Le Domaine Estate Magazine March 2024

We

100 Acutts Drive Hillcrest www.ledom.co.za

Reception Office Hours:

Monday to Friday 08:15 to 16:00

BODY CORPORATE TRUSTEES

Chairman: Peter Dixon

Vice Chairperson: Trish Brouwer, Dave Gibbon, Eileen Hart, Bob Hayes, Lesley Heger, David Martin, Dr Shaun Martin & Neville Rudman

KEY PEOPLE & CONTACTS

Estate Manager

Frances Mans estatemanager@bcld.co.za

PA to Estate Manager

Jo La Réservée emassist@bcld.co.za

Financial Manager

Lesley Clark financemanager@bcld.co.za

Finance Admin

Susan Zaayman admin@bcld.co.za

Jo-Anne Hounsom accounts@bcld.co.za

Lifestyle Co-ordinator Lydelle Goddard lifestyle@bcld.co.za

Maintenance Call Centre

Glenda Coetzee callcentre@bcld.co.za

All maintenance, irrigation and gardening on common property requests to be logged on

For any after hours maintenance emergencies dial

After hours means: Monday to Friday from 16:00 to 08:00, as well as weekends and public holidays

Residents Information Desk Zietske de Villiers reception@bcld.co.za

SERVICES

Care Centre

wendy@ledomainecare.co.za

Laundrette

Lodge

Digital - supersonic

Greg Taylor

Greg.Taylor@supersonic.co.za

Marc ChapmanMarc.Chapman@supersonic.co.za

Excellerate - security services

Clinton Botha - clint@ledom.co.za

Main Gate

Health Hydro

thehealthhydro@gmail.com

Hairdressing Salon talitha200@gmail.com

Mode de Vie - Bar and Restaurant catering@ledom.co.za

Please

AT LE DOMAINE ESTATE

Available from 12:00 to 15:00 Tuesday to Saturday only

Don’t forget our lovely Sunday Buffet Lunch - eat as much as you like! 3 x roasts with soup and dessert only

R119-00

Everyone is welcome. Booking is essential!

Specials

FOR ONLY R99-00

All meals are served with one of the following beverages: Robertsons Crisp Dry White, Robertsons Smooth Dry Red, Robertsons Sweet Rosé, Heineken® 0.0, Heineken® Silver, Drostdy Hof Claret. Fruit juice, Cappuccino, Americano or Tea.

BABY HAKE

Fried or grilled hake served with chips, rice, veg or salad and tartare sauce

FISHCAKE & CALAMARI BASKET

Served with chips and tarte sauce

BABY CHICKEN SCHNITZEL

Served with cheese or mushroom sauce and chips, salad, rice or veg

POT PIE OF DAY

Served with mashed potatoes, chips or vegetables

BANGERS AND MASH

2 x pork bangers on a bed of thyme-infused mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy

CALAMARI SALAD OR AVO, BACON & CHICKEN SALAD

Salad greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and olives

FROM THE EDITOR

Did somebody say 2024?

New beginnings are not merely a change in date; they symbolise a chance for transformation, growth and renewal, whether prompted by personal choices, external circumstances or the natural progression of time. Although, at times, even uncomfortable, change resonates with the innate human desire for progress, improvement and the pursuit of happiness.

The start of a new year often serves as a reminder of the potential for transformation. Resolutions are made, goals are set, and aspirations are articulated with fervour. However, new beginnings need not be confined to the ticking of the clock on New Year's Eve. Every sunrise, every Monday and every moment holds the promise of a fresh start. Take the changes we have been making in the clubhouse, for example.

navigate uncharted territories and adaptability to the twists and turns that life presents. The journey may not always be smooth (in our case, clean and quiet) but therein lies the beauty — the opportunity to overcome challenges, learn and emerge stronger on the other side (or refreshed, redecorated and much more pleasing to the eye).

In our pursuit of new beginnings, it's essential to embrace the inherent uncertainty that accompanies change. It requires resilience to

So, as we stand on the threshold of this new year in our lives, let us greet it with optimism and enthusiasm. Let us seize the opportunity to create the 2024 that we want, one filled with passion, purpose and fulfilment. Let us never forget that with every ending (or Club revamp) comes a new beginning, ripe with exciting possibilities waiting to be explored.

Here’s to a happy 2024!

Yours in recreation,

Lifestyle-Co Ordinator

Le Domaine

Le Domaine Snippets

Keeping Us Positive

Carol Lees of Dauphine wearing blue and yellow to show support for the Ukrainians in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Carol is always busy with something positive on the Estate, heading up the Monday Morning Social Bridge Club and Tuesday and Thursday Morning Social Aqua Club. Thank you for always being a happy and positive face in our lives.

Christmas with the Bowling Club

Le Domaine Bowling Club celebrated Christmas with a ‘Turkey Trot’ competition. Prizes consisted of four turkeys, four cooked gammons and four tins of Quality Street chocolates. This is one of the four competitions each year when every member is allowed to enter. This includes beginners, Friday Sunset Players and those undergoing coaching.

Know Our Birds

A first-ever sighting on our Estate, an African emerald cuckoo was spotted in late December 2023. This gorgeous photo was shot by Frank Kihn.

Marseilles Year-End GetTogether

Marseilles Village celebrated their annual year-end get-together in January. A wonderful time was had by all. “Thank you to everyone for an extremely wellorganised and flawless evening. It was an evening of great fun and laughter,” says a happy resident.

Snippets

The Most Wonderful Time…

The annual Le Domaine Christmas Market was an absolute success with vendors coming from far and wide (many were residents too!). The Club was filled with happy association and laughter. The residents were delighted by the presence of Santa’s little elves, Sesona, JJ and Skye, who added to the Christmas spirit by handing out treats to everyone.

A New Member of Mode de Vie

Congratulations to Malcolm and Fiona Hillhouse, our fabulous Mode de Vie owners, on the birth of their first grandchild, Nathan, born on Monday, 26 February 2024.

Thank You for the Music

The Club has been bursting with social events with top-class performers like Paul Spence, Katherine McClelland and the Tony Yoko International Jazz Quartet. Keep an eye on our social calendar for more events like these coming up (such as Andrew Young, Chis Coetzee, the KZN Youth Orchestra and much more).

Rotary Club Awards

The Rotary Club of Hillcrest held their annual awards dinner in February in the Club at Mode de Vie.

Mobile Services Available

Le Domaine Events Bowls Club Prize-Giving

The Le Domaine Bowling Club held their Annual PrizeGiving Ceremony on 23 November 2023. Photographs of the winners will be displayed on our wall of honour, joining our previous champions.

We were very grateful that the Chairman of the Body Corporate of Le Domaine, Peter Dixon, was available to present the prizes. This was quite a lengthy exercise with much clapping as awards were presented for both 2022

and 2023. Our Novice Winners have been invited to represent Le Domaine in the provincial Port Natal Bowls Competition. Le Domaine can take pride in the fact that several of our affiliated players not only participate but also perform commendably in the league games of both Port Natal provincial and national competitions, considering that they represent a smaller club.

Winners:

• Ladies’ Novices: Estelle Hambidge (2022) and Annete

Searl (2023)

• Men’s Novices: Keith Wishart (2022) and Jon Spencer-Smith (2023)

• Ladies’ Singles: Linda Lilly (2022) and Karen Squires (2023)

• Men’s Singles: Neill Du Plooy (2022) and Ian Reich (2023)

• Drawn Mixed Trips: Rod White, Ron Hutchings and Freda Temblet (2022) and Bryan Lilly, Neill du Plooy and Sonia Moore (2023)

• Nominated Mixed Pairs: Graham Parker and Jenny Lea (2023)

• Nominated Ladies’ Pairs: Linda Lilly and Lynsey Field (2023)

• Nominated Men’s Pairs: Bryan Hart and Neill du Plooy (2023)

• Drawn Mixed Pairs: Neill du Plooy and Karen Squires (2022)

2.

3.

Writer’s

WORDS EILEEN HART

Make sure you read this issue’s winning story from our Writer’s Circle, written by talented resident Eileen.

“What do we have here? Oh, it’s just D D D D Daniel – D D D D Daniel, come and play word games with me.” (sound of raucous laughter). It was Ivan mocking me again. I hate him! He is so mean.

My name is Daniel. I’m 12 and I have what my speech therapist, Jenny, calls “a sudden onset stutter”. My stutter started when my dad lost his job and we had to move house. Mum has never worked before but because of our “financial situation” she now has a job as a shop assistant. She says we are lucky she is working. Dad has a new job, but he works very far away and hardly ever comes home. I love my dad a lot and miss him every day. My brother Archie is ok – he doesn’t have a stutter.

Jenny says my stutter is due to the changed circumstances in my life and she thinks there’s a good chance that it will be temporary. But this could take time and I’d much prefer to make a remarkable recovery overnight and speak without stuttering. Quite a few famous people have stuttered, including King George V1, Winston Churchill and President Joe Biden (maybe that’s why people think he’s a bit dilly). Bruce Willis had a formula to conquer his stuttering by practising confidence-building exercises taught by his school

speech therapist and Ed Sheeran practised rapping to get rid of his stutter.

So there’s lots of hope for me and I’m determined not to let the likes of nasty Ivan get me down. My best friend is called Jim. He’s such a good pal and we’ve been friends since we were three years old. I spend lots of time with Jim, having sleepovers at his house or my house. When we’re grown up, we’re going to go to university together, share a flat and go to lots of festivals and concerts. Jim sings in the school choir. He loves singing – so do I actually and I never stutter when I sing. I sing along to the latest hits on my iPad but I’m too shy to join the choir.

(Three months later)

I’ve been practising on the Stamurai speech therapy app on my iPad. It’s an app that teaches you various exercises with the purpose of attaining “spontaneous fluency of speech”. Many people have had huge success using it. Jenny is very pleased with my progress and I’m feeling much better.

Archie got into trouble with the Head Teacher yesterday. He told me that he had overheard Ivan and some other boys mocking me when

I passed them in the playground. He went up to Ivan and punched him fair and square in the nose resulting in lots of blood and even more tears. Archie was summoned to the Head Teacher’s study who gave him detention of one hour after school for three days, despite agreeing with Archie that the boys were wrong in what they said. He was warned that he must not take matters into his own hands again. However, poor Archie found himself jumping out of the frying pan into the fire when he met the Headmaster in the school corridor who scolded him soundly and gave him a further two hours of detention.

Archie wasn’t well pleased but I’m happy he stood up for me. It’s Friday today and Mum has told me I’m in for a surprise when she gets home from work because I’ve been doing my Stamurai exercises religiously and have been stuttering much less. I love surprises – I can’t wait. Just after five o’clock, I hear the click of the gate – Mum is home. The front door opens and a whirlwind sweeps towards me and launches itself at me. A creature with a thick tangle of wiry black and white hair and a wildly rotating tail that looks almost too big for its owner. “M M M Mum – whose dog is this?” I asked.

Circle

“Well, Daniel, it looks like he really likes you and you’ve always wanted a dog, so it makes sense for him to be your dog. He’s your reward for all your hard work and determination”. “Mine – my very own d d d dog?

WOW!!!” “Don’t get too excited yet, Daniel, because there are conditions you have to agree to,” said Mum. “You have to feed and walk him every day, take him to dog training every Saturday morning and clean up if he makes a mess.” “I’ll do it all, I pinky promise, but what’s his name, Mum?”

“He doesn’t have a name, Daniel. He’s been at the SPCA for a few weeks and no one has claimed him, so it’s up to you to give him a name.” “Then I’m going to name him Scooch – Scooch the pooch!”

(One month later)

The last few weeks have been quite hectic. Jenny is so pleased with me; she says that the speed when I read out loud is so much better. I think it’s because I read a lot to Scooch. He loves me to read to him as long as he is lying on my bed. I still battle with the letters D and G and especially saying my name. My dad came home for the weekend and we went to the park for a picnic. It was the best time EVER. I think I threw Scooch’s ball for him a thousand times.

Jim finally persuaded me to join the choir. I love it and it has given me

so much confidence because I never stutter when I’m singing. My teacher has asked me to give a small talk about myself - she asks someone in the class to do this every week. Mum says I will be fine – I’m scared but I’m going to try.

It’s the morning of my talk. I walk to the front of the class, turn and smile at my classmates, and take a deep breath. “My name is Daniel…”

Mobile

Rooms based across the road at Clifton Hill Estate Medical aid rates

Mandy Pillay is Le Domaine's resident audiologist. She has assisted the estate's residents with hearing care for over a decade. Mandy is available at the Le Domaine Health facility by appointment. The following services are offered at medical aid rates:

DIAGNOSTIC

Know Your Neighbours

Meet Hester Botha, a radiant burst of joy and positivity. Her demeanour is a testament to the uplifting power of a genuine, happy soul, and in her presence, it's hard not to be swept away by her genuine kindness and love of others.

Hester was born and raised in the old Transvaal. She proudly exclaims that she had the most amazing mom and dad and that her father was her whole life. Although he was an SAA pilot (Captain), which meant he travelled a lot, he taught her everything about life - respect, honesty and to always live by a strong moral code and with integrity. Hester was crazy about sports. She played “korfbal” (now known as netball), gymnastics and badminton, even achieving her provisional colours in all three. She has had several advanced driving lessons and is a strong believer in self-defense.

She was married twice and lost both her husbands to death, one in a car accident and the other to cancer. Hester tells us about her amazing daughter, who is now 54 years old, and her granddaughter who is 24. We asked her a few questions to find out more about this fun-loving, affectionate and kind-hearted lady.

DO YOU COLLECT ANYTHING?

Yip, my colourful stretch pants!

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?

Me! Being alive, healthy and always happy. (We couldn’t agree with this more!)

WHAT IS THE GREATEST DECISION YOU’VE EVER MADE? Moving to Le Domaine.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE KIND OF HOLIDAY?

Being outdoors, in nature, and with friends and family.

WHO KNOWS YOU BEST? My daughter, Belinda.

WHAT IS ONE THING THAT INSTANTLY MAKES YOUR DAY BETTER?

Waking up and feeling alive!

ASIDE FROM NECESSITIES, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU COULD NOT GO A DAY WITHOUT?

People - smiling and laughing with them.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY SPENDING MONEY ON?

Treating myself to good evenings at the Club.

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU SMILE?

Smiling makes me smile. I always smile and that makes me happy.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR?

Surviving cancer and having the opportunity to meet and get to know Neil Taylor.

WHAT DO YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOU? My heart is always open and willing to help other people.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK?

Bungee jumping and abseiling to overcome my fear of heights.

I Will Teach Them to Walk First

She needs no introduction, but what is a legend without a tale? We all know the lovely Joey, the most famous line dancer in KZN - so famous that we wouldn’t even let her retire. I took a few minutes to get to know more about this beautiful 93-year-old stalwart. I learnt so much I couldn’t possibly fit it all into this article, but I would love to share some special notes with you.

Joey Gerber was born in 1931. She lost her mother at the tender age of 10 years old and spent most of her childhood alone, without regular meals or even warm clothes. She was never formally educated, and something that she speaks most sorrowfully about is that she was never taught about God. She lightheartedly told us how she ran away from the nuns that tried at the time, rather spending time in the fields with the horses and cows or trying to ride the donkeys in the city streets.

Despite her difficult, sad and lonely childhood, she grew up to be strong and determined. Joey got married at the age of 16 and raised five children, the oldest of whom is 75. When you watch Joey dance, you would imagine that she has been dancing her entire life, trained under world-class instructors.

The truth is, she only started line dancing in 1998 at the age of 60! Joey told us how she went from one line dancing class to the next but it just didn’t feel right. She explained that the teachers didn’t seem to know how to explain the dance so that it was easy to understand. She was so determined to learn that she began to teach herself, frustrated at not understanding the dance step notes. She never gave up until eventually she got it. She started to share her steps with a dear friend by the name of Judy Cook who must have seen her natural ability to teach and quickly arranged a

class at the Waterfall gym. Joey has not looked backher “career” in line dancing skyrocketed. She is known around the country, has helped teach international couples their first dance steps, has led large corporate company events, and was even sent to Swaziland to teach over 300 students in an aircraft hangar!

This woman has a special gift. When she realised what was lacking in the teaching trade, she said to herself, “I am going to teach people how to line dance, but I will teach them to walk first!” Joey and Leon have been teaching Le Domaine residents since before the clubhouse was even built. Leon told us how they used to hold classes in John Bezuidenhout’s “showhouse”

and then moved down to the original Alsace Gazebo. Could we have asked for a more loyal dance instructor?

Speaking of loyalty, Joey told me how she recently found God, and you can see the faith and love in her eyes when she speaks about it. Her every step in life today displays her desire to be a good human and be kind to others. Perhaps this is the reason why, after a few months in retirement, she came back to teach at Le Domaine. Cries of ‘we miss you’ and ‘we need you’ came shortly after she retired at the age of 92. Now, she is back in full swing, teaching the ladies every week at the tender age of 93, and how glorious and beautiful she still looks!

JOEY MODELLING IN HER YOUNGER DAYS

Meet the Team

Did you know that Ntombifuthi Khumalo, known to us as Ntombi, is the second longest-serving staff member on the Body Corporate team? She has been loyally serving Le Domaine residents and staff for 15 years, since May 2009. We can safely say that she knows the clubhouse better than most of us! We took a few minutes to find out about the Ntombi outside of Le Domaine.

Ntombi was born in 1977, but her 47-year-old smile doesn’t give away a day of her age. You will see her bustling around the Club every day, up and down the Club stairs like a jack-in-thebox.

Ntombi is a single mom to six children, three of whom she adopted when her sister passed away. She adores them all and puts all that she has into raising them as well as she can. She lost her firstborn son when he was nine months old and waited nearly five years for the birth of her next child.

Her home is 70 kilometres away in a suburb called Imfume Mission. When asked, Ntombi tells us that some of her favourite things to do are going to church, watching TV and listening to the news on the radio. Although she doesn’t have much time for that when she is at home, because as you can imagine caring for six children keeps her very busy, including walking a round trip of 10 kilometres just to fetch water.

Her favourite food is a traditional meal called umfino (maize or putu cooked with cabbage and spinach). Her favourite singer is Rebecca Malope, a South African gospel singer, known as the Queen of Gospel. Perhaps this is why Ntombi has such a bright smile!

When asked what she loves most about her job at Le Domaine, she told us it was helping with the decor for functions and at the Club. Well, that is understandable as after 15 years here, this must feel like home!

We spoke to resident and lead library volunteer Beth Porter

about Ntombi’s presence and contribution to the Club. She said, “When the Le Domaine Bridge Club was formed about 14 years ago, Ntombi formed an integral part of the team responsible for setting up the venue and ensuring that the refreshments were in place timeously. She still does this so diligently today, however, our association continued to the library where she continues to display the same commitment and loyalty. We are indeed fortunate to have someone of her calibre on the staff.”

Thank you, Ntombi, for all you do, in the clubhouse and around the Estate!

It’s Okay

Up to 15% of people will experience depression in their lifetime, especially if they are female or older in age. Many either fear the diagnosis or deny they have it out of shame or guilt. It is a medical condition like any other and is caused by an imbalance in brain transmitters like serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline.

Depression can be inherited and can develop after a traumatic or stressful incident or in times of chronic exhaustion. There are times when a trigger cannot be identified, and this is nothing to be ashamed of, nor does it invalidate your feelings of anger or sadness.

SIGNS OF DEPRESSION INCLUDE:

• Poor concentration and forgetfulness

• Increased or decreased sleep

• Increased or decreased appetite

• Hopelessness or guilt

• Irritability and tearfulness

• Loss of interest in pleasurable

activities

• Social withdrawal

• Fatigue

• Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

Depression is best managed with a combination of counselling, psychotherapy and antidepressants. There are many different types of antidepressants that affect the levels of transmitters and it may take time to find one that suits you based on efficacy and side effects.

Anxiety disorders, like many other psychiatric disorders, have a strong genetic association but can be triggered by trauma, experiencing or witnessing a chronic medical illness, or drug and alcohol abuse. Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders as men.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS:

1. Generalised anxiety disorder with no obvious trigger

2. Panic disorders when no obvious trigger can be identified

3. Phobias caused by specific triggers that cause panic attacks

4. Obsessive-compulsive disorder which forces people to act on compulsions and become prisoners to their obsessive thoughts

5. Post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of a traumatic event

6. Social anxiety disorder where interacting with others or speaking in front of people triggers the feelings of panic

7. Separation disorder experienced by many children who are scared to leave their homes or parents alone

Signs of anxiety can include feelings of a lack of control, tightness in the chest, neck and shoulder tension, nausea, headaches, panic attacks and avoidant behaviour. These symptoms can fluctuate depending on external factors and triggers in your environment, as well as the type of anxiety you have.

Treating anxiety disorders involves a combination of medications, counselling and psychotherapy.

Depression and anxiety are very common conditions affecting a large part of the population. It is nothing to feel ashamed of. Come speak to us if any of the above symptoms resonate with you. Remember, you are not alone and we are here to help you without judgement. The biggest and most important step is recognising you might need help. Don’t be afraid to talk to a friend, a neighbour or even your village counsellor about how you are feeling.

If you need help with any of the feelings or concerns touched on in this article, please do not hesitate to contact our onsite doctor. Contact Le Domaine Health by calling Lauren on ext 8099 and ask for an appointment to see the lovely Dr Simone Zoepke.

WORDS DR SIMONE ZOEPKE

Beauty

on Your Doorstep

The Health Hydro has been part of Le Domaine for the past 17 years and offers a full range of treatments in a beautiful setting.

We are situated on the lower level of Club de Vie and have three therapy rooms, a dedicated pedicure room and two nail stations. We cater for simple nail care right up to IPL laser treatments and everything in between. I would like to introduce

my staff and extend an invitation to you all to pop in! We will do our best to assist you.

Owner and receptionist: Lyn

Senior therapist and skincare specialist: Caleigh

Beauty therapist and massage specialist: Angelique

Nail technician and gel expert: Tracey

Permanent makeup and lash specialist: Esmeralda

Podiatrist specialising in all problems with feet: Maricelle

MARICELLE

ESMERALDA

LYN HOW

CAYLEIGH

TRACEY

ANGELIQUE

Free Printable Sudoku Puzzles

Sudoku is easy to play and the rules are simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

COGNITION CORNER

1. I am taken from a mine and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody. What am I?

2. A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it?

3. I can't be bought, but I can be stolen with a glance. I'm worthless to one, but priceless to two. What am I?

7. There is a word in the English language in which the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four signify a great man, and the whole word, a great woman. What is the word?

8. What is harder to catch the faster you run?

9. What can be swallowed but can also swallow you?

Additional Sudoku puzzles as well as the solution to these two puzzles can

4. Turn me on my side and I am everything. Cut me in half and I am nothing. What am I?

I am a box that holds keys without locks, yet they can unlock your soul. What am I?

https://www.puzzles.ca/sudoku

5. No matter how little or how much you use me, you change me every month. What am I?

6. What has cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; water, but no fish?

I have a big mouth and I am also quite loud! I am NOT a gossip but I do get involved with everyone's dirty business. What am I?

Arnold Schwarzenegger has a long one. Michael J. Fox has a short one. Madonna does not use hers. Bill Clinton always uses his. The Pope never uses his. What is it?

Sudoku #1567 (Medium)

Sudoku

Up, Up and Away! The Hot Air Balloon Ride

WORDS MARGIE BROWN

On 25 November last year, five of us, Eileen Barrett, Eileen Frank, Lyn Potter, Denny Bezuidenhout and Margie Brown (residents of Le Domaine), got to tick off one of the items on our Bucket Lists!

We had a really early start - meeting at 4 a.m. and driving to Tala Valley where the pilot and balloon awaited us. We felt great excitement as the balloon began to fill. The burner was far fiercer than we expected! We were fascinated as the balloon began to expand and gently rise.

Scrambling aboard was a challenge as although I had assured the pilot we had no mobility issues, it seems that mature folk have a different perception of good mobility! We managed to climb up the sides of the basket, then the anchoring ropes were released and off we went, up and over Tala Valley!

The burners continued to amaze us as they were so fierce. They lifted us up and then we were floating silently over everything below. A light breeze sent us drifting across the land, while on the ground a 4x4 was following our progress to collect us from wherever the breeze took us.

Soundlessly, the breeze ceased and we hung where we were for a little while, then the wind direction changed and the pilot, realising that a change in the weather was imminent, took us straight down and we landed in the sugarcane.

As soon as we landed, the heavens opened and we all got a thorough soaking! This was followed by a welcome breakfast. We were awarded participation certificates for our bravery.

This was an amazing experience!

FIONA’S Lemon Meringue Pie

Sweet, creamy and full of citrus, resident Fiona shares her recipe for the perfect lemon meringue pie. Delicious!

INGREDIENTS

For the Base

• 2 packets Marie Biscuits

• 150g melted margarine

For the Filling

• 2 cans condensed milk

• 1 cup lemon juice

• 5 eggs

• Zest of 1 lemon

For the Meringue Layer

• 5 egg whites

• 150ml castor sugar

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C.

For the Base

2. Crush the biscuits in a good food processor until fine.

3. Add enough melted margarine to make the biscuits crumbs stick together.

4. Spread the crumbs into the base and around the sides of your pie dish.

For the Filling

5. Mix the condensed milk, lemon juice and egg yolk. Stir in the lemon zest and mix well.

6. Pour the mixture onto the crust and bake for 15 minutes.

7. Remove from the oven.

8. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fluffy, adding the castor sugar little by little while whisking.

9. Spread the meringue mixture onto the filling and fluff it up, creating your meringue peaks with a spatula. Return to the oven and bake for 20 minutes until it’s a light golden brown on top.

Your property. Our passion.

Selling your property? Put your trust in us. Selling your home can be stressful and the conveyancing process even more so.

As a small, non-traditional law fi rm we act not only as your legal adviser but your guide through the conveyancing process.

As experts in the fi eld since 1990, your property is our passion. Our dedicated conveyancing team provides a personal touch on all matters related to the sale and transfer of your property.

Contact us today to see how we can assist you.

Website: www.hsgattorneys.co.za

Email address: legal@hsginc.co.za

Telephone number: 031 266 7751