The whole of our coast is a lee shore -- that is, if the wind blows from North West, West, South or South East, then a ship will be blown onshore. Northerly berg winds are rare, weak and of short duration.

If a ship loses power it could be in trouble.

The many shipwrecks that abound off our shores bear witness to that fact.

Some of them are described in this PDF document.

Our small school has started a second hand shop called "Friends of the Penguin kidz charity shop" on 4 May 2012. Since Lotto did not give us any money this year our new committee decided to open a shop with all the donation of second hand clothes, pots, pans and everything other people think they can't use anymore. They have worked all week to get the stuff organized and sorted and worked till late Friday night to be ready for the opening Saturday morning.The money we get from the shop we buy food for our children at our school. Every day they get porridge, 10h30 sandwiches, Rooibos tea and a fruit and lunch time they get a fully cooked meal.

Up until now all the four towns of the Kleinmond/Hangklip area have fallen under the Kleinmond CPF. We have now been called upon by the authorities in terms of the SAPS Act to establish a Sub-Forum for the Hangklip area. This Sub-Forum will in no way interfere in the independent initiatives already in place in the respective towns; in fact we hope to learn from each other in combating crime in our areas. The respective Ratepayers' Associations of Betty's Bay, Pringle Bay and Rooi Els have already been active in establishing structures (Neighbourhood Watches) in their respective towns and will continue to function independently. These structures will subsequently become affiliated to the Sub-Forum.

Over the long weekend at the end of April, Betty's Bay experienced an increased number of water pipe breaks, the latest being early hours of the morning of the 30th resulting in the water levels at the reservoir running very low. The Councillor and the Area Manager and her team of workers were quick to respond to identify and detect the leaking pipe. The loss of valuable and costly treated drinking water must have been enormous. The pipe burst was subsequently detected and repairs undertaken but due to the reservoir running low several houses remained without water for a couple of days. In the interim the Municipality provided a tanker with fresh water which was parked at the Municipal Offices in Betty's Bay.

Following on from the meeting held on 12 March 2012 with the Overstrand Municipality and concerned residents a report back meeting was held at the Bettys Bay library hall at 10-00am on Tuesday 10 April 2012.

The meeting was chaired by the Municipal Area Manager, Cecile Jonkheid and supported by a number of Municipal officials including Leon Steyn (Municipal Environmental Specialist) and Neville Green. The Betty’s Bay Ratepayers Association was represented by Dan Fick and myself. It was noted that the number of “concerned residents” attending had decreased since the previous meeting.

Hangklip Fynbos "Con Spiritos" Concert.

This experienced choir group is in great demand in the area and is boosted by professional solo artists.
Thursday 31 May 2012 @ 1900 in The NGK Hall in Kleinmond.
Ticket Prices R40-00 which includes tea & cake.
All proceeds of the concert will go to Hangklip Fynbos only and are essential in maintaining the viability of this charitable organisation.
We need your support for this charity which benefits those less fortunate than ourselves in our community.
Tickets are now available and are obtainable at "Penguin Place" or "The Budding Artist".

Most people who live in this community permanently have probably read the article in the Gazette of the 13th of March about a woman from Fisherhaven who was viciously attacked and nearly killed by three dogs whilst swimming in the Bot River lagoon. As usual the excuse offered by the owner of these animals was that he could not understand how it was possible for his three "wonderful children" to do such a thing as they were such friendly animals and have never done this before.

Water: a highly under-valued resource so much taken for granted by most of us. Fresh, potable (fit to drink) water is now rare and becoming scarcer, why?

Water supply is far from being infinite and while renewable when viewed over the entire planet, its local distribution is all important to those who live there. Decades ago, water scientists proposed the Hydrological Balance which shows where our precious water is-and there were plenty of surprises.

America has a very complex electoral system.

Presidential Elections are held every four years during the summer of the last year of the term.

Though not mandated by law, it is usual for two political parties to contest the election. Each party selects a candidate who is to be chosen in a countrywide plebiscite as the next president.

For many years, the two parties have been; the Republicans (often called the grand old party or GOP). The Republicans are generally considered the more conservative.

And the Democrats are the other party -- more liberal and centre-left.
It is possible, under the system for Independent candidates to stand for election and many independents hold office at the state or local levels.

There are scores of Minor parties.

Download the rest of this interesting article, as PDF, here. -Ed.

Prepare for an hour of darkness from 8:30-9:30 on 31 March. Well it could be an hour of darkness in your part of the world if everyone joined in to celebrate Earth Hour by flicking off light switches. You need not feel alone as the UN, Vatican, Scouts, World Record Holders, Mirinda Kerr (international model) and the Sydney Opera House have all vowed to do just that.

Although we have had the baboon problem in our village for a number of years, encounters with residents has escalated in recent months. Baboons are now entering residential areas where they have not been seen before.
There are various reasons for this invasion some of which are as follows:

1) The fires in the surrounding mountains have decreased the food supply.
2) The easy access to the "feeding station" at the Municipal offices.
3) The delayed collection of refuse.
4) Residents, visitors and employees of some restaurants feeding these animals either knowingly or through negligence.
5) Residents and visitors not using "baboon proof bins" or depositing their refuse inappropriately.

"Regtig? Ek ken nie juis Bettysbaai nie, het al per geleentheid daar deurgery, pragtige plek, maar nog nooit gehoor van Bettysbaai Wildtuin nie! Klink interessant, vertel my meer daarvan?"

"Wel... nou-ja... dis nou nie juis of dit geadverteer word nie, behalwe miskien vir die pikkewyne waarvoor daar een of twee aanwysingsborde is... En... dis ook nou nie 'n 'amptelike wildtuin' nie, maar sommer ons eie privaat wildtuin wat ons vanaf ons voorstoep wat uitkyk op die Buffelstalberge, kan geniet en dit nogal met die geruis van die see aan die ander kant, in ons ore!"