‘Scatalog: a Quick ID Guide to Southern African animal droppings’ - now why didn’t I think of that?

Slightly smaller than DL-sized, and just 40 pages long - and full of it - this must be one of the most useful field guides I’ve seen in a long, long time. Because you do - you see a lot more poop than animals in the bush.

The Scatalog (by Kevin Murray and published by Random House Struik) will help you identify the scats of about 100 species - the most common mammals of the region, some reptiles, and even a few of the larger birds - and it contains a short but fascinating guide to what you can learn from animal droppings.

It’ll definitely be in my pack next time I head on out. And it should be in your guest library, too.

Buy it here.

If you’re struggling with managing reviews about your product on TripAdvisor, you’ve ever entertained a guest, you’ve ever been on holiday, or you’ve ever parked in an airport car park - this one’s for you

Mossel Bay’s Elna Venter has announced that her book on the trees of the area will be published later this month.

‘Trees of the Garden Route - Mossel Bay to Storms River’ is the first book to cover the subject since F. von Breitenbach’s famous ‘Southern Cape Forests and Trees,’ which was published by the then Department of Forestry in 1974.

“The 250 page ‘Trees of the Garden Route’ covers 110 species of indigenous trees, and includes short descriptions of the species, with notes on their use (in the modern day and in the cultural context), and 1,800 full colour photographs of the trees themselves as well as their leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit,” said Ms. Venter.

“The book is aimed at both amateurs and botanists, and is up-to-date with all the latest changes in the various names. But what makes it unique is the visual key we’ve devised which will help anyone to easily and quickly identify any species in the area,” she said

Ms. Venter and her husband, Barry, came to live in Mossel Bay about seven years ago. “At first we chose if for its position: it’s close to the airport and Barry, who is a management consultant, still commutes regularly to Johannesburg.

“It was only after we settled here that we realised the many wonderful advantages of Mossel Bay.”

Ms. Venter calls herself an ‘interested amateur,’ although she’s been working in the botanical field for some time. “Before coming to the Garden Route, I was involved with environmental education for school children at the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens - the old Witwatersrand Botanical Gardens - in Roodepoort,” she said.

“But we have a holiday house in Nature’s Valley, and I think that’s where my interest in the trees of the area really sparked.”

‘Trees of the Garden Route’ was printed in Singapore, and the books are presently on board ship. They are expected to arrive in Cape Town during this week.

Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm said that the town’s Proud Mossel Bay campaign (which aims to highlight outstanding achievements by local citizens) was proud to salute Ms. Venter and her work.

“The environment of the Garden Route is our biggest tourism asset, and it’s exciting to see a Mossel Bayer once again leading the way when it comes to enriching everyone’s experience of the outdoors,” she said.

‘Trees of the Garden Route - Mossel Bay to Storms River’ will be launched on the 30th of November, 2011.

Copies of the book can be ordered from the author, at a cost of R170,00 plus postage and packaging. Please call +27(0)44 690 7454 or +27(0)83 653 0013, or e-mail even [at] absamail.co.za.

The launch of companion volumes of plays marks World Aids Day

Junkets Publisher is launching its two-volume collection of Southern African plays for performance or performed readings for high schools on World Aids Day, 1 December 2011, at Oude Libertas near Stellenbosch.

While being a celebration of these eagerly-awaited collections of short plays, titled Short, Sharp & Snappy 1 and 2, the launch will also serve to mark World Aids Day in two ways.

First, Jonathan Khumbulani Nkala, a young playwright whose play Faith in Love appears in volume 1 and whose play The Bicycle Thief appears in volume 2, will read a poem of his called ‘Xavier’s Lament’, which recounts the death from Aids-related illness of a young neighbour of his.

The main event of the launch will follow. A group of young actors from New Crossroads and Philippi called The Lost Voices will perform an extract from Monti Jola’s play The New Struggle, which appears in volume 2 of the Short, Sharp & Snappy collections.

The Lost Voices group is comprised of present and recent school students; they achieved success with their presentation of The New Struggle during the Zabalaza Festival at the Baxter Theatre earlier in the year.

‘The point of the play,’ says author Monti Jola, an experienced writer and director of community theatre, ‘is that the political struggle may be over, but we now have to mobilise the youth to fight this new struggle, the scourge of this disease. The plays shows young people coming to terms with these things inside their own schools.’

According to Robin Malan, owner-manager of Junkets Publisher and the co-compiler with Colleen Moroukian of these collections, Monti Jola’s play ‘does this both with great seriousness and with great wit and liveliness – an ideal vehicle to get the message across.’

Of the launch, Malan goes on to say: ‘It makes sense, in the context of the pandemic that is ravaging the lives of so many young people in our country, to temper our celebration with some sober reflection. What Jonathan Khumbulani Nkala and The Lost Voices are saying in their work is that attention must be paid to those who have succumbed to the pandemic, to those who are living with the virus, as well as to those who are living with those who are living with the virus. At the same time, we should be mindful of the work done by those who have found ways of managing the disease and those who are working towards finding a lasting cure.’

The launch is at 5.30 for 6 p.m. on Thursday 1 December 2011 at the Oude Libertas Art Gallery and Auditorium just outside Stellenbosch. People attending are advised to leave early to avoid peak-hour traffic. The two books will be on sale for R140 each, for cash only (no cards).

Because of constraints on the number of seats in the auditorium, it is essential that people who wish to attend first obtain an invitation by emailing info [at] junkets.co.za or calling 076 169 2789. If you wish to order copies of the books @ R140 each, please use the same address or number.

Junkets Publisher acknowledges the assistance of the Arts & Culture Trust in publishing these books; and the generosity of Distell in providing both the venue and the wine for the launch.

www.junkets.co.za

SHORT, SHARP & SNAPPY 1 AND 2: Southern African plays for high schools

Cost: R140 per volume

Order now from info.junkets [at] iafrica.com or contact Robin on +27(0)76 169 2789 or Andi on +27(0)78 763 3177

This is my kind of guide book, and I’m definitely taking it along when next I visit the Mother City. It’s a small (A6) soft cover of about 96 pages, with no illustrations or fancy stuff.

What it does offer, though, is concise descriptions of many of the iconic attractions of the Cape - and many of the newer, less well known jewels which I’ve yet to explore.

I know about Kirstenbosch - but have I been to the Khayelitsha Craft Market? And I know about Spier - but have I ever dived in at the Spring Splash (early September every year, in Fish Hoek)?

This is the kind of book you’ll enjoy dipping into when you’re idly sipping an espresso and wondering what to do next. It’s published by Struik Travel & Heritage, it’s great value for money - and you can buy it on line here.

San rock art.

It’s been a while now, and I’ve never followed up on the meaning of those age-old paintings, but, with the arrival of ‘Water, Stone and Legend - Rock Art of the Klein Karoo’ by Renée Rusts and Jan van der Poll, I’m finally out of excuses.

Published by Struik Travel and Heritage, this 128 page book offers more than just a record of beautiful pictures of mysterious paintings - it links the past with the present, and thereby presents a powerful argument for the conservation and preservation of the unique art galleries of the ancient Karoo.

It’s the kind of book that should be on the shelf of every guest house library and in every tourist gift shop - and you can buy it here.

This well-made, square format book of about 180 pages lets the city speak for itself through Ms. Feinstein’s very discerning lens. Here you’ll find all the bergies and socialites, buildings and flowers, beaches and mountains that make Cape Town the unique and lovely place it is.

It’s a visual feast - and being visual, doesn’t lend itself to long-winded written descriptions. So just go and have a look at it, will you?

You can visit the book’s Facebook Page, or you can buy a copy of your own right here

Samuel Williams het gesê dat hy en sy gemeenskap oorlaai was met ondersteuning wat vanuit al die dele van die land gekom het.

‘n Fonds wat deur die plaaslike koerant, die Knysna-Plett Herald, in die onmiddelike afloop van die ongeluk opgestel is, het meer as R500 000 in kontant en beloftes ingebring. Kos, klere, komberse, skooltoerusting, en aanbiedinge van hulp, het Mnr. Williams gesê, is ook deur mense van regoor die land ontvang.

“Elke foonoproep, faks, e-pos, en brief, en elke bos blomme beteken meer vir ons as wat die afsenders daarvan ooit sal kan weet,” het hy gesê.

Mnr. Williams het bygevoeg dat ‘n tweede fonds deur die skool self gestig is om die kostes van twee begrafnisdienste, wat deur sowat 7,500 mense van regoor die provinsie bygewoon is, te dek. “Aangesien die hoeveelheid begrafnisgangers die verwagte aantal gaste ver oorskry het, is daar ongelukkig steeds ‘n uitstaande bedrag van sowat R100 000 wat die skool tans probeer insamel.

“Soos u kan indink, was die begrafnisperiode ‘n besondere moeilike tyd vir ons, en ons is baie dankbaar vir al die hulp van vrywilligers en spyseniers, asook van die mense wie die markiestent, die verhoog, die stoele, die publieke adresseeringstoestel en die blomme verskaf het.

“Ongelukkig was ons nie in staat om van al die aanbiedinge wat ons ontvang het gebruik te maak nie, want soos in die geval van die kiste, byvoorbeeld, was alles wat ons nodig gehad het reeds aan ons gegee.”

Mnr. Williams het gesê dat al sy personeellede en al die kinders by die skool professionele berading ontvang het, dat sielkundiges ten alle tye beskikbaar was om ouers in die gemeenskap te help, en dat sy onderwysers onlangs ‘n geestelike genesingsnaweek bygewoon het.

Laerskool Rheenendal, wat Mnr. Williams met die hulp van onderhoof Jacobus America, 22 onderwysers en vier ondersteuningspersoneel bestuur, het 743 ingeskryfde leerders vanuit een van die armoedigste gemeenskappe in die Knysna-area.

“Met die hulp wat ons ontvang het, het ons nou die geleentheid om Laerskool Rheenendal in ‘n modelskool te laat onwikkel,” het Mnr. Williams gesê.

“Daar was geen hindernisse in hierdie tragedie nie – hulp het van mense van alle kleure en alle vlakke van die samelewing gekom, en ons kan op geen wyse elkeen wat ‘n bydrae gemaak het genoegsaam bedank nie,” het Mnr. Williams gesê.

Hy het bygevoeg dat die begrafnisdiensfonds – wat deur Mazars geoudit word – onder die strengste maatstawwe van oopheid, verantwoordelikheid en aanspreeklik hanteer word. Bydrae ten op sigte van uitstaande begrafniskostes kan inbetaal word in die Moores Rowland-trust, Nedbank rekeningnommer 1091096236 (takkode 109114, verwysing: Bus Tragedy).

Meer inligting:

• Laerskool Rheenendal: Mnr. Samuel Williams; telefoon 044 389 0013; e-pos head [by] rheenendal.wcape.school.za
• Gemeenskapsnavrae en algemene bystand: Ilse de Beer; telefoon 044 388 4622; e-pos kirstil [by] mweb.co.za

EINDE

The headmaster of the Rheenendal Primary School - which was hit by tragedy on August the 24th when a bus in which some of its learners were travelling crashed into a river, killing the driver and 14 children - has thanked the people of South Africa for their generous support.

Samuel Williams said that he and his community have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support which has come from every quarter of the country.

A fund set up in the immediate aftermath of the accident by the local newspaper, the Knysna Plett Herald, has received more than R500,000 in cash and pledges and, said Mr. Williams, food, clothing, blankets, school equipment, and offers of help have been received from people from around the country.

“Every phone call, fax, e-mail, and letter, and every bunch of flowers means more to us than the senders will ever know,” he said.

Mr. Williams said that a second fund was established by the school itself to cover the costs of two funeral services which were attended by some 7,500 mourners from across the Province. “Since the number of mourners greatly exceeded the number we originally anticipated, there unfortunately remains a deficit of around R100,000, which the school is presently trying to raise.

“As you can imagine, the funeral period was a particularly difficult time for us, and we’re very grateful for all the help from the volunteers and caterers, and from the people who supplied the marquee, the stage, the chairs, the public address system, and the flowers.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make use of all the offers we received because - in the case of coffins, for example, we’d already been given everything we needed.”

Mr. Williams said that all of his staff and all the children at the school have been given professional counseling, that psychologists have been available on call to help parents in the community, and that his teachers recently attended a spiritual healing weekend.

Rheenendal Primary, which Mr. Williams runs with the help of vice-head Jacobus America, 22 teachers and four support personnel, has an enrolment of 743 learners from one of the poorest communities in the Knysna area.

“With the help we’ve received, we now have the opportunity of growing Rheenendal Primary into a model school,” said Mr. Williams.

“There’ve been no barriers in this tragedy - help has come from people of every colour and every level of society, and we have no way of adequately thanking everyone who has made a contribution,” said Mr. Williams.

He said that the funeral service fund - which is audited by Mazars - is operated under the strictest criteria of transparency, responsibility, and accountability. Contributions to assist with the outstanding costs of the funerals can be paid into the Moores Rowland Trust, Nedbank account number 1091096236 (branch code 109114, reference: Bus Tragedy).

More information:

• Rheenendal Primary School: Mr. Samuel Williams; Telephone 044 389 0013; e-mail head [at] rheenendal.wcape.school.za
• Community enquiries and general assistance: Ilse de Beer; telephone 044 388 4622; e-mail kirstil [at] mweb.co.za

ENDS

Download larger image here: https://www.yousendit.com/download/T2dmaXRNNnlmVFlPd3NUQw (900 mb Valid to 10 October 2011)

Boer Boy - Memoirs of an Anglo-Boer War Youth
By Chris Schoeman

YOU ALWAYS HEAR the general’s stories, and you occasionally hear from the men who actually put their bodies on the line - but it’s not often that you hear from the children who’ve lived through a war.

Charles du Preez was one of those: separated from his mother, arrested with his father on their farm in the Eastern Free State, and transported to prisoner of war camps in India when he was just 9 or 10 (making him the youngest inmate there), he wrote his memoirs some years after he returned to South Africa (and he wasn’t repatriated, either: his father was forced to borrow the money they needed for their passage home. Paid it back, too. Every penny.).

Interestingly, though, Charles’s mother, Charlotte (who was held at the concentration camp at Winburg, with her younger children) also wrote an account of her experiences.

If this was only a childhood memoir, you could be forgiven for taking it lightly. But these are intertwined stories, and this is what makes this book so powerful.

I was surprised at how strongly the book evoked the Eastern Free State for me, and I found that I had no trouble imagining the camps in India - and once again I was reminded why I’ve always said that if you want to understand South African politics in the 21st century, you need to understand its war at the start of the twentieth.

I’ve lost count of the number of books I’ve read on the South African War of 1899-1902 and, to be honest, only some of them stand out in my memory.

But ‘Boer Boy’ does, for sure.

Buy it here