Work begins at 'Old Pick n Pay' site

The back of the old Pick n Pay building/Senqu/Build It is being demolished. Plans for the new development should be online soon.

Proposed development at The Yard

Waiting for Change

Looking down at myself in the shower recently I wondered why it is that errors of perspective are limited to my stomach and feet.

Knowing that my wife, the fitness junkie, would try to explain it with a lengthy treatise on the benefits of exercise to body, mind and eyes, I decided to recommit myself to an outdoor pursuit for the Christmas and New Year break. Tiger Woods’ headline grabbing love-life troubles and the excitement in the valley surrounding the SA Golf Open were incentive enough to give attention to my sadly underutilised driver. So I headed off to Val de Vie, hoping to catch glimpse of Richard Sterne (or at least his beautiful new wife who was pictured in the December edition of The Month). The driving range was deserted, save for someone walking a horse. As I couldn’t find anyone to hire a bucket of balls from, I took the handful I keep for mulligans and, after a short warm up, hit all three straight and true, at right angles to my intended direction. The horse walker changed into a rider and in no time bore down on me shouting “Fore. Luck sakes, man!” or something similar. “This is a polo field, bugger off!” I did.

The Magic of Bubbles created quite a stir in the family. In-laws, Jenny and Charles rushed down from ‘Josie’ to share in the (locals only?) Friday night introduction to this year’s incarnation. She has J-Lo’s posterior and he has the ears of a certain prince. “Should we take the nanny, Mable?” I asked, “The theme is white with a touch of black.” The junkie shuddered as she often does when I open my mouth in public and fastened a black scarf around her waist. “There,” she said, “white with a tush of black.” Later I heard the word ‘ass’ and assumed she was referring to her own.

The financial consequences of buying scalped World Cup tickets hit me with a thud while tucking in to a second helping of Christmas pud. Fortunately our lavish festivities were hosted by our equally lavish neighbours and I was able to pocket a large number of five rand coins towards the cost. It helped that the kids were all in the pool at the time that their bowls were set out, giving me ample time to dig carefully through the fruit mince and sherry without being discovered. The party was catered for by an ex-convict made good, who now cooks for the rich and famous. Making small talk I asked: “So did you ever think you’d leave prison as a chef?” He replied, “It wasn’t really a surprise, I’ve always been good with knives.”

-Jim Waite

Franschhoek - The King of POP

The ‘Magic of Bubbles’ Cap Classique and Champagne Festival, sponsored by Investec Private Bank and held in Franschhoek on the weekend of the 4th to the 6th of December, was another feather in the cap of South Africa’s premier food and wine destination. According to Jenny Prinsloo, CEO of the Franschhoek Wine Valley and Tourist Association, “Feedback consistently confirms that this is the best festival of its kind in South Africa.”

Thousands of people enjoyed Champagne and South African Cap Classiques on offer from 37 different estates or importers, with a strong local representation from the Western Cape, especially the Franschhoek valley and even the newly formed W.O. Plettenberg Bay region. International Champagnes included offerings from Guy Charbaut, Laurent Perrier and Henri Giraud, amongst others. The hot summer’s weekend was picture-perfect, with clear skies and the occasional breath of wind to cool things down. The crowds were entertained by a number of musicians and bands throughout the weekend and the dancefloor was alive, thanks to the sound of music, the popping of corks and the enjoyment of bubbles. Set in the grounds of the Huguenot Monument, the festival effortlessly ties an iconic South African celebration to the quintessential French symbol of luxury. The FWVTA made particular mention of the stylishly-decorated marquees; Marti Foster’s subtle touch added a measure of glamour to the ‘White with a Touch of Black’ theme that was widely appreciated. The words inscribed on the monument’s colonnade, Post Tenebras Lux (after darkness (comes) light), seemed entirely appropriate as the festival coincided with the country’s emergence from recession and a renewed sense of optimism in most quarters.

The optimism was echoed in the opening speeches by Jenny Prinsloo, Anne Ferreira, outgoing Chair of the Franschhoek Vignerons and Wouter de Vos, head of Investec Private Bank Winelands. The Wine Valley and Tourist Association and the Vignerons were both acknowledged for the tremendous role they play in making the valley a successful tourism and lifestyle destination. New to this year’s festival was the introduction of a Friday evening cocktail event. Supported mainly by locals, the evening was successful enough to suggest that it will become a regular part of the festival and it will surely become the highlight in years to come. Given the heat at this time of the year, the opportunity to sip bubbly under the stars is sure to remain a treat.

The quality of the Cap Classiques on offer was notable. Many of the visitors to the festival were quick to point out that the South African offering is every bit as good as its French originator, and one or two avowed Champagne drinkers were observed heading to the tables of the Cap Classique producers with their cheque books at the ready. An astonished French journalist was heard to say “I’m not sure how to deal with my experience back home. If I tell them how very good this South African wine is, they either won’t believe me or I’ll be called a traitor.” As he slipped his purchase discretely into his carry bag he looked up and pleaded, “I’ll need another glass for courage.”

Proposed Development at Lavender Farm

An email with an attachment from Auberge La Dauphine, claims that Robert Maingard is building illegally at Lavender Farm on the Verdun Road. The building appears to be taking place in land zoned for agricultural use only.

The attachment reads:

Maingard strikes again!

To those concerned residents of Franschhoek who attended the meeting in the Town Hall at the beginning of 2009, you may wish to know that Mr Maingard has struck again!

He owns Lavender Guest House which is in Verdun Road, off the Excelsior Road (on the way to Le Franschhoek Hotel). He submitted and had agreed in October 2008 plans to increase his 4 bedroom guest house by 10 rooms to a 14 bedroom (mini hotel) by adding rooms to the existing building even though a number of neighbours objected. One of the reasons given for his application at the time was that additional bedrooms would “supplement his wife’s income!”

He has now started building something very different from what was originally agreed. This is WITHOUT THE CORRECT PLANNING APPROVALS. He is building in his Lavender field (agricultural land!) 10 self contained luxury units. His building firm put the footings in on the Reconciliation Public Holiday (probably in the hope that no-one would notice), and the builders are due to finish by the end of February (presumably working all over Christmas to get the buildings up before anyone can object).

The Stellenbosch Municipality visited the site on 17 December and put a Stop Order on the building work on 18 December. However, Mr Maingard can simply pay a R1000 fine (which is laughable for a multi million rand construction) and now has 30 days in which to get as much of the building done as possible before the Municipality can go for an Interdict.

Residents of Franschhoek. This man has shown complete contempt for the village and the Municipality. If you feel anything for our beautiful village and the value of YOUR property (which can ultimately be affected by his blatent disregard for any rules and regulations as we have seen with the fiasco with the Hugeunot Hotel), please express your concerns to

Louisa Guntz, Planning and Environment, Stellenbosch Municipality, PO Box 17, Stellenbosch 7599

AND PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT US ON WEDNESDAY 30 DECEMBER WHEN WE WILL BE HOLDING A DEMONSTRATION IN VERDUN ROAD FROM 7AM TO 6PM. WE WILL INVITE CARTE BLANCHE, 3^RD DEGREE, THE ARGUS, THE TATLER TO COME AND SEE AND REPORT ON WHAT MAINGARD IS DOING. PLEASE JUST TURN UP ANYTIME DURING THE DAY TO ADD YOUR SUPPORT.

Days later ...

The local council order work on the project to stop and issue a 'stop order'. Work ceases and a second email is sent. Attachments include the stop order and Robert Maingard's lawyer's letter in response to the circulating emails.

The stop order:

The lawyer's letter:

A visit to Colmant Estate and a chance meeting with Robert Maingard at Lavender Farm yield:

Plans - old and new:Approved rezoning application:Approval for the site development plan:

La Motte’s classic concerts kick 2010 off in style

On Saturday, 30th January La Motte will host the first of their classic concerts for 2010 at their estate in Franschhoek. The featured artist is Polina Burdukova on cello, with piano accompaniment Kerryn Wiesniwski.

Polina started her shimmering musical career in Moscow, and has since travelled, played and studied all over the world. She moved to South Africa in 1991 and we have had the pleasure of hearing her play ever since.

In partnership with Kerryn Wiesniwski, a piano soloist in her own right, they will be presenting a programme of works ranging from Shostakovich’s Sonata in d minor for cello and piano to exuberant compositions by the Czech composer, Popper.

This concert will be presented at La Motte estate and guests will be welcomed with a glass of La Motte wine and at the end of the concert, a light finger dinner. The concert starts at 7pm and entrance is R125, 00 per person.

La Motte is situated on the R45 just outside Franschhoek, approximately 45 minutes drive from Cape Town. Bookings for the concert can be made at the La Motte tasting venue or by phoning 021 876 8801 for Angela.

Visit http://www.la-motte.com/ for more information. We regret that no refunds can be made if the booking is cancelled and the bookings are only valid after receipt of admission.

Crop Spraying - Letter to Paarl Post, from Tatib

Pesticides can cause hay fever

WE refer to the article titled "Hay Fever Blues" as published in Paarl Post on 26 November.

* It is a well documented fact that exposure to pesticides causes "hay fever" symptoms - upper respiratory tract irritation, infection, sinus problems and asthma to name but a few.

* Exposure to pesticides also causes more serious problems like central nervous system damage, respiratory problems and even cancer.

* It is unlawful to spray your vineyards in such a way that spray drift (of pesticides) is allowed to be blown into the residential areas.

* The medical effects of unlawful spray drift have been well documented in the Western Cape and internationally.

* Many of the pesticides that are used on the vineyards in places like Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have been banned in other countries as they are considered to be highly toxic.

* Every citizen has the right to live in an environment that is not harmful to his/her health and well-being - this is enshrined in the Constitution.

* The statement that "this is a small price to pay for living in this magnificent valley" is irresponsible. One cannot and should not peg a price on one's health.

Several Paarl medical doctors actually attended The Air that I Breathe (Tatib) Foundation's recent meeting in Stellenbosch and confirmed that they have a large number of patients suffering from exposure to pesticides.

You are sitting on a ticking time bomb. You need to alert your local Municipality for the sake of your health, especially that of your children.

For more information, contact tatib-foundation@gmail.com or Prof Mark Swilling at swilling@sun.ac.za

Team TATIB