosa

Travel • 

THERE’S nothing orderly or predictable 

about Portugal’s charismatic capital, Lisbon, 

which is set on seven hills overlooking the 

Tagus River on the western edge of the 

Iberian Peninsula. 

Impossibly narrow cobblestone alleyways 

lead ever upwards into the sprawl of 

sometimes dilapidated, but always 

charming, pastel-coloured buildings topped 

by Lisbon’s signature brick-red roofs. A 

sea of dirty white, light pinks and yellows, 

and azulejo-clad (blue-tiled) buildings, 

punctuated by imposing, pristinely white 

Manueline landmarks, is visible from the 

city’s most popular viewpoints. 

It is perhaps its capricious, imperfect 

personality that makes Lisbon the most 

incredibly interesting city to discover on 

foot, and even more so when one has no 

particular agenda in mind for the day. It’s 

not the kind of city that should be explored 

by ticking off the list of popular tourist 

attractions on offer. Rather, travellers 

will enjoy the best rewards if they allow 

themselves to get lost in Lisbon’s soulful 

streets. 

And of course, among the advantages of 

wandering up and down the alleyways of 

Lisbon’s charming Bairro Alto, Chiado and 

Alfama bairros (districts), is the discovery 

of some of the country’s best pastelarias 

(patisseries) where locals and tourists can 

kick back for a couple of minutes (or even 

an hour or two) to people-watch and enjoy 

a pasteis de nata (custard tart) or bolo de 

arroz (rice-flour muffin) chased by a strong 

bica (espresso). 

So loved are these pastelarias, that they dot 

Lisbon’s streets with even more regularity 

than Starbucks does Seattle. They lie at the 

heart of the Portuguese nation’s sociability, 

are frequented by men and women, young 

and old, at all times of the day and night, 

and are sometimes no bigger than the size 

of a small kitchen. 

It should come as no surprise then that 

food is very important to the Portuguese. 

Like most Mediterranean nations, the 

Portuguese regard meals as a social event, 

so much so that the lunch-hour extends 

more than just one hour and is usually 

accompanied by a generous dash of vinho 

(wine) and almost always sobremesa 

(dessert) and an espresso. 

Enjoying a leisurely meal at any one of 

the city’s cafés that tend to spill out onto 

the signature white and black mosaic 

pavements is by far one of the best ways to 

experience Lisbon culture. That, and a night 

of fado, a melancholic music genre that 

dates back to the early 19th century and in 

many ways sounds like and symbolises a 

tragic longing for past glories. 

Travellers should take care however 

to find a fado experience that is not 

too commercial. The Lisbon district of 

Alfama has become somewhat overrun 

by fado restaurants that provide a rather 

unauthentic and dissatisfying portrayal of 

this unique Portuguese cultural experience. 

Lisbon’s Bairros 

Bairroalto 

Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest bairro and its 

rambling labyrinth of narrow streets run all 

the way up to the city’s medieval St George 

Castle, which is perched atop one of the 

city’s highest hills. Much of Alfama survived 

the 1755 earthquake that decimated the 

rest of city and as such many of the city’s 

original houses remain fairly intact in this 

historic neighbourhood. Highlights include 


the 14th century Lisbon Cathedral, the 18th 

century Convent of Grace and the 17th 

century Church of Santa Engrácia. 

At the base of the hill to the west, Alfama 

blends into the business district of Lisbon 

or Baixa as it is known. A wide shopping 

boulevard runs from the Tagus River 

through an imposing arch up towards the 

city’s main square Rossio with its striking 

fountain, national theatre and bronze 

statue of King Pedro IV atop a column in the 

middle of the black and white cobblestone 

square. 

Rossio is said to have been one of the city’s 

main squares since medieval times and 

was a place where celebrations, bull fights 

and executions were held. The Elevador de 

Santa Justa (Saint Justa Elevator), built by 

Gustav Eiffel, rises rather peculiarly in one 

of the side streets off the grand shopping 

boulevard, but offers one of the best views 

of the city. 

Immediately west of the Baixa district, 

visitors will encounter the shopping district 

of Chiado, concentrated around the Carmo 

and Garrett streets. In addition to modern 

stores selling clothing and shoes, there are 

quaint little bookshops and a very famous 

café called A Brasileira, which is said to 

have been a favourite haunt of famed 

Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa, a statue 

of whom sits on a park bench in the square 

in which the café is located. 

Chiado blends into arguably the most 

popular nightspot in Lisbon, the Bairro 

Alto, literally translated as Upper District. So 

elevated is this particular neighbourhood 

of Lisbon that there’s actually a funicular, 

Elevador da Glória, that runs from the 

bottom of the hill to the heart of the district 

Tejo Bridge

Travel • 

for those who would prefer not to tackle 

the steep cobblestone staircase connecting 

it to the CBD. The climb is well rewarded, 

however, as the view of the city from São 

Pedro de Alcântara is nothing short of 

astounding. 

Although it is busy during the day due to 

its trendy shops, it is at night that this area 

of Lisbon literally pulsates with partygoers. 

There are bars, cafes and what can only 

be described as holes in the wall serving 

one-euro caipirinhas and cuba libres every 

couple of metres and the streets heave 

with night owls until the early hours of the 

morning. 

Two of the city’s greatest landmarks, the 

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Hieronymites 

Monastery) and the Torre de Belém (Belém 

Tower) are located along the river to the 

west of Bairo Alto. Jerónimos is a striking 

example of 16th century architecture and 

has been declared a World Heritage Site, as 

has the Torre. Another highlight in the area 

is the Calouste Gulbekian Museum, which 

today houses one of the world’s finest 

private art collections. 

Fast Facts 

St George Castle 

Belém is also the original home of the 

renowned pasteis de nata which can be 

bought at a special pastelaria located 

near the monastery. Also worth a quick 

visit is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos 

(Discoveries Monument), which pays 

homage to the early Portuguese explorers 

such as Vasco da Gama and Bartholomew 

Dias who discovered many of the former 

gems in Portugal’s colonial crown. 

Linking the two sides of the Tagus River at 

this point is the imposing 2.2km Ponte do 

25 de Abril (25th April Bridge) with Cristo 

Rei, a Catholic monument inspired by Rio 

de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue, 

located on the river’s left bank overlooking 

the hilly capital. 

It is entirely possible to tackle all these 

landmarks within a 48-hour visit to the 

city, but a short side trip to the outskirts 

of Lisbon and such destinations as Estoril, 

Sintra, Tomar and Mafra are well worth 

the extension if you have a few additional 

days available to take in the charm of this 

Mediterranean gem. 

Getting there: Lisbon is easily reached by air, with a few hours’ flight from 

several European hubs, including London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Paris. 

Getting to/from the airport: There is an Airport bus that connects to 

several key stops in Lisbon, including Rossio and Cais de Sodre (at the foot of 

Bairro Alto). A 24-hour bus ticket costs less than five Euros. 

Getting around: Taxis are available in abundance throughout Lisbon. These 

are usually identifiable by their colour, either black and aqua green, or cream. 

There is also an extensive bus network and an underground Metro service. 

Trams run throughout the centre of the city. 

Currency: Euro 

Visa: As part of the European Union, a Schengen visa is required for South 

African visitors. 

Timezone: GMT+1 

Language: Portuguese, although English is widely spoken in Lisbon. 


Discoveries Monument 

Randsaver 

For free or discounted entrance 

to several major Lisbon museums 

and tourist attractions, the 

Lisboa Card is difficult to beat. In 

addition to offering free transport 

on the metro, public buses and 

trams, the Lisboa Card offers free 

or discounted access to such 

attractions as the Hieronymites 

Monastery, Belém Tower and 

National Pantheon. It even offers 

access to attractions outside the 

city such as the Palácio Nacional 

de Sintra, the Batalha Monastery, 

the national palaces of Mafra and 

Queluz, and the Convento de 

Cristo in Tomar. 

Top 

Tip 

Take Tram no. 28 that runs from 

Martim Moniz through Alfama, 

Baixa and Chiado, stopping 

almost outside A Brasileira café. 

The tram route takes visitors 

past some of Lisbon’s most 

picturesque historical, cultural 

and architectural highlights. 

Baixa 

Photo credit: All photos from sxc.hu


Out and About • By Bev Hermanson 

Country Crafts Market 

a perfect 

family 

outing 

The Irene Village Market was started in 

1989 on the grounds of the Smuts House 

Museum that nestles on Smuts Hill, 

on the fringe of the Irene Village. To give its 

carefully-selected stall holders breathing space 

to replenish their wares and produce more of 

their creations, the market is only held on the 

second and last Saturday of each month, so be 

careful to check that the market is on, before 

you set out for your family outing. 

The market operates from 9am to 2pm and 

as the traffic can become a little congested 

towards mid-morning, an early start is 

recommended. If you can’t decide whether 

to take your soft top convertible or your 4x4, 

the latter is definitely the better option as the 

parking area is a 4 x 4’s delight. Make sure 

you wear walking shoes, too, as there’s a 3 km 

walking trail that is most worthwhile as an 

added extra. 

Entrance to the market is free, but don’t 

forget to take your wallet and give yourself a 

reasonable spending budget as you’ll definitely 

find yourself spoilt for choice. 

In stark contrast to the sometimes dank city fleamarkets 

that have rows and rows of stalls selling mass produced 

imported products, the Irene Village Market could be 

described as a wholesome collection of original and 

authentic wares laid out in a country setting. 

SMUTS HOUSE MUSEUM 

Smuts House was the home of the former 

South African Prime Minister, General Jan 

Christian Smuts, for some 40 years. It is here 

that he indulged his passion for botany, as 

is evidenced by the hundreds of indigenous 

shrubs and trees to be found in the gardens 

and surrounding landscape. From the 

garden, there is a footpath that leads you 

to Smuts Kopje, where General Smuts’ 

ashes were scattered after his death. A 

masonry obelisk has been erected there, to 

commemorate his life and to mark the spot. 

SMUTS’ WALKING TRAIL 

The 3km walking trail starts at the museum 

and meanders through the landscape 

adjacent to the market. Interesting shrubs 

that can be seen along the route include 

the Daisy-tea Bush (Athrixia elata), which 

makes a pleasantly aromatic tea, the 

Bitterbessie (Vernonia oligorephalais) which 

is said to combat diabetes and the Gifbol 

(Hypoxis hemerocallidea) which is known 

for its powerful healing qualities. 


You may also be surprised by sightings of 

some of the 300 bird species that frequent 

the area, such as the Paradise Flycatcher, 

the Sakabula Widow Bird and Wahlberg’s 

Eagle. 

THE MARKET 

Some nature lovers prefer to arrive at the 

market before the 9am opening time so that 

they can walk the trail beforehand. Save some 

energy for browsing around the stalls, though, 

as there is a wide selection of interesting 

wares to be seen and, in the deli section, 

sampled. There’s entertainment for the kids, 

too, so you can rest assured that the whole 

family can enjoy themselves. 

After you have had your fair share of browsing 

and bargaining for collectables, art works, 

ornaments, designer clothes and even 

furniture, you can stop at the fully licensed tea 

garden or find tasty take-aways at the many 

food stalls. But if you would prefer a quiet sitdown 

meal, collect the family and take a short 

drive down the road to the Irene Dairy Farm.

Out and About • 

THE DAIRY FARM 

In 1889, Alois Nellmapius bought 

a portion of the farm known as 

Doornfontein and named it after his 

daughter Irene (meaning ‘Peace’). In 

1895, Johannes Albertus van der Byl 

(affectionately referred to as Bertie) 

bought the farm from him and it has 

stayed in the van der Byl family ever 

since – through five generations. In 

1902, just after the Anglo Boer War, 

Bertie proclaimed the area a township, 

hence the district which is still known 

as Irene. 

Bertie built up the herds of dairy cows, 

planted many trees on the farm and laid 

out the golf course that is now part of 

the Irene Country Club. The farm is still 

run as a traditional dairy farm, although 

it is open to the public. There are two 

restaurants, The Deck and The Barn 

Restaurant, that serve breakfasts and 

lunches and are open from 8am to 5pm 

daily. The Dairy Shop that sells certified 

raw milk, a selection of cheeses and the 

farm’s own thick cream, as well as cakes 

and other delicatessen items, is open 

from 8am to 6pm daily, so don’t forget 

to pick up a variety of nutritious foods 

on your way out. 

Irene is best found by taking the N1 

north Polokwane Highway, turning 

off at the John Vorster offramp as 

though you’re going to Centurion. Turn 

right over the Highway and continue 

travelling east along John Vorster Drive. 

Watch for the signs from there. 


For more information visit: www.irenemarket.co.za 

and www.irenefarm.co.za 

The next market day will be on Saturday the 11th of February 

2012, perfect for a Valentine’s Day shopping spree

Birding • 

Plovers have become Lapwings. 

The way that the powers that be 

change the names of our birds have 

annoyed birders for many years. The 

Thrush that is so common in our gardens 

was first called the Cape Thrush, then it 

became the Olive Thrush and now it is 

called the Karoo Thrush even though we are 

miles away from the Karoo. 

Plovers are now known as Lapwings, to 

conform with the European name for 

these birds. They are beautiful birds and in 

Fourways we are indeed fortunate to have 

the three main species, the Crowned, the 

Blacksmith and the Wattled Lapwing. In 

some ways I find this sad. They are birds 

of the wide open veld and as their natural 

habitat continues to be destroyed they have 

adapted to parks and areas wherever they 

can find short grass. Crowned Lapwings can 

even be found nesting on tiny little ‘islands’ 

in the middle of busy traffic. Their offspring 

has little chance of survival amongst people 

walking their dogs, kids riding their bicycles 

and bikers on their motor bikes. 

The Crowned Lapwing is the most common. 

The Blacksmith gets its name from its call 

which is said to resemble the sound of a 

blacksmith’s hammer on an anvil. It is usually 

found near water, but in dry areas it is often 

attracted to irrigated lawns. The Wattled 

Lapwing gets its name from the yellow 

‘wattles’ hanging down from its face. The 

purpose of these attachments is not clear. 


By Wim Spronk 

A name change does not 

change their nature 

Dikkops are now Thicknees. 

The Lapwing’s eggs are laid on the ground 

and blend in well with the surroundings 

so they are not easily spotted by Pied 

Crows flying overhead and other 

predators. In addition, the Lapwings 

will immediately take to the wing and 

chase the crows (as well as people and 

dogs) out of their territory. When we look 

at the eggs it strikes us how big they 

are compared with the eggs of a Dove. 

Lapwings and Doves are approximately 

the same size so why are the eggs of a 

Lapwing so much bigger? The reason 

of course is that when the Dove’s chicks 

hatch, they are naked and blind and have 

to be kept warm and fed by the parents 

for quite some time, whereas the Lapwing 

chicks run around with the parents from 

the moment they hatch. When these 

chicks are still very small and danger is 

approaching, the adult bird will utter 

a soft warning signal and immediately 

the little ones will flatten themselves to 

the ground and lie dead still. They are 

so well camouflaged that they are easily 

overlooked. 

Should you ever come across a young 

Lapwing that looks like it has been 

abandoned by its parents, don’t ever take 

it home thinking you can look after it. 

Leave it alone, the parents will eventually 

find it and they are far better equipped to 

look after it than you.

Lifestyle • By Bev Hermanson 

Where 

did I go 

It seems that the rainy season up here 

on the Highveld is quite capable of 

turning a sparkling pool into a murky 

morass within a short space of time. This is 

particularly the case when large volumes of 

rain fall on a daily basis, with few breaks to 

allow you to regularly perform maintenance 

routines. When you have tried everything 

and you still haven’t solved the problem, it’s 

time to speak to the experts. 

“There are actually nine balances that can 

be checked to determine what the problem 

is with a pool,” says Samantha Moodley of 

Brandon’s Pool Care in the Leaping Frog 

Garden Centre. “We are having a lot of acidic 

Were you one of the unfortunates that returned from a 

glorious holiday over the Festive Season, only to find a 

green swamp in your backyard? Here is some advice to 

help you with your swimming pool woes. 

rain at the moment, so that pushes out the 

pH balance straight away. You should check 

the pH balance of your pool at least once a 

week and take your water to a pool shop for 

testing at least once a month.” 

Tests that you can do yourself are the 

chlorine, total alkalinity and stabiliser tests. 

The other tests, that should rather be done 

by a pool specialist or pool shop, include 

the calcium, copper, iron and nitrates tests. 

BEFORE YOU START 

There are a few facts that you should have 

at your fingertips before you start trying 

to find solutions to your pool problems. 


Firstly, you need to know what surface has 

been applied to the pool structure – is it a 

painted surface, or covered with marbelite, 

or is your pool a fibreglass pool? Secondly, 

what is the size of your pool and what 

volume of water does it take on average? 

“If you don’t know the volume of the water 

that you have in your pool, you’ll only be 

guessing when it comes to deciding on the 

chemical dosages that you should add,” 

Samantha explains. “Too much is wasteful 

and too little will lead to ongoing problems 

and frustration.” 

TESTING 

Regular testing is essential. “Don’t just 

throw in a shock. If your pH is out, that 

won’t do anything. The ideal pH for both 

fibreglass and marbelite pools is between 

7,2 and 7,6. If the pH is too low, it causes 

chlorine loss, damage to the pool surface, 

destruction of the alkalinity and swimmers 

can suffer from itching skin. If the pH is 

too high, there will be scale formation on 

the pool’s walls and floor and on the pool 

equipment. The chlorine efficiency will 

be poor and then the water will become 

cloudy.” 

The alkaline reading should be between 

80 and 125 ppm (parts per million) for 

marbelite and between 125 and 175 ppm 

for fibreglass. If your alkalinity is too low, 

you will see corrosion of the surfaces and 

staining from the metals in the water and 

chemicals. If the alkalinity is too high, 

you will find you’ll be using a lot of acid 

additives. 

The stabiliser is very important as it holds 

the chlorine in the pool, hence the need to 

test the water to determine the stabiliser 

content. The stabliser reading should 

always be between 40 and 80 ppm.

Lifestyle • 

RUNNING YOUR MAINTENANCE 

EQUIPMENT 

Weekly maintenance involves backwashing, 

rinsing, cleaning out the basket and 

brushing the sides and bottom of the pool. 

It’s not enough that the water is clear, you 

need to brush the surfaces, too. Make sure 

that the sand in your filter is clean and 

remember that this needs to be changed 

every two to three years, depending on 

how much debris has gone through the 

filter. 

If there are a lot of leaves at the bottom of 

your pool, it’s important to vacuum these 

up, so that the filter doesn’t clog up. A pool 

catcher, that skims debris from the surface 

of the water, is worthwhile, if you find your 

pool collects lots of leaves. 

“In summer, you should run your pump and 

filter for at least 12 hours for a large pool 

and 8 to 10 hours for a pool below 

50 000. In winter, you can reduce that to 6 

to 8 hours for a large pool and 4 to 6 hours 

for a smaller pool,” Samantha adds. 

THE NEED TO DRAIN YOUR POOL 

If you find that you are using a lot of 

chlorine, there are two culprits to look out 

for – copper and nitrates. “A lot of chemicals 

have copper in them. Copper depletes 

the chlorine, so you have to look out for 

that. The other one to look out for are the 

nitrates. These can be airborne and can 

enter the pool via dust, flowers and leaves, 

fertilisers and topsoil, or even your dogs 

shaking themselves beside the pool, or 

swimming in the pool.” 

Unfortunately, if the nitrate content 

becomes too high, you may have to drain 

your pool. A word of caution here, make 

sure that the water table of the surrounding 

ground is not too high before you drain 

your pool as too much external pressure 

may cause cracks. Once your pool is 

drained, you shouldn’t leave it for more 

than a day before re-filling it. Remember 

that once the pool is full again, you must recheck 

the quality of the new water to make 

sure that the balances are correct. 

If you are using all the traditional methods 

of maintenance as described above, but 

want to make a change, a salt chlorinator 

is a good alternative. “Salt chlorinators 

will give you softer water and reduce your 

maintenance,” Samantha says. “The chances 

of your pool going green are much fewer, 

but it could still happen, so you do still have 

to keep testing the water quality.” 


For more information, 

contact Samantha Moodley 

at Brandon’s Pool Care in the 

Leaping Frog Garden Centre 

on 011 4651224.



Exotic Pets • 

The need to do research 

before buying a 

As most parrots outlive us humans, 

having a lifespan of up to 70 

years, buying a parrot is a long 

term commitment. We only have the 

responsibility of a dog or cat for 14 to 15 

years if we are lucky. You have bought your 

parrot, taken it home, fallen in love with it – 

now the commitment begins. 

Parrots, like children, have many NEEDS and 

if these are not met by the owner, the result 

will be a very unhappy parrot displaying 

very undesirable behaviour. 

NEEDS would include adequate cage size, 

balanced diet, environmental enrichment, 

training and social needs. 

Once your new baby is home, it is easy to 

spend extra time settling the bird in and 

loving it, just like with a new puppy, but 

unfortunately these birds do not grow out 

of needing attention. It is like buying a two 

year old that never grows up and as the 

infatuation of the new addition passes, the 

birds are often left to their own devices, 

leading to screaming, bored, plucking and 

very unhappy parrots. The result of this 

is often that the bird is sold on, given to 

someone else or handed in at a zoo and 

coming from a home with a loving family 

that was important to the bird, the bird now 

has to adjust and come to terms with its 

loss. We replace the flock of the wild bird 

and we are their family and they do have 

emotions. 

Owning a parrot is a responsibility. Right 

from the beginning, the right amount of 

attention needs to be given, to set the 

correct tone for your parrot. Your 

parrot needs to understand what is 

happening at all times. Change is not good 

for these birds. 

Article supplied by Birds for Africa in the 

Leaping Frog Centre, Fourways. 

For more information, contact Arlette de 

Jager at Birds for Africa on e-mail: 

arlette.dejager@gmail.com or visit 

www.birds-for-africa.co.za 

Once you invest time and 

love into your parrot, the 

rewards can be joyous and 

you will have a friend for life. 

However, if you do not have 

the energy or time to put 

in long term, please think 

seriously before purchasing 

a parrot. 

Buying a parrot on a 

whim is definitely not 

the best way to go. 

Not all parrots make good companion birds. Here are some factors to be 

taken into consideration before buying or taking over someone else’s parrot: 

What size parrot? Bigger birds can be more difficult to handle especially for smaller 

children. Choose the correct parrot for your household. 

The gender? Male or female? Hand reared males can become nippy and noisy. The 

females are sometimes quieter. 

The source of the bird. Hand reared, wild caught, cage reared, pet shop, friend? 

If you are taking over a bird, ask yourself, why are they getting rid of the bird? 

Some birds tend to bond with one person only and some with the whole family. 

What do you want from your parrot? 

The noise factor – some are noisier than others. 

How much experience do you have in parrot keeping? Some are more difficult to keep 

and display more behavioural problems. 

How much time will you spend with your bird each day? Some need more attention 

than others. 

What temperament are you looking for? Different breeds, 

different temperaments. 

What cage size can you afford? Can you afford 

enrichment toys on an ongoing basis? 

The mess factor? Parrots are by nature 

messy eaters. 

What provisions will you make for your 

parrot when you go on holiday? Some 

birds will stress if they are not with 

their owners and do not take lightly 

to strangers. 

The price? This will also determine 

your choice of bird. 


Kidz Corner • 

Fourways Gardens 

Sponsored by Caradoc Realty and the Fourways 

Gardens HOA, the Fourways Gardens Children’s 

Christmas Party was held on Saturday the 3rd of 

December, 2011 at the Clubhouse. 

Great fun was had by all, with entertainment provided 

by the ever popular Darin the Magician. Father Christmas 

arrived in his big red sleigh and the children gave him 

letters telling him what they wanted as presents. 

Jessica told him that she had been very good, especially 

because she made her bed and loved Max, the cat. She 

asked for goggles, a hula hoop and a bubble-headed dog. 

Regan said he had been good to his friends and to his 

brother, Gareth. He asked that Father Christmas include 

a present for their dog, Jemma, as she had also been a 

good dog. 

Matthew asked for his presents, which included Lego, 

stickers and a Play Mobil, to be forwarded to Hout Bay, 

where he would be enjoying his holiday with his family. 

Ben asked for a rubber boat with oars for the pool and a 

big rubbish truck. As he and his family were leaving for 

Italy before Christmas, he asked for early delivery. 

After Father Christmas’ visit, children played on the 

gladiator water slide and the jumping castle, while 

their mums and dads enjoyed the complimentary tea 

with delectable cakes and fresh scones topped with 

strawberry jam and thick cream. 

Top and opposite page: Children tell Father 

Christmas what’s on their wish list. 

Below right: The children are enthralled by Darin 

the Magician’s antics. 

Christmas Party 


By Judy Veale

Kidz Corner • 

It was lots and 

lots of fun!! 


Lifestyle • 

BMX first exploded on to the South African sporting scene 

back in the 1980s, with even the likes of Jacques Kallis (now 

known as the Proteas cricket team’s King Kallis) a keen 

participant in his youth. Strange but true, in those days, Lonehill 

wasn’t a suburb, it was a BMX track! 

As urban sprawl took over BMX’s prime real estate, eventually new 

tracks were established and there is now a BMX track in Bryanston, 

close to the intersection of Main and Sloane Streets. Alternative 

tracks can be found in Alrode, Germiston and Kempton Park in 

Gauteng and Pietermaritzburg, Queensburgh, Giba Gorge and 

Lahey Park in KwaZulu Natal. 

Georgina Grassi leading her race 

Bryanston BMX Track 



This sport is said to build 

character, especially 

amongst the kids. 

PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO RACE 

Now run by the Bionic Cycling Club, the Bryanston track was 

actually built about 4 years ago on a piece of municipal land that 

has become known as the Toyota Cycle Park. Riders of all ages are 

welcome, provided they are over 5 and under 55 years of age. New 

riders start off as novices and after they have won 3 novice gold 

medals at national championships they are then graded as experts. 

The season starts every year in mid-January and amongst the 

various local tracks, there is invariably racing somewhere every 

weekend, until mid October. Over and above the club races, 

there’s a 12-race Provincial Championships series, a National 

Championship and a Grand National series. A South African team 

is further selected and sent to the World Championships – last 

year this was held in Copenhagen and this year, it will be held in 

Birmingham. As BMX is now recognised as an Olympic sport, the 

next international BMX challenge worth noting after that is at the 

Olympics that will be held in London this year, with South Africa 

hopefully represented again by the Beijing Olympic Finalist, Sifiso 

Nhlapo, aka Skizo. 

HOW DO I START? 

Before you do anything about buying a bike or kit, say the 

organisers, it’s best to contact them for a discussion over the soonto-be 

new rider’s requirements. This is because there are plenty 

of bikes and spares that can be bought from those who have 

progressed to bigger and better bikes. One thing you shouldn’t do 

is buy a bike that’s too big for your child, thinking that your child 

will grow into it. If your child struggles with the bigger bike, he or 

she may lose confidence before the bug has had a chance to bite. 

“BMX is a wonderful sport for kids and a great entry sport into 

the world of cycling. Not only do kids learn the skills needed for

Lifestyle • 

BMX, but it also teaches them courage, 

determination and perseverance. To get up 

after a fall and go on to finish the race is not 

easy, especially when they are very young. 

BMX also became an official Olympic sport 

in 2008, so it is a wonderful motivation 

for those who want to take this sport 

seriously. It really is a sport that the whole 

family can get involved in, in one way or 

another,” says Lee-Anne Grassie, mother of 

Georgina Grassie, winner of the 2010 BMX 

World Championships title in the Girls Age 

9 category. 

“I agree, BMX is a fantastic family sport. 

Going to the World Championships is 

always a wonderful experience for the 

kids. Financially it’s quite a challenge to get 

our talented kids there, so if there are any 

companies interested in sponsoring these 

youngsters, any kind of sponsorship will be 

more than welcome,” adds Sharon, Tyrone 

Verrall’s mum. 

The starting gate at the Bryanston Track 

SCHOOLS SERIES 

TO START SOON 

All local Primary Schools in the 

Fourways and Bryanston area 

are invited to enter a team 

(minimum 5 riders anywhere 

between Under 6 and Under 

13) in the Schools Series 

Challenge. This will be run over 

5 Saturday mornings, with the 

top three schools winning prize 

money totalling R10 000. 

Georgina Grassi wins gold 

A bit about Georgina Grassie 

Georgi started BMX racing in February 2009 

at the age of 8. She started in the Novice 

category and very shortly moved up to the 

Expert Category. Because BMX is quite a 

niche sport in South Africa with very few 

girls, she competes in the boys’ class and 

has done very well. 

Some of the highlights of her BMX racing 

career include winning the BMX World 

Championships Girls’ Age 9 category, which 

took place in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 

in 2010 and being awarded her Protea 

Colours for BMX last year, 2011. 

Tyrone Verall 

Tyrone started racing at the Alrode BMX 

Track when he was just 3 years old. Since 

then, he hasn’t stopped. He trains every 

week day and races every Sunday during 

the racing season. He also plays school and 

club cricket. 

He has received his Provincial Colours 

four years in a row and received his South 

African National Colours and Protea Blazer 

last year (2011). In 2010, he finished fourth 

in the World at the Pietermaritzburg World 

Championships and last year was rated in 

the top ten in the World at the Copenhagen 

World Championships. This year, he has 

again been selected to represent South 

Africa in his age group at the World 

Championships in Birmingham. 


In 2011 she took part in the BMX World 

Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, 

but unfortunately did not have a great 

result. However, this has not deterred her 

from racing, and she has started 2012 

with a positive attitude and the desire to 

try again at the World Championships in 

Birmingham, UK. 

Georgi is in Grade 5 at Brescia House 

in Epsom Downs. She plays tennis and 

hockey, has recently joined the choir and 

is learning to play the marimbas. She also 

enjoys spending time with her friends. 

Tyrone Verall 

The Toyota Cycle Park can be accessed from Libertas Road (off Sloane Street) in Bryanston. 

For more information, contact the club secretary: Ashleigh Ridderhof on mobile: 

+27 83 304 4475 or +27 78 7677514; or e-mail her on: ashleigh@benchmarkrecruitment.co.za.

Recipe • 

Shortbread Cookies 

Total Time: 25 mins 

Prep Time: 15 mins 

Bake Time: 10 mins 

COOKIES 

• 1 cup butter , softened 

• 3/4 cup sugar 

• 1 package cream cheese , softened 

• 1 egg 

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence 

• 3 cups flour 

FOR COATING 

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 

• 2 tablespoons shortening 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Combine butter, sugar, cream cheese, egg and vanilla in large bowl. Beat 

until light and fluffy. Add flour, beat until well mixed. Wrap in saran wrap and 

refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. 

Preheat oven to 375°. Roll dough out to 1/8 inch thickness on lightly floured 

surface. Cut dough with lightly floured 2 inch heart shaped cookie cutter. Place 

cutouts 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. 

Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove 

immediately to wire racks to cool completely. 

Melt chocolate chips and shortening in small saucepan over low heat, or 

double boiler until melted. Dip half of each heart into melted chocolate. 

Refrigerate on cookie sheets or trays lined with waxed paper until chocolate is 

firm. Store covered in the refrigerator with wax paper in between the layers. 


Family • 

On divorce: 

The way ahead 

Divorce constitutes one of the most traumatic 

yet challenging events in any person’s life. 

Divorce is a common phenomenon 

which affects families from all walks 

of life. Statistical data released by SA 

Statistics reveal that 62% of married South 

African couples will end their relationship 

within the first 10 years of marriage. 

According to SA Statistics, Gauteng has 

the highest divorce rate in the country, 

followed by the Western Cape, while the 

Limpopo Province has the lowest divorce 

rate. Over the past 10 years, the percentage 

of divorces increased from 18% to 34% in 

the black community, while in the white 

community it dropped from 40% to 32%! 

The direct financial impact of divorce on 

the divorcing couple and their immediate 

families is immense. Divorced couples 

tend to be much poorer than their married 

counterparts. Furthermore, children from 

single parent homes, compared to children 

who grow up in traditional households, 

have a higher probability of growing up 

in poverty, having a reduced quality of 

life and having higher rates of substance 

abuse and crime involvement. In contrast, 

children from non-divorced families appear 

to be emotionally healthier and have higher 

academic achievement. 

Why do people get divorced? 

Marital dissatisfaction was found to be the 

most common cause of divorce. The biggest 

obstacles to marital satisfaction in newlywed 

couples were conflicts related to issues of 

time, sex and money. In young couples 

below the age of 30, the spouse’s inability to 

balance work with family life, disagreements 

regarding the frequency of sex and the 

presence of financial problems due to 

debt made prior to the marriage, were the 

hottest problems directly contributing 

to the decision to get a divorce. On the 

other hand, in couples over the age of 30, 

the main obstacles to marital satisfaction 

were constant bickering and different 

expectations about household tasks. 

The most common divorce trigger is one 

spouse getting involved in an extramarital 

relationship. Other causes that can trigger 

divorce include financial loss, bankruptcy, 

having occupational problems, dealing with 

a spouse who abuses alcohol or drugs, or a 

spouse who abuses the other emotionally 

and/or physically. 

The divorce process 

Due to the major impact of the divorce 

on the nuclear and on the extended 

family, it is important to evaluate, prior to 

the initiation of the divorce process, the 

multiple factors that will affect the family. 

Serious consideration is required to be 

placed on the possible expected losses 

and gains which are caused by the divorce. 

The losses experienced through a divorce 

can be numerous and can be separated 

into personal losses, interpersonal losses 

and financial losses. At the same time, the 

divorce might have some advantages as 

it can represent a new beginning and a 

departure from past crippling relationships. 

The divorce is a long-term process which 

proceeds along three separate pathways: 

The emotional path: The most common 

emotional reactions to divorce are shock, 

anxiety, depression, guilt and anger. 

Divorced and separated people are three 

times more prone to develop depression 

than married people. 

The initial depressed mood can have 

minimal symptoms, often going 

unrecognised, and it has only a minor 

effect on one’s functionality. The earliest 

symptoms of depression that develop are 

sad mood, anxiety, insomnia and low self 

esteem. Usually, these early symptoms of 

depression develop several weeks before 

being noticed by the patient and often go 

untreated. However, untreated depression 

can progress to a more severe state which 

might then affect one’s personal, social 

and vocational functioning. Ultimately, this 


can lead to social withdrawal, work-related 

problems and lack of interest in one’s 

personal affairs. 

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to 

see depressed patients waiting up to 

6 months or even longer before they 

seek professional help. Depression, once 

established, tends to remain chronic, 

especially without optimal treatment. 

Moreover, having a depressive episode 

predisposes the individual to having 

additional future episodes - even when the 

initial episode was successfully resolved. 

The psychological path: The psychological 

process runs parallel to the emotional 

process. It involves the emergence of a 

strong psychological need to make a life 

change. This desire forms the basis that will 

lead the couple to take the correct steps 

toward the divorce. 

The legal path: The legal process 

involves the ability to develop a working 

relationship with a legal team who will file, 

on behalf of the divorcing couple, the court 

application that eventually will lead to an 

acceptable settlement and to the marriage 

termination. 

Conclusion 

Your divorce therapist 

Dr S. Brook, a FWG resident, is a private Psychiatrist practising in Crescent Clinic, Randburg and in Bell 

Hospital in Krugersdorp. To purchase the book and find more information regarding future workshops 

on divorce contact Dr Brook on 011-9541959 or visit the site: www.yourdivorcetherapist.co.za 

Divorce is a highly common and increasing 

global phenomenon which has financial 

and emotional impacts on the separating 

spouses as well as on the whole family. 

Divorce requires major adaptation abilities 

and utilisation of personal positive coping 

skills as well as prompt recognition and 

treatment of the emotional disturbances 

caused by the divorce. Fast and adequate 

management of the emotional reactions 

that develop during the divorce will reduce 

their impact on the separating spouses, on 

the children and on the extended family. 

Furthermore, it will improve the divorcing 

couple’s ability to cope with the painful and 

lengthy process of the divorce, and will foster 

a quicker move to the new separate lives.

Book Reviews • 

some reading time 

BACK TO WORK 

BY BILL CLINTON 

Here are some thought-provoking books to kick off the new year. 

PRICE: 

R220 

Essential reading on the global economy from 

former US President, Bill Clinton. 

In Back to Work, Bill Clinton addresses the urgent 

economic challenges facing the United States and 

offers a plan to get America ‘back into the future’. 

He details how to get out of the current economic 

crisis and lay a foundation for long-term prosperity. 

He offers specific recommendations on how to put 

people back to work, increase bank lending and 

corporate investment, double exports, restore the 

manufacturing base and create new businesses. 

He supports President Obama’s emphasis on 

green technology, saying that a change in the way 

we produce and consume energy is the strategy 

most likely to spark a fast-growing economy and 

enhance national security. 

Clinton also says that it is a strong economy and 

smart government working together that will 

restore prosperity and progress. He demonstrates 

that whenever the US gave in to the temptation 

to blame government for its problems, it lost 

its commitment to shared prosperity, balanced 

growth, financial responsibility, and investment in 

the future. 

“I wrote this book because I love my country and 

I’m concerned about our future,” he writes. “As I 

often said when I first ran for President in 1992, 

America at its core is an idea - the idea that no 

matter who you are or where you’re from, if you 

work hard and play by the rules, you’ll have the 

freedom and opportunity to pursue your own 

dreams and leave your kids a country in which they 

can chase theirs.” 

WORST CASE 

BY JASSY MACKENZIE 

‘A white-knuckle thriller’ writes renowned 

American crime writer Tess Gerritsen about 

Jassy Mackenzie’s newest novel. 

In Mackenzie’s Worst Case, her third 

Jade de Jong thriller, the feisty P.I. leaves 

Johannesburg behind for some peace 

and quiet on the East Coast. Her planned 

romantic breakaway goes awry when David 

Patel arrives late only to break up with her. 

As usual, Jade has little time to focus on 

her personal life. Soon, with her diving 

instructor brutally murdered, David in 

hospital and a body count that is steadily 

rising, Jade might have to face her fear 

of the open water a lot sooner than she was planning… that is, if she is 

to expose a massive organised crime operation and prevent an act of 

environmental sabotage that could destroy the St Lucia estuary. Mackenzie, 

who has established herself firmly as one of South Africa’s most exciting crime 

writers, will have fans gripping onto every word with Jade de Jong’s newest 

adventure. 

An e-book and PDF are also available. 

SCREW BUSINESS AS USUAL 

BY RICHARD BRANSON 

A new business book from Richard 

Branson - set to be another business 

bestseller. 

Can we bring more meaning to our 

lives and help change the world at the 

same time? Richard Branson, at his 

brilliant and motivating best, reveals 

how with his exciting new vision for 

the future. It is time to turn capitalism 

upside down - to shift our values, to 

switch from a profit focus to caring for 

people, communities and the planet. 

With inspiration for everyone, Screw 

Business As Usual shows how easy it is 

for both businesses and individuals to 

embark on a whole new way of doing 

things - solving major problems and 

turning our work into something we 

both love and are proud of. 


Compiled by Leilani Basson and Bev Hermanson 

PRICE: 

R170 

For more information on these 

or any of Random House 

Struik’s other titles, contact 

011 484 3538, or log on to 

www.randomstruik.co.za 

PRICE: 

R215

Accredited Estate Agents • 

AGENCY AGENT CONTACT DETAILS 

CARADOC REALTY SHARON / MICHELE / ALISON 

CENTURY 21 LIFESTYLE ESTATES ANNE / TAMARA / NICOLE 

CHAS EVERITT JAN 

ENGEL & VOLKERS PENNY/ SUSAN 

FOURWAYS GARDENS REALTY ALISON / INGRID / HEATHER 

FRANCESCA BEATTIE PROPERTIES FRANCESCA / DAVE 

GAYE CAWOOD REALTY GAYE / JOYCE / GARTH / SUE 

PAM GOLDING PROPERTIES ANDRE / DEE / DEBBIE 

In the process of becoming an owner of fixed property 

in Fourways Gardens Residential Estate, the owner 

automatically becomes a member of the Fourways 

Gardens Homeowners Association. The members of the 

Homeowners Association must accept, with the transfer 

of their property, that the concept of the Estate imposes 

certain restrictions on the manner in which estate 

agencies and their agents may operate in the Estate. 

Since estate agents are the first line of interaction with 

new homeowners/ HOA members, the HOA endeavours 

to empower all accredited estate agencies to ensure that 

the correct information is conveyed to new members at 

all times. In order to formalise these understandings, an 

accreditation procedure is followed and the conditions of 

this relationship are embodied in an Approval Agreement. 

It is imperative that prospective homeowners and 

tenants are made fully aware of the implications of the 

compulsory membership of the Homeowners Association 

and the stipulations, rules and regulations attached to this. 

Marketing of properties, advertising boards and show houses 


011 467-3233 / 082 560-7042 / 

082-850-8356 / 083 470-9443 

011 460-1599 / 083 600-0566 / 

082 888-7178 / 072 412-3698 

011 463-2033 / 083 300-1971 

011 465 0410 / 082 805 3769 / 

082 528 1642 

011 467-2424 / 083 259-6902 / 

083 601-5521 / 082 496-0632 

011 705-2384 / 083 678-8001 / 

083 326-1989 

011 469-4070 / 083 601-1593 / 

082 807 3497 / 082 497-0155 / 

082 452-0086 

011 469-4691/ 082 555 3587 / 

083 375-5646 / 072 551-3944 

REMAX MASTERS MARIE 011 795-1032 / 083 671-3868 

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY FAITH / TRISH 

011 469-4950 / 082 659-1700 / 

082 442-9112 

Fourways Gardens Homeowners Association 

Approved Estate Agents Policy 

must adhere to pre-conditions which approved agents agree 

to abide by. The General Manager of the Homeowners 

Association will be responsible for executing and monitoring 

the Approved Agents Agreement, and in conjunction with 

the Homeowners Association Communications Committee, 

must address any written grievances from either party. 

When it comes time to sell the property again, it is the duty 

of the Board of Trustees to ensure that residents’ privacy 

is protected. However, it is also the right of each owner/ 

Homeowners Association member to dispose of his/her 

property in the Estate, and the Board of Trustees must ensure 

that this right can be executed with as little disturbance as 

possible to other home owners. As a result the Estate Agents 

Approval Policy, renewable annually, was formulated. 

The number of approved estate agencies is not limited, but 

the Homeowners Association reserves the right to approve 

or disapprove an application for accreditation. Upon signing 

the agreement, an accreditation fee becomes payable 

by the estate agency. The full Estate Agents Approval 

Policy document is available from the Estate Office.

Lifestyle • 

and the Fourways Express 

Paul Browning, former London Transport 

planner, suggests that Johannesburg’s 

township taxis should also be used for 

preponderantly white suburbs in the north. 

Some readers may be unaware of 

Togetherness Amadeus Tshabalala. He is 

a genial fellow but like his colleagues not 

a terribly considerate driver. At rush hour, 

he jinks his Toyota minibus (with BMW 

hubcaps) through the jammed traffic. He 

is a man of high spirits as is evidenced by 

the stickers on his rear window: GOD LOVES 

TAXI DRIVERS and DEFEAT CONSTIPATION - 

TRAVEL BY TAXI. 

On the front of his taxi, across a dent which, 

ominously, is in the shape of a large traffic 

cop with his arms out, is a lurid notice 

reading: FOURWAYS EXPRESS INAUGURAL 

FLIGHT. It’s Togetherness’ little joke. 

We are witnessing the inaugural journey of 

what is intended to become a daily service 

between Fourways and Johannesburg - a 

25km journey that takes Togetherness 8.5 

minutes if it's not too busy and assuming he 

can occasionally use the pavements. 

The percussion waves from Togetherness’ 

powerful radio cause the vehicle’s sides to 

rhythmically flex. He hoots as he drives. 

Togetherness hoots at anything he sees 

including trees, as is the custom among taxi 

drivers. 

Aboard the taxi are a dozen white people. 

They do not come whiter. Their whiteness 

is not due to ethnicity - it is due to stark 

terror. Take John Hilton. Never in his life 

has he experienced travelling from zero 

to 100 km/h in six seconds - not in heavy 

traffic. Denise Smith's colour had changed 

to green-white as quickly as the last traffic 

light changed to red - a colour which, as is 

traditional among taxi drivers, Togetherness 

ignores. 

He looks over his shoulder - for a full minute 

- asking passengers their destinations. 

Elsbeth Brown, sitting right at the back, 

says Hyde Park. She really wanted to go to 

Johannesburg but, suddenly, Hyde Park 

seems near enough. 

She worries about how she will make her 

way from the back of the vehicle, but only 


By James Clarke 

fleetingly because the taxi has now reached 

Hyde Park and has stopped as suddenly as 

a plane might stop up against a mountain. 

Now everybody is in front in a warm, 

intimate heap. 

Elsbeth is vaguely aware of people bending 

over her shouting: “Give her air!” She alights 

as gracefully as one can with one knee 

locked behind the other. 

Togetherness bowls happily along Jan 

Smuts Avenue overtaking a police car that 

is chasing a getaway car. Togetherness 

overtakes the getaway car, exchanging 

boisterous greetings with the driver. 

Togetherness is steering with his elbows 

because he needs his hands free to check 

the morning's takings and to gesticulate to 

any girls he sees. 

He announces: "Ladies and gentlemen, we 

will shortly be landing in Johannesburg. 

Please make sure your seatbelts are 

fastened and your seats are in the upright 

position. Thank you." 

Piet Smit is chewing on a seatbelt which is 

made of leather. Togetherness had them 

specially made because he noticed how 

white passengers, on the rare occasions 

they used his taxi, liked to bite on 

something. 

Upon entering the centre of the city, he 

stops at his usual disembarkation point in 

the middle of a busy intersection and picks 

his teeth, patiently, while people sort out 

their legs and teeth before groping their 

way towards a street pole around which 

they can throw their arms. By the time his 

passengers' eyeballs have settled back 

in their parent sockets Togetherness is 

halfway back for a second load. 

James Clarke is an author of 

30 books and many humorous 

articles. 

Blogsite: http://stoeptalk. 

wordpress.com 

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