3D REFLECTIONS OF LIFE

The Rivierzicht bush camps are situated right there on the banks of the Breede River in the Robertson valley.  Imagine waking up to the sound of fish jumping out of the water, reeds rustling in the gentle breeze and birds chirping. Yep, that’s what you get when you stay at one of the bush camps on the Rivierzicht resort. A canoeist paddling on the Breede River The Breede River The Breede River, about 322km long, starts high up in the Ceres mountains, then snakes its way to the Indian ocean at Witsands. It is the longest navigable river in the Western Cape. There are three dams on the river, the Theewaterskloof Dam, the Brandvlei Dam and the Kwaggaskloof Dam. The Theewaterskloof Dam is one of the major Dams that supply Cape Town with water. Accommodation options at Rivierzicht The Riverzicht resort has three types of accommodation. There are 16 large camping sites for tenting and caravanning, about eight log caravans and four bush camps. The tented camping...

My friends - Devine and Erica - and I spent two awesome hours at the Art in the Park exhibition that was held today.  The art exhibition was hosted by the South African Society of Artists. Visitors could interact with the artists who were hosting their own exhibition stalls. We went to support one of our ex colleagues, Mandy Herdien, who is one of the emerging local artists. Mandy Herdien with a few of her artworks Mandy was excited to show us how her art has transformed over the years. "I enjoy experimenting with various media and painting techniques. I am currently exhibiting at Kirstenbosch art gallery as well. People are beginning to appreciate my art. I am now in an exciting phase where I can allow my creative genius to surface." Our conversation was interrupted by a couple who wanted to speak to Mandy. They loved the painting of  a herd of goats. This couple has been commissioned by their friend in London to find a Nguni painting for him.  They were ex...

South Peninsula  High School Band was the opening act at the screening of the documentary, An Intolerable Amnesia. The documentary, An Intolerable Amnesia, tells the story of the Wynberg Seven. These seven high school students were arrested and imprisoned at Pollsmoor Prison in 1985 for protesting against Apartheid. In 1985 thousands of school student protestors used their voices to show their anger and threw stones at police who used the violence of water cannons and bullets to control the crowds.  Yet, the Wynberg Seven and many other innocent youth were charged with public violence. Graham chatting to Mrs Niekerk Bradley Niekerk, who features in the documentary, was also imprisoned in 1985. Bradley is a past student of South Peninsula High School.  After the screening of the documentary, friends and family relived many of their experiences of 1985.  Mrs Niekerk, Bradley's mother, was happy to share her thoughts. "We were terrified when Bradley went...

Darren Francis , a Cape Town-based photographer, has his Breaking Dawn photo exhibition on at the Youngblood Art Gallery during the month of September. Breaking Dawn Photo Exhibition The Breaking Dawn photo exhibition is Darren Francis's contribution to breast cancer awareness. Breaking Dawn affirms the women who are or who have been confronted with breast cancer. The portraits capture the various emotional and physical complexities that breast cancer sufferers experience. Yet, despite their roller coaster journey with breast cancer, women show amazing resilience and spiritual strength. This, said, Darren, was what he wanted to portray as well. Darren Francis, the photographer, and Dr Jenny Edge, the breast surgeon and breast cancer awareness campaigner. The opening of the Breaking Dawn Photo Exhibition was attended by Dr Jenny Edge, a breast surgeon, the sponsors of the exhibition and the women who were invited to be the subjects of the Breaking Dawn exhibit...

Spring has sprung and Kloof Street was our local playground for about two hours. Kloof Street is a buzzing, colourful street. There are so many different restaurants and watering holes that suit various pockets. Parking is difficult to find because it seems everybody flocks to Kloof Street on a Saturday morning. Basil enjoying his R20 breakfast at Mixas. Basil and I chose Mixas Restaurant to have our breakfast.  The attraction to Mixas was the big chalkboard that shouted "Breakfast for R19,90". For your R20,00, you get two eggs served according to your tastes, a smattering of salad and two slices of toast. Then you can choose two other items from the menu to complete your breakfast. Both of us chose bacon, I chose a pork sausage while Basil settled for mushrooms.  Well, let's be fair. Although I had visions of layers of crispy bacon and sausage filling my plate, the price tag justified the miniature portions. The warm service by our waiter, Mike and the beaut...

Levona and I had just spent a wonderful evening at Bollywood Cafe in Long Street. It was all about celebrating women, although the food at Bollywood Cafe was a strong competitor. We attended a Women's Empowerment Circle that is being established by Michele, a friend whom I had met at Christiaan Barnard Hospital. Sharing our communal meal The event was colorful and vibrant from the decor right through to the dress code and the Indian cuisine. The restaurant menu is diverse and the dishes are extremely well-priced. The curry thali dishes are divine. Levona ordered the vegetarian curry while I chose the lamb curry thali. The thali is a meal that is made up of a selection of different delicacies. The food is served on a platter which has a few compartments and small  bowls line the borders of this platter tray.  The curries, chutney, vegetables and sauces are placed in these small bowls while the rice and a pappadam form the centerpiece. Bollywood Cafe  also serves ...

Back Row: Peter and Sharon. Centre Row: Ian, Brian, Avril, Cheryl, Vincent, Sybil, Richard. Front Row: Judy and Kenny I suppose you also have a friend or couple that will help to nurture friendships so that people don't lose contact. Our friends, Avril and Vincent are the Friendship Warriors. Their DNA is wired to connect old classmates or friends of yesteryear.  Be warned though; anything can spark off a social or a reunion for these Friendship Warriors. As life would have it, Avril bumped into Ian, one of our classmates of yesteryear.  Ian, our  then classmate since primary school, returned to our South African shores to attend his father's funeral. Ian has exchanged his South African roots for snowy, Canadian ones. Ian probably enquired about the rest of us. Before he knew what hit him, Avril and Vincent volunteered to get the gang together before our dear friend disappeared north again. Facebook buzzed, friends were hunted down and the reunion was goin...