As we start going into the cooler months, remember to feed you plants and your lawns. Give it a good boost with our fantastic Growing medium, chicken litter and mulch. In 30dm or 60 dm Bags.
For your gardens seasonal needs contact Instant Turf
Pakistan, 1974: The secret-wreathed trees of Harikaya have always called to Hassan. He knows if he doesn’t find the last beekeeper and salvage a precious jar of his mythical black honey before the floods come, his mother will lose her sight.
But then he wins a scholarship to study with the state governor in Karachi amidst a brewing storm of political turmoil and simmering espionage.
His entire world is turned upside down when he meets Maryam, the governor’s niece visiting from London.
All the while the fate of his mother and his promise to the bees calls him back to the forest, and so he must decide: Maryam or the beekeeper, England or Pakistan, his head or his heart.
One of the most exciting debuts of 2021, this is a lyrical historical novel of family, friendship, and self-discovery exploring the power of choice in a changing world and love in communion with nature.
Find The Last Beekeeper by Siya Turabi, and more at Nuts About Books & Toys in Howick, KZN Midlands
On Sunday, the NIBA nominated pairs took place at various venues around the district. These clubs are thanked for their hospitality. We congratulate all the players who won their sections but special congratulations go to Cindy Bro and Koos Marais (both novices) and to Colin Burden and Jeannette James of Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club who won their respective sections. These players go through to the Playoffs next weekend. We are proud of our members who participated in the competition and did our club proud.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Friday, 25 March: Woodstone 2 Bowl Trips. Pre-entries to be sent via the Woodstone WhatsApp group please or WhatsApp Bernice on 0711643162. Start time: 09h00.
Visitors and prospective new bowlers are always welcome. Regular times are Tuesday at 08h30, Wednesday and Saturday at 14h00. Please arrive 15 minutes before start of play.
Registered coaches are available by arrangement. Use number above.
More about Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club
This book is not a chronological account of the guerrilla period of the Anglo Boer war but a number of its more significant clashes and events are described in detail with maps, diagrams and photographs. This phase of the war took even longer than the initial phase when Lord Roberts’s British Army steamrollered the Boers and occupied first Bloemfontein and then Pretoria. The Commander-in-Chief then decided to return to England telling a private dinner in Durban while on his way home that the war was ‘Practically Over’. In fact it took another eighteen months before it really was over and the Peace of Vereeniging was signed in Pretoria at close to the midnight deadline on 31 May 1902.
The guerrilla phase of the war is not nearly as comprehensively chronicled as the initial conventional phase. Coverage by war correspondents almost ceased when Lord Roberts left and Winston Churchill, intent on a political career, was part of the exodus. The action had moved away from the Colony of Natal (as KZN was at that time) and into the areas of the old Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State as well as the Cape Colony, nowadays almost all the provinces of the new South Africa.
Many of the places where action took place have needed re-discovery, having almost been lost to posterity. The author has been engaged in walking and researching what happened in a good many places that might otherwise have remained forgotten. Here are accounts that constitute a record of many years of travel and walking over the ground of the battle sites. Guerrilla warfare actions, by their very nature, can cover a large area and considerable distances. Usually, mounted soldiers were involved and horses can cover more ground than men on foot.
In South Africa a British army doctor was awarded the Victoria Cross after attending under heavy fire the wounded of an action near Standerton. Winning such an award is remarkable in itself but this man won another in the First World War, the first man ever to gain a Bar to his medal ribbon. A brave young lady rescued wounded Australian soldiers under fire near Rustenburg and admirers erected a suitable monument on the site some years ago.
Monuments and gravestones are regularly vandalised in South Africa and several instances of mindless wanton destruction are documented. The author has largely avoided political aspects which remain sensitive for sections of South Africa’s population groups. Nevertheless, not everyone will agree with some of the conclusions drawn. It is as well to remember that there are at least two sides to every question and often many more.
Robin Smith has had a lifetime fascination with battlefields and military history. He has visited many such places in other countries than South Africa – in the US, Europe, Gallipoli, Crimea and more. But, with this book as guide you will easily be able to find all the places described. They are a part of South Africa’s rich historical heritage. Visitors are an important part of its preservation and this book is intended to make a contribution.
Published in Great Britain in 2021 by TSL Publications, Rickmansworth. Copies are available locally from the author, Robin Smith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at +27 83 250 9481 WhatsApp. Price is R595 plus R110 by PostNet and packing. Robin lives in the Ambers in Howick, KZN and you are welcome to pay a visit and collect a copy. All copies are signed and numbered.
ISBN number 978-1-91425-68-8. Soft covers 208 pages A4, 107 in colour.
FreeMe Wildlife was alerted to a Spotted-eagle Owl in need of rescue. The owl was found on the ground with legs splayed out. The team went out to rescued the owl and brought it back to the centre for treatment.
After the initial examination, it was found to have a severe concussion and slight spinal compression preventing use of its legs. The owl has been on cage rest and is starting to eat so very well.
We love what we do, and how we do it...
Why not join our Custodianship Program to show your support for the work we do? Anyone from kids to big businesses can join:
https://www.freemewildlife.org/custodian
Otherwise, if a particular story has touched your heart, and you would like to donate directly to our animal care and vet bills, you are welcome to donate directly through these channels:
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Branch code: 220 725
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More about FreeMe Wildlife
The enthusiasm of artists for the first-ever Art in the Country exhibition validated Kathy Jacob’s sense that the time was right for a quality selling event. For the exhibition from May 27-29 at Harrington House in Hilton to appeal to both buyers and the public, Jacob understood that the assembly of 40 artists was the drawcard.
“An exhibition is only as good as its artists and the quality of unique talent,” she said.
“The key to a successful selling exhibit is very simple; it needs the support from respected artists who produce sought-after work.”
The line-up of exhibitors doesn’t disappoint with several top class artists and a sprinkling of sculptors taking a stand at Harrington House in Hilton. They include Simon Addy and Lyn Hoyle of the Addy Hoyle Gallery in Clarens, Bob Mkenzie, David Johnson, Giulia Forman, Nicola Firth, Jodie and Ryan Loubser, Muzi Ndlela and David Weildon. Artists were selected fastidiously and aspirant exhibitors had to submit a portfolio of recent work that were judged on merit.
Ï’m very excited to have Tim Baines and his amazing sculptures on board, while our very own Pro Mkhize, from Sweetwaters, will show his intricate sketch work. Jacob reserved special praise for Andrew Line for his unstinting support and his own artistic endeavours.
“Andrew is not only excellent at selling houses, but is not too shabby at putting brush to canvas either, the proverbial hidden talent not known to many.”
SELECTED PROFILES
KATHY JACOB (Pictured top)
Kathy Jacob, the driving force behind Art in the Country, has been painting for more than 20 years. Her favourite medium is oil and she loves nothing more than painting birds in and out of their natural environment.
A popular artist with wide appeal, Jacob routinely featured among the Top 10 earners during the heyday of Art in the Park. Her portfolio of work can be viewed on facebook and Instagram and is on display in the Zulu Lulu Gallery at Piggly Wiggly.
When not painting, Jacob teaches both adults and children at Kathy’s Art Studio at the Rotunda in Hilton.
CAROL COX
Carol Cox has developed a passion for the iconic mistbelt of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. A recent arrival in Hilton, Cox’s art is steeped in a love for nature since her childhood. Nicknamed “nyoni” after her fascination with birds, Cox continues to derive inspiration from feathered creatures and indigenous plants on her hikes through the area’s abundant grasslands and wetlands. While Cox happily explores different mediums, most of her work is either in acrylic or oil.
She hopes her work helps raise awareness about the ecological importance of the natural grassland heritage.
SIMON ADDY
Simon Addy is famous for his turneresque landscapes that are counterbalanced by his small and intricate jesters series. These works speak of Addy’s mischievous nature that is also reflected in his quirky World’s End series.
Addy enjoys working in the autumnal palette. By own admittance not a patient artist, Addy tends to work fast in his favourite medium of acrylics.
Part owner of the Addy Hoyle Gallery, a founder gallery in Clarens, Free State, Addy currently resides in Hilton.
MARION LOWE
Marion Lowe, a member of the growing Hilton community of artists, is largely self-taught and has been painting professionally for more than 30 years. She is a regular exhibitor at both group and solo shows.
A deep love for the natural world, especially flowers and landscapes, is expressed through her paintings in homes and galleries in Europe, America, Australia and Africa.
As a creative being all her life, Lowe’s art is constantly evolving. Renowned for her bold strokes and incisive pallet knife work, Lowe has developed a passion for portraits to complement her broad portfolio of work.
Her work can be viewed on Instagram: marionloweart and facebook: marion lowe fine art.
ANDREW LINE
Andrew Line was born in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands around the time of Nelson Mandela’s capture outside Howick in the 1960s. An enduring interest in art cultivated by years of exposure to some of the country’s finest exponents finally prompted Line to pick up a brush at the turn of this century.
Keen to learn from experts, he sought the guidance of Dale Elliott, Joy Peirce, Issabella Quatrocchi and Karen Davel in his artistic journey Through their mentorship, Line is channelling his colourful impressionistic style through oil on canvas. He paints with primary colours, including black and white, and loves nothing more than to add nuance and depth to his own colours.
PRO MKHIZE (Artwork above)
Pro Mkhize is a 30-year-old artist from Sweetwaters. Known for his pain-staking rendering of detail of fauna and flora subjects, Mkhize is developing a reputation for his unique perspective. He has a rare ability to transform humble creatures like dung beetles, tortoises and indigenous plants, into exquisite specimens of sketch art. A talent on the watchlist of collectors.
TIM BAINES (Artwork below)
Tim Baines was born in New Zealand and raised in Zimbabwe and South Africa and takes his inspiration from indigenous African animals. With a focus on muscle form and movement, Baines works at bringing life to his unique clay sculptures. He combines conventional kiln firing with more traditional pit firing that allows the smoke and flames from natural firing ingredients to imbue unusual colours and patterns - technique that brings life and energy to the sculptures.
Baines propounds an unusual view on breakage and prefers to mend any broken pieces using the Japanese art of Kintsugi. This means breaking free from the obsession of perfectionism – and the consequent stress – and repairing a broken object by showing off the flaw with gold leaf highlights.
Supplied.
More about ART in the Country
Storage doesn’t need to be an eyesore with our beautiful range of wooden chests. Available in a wide range of sizes and designs, visit The Ugly Duckling today to view our collection or get in contact for more information.
Breytenbach completes impressive double as Van Rensburg claims 5km honours.
Prior to the weekend, Ruan Breytenbach considered himself a pool swimmer, but after completing the 5km and 10km double at the SA Open Water Championships at Marina Martinique, the 20-year-old will be switching focus.
Just like in the 10km race a day earlier, the men’s 5km race came down to a last-lap battle between Breytenbach and Durban’s Connor Buck, with a frantic sprint to the finish. And once again it was Breytenbach who claimed the win. The Pretoria swimmer only just beat his rival on the touch, finishing in 59 minutes 1.64 seconds, with Buck second in 59:01.73.
And also like the 10km, Joshua Ashley finished in third (59:41.42).
“It was way different to yesterday’s 10km. It was a bit stacked the whole way and I tried to break away at the beginning of the second lap but I didn’t want to waste any energy so I fell back a bit until the last lap,” Breytenbach said afterwards.
“Connor had a stronger finish than yesterday… That put a lot of stress on me today so but luckily I got it.”
As for the prospect of representing the country in both the 5km and 10km races at the World Championships, Breytenbach added: “I’m definitely excited. I’m going to have to change my training programme now to prepare for that which I wasn’t planning on doing. If I do get selected and do well there, then I will probably do more open water.”
Buck was happy with his weekend performance. “It was tough. I wanted to push for the gold. I gave it everything I had today and Ruan just had a little bit more at the end and managed to out-touch me,” he said. “But overall I think I had a good race. I’m glad to have finished in the top two because that qualifies me for the world champs in Budapest in July.”
Earlier in the day, the women’s 5km race a much more clear-cut affair with Catherine van Rensburg dominating the race. She powered ahead of the pack for a solo victory in 1:01:12.01 – over a minute ahead of her rivals.
The teammate who beat her to 10km gold two days earlier, Amica de Jager, finished in second in 1:02:12.81, with 3km champion Samantha Randle third in 1:02:18.25.
“I felt great from the start. I decided to push it and then I saw nobody wanted to come with me so I just pushed and saw how big I could make the gap,” said Van Rensburg after the race. “I was just making sure I made the gap bigger and bigger… I was hoping Amica was going to come with me so I could slip[stream] her but it didn’t happen, so I just went for it,” added the 18-year-old.
De Jager was thrilled for her training partner.
“Catherine took it out super hard today and she had such an incredible swim so I’m happy for her,” said the TUKS swimmer. “The rest of us were just trying to chase her down but it was not to be today.
“We got caught up a bit in the pack dynamics at the start – it was quite hectic, but Catherine got an awesome break and she just went for it which is amazing.
“We’re teammates, we train together so it was great to have that little switch-around [for first and second positions in the 10km and the 5km] so it’s going to be so exciting to be able to go to world championships with her,” added de Jager.
Pictured here: Above Men's 5km finish and below Catherine van Rensburg.
Photo credit: Nonda Sakelliou
'It is BACK - We started Sunday Roast Lunches during the heavy lockdowns in 2020, and we have been getting so many people asking - it just felt like the right time again. So yay to delicious gravy (my favourite part) & yummy wholesome food!
Join us this Sunday for a Pork Roast (we will be changing it up) & a slice of cake for R155 per person.'
More about Piggly Wiggly Midlands just past Howick along the R103 in the beautiful Midlands of KZN.
Easter Egg Plea
At Angels Care we love to celebrate all we can with our precious children. We would love to be able to give them each an Easter Egg this Easter and ask if you are able to drop off egg at the Old Agricultural Hall (Near the Howick Falls) or donate so we can purchase our own - donations can be made on our website http://www.angelscare.co.za/donate. I promise the smiles and pure joy will be worth it.
Please use Easter as your reference
Lets create more moments of joy together.
More about Angel's Care Centre in Howick, KZN Midlands
Can you believe we already have eyes on Easter 2022!
For more ideas on how you can LOVE LOCAL FIRST and LOVE LOCAL REAL HARD, read the latest Howick newsletter. If you buy into the concept of supporting small businesses more often than not, please choose to subscribe to our newsletter so we can help you to be a champion of the awesome entrepreneurs in Howick and surrounds.
Picture here by David van der Veen, taken of Karkloof Falls from above!
Going on a road trip this long weekend?
Make sure to book a FREE 10-point safety check to ensure your car and tyres are in ready-to-go condition. Click here for more info about the free 10-point safety check: https://hiq.co.za/book-10-point-safety-check/
More about Hi-Q Howick
What can be nicer than a slice of a beautifully home-baked cake to kick your weekend off? Howick Hospice is planning one of their Cake Sales, on Friday March 25, 2022.
However, to make this possible, they need bakers. Women, men, home industries, bakeries, to come on board and donate their freshly baked cakes and cupcakes which in turn will be sold at the Cake Sale as part of a fundraising event.
The cakes need to be delivered to Howick Hospice House, 7 Mansfield Road on Thursday March 24.
For further information, kindly contact Melissa Barnes on 033 330 5257.
We would like to make this our best sale yet and one to remember.
More about Howick Hospice
"A storyteller's foremost responsibility is to tell stories that uplift communities. The second, equally important, responsibility is to assist those that inspire us to tell their stories. On the 26th March 2022, I will be hosting a live conversation with Howick Hospice about the work they do. This will take place at The Old Mushroom Farm at 10 am. We invite you to join us and contribute towards the amazing work of Howick Hospice," Makhubalo The Storyteller
More about Howick Hospice
What does Harvard Electrical stock?
* Domestic and Industrial Electrical Components
* Motor Control Equipment
Contactors
Overloads
Relays
Auxiliaries
Coils
DOL Starters
* Change Over Switches - Single & 3 Phase
* Electrical Cables (SABS approved) ECC, Surface, Comms, Cabtyre, RG6 etc
* Borehole Pumps and Components
* Lighting – Indoor & Outdoor Light Fittings
* Heaters & Fans
* DIY Electrical Tools and Accessories
* Distribution Boards and Enclosures
* Circuit Breakers - Din & Samite Single & 3 Phase
* Circuit Breakers (Motor Start/Stop)
* Light Switches and Sockets (Domestic & Industrial)
* LED, Energy Saver and Incandescent Lamps
* HellermannTyton Tools & Instruments
* Radiant, Eurolux, Bright Star and RML Indoor & Outdoor Lighting
* Centurion Systems - Access Control
Pictured here specials available mid-March until mid-April, while stocks last.
Call 033 330 6193
Two sponsored Competitions were held this past week.
The Halfway Toyota Competition was won by Ed Sharpe and Jeannette James with a very good score.
There was a good turnout for the competition sponsored by Greendale SuperSpar on Saturday despite the dampness of the day. The prize winners were Kevin Palmer and Cindy Bro who took home vouchers from Greendale SuperSpar.
The runners up were Neil Wright and Lisa Nagel. A third voucher from the sponsors went into a Lucky Draw and this was won by Mike Cain.
Well done to all the winners and thank you to the sponsors for their continued support.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, 15 March: J Leslie Smith/Alan Sara Drawn 2-4-2 Competition. Members: Pre-entries to be placed on the list on the club notice board by close of play on 12 March.. Visitors are welcome to play and may WhatsApp Lisa on 084 586 6984 by Saturday, 12 March. Start time 08h30
Monday 21 March: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY. All day competition sponsored by St John’s Village. Get your entries in early. Generous prizes on offer. Details are available on posters sent to Comp Secs of all clubs or contact Bernice via WhatsApp ( 071 164 3162) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friday, 25 March: Woodstone 2 Bowl Trips. Pre-entries to be sent via the Woodstone WhatsApp group please or WhatsApp Bernice as above. Start time: 09h00
Visitors and prospective new bowlers are always welcome.
More about Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club
Fresh from claiming two golds in the pool at the SA Grand Prix meet in Durban just a few weeks ago, Pretoria swimmer Ruan Breytenbach competed in his first 10km open water swim on Saturday and walked away as the new national champion.
Breytenbach has swum 3km and 5km events in the past, but this was his first attempt at the longer, Olympic distance and it paid off. The 19-year-old outduelled Connor Buck in the last lap of the SA Open Water Championships at Marina Martinique, putting in a final sprint to finish in 1 hour 58 minutes and 14.85 seconds with Buck second in 1:58:26.35 and Joshua Ashley coming a distant third in 2:02:09.58.
With his focus largely on the pool, Breytenbach admitted afterwards that his friends had convinced him to try out open water swimming.
“I wasn’t expecting much because it was my first 10km so I was just trying to stick with the group for the first couple of laps and then hopefully someone would try and break away mid-race, which happened luckily. So we just went from there and had a good ending,” he said.
Finishing in the top two meant Breytenbach is now eligible for selection for the team to represent South Africa at the World Championships at the end of June – something that’s come as a bit of a surprise to the pool swimmer.
“I didn’t know there was world champs this year for open water so I only heard about it on Thursday on my flight,” he said. “Coach Neville [Smith] told me that he would like me to win the 5km and the 10km so that I can represent us there in Budapest.”
Meanwhile, also part of the same race were the 16 and 17-year-old swimmers competing in the 7.5km event. It was 16-year-old Keegan Wright who outsprinted Sven van der Linde for top honours, finishing in 1:34:13.27 with Van der Linde second in 1:34:18.87. Liam Ellis then battled it out with Jeandre Kleynhans and edged ahead to take third spot in 1:35:06.98.
“The first two laps felt pretty good,” said Wright afterwards. “Sven was with me the whole way, constantly pushing each other, going back and forth. The last lap was then all about pushing as hard as I could.”
Van der Linde added: “My plan was to try and stick with the 10km swimmers as long as I could and once they dropped, to try and keep my pace as long as I could and to stay with Keegan because I knew we’d be pushing each other right to the end.
“It was a tight one, it hurt a lot, but Keegan was stronger on the day so well done to him.”
Later in the day Samantha Randle dominated the women’s 3km event, finishing in 37:30.16. Emma Carmody was second in 38:24.82 and Kaitlynne Horne third (38:25.43).
Both Randle and Breytenbach were back in the water for the final event of the day, guiding their Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane mixed 4x1.25km relay team to victory in a combined time of 1:00:02 (along with Stephanie Houtman and Reece Zowitsky).
Another Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane team (Catherine van Rensburg, Ricardo Rebelo, Callan Lotter and Richardt Beineke) were second in 1:01:30 and the Western Cape team of 7.5km champion Wright, women’s 7.5km winner Hannah Neilson, Babette van Rooyen and Liam Ellis were third in 1:02.51.
Racing concludes on Sunday with the women’s and men’s 5km events. All the action can be followed via live streaming on: http://swimsa.org/news/sa-open-water-swimming-championships-2022
Pictured here: Men's 10km podium
Photo credit: Nonda Sakelliou
Supplied.
Howick High School will be presenting a romantic comedy production in March 2022. The show is made up of two one-act plays and will take place on Tuesday, 15, Wednesday, 16 and Thursday, 17 March 2022.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DATE:
Two exes go head to head to find replacement dates for prom...and it doesn't go well. Warning: this play contains the use of hilariously ridiculous characters.
TOO MANY DAUGHTERS:
In this Jane Austen parody, the Ashworth daughters (of which there are twelve - or is it thirteen?) struggle to find suitors that will meet their mother's high standard. Her standard, of course, being that they must be filthy rich. Their task is made all the more difficult because their choices are so limited.
In the meantime, they must fend off unwanted proposals, snooty cousins, and the dreaded Dowager Countess.
Tickets available at Howick High school office.
