ISSUE 4| 2015€¦ · introduced Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to South Africa. By combining personal training with EMS BODYTEC® enables clients to: • reduce fat content •

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE BOARDWALK MEANDER HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

ISSUE 4| 2015

Stoep Talk focuses on Boardwalk Meander Estate. The magazine is compiled and published by Estates in Africa (Pty) Ltd trading as EIA Publishing on behalf of the Boardwalk Meander Home Owners Association (HOA) Board of Directors. The opinions of personnel of

Estates in Africa (Pty) Ltd do not necessarily reflect those of the HOA and Management of Boardwalk Meander Estate. Articles written are edited for grammar, however reflect the authentic styles of the writers. We encourage residents to contribute to our estate magazine.

Contributions may be forwarded to [email protected].

Publisher: Nico Maritz • [email protected] • Advertising: Martin Fourie (Marketing Manager)Cell: 072 835 8405 | E-mail: [email protected] • Casper Labuschagne (Sales) Cell: 083 410 8789 | E-mail: [email protected]

• Production Coordinator and Design: Nicola Wilson E-mail: [email protected] Credits: Magriet Basson • Pretoria Office: 84 Glenwood Rd, Lynnwood Park 012 348 2001

Johannesburg Office: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Rd, Illovo 011 327 4062 The deadline for advertisements and editorial contributions for issue 5 is 1 September 2015.

What’s Happening on Your Stoep

News from the Villages

Security

Guide Dogs in Boardwalk Meander

Gardening

The Danakil

AWTTW

Chronic Pain Management

Book Reviews

South African English

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9Contents

1Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 4 · 2015

You Were Seen

What’s happening on your

To All Residents,ESTATE MATTERS

Firstly we wish to welcome all new residents to the Estate and trust that you will also find the surroundings to be calm and peaceful, just as the rest of us have been experiencing for many years.

We would like to introduce the current team of employees to the Estate:

René Koeleman – Administrative Assistant

Ilonka de Beer – Financial & Administrative Assistant

Theorine Nkopane – Office Cleaner

George Mashiya – Handyman

David Palo – Handyman

Our service providers are the following:

Garden Service – Rooibul – Don Smit

Biometric and Cameras – Amax – Shaun Harris

Electric Fence – Camtech – Kevin Hazel

Security Service – Brinant – Frikkie Joubert

Plumbers – Plumb Ambulance – Chris Barkhuizen

Electrical – Lunar Electrical – Albert Gravett

Venues for Hire:

Vineyard Village Clubhouse and Boma

Swimming Pool and Braai Area at the Office Jungle Gym Area at the OfficeTables and Chair

Please contact the Office for any further queries and please book well in advance as our venues are very popular and you could be disappointed if you wait until the last minute.

What’s happening around the Estate:

Just to keep you in the loop, the following items are receiving attention within the Estate during the next couple of weeks:

We have been establishing new gardens and received quite a number of good reviews and we thank you for that. We also had to remove some trees and we will replace them when summer arrives. The Rooibul guys are removing all the invaders from our dam areas and should you identify some of

the invaders in your area, please let us know and we will come and remove them. The overgrown reeds in the river flows have also been cut to make room for new growth in these areas and we will be continuing this project well into the next few months.

We have erected new notice boards along some of the walkways and will endeavour to place more of these notice boards throughout the year. We want to again appeal to you to please refrain from riding your bicycles on the walkway areas and rather give way to the pedestrians/ joggers and small children.

Arbor Day / Squash Tournament and Tennis Tournament:

We are planning to incorporate our Arbor Day / Squash Tourna-ment / Tennis Tournament event as one event and we will be sending out more information it this regard shortly. We would be delighted if you would join us on these events.

Please enjoy the last bit of winter and get ready for an amazing summer.

Regards,

Ilonka

René Koeleman, Theorine Nkopane, David Paolo, George Mashiya

3 Issue 4 · 2015Boardwalk Meander Estate

News

Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 4 · 2015

Menlyn AutoCorner Garstfontein Road & January Masilela Drive Waterkloof GlenTel. 012 426 2700www.mini-menlynauto.co.za

Relax. You’re not seeing double. You’re looking at two extra doors. The new MINI 5 door gives you and four passengers a thrill-a-minute ride. No more excuses. Call to book a test-spin today.

Valid SA driver’s licence needed to test drive.

SPACE? NOT A PROBLEM.

THE NEW MINI. NOW WITH 5 DOORS.

Follow @MenlynAuto_Like MINIMenlynAuto@minimenlynauto

FPP1

0141

Greetings from the Villages

• Merlot had their AGM and their new Chairman is Stadler van Vuuren.

• Vineyard is in the process of painting.

• The dust problem experienced by mostly Vineyard residents over the past eight years, is ongoing. A water truck is currently spraying the road in an attempt to ease the problem. The dust levels are extremely high and pose a serious health problem. Legal advice is currently being obtained to explore possible action to force City Council to do something about this.

• As we are heading for an AGM, I would like to thank the Chairman and Trustees of all four Bodies Corporate for their co-operation and support during the past six months that I have had the privilege of representing them and all their members on the Board of the HOA.

It is very important for all the members of the HOA to realise and remember that the MOI defi nes all members equally and that the MOI is the guideline for all of us to live up to. This is such a special Estate with such warm and friendly people – we should all embrace this, rebuild trust and co-operate fully with Board members to be elected at the coming AGM.

Best wishes

Estelle ScheepersDirector – Sectional Titles

News from the Vi l lages!Estelle Scheepers

Director - Sectional [email protected]

Vineyard is in the process of painting.

The dust levels are extremely high and pose a serious health problem. Legal advice is currently

being obtained to explore possible action to force City Council to do something about this.


News

Menlyn AutoCorner Garstfontein Road & January Masilela Drive Waterkloof GlenTel. 012 426 2700www.mini-menlynauto.co.za

Relax. You’re not seeing double. You’re looking at two extra doors. The new MINI 5 door gives you and four passengers a thrill-a-minute ride. No more excuses. Call to book a test-spin today.

Valid SA driver’s licence needed to test drive.

SPACE? NOT A PROBLEM.

THE NEW MINI. NOW WITH 5 DOORS.

Follow @MenlynAuto_Like MINIMenlynAuto@minimenlynauto

FPP1

0141

Security

6Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 4· 2015

Director - Security Deon Strydom

[email protected]

Beste InwonersNog ’n termyn het verby gevlieg en die jaarvergadering vind eersdaags plaas.

Tyd staan vir niemand stil nie en die afgelope jaar het spreekwoordelik gevlieg.

Ek wil graag van die geleentheid gebruik maak om vir elke Inwoner te bedank vir hulle bydrae tot die sukses en veiligheid van die landgoed. Van die Inwoners is uiters oplettend en

www.boardwalkmeander.co.za

www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Boardwalk-meander-Estate /141620449278457

Twitter - @stoeptalklive

Always at yourfi ngertips

kommunikeer gereeld met ons rakende die sekuriteit.

Baie dankie ook aan Brinant en hulle span vir nog ’n suksesvolle jaar as Diensverskaffer aan die Landgoed.

To the Estate Staff a big thanks as well. We are aware of the “behind the scenes” effort that goes into managing the Estate. I am sure all the Residents also appreciate the hard work.

We are also privileged to announce that the year went by without any serious incidents. An ongoing effort to improve our system and procedures will ensure that we do not relax about the situation.

The new access system was implemented this year and proved to be very successful. We all know we had a few teething problems but we managed to get through it.

Thanks to all for your patience and understanding. We assure you that the system has proved to be far more effective than the previous one. The access via internet and smart

Deon Strydom

phone will also be implemented to make things even easier.

The current situation in the country is not great but we have to say that our life in the Estate is wonderful. A big thanks to all Trustees for making this the best place to stay.

Mens kan net trots voel op ons onmid-delike omgewing en die plek waar ons woon. Daar gaan baie werk in en elkeen wat betrokke is kan tevrede voel.

Ons is reg vir die volgende jaar en glo dat die standaarde gehou sal word. Sekuriteit sal altyd een van die belangrikste aspekte van ons moderne leefstyl bly. Wees verseker dat ons namens elke Inwoner ons bes probeer om almal se beleggings te beskerm en op te pas.

www.boardwalkmeander.co.za

Always at yourfingertips

Deon Strydom

• Almost anyone between the ages of 18 and 80

• Those looking to tone up and build muscle

• Cross-training athletes that need additional strength training.

While results vary from person to person, users can usually expect to see and feel a difference after as few as six training sessions.

WHO CAN DO IT?

Almost 5 years ago, BODYTEC® introduced Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to South Africa.

By combining personal training with EMS BODYTEC® enables clients to:

• reduce fat content• gently define muscles• increase physical strength and

endurance• improve core strength

SO WHAT IS BODYTEC®?There is a way to build your fitness routine into one, 20-minute session per week, through BODYTEC® - The timesaving fitness and all-round strength training solution.

BODYTEC® training is the perfect fitness solution and all-round training: 20 minutes of BODYTEC® Training once a week is all it takes to a healthier and stronger you.

COME TO BODYTEC FAERIE GLEN

Book a once-off BODYTEC® personal training session for only R195.

Call us for an appointment 012 993 1595 or send an E-Mail to [email protected]

BODYTEC Faerie Glen is located at Eastdale Pavilion Shopping Centre, 649 Vercueil Street, cnr Solomon Mahlangu and Jacqueline drive

TONE UP WHILE TRIMMING DOWN ON THE HOURS





WHO CAN DO IT?












TIME IS PRECIOUS – WHY WASTE TIME ON LONG WORKOUTS?Just 20 minutes a week! That’s al l that’s needed to get the healthy body you want and, more importantly for most of us, to tone up and lose a few kilo’s.

Sounds like a pipe dream?

When Inge Barnard from BODYTEC© invited me to have a session at their new branch in Eastdale Pavilion Shopping Centre I was intrigued by her statement that 20 minutes with BODYTEC© is roughly the equivalent of three one-hour conventional weight training sessions.

So there I was being strapped snugly into a sleeveless jacket … and then the tingling began as my personal trainer did a quick 5-minute assessment.

BODYTEC© uses EMS (electro muscle simulation) to give you a full body workout in a very

short time. Inge explained that in everyday li fe our central nervous system constantly sends electrical impulses to control our muscle action. EMS uses this natural principle and is able to intensify this process to reach deeper muscle layers that are hard to activate through conventional training. This is achieved by applying EMS electrodes to the skin directly above the muscle.

While I did a series of low-impact exercises, my muscles were additionally stimulated through the electrodes. My personal t ra iner could control each muscle group by adjusting the training intensity according to my strength and goals.

It’s important to note that the training is neither painful nor harmful to your body. After two days I felt some stiffness in my muscles (proving that my muscles had had a workout)

and I now plan to regularly train easily, the BODYTEC© way.

By Kathy Thersby


Community





WHO CAN DO IT?
















WHO CAN DO IT?












TIME IS PRECIOUS – WHY WASTE TIME ON LONG WORKOUTS?

Guide dog puppies live with volunteers called ‘Puppy Raisers’ for the first year of their lives. During the time with their puppy raisers the puppies need to learn basic obedience and understanding of a home environment but the most important part of puppy raising is exposure.

Guide dog puppies need to be exposed to as many situations as possible. They must be exposed to people of different ages and ethnicities, other animals, cars, shopping centres, restaurants, offices, buses, trains, crowds and noises, to name a few. Guide dog puppies wear special jackets that allow them access to public places. They are well socialized, friendly, clean and healthy.

Once the puppies are a year old they go to the Guide Dog training centre for their formal training, which takes 4 to 6 months. Most of the dogs are trained to guide visually impaired individuals. The dogs go home to their puppy raisers on weekends and holidays until they have completed their training.

The South African Guide dog association also trains Service dogs and Autism support dogs. Service dogs assist disabled people with everyday tasks such as retrieving items, opening doors, switching lights on and

finding help. Autism support dogs calm children with Autism and encourage them to speak and interact.

The GDA Puppy Walking scheme was introduced in 1971, to enable us to breed our own dogs and maintain a supply of pups with a sound upbringing, preparing them for a working life.

Nice to know: Please don’t offer a treat or snack to a working Guide Dog or a Guide Dog-in-training without first asking their handler.

They are trained to try and resist temptation, but they are still dogs and young dogs especially can be distracted if the temptation is strong enough.

When our puppies are awake, they are under instruction. They are being taught how to respond to anything new and strange. They accompany their puppy walker to shops and in the car as much as possible to learn how to behave when out and on lead.

This means that by the time a puppy-in-training comes back to GDA for formal training they have had thousands of hours of training from their puppy walkers!

Currently our Guide and Service Dogs are only supplied to people over the age of 18 as our dogs provide a means for independence.The handler has to take full responsibility for the dog, including feeding, grooming, veterinary visits, and the actual work they do together with all the commands that includes. The bond between the dog and his owner is deepened and strengthened by this work.

Yawning may not signal boredom or tiredness in your dog... If your puppy (or dog) is yawning, especially in a new or different situation, it can be a sign of anxiety not boredom. If you’ve changed your walking route and there is more traffic than your dog is used to, or you’re visiting a different vet, lots of yawning may be a sign that an apparently calm dog is a little nervous.

To learn more about puppy raising you can visit the Guide Dog website, www.guidedog.org.za.

By Marissa Meiring

Residents may have noticed two Labrador puppies walking around the Estate. They are Liebe, a black Labrador and Faith, a yellow Labrador Retriever. These are very special puppies that are being raised to be guide dogs.

Pre-Sales at DSP and Computicket Friday: 17 – 24h00 • R80 (pre-sale) R100 (gate)Saturday: 10 – 23h30 • R100 (pre-sale) R120 (gate)Pensioners: R50 | Children 0-12 years freeGates close at 21h00 (in case tickets are not sold out beforehand)

• Merry-go-rounds, Mechanical Bull, Arts- and Craft Market • Alley of games for the young ones• Brezel, Lebkuchen, Eisbein, Kassler, Schnitzel and more• A variety of live entertainment in all tents and beer garden

www.dspretoria.co.za • Tel 012 803-4106/7/8 • Simon Vermooten Str, The Willows

More Fest for the whole Family !“Ottrauer Musikante

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Deutsche Schule Pretoria

17 SeptOfficial Opening Night

pre-bookings at DSP only

Promo Code: BOA101

China • Tibet • Nepal • Vietnam • Cambodia • Laos • Myanmar Japan • India • Sri Lanka

Terms and Conditions: Prices are per person (pre-discount), twin share, applicable on all set departure dates for travel up to November 2015. *Seasonal surcharges apply. To qualify for the discount, tour has to be paid

in full by 30 July 2015.Booking conditions as per Wendy Wu Tours 2015 Asia brochure.

China Experience, 11 Days from R31 380.00 pp*Wonders of China, 17 Days from R49 350.00 pp*Angkor to the Bay, 17 Days from R49 120.00 pp*

Price Includes...•International flights • Entrance fees• All accommodation• Daily touring• All local transportation with guides• All meals • Visas for SA passport holders

Also available at your local ASATA Travel Agent.

Tel: 011 394 1660 / Email: [email protected]: www.wendywutours.co.za

I started archery at the age of 13, and I would like to share some of the benefits and reasons why you should get started in doing archery. Archery is a great sport for boosting your mental and physical health and fitness. However, it also has a number of other benefits, such as improving patience, teaching safety and responsibility.

Archery is open to all: Archery can be done by able-bodied and disabled people. People with the most severe disabilities and even the blind, using special tactile equipment, are able to join in.

Archery enhances upper body strength and coordination:While it is a fun sport, archery is also a physical activity. Without really knowing it, a child enhances his or her upper body strength and improves hand-eye coordination.

Archery improves focus: Archers require not only some physical strength, but also mental fitness, and archery develops their focus, flexibility, and attention skills.

Archery is relatively inexpensive: Archery can be a cheap sport if you just want to play for fun. However, if you want to compete, then it can get pricey. It will then require a lot of your timeand dedication. Many archery outlets allow you to borrow equipment when having lessons from them.

Archery provides enjoyment: The ultimate goal of the recreational archer is enjoyment. Archers should remember to focus on improving themselves rather than worrying about what everyone else is doing, and with that in mind archery becomes a lot more fun.

Archery improves patience: Archery is particularly useful for youngsters as it teaches them the benefits of patience.

Archery is an indoor and outdoor sport: Archery can be practised both indoors and outdoors.

Archery is a social sport: People from many walks of life enjoy archery. Almost every age group can participate, and children as young as 6 or 7 have taken well to the sport, while it is not unheard of for people in their 80s to be shooting competitively. It also teaches the benefits of teamwork in some cases with some competitions involving groups of people.

Archery improves self-confidence: Archery provides great satisfaction in combining both mental and physical attributes to good effect. Whatever the results at the target, every archer is able to draw satisfaction to a lesser or greater extent, from having won a personal mental battle.

Archery teaches the importance of safety: The sport can be extremely dangerous if people are reckless. Archery teaches everyone to be responsible for one another and also for the equipment they are using.


Lifestyle

Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle Centre Menlyn 380 January Masilela Drive, Menlyn. Tel: 012 3682000• Mercedes-Benz Centurion 2019 Hendrik Verwoerd

Drive South, Centurion. Tel: 012 6413000• Mercedes-Benz Wonderboom 26 Lavender Road, Annlin-West. Tel: 012 5437940• Mercedes-Benz Fountains 609 Thabo Sehume Street. Tel: 012 3390700•

It’s no coincidence that the new C-Class C 180 Auto Avantgarde is as light and dynamic as its Agility Finance offer. It comes with smaller payments over a shorter period of time, a guaranteed future value and no balloon payments. But perhaps its most appealing feature is that you can drive one from just R5 555 p/m*. Book a test-drive experience until end June 2015 by visiting thebesttimeisnow.co.za or contact the dealer below now.

Drive the 2015 World Car of the Year from just R5 555 p/m*.

*Terms and Conditions apply. Offer calculated on a C 180 Auto Avantgarde at a rate of 9.05% linked to prime over 36 months, deposit of 9.61%, total retail price of R483 929 at a guaranteed future value of 66% based on 20 000 km p/a, total repayment price of R519 373. Monthly Service fee of R57 (not included in the monthly instalment), initiation fee of R1 140 (Incl vat). Offer valid until 30 June 2015 subject to availability at participating dealers only.

Agility Finance by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd., an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no. 18 604) and Credit Provider (Licence nr. NCRCP80). Vehicle specifications may vary for the South African Market. Standard with the new PremiumDrive Maintenance Plan.

The best time to drive the best is now.

Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle Centre Menlyn 380 January Masilela Drive, Menlyn. Tel: 012 3682000• Mercedes-Benz Centurion 2019 Hendrik Verwoerd

Drive South, Centurion. Tel: 012 6413000• Mercedes-Benz Wonderboom 26 Lavender Road, Annlin-West. Tel: 012 5437940• Mercedes-Benz Fountains 609 Thabo Sehume Street. Tel: 012 3390700•

It’s no coincidence that the new C-Class C 180 Auto Avantgarde is as light and dynamic as its Agility Finance offer. It comes with smaller payments over a shorter period of time, a guaranteed future value and no balloon payments. But perhaps its most appealing feature is that you can drive one from just R5 555 p/m*. Book a test-drive experience until end June 2015 by visiting thebesttimeisnow.co.za or contact the dealer below now.

Drive the 2015 World Car of the Year from just R5 555 p/m*.

*Terms and Conditions apply. Offer calculated on a C 180 Auto Avantgarde at a rate of 9.05% linked to prime over 36 months, deposit of 9.61%, total retail price of R483 929 at a guaranteed future value of 66% based on 20 000 km p/a, total repayment price of R519 373. Monthly Service fee of R57 (not included in the monthly instalment), initiation fee of R1 140 (Incl vat). Offer valid until 30 June 2015 subject to availability at participating dealers only.

Agility Finance by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd., an Authorised Financial Services Provider (Licence no. 18 604) and Credit Provider (Licence nr. NCRCP80). Vehicle specifications may vary for the South African Market. Standard with the new PremiumDrive Maintenance Plan.

The best time to drive the best is now.

The start of a visit to the stylish and beautiful Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle Centre in Menlyn must begin with a delicious cup of Avantgarde Bistro’s famous cappuccino dusted with the Mercedes-Benz logo with the strains of jazz or classical music in the back-ground.

The Bistro serves tasty light lunches to a number of dealership customers, as well as clientele from the surrounding business who have become regulars.

This gentility sets the scene for a bit of Mercedes-Benz branded clothing and accessories in the dealership’s boutique where the quality is evident.

Moving on to the car showroom one is struck by the magnificence and refinement of the facility. The sleek cars are polished within an inch of their lives and a highly trained sales-man is ready to help immediately, ensuring that you have all the facts and figures at your fingertips. The correct advice from one of these informative salesmen will ensure that the customer is given the best advice on which Mercedes-Benz is the perfect fit for his or her lifestyle needs.

Also at your service is an AMG Performance Centre with a dedicated AMG Expert Sales Executive for those discerning customers looking for the ultimate in high-performance vehicles.

The Lifestyle Centre also boasts a wide range of quality demo and pre-owned vehicles and peace of mind is ensured by the 60-point check in the on-site workshop. You know you’ll drive away with a top-class purchase every time.

The high-tech workshop is manned by top-quality technicians and the specialist diagnostic technician is one of the top four in his field for Mercedes-Benz worldwide.

The Lifestyle Centre is also home to the McCarthy Franchise Offices, headed by Gert Prinsloo and the Brand Offices headed by Hein Lorentz. The dealership management team comprises Dalene Pretorius as Dealer Principal, who has 28 years’ experience in the Mercedes-Benz brand; Lourens du Plessis, pre-owned Brand manager; Juan van Dyk, new vehicle Brand Manager; William Holland, head of the new vehicle department; Tinus Ackermann, responsible for After Sales; and Carlos Cerveira, who is the Parts Sales manager.

The Lifestyle Centre organises many events and functions, such as the iconic Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, customer days, ride-and-drives, the Mercedes-Benz Gauteng North Concours for classic as well as vintage vehicles, as well as all new vehicle launches.

Top of mind at the Lifestyle Centre are always community responsibilities and they are proud to continue to be active in community projects and charity events. In fact, the dealership is the main sponsor for the Magau Community Project in Atteridgeville, where orphans, HIV/Aids infected and affected people and the terminally ill are cared for.

Another outreach project is the Junior Golf Academy for aspiring young golfers from the Mamelodi area, a joint effort between Mercedes-Benz Lifestyle Centre, Tshimollo Primary School, Woodhill Country Club and Silver Lakes Country Club. Twenty-eight children were selected to participate in the Junior Golf Academy and are coached and nurtured by all involved.

Furthermore, the Lifestyle Centre runs an internship programme in conjunction with a local college whereby young graduate students are given the opportunity of an internship at the dealership.

These students receive training in all the aspects of the business in order to determine a specialised field for future permanent employment.


Lifestyle


Gardening

By Linda De Luca of Random Harvest

The creation of that special place dedicated to succulents is a labour of love, because

creating mood and feeling in a garden is the same as weaving a tapestry of colours. It takes a lot of patience and planning, but don’t let that put you off.

If your space is against a wall, you could paint a desert scene that flows into your bed, especially if your rockery is too small to plant a large Aloe. Then, taking your time, gradually release your creative genius by adding soil and doing some earth-shaping to help fashion different shadows and light that will add drama to architectural plants. Create miniature landscape features like rocky canyons, outcrops and a dry river bed. Have fun by copying a typical dry river bed in nature.

Include debris such as water-smoothed pebbles, seeds that may have been carried along an irregular flash flood, driftwood, grass lodged behind an occasional rock, and dried grasses and reeds etc.

The driftwood will help to encourage soil organisms and enhance your plants. You could even use different coloured sands to complete the picture.

A little water is essential for the insects, birds and lizards that will be drawn to the living, evolving eco-system. Make sure to allow for a little seepage, alternatively a small grindstone-shaped rock with a dripper is sufficient. Space permitting, you could even create a small pool backed up against

a shaded rocky area in your dry riverbed.

Rocks and gravel come next, cultivating this habitat for plants, wildlife and organisms. When choosing rocks and gravel they should have similar harmonious colours that will blend naturally together.

Creating a natural cobblestone, or rock pathway through your succulent bed will enable you to stroll through it and get a closer look at your creation. A stone seat, built to look like a stone wall, or a dry stone wall or gabion, with plants growing out of the spaces between the rocks, completes the picture.

Succulents need healthy, well-drained soil to which compost and organic fertiliser have been added. When you have done the planting, mulch the area with gravel, woodchips, bark, leaves, or other organic material; thereafter mulch the bed with a thin layer at least once a year, but twice is better to keep the soil healthy.

When deciding what to plant where, take the colours, shapes and textures of the leaves and stems, as well as the overall character of the plants, into account. As you position your plants, stand back and keep checking if they have been placed correctly. Start with feature plants or “star performers” such as large Aloes. Rocks should look completely natural.

When planting, think of their natural habitat, for example, Lithops spp.

(Stone Plants) that grow so cryptically take on the appearance of the gravel in which they grow. Only when they burst forth in colourful, glistening bloom are they highly visible to both us and their pollinators.

Place bulbs such as Haemanthus humilis (Rabbit’s ears), strategically under rocks and growing from crevasses. If at the end you have made a mistake, remember that succulents transplant very successfully and you can easily move them.

Include other non-succulent species of plants to complete the picture. Try to stick to those that would be found growing naturally near to the succulents that you have used, or at least have similar water and sun requirements.

Use grasses sparingly as they can overshadow other plants. Include a few Tulbaghia violacea (Wild Garlic) to help with pest control.

The bold lines and often stocky shapes of succulents contrast very well or are shown off with striking effect when planted with softer plants such as some annuals or plants with small leaves and dainty flowers.

Last, but not least, sow a scatter pack of Namaqualand Daisies for spring-time splendour in and around your succulents.

For more information, call 082 553 0598, email: [email protected] or visit: www.randomharvest.co.za.

Why a Sole Mandate Loyalty to sellers l Best possible transaction l Highest price in shortest period

Commitment l Priority l Security l Marketing exposure l Feedback

Call me for your Free Market Related Valuation of your Property

ROSA WILLERS 082 962 7228 l [email protected] Accredited Seeff Property Specialist in Boardwalk Meander

A SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL CAPE DUTCH HOMEBedrooms 3 l Bathrooms 2 l Garages 2 l Living areas 3 l SQ

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BOARDWALK MEANDER ESTATE R3 350 000

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M E N L Y N

Tell: 012 662 2625Irene Village Mall℅ Nellmapius & van Ryneveld Roads, Irene

I R E N E

Tell: 012 754 7574Menlyn Retail Park℅ Lois Ave & Garsfontein RoadMenlyn (Newlands)

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Menlyn (Newlands)

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Adventure

n our last expedition, Voetspore in the Great Rift Valley, we spent a

lot of time under sea level on the African continent. I asked Gideon what the illness is called when you climb a mountain like Kilimanjaro? The answer is “altitude sickness”. But what then do you get when you go below sea level? The answer: a Danakil Depression!

This is where we spent a few weeks – in the Danakil Depression, also known as the Afar. This is a region in north eastern Ethiopia, spilling over into Eritrea and Djibouti. This is one of the most remote areas on the African continent. This is where the Rift Valley runs into the Red Sea.

Getting to the Danakil is simple in one way, yet complicated in another. I was fortunate not only to have proper guide books, but also to get free advice from a number of tour guides in Addis Ababa. They warned me to prepare properly.

We started off at Samara. This is a newly constructed town in the middle of a semi desert. A number of new apartment buildings and hotels were recently erected. We had to report to the Afar National Regional State. At the Afar Tourism Commission we applied for permits to visit the region. There was a fee to be paid. More important – the authorities had to be aware of any foreigners in the region. A few years ago four

tourists we caught in an ambush and killed. The border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which is not far off, is a war zone.

After spending an evening at Samara, eating njera and tibs, drinking St George beer at the Oasis Hotel, we left for the Afar. At Serdo we turned north, away from the highway that connects Ethiopia to the Red Sea via Djibouti. There was a surprise: it was a brand new tar road. According to our research the road was supposed to be gravel with a terrible surface. Now we were travelling at 100km/h instead of 40km/h or less. The little more than 200 kilometre took us less than two hours to cover instead of the eight hours that we expected.

We reached the dusty down Afrera. This is where there are massive salt mines. Mines like the ones we know where salt is scraped from the surface after water in the pools have evaporated. The team acquired new attire – dresses that the Afari refer to as a “shirit”. This is what men wear. It is much cooler than trousers or even shorts. We were heading for the place that is on average the warmest place on earth. We had to take every possible precaution.

I was told in Samara that just before or just after Afrera there would be a road block where we would be provided with two to four armed guards. It is not allowed for tourists to travel to this part of the world,

unarmed. Yet, when we got to the road blocks, we were just waved through. This is possibly because of the look of our vehicles. This year the Voetspore Amaroks had a little bit of a camouflage look to them. Perhaps the soldiers at the road blocks thought we were on “official” duty.

We went deeper and deeper into the Danakil. At one point we dropped below sea level (fortunately no signs of the “depression”). We were constantly driving at a level of 100 metres below sea level and more.

The beautiful tar road gave way to a dusty track. We followed the Tracks- 4Africa tracks. This was extreme dust. This is actually what we thought we’d encounter all along the way. The next 100 kilometres took forever. Late in the afternoon we arrived at Dallol.

Dallol currently holds the official record for record high average temperatures for an inhabited location on earth. When we arrived, just before sunset, the temperature was in the high forties. Fortunately we were there in winter…

There were a few other tourists in town as well. They arrived in Cruisers and Patrols, accompanied by guides and armed guards. We had to make arrangements to get our guards at the local garrison for the next day’s excursion to the attractions of the region.

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Adventure


The tourists rented beds from the locals. The beds were designed to let air flow through them. Every possible measurement had to be taken to allow for a cooling process, similar to us wearing “shirits”. We hired one room, around which the guys set up camp for the night.

The following morning, each Amarok accompanied by two armed guards, we left for a place simply called The Colourful. This is an astonishing place with hot mineral enriched water, bubbling up from under the crust of the earth, forming little puddles. Some of the water fountains were in access of 60 degrees Celsius. It is a weird and wonderful place.

After The Colourful the next stop was a place simply called the World of Marvels – a number of pillars, shaped by wind erosion over the centuries. Once more, a place like no other on earth.

With the sightseeing done we headed for the place that made Dallol famous – the salt mines. Here we encountered massive salt pans. The salt is like a crust on the surface of the earth. This crust is chopped up by skilful Afari workers, working with hand axes. Blocks of four kilogram in weight are cut from the surface. These blocks are stacked in piles until they can be loaded onto one of the many camels that are brought to Dallol, specifically for this reason. The salt is transported over a distance of about 50 kilometres, out of the Danakil Depression. From there the trucks take over.

The camel caravans of the Danakil create scenes that previously we only saw in National Geographic documentaries. Now we can drive there ourselves and experience it first-hand. But therein lies the problem. Only a few kilometres to the west of Dallol the new tar road starts. This place, once described as one of the most remote places on earth, recently became accessible. You need to get the necessary permits, pay the required fees and be accompanied by armed guards. Yet it is possible to drive there in your Amarok. Soon the camel caravans will be something of the past as trucks will drive all the way to Dallol, pick up their cargo of salt, and drive back to the so-called civilisation.

The adventure destinations on the continent are becoming scarcer by the year.

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Lifestyle


By Hannah Dredge

Health


Chronic pain can become a struggle for many to cope with. Easy Health Wellness shares some valuable info on how to cope with chronic pain.

• Can’t find relief from pain?

• Continuous use of pain medication with limited benefits and unwanted side effects?

• Feel hopeless, anxious, irritable and stressed about your pain?

• Find yourself withdrawing from activities and having an increased need for rest because of pain?

• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because of pain? If you identify with these, you probably struggle with chronic pain. Chronic pain, defined as pain that persists for longer than 3 to 6 months, can cause considerable suffering, physical limitations, and emotional distress.

It is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical care and analgesic medications are widely prescribed for pain relief but are often related to unwanted side effects, such as sedation, dependency, and negative effects on other organs of the body.

send this information or message via the spinal cord, to several parts of the brain. The injury that stimulates these receptors and the information about this damage is not pain.

Pain is not experienced until certain areas in the brain become activated – so the brain is the ‘generator of pain’– creating the experience of pain. While many different areas of the brain are responsible for creating pain, the areas most important include those responsible for:

• Thinking about pain – which processes information about the meaning of pain and leads to pain-related beliefs and decisions about what to do about pain,

• Physical sensations – which create the intensity and sensations of pain, and

• Emotions – which influence the emotional or suffering component associated with pain.

All of these areas interact with each other creating the experience of pain. Affecting activity in one will affect activity in the other.

2.The mind-body connection is associated with chronic pain:

Whether it’s mild or severe, continuous or occasional, merely inconvenient or totally incapacitating, nobody wants to be in pain! So here are 3 things to help you understand chronic pain and manage it effectively:

1. The brain is the generator of pain:

Research on pain found that there is no single ‘pain centre’ in the brain that contributes to pain. Pain is the end result of a complex number of interactions of various areas of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. Together these areas are referred to as the ‘pain matrix’, which contributes to the experience of pain.

Our bodies have pain receptors that respond to physical injury. These receptors are sensitive to information about injury or damage. When they detect damage they

Health


The emotional toll of chronic pain also makes pain worse. Anxiety, stress, anger, and depression interact in complex ways with chronic pain and can decrease the body’s production of natural painkillers. Research also shows that other psychological factors, including pain-related thoughts and coping responses, influence the experience of pain. For example, a person may struggle to cope with pain because of ‘catastrophising beliefs’ such as:

• S/he has no control over chronic pain.

• That his/her chronic pain is a signal of harm or physical damage to the body.

• What healthcare providers do is more important than what s/he does for managing chronic pain.

More adaptive beliefs such as a sense of control over pain, beliefs in one’s ability to function despite pain, and pain acceptance contribute to improved functioning.

Because of the mind-body links associated with chronic pain, effective treatment should involve addressing psychological and physical aspects of the condition.

3. Hypnotherapy as a treatment for chronic pain management is on the rise:

Given the brain’s involvement in creating the experience of pain, treatments that alter brain activity, such as hypnotherapy, can have profound effects on pain and its consequences. As a psychological treatment for pain, hypnotherapy

probably has the longest history with many years of studies on its effectiveness. Research has shown that it is effective for providing pain relief, improving sleep quality, and altering maladaptive or flawed pain-related beliefs and behaviours while increasing more adaptive ones.

Hypnotherapy for chronic pain management typically involves providing hypnotic suggestions that aim to:

• Decrease inaccurate pain-related thoughts.

• Reduce pain intensity.

• Alter ineffective behaviours and coping strategies that exacerbate pain.

• Improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue related to chronic pain.

Suggestions are also made that the benefits experienced during the session such as reduced pain, continue beyond the session.

Most importantly, the focus of hypnotherapy is to empower people by teaching them the skill of using hypnosis, either through audio-recordings or by means of self-hypnosis, to reduce pain throughout their daily life and to give them an increased sense of control over their experience of pain.

In my experience some individuals feel an immediate reduction in pain severity following hypnotherapy treatment, while others obtain reduction in pain with repeated practice of self-hypnosis and audio-recordings of hypnosis sessions.

Psychological interventions such as hypnotherapy should not be considered only when biomedical treatments fail, but should be considered as a ‘first-line’ intervention alongside appropriate biomedical interventions.

For more info or to book an appointment with Dr Biva Naik, Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D. E-mail: [email protected] or Call 012 997 2783.

Book Reviews


Parents of babies and young children are constantly watching and wondering whether their children are reaching their develop-mental milestones within expected time frames. It is important to keep in mind that each child is unique and that no two children will arrive at these milestones simultaneously. Early Childhood Development Checklist aims to guide parents and teachers in the timeous identification of developmental delays that a child may display.

Carla Grobler is a practitioner in the field of occupational therapy and specialises in paediatrics. Her services include, inter alia: activities to help children reach expected developmental milestones; school readiness assessments; treatment of learning difficulties; and functional evaluation and treatment of children.

Integrating former family units into a new strong, happy and successful blended family can be a minefield, but it can also be a thoroughly rewarding voyage of discovery.

Blending Families explores how the impact of the past and hopes for the future can shape the way we manage the everyday challenges of living in a blended family. Understanding both the parents’ and the children’s perceptions of the new situations in which they find themselves and their possible reactions to their new living environment is the essence of the book.

This field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of South Africa covers all species known to occur in the region.

A detailed introduction covers behaviour, life cycles, biology and breeding; and the species entries focus on identification and distribution.

Colour plates feature scans of the actual insects – males and females where possible – as well as close-ups and side views; and diagnostic labels help ensure accurate ID. Additional photographs show species in their specific habitat and illustrate key behaviour.

Beautifully presented and authoritative, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in South Africa’s insect life, and to nature lovers in general.

Warwick Tarboton is a recognised bird expert who has produced a number of well-received books, and has been awarded the Gill Memorial Medal for services to ornithology. Having already self-published two successful books about dragonflies, and having spent many years in the field studying and photographing their subject, the Tarbotons are well qualified to produce this popular guide.

Flicky Gildenhuys equips the reader to anticipate what may or may not happen, and provides parents with tried-and-tested, down-to-earth psychological tools and experience gained from decades of family counselling in order to manage whatever issues may arise to achieve true and lasting happiness as a new family.

Cape Town-based Flicky Gildenhuys is a well-known educator in the field of parenting. Her enduring passion for helping families spans three decades and has produced innovative parenting programmes and many successful family interventions.

This book is an expression of years of working with families, combined with her own personal experience of bringing up her six children in a blended family.

Flicky is a UCT psychology graduate with further studies in Clinical Social Work and counselling.

When she is not at work she is likely to be found walking with her dogs on the beach or hiking in the mountains with her husband.

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ISSUE 4| 2015€¦ · introduced Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to South Africa. By combining personal training with EMS BODYTEC® enables clients to: • reduce fat content •