WE don’t often look back in Neighbourly Notes, but it is worth mentioning that the Bathurst Vintage Fair, held at the Bathurst Showgrounds last Saturday, was an event really worthy of more support from the public. Perhaps, as Dave Hawkins suggested, there should be more advertising of the event. This event should be at least as big as the Bathurst 4×4 Challenge. Both feature powerful machines, lots of noise and some spectacular spectator entertainment. Let’s make sure next year’s Vintage Fair is supported.
THIS weekend has a few things going on, starting on Friday evening with the Ian and Viv von Memerty Show at 8pm at the Monument Theatre in Grahamstown. On Sunday, it’s the St John’s Bathurst family service at the church at 8.30am. Also on Sunday, is Carnival for Classics at the Castle, featuring cellist Berthine van Schoor and pianist Annalien Ball, which starts at 3pm.
THE cellphone tower debacle continues, as residents choose sides on this highly contentious issue. Whether you are in favour of the cell towers being erected in Port Alfred, Bushman’s, Boknes or Nkwenkwezi, it would be worth attending either the silent protest outside the Dutch Reformed Church in Port Alfred, or the public discussion at the Dutch Reformed Church in Bushman’s. It is time to make your voice heard on this subject.
DO you think it is fair that a road is graded because of the funeral of family members of a former mayor? There are many roads in Port Alfred (including Nemato and Station Hill), as well as a great number of well-used farm roads in Bathurst, along with others in Ndlambe, that urgently need repair. Farmers in Shaw Park have been begging for assistance to fix their roads for years with no result. Read our front page story and see what you think.
THE ANC government is dying a rapid death, circling out of control and, with no leader strong enough to take on President Jacob Zuma, it would appear that we are left to watch as the party disintegrates. The debacle with Brian Molefe in his “in again/out again” position at Eskom, Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown’s apparent inertia in snipping the controversy in the bud and parliament’s seeming inability to intervene directly in what has become another highly embarrassing situation at one of its fully-owned parastatals, is diabolical. At the same time, the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has banned the leader of the country, and the leader of the ever-less stable tripartite alliance, from addressing meetings.
WHAT sort of sick-minded individual is it that detonates a bomb at a pop concert, killing 22 and injuring a further 59 people? How does one justify such a violent attack, not perpetrated against the UK government or the police, but against youngsters who were attending an Ariana Grande concert? The level of violence from so-called Islamic State terrorists is typically part of their Jihad against the infidel. But the world cannot allow their actions to go unpunished. It is time for all right-thinking individuals to inform these extremists we are not going to kowtow to their unrestrained despicable actions, and that God (the same one God of Judeo Christian beliefs) will not reward them with 72 virgins, but probably commit them to hell for inhumanity.
HAPPY birthday greetings to everyone celebrating a special day next week, with good wishes and many happy times for many more years ahead, especially for Alf Beavis, John Edmund, Mark Burgess, Mary Thackwray, Nosise Silatsha, Mxolisi Mgeni, Chris Alexander, Robey Pretorius, Antoinette Swartz, Candida Goeda, Basil Wormaid, Caleb Kieck, Mike Whelan, Jesse Vogel, Graeme Kelbrick, Zelda Odendaal, Candy Dell, Terri Stander, David Haig, Ted Phillips, Yvette Eloff, Ron Ball, Qondile Mthwalo, Jessica Maritz, Bruce Venters, Natalie Horn, Lisa Fonseca, Cassandra Griffiths, Dylan Shardelous, Nikki Bendeman, Bruce Lloyd, Kathy Knight, Mabel Coetzer, Peggy Schuddinh.
BELATED birthday wishes to Carl Wantenaar who celebrated his birthday last Sunday and to Natalie Okonski Wantenaar who celebrates her birthday today.
HAPPY 80th birthday to Laura Coetzee who celebrates on May 30.
ONE hundred happy birthdays to Eileen Moody of Settlers Park who turns a century young this week. May you live for many more years ahead.
CONGRATULATIONS and further success to all businesses and organisations on another anniversary with all good wishes for many more better years ahead, especially for Red Leaf Nursery, KFC, Creative Thinking Kitchens, Stix 2nd Hand Shop, PLC Computers, CosiHome, Soetbev Swimming Centre and the Collegiate high and junior schools which celebrate their 142 anniversary.
IT’S not been a great week for the rand which has shot up as high as R13.30 to the dollar earlier in the week but, by the time of going to press, had slid down to just under the R13 mark. Brent crude has also seen a steady rise in price, and broke through the $52 per barrel mark earlier this week. Serious action needs to be taken to restore confidence in the country and its currency, but is the new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba really the right man to be in charge, given that he has no finance qualifications and absolutely no experience? With last year’s figures in brackets at the time of going to press, the rand was trading at R12.98 to the dollar (R12.05), R16.84 to the pound (R18.57) and R14.54 to the euro (R13.15). Gold was trading at $1 252.13 per fine ounce ($1189.34), platinum to $946.50 per ounce ($1 127) with only Brent crude oil at $51.52 per barrel ($64.33).
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, Dot Fetherstonhaugh, Ben Kember, Myrna Keet, Barbara Tee, Brenda Shelton.
SINCERE condolences to the family and friends of Gill Findlay who passed away recently. May cherished memories of all the happy times spent together comfort all the family during your bereavement.
WEDDING anniversary congratulations and best wishes for many more even better years ahead to Anthony and Sharon Rudman, Ronnie and Audrey Slaughter, Douw and Simoné Potgieter, Cyril and Laurie Ridden.
THOUGHT for the week: “Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off a portion of one’s being, but by integration of the contraries.”
BEST regards as always,
The Team
