THERE are a number of events and meeting taking place on Thursday and throughout the weekend. For example, on Thursday, the U3A is meeting at Settlers Park where Lynn Trollip will discuss the subject of “Have the Greenies lost the plot?” With the current concerns regarding pollution and climate change, this might well be a meeting to attend. The PA Art Club is also meeting on Thursday where their paintings will be up for review. The Scrapbook Club also meets on Thursday. Perhaps the biggest event is the visit by the KZN Youth Orchestra that will be performing at the Port Alfred High School hall. The concert starts at 7pm. On Friday, there’s the Brenda Lear Bridge Drive, also at Settlers Park. On Sunday there is a Diaz Cross Bird Club outing and Spiritfest is on at the Dias Dutch Reform Church. For more information on these and other happenings in and around Ndlambe.
IT was a shock when we learnt that Port Alfred police station commander Colonel Lizette Zeelie had had a serious accident attending to a fire on Monday evening. According to police, she was taken to hospital and, on Tuesday morning, was still in critical condition but stable. I’m sure, well-wishers would like us to take this opportunity of wishing her a speedy recovery.
THIS week’s front page is the story of a brave little girl, Alexandra Taljard, who is suffering from an incurable disease that has destroyed her kidneys. In 2018, her grandmother, Kleinemonde resident Jenni MacLeod, donated a kidney, but that has not done the trick and her disease has returned necessitating her inclusion on a trial drug programme. She was recently visited by actor and Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks, who was there to bring a little joy to the lives of the young children at the Evelina Children’s Hospital at Guys and St Thomas, in London. While there, he promoted his new movie, Toy Story 4, where Hanks has voiced the character of Woody throughout the franchise. Little Alexandra was overwhelmed at the visit and, told Hanks so. He, in turn said, with the quality of the questions she asked him, she should be a journalist. Alexandra answered that she wanted to grow up to be a doctor so she could help other children who were suffering with illness. We wish Alexandra a speedy recovery and, when old enough, we would like to see how she would fit into the Talk of the Town family.
THE Port Alfred High School Polar Plunge took place last Friday with hundreds of people dipping toes, legs, arms and bodies into the ice-cold water of the Indian Ocean at Kelly’s Beach as a way to celebrate mid-winter’s day. Although I didn’t swim (day off) I think you are all mad (especially Bram Coetzee, the Borat-costumed swimmer), I admire your resolve and pledge. I will make every effort at 2020’s event to convince someone else to swim in my place. Brrr…
SONA (the state of the nation address), made by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week was largely criticised by opposition parties as being a pipe-dream with no clear plan of how SA was to recover from its current woes. This opinion was strengthened when politicians had the opportunity to express their opinions in parliament during a marathon session on Tuesday. Ramaphosa responded on Wednesday, but this was too late for this week’s edition. Let’s hope there are real solutions to the problems at that parliament, under the direction of Ramaphosa, will help to implement them.
CONGRATULATIONS and happy birthday greetings to everyone celebrating a special day in the next week, especially Bev Young, Amber Berry, Harold Holt, Marion Konig, Isabella Coetzee, Liza Kohler, Melville Vogel, Ann Hewett, Peggy Goosen, Mollie Jordaan, Kim Nel, Vukile Gongqa, Jean Babin, twins Daniel and Hannah du Plessis, Betty Bruton, Stella Crawford, Mirna Myburgh, Tyler-John Lang, Greg Timm, Odette Hilpert, Edna Smethurst, Malcolm Christie, Roy Hewett, Delina van Heerden, Eileen Roussow, Anne Harris, Deirdre Odendaal and Mark Warren.
MAY the following businesses continue to be successful as they celebrate another business anniversary. Best wishes for the future to The Water Bar in Van der Riet Street.
WITH last year’s figures in brackets to compare against, the market trading was as such with R14.33/$ (R13.57), R18.18/£ (R17.92) and R16.29/ß (R15.82). Commodities, such as gold was $1,404.39 per fine ounce ($1,258.12); platinum $814.10 ($872) and Brent crude oil at $65.78 per barrel ($76.66).
SPECIAL thoughts and prayers are with all those folk who are not well, having or have already had tests, operations and treatments. “Sterkte” to Roy Potter, Andrew de Vries, Jenny Groenewald, Zelda Neethling, Chris de Wet Steyn, Marian Eaten, Martin Bekker, Lizette Zeelie, Trish Solz, Brenda Shelton, Dave Young and Theo Snyman.
OUR sympathy for the family and friends of Nancy Rielly who passed away on Monday. A funeral talk will be held on Friday at 11am at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, in Campbell Street, Port Alfred.
WEDDING anniversary congratulations to couples, especially Len and Pat Holford, Johan and Anne Roos, Rodney and Lyneth Gradwell, Richard and Judy Henshall, Peter and Valerie Wynne.
THOUGHT for the week: “An inevitable though often ignored dimension of the quest for wholeness is that we must embrace what we dislike or find shameful about ourselves, as well as what we are confident and proud of”.
BEST regards as always,
The Team
