Neighbourly Notes – 24 November 2016

GOING FOR A SONG: The 1st Port Alfred Sea Scouts did their annual carolling pilgrimage to various centres and homes in town to bring Christmas cheer as we approach the holiday season. Talk of the Town caught up with them performing at Damant Lodge last Friday as they sang to residents, including those in the frail care centre. Picture: ROB KNOWLES
GOING FOR A SONG: The 1st Port Alfred Sea Scouts did their annual carolling pilgrimage to various centres and homes in town to bring Christmas cheer as we approach the holiday season. Talk of the Town caught up with them performing at Damant Lodge last Friday as they sang to residents, including those in the frail care centre. Picture: ROB KNOWLES

FIRSTLY, let’s talk about what’s happening in and around the Ndlambe area this weekend, starting with the second performance of Sunshine Coast Gymnastics annual concert, “Alice’s Adventure” starting at 7pm at the Albany Centre tonight. Also tonight is the Lions Quiz Night at the Port Alfred High School Clubhouse. Then, on Friday it’s the Hospice book sale at the Heritage Mall as well as the BUCO Golf Day, with proceeds to Child Welfare. On Saturday there’s the Kiddies Garden Club at Red Leaf Nursery and then, in the evening and after a full week of top-class croquet, there’s the South African Golf Croquet Championships’ prize-giving at the Port Alfred Bowls and Golf Croquet Club. And finally, on Sunday, Stenden will be holding its annual prize-giving ceremony at 4pm at MyPond Hotel. For these and everything else going on in and around our area, please see the Diarise This section for more information. FOR this week’s Facebook question we asked about the relevance of the beleaguered Ndlambe Residents and Ratepayers Association (Parra) and received a lukewarm response to our question. It was surprising that few people even understood what Parra is or how it represents all residents in the greater Port Alfred area (including Station Hill and Nemato). Some even suggested an overall organisation called the Ndlambe Ratepayers Association, not realising the Ndlambe Ratepayers Forum (NRF) already exists. If you are serious about fixing the many broken elements of the area, then joining the various ratepayers associations is one of the keys to success, and you really should be more aware of their function and the issues they address.

THE Aussie Buccaneers took on the South Africans at West Beach on Friday and Saturday in bodyboarding and, despite poor wave conditions on this notorious stretch of beach, some great moves were seen by the small group of spectators. This is the start of international bodyboarding in South Africa, and might lead to more such competitions in the future. If you have never seen the tricks expertly carried out by the bodyboarders then do yourself a favour and attend the next competition. This is a sport that anyone, young or old, can try and is great fun. The Australian team said they were having the time of their lives, mate.

PARLIAMENT was again in the news this week regarding the censuring of DA MP Denise Robinson for referring to President Jacob Zuma as “JZ 783”‚ referencing the outstanding charges against him. When speaker Baleka Mbete’s request for her to withdraw the reference to Zuma was refused, Mbete asked that she leave the house. Mbete’s reason was that Robinson was “casting aspersions about the honourable president”. Leaving the question of “honourable” alone, the DA chief whip John Steenhuisen warned Mbete there was no rule to allow the speaker to justify asking Robinson to leave the house and that his party would be taking the matter to court where, “we will embarrass you again”. There then followed a walk-out by the DA. The problem is that, without respect for the rules of the house by any party (or the speaker), parliament is a lame duck. Isn’t it about time politicians grew up and put the country before their own petty squabbles or their own self-enrichment?

AND, just when you think you’ve heard everything, Prophet (and SAPS detective) Lethebo Rabalago from the Mountzion General Assembly in Limpopo swears that using the insect killer Doom on his congregation actually heals people. According to reports, Rabalago commands demons to enter into people’s bodies so they can manifest, “for demons need flesh in order for them to operate”. He then exorcises them. Someone spraying Doom in another’s face would surely bug them a lot.

WE send bright thoughts and warmest birthday wishes to everyone celebrating a birthday and, hopefully, may it be the best ever. Congratulations especially to Peter Reed, Harry Thackwray, Bella Metcalf, Barbara Carolan, Martin Neethling, Mo Goff, Shalmedine Brooks, Gavin Keeton, Tyrone Dixon, Lindi Garner, Cecilia Paul, Anthony Stevenson, Mikayla Patterson, Denise Beresford, Michelle Rowe, Delene Deenik, Craig Dickie, Francois de Klerk, Carol Mentz, Jacques Tarrant, Benjamin Arnott, Val Kilian, Omica Ngqowana, San Marie Vorster, Bruno Menin, Matthew Evans, Marion McPherson, Lodene Pohl, Danica Steyn, Ilse Wicks, Anita Thompson, Anneli Collyer, Hal Snyman, Bernadine Probart, Liz Gouws, Claude McLellan, Lance Miller, Toni Metcalf, Gareth Turner, Kim Gardner, Kerry Charter, Sylvia Strydom, Mariane Wessels, Fanna Vogel, Mike Legg, Helen Dell, Jessie Muller, Sally Anne Robertson, Dave Wilson, Juan Southey, Emma de Jager, Brandon Handley.

SPECIAL birthday greetings and congratulations to Barry Allen, on his 50th milestone on November 24. Enjoy your day and may there be many more good memory-making years ahead.

CONGRATULATIONS and every joy to new parents Nadia (nee Delport) and Alex Harris on the arrival of your beautiful baby girl Zoey Addyson who was born on Thursday November 17. She weighed 1.4kg but we know she will grow big and strong in no time and bring lots of happiness, laughter and precious moments into your lives.

CONGRATULATIONS and continued success to the following businesses celebrating another anniversary especially to Mildek Garden Services, Cherrywood Nursery (Kenton-on-Sea), Hugo Warren Art Gallery, Kekkel en Kraai, Mabini’s Coffee Shop & Restaurant (Kenton-on-Sea), Try Me for Tours, The Corner Gallery (Bathurst), Rosehill Mall opened on November 27 2008.

FOR the last few months we have been discussing a possible downgrade of the South African Currency to Junk Status, and how this would negatively affect growth and employment opportunities in the country. The Statistician General’s report pointing out that unemployment in South Africa has risen to its highest levels since 2003 with over 27% of the population without work, and with the shenanigans of politicians and parastatal organisations, Moody’s has warned that the Rand will almost certainly be demoted to Junk status before the end of 2016. So, with last year’s figures in brackets to compare against the Rand was trading at R14.08 to the dollar (R14.09), R17.43 to the pound (R21.23), and R14.94 to the Euro (R14.98). Commodities were trading with gold at R1 211.32 per fine ounce ($1 075.00), platinum at R941.70 per ounce ($842.35) and Brent Crude Oil at R49.09 per barrel ($45.78).

SPECIAL thoughts and prayers are with all those folk who are not well, who are having or have already had tests, operations and treatments. “Sterkte” to Peter Charter, Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, June Hart, Linda Hulley, Ben Kember, Blake Squires, Llewellyn Wicks, Malcolm Cock, Philly Dell, Myrna Keet, Barbara Tee, Bevan Edwards, Jonathan Walker and Brenda Shelton.

WEDDING anniversary congratulations and may there be many more years of continued happiness to the following couples. Garth and Jenny Kieck, Matthew and Casey van Niekerk, Basil and Agnes Wormald, Vic and Beryl Goddard.

ON to cricket where, having soundly spanked the Australians at test cricket on their home turf 3-0, following an incredible ODI series in South Africa where the Aussies were beaten 5-0, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis was fined his entire match fee by the International Cricket Council in Hobart on Tuesday for ball tampering. Du Plessis was seen rubbing the ball with his finger after dipping it into his mouth while sucking a sweet. The South Africans have complained that the move by the ICC was unprecedented and would be appealed. Du Plessis said that the ball had not been tampered with, but was in mint condition when he passed it to the bowler.

THOUGHT for the week: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.”

BEST regards as always,
The Team.