CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA: Fabric pot holders.
South African Protea range
R125.00 each

Salad bowl covers. A proudly South African product.
Medium: R 145.00
Large: R155.00

Available at MUSHKA - Piggly Wiggly Midlands

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Get ready to make your home merry and bright this holiday season with our beautiful Christmas decorations!

We have a wide variety of decorations to suit any style. Shop our collection now and get ready to deck the halls in style!

About The Ugly Duckling

Many thanks to all involved in the Karkloof area for a very succesful rabies vaccination drive yesterday. We vaccinated over 150 animals in various areas of the Karkloof, from Hawkstone school, to Loskop settlement, to Yarrow school, to Windy Ridge farm past Mbona, to another settlement near Karkloof Canopy Tours, only finishing as it was getting dark.

Well done Sandra for organising and arranging the different locations and to Mfundo for giving up your day off to assist. And to Jess and Helen for the help. Each animal and their owner has to be recorded and a rabies certificate issued.

Thanks again to Dr Lee for volunteering her time and to Octavoscene for the donation of rabies vaccines.

Last weekend, despite the miserable weather, 5 Grade 6 teams came together to find out who would be crowned the Challenge Camp Champions of 2023.

The adverse weather conditions meant that many of the Outdoor Obstacle courses and activities were rethought, and new challenges that could be done indoors were set. Students spent time in the Hudson Reed Hall, partaking in 3 stations that included Rock Climbing, a Mountain Bike assembly, and a Rope Tying challenge. The team broke up for dinner and then partook in problem-solving activities that required quick thinking, group work, and communication—the evening ended with the nail-biting Rugby World Cup Final, where, thankfully, we took the win and celebrated in full spirits with one another.

The following day, after a brief night's sleep in Campbell House, the students went off again, this time outdoors on an orienteering course. On return, they entered the final challenge of bridge building using popsicle sticks and bamboo skewers.

The Challenge Camp ended after all the scores were tallied, and the position between first and second was closely contested.

The winning team was the Bedford View Primary School team, Marilyn Gasparini, Marcio De Oliveira, Faith Weldearegay, Mackenzie Mackay and Gugulam Ndebele (missing from photo). Top image here.

Followed in second by a mixed school team called the "Green and Gold"; Jabulile Mngadi from Nottingham Road Primary, Hadassah Rogers and Sarah Sykes from Treverton Prep and Avele Ndlovu from Montrose Primary School. Pictured below on LHS.

In 3rd place Team Clutch from Treverton Prep - Holly Roos, Lolly Foxton, Edward Wenyika, Reneilwe Mbatha and Julia Parsons. Pictured below on RHS.

Pictured here with these teams are staff members, Mr Dean Balie and Mrs Jen Townsend.

For further information please visit www.treverton.co.za

Supplied.

Handcrafted Deluxe Belgian Chocolates produced in Hilton

Contact Gwynne on 0716848026

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Instagram @ChocSenseHilton
Our product can be viewed on Facebook.

IDEA!!! Order chocolates to add to your Diwali platters or order one from us!

Diwali Platters – single chocolates from @R6 each, biscuits @ R8 each
Gift boxes – select from the list below
Assorted chocolates @R6 each , biscuits, fudge, mini slabs @R5 each, square chocolate slab embossed with a Lamp @R10 each, mini Happy Dwali slabs, chocolate spoons.

More about Chocolate Sensations

Drakondale School of the Arts was honoured to accept an invitation to open The Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation's annual growth forum with the “National Anthem” at Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg. The evening’s performance was met with rousing approval and requests for more when the program ended.

More from Drakondale School of the Arts

With your donations, our SPCA charity shops generate the vital income needed to look after the animals in our care and undertake vital outreach in local communities.

Previously loved items can translate into cat food, dog toys, veterinary care, shelter and much more.

Our charity shops do a rapid trade so we welcome previously loved items in good, working order: quality bric-a-brac, clothes, linen, appliances, household items, furniture, books and more.

The only way to find out if we have that one thing you absolutely is to pop in - often! Who knows what treasures you may find?

Find our shops at the Lower Quarry in Hilton, Merrivale Spar Centre, Greendale Centre in Howick, and Howick Main Road.

Evelyn Mutsvangiawa and Tiger have been attending the Friday afternoon classes at Funda Nenja for the last four months. Fourteen year old Evelyn said that she gave Tiger his name because “he has the colours of a Tiger and because he needs a big name to grow up and be a big and brave dog… and because he likes to use his teeth”. Indeed, young Tiger has beautiful markings and very sharp little teeth!

Tiger is an enthusiastic and energetic young dog, but Evelyn handles him beautifully. She is calm, gentle and encouraging and she absolutely adores him. “Tiger is my baby brother, I love him so much… I love him all the time”. “I hate it when I go to school because Tiger can’t come with me… I get very sad”.

Evelyn lives with her aunt, Precious, as both her parents work far away from home. Precious attended the first few lessons with Evelyn as she also wanted to learn about how to care for Tiger. Evelyn says that Precious wasn’t sure about getting a dog initially, “but now she loves him so much... she makes special chicken for him to eat”.

Evelyn says that the best thing about Tiger is that “he is always happy… and that he loves to play with me”. She says that she takes him walking everyday after school to see friends. “Tiger knows every one of my friends and he loves them all… he knows where they live and he runs into their house to call them for me”.

When she grows up, this very eloquent young lady would like to be “a singer”. “I sing to Tiger every day, he loves it when I sing as he listens by moving his head like this (from side to side) and licking my face”. She says that Tiger’s favourite song is “Halo, by Beyonce”.

More about Funda Nenja

From the New York Times–bestselling author of Cutting for Stone comes a stunning and magisterial new epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala and following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret.

In at Nuts About Books & Toys from October 2023.

Call: 084 555 3484

Visit: 3 Mare Street, Howick, KZN Midlands, uMngeni

Get ready for the festive season with our delightful Christmas Loaf.

Homemade in the Sunfield Kitchen, it's available at just R250. Your choice to support for local businesses means the world to us!

Place your order with Karen on 033 330 2094 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More about Sunfield Home

Race Director of the aQuellé Midmar Mile Wayne Riddin has said he was honoured to be named Coach of the Year at the KwaZulu-Natal Sports Awards but what made the accolade even sweeter was sharing the stage with his swimmers.

Four-time race winner at the aQuellé Midmar Mile and two-time Paralympian Alani Ferreira was named Sportswoman of the Year with a disability for a fifth time along with para-surfer Tracy McKay, while former Pietermaritzburg-based swimmer Matt Sates, who trained under Riddin, was named Sportsman of the Year at the ceremony held in Durban over the weekend.

While under Riddin’s coaching, Sates qualified for his first Olympic Games in 2021, won the overall World Cup series title that same year and then went on to win gold and bronze at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne in 2022.

“I was humbled and honoured to receive the award after a third nomination in this category,” said Riddin, who apart from coaching numerous Olympic and Paralympic swimmers has been organising the aQuellé Midmar Mile for over 30 years.

Riddin has been a swimming coach for 45 years and holds the distinction of being the only coach in South Africa to have produced an Olympic representative at every Games since Barcelona 1992.

“Obviously you don’t do it for the awards or accolades, but it’s always nice when the years of hard work are recognised,” he said. “What was even more special though was Alani winning the Sportswoman of the Year with a disability award. I’m very proud of what she has achieved in her career already and we are looking forward to what she can do at the Paris Paralympics next year.

“Matt’s performances in Melbourne gave me my first World Championship gold medal from a swimmer who came through my age group programme from as young as eight years year old. For him to be just 0,52 seconds off the world record has been the highlight of my coaching career and motivates me to hopefully get my leading juniors to Paris next year,” he added.

Ferreira said: “Obviously just to be a finalist is an honour. I’m always very proud to represent not just women, but disability and disabled women in sport so it really is an amazing thing to be able to even just be there… Obviously having Wayne winning Coach of the Year was also a validation of all the hard work he’s done to get me to where I am so it really was an incredible awards – a full circle moment with everyone being there and being recognised for all the hard work over the years.”

Meanwhile, planning for the 2024 aQuellé Midmar Mile is well under way with entries for the 8-11 February event having opened last month. The first of the seeding swims took place last weekend at Prime View Adventure & Leisure in Midrand, with the second scheduled for the same venue from 2-3 December and the third from 20-21 January 2024.

“This year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile was an incredible event as we celebrated our 50th anniversary. Next year we are planning another blockbuster weekend of activity for the whole family and encourage swimmers to get their entries in as soon as possible to be part of the fun,” said Riddin.

For more information and to enter the aQuellé Midmar Mile, head to www.midmarmile.co.za

Suppied.

Our sincere thanks to the parents of our children for the many donations received in support of our local uMngeni SPCA. The response from our families to the Pet Food Collection has been generous.

We know that the contributions wil be appreciated by the SPCA for the animals in theircare.

Summary of items collected:
205 Cans pet food
61 Sachets
380kg Pellets
1 Blanket
13 Bowls
15 Collars, leashes and jackets
2 Dog Beds
7 Cushions

Thank you to all who made a donation on KARI, an amount of R2980 was raised.

Well done to the classes who earned the most points:

Class Rank
Total Points Points/Learner JP
2S 1st - 360

SP 6J 2nd - 257

JP 2W 3rd - 217

More from HPS

What a week of bowls!

Early last week Kevin Palmer, Koos Marais and Colin Burden took part in the NIBA Veterans singles competition. The weather was more suited to ducks than bowlers with the gents playing in heavy drizzle and rain, but despite the awful weather they all persisted and played very well. Well done to all three players, and a special well done to Kevin who won both his sectional games very comfortably and then made it through to the quarter finals after a nail-biting game against Mike Hill from Park. He went down against Kevin Taylor from Howick Bowling Club in the quarters but gave a good fight and made us so proud.

Mention must also be made of Lisa Nagel and Wendy Smith who played in the prelim Masters this past weekend. They both had some great games and came away with two wins for Lisa and one for Wendy. Both ladies held their own against very tough competition and provided some exciting bowls for the spectators. In one of Lisa’s games, she made an amazing come back to go from 4-11 down to win her game 21-17 after 25 ends. Wendy also pushed the limits with one of her games being played through to 28 ends after peeling on 20 shots in the 27th end. Unfortunately, she just missed victory but still had a fantastic game. Well done to Lisa and Wendy who both made us proud to be UWBC!

How amazing it is to see our club and our players coming up through the ranks and really starting to shine…

That’s all for this week… see you on the greens!

Events to keep an eye out for…

Wednesday, 8 November: Halfway Toyota Drawn Trips 4-3-2-1. Tabs In 13h15
Saturday, 11 November: Greendale Spar Drawn Trips/Pairs. Tabs in 13h15
Tuesday, 14 November: J Leslie Smith & Co Nominated Pairs 2-4-2. Tabs In 08h45 (Book with Lisa on 084 586 6984)
Friday, 24 November: Dormehl Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45 (Book with Pippa on 083 467 8140)

Regular tabs in times are:-
Tuesdays at 08h15
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome. For more information contact Wendy on 071 353 2866

Coaching by registered coaches is available: Contact Colin or Bernice on 071 164 3162 for further information.

The Solitary Bees are out and about!

While we are at the tail end of the owl breeding season, we are heading into a very exciting bat and bee summer season.

The Solitary Bee species are already active, so now is the perfect time to buy a Bee Retreat or Bee Hotels for these important, unassuming little pollinators. Have a look on our website to see the various options for Solitary Bee houses that are available: https://www.freemewildlife.org/shop

Embracing Your Unique Path: Rediscovering Your Authentic Self
Life today is a complex tapestry of choices and opportunities, often resembling a challenging maze where self-discovery can be both exciting and intimidating.

We encounter various individuals who shape our perception of ourselves and our potential. Some genuinely inspire us to be true to ourselves, urging us to dream boldly, act without fear, and pursue our soul's passions. However, not all voices in our lives have our best interests at heart. Some who claim to support us often place obstacles in our way. When we muster the courage to chase our dreams, we face scepticism and hear discouraging phrases like "It won't work," "That's foolish," or "You're not cut out for it."

This creates a frustrating paradox. We're told to be authentic and follow our hearts, but sometimes it results in trouble or condescending remarks. For instance, when you decide to change your hair colour to express your individuality, suddenly it's considered "against the rules," and you face repercussions. The message is clear: conform to established norms and do what everyone else does because that's the "right" thing.

It's essential to remember that what's right for one person may not be right for another. Each of us is a unique individual with our own preferences, beliefs, desires, and needs. We have distinct perspectives, dreams, and passions. Conformity forces us to disconnect from our true selves. The more we conform, the more we sacrifice our authenticity.

We start wearing a mask, and eventually, this facade becomes our way of life. We do what's expected of us, make those around us happy, but deep inside, there's a persistent feeling that we're not living our own lives; we're living someone else's script. Our self-belief erodes, and we adopt the limitations imposed by others as our own.

Choosing Your Path
The good news is that you have a choice. You can continue living a life that doesn't truly belong to you, or you can take control and shape your own destiny. The first step is to believe in yourself and your dreams. Don't let others define your abilities with their limitations. It's time to break free from the constraints of conformity and embrace your uniqueness. You are deserving of a life that reflects your true self. Reject the mask, cast aside the doubts, and dare to set your own goals.

If you're ready to embrace positive change and embark on a transformative journey, I'm here to support you on your path to self-discovery and personal growth.

Call 082 290 5640

Amy Hughes, a Grade 9 student at College, has been selected for the U19 Inland Girls Cricket Team again this year. She is also playing for the Inland women's side and played matches against Mpumalanga 2 weekends ago.

Amy was also been invited to the SA U19 Women's Cricket Trials for the U19 World Cup last week in Durban.

For further information please visit www.treverton.co.za

Supplied.

The last week of October has come and gone in a blur and in we’re in November already!

We hosted our very first Amberglades Sizzling Sixties 2 Bowl Trips competition on Wednesday, 25th of October, and what a fabulous morning with 14 teams participating. Not only did we have a range of experienced bowlers, but also some non-bowlers from Amberglades who, after just one short session of “bowls 101” were brave enough to join in and roll on the day. The teams with the Amberglades players were allowed a 2 point handicap to account for the lack of experience, however with Neil having won a toucher prize perhaps they didn’t need it after all! Thank you so much to Amberglades for their generous sponsorship, and well done to the following teams:-

1st Prize: Ed Speed, Pat Ciro & Ann Marnoch
2nd Prize: Mike Scheffer, Jo Boonzaier & Julia Strachan
Plate Prize: Stephanie Crause, Egon Von Mayer & Pat Bennet

We certainly hope to see this competition become a more regular feature in the future.

On Friday morning, the 27th of October we held our monthly Dormehl Phalane Property Group 2 Bowl Trips competition. As usual this competition was very well supported with 20 teams on the greens vying for some great meat vouchers and sweet treats sponsored by DPPG. Congratulations to the following teams on a successful morning’s bowls and thank you to Pippa and her team at Dormehl for their ongoing support and sponsorship:-

1st Prize: Craig Whitby, Mark Taylor & Clark Logan
2nd Prize: Rian Van Rensburg, Werner Strydom & Gerry Van Rensburg
3rd Prize: Mariana, Koos Marais & Neill Birdsey
Plate Prize: Stuart, Steven & Sue

Well done also to Neil Bowles & Pippa Griffin for winning the 100 Club Cash Draw.

Lastly, on Saturday our club singles champions Mary Steytler & Colin Burden took part in the NIBA Champion of Champions competition where they both did their absolute best despite awful weather conditions. Congratulations to you both; you have made us proud!

That’s all for this week… see you on the greens!

Events to keep an eye out for…

Saturday, 4 November : Greendale Spar Drawn Trips/Pairs. Tabs in 13h15
Wednesday, 8 November : Halfway Toyota Drawn Trips 4-3-2-1. Tabs In 13h15
Tuesday, 14 November : J Leslie Smith & Co Nominated Pairs 2-4-2. Tabs In 08h45 (Book with Lisa on 084 586 6984)
Friday, 24 November : Dormehl Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Tabs In 08h45 (Book with Pippa on 083 467 8140)

Regular tabs in times are:-
Tuesdays at 08h15
Wednesdays at 13h15
Saturdays at 13h15.

Visitors are always welcome. For more information contact Wendy on 071 353 2866

Coaching by registered coaches is available: Contact Colin or Bernice on 071 164 3162 for further information.

Photo Caption: UWBC President, Kevin Palmer & Secretary, Sharon O’Brien with Sandra Turner Van Rij and Neil, our generous sponsors from Amberglades

The Country Christmas Market showcases local food and crafts produced by the Domino Servite school community. It is hosted at KwaSizabantu mission which provides the perfect family-friendly country environment. Pony rides, craft activities, games and inflatables keep the kids busy while parents chat, shop and eat tasty food by DSS catering. Good food, good company, good fun!

HOW TO GET THERE

https://www.dss.org.za/maps-and-directions