IT’S time for the first Lion’s Club Trivia Evening tonight at the Port Alfred High School Clubhouse and quizmaster Neville Williamson will be asking the questions. It’s a Friday night Classics at the Castle with Spanish pianist Antonio Galera-López, who will give a sundowner recital at the Richmond House Museum, starting at 6pm. And let’s not forget the launch of Joy Collins’s book, Hello Shar, can you hear me? at the Postmaster’s Village on Friday afternoon. Our colleague Louise Carter has read the book and says it is a tear-jerker and a really good read. On Saturday, it’s the Stride with Pride for Hospice Beach Walk. Participants can choose from one of three walks, the longest being all the way to Kleinemonde. Take your dog along with you (for an extra R20) and enjoy the day. For more details on these and the rest of the week’s activities, see the Diarise This section of Talk of the Town.
WITH regards to the R72, Gibb engineers gave a presentation to the public on Monday evening at the Ski-boat Club regarding the work being carried out. The gradients of both hills, east and west, will remain the same, but four new sets of traffic lights will be introduced with pavements, new street lights, new signage and better drainage on the road surface. Read this week’s Talk of the Town for more information.
ONCE again, Child Welfare is appealing to the public to donate any second-hand items, in good condition. Either drop them off at their offices (or call so they can be collected, by arrangement). Any items that Child Welfare cannot use for the children in their care will be up for sale twice a month at a morning market, to be held on the station platform. Child Welfare’s Heather Leicher offered a big thank you to all those who have already donated, and asked that members of the public give generously to this worthy cause.
BY the time you read this, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan will have already made his budget speech for this year. It is hoped that VAT will remain at 14% as that particular tax affects everyone, including the poorest members of society. Booze and cigarettes will undoubtedly see an increase in tax, as will petrol and other crude oil products. Of course, that will have a massive impact on all consumables. Personal tax for higher income earners (probably not too many of them in this area) will have been increased, again, but let’s hope there are more tax breaks given to the poor.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone celebrating a special day in the week ahead, and with every best wish for many more to Wesley Mcmahon, Carolyn Clarence, Wendy Clayton, Jonathan Steck, Glyn Barnes, Jenna Henning, Jennifer Worrall, Annette Coetzee, Nicole Owen, Pam Taylor, Günter Johannsen, Peter Whittington, Rita Hope, Lorna Els, Teagan Shaddock, Sheryl Ann Drennan, Jessica Green, Ange Hutchinson, Andrew Dempers, Chenelle Freeman, Danielle Spaumer, Storm Gretton, Bianca Twynham, Mike Hockin, Rohan Myburgh, Dan Hilpert, Sami Step, Jerusha Govender, Sophie Bessinger, Anna Byrd, Val Dugmore, Felix Clark, Zola Kerr, Caryn Bruyns, Jason Currie, Louise Wiggett, Pieter Retief, Drewnei Potgieter, Adele Broodryk, Wim Slieker, Greg Short, Allan Nonqulo, Patrick Grafton, Belinda Van Zyl, Jennifer Kukard, Pat Campbell and Monica Watson.
EVERY success for many more years to follow are the wishes we are conveying to the following businesses and organisations on another anniversary, especially VW Market Square Port Alfred, Adviceworx, Village Green Market (first Sunday of every month next to Lara’s and Pic Kwicks) and Rocky Ridge Farm Stall (en-route to Bathurst).
ALTHOUGH the price of Brent crude is slowly escalating, it has not done enough to dramatically affect the market. But, for Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his team, it is not an easy time with the rumours of an imminent cabinet reshuffle. Pravin and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas are said to have their heads on the chopping block. The nomination of former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe to parliament might mean he is about to replace Gordhan as finance minister. Should that happen it is likely the markets will spiral downwards (as happened when Des van Rooyen was appointed to replace Nhalnhla Nene). Molefe has a cloud over his head, having been implicated in the public protector’s report on state capture. With last year’s figures in brackets to compare against, the rand was trading at R13.08 to the dollar (R15.23), R13.75 to the euro (R16.76) and R16.35 to the pound (R21.32). Gold was trading at $1 234.03 per fine ounce ($1 222.20), Platinum at $1 004.10 per ounce ($940.40) and Brent crude trading at $56.85 per barrel ($32.88).
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 Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, June Hart, Linda Hulley, Dot Fetherstonhaugh, Ben Kember, Blake Squires, Llewellyn Wicks, Malcolm Cock, Philly Dell, Myrna Keet, Barbara Tee and Brenda Shelton.
SINCERE sympathy and kind wishes to the family and friends of mother and grandmother Joyce Enid Ellis, who passed away on February 3. May cherished memories of good times spent together, comfort all those who will miss her greatly.
SINCERE condolences to the family and friends of Audrey Holcroft who passed away peacefully on February 10 at Damant Lodge. She will be sorely missed by her husband Ray, children Guy, Denise, Deirdre, Alan and their families. May you feel the warm embrace of loving memories and hear the happy echoes of the good times you had together.
WEDDING anniversary congratulations and continued happiness to all couples celebrating this special occasion. Wishes extend to Shawn and Tammy Peet, Andrew and Ronel Bartlett, Allan and Michelle Miles, Hayden and Anneli Hanstein, Trevor and Stephanie Warner, Rob and Sami Schofield and Clive and Christine Haworth.
UNLUCKY for the Proteas on Wednesday as they ended their record 12-match winning streak when they lost by just six runs to New Zealand. Never mind, the streak had to end sometime, and there are still three matches left for the boys to redeem themselves. The next match will be played on Saturday at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Early risers (with access to Supersport or the internet) will be able to watch the match live. For the rest of us, we will have to wait to hear the result.
THOUGHT for the week: “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow”.
BEST regards as always,
The Team
