Cove Rock Country Estate Cove Rock Country Estate Grapevine May 2013 - Number 035 “The Cove Rock Grapevine” is a newsletter for residents of Cove Rock Country Estate. It is published every month and your input is welcomed. The aim of the newsletter is to: * Inform residents of happenings around the estate * Share advice and general information * Talk about wonder of the environment we live in * Get to know fellow residents through residents profiles – a resident will be featured in each edition. If you have some input or would like the newsletter emailed to other residents or family, simply send an email to Werner Illgner at [email protected] or call him on 083 6020296 / 043 736 8980/011 787 2953. Website: http://coverock.pbworks.com facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/coverockestate/ Know your neighbour Only been here a couple of months but already passionate Coverockers Welcome to our Estate new residents, Alan & Antoinette Dicks and their family. Antoinette writes: “We moved to Cove Rock in November 2012 and are renting a timber home at 228 Kalashe Drive. I grew up on a farm in Cathcart, Thomas River, where the historical village is. I completed 12 years schooling at Cathcart High School and was in boarding school. After school I did Tourism at the PE Technikon and worked in Johannesburg for a few years. I am a bookkeeper and have been working at ITEC for the past 5 years. Right: Alan & Antoinette with sons, Jason & Tyron. Alan was born in Queenstown, lived in Elliot for a few early years and then his family settled in Gonubie when he was 9 years old. He attended Gonubie Primary School and Clifton Park (Hudson Park) High School. After completing his military training, he qualified as a motor mechanic. He traded the mechanical work for logistics, and has been working at Corromaster for the last 5 years. Our eldest son Jason, is 22 years old, he matriculated at Selborne College in 2009, where he received his academic colours as well as 1st team colours for rowing. He is currently doing his 4th year Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology. He has excelled at his studies, received 8 distinctions in his 1st year, 8 in 2nd year & 5 in 3rd year. To supplement his income he is also a personal trainer at his local gym. Tyron is 18 years old, matriculated in 2012 at Selborne College, where he was a prefect, 1st team rowing captain, received his academic colours and 1st team rowing colours. Tyron is following in his big brothers foot-steps and is currently in his 1st year, Chiropractic at the Durban University of Technology. He is doing very well. Tyron also works at the gym to supplement his income. Our boys are our pride and joy. They are responsible, mature, well mannered & polite. They are passionate about their career choices and life. God has blessed us abundantly by giving us these two amazing gifts. From the very first Saturday that we moved to Cove Rock and went to watch the Stormers playing the Sharks in the Curry Cup final at the Club, we have been accepted with open arms. Alan started playing golf on a Friday afternoon and is hooked! He spends many happy (and many not so happy!) hours on the golf course. I qualified as a Nia trainer in Cape Town in 2010 and have started giving classes on a Saturday morning at the Club & also on a Wednesday evening. Nia is a sensory based exercise routine that consists mainly of dancing, a definite stress reliever, fitness and lots of fun. I would love to have more people join in the fun! Condition the heart / invigorate the spirit / relax the mind………. Come and join me on a Saturday morning at 9.00am at the Cove Rock Club House and experience the Nia Technique. Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that leads to health, wellness and fitness. It empowers people of all ages and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. The soul of Nia is JOY, experienced through movement; JOY is the greatest antidote to stress and the thread that connects us to one another. For more information call: Antoinette – 071 727 0494. My other passion is reiki. Reiki is a gentle, non –invasive ancient healing practice that calms, comforts and soothes. It speeds up the body’s natural healing ability promoting health, balance and vitality. I see clients from home where I have set-up my “little sanctuary”. Please give me a call on 071 727 0494 if you would like to have a taste of this calming & healing experience. We have met amazing people, made wonderful friends and spent lots of time trying to take the perfect photo of the buck that come to graze in the garden. We love to go for walks to the Rock and a perfect Sunday for us is to have a braai on the deck and gaze at the sea…..nothing better on a beautiful summer’s day! Cove Rock truly is a little slice of heaven. We have been through our fair share of ups and downs in our life, but God answered all our prayers when He brought us to Cove Rock.” Ed. Welcome to our community and congratulations on your sons achievements. Meet those who strive to keep us safe I am SANELE EMANUEL MASEBENI and work as a guard at the entrance gate of the Cove Rock Country Estate. I am employed by Nyathi Security Solutions and I commenced work with them on 1st October 2011 and immediately was assigned to do duty at the Estate. I was born on 1 January 1978 in Willowvale Town in the village of Lower Gwadu. I have 2 siblings, but I am the eldest. I also have two children, a son Yandisa (10) and a daughter Nosisi (8). I started school at Patilizwe JSS in 1984 and I passed Std 7 in 1993. I then went to Badi High School, passing my matric in 1997. I started work in 1998 in Johannesburg with a local bakery, but I wasn’t earning enough, so I started doing security assignments at a Johannesburg-based company called Stallion Security. I worked for that company for 4 years as a Retail Lance Corporal at Shoprite. I then worked at Royal Truck Bodies, the company being based in Alrode, Johannesburg. I worked for them for 5 years. In 2006 my parents passed away and I had to return to the Eastern Cape, as there was nobody at home. I worked for the Mkhombe Security company and was based at Umtata Shoprite Usave. Then I became sick and had to leave. After recovering from my illness, I worked at Harold’s Mechanical for one and a half years but I wasn’t satisfied with the work conditions and decided to seek new employment. On the 29 September 2011 I was employed by Nyathi Security Solutions and look forward to a long and rewarding career with them. I enjoy working on the Estate as I get on well with residents and the job offers new challenges every day. Unfortunately, visitors and contractors can sometimes be difficult but I try to assist them within the framework of the security rules of the Estate. On a personal note – I live in Orange Grove; I am a sports enthusiast and enjoy watching soccer and rugby in my spare time. My taste in food is simple – pap and vleis. My ambitions are clear – I wish to progress within Nyathi, be happy in my work, and earn enough to provide for a good life for my family and I. My promise to the residents of the Cove Rock Country Estate is that I will do my very best to look after your security interests with diligence and good humour. All about our environment African Hoopoe {Upapa Africana} The African Hoopoe picture taken on the Estate by Bev Joubert There is some debate about whether the African Hoopoe and the Eurasian Hoopoe are 2 species or simply subspecies of Upupa epops. In the field they can be distinguished from overall colouration (africana is a richer chestnut) and the absence of a white sub-terminal band on the primaries in the African Hoopoe. The African Hoopoe isn't a sociable bird and is generally found either singly or in pairs (occasionally small loose flocks are seen during the migration season). The Hoopoe is a cavity nester which will happily use a hollow in a pile of boulders or cavities in buildings. QUICK FACTS Name: Upapa Africana Diet Description: Ground feeders, Hoopoe take mainly insects, although they'll also eat small reptiles such as lizards. They use their bill for probing the earth and animal dung. They also turn over leaf litter to find prey. Vegetable matter (seeds or berries) are eaten but in very small quantities. Habitat: Open and bushy areas. Distribution: Africa - widely distributed throughout South Africa. Socialisation: The African Hoopoe isn't a sociable bird and is generally found either singly or in pairs (occasionally small loose flocks are seen during the migration season). Some bird trivia . The hammerkop (Scopus umbretta) gets its name because of the hammerhead shape made by its bill and crest. It feeds in shallow fresh water and eats frogs, insects, fish and other water creatures. In African folklore, the hammerkop is feared as a messenger of doom. The hammerkop builds a huge nest out of grass and sticks in the fork of a tree and has a small entrance lined with mud. Unfortunately, other birds often take over the nest, such as eagle owls or Egyptian geese.