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The
Olive Branch
September 2008
Prince Albert
is a-buzz with the energetic participants in the Land
Rover G4 Challenge. Over the last fortnight their bright orange
vehicles have become a common sight in our streets, as the drivers
tested their physical strength, mental and strategic talents and
teamwork. The selection sessions will result in the three-week long
Challenge Finals, which take place in the most spectacular remote
locations of
South Africa
, the
UK
and
Asia
. This is when teams of two competitors, one male and one female from
each of the eighteen competing nations, participate in 4x4 driving
combined with extreme sports such as mountain biking, kayaking,
climbing, orienteering and abseiling.
Prince Albert
is proud to have been able to share
Karoo
hospitality and our splendid mountain terrain with the competitors.
Dis weer Skou-tyd!
The annual Prince
Albert Agricultural Show takes place at the Skougrond in
Jan Louw Street
on the 9th, 10th and 11th of October. All the ever-popular events are
included – sheep and angora goat fleeces will be judged and local
artists, cooks, jam and chutney-makers and handcrafts experts will
compete in their various categories. The horse displays are well worth
watching and the local talent competition is most entertaining. Tasty
Karoo
food is the cherry on the top. Come
and join our farming families as they celebrate another productive year
in the Great Karoo. Contact Zelia and Chantelle for more details – 023
5411 366.
Remember the 7th
Prince Albert Oktoberfest too. The Blaskapelle Hemslingen, a German
Brass Band, are packing their bags and heading South to provide
traditional German music Tickets are now on sale from the Tourism
Office. The Oktoberfest takes place on the 18th of October, beginning at
17:45 in the High School Hall. Entrance: R100 per person. Click
here or phone 023 5411 366.
As part of the weekend’s celebrations the Anglican
church of St
John the Baptist
in
Bank Street
will hold their annual Flower Festival. On Sunday they celebrate a German/English service
to give thanks for His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Queen
Victoria
’s consort, after whom our village is named.
Prince Albert
is looking for your vote – we think we should be
the Dorp van die Jaar! The Town
of the Year Competition sponsored by Kaap-Rapport, Van Loveren
Winery and Cape Town Routes Unlimited is being held for the fourth time
and keeps getting better and better. You can send an SMS to vote for
your favourite town in the Western, Southern and
Northern Cape
. The top scoring towns will be visited by a team from Kaap-Rapport and
their co-sponsors and will receive substantial coverage of their tourism
attractions, natural charms and, of course, hospitality. Rapport readers
then have the chance to vote again, and the Town of the Year 2008 will
be announced on 30 November 2008. We
know we’ve got what it takes – we hope you agree! All
you have to do to vote is SMS Dorpe Prince Albert to 32545.
SMS's only cost R1 each and are unlimited, so you can vote more than
once! Entries close on 30 September 2008.
top of Olive
Branch
The
Olive Branch
August
2008
A
walk on Gordon’s Koppie is
a real treat as the Spring flowers have started to lay their carpet of
colour. Pale mauve, vibrant pink and deep violet seem to predominate,
set off by the vibrant gold of the granaatbos. WOW – only Nature could
be this brave.
The
Spring-cleaning bug appears to have bitten too. A team of four ladies: Francis
Claassen, Norika Scheepers, Chantal Vlieër and Anna Witbooi have been
working their magic in the Markstraat graveyard. Since they are tidying
up graves, they have dubbed themselves the “Spook
Dames”
(Ghost Ladies). Local
resident Elsa de Beer approached our acting Town Manager with the
suggestion that the old graveyard receive a facelift. Our
Spring days lend themselves to outdoor activity and the hard-working
team have hauled away several bakkie loads of rubbish and weeds. The
graveyard is unusual, since the graves are simply piled with stones and
have no headstones or inscriptions, which always intrigues visitors. Now
those stones have been set in order and most of the graves have been
planted with vygies, which will add a dash of colour even after the
Spring daisies have had their day.
The
village Recycling
Project has also been overhauled and residents are being
encouraged to sort their recyclable rubbish so it can be collected. Up
to 80% of our waste could be recycled if everyone plays their part.
The
Hoërskool Zwartberg Hall has been a hive of activity with rehearsals
for the annual Kultuuraand well in hand. The theme this year is “Around
the World” and the children will be entertaining us with songs
from many different lands. Thursday, 28 August is opening night at R10
per adult, R5 per child and on Friday, 29 August the tickets are R50 per
person, refreshments included. Both performances start at 19h00. Tickets
are available from the school 023 5411 570.
Another
Spring initiative is Peter and Chrisna’s Spring
Concert of Nostalgic Music and Song, to be held at the Jans
Rautenbach Schouwburg on Saturday, 13 September. Tickets are available
from the Tourism Office, 023 5411 366.
The
7th Prince Albert
Oktoberfest is just around the corner too. Tickets are now on sale
from the Tourism Office. This year will be really special since the Blaskapelle
Hemslingen, a German Brass Band, will provide traditional
German music.
There’ll be draught
beer,
German Schnapps, "Bergwater" wine and German food as well as
braai or a vegetarian platter. The Oktoberfest takes place on the 18th
of October, beginning at 17:45 in the High School Hall. Entrance: R100 per
person. Phone 023 5411 366 or click here Oktoberfest
We
hope that Spring will bring you to visit us in
Prince Albert
.
top of Olive
Branch
The Olive Branch
July 2008
Lah-di-Dah,
our new farmstall opens, Miller’s
Restaurant re-opens under new management, The
Merry Scholar entertains us at the Jans Rautenbach Schouwberg and
the month is still young …
Lah-di-Dah,
our new “fêncy plaasstal” near Gay’s Dairy more than lives up to
its name. Yvette and Johnny Breedt and Martie offer typical farmstall
fare: local jams, chutneys, fruit and veggies in far from typical
plaasstal surroundings – the “fêncy” part fills the shelves:
candles, teddies, gardening tools for parents and their younger garden
enthusiasts, brightly coloured Wellington boots, oil lamps, curtain
tassels, butterfly nets… Add
to this delicious light lunches and teas and a relaxed atmosphere and
you’re bound to say “Lah-di-dah”.
Chef-owner
Anton Maartens welcomed his first guests to
Miller’s
Restaurant early in
July. The menu is compact, but varied, and features influences
from a variety of world cuisines, including French, Italian, Asian and
modern South African inspirations. Dishes tend to have a classic
foundation, with unconventional, modern twists and a preference for
strong flavour combinations. The fare will be adapted regularly
depending on the weather, the availability of seasonal produce and the
artistic temperament of the chef - daily or weekly menu changes can be
expected to accommodate his latest experiment or the discovery of an
unexpected ingredient in a local garden. Dinner
is served every evening Wednesday to Sunday from 18h00 to late.
During the summer months we can look forward to lunch dates and High Tea
at the weekends. Reservations
can be made at 072 277 1115.
David
Muller, The Merry Scholar
recently brought Imaging Einstein, Whale Nation and his inimitable
rendition of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes to
Prince Albert
, to the delight of young and old alike. David also ran a workshop for
the Patchwork Theatre Troupe, who learnt a lot and grew in confidence.
Their next production will reveal their expanding talents.
We
are already planning the Prince Albert Town & Olive Festival for
April 2009. Brian and Marion Finch have organised an “Out of
Africa
” theme party at Mike’s Memorabilia at 7pm on Friday 18th
July, to kickstart an Olive Festival Entertainment Fund. Dinner with
wine and live music from Brian and other
Prince Albert
musicians, costs just R150 p.p. There will be a Fun Auction to add to
the entertainment – and the fundraising.
Book at the Prince Albert Tourism Office: 023 5411 366.
The
Tourism Association is celebrating Madiba’s
90th Birthday on the 18th of July by lending a
hand to older folk in our community. Donations of food, clothing and
blankets can be dropped off at the Tourism Association offices, the
Library and Home Hardware for distribution among needy villagers. Prince
Alberters are renowned for their generosity so there’s bound to be a
great response.
top of Olive
Branch
The
Olive Branch
June
2008
For
the entire month of May
Prince Albert
headed into the wide blue yonder in the kulula.com
magazine Comic Life. Passengers read Astrid Starr’s get outta town
guide which recommended Astrotours star-gazing trips (www.astrotours.co.za)
suggested a stroll with our spectres on the Ghost Walk (www.storyweaver.co.za),
encouraged runners to enter the Zwartberg Runners’ Half Marathon
(which was a great success), suggested a visit to the Prince Albert Art
Gallery (www.princealbert.org.za/pagallery.htm),
discussed what makes our village special with Ailsa Tudhope and
complimented our website. Thank
you, Astrid!
At
ground level we are all aware that Winter days have really arrived.
While rain is lashing much of the
Western Cape
, here in
Prince Albert
you can find a sunny spot and soak up a little warmth. Take a slow
stroll down to one of our eateries for a tummy-filling lunch after which
you can explore our
Art
Galleries
, Museum and shops. Perhaps a drive into the countryside or over the
Swartberg
Pass
sounds good. The evenings lend themselves to walks (by now you are
warmly wrapped up, of course) and then supper – either at one of our
restaurants or at home, in front of a roaring fire or a glowing
dover
stove and then to bed with a good book under a warm duvet or a
snuggle-soft local mohair rug. A genuine
Karoo
get-away-from-it-all break. The school holidays are on the horizon, so
be sure to make your accommodation bookings soon.
Diane
Wampach is offering a Winter
Karoo Retreat during July and the new moon on 5th August
will see the first of her New Moon retreats. For more details visit our
forthcoming events page on the
Prince Albert
website or Diane’s web at www.divinebeing.co.za
The
28th of June is the first day of the school holidays and the
day upon which Lah-di-Dah,
our intriguing new farmstall will open. Yvette Breedt and her mum,
Martie are busy filling the shelves at the former Sampies, near Gay’s
Dairy, as they prepare for the opening. Lah-di-Dah is billed as a “fêncy
plaasstal” – those who have peeked through the doors reckon
there’s lots of fun in store for their visitors. More in next
month’s Olive Branch.
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