THAT LADY IN RED IS NOW IN THE PINK!

Wrote up about the Corné and Eurika’s stay here in 2006 and their wedding day in July last year. They were in the area over the festive season and popped into bring me up to speed with their lives and to introduce me to Eurika’s daughter, Amoré whom I am told got top marks in school excelling in maths. Reward comes in the form of a trip to Disney World, Florida next December so that they can also take in a bit of skiing in the Utah Mountains. Way to go, guys!

PEREFECT BLISS

Marvin and Nirvana (look it up, you'll see I'm right) (she's a neurosurgeon and he's a pathologist), took time off to experience and explore Britannia Bay for two nights. Now, it’s not always simple to meet guests’ needs, especially when it comes to the availability of rock lobster, but on this occasion Lady Luck smiled on them and they were able to enjoy the fruits of the West Coast in the privacy of the main en suite, a bottle of Rosé being an appropriate accompaniment.

I’ve said it ad nauseum, but this planet is w-a-y too tiny. During our farewells this morning, Nirvana mentioned that her parents lived in Ficksburg in the Eastern Free State and something made me ask whether her Dad perhaps ran a restaurant. You see, on holiday back in 2007 a friend and I took shelter there during a cloudburst and – yes, you’ve guessed it! – where did we dine that night? At Dad’s eaterie. I remember it well; he was a most convivial host and chatted to us at length about their lives in this small but thriving town.

THIS ONE'S A NEAT STORY

I’ve been telling you just how many weddings we’ve had in St Helena Bay. Seems like the town’s becoming marriage destination big time.

Next was the son of Charlene Neat who, with life partner Alf Close, were my guests for the weekend. Byron and Marlene married at Sea Trader on 14 November in a poignant ceremony conducted by the father of Byron’s late girlfriend, which says a great deal about the character of this fine young man and his new bride. I love it when sad occurrences turn belly-up into happy endings such as this.

Here’s Byron with the two women in his life: Marlene, his new wife and his mom, Charlene.

IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS THE TIME FOR TYING THE KNOT

First were Andrew and Yolanda who got married in Montague on the 31st of October and spent the following week at Dolphin B&B+S/C. They’re with SAPD and, as you can imagine, their recreational time is hard earned. During their time here they sassed out each and every dorp and if they can swing the transfer thing, aim to settle in Vredenburg. I wish them luck.

HERE'S HOPING ...

Adrian and Joslin returned to their home bases on the west coast to tie the knot on Saturday September 19th and appropriately it was the town of Hopefield that hosted their wedding and where they celebrated the occasion with family and close friends.

The Veotte’s spent part of their honeymoon with me at Dolphin B&B but chose the self-catering option where they could try out their culinary skills in preparation for their married life together back in Potchefstroom.

LOBTAILING TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING

Julie Murphy from Florida USA took the opportunity of ideal weather conditions to limber up before breakfast on her and Malcolm’s last morning at Dolphin B&B+S/C. Undeterred at not having seen dolphins or whales during their weekend here, Julie easily adopted a yoga position aptly called ‘dolphin’ and you can see why.
The birdlife kept them busy and they ably ID’d many of the 200 species that can be ticked off in front of my house and a sandveld lizard had them fascinated as they watched it kill a scorpion, its favourite food.

CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS

... or can be read as "We're coming to check up on you!"

Six frontline staff from Cape Town Tourism visited Dolphin B&B+S/C today to experience the product I offered and generally to chew the cud over mutual matters.

On their departure I handed each of them a carrier (sporting cavorting dolphins, of course!) containing items indicative of the unique area I operate in: a candle from Waxit, a sample sachet of Khoisan salt, stroop en beskuit van Susan se Kombuis and promotional literature. But they have to work for their visit! Included is an A5 booklet that I have put together, which covers the west coast and all it offers the traveller. They have promised to send me their comments – indeed criticism – for inclusion in the final version. Thanks, Gretchen, Charlene, Mduduzi, Tarryn, Henry and Phillip – I will appreciate that.

HOOK, LINE AND NEARLY SUNK BY SARS

I was referred to Postal Tax Services – as it was then called – nearly 20 years ago when Riaan Odendaal got me off the SARS hook that I’d ignorantly and innocently attached myself to and since then he and his staff at First Coast Business Centre have served me admirably.
Have a decko at his website http://www.linkedin.com/in/riaanodendaal to see the range of tax and accounting services he offers.

Giving him and Aneleh a well deserved break was simply my way of saying thank you for his loyal service and friendship and, to boot, at last I got to meet the rest of the family whom I only knew through the annual Christmas cards I received. Luzaan (19) is studying to become an educationist and Riaan (17) who aspires to life in the bush though how he’s going to cope with no surf, heaven only knows. Talking of which, he discovered the two surfing spots in Britannia Bay: heaven (where the waves break over craggy rocks) and hell (where body-surfing is the nature of the game), but conceded that sea temperatures of 13°C are hard to handle.

Ek hoop dis nie so lank voor ons mekaar weer sien nie en dat julle darem heerlik in die Agterbaai gekuier het.

TICK TOCK

Time ran out for the other aspirant entrants who either didn’t know the answer or missed the cut-off gong. Not Clever Dick – or, in my case, Lucille – whose name was drawn to win a copy of writer Margie Orford’s reprinted book Like Clockwork, which features ‘sassy, smart, sensual Dr Clare Hart’ who, to answer the question, lives in a beachfront flat on the Sea Point promenade.

Those of you who thrive on crime fiction should check out http://crimebeat.book.co.za/blog/ Watch out for the forthcoming competition which will win some lucky person a reprint copy of Deon Meyer’s Blood Safari or Mike Nicol’s Payback. This website gives the all on South African crime (or as they would have it, krimi) writers, a regular blogger on which is long-time friend, said Mike Nicol who is featured in this delightful pic with partner-in-crime and editor de luxe Jill Gallimore.

LOGGED ON

The table on the patio developed a serious hairline crack and I could just imagine it landing in some guest’s lap, leaving me to face a lawsuit. So it was dispatched to the big Scrapyard for Cementworks in the Sky, which left me with the angst of replacing it.

Synthetic wood was a viable option but, because the furniture is produced by mould method, it was too narrow. So back to the drawing-board which in turn led me to Oubaas Ferreira, a local contractor whose opinion I value highly who, on one of his morning cycling trips, had spotted a huge pile of timber in the process of being sawn into planks in Paternoster.

Back in August last year the cargo ship MV Lola off Robbeneiland lost its cargo of giant logs (Aucoumea klaineana -Angouma, Gaboon or Okoumé, of the family Burseraceae) of which 27 were washed up on the west coast. Yes, this was the very same timber that André Kleynhans had salvaged under tender process and was busy cutting down to size.

I was fortunate enough to be allowed (yes, André’s quite possessive of his haul – a slightly different catch to that which he usually pulls out of the sea) to buy in an amount necessary for local master craftsman Owen Osborne to create the table that now adorns my deck and on which guests get to enjoy their breakfasts.

IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

Noel and Janet Ross-Gillespie celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary with me on 9 August 2003 and this year was the fifth time they’ve repeated the exercise (now married for seven years), bringing with them Jamie (now 3) and Erin (turning 1 on the 20th). Congratulations, you two, and happy National Women’s Day to boot.

Which takes me back to that first meeting when we discovered, by pure chance, that we were actually related – second cousins twice removed or something like that. Who says you won’t bump into a fellow countryman in Trafalgar Square?

This hands-on couple take great delight in their offspring (although I suspect a great deal of Noel’s interest is focused on the electronic toys!) and their adept parenting skills are already showing signs of paying off in their two delightful kids.

I’ve also had the pleasure of hosting Noel’s parents to stay (August 2006) when Trevor presented me with a stunning watercolour of a thatch-roofed house across the bay that he rustled up during his and Shirley’s weekend here.

BIRDERS TAKE TO THE RIVER

Our group of happy twitchers (some do in fact twitter but it’s of another kind) gathered at Kuifkopvisvanger, home of Jan and Malaní Kotzé, on the banks of the Berg River to watch the tail-ender entrants in the annual Berg River Canoe Marathon.

On one of those absolutely picture-perfect winter days that the west coast experiences in winter the members of West Coast Bird Club ticked off a myriad species that they were able to ID from the banks of the river, then repairing to the lush lawns for a bring ‘n braai.

As you have probably read, defending champ Hank McGregor was this year’s winner and fellow member of Team Roamer Rand Lance King was second with third position going to 2001 champ and record-holder Graeme Solomon.

On my way home from a delightful get-together I chanced upon this catamaran moored in the shallow waters off Laingville beach. How the other half live!

HORSE RIDERS IN THE SURF

This struck me as such a wonderful way in which to explore the west coast shoreline and I marvelled at these two riders and their mounts as they splished and splashed in the rock pools below my house.

We call these winter months the secret season; a guest said he thought it should be termed the champagne season. By this pic you’ll know exactly what we both mean.

MAGICAL MIX-IT

As Kitty explained to me, “Mix-It isn’t just for the 20-year-olds”. This thoroughly modern mom took to the keypad like the proverbial duck to water and soon had herself a bevy of friends who would swap stories, idealise on issues and generally chew the e-cud.

Her daring-do led her to a new friend, Elize, who flew south for the first time and together they began to explore the wonders of the west coast and the grandeur of the greener Knysna belt.

As I always say, “If you can’t beat them, then join them”. In this instance it’s a case of if you can’t beat ‘em then Mix-It!

FIRM FRIENDS FROM FAR BACK

Sometimes one has to put valued friendships before business and I was delighted to be able to do just that this weekend in order to welcome Keith and Roy into my home.
Friends of mine since the late ‘Seventies, these two supported me through my first marriage and then my second to Michael, with Roy acting as his best man at our consecration.
In between much reminiscing and lots of laughter, we shimmied into Vredenburg, sashayed through to Paternoster and then scuttled into See-Plasie for a light lunch.
All too soon Sunday arrived but it did with my promising to visit them in Hout Bay next month. I’ve realised I can’t do without these two dear friends for so long again.

LONG TIME, NO HOLIDAY

So Jackie and Brian Varney were telling me. It’s been yonks since they spent one-on-one quality time with each other and I was the fortunate one to host their stay on the West Coast where winter weather behaved itself – as you can see from their leisure time on the deck.
I for one hope it’s not going to take another 26 years (the time they’ve been blissfully married) before they get another well deserved break.

ARE THE CETACEANS REALLY HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME?

That was the theme of the talk given by the senior research manager at the Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria to a capacity crowd at West Coast Fossil Park (both allied to Iziko Museum) on 3 June.

Based in Cape Town (there are no whales and dolphins in Gauteng, guys!), Meredith Thornton dropped everything to keep that appointment as well as the mass strandings workshop that she led the next day. No need to go into the incident that took place at Kommetjie on Saturday May 30th for you to understand that I do mean dropped, such is her dedication to the task at hand and her love for these mammals of the sea.

The workshop had been six months in the planning and its ultimate timing with Saturday’s mass stranding is an unfortunate coincidence, but one where everyone learned a bit more about how to deal with events of this nature, especially in St Helena Bay where Doctor Reef is a notorious ‘hotspot’ for mass strandings.

Oceana (St Helena Bay) hosted the workshop – thank you to site manager Titania Stefanus Zincke - which was attended by some 40-plus delegates representing MCM, SAPS, NSRI, MCS (marine compliance) and the private sector.

In addition to the theoretical side Meredith led the group down to the beach where she put us through a practical simulated exercise using blow-up dolphins. There were crowd controllers (Sgt. van Rooy from MCS Saldanha Harbour and Wally Cockrell from MCM Lambert's Bay) who unceremoniously (but in good fun) tumbled harasser Darryl Hess onto the other side of the cordon while the inevitable heckler shouted, “You don’t know what you’re doing”; and, aided by the Water Wings unit and MCS, NSRI officials carried out their role in trying to cope with well-meaning but ignorant onlookers.

In talking to Meredith, whose stay I had the privilege of hosting at Dolphin B&B+S/C, what has hit home to me personally is the love that she and her co-workers have for the creatures that they study and the pain they will have felt at having to reach the decision that they did. Does anyone stop to think about that? I have me doots.

So, to all - from Nan Rice of DAPG, who so calmly and efficiently handled the call for assistance, to Mike Meyer et al - a round of applause for a terrible job well handled. And, Meredith, the training you gave us will hold us in good stead in the event of yet another mass stranding at Doctor Reef in St Helena Bay. May it never happen.

THOUGHT I WAS IN HEAVEN

I’ve been quiet. Has anyone missed me? Don’t all shout at once!

For my annual leave this year I travelled Route 62 stopping off in all those delightful towns verging on the Little Karoo: you know, Barrydale, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn and then over the Swartberg Pass into Die Hel (aka Gamkaskloof). Described as one of the five most spectacular passes in the world, I don’t quite know what that means because I was far too busy keeping my eyes on the steering wheel and off the sheer drop to my right. Then three days and nights of stillness, broken only by the haa-haa laugh of dassies, with plentsch birding, book-reading and generally doing bugger all.

Here’s Moi with Pieter Joubert (whose Mom, Annatjie, nee Mostert, was born in the ‘Kloof but who now lives in Mossel Bay leaving him to run things, which involves telling 14 000 visitors a year about his corner of heaven (they misnamed the place) and stirring up great meals for the visitors).

Prince Albert on the hinterland side of the escarpment is a quaint town where I re-connected with Elaine Hurford who had so much to do with putting it on the tourist map 15 years ago. I also birded with locals Dawid and Jean Rossouw and Japie and Ralie Claassen and colleagues from Beaufort West. And, hey, guys, Japie’s The Man when it comes to endemic Karoo species; he runs Karoo Birding Safaris (claassen@cybertrade.co.za) I can’t promise you a sighting (like we had) of a Narina Trogan (I kid you not), but you’ll sure see many other exciting avifauna under his guidance.

I also spent two hours of true quality time in the company of Sue Milton-Dean, doctor of botany who now with her husband, Richard Dean, one of the three editors of the new Robert’s tome (yes, I did get his signature), have stepped out of academia to run Renu-Karoo which is about rehabilitating the veld damaged, mainly by ostriches.

Next Sutherland and SALT and, yes, it was perishing at night, reaching 0°C. The days, however, were delightfully temperate.

But, know what? I might well have been to Hell, but coming home again after three weeks was pure Heaven. Now to plan my next journey around this glorious country of ours. Where to from here?

DOIN' IT DIFFERENTLY

Honeymooners André and Janine Nordier arrived at Dolphin B&B+S/C on Sunday April 5, having been married on Cloof Wine Estate the previous day. Affixed to the back of their vehicle were their offroad bikes, which they used to work off the festivities of the wedding ceremony to good effect.
Now, in my humble experience, most newly-weds either never come out of the main en suite or they laze around on the deck in blissful nuptial harmony. Don’t get me wrong! These two were completely in tandem (no pun intended); they just got their kicks in another way. Each to his own, I say.

567 - YOUR NO. 1 NEWS STATION

Derrick Williams regularly tunes into Cape Talk and in particular likes to listen to John Maytham in his 15:00 to 18:00 slot. Derrick decided to give the general knowledge quiz a shot and in the play-off found himself the winner of “a free night for 2 at a luxurious Guest House, including Breakfast at the Dolphin B&B on the West Coast of Britania (sic) Bay, plus R400,00 cash and 7 bottles of Seven Sisters wine”.
That’s how he and Johanna ended up staying over with me last night during which time he shyly explained the competition and how his question stumped the rest of the team. Having lived at Wingfield Airport during the first quarter of the last century – sounds odd, doesn't it? – he is au fait with aircraft of all kinds and his question was: which four aircraft were used in domestic service prior to the jet engine? De Havilland, I knew was one, and possibly Douglas Skymaster, but the other two names eluded me, which simply stated means that had I entered I would have been knocked out.
Johanna’s a Graafwater girl so this return trip to the West Coast was like coming home and I do hope that their stay with me had that touch of home about it.
Oh yes … he tells me he hasn’t uncorked any bottles yet, so cheers, Derrick!

MUCH IN COMMON

Jules Bos, from Alphen, a village between Antwerp and Rotterdam, has the best of both worlds: he’s retired but still gets to visit developing countries acting as a consultant for a quasi-government organisation with headquarters in Den Haag.
It was on this basis that I was tasked with looking after his needs for the two weeks that he was visiting South Africa’s West Coast. “Tasked?” I say. Nay, it was indeed a pleasure to host his two-week stay and to talk with him about matters general and more specific, like the derivation of words that our nations share, like the Zandvliet Shiraz Rosé which he enjoyed with his curried kreef, Zandvliet of course translating into Sand River (vliet = flow).
They term it Chambre D’Hote in Europe; we call it Bed & Breakfast -

but hopefully our definition provides the requisite levels of service and personal touch.

MUD, MUD, GLORIOUS MUD

Wendy Stone of the Dept of Microbiology in the Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, is doing her Masters on the occurrence of anammox bacteria (yes, readers, I also raised my eyebrows at that one) in South Africa. Her Associate Professor Alf Botha and Jan Wilsenach (CSIR), an expert on the anammox process, act as her study leaders on a joint project between the two organisations.
The overall aim of this project, which is largely sponsored by the Water Research Commission, is to search for anammox bacteria in South Africa. Writes Alf, “Under unaerobic conditions, these bacteria use nitrite to oxidize ammonium mainly to nitrogen gas.” He explained to me that this process has the potential to be used by the waste water industry in South Africa.
One of the sampling sites that they identified as a possible natural habitat of anammox bacteria was St Helena Bay – and that’s where Andrew Pascall, laboratory manager at CSIR and colleague Alistair Adonis (who, with his family, stayed at Dolphin B&B+S/C) proved invaluable.
So it was that this happy little band spent Valentine’s weekend scraping the proverbial bottom of the barrel, that being the bed of the bay. Follow the red lines in the sketch to trace their route.
Alistair, skipper of Waverider, CSIR’s outsize rubberduck that sports 2X90 4-stroke engines, steered them out to sea in what was one of the gustiest days we’ve experienced this season. In situ the multi-corer was dropped and scooped up the requisite samples, which were then retrieved by the Davit system that operates on the vessel.
I know both Alistair and Andrew from the St Helena Bay Water Quality Trust (when I was manager till November 2008 and now a trustee) and who managed the bacteriological sample collection on behalf of the Trust. Alistair has upgraded his licensing to 40 nautical miles and the group was in excellent hands and the few herbies were not of his doing. As Alf puts it, “Without them sampling in the scientific manner would have been impossible. They could tell the properties of the sea bed and, very importantly, they were able to get us there and back in one piece.”

IF I KNEW YOU WERE COMING ...

I’d have baked a cake – so says the song, but in this case good friend George laid on lunch for my guest Lois Kolver and me at his wonderful bed and breakfast establishment, Blue Dolphin, across in Paternoster.
Here they stand with Sarah tucked into George’s arms (”She’s the boss around here,” I am reminded) with the wonderful view of Groot Paternoster bay in the background.
Colleague Courteney missed out on the delicious lunch, as he was manning his equally delightful gift shop in the town’s fish market square. But perhaps I made up for that by spending money on yet another set of earrings for myself (I now own over 200 pairs). “Do you really need more?” he enquired and of course the answer is “No, but I want them!”

MARTA MEETS MOM

Maxie van der Vyver met her future daughter-in-law only days before Marta and Christiaan were married at her home in Postmasburg, a small town tucked into the corner of the Free State.
Originally from Poland, Marta’s home is now England where she tends customers at The Queensbury in Willesden Green while Christiaan designs computer-animated graphics.
Maxie and Marta took to each other immediately – but then both are warm, opening folk so it was a given – and the three travelled together to South Africa’s West Coast where they celebrated the honeymoon as one happy family - en famille, so to speak.

They spent the balmy days sunbathing on Britannia Bay’s Golden Mile beach and the evenings challenging each other at Trivial Pursuit. (Wonder if Marta let her ma-in-law win?)

From here to Langebaan and then back to Postmasburg for a spell on the family farm before returning to the U.K. on January 26th. Brrr!

You two newly-weds, have a wonderful life.

View my website:

self catering accommodation britannia bay

RAPT UP

From personal experience I know that if I decide to enjoy a plunge-pot of coffee at See-Plasie local coffee and gift shop and garden nursery where indigenous and endemic plants prevail, the chances are that the Thearts and I will chew the proverbial cud over all things general and affairs tourism in particular for hours on end.
Lucy and Gerry (see “Summer Serenade” below) too were caught up in the charm of co-owners, husband and wife team, Rossouw and Monica and were simply enchanted by all that this very successful little business has to offer.
Determined to find something depicting dolphins with which to present me, the Veens found a stunning fabric-painted shawl, which Monica (left) has draped around her shoulders. (Rossouw’s the wit olifant in the meedle.)

SUMMER SERENADE

When Gerry and Louise (aka Lucy) came looking for a place to stay I had no idea what pleasure their company would bring me. I guessed correctly that the case contained a classical guitar (“Flamenco”, he gently chided me); I didn't realise that Gary Fane, as he is known inter-nationally, would produce such sweet songs.
In the three days they stayed with me I listened raptly to the words and music and learned about the days when he played with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (ja, Bru!) and during those heady days he created a CD entitled Horoscope, an ‘80s musical interpretation of the zodiac (Google his name for the Rapidshare download or go Red Bullet, the recording company’s site).

His rendition of that wonderful John Denver oldie, Annie’s Song, clearly has great meaning for this happily married (“For over forty years now”) couple and as they sung harmoniously, they looked deeply and fondly into each other’s eyes.

I get the feeling I shall be seeing them again - perhaps when they visit South Africa for the fifth time. I hope so because I need to repay them in kind for the exquisite shawl they bought for me at See-Plasie Koffie- en geskenkwinkel: gold dolphins on a black background. The Dutch have always been wonderful visitors; the Veens were exceptional.

SLÁINTE

... which is cheers in Irish-speak (I'm a Byrnes, after all) and I'm sure you agree that's precisely what Alfred Titus and Judy Ferreira are wishing each other.
A spur-of-the-mo’ thing saw them careering to Britannia Bay, booking in late on Friday, dog-tired from the hustle and bustle of city life. But what a sight met their eyes Saturday morning! It’s as if the weather boffins had pulled out all the stops to paint before them a picture-perfect day. Mind, this season has been exceptional on the West Coast: blow all wind and only sufficient rain to dirty the windscreen of my car. Can’t complain about that then, eh?
Anyway, back to this delightful couple. They’re tying the knot on March 28th and have promised to send pics so that we can all share in their joy. Watch this space!

2009 - A NEW YEAR

It’s overcast and threatening to rain on sunny South Africa’s West Coast but, you know what? Through the window I can see a Southern Right whale in the channel in front of my house – and I think I even see a group of Heaviside’s dolphins in the distance. Now, what better way to welcome the New Year in than feasting my eyes on these cetaceans of the sea? To everyone I say a joyous and bountiful 2009, with less stress, more time and much, much more of everything good and clean and fresh tra-la-la (I sound like a washing powder commercial, don’t I, but you know what I mean.)

VERY SPECIAL FAMILY

Thought you’d enjoy seeing what my family looks like. Here Michael Ray gives me a hug, watched by daughters Shannon and Jessica and her friend Mario.
They detoured to spend two hours quality time with me at See-Plasie Coffee Shop and Nursery where cheesecake and coolies were devoured with delight.

Am I the lucky one or what?

NOW'S THE TIME TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER

Maryke Wiid returned from her six months’ sabbatical where she was caring for the elderly, landing at Cape Town Airport to be met by Jansen Myburgh who, in the meantime, has been slaving away at Maties for his B.Com degree.
They both needed time out to catch up with their respective lives and the deck and a glass of chilled white wine was just the thing to do it. Then a braai (barbeque to you wot don’t know the word) and watching fireworks across the bay as the clock struck midnight on Old Year’s Eve.

May you both achieve your goals this coming year and which hopefully includes time for each other.

A GRAND AFFAIR

In true Moslem style Ahmad Gallie married Dilshaad Allie (she sure makes life easy only having to make one letter change to her surname) on Sunday November 23 and as tradition would have it, the lady wore red, a most becoming colour to be sure.
They spent the first three nights of their honeymoon with me and in that time I learned a lot about their lifestyles, their career paths, their aspirations and just what lovely, gentle people they were.

Ahmad’s in the admin. department at Children’s Red Cross Hospital whilst Dilshaad recently moved to the economics section of the City of Cape Town. Wonder who is going to look after their kids and who will see to the finances?