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The Cotswolds Estate Magazine Summer 2015-2016 Where Even The Greens Are Greener MEET THE NEW RESIDENT DIRECTORS The Regal Eagles

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Page 1: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 1

The CotswoldsEstate MagazineSummer 2015-2016

Where Even The Greens Are Greener

MEET THE NEWRESIDENT DIRECTORS

TheRegal Eagles

Page 2: Cotswolds summer 2015

2 | Cotswolds

Jenny SandersDiamond Achiever083 234 [email protected]

Gareth HutchinsonDiamond Achiever084 666 [email protected]

www.wakefields.co.za

COTSWOLD DOWNSSALES TEAM

We special ise in Cotswold Downs sales, rentals and up to date free of charge property valuations.

It’s the #WakefieldsWay

YOUR WAKEFIELDS

Mandy PannellDiamond Achiever082 323 [email protected]

Winners of The Daily News Your Choice Award for 2015

We would like to thank KZN for again voting Wakefields as the

Best Real Estate Agency for 12 years running! We remain committed

to offering the east coast with the highest of service levels.

JUST SOLD JUST SOLDJUST SOLD

LOOKING TO SECURE THE BEST VALUE FOR YOUR COTSWOLD DOWNS PROPERTY ? A SOLE MANDATE WITH WAKEFIELDS WILL DO JUST THAT !

Page 3: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 3

07 Estate manager’s letter by

vic bonsor

08 make the bugs feel at home

10 MEET THE NEW RESIDENT DIRECTORS

13 Golf - round up 2015 on the green

19 The Regal Eagles of Cotswold Downs

22 from a canine perspective

24 Recipe - decadent cheese cake

26 meet the incoming estate manager

30 A Synopsis of Building in 2015

Summer Issue

The Cotswolds

24

Jenny SandersDiamond Achiever083 234 [email protected]

Gareth HutchinsonDiamond Achiever084 666 [email protected]

www.wakefields.co.za

COTSWOLD DOWNSSALES TEAM

We special ise in Cotswold Downs sales, rentals and up to date free of charge property valuations.

It’s the #WakefieldsWay

YOUR WAKEFIELDS

Mandy PannellDiamond Achiever082 323 [email protected]

Winners of The Daily News Your Choice Award for 2015

We would like to thank KZN for again voting Wakefields as the

Best Real Estate Agency for 12 years running! We remain committed

to offering the east coast with the highest of service levels.

JUST SOLD JUST SOLDJUST SOLD

LOOKING TO SECURE THE BEST VALUE FOR YOUR COTSWOLD DOWNS PROPERTY ? A SOLE MANDATE WITH WAKEFIELDS WILL DO JUST THAT !

13

08

22

Page 4: Cotswolds summer 2015

4 | Cotswolds

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Page 5: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 5

It’s amazing to think I met Vic Bonsor

seven years ago when we worked on

the very first Cotswold Downs estate

magazine. That first magazine added

a workload to Vic’s table - which is

always piled up with documents and

plans and other paperwork I don’t

think he was keen for - but not once in

the process did he moan or complain.

In fact he worked as hard as we did

back then to make sure every detail

was right, every photo reflected life

on the estate and that we published a

product residents could be proud of.

We have, and continue to, work with

many of the larger estates in KZN

and I can honestly say that Vic rates

up there with the most passionate,

accommodating and committed estate

managers we’ve met. The job of an

estate manager is never easy and

we’ve seen how most of them juggle

being realistic and accommodating

while having to enforce rules that really

are there for the benefit of everyone,

but that many don’t like or care to

adhere to. It’s a job with little reward

and not much glory but Vic has been

great at it.

I’m also not sure how many residents

are aware of Judy’s contribution: the

lady behind the scenes who helped

with much of the admin and tasks that

Vic sometimes just couldn’t get to. This

duo has been great and contributed

to where the estate is today. We at

FabMags want to wish them the very

best as they enter their new season.

Thank you Vic & Judy….

‘Til the next edition, enjoy your

summer on the estate!

God bless.

If you have anything you’d like to share with us, whether it’s your opinions, your suggestions or your ideas, or if you would like to be part of the meet the neighbours bit, please feel free to e-mail us at [email protected]. We’d really like to hear from you.

STAyING IN TOuCh

FROM THE

Publisher

Justin and the Fab Mags team.

Should you require any information regarding the estate, please contact any of the following persons:

C.D.M.A 031 762 3674 /OffiCe NO 031 762 3665

eSTATe MANAGeRVic Bonsor 079 490 5491

SeCuRiTy CONTROl CeNTRe:

Control Room & Access Control 031 762 3663

TeMPORARy leiSuRe CeNTRe

Wayne Krambeck General Manager 031 762 3654

Denny Hunt - Corporate Golf & Membership 031 762 3655

Steph Whitton - Accounts 031 762 3652

Office Fax 031 714 4439

Catering Department 031 762 3653

Pro Shop 031 763 3660/1

OffiCe hOuRS /ADMiN hOuRS

Mon - Fri : 8:30- 17:00

Sat: View By Appointment

Sun: 10:00 - 17:00

Lorinda Scott082 562 [email protected] [email protected]

Sharlene [email protected] 946 0357

Vic Bonsor032 946 0357086 605 0098www.fabmags.co.zahttp://issuu.com/fabmagsSuite 104, San Hall Office Park, Kirsty Close, Ballito, KZN

DNA Print (Pty) Ltd

eDiTOR

GRAPhiC DeSiGNeR

SAleS

PhOTOGRAPhyOffiCe NuMbeR

fAxWebSiTe

ONliNeOffiCe CONTACT DeTAilS

PRiNTeD by

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents FABMAGS cannot be held responsible for any omission or errors, or for any misfortune, injury or

damages that may arise there from.

FabMags is a privately owned and funded company and is not subsidized by Cotswolds Downs Estate or the PLHOA.

Contact Information

Page 6: Cotswolds summer 2015

6 | Cotswolds

Page 7: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 7

Estate manager’s letter

Oh – the balmy days of Autumn in Hillcrest have set in again and Winter is almost a lost memory already. But then, did we really have a Winter this year? It

amazes me every year how in mid-August, no matter the weather, there is a change in nature. The plants all start moving out of their winter idleness and bloom again. The Yellow billed Kite arrives and heralds the start of other migrants moving back into our area for the coming summer. Even us humans start becoming more outdoor-orientated, no matter how far removed we are from nature.

And with nature leading the way there are big changes on the go on Cotswold Downs as well. The new Clubhouse will be up and running within the next few months and building of homes continues at a frenetic pace. There are now 213 completed and occupied homes on the estate, with another 97 under construction. It is hectic and at times a disturbance for residents but let’s face it: the

more homes are built now, the sooner the disturbances will be over. See Patrick’s article on the Synopsis of Building in 2015.

Other changes are in the people responsible for operating the estate. We briefly reported the change of directors in the last magazine. In this issue we highlight Gary Sweeney and Peter Hyman, tell you a bit about these brave guys and what they hope to bring to the Board of Directors of C.D.M.A.

There is also a change in Estate Management coming into effect from 1st January 2016. Yes – I have decided to take early retirement, [well, I did consider going until I was 80] and to reduce my stress levels. I have thoroughly enjoyed my nine year tenure on Cotswold Downs and have felt proud to be part of the start of this truly magnificent estate. Fortunately, I will still be around but in a much lesser capacity as I will be operating on a contract basis to run the plans and building matters on behalf of C.D.M.A.

My replacement as Estate Manager is already well known to many of you as he is resident in Tewkesbury Village. It has been agreed that Casper Nice will step into the breech for a few years and keep things on the up and up. I wish him well in his new position [it is tough being manager and resident] and hope all owners will give him and the staff full acknowledgement and cooperation going forward.

I just hope and pray that all owners will ensure this issue is given the attention it deserves in perpetuity as it will always be a hugely important factor in all your lives.

Stay well,

Vic Bonsor

Estate ManagerFROM My DESk

The environmental aspect of the estate has always been one of the

highlights for me on Cotswold Downs.

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8 | Cotswolds

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Cotswolds | 9

Nature

Insectaries or Noo-noo farms, Spas, Bug Hotels…

call them what you will

Recently Vic brought home a large rock to be placed in the garden at a later stage. He removed the rock from the car and placed it against the garage wall. A year later the rock remains in-situ. The reason for this was not laziness, but that in no time at all the lizards moved in and used it as

a shelter; on a warm, sunny day they move onto the rock’s surface and bask in the sun.

We have also placed a couple of small, dead trees (the neighbours ask what plant it was before it died!) in the garden to provide a perch and resting place for the birds. These have also proved a great habitat for a number of insects, including spiders weaving their webs among the branches and wood borer have invaded the trunks and branches, providing a rich protein meal for the birds and lizards.

Include your children in making of noo-noo sanctuaries and position it close to your home so the “guests’” comings and goings can be closely observed. Materials required are rocks, large and small stones, broken masonry, bits of pottery or old broken dinner plates, small branches and twigs, old leaves and straw. Also, a small shallow container for water; either a tin lid or the container which is used under pot plants will do nicely.

Construction – begin by placing a bed of straw on the chosen area, rest some rocks on the straw and cover with a mixture of twigs, leaves and straw. Continue in this manner until the desired height has been reached (probably two or three layers).

Make a shallow hollow in the ground in which to place the container for water and surround it with small stones to make it look attractive. It’s also a place for the noo-noos to bask in the sun after their swim! Plant

the insect-attracting plants in close proximity, (a short list of suggested plants is given at the end of this article). It is a good idea to keep the surrounding the area damp and, for butterflies, provide a shallow muddy water hole where they can land and drink. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for the “guests” to arrive. Provide your children with a magnifying glass to view the noo-noo close at hand, a note book and pencil to draw the noo-noo, jot down the time of day and weather at the time or just forget about the above and just enjoy watching the insects!

Some of the suggested plants are:- Scabiosa columbaria - has a pretty blue pompom like flower and attracts butterflies, Asystasia gangetica - a good ground cover with white foxglove-like flowers. Good for butterflies, beetles and ants. Dierama igneum (Fairy bell) - plant in an area that is damp and close to water; it bears attractive lilac-blue, bell shaped flowers borne on elegant long, curving stems and last, but certainly not least. Scadoxus puniceus (Blood or snake lily) an attractive plant in itself with lovely pincushion flowers which attracts both bees and ants.

Check the internet for insect hotels or bug hotels – there are some amazing designs.

This is my last article for the magazine as I am leaving the staff of C.D.M.A. at the end of the year. I hope you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed preparing and writing them.

Save energy, conserve water and take care of our planet. Remember - the only water we have is what falls from the sky.

Sala kahle

Judy Bonsor

Page 10: Cotswolds summer 2015

10 | Cotswolds

Gary Sweeney

Prior to settling in to find out what made Gary offer his services to the community, we take a look at “who is Gary Sweeny.”

Gary is married to Ingrid and they have two daughters. Claire, their eldest is the boutique manager at Singita Game Reserve and their youngest Melanie lives in Cape Town with her husband Shane, where she is a senior merchandising planner at Truworths.

Gary is CEO of Spunchem International, a company that manufactures synthetic fabrics and fabric laminates for very diverse segments of the market, ranging from roofing laminates to fabrics that are used in diaper manufacture. The company exports 500 tons of fabric per month and laminates to Europe, mainly to Germany and the UK. Despite being in a textile industry that continues to downsize Spunchem has grown 15 fold in the last 19 years and is in the process of expanding once more.

Gary tells us that he and Ingrid had always wanted to move to an estate where all the amenities are available and where he would have peace of mind regarding security for

Ingrid when he travels, which he does fairly frequently.

Gary and Ingrid moved onto the estate just before Christmas 2012, into what he describes as “the house we always imagined we would live in one day.”

Gary admits that he was concerned about the close proximity of other dwellings compared to the space on the acre they used to live on. However he now feels that in fact this is what makes Cotswold so special, as they have met some fantastic people and the lifestyle promotes outdoor living, whether that be walking the dogs or playing golf.

When asked what made him take the brave step of offering his services on the board, Gary replied; “There are key strategic decisions to be taken, for instance the homeowners acquiring a share of the clubhouse/golf course. It is critical that all facets are considered on not just this issue but all issues affecting owners.”

Well done for taking on the challenge Gary. We wish you well in all your deliberations.

Meet The New

“I believe the estate is transforming from a development site into a residential estate, thus it is important that the residents’ wishes are taken into account when deciding on all aspects of the estate.”

Page 11: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 11

Peter hyman

Before getting down to the nitty gritty of what makes a person volunteer to give of his time to the community, we asked Peter to tell us about his family and livelihood. He expressed it so well that we will leave it in his words.

“I have been blessed to be married to Margy for 31 years. Our life together is full of adventurous and awesome memories. Our most prized gift is our set of twins, who are now 26 years old. Robyn is currently serving her second intern year as a medical doctor and James is the senior lecturer at an English Teaching College in Thailand. My business, CompliMed, is a leading distributor of niche insurance products. Our flagship Medical Gap products fund the difference between in-hospital medical practitioner charges and medical scheme cover.”

When we asked Peter about Cotswold Downs he told us he had always dreamt of living on a golf estate. When his brother-in-law decided to sell his piece of land, he grabbed the opportunity and has never looked back. That was back in 2011; Peter and Margy

moved into their home in Taddington Village in March 2014.

They both love the feeling of being out in the country but still being in a very secure environment with what is a growing, happy community. The fact that the golf course, with its spectacular natural forest areas, is right on their doorstep obviously contributes to their feeling of contentment.

When asked what made him take the brave step of offering his services on the board Peter replied: “I have been in financial services for most of my working life and have been running my own practice for the majority of that time. I believe that I bring this aptitude for prudent financial management to the board.”

Very true! Peter is already making his mark as director in charge of the finances. Welcome, Peter…and may all your deliberation be fruitful.

“I perceived that there was a need for new blood on the board. The current directors had steered us through some awkward and difficult times but the need for fresh thinking was evident.”

Page 12: Cotswolds summer 2015

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Page 13: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 13

All golfers are different; they differ in their size, strength, athletic ability and most of all, in their swing characteristics. What custom fitting does is set up the golf club with all the proper specifications – your length, lie angles, correct shafts, grip size, etc. to ultimately improve the way you play.

The purpose of custom fitting is to adapt the golf club to your specific swing movements so that some of your mistakes and poor

shots can be reduced and sometimes even eliminated.

“I’m not good enough to need custom-fitting” – is the mind set in many amateur golfer, but in fact the higher handicap golfers would benefit the most in terms of score improvement when custom fitted. We can fit you

to a driver that gives you a bit more distance, reduces the slice you may have, or even

eliminate it. We can improve the fitting specifications of your irons so you hit more greens in regulation.

And as we know, if you increase the number of good shots you hit per round; you increase the chances of scoring better.

In a 2011 interview with GOLF Magazine, Nick Faldo made the comment that 98% of all the golfers he encounters do not play with golf clubs that are fit to match their swings.

Over the past few months we have repeatedly heard from members how fortunate we are to have such an amazing golf course, especially after travelling to other facilities. However, when one looks at the whole offering we are

actually so much more blessed with an amazing property that lends itself to something quite unique. Most golfing estates have houses packed from one end of the estate to the other, with very little natural vegetation. Our amazing forest runs through the middle of the estate, with wetlands purifying all the water that passes through, creating a healthy aquatic environment and a haven for bird life.

From a golfing perspective we only have one area where two golf holes actually run side by side – the second and third hole – this is quite amazing in itself, as you very rarely see any other golfers playing on the course and as such are not dodging golf balls from every angle.

We have only mentioned a few aspects that make Cotswold Downs unique in comparison to most golfing estates. But hot off the press right now is the pending completion of the new club house facility. It has been an exciting time; firstly to have observed the construction,

which started early in January this year and has evolved to an actual shape. The associated facilities are even more exciting; one can start to visualise oneself sitting in the club house bar or restaurant sipping on your favourite drink whilst soaking up the majestic view down the 18th or the views into the forest. The good news is that all is progressing well and we should be operational by the end of March at the latest…weather permitting! We are planning on having a couple of information evenings for all homeowners late in November and early December regarding the operations as a whole but more specifically the restaurant and fitness facility and its offerings.

The golf club itself is once again trading well this year with rounds, revenue and the bottom line improving on the previous year. We are anticipating a busy December period, so any members who are staying at home for Christmas please make sure that you do book your tee off times in advance so as not to be disappointed.

Regards

T he Cotswold Downs Golf Team

COTSWOLD DOWNS GOLF

The importance of custom f itting

gOLF

Getting a great swing from custom fittings

Page 14: Cotswolds summer 2015

14 | Cotswolds

[email protected] 467 9997Cell:

Page 15: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 15

For the fifth consecutive year, Cotswold Downs professionals Wayne Krambeck, Sheldon Stroebel and Ross Dewes had the pleasure of hosting the Annual Road trip of 2015. Comprising 24 players, who enjoy two rounds of golf and two nights’ accommodation at the four star Gowrie Farm self-catering houses, this year was once again a successful tour.

While the previous four years have solely been about visiting Gowrie farm, we decided to change things up this year and stop by the newly altered Bosch Hoek golf course in Balgowan. While many players know and have played this course, it was a first time for many, and a first for a couple of guys who had not yet played the course since the alterations to a couple of holes. The three rounds are played in a fairly simple format: six 4balls tee off each morning; and there is a Betterball competition and an individual Stableford competition for the Road Trip Trophy.

The first day’s scoring was no fireworks however Dennis Mack finished his BoschHoek round with a solid 38 points. While after his first round Ross Dewes was slightly behind Dennis, Ross fired a second round 67 gross at Gowrie Farm, leaving him with 44 individual points and setting himself well ahead of the pack leading into the final day. After a cool 7.56am start the final round was underway and much to the expectations, Ross Dewes finished with a final round of 33 points which comfortably kept him at the top of the leader board. This was his second win in the three trips he has attended.

The courses turned out to be as usual, in great condition and players thoroughly enjoyed the three rounds of golf. We received notable service from both courses and would recommend all members and guests who have not yet experienced either course, take a day to enjoy some golf in the Midlands.

The Plane Old TruthBasically speaking, swing plane is determined by the angle of the golf shaft and angle of the clubface at address in relation to the ball and the ground. Swing plane is also decided by the angle of the player’s spine at the set up, which is controlled by correct posture - referring to the player’s height, build and the club being used. A player using a mid to short iron would create a steeper angle of the golf shaft producing a more upright swing, as opposed to using a long iron or even a wood where the swing plane angle would result in a much flatter swing.

The swing plane consists of swinging the golf club in an up and down motion mainly using the arms combined with a circular motion around the body. A golfer who has a ‘flat’ swing plane would tend to swing more around, than up-and-down.

Whereas a golfer with a swing plane that is too “upright” would tend to swing more up-and-down than around.

In most cases players with a flat swing plane will have an in –to-out swing path. The ball will start right of the ball – to – target line. Then there are those players who have an upright swing plane; they start the downswing with their arms instead of their lower body producing an out – to – in swing path which will cause the ball to go left of the ball to target line.

Often we’ll see players who start their backswing with a very flat swing plane (more around their body than up-and-down). This results in the club being on the inside of the ball to target line, which is caused by turning the shoulders too early in the takeaway. As a result the club then gets pushed out at the start of the downswing, which will cause an out – to – in swing path. This in turn will cause the ball to start left of target and depending on what the clubface is doing at impact relative to that swing path will result in either a fade, slice, pull or pull hook.

Should you have any queries or would like to book a lesson please contact Andrew on 0824518953 or email [email protected]. Please go and have a look at the new website www.radfordgolf.co.za

Cotswold Downs Annual Road Trip

18th October Monthly Alliance20th October World Amateur Golfers Championship15th November Monthly Alliance16th November Crawford Dougall /Hollard Pro Am12th December Children’s Christmas Party13th December Monthly Alliance

Calendar 2015

24 players visit Bosch Hoek

Page 16: Cotswolds summer 2015

16 | Cotswolds

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Cotswolds | 17

As the rounds continue to boom year on year here at Cotswold Downs, there is a considerable make up of those totals by two members groups that support the club week in and week out, both weekdays and weekends.

The Burchells group plays at Cotswold Downs every Saturday morning. They reserve the earliest tee times on a Saturday morning but do not turn away any members who would like to play with them on the day. The group is mostly co-ordinated by one of the Cotswold Downs members, who sends a mail out each week to check the availability of players for the upcoming Saturday fixture. The players are of all handicap divisions; no need to feel like you will be boring the other players, because they may be a lower handicap than you. A draw is done every Thursday and a mail is then sent out, notifying players of their playing partner and the tee times. While strict rules are adhered to in the areas of golfing etiquette, the fantastic, relaxed camaraderie and banter shared in the clubhouse after every round is sure to be enjoyed by all.

The Coffin Dodgers – well, their name speaks for itself along with their trendy hairstyles: many of the players decide to dye their hair grey before it happens naturally. They are a great bunch of individuals

who take on the Cotswold Downs greens every week on a Tuesday and Thursday. The Tuesday is a combination of men and ladies, whereas the Thursday, more commonly known as the Thursday School, tees off more often than not at the front of the field around 7am. They welcome new “Coffin Dodgers” on a few occasions during each year. While many of the players reside in Le Domaine, a couple live here on the estate, which entails long afternoons in the pub enjoying great banter and laughs. The group works on a similar basis to the Burchells, whereby the annually designated member will send a mail out and receive the responses, then put together a draw and assign a different competition format to each week.

We appreciate all the support we receive from both our members and guests here at Cotswold Downs and we are sure to see you out on the fairways soon again!

Regards

Sheldon Stroebel

With summer just around the corner, it’s important to keep cool on the course. Adidas make two types of golf shirts to help with this: Climachill and Climacool. The fabric used in a ClimaCool shirt pulls sweat away from the body and increases micro-ventilation through strategically placed mesh panels, for example, under the arms or at the back of the neck. No more sticky back, with your shirt plastered to your frame. ClimaCool golf shirts use CoolMax Extreme fabric, one of the fastest drying garment fabrications available. It also drapes beautifully on the body. For extra cooling, there is CoolMax Energy, which increases airflow to the skin. For optimal swing freedom, golfers can choose a shirt with Formotion, a leaner-fitting Adidas design with additional stretch properties in the fabric and special seam technology that minimises irritation throughout the golf swing.

The composition of the Adidas Climachill sees small aluminium dots on the inside of the shirt, so they rest across the gap between your shoulder blades and keep you cooler. The sensation of the aluminium on your skin is unusual and has a cooling effect. Not so much like a gentle breeze, but more like someone had put a cold towel on your back. Secondly, part of the benefit is that the aluminium lifts the fabric away from your skin to create an air gap, allowing any cool breeze to spread across your skin.

We are stocked with both types so come have a look and we will find one to best suit you!

Golf shirts to keep you chilled

Pro Shop

Burchells and Coff in DodgersGreat group support

Page 18: Cotswolds summer 2015

18 | Cotswolds

Page 19: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 19

The Regal Eagles of Cotswold DownsWay back at the end of 2010 i was told there was a pair of eagles nesting at the top edge of the forest off Cherington Village. These were soon identified as crowned eagles and we were very excited to have such magnificent birds nesting on the estate. Alas, the excitement was a bit premature because the young eaglets disappeared by December and were not seen again.

Cotswolds | 19

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20 | Cotswolds

At this stage we were fortunate enough to hear of a young man, Shane McPherson, researching crowned eagles for his MSc at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Page 21: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 21

The excitement was soon back at the end of 2011 when the pair were seen to be sprucing up the nest again. Soon there was a youngster in the nest and he just kept growing by the day. Shane McPherson started monitoring the

breeding pair and belatedly managed to leg-ring the young crown prince in August 2012.

Knowing that crowned eagles usually nest only every second year there was no concern when there was no nesting or chick at the end of 2012. At that stage, however, Shane managed to capture the breeding female and fitted her with a tracking device. Information could be downloaded if one got within about 50 metres of her. This device proved very useful in showing the areas hunted by the Cotswold pair.

Then in 2013 activity in the nest area started quite early and Shane was able to fit a camera, supplied by the estate, above the nest shortly after the chick hatched, to monitor the behaviour on the nest. This did show that, although there was a fair amount of Dassie being taken, Hadeda Ibis appeared to be their favourite food.

This chick was removed and leg-ringed by Shane aged at about 85 days; i.e. before trying to leave the nest and proved to be a female. [Crown Princess?] She also matured beautifully and by mid-2014 had been ushered out of the area by the parents.

We did keep an eye on the nest again but did not really expect any activity for another year or so. You can imagine our surprise when in October 2014, following persistent rumours, it was confirmed by the tracker that the same pair of crowned eagles had constructed another nest directly opposite the Clubhouse. By this stage the youngster was maturing so Shane very quickly got to the nest and leg-ringed

the eaglet (we believe another female). She also matured and was observed from the club veranda taking her first wobbly flight from the nesting tree. She very quickly became an elegant flyer and by July, 2015 was regularly heard screaming in the forest. This was not concerning because the parents are known to stop feeding the youngsters to force them to hunt for themselves and to find their own territory.

As the infomercials say, “But wait, there’s more!” The surprises from this pair of eagles was not yet over. In September 2015 Brian Cochrane, observing from his home in Woodchester, commented that the eagles were back sprucing up the old nest again. Shane did a check and confirmed the same female was sitting in the tree near the old nest. By the end of September we were able to confirm that she was indeed sitting on eggs in the old nest.

Our researcher, Shane McPherson, says there have been suspicions in the past that crowned eagles may construct more than one nest, but it has never been proven until now because of the tracker fitted to the Cotswold female.

The “old nest site” is very visible from the edge of Cherington Way, particularly since some “non-thinking individual” (suitable words escape me) has purposefully cut down the only tree that gave any visual protection to the nest. We are hoping to place a suitable viewing screen and some shade-cloth to hide the nesting area, in the hope that the breeding eagle is not disturbed to the stage of abandoning the nest.

We appeal to all residents to treat the site and the area around it with the respect these magnificent eagles deserve on our estate.

Conditions Treated• Back and neck pain• Headaches• Post-operative rehabilitation• Arthritis• Musculotendinous problems• Sports injuries

To book an appointment at the Legends Lifestyle Centre, please Call: 084 7600 658 (Medical Aid rates charged)

• Hand/wrist injuries• Neurological conditions (Stroke, Parkinson’s, Peripheral neuropathy)• Breathing problems• Etc

Lara Tosolari PhysiotherapyBSc Physio (UCT) PR 0720000467464

Registered PhysiotherapistClifton Hill Estate,

51 Acutts Drive

Page 22: Cotswolds summer 2015

22 | Cotswolds

500 FIDO’SWe know that you do the best by your

dog, but perhaps he needs more?

22 | Cotswolds

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Cotswolds | 23

Nature

Why do you have a dog? Is it to give him a happy fulfilling life or to walk and run with? Is it to teach him tricks, so that you and he can have fun together? Or is it so that you always have ‘somebody’ to give you a warm welcome when you

arrive home after a tiring day?

For many people, if they think about it, it is the latter. Everybody wants their dog to be happy, but don’t make the time to do much with him.

Each dog has his own likes and dislikes and his own needs. His person is an important one, but certainly not all the dog’s wishes wrapped up in one pretty (or handsome!) parcel and it is unlikely that anybody can be with their dog all day.

A dog is a mammal, just as we human beings are. Dogs become bored in the same way we do. Much as we enjoy being on holiday, if we were on continuous leave and expected to sit and watch the grass grow day in and day out rather than go out visiting, to movies, to the theatre, playing golf, having days at the beach and oh – let’s not forget the ubiquitous shopping – we would be bored. We would probably become frustrated and unhappy. We would try to sneak out or attempt to talk to our neighbour over or through the fence. Perhaps we would sneak a book or magazine off the coffee table to read. In short, we would be seeking some form of entertainment.

So, let us return to our dogs. A day in the life of Fido: 5.30 am: I wake up; play with toys; watch Lucky the lab going for his walk; eat breakfast; watch family dress; watch them eat; and watch them go out ... for the whole day. Have a nap and wait for them to return....the day is long and I am no longer tired or sleepy.

10.30 am: Hang on! There’s Mrs Cots with her yapper. I’ll get in a bark first: “Woof, woof, woof.” That felt good and he’s gone. It certainly felt better than doing nothing.

11.45am: Hmmm....think I’ll take a nap.

14.35 pm: Snuffle, snuffle... what’s that? Something’s been moving around near these flowers...dig, dig, dig. I nearly caught it, but the

faster I dug, the faster it ran! Ah, there’s the bone I buried the other day and I really enjoy chewing it, but I feel for something different. I’d like something squishy. Ah, the couch. Yeah, that feels good. It has some wood underneath this material and that’s always good to chew on.

16.30: Oh, there’s Mr. Wold with his beautiful spaniel, Misty, I wonder if he’ll bring her over to play. “Woof woof! Misty, how about it – you and me, babe? Woof, woof? Woof woof woof!” That really felt good. I think she looked at me. I’ll try again tomorrow. “Woooooof, woof woofoofoof”

16.50: Oh, the sun is on its way to bed and my people aren’t home yet. Last time I looked in the bin there was a delicious bone in it, let me see if I can find another one.

5:30 pm: “Oh, no!! Fido, how could you! After the neighbour complaining about your barking, I come in to THIS!”

Do you think your dog is being difficult, stubborn or spiteful, when he is just bored? Perhaps he’s a little stressed at being left alone in a new place with new smells and sounds. There are training methods and activities which will help your dog - and you - have a better day.

Some positive reinforcement training will stimulate the release of oxytocin, the ‘feel good’ hormone, and stimulate the pleasure centre of your dog’s brain. Training will teach your dog what you mean when you say, “Please go out,” and will reduce stress.

Playing, sniffing, socialising and exercise should all be found in ‘a day If a dog has all these and is at ease, he will be happy and you, your family and neighbours will be happy too.

You need your dog at home with you, as he is part of your family, but many dogs living in close proximity is not easy. There are, however, solutions to this problem.

If you need guidance in how to train your dog and what to do with your dog, ask a dog trainer or animal behaviourist for assistance. Ask your vet or local pet shop for a recommendation. Ensure they use positive reinforcement training, before taking on their services.

Playing, sniffing, socialising and exercise should all be found in ‘a day in

the life of fido’

Cotswolds | 23

by Jayne Goetsch of “Jayne Trains”

For more information contact Jayne on C: 083 27774 358 / E: [email protected]

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24 | Cotswolds

InstructionsPreheat oven to 180 C. Using a piece of foil and parchment paper bigger than the tin, clip both together onto the bottom of a 20cm spring form pan. Place the paper above the foil. Do not trim off excess foil and paper but just bring it up the outer side of the tin. Grease paper and up the sides of the tin.

For Cheesecake partBeat cream cheese and sugar in a mixer until smooth, scraping down the sides a few times. Add eggs one at a time, then lemon juice and sour cream. Set aside mixture in a bowl.

For the Carrot Cake partIn a separate bowl, sift flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and set aside.

With a clean mixing bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Gradually add sugar and beat until thick and pale. Add oil slowly, then vanilla and maple syrup. Add the flour

You will need 20cm round spring form pan

Ingredients - For Cheesecake• 250g cream cheese, room temperature• 1/4 cup castor sugar • 1 Tbs lemon juice• 2 eggs• 1/4 cup sour cream

Ingredients – For Carrot Cake• 1 cup Cake flour• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda• 1/2 tsp baking powder• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg • 1/8 tsp ground cloves • Pinch of salt• 2 eggs• 1 carrot, grated• 1/2 cup castor sugar• 1 tsp vanilla essence• 1/2 cup oil• 2 Tbs maple syrup• 1/4 cup dried coconut • 1/4 cup raisins

Ingredients - For Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting• 200g cream cheese, room temperature• 3 Tbs butter, room temperature• 1 cup icing sugar• 1 tsp vanilla essence• 1 cup ready whipped cream• Toasted whole pecan nuts to decorate• Caramel sauce for topping

Carrot Cake Cheesecake

60Minutes

rECIPE

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Cotswolds | 25

mixture in batches and beat until incorporated. With a spatula, fold in the carrot, coconut and raisins.

Put 1/2 of cake batter in the prepared pan. Next dollop about 1/3 cup of cheesecake batter on top of the cake batter. Put the rest of the cake batter over this mixture and pour the rest of cheesecake mixture over. DO NOT SWIRL - The batter will ‘swirl’ by itself during cooking!

Place a small baking pan filled with some hot water in the bottom of your oven (this will prevent the cheesecake from cracking). Then place the cake in the oven on a medium shelf. Bake for around 60 minutes, until the centre is slightly wobbly. Allow to cool and refrigerate until cold enough to frost.

For the Frosting partBeat cream cheese for a minute, then add butter. Beat until incorporated. Add sugar and vanilla until fluffy. DO NOT over beat or you will get a runny mixture and have to start over. Fold in whipped cream.

To assembleRemove cooled cheesecake cake from the baking pan and parchment paper. Put onto a plate or cake board.

Frost the whole cake with frosting. Decorate pecan nuts all around. Drizzle caramel sauce on top and crush up a few pecans and put over caramel sauce.

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CASPER NICE2016 ESTATE MANAGER

Casper and his lovely wife Anne-marie moved into Tewkesbury in 2009 and were the sole residents of that village for two wonderfully peaceful years. Tewkesbury was soon discovered and there are now 19 families in the area, with more building

going on, but they still love their spot on the edge of the forest.

Casper and Anne-marie have been married for 35 years and have two children. Jako is an architect and he and his wife Joh-anne live in Pretoria. Christi is a food and biotechnologist and she lives in Ballito with her husband Mike. Casper and Anne-Marie are grandparents to Noah, who is three and a half years old, and six-month-old Anne.

Casper is a semi-retired chemical engineer and specialises in major project management, primarily in the pulp and paper industry. He has been technical director at Mondi for a number of years he has managed large organisations and multi billion rand projects.

Having been on the boards of various organisations for most of his life, he is able to bring this varied field of expertise and experience to the estate management position.

Additionally, as a resident, Casper has been active in the management of this estate since he first moved into Tewkesbury Village. He feels quite strongly that the estate has now reached a level of development that calls for the implementation of robust systems, which can withstand the test of time. As a caring resident he wants to be part of the implementation of these systems.

Casper and Anne-marie tell us they moved to Cotswold Downs because they were attracted to the idea of a safe, calm and peaceful environment…and then put a golf course on their doorstep, the decision was an easy one.

They both love the outdoors and walking, so despite all the buildings going up, they still enjoy the safe and peaceful environment and being close to God’s beautiful creation.

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Cotswolds | 27

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Page 28: Cotswolds summer 2015

28 | Cotswolds

A Synopsis of Building in

By Patrick Weldon

As many of you have no doubt seen, in the past year Cotswold Downs has undergone a massive explosion in building and development. A drive around the estate and everywhere one looks, there is now construction, even in

the areas that were previously just open fields waiting for sales. The momentum began in 2014, however construction has reached new levels on Cotswold Downs this year.

In order to appreciate how far we have come we need to first take a trip back to the month of May, 2014…things had already started getting crazy. We had 108 homes completed on Cotswold in the various villages. In the village of Deerhurst, we had 15 completed homes and in Cherington only five. Tewkesbury Village was another quiet little village with only six completed homes. There were 63 sites under construction and one could feel that Cotswold was gearing up, as the design review panel was steadily filling up with bookings and plans were starting to come out of council.

Heading into the end of the year things had dramatically taken an upward turn as building had steadily progressed and we had 68 house under construction. That number doesn’t sound like an improvement. However, one must remember that construction sites were turning into homes, and new sites were cropping up. So, when we looked at the villages we had 10 homes in Tewkesbury completed, 21 homes finished in Deerhurst and 11 homes in Cherington: most villages doubling their size in just half a year and we still hadn’t seen the big rush.

The new-year started and into 2015 we went. By all accounts things were still okay in January, for obvious reasons. Council was still on holiday as were builders, so the start to the year was relatively quiet. That lasted three weeks; ever since then the estate has been frenetic. All our planning milestones for the year had been obliterated by June. Every corner of the estate had a house under construction and our security roughly clocks over 5 000 entries daily. That is enough people to start a small war!

So heading into the final part of the year our figures take on a very different tone. We now have a steady 97 homes under construction with a further 15 sectional title units. Gone are the open fields, soon to be replaced with our signature roof scapes. Tewkesbury Village which, as you may recall, had six completed homes in May 2014 now has 19 houses occupied. Deerhurst shot up from 15 homes to 39 with a good few more to be finished before Christmas and what was once a quiet Cherington, with only five homes, now has 18 new residents.

In total we have gone from 108 homes to 213 including the new sectional title village, Tewkesbury Mews. If we took on no further development and finished all the homes under construction we would have 310 units completed. So, welcome to all our new residents who have joined us in 2015. Let’s see how busy 2016 will be!

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Fast forward a few months to October 2014 and

Cotswold was buzzing; at the time we thought it was

very busy....little did we know what was coming in 2015.

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30 | Cotswolds

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Page 31: Cotswolds summer 2015

Cotswolds | 31

DECORINTERIOR FOODFASHION HEALTH SHOPPING

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Where QualityMeets Convenience

• Audio Architex• Beds for Africa• Biggie Best• Carin Hall Physio• Clicks• Entropy Hair Design• Hair Base• Hillcrest Art Supplies• Hillcrest Tyre & Exhaust• Home Etc.• House of Decor• Household Plastics• iWorld• Kids Emporium• Leisure Lounge• Lupa Osteria• Manoli’s Munchies• Midas• Nikki’s The Gift Shop• Olive & Oil• Oscar’s Cafe• Paint Expert• Rugs Original• Salt, Surf & Sport• Sorbet• The Ear Institute• The Ink Drop• The Juice Kitchen• Western Shoppe• Wool ‘n Weave• Woolworths• Yeast Coast Cafe

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