roodelife july 2014 issue

48
2014 Issue 001 . . Jul / Sep . . WWW.ROODELIFE.CO.ZA FOR EVERYTHING ROODEPLAAT Thys Maritz has the best of both Modern Mediterranean Living Good Food for Good Health Win lots of Prizes!

Upload: roodelife

Post on 01-Apr-2016

221 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

A lifestyle magazine for the residents of the exclusive estates in the Roodeplaat Dam area in Gauteng.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

2014

Issue 001

.

.

Jul/

Sep..

w w w . r o o d e l i f e . c o . z a

For everything roodeplaat

Thys Maritz has the best of both

Modern Mediterranean Living

Good Food for Good Health

Winlots of

Prizes!

Page 2: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

165/80R13 R457

175/70R13 R458

175/65R14 R481

175/70R14 R481

185/65R15 R541

185/60R14 R528

185/60R15 R541

195/50R15 R558

195/55R15 R570

195/60R15 R578

195/65R15 R587

195/70R15 R735

195R14C R735

205/55R16 R653

205/65R15 R630

225/60R16 R773

215/65R16 R783

235/75R15 R916

235/65R17 R935

205/40R17 R643

205/45R17 R694

215/55R16 R779

225/45R17 R799

225/50R17 R875

BALANCING R 50 PER TYRE ALIGNMENT R 180.00

SALES CONDITIONS:

Specials are for 2 or more tyres. Cash and card accepted. NO ACCOUNTS. No dealers.

EXCLUDES: VAT, Balancing and Valve. Specials on selected brands only. Specials are valid while stocks last.

225/40R18 R875

245/45R17 R915

275/45R20 R1227

31X10.5R15 BF R1907

30X9.5R15 BF R1686

265/65R17 BF R2966

285/70R17 BF R2753

245/70R16 BF R1981

265/70R16 BF R2966

FIRST PRIZE — QUAD BIKE

SECOND PRIZE —

CAR COOLER BOX

THIRD PRIZE — WEBER

THE DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE

ON 27 September 2014

Winner must be present on

the day of the draw.

SHOP 16 ZAMBEZI RETAIL PARK, C/O ZAMBEZI & MOLOTO RD, DERDEPOORT, PRETORIA.

TEL: 012 808 3913/4 CELL: 079 203 3327

E-MAIL: [email protected] WWW.SPECTRATYRESPTA.CO.ZA

Stalls will be available for the grand draw on 27 September 2014. Please contact Denise for more information. T’s & C’s apply.

Page 3: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

165/80R13 R457

175/70R13 R458

175/65R14 R481

175/70R14 R481

185/65R15 R541

185/60R14 R528

185/60R15 R541

195/50R15 R558

195/55R15 R570

195/60R15 R578

195/65R15 R587

195/70R15 R735

195R14C R735

205/55R16 R653

205/65R15 R630

225/60R16 R773

215/65R16 R783

235/75R15 R916

235/65R17 R935

205/40R17 R643

205/45R17 R694

215/55R16 R779

225/45R17 R799

225/50R17 R875

BALANCING R 50 PER TYRE ALIGNMENT R 180.00

SALES CONDITIONS:

Specials are for 2 or more tyres. Cash and card accepted. NO ACCOUNTS. No dealers.

EXCLUDES: VAT, Balancing and Valve. Specials on selected brands only. Specials are valid while stocks last.

225/40R18 R875

245/45R17 R915

275/45R20 R1227

31X10.5R15 BF R1907

30X9.5R15 BF R1686

265/65R17 BF R2966

285/70R17 BF R2753

245/70R16 BF R1981

265/70R16 BF R2966

FIRST PRIZE — QUAD BIKE

SECOND PRIZE —

CAR COOLER BOX

THIRD PRIZE — WEBER

THE DRAW WILL TAKE PLACE

ON 27 September 2014

Winner must be present on

the day of the draw.

SHOP 16 ZAMBEZI RETAIL PARK, C/O ZAMBEZI & MOLOTO RD, DERDEPOORT, PRETORIA.

TEL: 012 808 3913/4 CELL: 079 203 3327

E-MAIL: [email protected] WWW.SPECTRATYRESPTA.CO.ZA

Stalls will be available for the grand draw on 27 September 2014. Please contact Denise for more information. T’s & C’s apply.

roodelife

Published by iLead Publications

Enquiries Danita Nortjé[email protected] 751 4998

EditorialDanita NortjéLulie Swanepoel--------------------------------------------ContributorsBrenda van der MerweCarlos Coveiro Engela van EyssenKarmen WiidNicol OlivierRobin van Eyssen--------------------------------------------Design and LayoutAdri de BruyneDesignwave

Project ManagementNicol Olivier

MarketingJohann Herbst

AdvertisingDanita Nortjé

PrintingUVO Communication and Print, Pretoria --------------------------------------------Contact [email protected]

Roode.Life

#RoodeLifeMag

RoodeLife

Cover PhotoThys and Monica Maritz with their daughters, Karmen and KaraPhoto by: Shireen Alberts

Previous EditionThis is our very first edition, but in the future, if you would like to receive editions that you have missed, please send us an e-mail.

Subscribe to E-MagIf you would like to see this magazine delivered to your inbox, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Use “subscribe” as the subject heading and we will add you to the mailing list when the e-mag is up and running.

Issue 1July to September 2014

contents2 letter from the editor

4 community News

Estate Managers

9 Young At Heart

10 inspirational living

Best of Both Worlds: Thys Maritz

16 Stylish living

Modern Mediterranean Living

20 food & entertainment

Healthy Eating Habits From Ancient Times to Now

22 Recipe: Spinach and Bean Roulade

26 School News

29 local Sports News

Golf at Pebble Rock

30 Local Champs Run the Comrades

31 awareness

Vigilant Citizens Prevent Crime

37 Soul & Spirit

The Village

38 Health & fitness

Will You Ever Be Completely Happy With Your Body?

42 creative writing

The Island: A Short Story

10

16

42

for everything roodeplaat

Page 4: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

2roodelife.co.za

Google AdWords Management

Search Engine Optimization

Social Media Marketing

E-mail Marketing

Web Design & Development

E-commerce Solutions

For more information contact us on: [email protected]

Echo 4x4 is a modern successful business in the off road camper trailer, caravan,

4wd industry as well as in the manufacturing of tents and other canvas goods.

Letting of commercial buildings, factories, blocks of flats, single unit

flats and houses. Sales of fixed properties.

At A.S.A.P Spares you will not only be able to find genuine affordable spare

parts for your Opel, Chevrolet, Citroën, Renault or Saab, but we can help you

source a specific spare part.

An authorized fitment centre on all products with a gold status VESA approval.

Having been in the industry for 20 years, we have an excellent track record of

outstanding service to all our customers.

The Beyer Group Incorporated offers a range of professional accounting

and related financial reporting services.

editor’s letter – July 2014

Welcome to our first edition of RoodeLife.

As you can imagine, our team is very excited about this

new project. This opportunity is allowing us to share

the latest news, write about our community and even

learn a few things too. There are so many places in the

Roodeplaat area which most of us have not seen or

even heard of before. These are the kind of places that we want to find,

explore and then write about. These places highlight the beauty of the

area, reminding us of just how lucky we are to live here.

The Roodeplaat area provides our children with a safe place, where

they can play and enjoy life the way we all used to when we were still

children. It’s a place where they can run around outside and ride their

bicycles in the streets, without a care in the world. Some of the estates

we will be focussing on include Kameelfontein Estate, Leeuwfontein

Estate, Pebble Rock Golf and Bushveld Estate, Sable Hills Waterfront

Estate, Riverside Country Estate, as well as the private residences and

smallholdings in the surrounding area.

For every edition of RoodeLife, we will be meeting up with local business

men and women, to talk about their achievements, where they come from

and ask them what it was that made them who they are today. Thys Maritz is

the focus of our first edition. He shares his thoughts and ideas, and teaches

us the value of planning your day, people skills and relationships.

Teenagers will be entertained by the short story written by the very

talented, Miss Karmen Wiid. She hardly needs any introduction, as this

12-year old student of Curro Roodeplaat is already well-known to be a

published author. And believe me when I say that her short story even

had me curious. I definitely think that everybody in the family will enjoy it!

Then we meet the Estate Managers of Kameelfontein, Leeuwfontein,

Pebble Rock, Sable Hills and Riverside. These are talented and

hardworking individuals, and I think it’s a great honour to learn more

about them.

One thing people of the Roodeplaat area have in common is

beautiful homes. As you drive through the estates, it is quite evident

that these people appreciate style and have plenty of it! For this reason,

we’ll be knocking on a few doors and sharing the splendour of their

interior designs. RoodeLife’s personal photographer will be taking the

photos, while we ask the most important question: what inspired this

look? I would like to thank Jeff and Sanet for opening up their home and

allowing our readers to take a peek inside. I’m sure that you too, will get

lost in just how elegant their home is.

Roodeplaat residents are big on good food and wine, which is why

our magazine would not be complete without taking a look at some

scrumptious, yet nutritious, food. Engela van Eyssen is a dynamic

woman who has written a few recipes and in this edition of RoodeLife,

she gives us a new perspective on various foods and also shares one of

her new recipes with us.

Of course, the only way one can truly enjoy such delights is by

keeping things balanced. In order to achieve this balance, Brenda van der

Merwe discusses ways in which we can keep fit, live healthily, and simply

feel and look good! These are just a taste of what you can expect to find

and read about in this first edition of RoodeLife.

Now, as I am sitting here, surrounded by wildlife, overlooking the

Roodeplaat Dam and watching the sun set, I cannot help but feel that the

life we have here is something out of a fairy tale. It’s a life to be envied

and one which we are lucky to have – away from the city noises and near

to those we love.

I sincerely hope that each and every reader enjoys our magazine and

I would also like to encourage you to contact me if you have a story to

tell our readers.

Happy reading and until next time.

Danita

▶︎ Letter from the editor

Page 5: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

3roodelife.co.za

Google AdWords Management

Search Engine Optimization

Social Media Marketing

E-mail Marketing

Web Design & Development

E-commerce Solutions

For more information contact us on: [email protected]

Echo 4x4 is a modern successful business in the off road camper trailer, caravan,

4wd industry as well as in the manufacturing of tents and other canvas goods.

Letting of commercial buildings, factories, blocks of flats, single unit

flats and houses. Sales of fixed properties.

At A.S.A.P Spares you will not only be able to find genuine affordable spare

parts for your Opel, Chevrolet, Citroën, Renault or Saab, but we can help you

source a specific spare part.

An authorized fitment centre on all products with a gold status VESA approval.

Having been in the industry for 20 years, we have an excellent track record of

outstanding service to all our customers.

The Beyer Group Incorporated offers a range of professional accounting

and related financial reporting services.

Page 6: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

4roodelife.co.za

» How long have you been the manager?

Since October 2004.

» How did you come to be the manager?

I had the joy of sharing the experience of building each resident’s house, except for the developer’s house, with all the blood, sweat and tears.

Coming from an agricultural back-ground, I was offered the position by the developer. I believe mainly because he knew my abilities, especially for human relations. The management of Pebble Rock requires a full-time employed manager as we are operating as a fully independent residential community. I passed the M100 inter-national course for Professional Com-munity Leaders during March 2014 with the support of my Board.

My position could be seen as acting municipal manager with his office, administrative staff and workers delivering all the duties and services you would find in a normal town. We maintain every aspect of the estate like roads, street lights, reservoirs, water and sewer reticulation. We also act as water service provider, providing the upkeep of our own sewage works, perimeter fence, etc. I liaise closely with all our service providers (water, waste removal, etc.), and the security staff report to and liaise with me as well. We take pride in all communal property and services being kept in proper working order. One must continually stay on top of every activity in the estate, observe, listen, and be pro-active to ensure the continuous welfare of the residents. Though the manager cannot possibly do every job himself, he should stay well-informed of every action and procedure in the estate, regardless of the nature of such actions and procedures, and be available to his Board, colleagues and staff whenever needed.

» What is the biggest concern for you as the estate manager?

We are experiencing times where the security and safety of residents has become the main concern for any management leader and that is why we are currently spending millions to upgrade the security. Furthermore, practising good corporate governance on behalf of the members is of the essence. The main area of concern and focus in my position is the collection of assessments (levies), strict financial control of the company assets, upkeep and application of a strict collection policy, and general maintenance of the estate. My main goals are to meet the needs of residents, preserve and enhance common property, to limit potential injury to residents and protect property values. Creating a special level of understanding and goodwill with all members is important and I thrive to be openminded and available to my members whenever needed for a quick word, help or assistance. » What would you like the

residents of your estate to know about you and what you do?

I believe in being a people person (yes, we do quarrel) and that is how my members know me and I think most of them realise and appreciate the effort I put in through my visibility, open ear and open line of contact, 24 hours a day. I would want to be remembered as a community leader working towards a safe, tranquil living experience for each and every owner. Without the loyalty of members and a supportive Board of Directors, no estate manager will and can ever perform to the standard.

Allow me to conclude by saying: Estate management is not a job, it is a passion.

» How can residents contact you?

Cell: 082 886 6796E-mail: [email protected]

Country Estate

» How long have you been the manager?

Four years.

» How did you come to be the manager?

Riverside Country Estate is a small estate with only 20 stands. I love to be involved in the community where I live and managing the estate gives me interaction with the various residents. I love a challenge! This combination gives me the opportunity to listen to the needs of our residents and find innovative, cost-effective solutions.

» What is your full-time job, if you are not only the manager of the estate?

Brand Manager at Novartis Animal Health

» What is your approach to managing the estate well?

Communication is key. Technology has made it very easy for residents to communicate with each other. We have a WhatsApp group where we communicate security issues / risks, power outages, and news about new or sick game. It’s a very quick, easy and efficient way to communicate. It’s crucial to have good communication with your employees. Make it clear what is expected of them and do not micro-manage. Getting input from the residents as to what the most important projects are that should be prioritised is very important. Involve them in the decision-making and keep them updated with progress. This is probably not all that possible with the larger estates, but because we are a smaller estate, it’s easy to do.

» What is the biggest concern for you as the estate manager?

Security. As the Estate Manager I feel responsible for our residents’ security,

but realistically each home should ac-tually make sure their own residence is as safe as possible. We continually strive to better our security and this exhausts most of our monthly budget, but we are fortunate that this is paying off as we have not had any serious incidents for many years, apart from petty theft.

» What are the top five areas that you concentrate on in the management of your estate?

1. Maintaining a good slush fund for unexpected events.

2. Finding innovative ways to bring down monthly expenditure.

3. Continual upgrading of security.4. Good relationships with residents

and employees.5. Improving aesthetics whilst keeping

the impact on natural bushveld surroundings low.

» What would you like the residents of your estate to know about you and what you do?

Managing an estate whilst having a full-time job, being a mommy and an avid marathon runner, is not as easy as everybody thinks. In our case there is no compensation for the duties I do in-between my normal everyday life. A thank you goes a long way and solutions rather than criticism will benefit the whole estate. I am lucky that our estate fosters excellent neighbourliness – this makes my job much easier and fun!

» How can residents contact you?

Cell: 082 878 3965 E-mail: [email protected]

pebble rock golf and Bushveld estate

Fanus gouws

riverside Country estate

Mirilene Swanepoel

estate Managers▶︎ Community news

Page 7: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

5roodelife.co.za

Kameelfontein estate

Marius potgieter

» How did you come to be the Chairman of the estate?

The Kameelfontein Estate is managed by a com-mittee that is elected at the annual general meeting of owners, and I was re-elected as Chairman of the estate’s management committee at the 2014 general meeting.

» What is your full-time job, if you are not only the Chairman of the estate?

In my private capacity I serve as a professional accountant in private practice, and like the other committee members, I manage the estate on a vol-untary and spare time basis. I am married to Louise and we have two working sons.

» What are the top areas that you concentrate on in the management of your estate and how?

In general, we have experienced a decline in the municipality’s service delivery, especially when they are approached regarding fires, roads maintenance, etc.The challenges that are a priority on the estate’s agenda therefore include:► Maintenance of the dirt roads on the estate: The

municipality denies any responsibility concern-ing its upkeep, and the maintenance costs are currently subsidized by contributions from the estate’s residents.

► General safety and security in the estate: As a re-sult of improved participation in the daily radio test calls, as well as the necessary patrols being done, we have noticed a decline in the number of adverse incidents in the estate.

► Fire prevention in winter, and assistance with firefighting when an incident is reported.

» What would you like the residents of your estate to know about you and what you do?

As the management we rely extensively on the co-operation of governing bodies in the region, such as the GPF, etc. We are also very fortunate to have excellent support from the residents of the estate when they are called upon. Unfortunately, there are the few who do not participate, but this is the exception, and by no means the rule.

» How can residents contact you?

Cell: 082 888 1477E-mail: [email protected]

leeuwfontein estatesWim Fourie

Wim is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leeuwfontein Estates Owners Association.

» How long have you been the Chairman?Chairman for three years.

» How did you come to be the Chairman?The Board is chosen by the members/residents and the Board chooses the Chairman.

» What is your approach to managing the estate well?

The Board must ensure that the Estate is well-managed and that the concerns of the owners are seen to. This is specifically important for the delivery of security services and the application of rules to maintain and protect the owners’ desired lifestyles.The Board aims to involve as many of the owners as possible through active committees that manage various portfolios with proficiency and enthusiasm.

» What is the biggest concern for you as the Chairman?

The unpredictability of our current government in their effort to undermine our lifestyle that is rooted in the conservation of our environment.

» What are the top five areas that you concentrate on in the management of your estate and how?

1. Security – Own guards on the premises, trustworthy fencing, good communication and alarm systems, residents on alert.

2. Administration – Keeping the community informed and happy.

3. Maintenance – All services, roads, etc. are maintained by a team of workers under the supervision of a committee.

4. Aesthetics – A committee ensures that standards are maintained.

5. Fauna and Flora – A committee ensures that the ecology is well-managed so we can live in harmony with the environment.

» What would you like the residents of your estate to know about you and what you do?

The Board strives to have the homeowners involved as much as they can, because an involved and informed homeowner is a happy resident.

» How can residents contact you?Through the admin office.

Sable hills Waterfront estate

Chris Jooste

» How long have you been the manager?

Since 2013 I have handled the day-to-day ma-nagement of the estate which entails a variety of responsibilities, from security to environmental management. Sable Hills’ personnel consists of 43 staff members.

» What would you like the residents of your estate to know about you and what you do?

I grew up in Krugersdorp. After school I went to the Army, became an officer in Oudtshoorn whereafter I did my border duty. I was seconded to 32 Bn as an OPS Officer for a few camps and did my last border duty in 1982.

After my basic service in the Army, I started to work as a Learner Official at JCI Limited and I qualified for a bursary to study Mining Engineering. After some years in the industry I did a diploma in Quantity Surveying and Project Management whereafter I did a number of Civil Engineering projects throughout South Africa.

I ended up assisting in the developing of Dikhololo and stayed on after the completion of the development until 1998. I am a keen lover of wildlife and specialised in darting (immobilisation) of game. I was involved in a game capture business and also trained veterinary students on darting and the immobilisation of wildlife. I assisted in the development of breeding exotic species of wildlife.

I am a keen motorcyclist and enjoy touring. I am also part of a motorcycle ministry doing evangelism and a co-presenter of a radio programme to improve the image of motorcyclists in general.Then, most importantly, I support the Sharks!

» How can residents contact you?

Tel: 012 819 1027E-mail: [email protected]

Page 8: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

6roodelife.co.za

Page 9: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

7roodelife.co.za

Page 10: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

8roodelife.co.za

Page 11: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

The first Young At Heart get-together at Sable Hills

Waterfront Estate

Sanet van Biljoen and friends

organised the first Young At

Heart get-together, which took

place on the 17th of April 2014.

Being residents in the Roodeplaat

area, they realised that many of the older

residents in the Sable Hills Waterfront Estate

had only moved in during the past three to

four years. Staying in a new area, which is

fifteen kilometres out of town, can get rather

lonely as most family and friends tend to be

busy, while others now live quite a distance

away. This is how and why the first Young At

Heart get-together, for residents sixty years

and older, came about.

At the first get-together, Sanet welcomed

everyone present, and then Liesel Krause-Wiid

gave a wonderful presentation on statistics and

proof that our minds never have to grow old.

Making the decision to keep one’s thoughts and

inputs positive has a massive impact on one’s

physical and spiritual wellness. After much

needed inspiration, the afternoon was prolonged

by snacks, tea and coffee, served on beautifully

decorated tables. The sixteen men and women

present really enjoyed meeting each other and it

was wonderful to see the group take the time to

relax, chat and exchange numbers.

We really look forward to creating a platform

whereby the older, “young at heart” residents

can meet each other, share interests and mingle.

We are also currently gathering information in

hopes of starting a few smaller groups who

share the same interests. Weekend getaways

will be investigated and planned. rl

Young

AtHeart

Therapeutic Reflexology from a Therapist registered with

Allied Health Professions Council SA Tissue Salts and Nutritional Supplement

Recommendations The Victorian Garden Organic Skincare Range Representative

c o n n e c t i n g t o w e l l n e s sJomaine van SchalkwykJomaine van Schalkwyk

Call: 082 888 8559 Email: [email protected]

At connecting to wellness we listen to your story, and support you on your journey to wellness.

SABLEMED MEDICAL PRACTICEDr Surene A Fourie - General Practitioner

MBChB (Pret), DRCOG (Lond), DCH (Lond), DFP (Lond)

1st Floor, Brent Oil Centre202 Kameelfontein Road, Kameelfontein, 0034

Postal Address: Fotonet Suite #121Private Bag x8, Lynn East, 0039

Doctor • Sister • Physiotherapist • Baby ClinicDiet Clinic • Counselling • Vaccinations

Vitamin Drips • Aesthetic MedicineMinor Surgical Procedures • Beauty

Tel: 081 777 0445/6Fax: 086 218 2256

You’re never too old. Unfortunately, you’re always too young to

know it. – Robert Brault

Young At Heart get-togetherWe would like to invite all residents

who are sixty years and older in the Kameelfontein area to contact Sanet van Biljoen Cell: 083 442 5381

for more information on the next Young At Heart get-together at the theatre in Sable Hills

Waterfront Estate.

She will gladly share any information regarding this group.

Community news ◀︎

Page 12: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

10roodelife.co.za

▶︎ inspirational living

Monica and Thys are still high school sweethearts after more than twenty years of marriage

▶︎ InspIratIonal lIvIng

Page 13: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

11roodelife.co.za

Thys Maritz is our inspirational entrepreneur for our very first edition of RoodeLife. Thys owns Karamen Projects and Construction and is the man behind many of the beautiful homes built in the Roodeplaat estates and surrounding areas. A family man at heart, Thys sat down with RoodeLife to tell us about his business and personal success in life.

Coming from the construction industry,

Thys is most certainly not the run of

the mill building contractor. His wife,

Monica, describes him as a “people pleaser” and in the

local Roodeplaat estates, he is known for being friendly

and good-natured with a warm smile and an approachability seldom

found on a construction site.

Thys opened his business in 2004 after working for the City of

Tshwane Municipality in the construction and maintenance division.

He graduated from the Pretoria Technikon (now the

Tshwane University of Technology) in 1992, where

he studied Construction Management.

He recalls his student years with many fond

memories, as he and Monica were both studying

in Pretoria. Thys and Monica were high school

sweethearts and moved from Newcastle to the

Jacaranda City to study. Monica studied BCom

Marketing at the University of Pretoria and is

currently a sales representative. They both graduated

in 1992 and were married shortly after.

Thys beams with pride as he speaks about his two

daughters, Karmen and Kara. His daughters, aged 10

and 13, are the highlight of his life. He describes them as the best gift that

he has ever received. He states: “There is nothing like the expectation for

your children to be born.” Father’s Day is specifically a special time in

the Maritz family and although Thys jokes that it depends on what his

children do for him, it really is the personalised cards and gifts Karmen

and Kara makes for him that gives this day its special meaning.

Monica and his daughters are the biggest source of inspiration and

motivation for Thys. They have played an essential role in his success, he

says. Thys describes his wife as his biggest supporter

and making his children proud, brings him the utmost

joy.

Another factor for Thys’ success is what he

describes as having the right combination of

personality and professionalism. “Mistakes cost

money,” he says, and he feels a deep responsibility for

every project that he works on. “Planning, planning,

planning” is essential for a successful project.

Coordinating the delivery of materials with the

building schedule is key to having a building project

run smoothly. Technical knowledge is not the only

attribute that Thys relies on though. His personal

approach to success is through honesty and in the way that he deals with

his clients and his workers. No matter how difficult a client can be, he

maintains that a good attitude is essential to the success of the project.

Success is, however, not just about a certain financial position for

Thys. He describes success as “a variation of different things that come

together through the personal choices that you make.” For him, success

depends on the person that you choose to marry and even simple choices

like what school your children go to. A normal day

for Thys may start off with getting his daughters to

school and then going to sites and attending meetings

for the rest of the day, but it is in these choices where

he applies his strategy for successful living.

The challenges for Thys to own his own business

and to work from home have not gone unnoticed in his

life. Maintaining business hours is always a challenge

as clients often phone after hours or on the weekend,

but for Thys, a balanced approach and maintaining

his priorities has allowed him to overcome these

challenges. “The fact that my office is at my house,

makes it considerably more difficult as it is more of a challenge because

you are never away from work.” To overcome these challenges, he enforces

time management. “At a certain time I have to realise that I have to get out

of the office now and spend time with my family.”

As a resident of Pebble Rock Golf and Bushveld Estate, Thys also

attributes community living to his success. The exclusivity of life in the

Roodeplaat area has allowed him to become better acquainted with the tightly

knit community and in doing so, help his business to gain more exposure.

The Best of Both Worlds

Success is a variation of different things that

come together through the

personal choices that you make.

InspIratIonal lIvIng ◀︎

Page 14: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

12roodelife.co.za

His modesty and gratitude for living in this community

has been a driving force behind his success too.

Being part of the community has brought Thys

the best of two worlds. Not only does he experience

family living here, but the setting for his day-to-day

work is picturesque. “The giraffes come to visit me on

site here. Every morning we need to chase the zebras

out of the building site.” As a nature enthusiast, Thys

counts his blessings to work in an area where he can

be surrounded by the bushveld. Another benefit of

the area is that, although it is out of the city, it is

not too far from the city. A short drive for Thys and

the community takes them straight into the buzzing

city life again where they have full access to all the

conveniences that it has to offer.

Settling in the Roodeplaat area in 2002 was a

lifestyle decision for Thys and Monica. Thys jokingly

confesses that he will rather go to the bushveld than

to the sea. Building their lives and his house in this

community has brought them their desired happiness and quality of life.

Being able to work and live in this environment has been a highlight for

Thys. “When I tell people what I see every day, they can’t believe it. It’s

not necessary for me to go to the game parks.”

One of Thys’ most memorable building projects was the Biehler

house at Leeuwfontein. The architect was incredibly green conscious

and that approach was taken throughout the building of the house too.

“We did a house on the hill that was built in the bush and none of the

trees were removed during the building of it.” The logistics of building

the house are most memorable for Thys, as he recalls how he and his

team had to map out the routes to get the construction vehicles up the

mountain, while still maintaining the natural integrity of the building site.

Thys advises other entrepreneurs to keep their attitudes in check in

order to attain success. His personal approach is to always treat others

with respect. Thys has been

commended by his clients

for always keeping his cool

and he says that he will

rather reprimand someone

in private than in front of everybody. Appealing to a

person’s dignity has granted him a great deal of favour

in his career.

Building to his personal standard and maintaining a

certain quality of work is important to Thys. “Building

a house is a monument and owning property is the best

investment that you can make,” he continues. “The

value of a good quality house is in the waiting time to

do it correctly.” Karamen Projects’ mission statement

reflects these sentiments exactly, “At Karamen

Projects we believe it is critical to build and maintain

an excellent working relationship with our clients. We

strive for excellence in everything we do, putting the

need of our clients first and making every effort to

take that extra step.”

On the weekends, Thys and his family spend time at home to

socialise with friends and enjoy a braai together. Family outings to the

movies and the shopping centres are a favourite too. Thys is an avid

golfer and plays at the Pebble Rock Golf Course. He is also a keen

hunter and a member of the SA Hunters and Game Conservation

Association. As a big supporter of game conservation, Thys believes

in doing the sport for the outdoor attraction and not for the trophies.

His motto is to stay humble and thankful for what he has. “In a time

like we are in now, where things are so upside down, it is important to stop

and reflect on what you have done and where you have come from and

then to be thankful for that and not worry too much about the future.”

The value of a good quality house is in the waiting time to do it correctly.

----------------------------------------------------------------rl — Nicol olivier

Photographs by Shireen alberts

Monica and Thys with their Yorkie, Kita

The Maritz family: Monica and Thys with their two beautiful daughters, Karmen and Kara

Thys’ favourite braai food

A medium rump steak with a potbrood or his

favourite recipe for game is also a winner.

▶︎ InspIratIonal lIvIng

Page 15: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

13roodelife.co.za

AdvertoriAl ◀︎

Page 16: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

14roodelife.co.za

Let me share my story…

I’m a business woman, mother, wife and many

other roles that do not have official titles. I’m

also a corporate refugee… Just over 10 years

ago I stepped out of a high-end corporate job

to become an independent consultant, coach

and my own boss. Why? Primarily for a better work-

life balance (I thought). I still wanted an exciting

career, but I wanted to slow down – enjoy my family.

Experience better quality of life. Live a life of

significance.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you need

to dump your job and become an entrepreneur to get

a great work-life balance and live a

happy life – as a matter of fact, I

actually think it is more challenging

to enter the entrepreneurial or

self-employed world. No, what

I’m saying is that in this world of

ever-increasing demands and time-

pressures, you need to take charge

of your choices.

There is no single formula…As the strategic thinking partner of

smart entrepreneurs and business

executives, many clients ask me to guide them in

improving balance between work and personal

life… My answer? There is no single formula for

achieving work-life balance, but there are some

strategic choices you can make to get a more

satisfying, fulfilling and well-balanced life, both

professionally and personally (not that I always

manage to get it all done myself !).

Let me share nine significant choices you can

make to shift your balance:

1. Get Back to Basics – Your health is your wealth.

You need to take care of your greatest asset – YOU.

If you want energy to sustain yourself and get more

things done, you need to get proper nutrition, physical

activity and adequate sleep – that is, more than 7 ½

hours continuous sleep per night!

2. Build a Support Network. You cannot do it all on

your own. Ask for help and allow others to help you.

A good network of friends, family,

colleagues and your community is

invaluable!

3. Get Off the Guilt-trip. Guilt can

emotionally paralyze you and is one

of the greatest drains on emotional

energy. Use logic reasoning to

counter-balance guilt – rather focus

on the benefits of your current

work-life situation, than only the

draw-backs.

4. Get Organised. Good organi-

sation enables you to work smarter

and not harder. Implement simple systems and

checklists to get routine work done, keep a visible

schedule or calendar to coordinate personal and

professional activities of the entire household, and

steer clear of clutter. Everything should have its own

place at office and at home. If this seems like an

impossible task, why not enlist the help of a personal

organiser or assistant to help you de-clutter and get

organised?

Before you think that “Sleeping is for people who are

lazy”, THINK AGAIN! The book “Sleep for

Success” by Dr. James Maas and Rebecca

Robbins presents decades of research at top ranking

universities all over the world, as well as extensive interaction with Fortune 500 companies. These

figures got my attention:

Almost 65% of all adults are not getting

quality sleep, and there is a 19% memory deficit in individuals who are sleep-deprived, i.e. those who had less than 7 hours of quality sleep. Thus,

most of us are performing at only 80% of our

potential. This contributes to an estimated $66 billion in lost productivity in the

US annually!

If you want to succeed in both

your professional and personal life, you need to take deliberate steps

and make explicit choices to create your own bliss.

Manage Your Work, Manage Your Life

Top choices to succeed at work and in life.by Gina Mostert, Business Strategist

with inovizion

Feeling stretched in all directions? Overwhelmed by all the demands on your time and energy at work and at home? Over-worked and unappreciated? Yes? You might want to read on about achieving the elusive notion of work-life balance…

▶︎ AdvertoriAl

Page 17: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

15roodelife.co.za

5. Set Your Own Standards. Is it really necessary to be a perfectionist

on all fronts? Is it worth spending 80% of your time to get only 20%

of the result? Learn to let some standards go, as long as it does not

compromise yourself, your loved-ones and your employer.

6. Be Flexible. Organisation and control are usually good, but you also

need to be flexible. We will always be confronted with changes to original

plans. It is much easier to change our attitudes and get into creative

problem-solving mode than to change unfolding circumstances.

7. Communicate! With effective communication it is so much

easier to manage expectations, set clear personal and professional

boundaries and avoid unnecessary

misunderstandings. If we are able

to verbalise what it is that we

want, it is much easier to get it!

8. Set Aside Time for Yourself.

To be a good parent, partner and

professional, you need to be good

to yourself first. A good strategy

is to create some quiet time for

yourself on a daily basis where

you can energise, clear your mind,

develop your gratitude attitude

and set positive affirmations! You only need 10 to 15 minutes a day,

preferably before you dive into the hustle and bustle of the day!

9. Seek Opportunities for Quality Time. If you do not have a lot of

time with your loved ones, get creative to make the most of the time spent

together. Rituals build memories – create rituals to strengthen relationships

with you partner, children, family and friends. This can be as simple as a

regular date-night, special family meals, a weekly outing to the local farmers

market, or even a circle of friends weekend-away once a year!

Achieving a better work-life

balance is not something that

your boss, your partner or

anyone else can create for you.

You need to take action to change

if balance is truly near and dear to

you.

Here is my challenge to you…If you want to improve YOUR work-life balance it is time to make some

choices:

§ Identify at least 3 things that you want to change to improve your

work-life balance (for example, take Friday afternoons off; or

institute a weekly games night with the family; or have a 15 minute

coffee date with yourself…it’s your choice).

§ Write down the specific actions that you will take to do this, as well

as a target time frame BY WHEN you want to have completed it.

§ Share this with someone significant in your life, then take action.

JUST DO IT.

§ Start by taking personal responsibility for change and a better

work-life balance today!

About the Author: Gina Mostert is the founder of Inovizion. As a

business strategist, she works with executives, entrepreneurs, business

owners and independent professionals to plan for success, get more

organised and take decisive action to get the leading edge in their

businesses and lives.

By creatively combining the best of consulting, coaching and mentoring,

she helps clients to define exactly WHAT they want to be, have or do in

business and HOW they intend to get there.

Contact Gina on: [email protected] or www.inovizion.co.za

Effective communication can help us to negotiate for

better terms both at work and at

home! But we do not always do it!

Rituals build memories – and

that is all that remain once the time has gone…

AdvertoriAl ◀︎

Page 18: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

16roodelife.co.za

▶︎ StyliSh living

Page 19: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

17roodelife.co.za

RoodeLife had the privilege of being invited into the house at number 9 Warthog Avenue, in the Sable

Hills Waterfront Estate.

Modern Mediterranean Living

▼�The outside entertainment area that leads to the garden and water’s edge

StyliSh living ◀︎

Page 20: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

18roodelife.co.za

Right on the water’s edge of the Roodeplaat Dam lies the van Biljoen’s family home. Like a monument to estate living, the four bedroom house with a study, an entertainment room, a gym and a sunbed is featured for its noteworthy design and style. Built in 2006 over a period of 15 months, this house

continues to change and transform to suit the family’s needs. Jeff and Sanet van Biljoen designed the house in conjunction with Frik Wagenaar, of KFW Architects, and the building of the house was completed in 2008.

Jeff and Sanet, along with their two teenage children, Kyle and Duné, have created a home with family-oriented living in mind; this was specifically taken into consideration when the house was first designed. When you walk through the front door, you are immediately greeted by a Mediterranean-inspired, open-plan living area that is centred around a bar and positioned for family gatherings and optimal

socialising. Facing the water’s edge, the house features an extensive view of the Roodeplaat Dam through windows that span from the floor to the roof

across the complete south side of the house. The open-plan layout maximises the view as the shimmering water is always in sight.

The décor for the house was done by Sanet herself in order to achieve a personalised look and feel to the

house that accurately portrays her personality. From the kitchen to the living area, the house is tastefully wrapped in warm hues of red, orange and yellow. The colour scheme was selected to create a cosy

environment that runs deep with warmth and depth. A collection of carefully selected interior furnishings

create spaces in the house that are alive with character and appeal. The ground floor also has an additional room that is

currently being converted into a cellar, to further add to the house’s social appeal.

Built specifically for the van Biljoen family, the house is tailored to each of the family member’s needs and tastes. The bar and braai areas were must-haves for Jeff and the kitchen is tailor-made for Sanet, with

▲︎︎The kitchen – the heart of the home

▼�The custom-made bar with artwork▼�The downstairs living area

▶︎ StyliSh living

Page 21: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

19roodelife.co.za

----------------------------------------------------------------rl — Nicol olivier

Photographs by Shireen alberts

▼�The upstairs living area

its spacious layout, island and top-of-the-range appliances. As the children have gotten older, the house has adapted to their needs too. The en-suite bathrooms for each of the bedrooms mean that there is no sibling rivalry in the mornings. What was once a play room, will soon become a walk-in closet and the gym is being modified into an entertainment room with a pool table and games.

The warmth of the downstairs area is seamlessly drawn upwards through a column of block art in the same reds, oranges and yellows found throughout the house. The house has personally selected artwork pieces throughout, which blend the rooms together while each family member’s taste and style still comes through.

Sanet’s key to successful interior décor is to have your own taste

and personality reflected. Her friends eagerly agree that the warmth and comfort of the house is an extension of her personality. “Turning this house into a home was achieved by making it practical yet cosy,” Sanet says. We all agree that this is exactly what she has achieved!

StyliSh living ◀︎

Page 22: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

20roodelife.co.za

Are you trying to be healthy?

Are you totally confused

and discouraged by all the

advice on healthy food

choices in magazines and

TV commercials? Yesterday you were warned

by doctors against eating too many eggs

because it causes high cholesterol, but today

Professor Tim Noakes is advocating a high

protein and healthy fat diet, where an egg a

day is actually part of the meal plan!

Back to the beginningWhere do we start looking for “healthy food”

answers and who do we believe? Maybe we

should go back at the very beginning, when

the Israelites were promised “... a land of milk

and honey ...”!

Our forefathers enjoyed simple meals, but

in the course of time, the appearance of food

changed. With the wide variety of refined and

attractively prepared foods readily available

today, we find that problems such as obesity,

high cholesterol, coronary diseases, diabetes

mellitus, cancer and birth defects are prevalent.

The ancients might not have known

the word “antioxidant,” but they were onto

something with this list of “superfoods”:

wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates,

honey, olives, dry beans, almonds and apples.

Add to this, what the food health experts deem

as nutritional superstars, namely tomatoes,

mushrooms, garlic, peppers, dark chocolate,

broccoli, avocado, lemon, oatmeal and brown

rice, and you have the perfect list of food for

overall health. In this article we are going to

explore and find out exactly how on-target the

ancients were.

wheat Wheat cultivation, the

grinding of it into

flour and baking bread

with it, is surely one of

the most ancient

practices. Today, wheat is still one of the most

important ingredients of foods in our daily

diet. It is present in almost everything, from

bread to pasta and baked products. With

development in technology through the ages,

the processing procedures have changed the

structure of natural wheat so dramatically that

it is not always beneficial to the human body.

Tasty yes, but not always healthy! Eating wheat

in its refined carbohydrate form – cakes,

pastries, certain types of bread and pasta – on

a regular basis is very unhealthy. Refined

carbohydrates have a high glycaemic index

(GI) and are therefore detrimental in the

control of blood sugar levels.

wholewheat productsWheat is healthier when it is refined

as little as possible. Wholewheat products

(certified 100% wholewheat) contain 30% of

your recommended daily fibre intake and have

high levels of manganese and magnesium.

Wheat as a carbohydrate source provides

energy to the body and as a fibre source it can

prevent colon related diseases such as colon

cancer and the formation of bile stones.

Healthy Eating Habits from Ancient Times to Now

▶︎ Food & EntErtainmEnt

Page 23: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

21roodelife.co.za

Grapes, Blueberries and other Berry-type fruits

In recent years, the pos-

sible health benefits of

red wine were often

stressed in news reports

and this attention was

renewed with a report on an Australian biochemist,

Greg Jardine, who had created a new wine product.

This product is so heavily loaded with antioxidants

that it can be used to treat a host of ailments, such

as rheumatism and heart disease.

The ancient people therefore really nailed it

in making and drinking wine. It is, however, not

only in its wine form that grapes are beneficial

to health, but all types of berry fruit are rich

in flavonoids and antioxidants that protect the

body against the damage that free radicals can

cause. Antioxidants may also provide protection

against cardiovascular disease, particularly in

women, as well as keep the brain healthy and

prevent memory loss and even dementia.

figs This ancient fruit is

rich in potassium, high

in dietary fibre and a

source of calcium. A fig

a day helps to regulate

blood pressure and has a positive effect on

weight loss. Figs are very beneficial for women’s

health, especially when it comes to the

maintenance of bone density and the protection

of the body against cardiovascular disease. It

also helps with the correct functioning of

insulin in the body.

Pomegranates Pomegranates, strange loo-

king fruit seeds, are back

in fashion, especially in its

juice form. It gives colour

to any dish, from appe-

tisers to desserts. If you are looking for a rich

source of antioxidants, then pomegranates are the

answer. Pomegranates are also high in dietary fibre

and a good source of calcium.

You can feel free to use it liberally in cooking

to prevent high cholesterol, lower the risk of

breast cancer and to reduce the symptoms of

arthritis.

olives and olive oil

Not only is olive oil a

wonderful salad ingre-

dient, but it is also ideal

for cooking and baking.

It contains several anti-

oxidants, is high in monounsaturated fatty acids,

also known as “healing fats”, and in Vitamin E.

Olive oil and fresh olives protect the body

against colon cancer, it is helpful in fighting

gastritis and other stomach ailments, and also

reduces the effects of “bad” cholesterol in

the body by increasing the “good” cholesterol

levels.

Honey Honey is nature’s richest

source of antioxidants

and the health functions

of honey in the body are

numerous. It is considered to be an anti-viral,

anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent, and it is also

thought to have tumour fighting properties and

may thus protect against cancer. Honey also

contains healing properties to aid in the healing

of wounds and regeneration of muscles.

dry Beans, Peas, lentils and Soya

Esau gave up his first-

born right for a mere

pot of lentil soup (the

Book of Genesis) and

since then, we have witnessed how baked beans

have become a comfort food for many. Today,

we fully understand why, because legumes are

not only nature’s healthiest vegetable protein,

but it also has healing properties that extend

beyond every day health. The nutrient

composition of pulses complies with the

requirements of the prudent diet which

dieticians recommend to prevent and to cure

the degenerative Western diseases like

cardiovascular disease and cancer as mentioned

above. They:

ã are high in plant protein;

ã are high in soluble and insoluble diet fibre;

ã are high in complex carbohydrates;

ã contain several minerals and B vitamins;

ã have a low fat content;

ã are low in salt; and

ã contain no cholesterol.

A meal plan that includes pulses on a regular

basis, protects against and prevents diseases

such as colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and is

highly successful in fighting gastritis and other

stomach ailments. It lowers “bad” cholesterol,

and in combination with the prevention of blood

clot forming, it prevents heart disease. Pulses

are the ideal foodstuff for weight loss and when

combined with other plant protein sources in a

vegetarian diet, prevent malnutrition.

How to use these SuperfoodsThe Spinach and Bean Roulade Recipe is not just a clever combination of some of the superfoods from ancient times and now, but it is also a feast to the eye. It therefore not only helps to generate a healthy appetite, but it is also tasty and mouth-watering good!

-------------------------------------------rl — engela van eyssen

eating cakes, pastries,

certain types of bread

and pasta on a regular

basis is very unhealthy

Food & EntErtainmEnt ◀︎

Page 24: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

22roodelife.co.za

(Portions: 10)Roulade

75ml wholewheatflour 250ml skimmed milk 50ml margarine saltandpeppertotaste 5 eggs,separated 50ml Parmesancheese,grated 250ml cookedspinach,chopped

(600gfresh) 1ml groundnutmeg 2ml mustardpowder

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.2. Prepare a white sauce by heating the milk and margarine

until boiling point. Make a paste with the wholewheat flour and a bit of extra milk. Add it to the boiling milk and stir briskly to prevent the formation of lumps. Season well with salt and pepper.

3. Beat the egg yolks and add the yolks together with the cheese and spinach to the white sauce.

4. Beat the egg whites until the soft peak stage and fold into the white sauce mixture.

5. Line a baking tray of 250mm x 300mm with baking paper and spoon the mixture into it. Level the mixture.

6. Bake it for 20 minutes until golden brown and puffed.7. Turn the roulade out onto a moist tea towel and roll it as for

a Swiss roll.

TastyMayonnaise

125ml mayonnaise 10ml balsamicvinegar 2ml tomatosauce 5ml mustardseeds 1ml carawayseed 10ml freshparsley 1. Mix all the ingredients for the mayonnaise and keep in

the refrigerator.

Filling

125g cookedbrownbeansor 1x410g tinofRedSpeckledbeans 125g bacon,fatremovedandchopped 1 garlicclove,crushed 1 onion,chopped 125g mushrooms,chopped 200g low-fatcottagecheese 5ml basil 2ml blackpepper,coarselyground 10ml sherry(optional)

1. Fry the bacon until crisp.2. Sauté the onion and garlic until soft.

Add the mushrooms and fry until just soft.3. Mix the beans, bacon, onion mixture, cottage cheese

and basil.4. Season with black pepper and sherry.5. Remove the paper from the roulade and spread the

filling onto the roulade. Roll it up and place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes before cutting it.

6. Cut the roulade into slices and serve with the mayonnaise.7. Garnish with 50ml pomegranates.

a Merlot red wine complements the roulade

very well.

competition!Spot three Superfoods in the recipe and win a Bean Renaissance Recipe Book.

E-mail your answer and contact details to [email protected] marked with “Superfoods Competition” as the subject heading before the 30th of September 2014.

The winner will be contacted and your prize delivered.

Spinach and Bean roulade

▶︎ Food & EntErtainmEnt

Page 25: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

23roodelife.co.za

What do you think of our first edition of

roodelife? We’d love to hear your feedback!

You can also advertise on a page like this.

Contact Danita at [email protected] for more information and share your thoughts on Facebook.

Danita 082 751 4998

/Roode.Life

www.RoodeLife.co.za

Build at cost plus and save thousands!!Your Builder in Sable Hills

Nico Lindford(Project Management)082 555 [email protected]

House under construction in Sable Hills

Choose your own finishing

FOR SALE

Build at cost plus and save thousands!!Your Builder in Sable Hills

Page 26: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

24roodelife.co.za

for Comprehensive Financial Planning

Optimum Group Offices Coutrywide:Gauteng • Free State • Northern Cape • Western Cape • Eastern Cape

CONTACT US +27 (0)861 OPTIFIN (6784346)

[email protected]

RoodeLife Readers could save up to 20%* on their current

Short Term Insurance Premiums

To qualify for this offer contact [email protected]

*T&C’s apply

vision missionOur vision is to become the leading Financial Services

Provider in South Africa, and also internationally. We strive

to provide the most suitable financial advice and products.

With your best interest at heart we will combine superior

knowledge and the expertise of our group of professional

consultants and advisors to give you the tailor-made

product that will best suit you.

We believe that our clients are the most important

component of our business, to serve them with honesty and

integrity is our practice.

We harness the professional skills of well-trained motivated

consultants and portfolio managers, with the proficient

effect to deliver beyond our promises.

We believe that our personnel are our most valuable asset

and we equip them to exceed our clients' highest

expectations . We are committed to serving you in a

professional manner by finding out exactly what your needs

are and adapting our products and services to meet your

needs.

We will continue to develop our personnel and services

which we believe are our sustainable competitive advantage.

An Authorised Financial Services Provider - FSP 8143 & FSP 44659

0861 OPTIFIN

“Fame and fortune

may one day fade,

but a Optimum financial plan

will stand true”

- Elma Postma

“Regtig julle!!!

Dit bring vir my groot gemoedsrus

om te weet dat dié deskundiges

my finansiële portefeulje bestuur”- Bobby Van Jaarsveld

life • health • invest • insure legal • tax • finance•

Risiko, Gesondheid & BeleggingsOns span professionele adviseurs bied gespesialiseerde dienste in:�Lewensversekering �Boedelbeplanning �Beleggings�Belasting Beplanning�Pensioenfondse vir klein tot medium

besighede.�Groepskemas�Mediese fondse vir individue of groepe�Unieke oplossings vir aftrede en inkomste

beplanning

Kort Termyn VersekeringOns bied kwaliteit dienste in alle korttermyn versekeringsprodukte:�Persoonlike lyne�Kommersiële Versekering�Mariene Versekering�Lugvaart Versekering�Persoonlike Aanspreeklikheid�Konstruksie en kontrakteurs aanspreeklikheid�Wild en Boerdery Versekering�Aanvullende Dienste bv. verlengde waarborge

ens.�Unieke produkte volgens u behoeftes�Uitstekende tarriewe vir voorkeur kliënte.

distinctive knowledge shared with passion

RegsdiensteOns inhuise regsadviseur spesialiseer in die volgende dienste: �Testamente�Boedel Finalisering�Administrasie en opstel

van Trusts�Maatskappy Bemagtiging

Bate FinansieringOptimum Bate Finansiering bied die volgende: Huur Finansiering�Sekuriteitstoerusting �Inligtingstegnologie �Kantoormobilisering �Telekommunikasie

toerusting

Eiendom Finansiering�Residensiële Eiendom�Kommersiële &

Industriële Eiendom�Plase

Page 27: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

25roodelife.co.za

Protecting your health & wealth

It is human nature to think of wealth as something tangible like expensive cars, luxurious houses and lavish living lifestyles, but we intend to forget about the “unseen wealth” like a healthy lifestyle, a healthy investment portfolio and having insurance in place to protect these assets. The most valuable asset a household has is not any one of the visible things, but the person earning the income to provide for it. If something unforeseen like a heart attack, disablement or death should occur, a pretty picture could turn into a bleak one, especially if no financial provision was made.

Protecting your health and your wealth walks hand in hand, we interviewed two professionals in this regard. Well known Blue Bulls Team Doctor, Dr Org Strauss shared a few touching thoughts with us regarding the impact of critical illness and impairment on a person and his or her loved ones. Louwrens Smith, CEO of Optimum Financial Services Group, emphasises the importance of unseen wealth and the protection thereof.

Dr. Org Strauss While it is difficult to obtain accurate statistics of critical illness in South Africa we should note that the likelihood of being diagnosed with serious diseases such as cancer, Guillian Barre, motor neuron disease, multiple scleroses and many other neurological conditions have increased drastically over the past few years. We can start by thinking of people we know, whether they are part of our family or circle of friends, who are confronted with critical illness or physical impairment in such a manner that he or she cannot work or practice in their profession anymore.

A critical illness or accident which leads to disability usually comes without asking any questions or giving any warning. and could easily cost you your income and standard of living, in many ways even your self-respect and dignity.

A physical injury or illness could seem minor in comparison to the emotional and financial burden that comes with it. Suddenly you are dependent on the people who looked up to you, and don’t feel so untouchable any more, you cannot earn income, you have large medical bills to pay, and maintenance to your home and vehicle still needs to be done. A financial burden will lead to more stress which will deteriorate your health even more.

Disability and critical illness are the order of the day and are mainly driven by the pace at which we live and the general lifestyle allows us to fall into these “lifestyle traps”. While we participate in the race of life, we can either choose to ignore the possibilities that the underlying lifestyle diseases (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other stress related illnesses) are slowly killing us, or we can be aware of the dangers and fight back.

It is never too late to be serious about your own health and be in control of the things that you can change. If you know your body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, you will know where improvement is needed and you can change your lifestyle and eating habits accordingly. Be more active because there are no substitutes for exercise, and remember this famous quote: “a healthy body houses a healthy mind”.

Louwrens Smith We see people every day whom we presume to be very rich or wealthy when we look at their tangible assets such as their cars, houses, fancy toys, etc. but what we don’t see is their level of debt and their monthly repayments towards this debt. Far too often our income is used to fund lavish lifestyles instead of building towards our financial independence and creating true wealth.

These lavish lifestyles will only be maintained as long as there are available funds to sustain it. The question is then “What happens when this lifestyle can no longer be sustained?” This accentuates the need to live within your means and invest as far as possible.

When investing, it is not only important to earn a real return on your investment, but equally important to select the structure through which to invest, as each investment structure comes with its own pros and cons. These pros and cons include tax benefits, favourable fee structures, protection against creditors, etc. The wrong structure could hold serious long term implications and actually lead to an erosion of your accumulated wealth.

In our industry we had to bow our heads in shame due to poor financial advice by so called financial advisers too many times already. However, there are those who truly serve their clients and provide informed and educated financial advice. These passionate professionals build lasting relationships with their clients and structure their investments in such a way that a mutual definition of success is achieved.

If you have any queries or related questions please feel free to contact Dr. Org Strauss [email protected] or Louwrens Smith [email protected].

Page 28: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

26roodelife.co.za

Ons kan hierdie bladsy gebruik om al ons prestasies deur te gee, maar ons wil graag ons stories met u deel. Ghandi het gesê: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” By Kameelfontein maak ons die verskil wat ons graag wil sien.

Valentynsdag het al die kinders en onderwysers rooi aangetrek. Mnr. William Singleton het die tema deeglik ter harte geneem en was die lie� ing van die dag.

Duan-Marie Joubert, Khanyi Ntombeni-Gauteng Noord akrobaat. Corné Kruger-Karate SA-derde plek. Ruben Fick-SA Kickboxing

kampioen, 26 leerders-bo 80% gemiddeld in termyn 1 en 2. Baie geluk.

In 2011 raak ons betrokke by Dynamic Women for Children en 20 kinders wat elke dag baie � nansiële en emosionele uitdagings moet hanteer word deel van ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding.

Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women

for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in 'n suksesstorie verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en

naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

L/s Kameelfontein sê geluk aan Roodelife vir

'n pragtige tydskrif Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees

van 'n baie goeie inisiatief.

Op 15 Maart 2014 hou ons ‘n damestee. 'n Modeparade deur Kameelfontein se eie pa’s en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

aangewys.

Valentynsdag het al die kinders en onderwysers rooi aangetrek. Mnr. William Singleton het die tema deeglik ter harte geneem en was die lie� ing van die dag.

Duan-Marie Joubert, Khanyi Ntombeni-Gauteng Noord akrobaat. Corné Kruger-Karate SA-derde plek. Ruben Fick-SA Kickboxing

kampioen, 26 leerders-bo 80% gemiddeld in termyn 1 en 2. Baie geluk.

ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding. Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes

alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in

verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding. ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding.

Valentynsdag het al die kinders en onderwysers rooi aangetrek. Mnr. William Singleton het die tema deeglik

Duan-Marie Joubert, Khanyi Ntombeni-Gauteng Noord akrobaat. Corné Kruger-Karate SA-derde plek. Ruben Fick-SA Kickboxing

kampioen, 26 leerders-bo 80% gemiddeld in termyn 1 en 2. Baie geluk.

Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women

for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en

naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women

for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en

naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees

Op 15 Maart 2014 hou ons ‘n damestee. 'n Modeparade deur Kameelfontein se eie pa’s

Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees

Op 15 Maart 2014 hou ons ‘n damestee. 'n Modeparade deur Kameelfontein se eie pa’s

aangewys.

en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

aangewys.

en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

aangewys.aangewys.daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

▶︎ School NewS

Page 29: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

27roodelife.co.za

Ons kan hierdie bladsy gebruik om al ons prestasies deur te gee, maar ons wil graag ons stories met u deel. Ghandi het gesê: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” By Kameelfontein maak ons die verskil wat ons graag wil sien.

Valentynsdag het al die kinders en onderwysers rooi aangetrek. Mnr. William Singleton het die tema deeglik ter harte geneem en was die lie� ing van die dag.

Duan-Marie Joubert, Khanyi Ntombeni-Gauteng Noord akrobaat. Corné Kruger-Karate SA-derde plek. Ruben Fick-SA Kickboxing

kampioen, 26 leerders-bo 80% gemiddeld in termyn 1 en 2. Baie geluk.

In 2011 raak ons betrokke by Dynamic Women for Children en 20 kinders wat elke dag baie � nansiële en emosionele uitdagings moet hanteer word deel van ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding.

Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women

for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in 'n suksesstorie verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en

naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

L/s Kameelfontein sê geluk aan Roodelife vir

'n pragtige tydskrif Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees

van 'n baie goeie inisiatief.

Op 15 Maart 2014 hou ons ‘n damestee. 'n Modeparade deur Kameelfontein se eie pa’s en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

aangewys.

Valentynsdag het al die kinders en onderwysers rooi aangetrek. Mnr. William Singleton het die tema deeglik ter harte geneem en was die lie� ing van die dag.

Duan-Marie Joubert, Khanyi Ntombeni-Gauteng Noord akrobaat. Corné Kruger-Karate SA-derde plek. Ruben Fick-SA Kickboxing

kampioen, 26 leerders-bo 80% gemiddeld in termyn 1 en 2. Baie geluk.

ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding. Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes

alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in

verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding. ons skool. Ons voorsien vir hierdie kinders boeke, klere, kos en skoolopleiding.

Valentynsdag het al die kinders en onderwysers rooi aangetrek. Mnr. William Singleton het die tema deeglik

Duan-Marie Joubert, Khanyi Ntombeni-Gauteng Noord akrobaat. Corné Kruger-Karate SA-derde plek. Ruben Fick-SA Kickboxing

kampioen, 26 leerders-bo 80% gemiddeld in termyn 1 en 2. Baie geluk.

Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women

for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en

naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

Aangesien hulle ouers geen skoolgeld kan bekostig nie word hierdie uitgawes alles deur die skool gedek. Met die gemeenskap en Dynamic Women

for Children se betrokkenheid het hierdie verhaal in verander. Vandag word hierdie maats se skoolgeld, klere en

naskool grootliks deur die gemeenskap geborg.

Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees

Op 15 Maart 2014 hou ons ‘n damestee. 'n Modeparade deur Kameelfontein se eie pa’s

Ons is regtig trots om 'n deel te wees

Op 15 Maart 2014 hou ons ‘n damestee. 'n Modeparade deur Kameelfontein se eie pa’s

aangewys.

en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

aangewys.

en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner en oupas het die dames terdeë vermaak. Daar was gepronk en gepou en selfs hier en daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

aangewys.aangewys.daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner daar van ‘n hemp ontslae geraak. Die dames het superman (Augus Rocher) as wenner

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

012 808 9938/9 www.curro.co.za

School NewS ◀︎

Page 30: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

28roodelife.co.za

Laerskool Die Poort (012) 8080 820

Dit is voorwaar ‘n voorreg om ‘n

kaalvoet Poortjie te wees.

▶︎ School NewS

Page 31: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

29roodelife.co.za

Membership OptionsAffordable membership options to the

Club are currently available and those

requiring information can contact Pebble Rock

Pro Shop at:

Tel: 012 808 2242 / 0883

E-mail: [email protected]

Online bookings: www.golftimesa.co.za

Course layout: www.golfcourselayouts.co.za

Pebble Rock Golf Club – a Unique Golfing Experience

Pebble Rock Golf Course, nestled in the middle of the 247 hectare development of Pebble Rock Golf and Bushveld

Estate, is in itself over 6000m² and plays as a Par 71.

As one of the most affordable courses in Gauteng,

Pebble Rock provides excellent value for money

with a unique combination of perfect bushveld

surroundings, rolling fairways, well-kept greens,

exciting bird life and an immaculate view from a

spacious clubhouse. The course provides a challenge to high and low

handicap golfers alike. This unique course includes water obstacles at

11 of the 18 holes during the raining seasons, testing even the best of

players’ skills. It was designed, by Jovico Construction, for the golfer

who enjoys a good challenge.

Managed by co-owner George Smit and his team, the club is

becoming a popular destination for golfers and visitors seeking a

relaxing bushveld atmosphere outside the hustle and bustle of

the city. Our professional and friendly staff at the pro shop will

help you with your golf bookings and any other golfing needs

you might have. The pro shop has been designed with a lovely

view of the putting green, as well as the 9th & 18th greens.

Facilities:

ClubhouseBeing the focal point of the entire

estate, the clubhouse was aesthetically

designed by BILD Architects, not just

to complement the development, but also to offer residents, members

and golfing visitors an upmarket environment in which to socialise, relax

and enjoy the most beautiful sunsets.

The clubhouse is fully licensed and the spacious bar is a real oasis

after playing an excellent round of golf under the hot bushveld sun.

This superb facility can caterer for up to 500 guests and in the winter, it

is transformed into an inviting space with a log fire burning in the large

fireplace in the middle of the clubhouse.

Pro ShopOur spacious pro shop does not only supply every golfer with high

standard professional service, but also stocks the latest in golf attire. If

you are unable to find what you are looking for in their stock, the friendly

staff will source it for you.

-------------------------------------------rl — robin van eyssen (club captain)

è Clubhouse

è Halfway House and Restaurant

è Bar

è Function Facilities

è Pro Shop

è Pull Trolleys

è Golf Carts

è Locker Rooms

è Putting Green

è Practicing Nets

Contact Gerald

082 450 [email protected]

for more information.

LocaL SportS NewS ◀︎

Page 32: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

30roodelife.co.za

Local champs run the Comrades

Mirilene Swanepoel

On the 1st of June I was an eager beaver attempting to run 89,28km! This was my first Comrades Marathon and I

did things a bit upside down....I arrived at the start at 4am – waaay too early, but luckily I am a morning person and I had a blankie to keep me warm! I had nobody en-route waiting for me with supplies and I had no one at the finish line to take me home (hence no photo with the medal around my neck at the finish line and by the time I got home I was too tired to pose!) But my dearest husband drove 6 hours only to surprise me at 65km (for a full 3 minutes) before he drove the 6 hours back home! That was the inspiration I needed to finish the 89km in 10 hours and 32 minutes (2 minutes shy of my goal of 10 hours and 30 minutes). From 68-88km I contemplated many times to get on the “bail-bus” as I was cramping all over, but I pushed through and at the end I received a medal the size of a R2 coin!

This was the toughest but the most rewarding thing I have ever done! Thank you so much to all my colleagues, family and friends for all the phone calls, SMSs and well wishes! I am overwhelmed by all the support I received!

Karin Greyling

My preparation for the Comrades Marathon was a physical challenge leading up to the day of the race,

which was a gruelling 115 700 steps from start to finish. Every morning I woke up early for my daily run and on weekends I focussed on getting a lot of extra kilometres on the legs. From January to May I ran approximately 800-1200km.

While running the Comrades, I experienced something spiritual. Phillip ran in loving memory of his late son who was still in school when he sadly passed away. Chelaine ran in memory of her late husband who passed away the previous year at the Comrades, while another runner finished the race despite the fact that he was physically handicapped and had no arm. It was in this moment that I realised that the Comrades is not just about the 89km, the early wake up calls, or the sacrifices like giving up your weekends and watching your diet. Instead, the Comrades is about running for something or someone. My motivation was to

run the race with my husband by my side – a priceless experience.

After 56km I had to stop because of dehydration and diarrhoea. It was a huge disappointment and I cried my eyes out! They say that the Comrades only truly starts after 60km. It’s then that you need to keep a steady head. So I have not yet started the Comrades – I did the toilet run this year. But the Comrades will most definitely see me next year and I can’t wait to see who I’ll meet in that last stretch of 33km and what it will feel like to finish the race!

Chris SchutteA Beautiful Day

When it comes to the Comrades Marathon, five to six months is barely enough time to fully prepare yourself

for one of the world’s most challenging and well-known marathons. During this time, you not only have to train every day, but you also need to make sure that you have the right shoes and socks for the big day – as simple as it may seem, this is definitely essential.

People often look at distance runners like myself and ask “why?” Well, when you practice every day for six months and finally reach that finish line, how would you feel?

The Trip to Durban

It is the Friday morning before the Comrades and I’m spending the last few minutes with my little girl before we begin our journey to Durban. Last night, however, the nerves already kicked in and questions kept going through my mind whether or not I was fully prepared for this race.

Did I run enough kilometres? Did I run enough long distances to build my endurance and stamina? Were my times fast enough? Are my time estimations correct? But the biggest question of all was: Will I be able to finish the race?

When I took my little girl to school that morning, I wished her the best of luck for her final netball game she was to play the following day. After kissing her goodbye, she turned around and with great enthusiasm asked: “Daddy, are you going to win?”

“Daddy always wins my dearest”, I answered and then continued to explain how the Comrades Marathon is a victory to all who participate. It is the ultimate race of endurance and every single person, from the winner to the very last person

to cross that finishing line, is a winner!It is now 11h30 and everybody except my

wife, Lizhel who had to stay behind in support of our daughter’s netball game, are packed and ready for our trip to Durban. Whilst on the road we passed cars, minibuses and buses parading Comrades flags, messages and so on, but this was only making me more nervous for the big race!

At 18h30 we finally arrived at our lodgings and I wanted to make sure that I get a good night’s rest, so I did what any runner would do – I ate a juicy piece of 400g steak and enjoyed a nice glass of red wine…to help with the nerves of course. But I was missing my wife.

The Day Before the Race

On Saturday morning the Comrades Expo was cause of great excitement! Some people were dancing, while others played music, but everybody wanted to begin the race.

Without any difficulty, I got my runner’s number. We then moved on to give Durban’s economy a bit of a boost and bought a few more provisions for the race.

After a midday rest, I unpacked my stuff to get ready for the big day and to make sure that I had everything I needed. The checklist: shoes, two pairs of socks, Rehidrat™, magnesium supplements, sunblock and a hat, but most importantly, we were going to fetch my wife at the airport!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

At 02h45 on Sunday morning I was already getting ready for the marathon – both physically and mentally. The race this year was from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and by 05h17 I was at the starting line, waiting for the race to begin. After we sang the national anthem, the final countdown began, followed by the Chariots of Fire theme song. It was now or never! The canon shot fired and off we went!

Does all of Chris’ preparation pay off?

Does he get a medal?

Read the rest of Chris’ Comrades

experience on our Facebook page.

/Roode.Life

▶︎ LocaL SportS NewS

Page 33: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

31roodelife.co.za

Preventing crime and saving the

lives of our fellow neighbours is

not only the responsibility of the

South African Police Services,

but it is also our responsibility as

vigilant citizens. Being constantly aware and alert

of your surroundings, whether you are at work,

home or on the road, might mean the difference

between life and death, either for yourself or

those around you. The four major crimes of

murder, rape, house robbery and hijacking are

what threatens the safety and freedom of people

in all residential areas, with

no exception to security

estates.

The crime statistics for

2012/2013, which were

made available by the In-

stitute of Security Studies,

indicated that murder in-

creased by 650 cases, which

is a 4.2% increase and sexu-

al offences (including rape)

marginally decreased by

0.4%. Studies have shown

that a large percentage of

the sex crimes that take

place are perpetrated by

someone that the victim

knows. These types of

offences are referred to

as interpersonal violent crimes

and the perpetrators can be

family members, neighbours or work associates.

These types of crimes are especially traumatic

and if you suspect that someone in your house-

hold has possibly been raped, we advise you to

treat the situation with extreme confidentiality

and sensitivity.

Overall, house robbery increased by 3.6%.

It is important to always remember that even

though you might stay in a secure estate, house

robbery can occur anywhere and it CAN

happen to you. Installing a security alarm is not

always sufficient, seeing that many of us do not

arm the system when we or our employees are

at home.

Just like any other crime, hijacking can be

extremely traumatic, but it is possibly also one

of the crimes which we can prevent the easiest.

For the period of 2012/2013, according to the

Institute of Security Studies, hijacking increased

by 5.4% in South Africa.

By being vigilant and alert when in your vehi-

cle, you can prevent be-

ing a victim of hijacking.

Remember that once you

notice someone or some-

thing suspicious, please

do not place yourself in

confronting or challenging

positions, because you will

place your life and those

around you in great dan-

ger. Rather take stock of

any specifics about the

suspect and/or suspicious

activity and then quick-

ly get yourself and those

around you, out of imme-

diate danger and contact

your nearest police station

for assistance.

Crime is a sad reality!

The only real way to

combat crime in your area is to always be

prepared, be vigilant and be aware of your

surroundings. Make criminal activity difficult

and risky for offenders in your community and,

most importantly, stand together in the fight

against crime! RL

vigilant Citizens

prevent Crime

Some easy precautions include:

u When approaching or entering your driveway, switch off your radio and be alert. Be on the look-out for suspicious vehicles or persons in your street or driveway.

u Be alert if your animals do not greet you at the gate like they normally do.

u When returning home after dark, check with your armed response company if they are rendering rendezvous services. You would normally have to contact them 30 minutes before arriving home.

u Ensure that your gate closes completely before unlocking your vehicle.

u Generally, always drive with your windows closed and all your doors locked.

u �When�approaching�a�traffic�light,�be�alert of suspicious pedestrians and vehicles that are too close to you. Slow down and try not to come to a complete stop, so that you can drive off again when the light turns green.

u Always leave a space between you and the vehicle in front of you and do not take your vehicle out of gear when you come to a complete stop at�a�stop�street�or�traffic�light.

u Leave all your shopping, laptops, bags, etc. in the boot of your vehicle and only keep the minimum, such as your cell phone and drivers licence, in front with you and out of sight from predators.

Crime Out Loud has identified�various�hijacking

hotspots in the Pretoria area, and they are:

u Beyers Naudé Drive & Paul Kruger Avenue;

u Burnett Street;

u �Delfi�Avenue�&�Garsfontein�Road;

uStormvoël Road;

uWatermeyer Street;

u Nelson Mandela Drive;

u Various crossings on Simon Vermooten;

u Various crossings on Lynnwood Road; and

u Various crossings on Francis Baard Street.

This editorial was brought to you by Brendon Cowley of:C3 Shared Services (Pty) Ltd.

Specialists in intelligent video, fire and perimeter security solutionswww.c3ss.com

AwAreness ◀︎

Page 34: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

32roodelife.co.za

Now

I WANT to go

camping

▶︎ AdvertoriAl

Page 35: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

33roodelife.co.za

The hassle and hard work can be taken out of your camping experience. Without all

the time and energy that it consumes to pack and unpack your campsite you can

rather spend your time creating valuable memories and enjoying the experience.

Camping always has a few surprises up its sleeve.

Whether it’s the annual family camp or the

weekend away with the boys in the nearest bush,

a camping trip and everything that it involves

always tends to be a little disorganised. Spending

weeks in preparation for a big camp does pay off but who has

time to start packing the Bully Beef weeks ahead of the planned

trip only to forget your pillow? Let’s not forget about those

spontaneous camping trips where you land up cold, hungry, and

wet with nowhere to go but the back of your car.

If camping just feels like hard work but you love to get out

on the road and into the bushveld then there is a solution that

Martin Bezuidenhout and his team have to offer at Conqueror

Connection Zambezi.

AdvertoriAl ◀︎

Page 36: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

Enter Conqueror Connect ion/Opposite LockConqueror Off-Road Campers are available in seven different

versatile 4x4 camping units and trailers. If the word caravan

just came to mind forget it. These are no oversized bread loaves

with mismatched Tupperware collections and kitchen curtains.

Conqueror Off-Road Campers are the solution to so many of the

camping inconveniences of traditional camping.

Conqueror Connect ion/Opposite Lock ZambeziSituated in the Montana Value Centre Conqueror Connection/

Opposite Lock provides full-house solutions to their customers.

Martin and his dedicated team of 4x4 enthusiasts have a showroom

and workshop that can accessorise your 4x4 and set you up for any level

of camping whether you are new to the scene or a seasoned camper.

At Conqueror Connection/Opposite Lock the focus is on providing

tailored solutions for every individual that walks through the doors.

Conqueror is by no means a new name on the market either.

“Conqueror has an extensive dealer network throughout Southern

Africa. The Pretoria branch is the biggest of these and offers

service based on solid experience and passion.”

With over 21 years of experience in the market, Conqueror is a

market leader with excellent quality and service. Their reputation is

backed up by many happy customers that come back to Martin and

his team for every need.

“We don’t just have some sales guy, we have dedicated staff that

are passionate about what they do. Our

sales staff live and drive 4x4. We are not

salespeople, we give camping solutions.”

Opposite Lock is a leading Australian

brand that has been in the market for more

than 45 years. Conqueror Connection

Zambezi/Opposite Lock is an exclusive

fitment centre for these top class 4x4

products.

Martin Bezuidenhout

As the face of Conqueror Zambezi, Martin eats, sleeps and breathes Conqueror.He has a long standing relationship with the de Vries brothers (the Conqueror manufacturers) and has been in the industry for 9 years.

Favourite product: Conqueror Companion. “It suits my lifestyle for my family of 4. The Companion is perfect for lots of camping and cross-border excursions.”

Here are just a few of the benefits that Conqueror trailers and caravans offer:

◉�No more d isorgan ised camping

◉�Everyth ing that you need in one p lace

◉�Optimal use of space in a compact trai ler or caravan

◉�Organised and compartmenta l ised storage

◉�Personal ised un i ts equ ipped for your needs

◉� Suitable for any camping terrain, off-road or conventional

◉�Fue l economy due to l ighter towing

◉�Opens up a wor ld of of f - road poss ib i l i t ies

◉�No more bu lky and heavy tents

◉�Easy to store at home

◉�Easy to tow

◉�Easy to erect

Conqueror Connection/Opposite Lock Zambezi fits and equips the follow-ing to name only a few:

◉�Opposi te Lock

◉�Replacement bumpers

◉�Tough Dog Suspens ion

◉�L ight Force l ights

◉�LED l ight bars

◉��Frontrunner roof racks

and accessor ies

◉�Stofpad rock s l iders

◉�Takla seat covers

◉�Duel bat tery systems

◉�Alumin ium canopiesBelow: The staff at Conqueror Connection/Opposite Lock Zambezi

Top: The 1200 square metre property at the Zambezi Value Centre is a showroom for Conqueror trailers and caravans

CONQUERORCONQUEROROFF-ROAD Campers

CONQUERORCONQUEROR

CONQUERORCONQUEROR

CONQUERORCONQUEROROFF-ROAD Campers

“The World’s Best Off-Road Campers”

CONQUERORCONQUERORINTERNATIONAL

CONQUERORCONQUEROROFF-ROAD Campers

“The World’s Best Off-Road Campers”

CONQUERORCONQUEROROFF-ROAD Campers

Page 37: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

1 The workshop sees to the personalised and modular fitting of your vehicle and campers. 2 Jaco, the 4x4 fitment expert, fitting Tough Dog suspensions.

7 Replacement bumpers made to fit any vehicle and for any purpose. 8 A handover demonstration is given to the proud new owner of a Conqueror trailer. This is one of the value-added services provided by Conqueror Connection/Opposite Lock Zambezi. 9 Customers are given the best advice and service for their off- and on road requirements as well as their budgets. 10 Modular fitting, rigging and accessorising of vehicles. 11 Vehicles are rigged for optimum off-road experiences.12 The workshop at the Zambezi branch of Conqueror Connection/Opposite Lock. All units undergo

extensive testing and quality checking before being released to a customer. 13 The Commander caravan is the big boy of the range. 14 The seven different types of units are available to view at the showroom.

3 The Companion Camper (one of seven in the range) front showing the kitchen and ample storage space. 4 The Conqueror Companion rear showing the two double sleeping areas. 5 The travel blanket custom-made for the unit (one of the custom-made products). 6 The canvas factory produces custom-made canvas products.

Contact Martin Bezuidenhout on 082 415 2255 / 012 567 1378 or [email protected].

You can also check them out at the following:www.www.conquerorconnect.co.za/zam/index.php.https://www.facebook.com/conquerorconnection

roodelife readers are eligible

for a

special discount on 4x4 accessories.

Bring this article to Conqueror Connection in the Montana

Value Centre to qualify.

Financing options are available.

Let Martin and his team create the perfect solution for your desired camping

experience. You can also check them out at the 22nd Gauteng Getaway

Show at the Coca-Cola Dome from 29 – 31 August 2014.

4 5

1 2

6

987

10 11

12 13 14

3

Page 38: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

The only Independant Toyota Dealer in PretoriaPretoria-Noord Toyota, Gerrit Maritzstraat 597, Pretoria-NoordTel 012 546 0545

Now available at Pretoria-Noord ToyotaSPECIAL

OFFER

www.facebook.com/Pretoria.Noord.Toyota

AVAILABLE

KEEP THIS AD TO QUALIFY

The all new Toyota Corolla L E A D T H E WAY

Page 39: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

ODEON Electrical ccElectrical Contractors

Edeon SnymanCell: 082 309 4860Fax: 086 588 [email protected]

New installationsRepair and maintenance

COC’s

No, church is God’s children carrying

God’s Glory into our village. Thus, people are

the church.

For many, God’s Glory sounds so

mysterious, so untouchable, like a mist that you

drive through, but – and it is a big

but – God’s Glory is man

fully alive! His Glory is for

us to know His will and

ways for our community.

God has given us life, He

wants us to be happy and

live peacefully as a village,

and the church is the

facilitator that brings people

into His Kingdom.

Can you imagine a village where all the

people are living according to His ways?

Men who are living out their Godly purpose

and not just in their job description or

in an occupation, but in their identity. In

marriage, couples are living according to His

ways, because it was His initiative. Children

understanding that God loves them and that

He has placed them into this community for

a reason. If our village can believe that God’s

way is the only way, it will be a village that is

raising children to be fully alive.

If you ask me, church is not just a one day

event, but a twenty-four seven

lifestyle. I love church, I

love to come together and

celebrate the goodness of

God and the blessings He

has bestowed upon us.

We give Him thanks and

honour Him for what He

has done and is still doing

in our village, but our work is

not done until we live out our Godly

purpose in order to see our village become a

church.

I want to encourage every reader to

become part of a church, where you can be

empowered to live as a true child of God

and become part of God’s extraordinary

Kingdom. Remember that God loves you, He

will always love you and there is nothing that

you can do that will make God love you less.

He will not always like what you are doing, but

He will always love you.

May we as a village discover God’s great

love for us and His grace that has cleared our

lives from all sin and the consequences of

sin, such as guilt, shame and pain. It is in this

revelation that I live in Him, that I don’t have

to, but want to please Him.

The good news of the Bible is that we

have been recreated in Jesus Christ to do

the good works that God has predestined

for us. Christ is the example of man and not

for man, and we are made in His image and

likeness. Man is not bad but good, created in

excellence and Christ came to earth to show

us our worth.

We, as a village, must not forget that there

is a God who loves us and has blessed this

village. Let us too love and bless one another.

Rise and rise until lambs become lions.

-----------------------------------------rl — carlos coveiro at doxa deo

Noord Kampus

The

Village

'n Dinamiese Afrikaanse skool met 'n ryk geskiedenis en 'n landelike atmosfeer, slegs 'n hanetree van die woelige stad.

Ervare, toegewyde personeel bou daagliks aan 'n fondasie van goud op ons kinders se lewenspad.

OPEDAG

1 SEPTEMBER

2014

There is an African saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” and what a great one it is.

But I cannot help but wonder who is making sure that the village is looked after and

taken care of ? This, I believe, is the calling of the church.

Church is not just a Sunday event, nor is church just some building where religious

things happen or a place where people can run to when they are in need.

If our village can

believe that God’s way is the only way, it will be a village that is

raising children to be fully alive.

soul & spirit ◀︎

Page 40: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

38roodelife.co.za

After twelve years in the fitness industry, I have seen it all! People starve themselves during the week, only to overindulge over the weekend. Media, friends and colleagues all give advice, while the marketing and advertising campaigns try to convince us to use their

supplements, as recommended by the “experts”. Then there is the yo-yo dieting effect, where you jump from one diet to the next one, losing weight only to gain it again. But, at the end of the day, all that this leaves you with is enough half-used protein shakes and meal replacements to supply the whole neighbourhood.

Then there is the matter of exercise. At the beginning of the year you were all fired up, thinking that this year would be different and you were finally going to make that gym membership worth every penny! But alas, by February the kids’ school programme consumed most of your time and before you knew it, you had missed one or two training sessions, leaving you with nothing but feelings of guilt. So, to make up for it, you skip breakfast in the hope that your body will burn last night’s dinner as fuel. Nearing the end of March, you are almost back on track again and have more or less established your routine, only to have it disrupted once more by all the public holidays and long weekends during April. Sadly, this is the beginning of the end for many hopefuls.

If all of the above sounds familiar, take comfort in the fact that this is completely normal. We all look at fitness magazines and wish that we too could have bodies like that, forgetting that this is only possible if you

are willing to train a minimum of six days a week, eat 100% healthy for seven days a week, and drink no alcohol.

Unless you want to compete on stage for Miss Bikini or Mr Body Beautiful, why not give yourself a more realistic goal? I know a few professional body builders and bikini models, and trust me when I say that their bodies do not look like that all twelve months of the year. There are many dos and don’ts that body builders go through before a professional photo shoot or competition, one being dehydration, to enable the skin to tighten around the muscle for better results. They

do this to achieve a short term goal, but most of us are looking for something more long term, and definitely more realistic.

What is realistic?We are all built differently and we all have different capabilities. It is therefore important that you are realistic when you choose a training programme or exercise regime.

There are other factors too, which you should keep in mind. Your age, for one thing, will definitely influence

certain things, like muscle mass and metabolism. Also, hormones play a big role in ladies from the age of 40 and older. As a family, you can eat healthy, but not everyone will be happy with your steamed veggies and chicken for supper. You need to plan ahead and accommodate for everyone’s needs in the family.

For me, a realistic goal would be to feel comfortable in your clothes, to be able to play tennis with the kids without passing out afterwards, to eat healthy 90% of the time, and allow yourself a cheat meal over the

Will you ever be completely happy with your body?

▶︎ HealtH & Fitness

Page 41: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

39roodelife.co.za

Your Trusted Property

Advisor in the Roodeplaat area

Move onMove up

www.leapfrog.co.za

Please contact me whether you are buying or selling in any of these Estates:

Sable Hills Waterfront, Pebble Rock,

Leeuwfontein and Kameelfontein

Ilanga Lovell083 310 8668T 012 567 5882F 012 567 3392

[email protected]

weekend, without feeling guilty afterwards. On the journey to your goal weight, life goes on and you cannot hide in the closet and decline invites to social events simply because you are on a diet. Your husband/wife loves you for who you are, so do not spoil special moments because you feel fat– you never know when you will be making your last memories together.

There are many professionals who can assess and help you to achieve a realistic goal. While you are on your way to a healthier, better looking you, you can still enjoy everyday life. Of course you will have to make certain sacrifices, but not to the extent that it makes you unhappy.

We all have a responsibility to ourselves and to the ones who love us. You want to see your kids grow up, and they need you to protect and love them. So remember to do some exercise, eat healthy, and most of all, be happy with who you are!

A few tips from my side:

ü Find a photo of yourself where you looked your best, and work towards that.

ü Be more aware when you make food choices. Cut out all white breads, pasta and rice, and eat protein with every meal (it helps to build muscle).

ü Never shop when you are hungry and always have some biltong or nuts in the car to avoid the impulse to grab a fatty take-away.

ü Cut out any starchy foods after 15h00, but do eat some at breakfast and lunch, as this is your source of energy (oats, wholegrain bread, sweet potato or brown rice).

ü Drink enough water and avoid sugary drinks. ü Before going out to lunch or dinner at a restaurant, first eat

something healthy at home in order to avoid overindulgence. ü Choose an exercise that you enjoy and book time for yourself to do

this chosen exercise at least three times a week for an hour. ü If you do not enjoy training on your own, join a group or get a

personal trainer. ü Push through the winter months! ü Be patient! If it was so easy to lose weight, everyone would be

skinny.

----------------------------------------------------------------rl — Brenda van der Merwe - Health & fitness professional

Present this voucher

to get 10% discount

We Cater any Functions;• Birthday Parties,

• Conferences,• Year End Functions...

Creating either a completely private or semi-private experience

Corner of Zambesi Drive & Veronica RoadMontana

Page 42: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

 

 

23 indoor stables Dressage arena

Grass jumping arena Lessons

Horses to lease Amazing outrides among the

game in the safety of the estate and surrounding farms

Sune: 0848133321 [email protected]

Kaleidoscope kuns klub is ‘n reeds gevestigde kuns studio wat reeds vir 8 jaar leerders van alle ouderdomme toerus met die nodige voorbereiding om hul kuns talent te leef en te ontwikkel.

Leerders word blootgestel aan ‘n wye verskeidenheid kunsvorme en mediums in ‘n ontspanne, nie-kompeterende atmosfeer waar leerders geleer word om hul eie spontane tegnieke aan te leer en te bemeester. Om in te skyrf kontak my gerus.

Arts & Crafts Studio

Kaleidoscope

Adres: 16 Eland Straat Sable HillsKaren Marais 082 077 3845

ELECTRO-PLUM cc

Emergency Electrical and Plumbing Services

New Installations and Maintenance

Marius Becker

Cell: 082-852-3265

Fax: 086-681-6211

[email protected]

Engela van EyssenTel: 082 388 0502

Pebble Rock Golf and Bushveld Estatee-mail/e-pos: [email protected]

www.justlocal.co.za/content/eetique-consulting

Faks/Fax: 086 617 0004

For frozen and fresh take home lasagne, chicken pie, bobotie filled pancakes and much much more!

TROOSKOSCOMFORT FOOD

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS/FISIOTERAPEUTE

NOW OPEN AT SABLEMED!

TES BOTHA LYNDLE SNAITH

SABLEMED, 1st Floor, Brent Oil Centre, 202 Kameelfontein Rd, Kameelfontein

T: 081 777 0445/6

We are looking forward to meet you!

ZELDA WOLMARANSOUDIOLOOG | SPRAAK-TERAPEUT

BComm. Path (UP)

Pr. No. 082 000 0232904

Gehoortoetsing en apparate nou beskikbaar

1st F loor, Brent Oi l Centre202 Kameelfontein Road 0035

Tel : (081) 777 0445/6

in die Roodeplaat omgewing.

You protect your eyes...Why not protect your expensive furniture, carpets and curtains?

Easy Tint works like sunglasses:Reduces heatReduces the glareProtects against UV raysEnhances privacy

Free quotationsContact Charlene 082 374 6707

or visit our website www.easytint.co.za

Page 43: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

dHdH

Cnr.Marija St. & Brac Ave.

P.O. Box 16004 Sinoville, Pretoria, 0129

DOCEX 1, SINOVILLE. Fax: (012) 567 6044

Tel: (012) 543 0954

[email protected]

VAN DER HOFF INCATTORNEYS, CONVEYANCERS & NOTARIES

• Property Transactions• Personal Injury Claims• Matrimonial Matters• Commercial Matters• General Litigation• Wills & Trusts

Present this 

voucher

for a free 30

 minute

consultation

We are not a team, we are an empire

WE JUST CAME BACK FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND

WON 3 GOLD AND 3 SILVER MEDALS. WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LOS ANGELES.

Do you want to dance at the the South African Championships or even go further to the World Championships hosted in America and Germany???

Do you want to become a top hip hop choreographer or become a hip hop dance teacher and open up your own dance studio???

You can achieve and become all that at Pulse Dance studio.

Our mission:

1. Best Hip hop coaching 2. Competing at South African Championships and the World Championships.

3. As much dance exposure as possible. 4. Hip hop exams and open up own studio or be a choreographer.

Pulse Dance studio is: Professional High standards

Specialized Result orientated

We just have it all! Where? At the German school.

1 dance class per week for 40 minutes. (If you want private classes please advise teacher Botha)

Ages: 4-13

Dance fee: R300 per month

For more info contact

Introducing the ultimate Hip hop!

Where are we? Curro Roodeplaat, Pebble Rock, Montana and Sandton.

Ages: 4 years and up.

For more info contact

Corlanie Botha 072 368 1254 or email [email protected]

Buy your R10 sticker at any Wimpy store, Reach For A Dream of ce, Makro, Hirsch’s store or Wakaberry, wear your slippers and support the hopes of a child ghting a life-threatening illness.

01 AUGUST 2014

Mathapelo, aged

15, h

as C

hro

nic

Re

na

l Failu

re

Dream

: To be a fa

shio

n d

esig

ne

r

For more info: [email protected] 012 368 1542 www.reachforadream.org.za

Bofsu

0

THB/37269/rl

7269_roodelife_toya_ad.indd 1 2014/05/29 9:58 AM

Page 44: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

42roodelife.co.za

It’s been four days since I’ve eaten anything. It’s getting harder and harder to breathe. I can feel my lungs caving in. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that sleeping on sand does no good to your back and

the fish seem to be getting scarcer each day, so I can basically rule out that source of food. I can’t go into the jungle… it’s too dangerous. I look out to the horizon in the hope of seeing a ship that can come to my rescue, but nothing. I don’t even have a clue as to where I am! There are strange creatures here. I’ve been here a full ten days and I have probably seen more in these ten days then some people do in two lifetimes. I can’t really say I’m blessed. I mean, the things I’ve seen… it’s strange, unrealistic, almost like I’m in some sort of twisted fairy tale. The lions here have four eyes and wings. The apes have the skin of snakes and I’ve seen the smallest of birds eat an elephant covered in moss. In all my confusion I’ve come to one conclusion: I’m trapped on a deadly island.

All I can remember is that our luxury cruise liner sank. I fell overboard and when I woke up I was washed up here. I’m all alone and the creatures, beasts, whatever you want to call them, can’t come onto the sand for some mysterious reason, so I’m safe here, but the only problem is… I will starve here, that is if I don’t go and search for food in the jungle. But for now I’d rather be alive and hungry, than be a midnight snack to some flock of carnivorous birds. That’s right, from what I’ve seen, the birds are definitely the most deadly, they’re like flying piranhas.

Now you’re probably wondering who I am… My name is Sam Johnson. I’m a fifteen year old boy of about average height and with reddish hair. I can’t say I’m too athletic, but I can write. Actually, I’m pretty good at it. I feel my butt starting to hurt because I have been sitting on the hard sand for probably twenty minutes, so I stand up. The sun is just starting to go down. It’s almost like a wonderful painting of Van Gogh. The colours of the late afternoon sun have a calming effect on me. For a moment there I actually forgot about everything. But that

The Island

By Karmen Wiid

▶︎ Creative Writing

Page 45: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

43roodelife.co.za

The Island

By Karmen Wiid

was only for a moment, because now the emotions are overwhelming me and I collapse on the sand. My thin, hungry body lays motionless on the warm sand.

✱ ✱ ✱

I can feel myself being lifted from the deep sleep I’ve been in, slowly regaining my consciousness. When I open my eyes it takes a while to get everything in focus. I try to stand up, very slowly though. I take a hazy look around me. It’s dark now. The stars are out. The moon’s reflection on the ocean moves with the waves, the air is quite chilly and I can lightly feel my flesh tingle. I don’t think I was ever in my life as hungry as I am now. I’m so bony and I feel naked. It’s a freaky sensation. Right then and there I decide I can’t go on like this anymore and I turn towards the jungle.

When you listen closely, you can hear the sounds of carnivores from deep within the jungle. My hunger overshadows my fear, so I set off into the dark and mysterious tropical haven. I head towards the southern side of the island, hoping that I am not making the mistake of my life. I walk further and deeper until I can’t see the beach anymore when I look back. I am scared. I jump at every little sound there is and it feels like I can go in a state of shock at any second. I hear birds above and an elephant a little to the west. The trees are so thick that it blocks out any light from above. I hear a loud hiss coming from behind me and I immediately freeze in my tracks. I slowly turn around… in front of me I see two very large paws with extremely sharp, long nails at the tips of each toe. My head automatically moves upward. The eyes of a very scary looking creature hungrily stare back at me. It has the paws of a lion, body of a camel, head of a rhino, teeth of a shark and tongue of a snake. I am absolutely frozen with fear. I try to scream but nothing comes out. I do the thing any logical person at this stage would do… RUN! I turn right and head straight into the trees. Behind me I can hear the creature breaking down the trees to get to me. I take the last drop of energy I have and plunge forward with new found strength. Suddenly the trees are clearing and in front of me I see a very old mansion. I rub my eyes to find out if I’m seeing correctly.

The mansion casts a giant shadow over the enormous lawn. All over are scattered leaves and there are vines on the sides of the walls. It has a strange feeling to it and by the looks of it, is abandoned. A couple of meters to the front there is a short wall to indicate where the property starts. On it is a small golden plate with the words Beach Grove Manor engraved on it. The wind, unlike all the other places of the island, seems to howl here, even though there are no trees in sight.

The moon casts an eerie shadow over the manor. Suddenly I hear the hiss behind me again and decide I have no other choice than to set off into the manor. I have no time to think of how strange it is to find an abandoned mansion on a deadly remote island. I come to a halt in front of the enormous double wooden doors. I push at one and the door slowly creeks open. I turn back to look outside, but I don’t see the creature anymore. Just as I want to step out of the manor again, the doors swing shut in front of me. I pull hard at the doors but nothing happens.

Just as I give up and turn back to face the inside of the manor, I feel a cold finger tracing down my spine. I shiver. It feels like the darkness is pushing its way in just to get trapped here. Inside it’s gloomy and even colder than outside. I try to wrap my head around this but I just can’t. It seems impossible but yet, I’m here…wherever here is. In front of me is a long spiral staircase leading all the way to the third floor. Its wooden boards look very old and will definitely snap beneath my feet. On both sides of the staircase there are a number of dark, narrow passages. I decide to take the one on my far left. By the looks of it, it seems to go on forever, but suddenly I bump into a wall. It’s a dead end. I go back to the front door. When I get there, the entrance to the passage I just went down closes up. I am not scared anymore, I am terrified! I go down the next passage. The walls on either sides of me start to move towards each other.

There are vines stretching up the walls, but they seem to never find their destination. I scream, but the walls block out

all sound, so I run back to the front door. With fear of not knowing what will come next,

I go down the last passage on the right side of the staircase. At the end I see a light. It’s a fire. It’s only burning in one place. The crackling of the burning wood rings in my ears. In the fire I see very vivid images of me running into the manor. I back up very slowly and suddenly find myself at the front door again. This time something is different. On

every step there is a lit candle. It smells of lavender and roses. I start to hear whispers coming from the

first candle. I can’t quite make out what they are saying. I unwillingly, but without a fight, start to follow the voices and I

trace the path of the candles up to the third floor. Now I can hear very clearly what they are saying. The voices are calling my name… the candles lead me to an old wooden door in the corner of the hall. At this stage the voices are screaming. I turn the old brass knob and everything falls silent. Then I see a flashing light…

✱ ✱ ✱

When the light starts to fade I hear the sound of hospital monitors and I slowly become aware of someone shouting my name. I blink a few times before everything comes into focus. It’s my mom! She is leaning over my hospital bed and screaming my name. When she sees I am awake she bursts into tears and falls back into her chair. A nurse is busy adjusting the mask on my face and checks something on the monitor. “What happened?” I ask in a shaky voice. “Oh my darling, when the ship sank, we all got into lifeboats, but you hit your head while jumping onto one. I’m so glad you’re OK, Honey”, my mom touches my hand. “You were in a coma and the doctors weren’t at all sure if you were going to make it…” rl

When you listen closely, you can hear the sounds of

carnivores from deep within the

jungle.

Creative Writing ◀︎

Page 46: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

[email protected] [email protected] www.poolhyper.co.za083 260 7041

We can do a pressure test on your system, as well as with a hydrophone to check if

there’s a leak or not.We can then determine exactly where the leak is.

We can do a pressure test on your system, as well as with a hydrophone to check if

there’s a leak or not.We can then determine exactly where the leak is.

WEEKLY

POOL SUSPECT A LEAK?SUSPECT A LEAK?MAINTENANCE

R550 pmFROM

You can see your advertisement

Here!Contact: Danita at

[email protected] or on 082 751 4998

for more information.

Page 47: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue
Page 48: RoodeLife July 2014 Issue

Are you the next main feature for the

upcoming roodelife? Tell us your story – we’d like to hear from you!

Experience a professional cover photo shoot for you and your family, exposure for your business and be

an inspiration to the roodelife community.

Contact Danita on 082 751 4998 or [email protected] for more

information.

For everything roodeplaat