The transition from holiday bliss to work takes effort. Something like a delicious escape into the pages of a great book or the scenes of an epic movie, an awesome holiday can leave you magnificently unprepared for the real-world responsibilities which lie ahead. When holidays near their end it is time to re-build your focus methods through simple conscious activities.

1. GEAR UP THE GREY MATTER
Prior to a task, calm your brain with some gentle deep breathing.
2. PRIZE THE OBJECTIVE
Understanding what the value of the outcome means to you, will help you to employ your best skill set most effectively.
3. BEST TEMPERATURE FOR FOCUS
The popular suggestion is around 20 degrees Celsius for clear thinking and productivity. This may be adjusted as age, weight and local climate impact on how individuals respond to the warmth or cold they prefer.
4. GOOD COFFEE MATTERS
Caffeine in the morning really does help physiological responses. Make sure it is a decent quality and try it black, with no sugar and do not overdo it!
5. DISCONNECT DURING YOUR LUNCH BREAK
Log out of your email program and unplug from social media, leave your phone in the office and take a walk outdoors. A smaller portion of healthier food and a larger dose of fresh air will prepare you better for the afternoon session.
6. CHOOSE YOUR VIBE
While noise can be distracting, your own personal choice of music can help you to channel your attention. Responses to music vary dramatically, so test and measure to understand what works best for you.
7. FOCUS IN PERIODS
Selected interruptions during a long drawn out task can help to optimise your attention span. Focus wanes over an extended learning session. We all respond differently to methods which can manage this, some find that a 2-minute stretch of the body and eye muscles every half hour is beneficial, others may prefer to slog on for a full hour and then take a quick walk. Pay heed to your responses to enjoying a break at different time intervals and then set alerts to remind you to honour the rhythm which you respond to best.
8. BE CREATIVE
When you must attend a long meeting feel free to let your creativity flow! The physical act of even mindless doodling can encourage recall. At the very least this activity will help you to stay awake and it reduces boredom.

Coffee remains the answer, however, it is not the only answer!

Supplied.

Established in 1995, Premium Cleaning is placing the "PRO" back into "PROFESSIONAL." I have a passion for the cleaning industry and my philosophy of providing my clients with:
Superior Service for both Corporate & Domestic Requirements
Peace of mind, Comprehensive & Sound Cleaning Advice
State of the Art Technology, Longer Lasting, Faster Cleaning
Specialist Oriental and Natural Fibre Carpet Cleaning
Minimal Disruption
Premium cleaning is the official service provider to Belgotex and Nouwen’s carpets for the KwaZulu-Natal Region.

My valued clients whether corporate or private are not just another entry in my invoice book, my aim is to build long-term relationships, the greatest compliment you can give me is a referral. Contact me today and experience service.

Stuart Grossi
Cell: 084 754 3887
Premium Cleaning

Investing in property can be a profitable venture if done correctly. Follow these tips and you will soon be well on your way to building a property empire.

1. Choose flats over houses
Most successful investors will tell you that smaller properties, like flats, generate a better return than houses.
If your budget can stretch that far, go for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom flat. The greater flexibility will make the property attractive to a wider range of tenants so it’s less likely to lie empty.
2. Be patient
Make sure that you weigh up the pros and cons of an investment before you commit. Always remember that property is a long-term investment. If you want to make money from it, you need to be prepared to be in it for the long haul. Don’t put yourself in a position where you’re forced to sell quickly because you overextended yourself financially.
3. Look for ways to add value
One of the best ways to make money out of a property is to add value to it. Renovating bathrooms and kitchens, for instance, will ensure you get a better return when renting the property out and make you more money when you’re ready to sell.
4. Become tax-efficient
You will never become a property millionaire if you pay the taxman more than you absolutely have to. Speak to a tax advisor on the best entities for buying a property and how you can save tax on your rental income.
5. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
If you were investing in stocks and shares, any financial advisor worth his salt would advise you to diversify your portfolio so that the risk is spread. The same would be true for property investments. Spread your property portfolio across different properties in different areas to minimise your risk.
6. Exploit local knowledge
There is little point in trying to spot a property bargain hundreds of kilometres away. You’re not an expert on the area and are not likely to be able to judge whether the location, price etc. are good or not. A bargain will be much easier to spot in your own backyard. It will also be much easier to keep an eye on your tenants if you live nearby.
7. Find professional partners you can trust
Unless you’re part accountant, part lawyer and part DIY expert you’re going to need professional help in building up your property portfolio. Finding dependable builders, lawyers and accountants is not just key to maximising your profits but will offer you peace of mind during a complex process.
8. Don’t turn your nose up at unfashionable suburbs
You don’t have to pay a premium for a property in a fashionable area in order to make a decent return. A property in an unfashionable suburb will often give you a return that is as good, if not better than a more “happening” one.

Link to article: https://www.privateproperty.co.za/advice/property/articles/8-steps-to-becoming-a-property-millionaire/297

News supplied.

Exciting holiday entertainment is coming to the Midlands from 12 to 14 July as the fresh, new cast of the Upstagers Dramatic Club provide four exciting performance at the Schlesinger Theatre, Michaelhouse.

The Diamond Snow, an adapted Agatha Christie mystery, is the inaugural production by a newly birthed Midlands-based theatre company, the Upstagers Dramatic Club which aims to provide ongoing classic and nostalgic theatrical entertainment for local Midlands audiences during each school holiday.

The cast of The Diamond Snow, consisting of local, professional and amateur actors, will be bringing four performances of heart-warming entertainment to the Schlesinger Theatre, Michaelhouse which offers first-class technical facilities, excellent acoustics and a dedicated orchestra arena for top-class musical accompaniment. All three days will offer 7pm shows as well as an exciting matinee performance on Saturday, 14 July at 2pm.

Make this winter holiday a memorable one by booking your seats today. Enjoy a welcome glass of festive Gluhwein on arrival to add to the winter cheer.

The Diamond Snow will be hosted by the Schlesinger Theatre, Michaelhouse, with performances on Thursday 12 July at 7pm, Friday 13 July at 7pm, and Saturday 14 July at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available at www.tickethut.co.za/michaelhouse for R80, and senior persons and scholars tickets at a cost of R50. Seats are limited so be sure to prebook your spot. For more information, contact William le Cordeur at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Pictured below; The cast of The Diamond Snow.

News supplied.

Another beautiful week of mid-winters bowling weather with cold nights but beautiful days.

Competitions
We had a brilliant morning of bowls on Friday 29 June when we played our Woodstone Craft Café sponsored 2 Bowl Trips Competition. This has become a very popular competition supported by teams from the Midlands and PMB. 18 teams fought it out for the honour of being this month’s winners and was the closest contest yet with the highest shot ratio being 26 shots and the highest shot difference a mere 10 shots. This month the winning team was Pat Bailey, Pat Bennett and Eric Simpson. Second place went to Peter Freer, Vic Rowell and Dave Brotton and the third prize went to Colin Burden, Julia Strachan and Bev Vorster. All the main prizes were sponsored by Woodstone Craft Café who operate from The St John’s Village Lifestyle Shopping Complex. There were also Toucher prizes for the first lead, first second and first skip to touch the jack with their bowls. These prizes were sponsored by The Treatery who operate from Yard 41 and were won by Marianne Taylor, Julia Strachan and Pat Bailey. Mark Schraader the owner of Woodstone Craft Café was away on business so could not hand out the prizes but ensured that we once again had some lovely scones for our tea time treats. As a club we would like to thank all our visiting bowlers for playing in this competition and special thanks to our sponsors for making it possible with their generous sponsorships.

Our members are hereby informed that we will be having a Club Finals Day on Saturday 7 July. There will be tabs in as usual but at the same time we will be staging the Men’s Singles as well as the Ladies Singles Final. Our next club competition will be the Halfway Toyota Howick comp which will be held on Wednesday 11 July with tabs in at 1.15pm

Special Congratulations
Our ladies participated in the NIBA Saunders Competition this past weekend and handsomely won their first round set of matches played at the Howick Bowling Club but lost in their Sunday morning match at the West Bowling Club. Our men too had an awesome afternoon of bowls in the NIBA Lambert Brothers Competition and succumbed to Collegians on the last shot of the day. Both the men’s and ladies teams can hold their heads up high as they fought to the bitter end. Well done all.

Regular Times Are:
Tuesday mornings Tabs in by 8.45am (Civvies)
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons Tabs in by 1.15pm. (Club Colours)
Visiting bowlers are welcome to join us at these tabs in times.

News supplied by Umgeni Waterfall Bowls Club.

It's done!
We have officially moved and expanded
our production premises in Howick.
Our new address is : 3A Mare St. Howick
(the old Mirror & Glass building across from Yard 41)

Over the past few weeks, we've had such an exciting time meeting so many new faces &, of course, welcoming our dear regular patrons into our new spot!
Pop around and see for yourselves if you haven't already :)
--------------

Recently I had a delightful day of collaboration with
my favourite shop in Howick,
"The Ruby Orchard"
and Dee During of "Dee During Photography"
"The Ruby Orchard" has long remained my "home and gift"
shop of choice.
It was a real treat being able to use their beautiful pieces of crockery, boards & platters coupled with the gorgeous textures of the their tables and chairs, to compliment & present The Cookhouse's scrummy meals.
Dee During, who adores photographing food, kindly took the special snaps for the day... We had such fun presenting, styling and of course snacking!

News supplied by The Cookhouse.

The ECR House & Garden Show, from 29 June to 8 July at the Durban Exhibition Centre, is embracing a fresh perspective with the 2018 theme “Home is Where the Heart is”, focused on redefining the concept of a home by showcasing timeless trends, functionality, with convenient comfort aimed at styling a distinctive space best suited to its unique inhabitants – its family.

Visitors can look forward to new features for the whole family, inspiring trends from well-known brands, exciting pop-up exhibitions, and solutions to interior and outdoor décor needs, all under one roof.

In partnership with Durban Tourism, the ECR House & Garden Show will present an exciting line-up of new features:

• Discover Durban Design will showcase Durban’s top design destinations, locally curated products, furniture and fashion, and the ever-growing creative community of talented individuals whose passions celebrate the country’s beauty.

• Highlighting cultural, traditional and contemporary food, the Discover Durban Cuisine Kitchen will celebrate local cooking talent with developing and renowned chefs as they present their top tips, inspired flavour combinations and favourite dishes in an interactive demonstration kitchen.

• Sip on your favourite botanical combinations at the new Gin Garden Bar in the Green Fingers section, previously The Gardener, while immersing yourself in the world of plants, garden care, and food gardening.

• Back by popular demand is the Foodie Fair, which will showcase why Durban is an international street food destination by bringing double the mouth-watering flavour; offering delicious street food, desserts, artisanal and speciality delicacies.

• Finding workable solutions to decluttering or redecorating children’s rooms or living spaces couldn’t be simpler in The Edit with well-respected stylist, blogger and founder of inspirational kid’s décor and handmade toys online store, Olly Polly, Genevieve Motley.

• Improve your painting and DIY techniques at the interactive workshops at the Builders DIY Pavilion, and find the latest technology, incredible deals and unmissable specials at Hirsch’s.

• Parents can look forward to a well-deserved break leaving their children with dedicated child-minders, and an abundance of interactive, well-known toys, games and learning material at the Melissa & Doug Play Space while exploring the show.

Be sure to diarise the exciting, once-off Pop-Ups that are guaranteed to make this year’s show even more memorable than ever.

• The much-loved Home Grown Design Fair will run from 29 June – 1 July, showcasing artisanal design and décor products made by talented, local crafters and design studios.

• A first for KZN, Geekville & the Durban Gaming Expo Pop-Up will be making a splash for gamers and comic fans from 5 - 7 July; including a 100-man LAN gaming setup, cosplay competitions, flash mobs, competitions and exciting prizes.

• Explore and discover destinations, venues, resorts, travel operators and the best deals on packages in the popular KZN Travel & Adventure Show; a Pop-Up celebration of life aimed at creating memory-making experiences with family and friends, from 5 - 8 July.

Whether you are looking for fresh ideas, practical concepts or great deals, be sure to diarise the ECR House & Garden Show from 29 June to 8 July at the Durban Exhibition Centre. Tickets are available online from iTickets or at the door. For more information, visit www.housegardenshow.co.za.

Issued on behalf of the ECR House & Garden Show by:
UrbanHouse Media
Tegan Mitchell
033 343 1893
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We could not have asked for better bowling whether for all the festivities we had planned for the past week. What a magnificent week of bowls it turned out to be.

On Tuesday morning 19 June we played the J Leslie Smith & CoCo sponsored 2 4 2 competition. First prize of a lovely meat hamper was won by Tim Blore & Jo Boonzaier and second prize was won by Mark Taylor & Julia Strachan. This day was followed by the much anticipated J Leslie Smith & Co sponsored Business Bowls Challenge. This annual competition was played on Thursday 21 June and is, in essence, a challenge to find the best Bowling Estate Agency in The Midlands. What an incredible morning of fun and laughter. It was indeed a closely fought competition with the Ultimate winners being Dormehl Property Group Howick team consisting of Pippa Griffin, Carol Segal, Tyrone Segal and Rita Aitken. They convincingly pipped the other Dormehl group into second place and Wakefields Wildcats ended third and Capcubed (the new kids on the block) came fourth.

This day would not have been possible without the brilliant initiative by J Leslie Smith & Co who this year got more sponsors on board. So special thanks to Misty Fall Spur, Il Postino, Maggies Coffee Shop, The Treatery, The Orchard House and local businesswoman Candice Hastie the owner of Annique@Impangele who provided the first prize. This competition is going to grow over the next few years due to your commitment to this community.

Special Congratulations
Special congrats to both Lisa Nagel and Bev Vorster for flying our flag in the recently held NIBA Novices Competition. Lisa and Bev both made it into the Semi-Finals where they both lost to worthy opponents. Your gals did us proud.

Reminder to all club members that we will be playing the Woodstone Craft Café 2 bowls Trips on Friday 29 June at 9am. There is still time to put a team in for this very popular monthly competition.

Regular Times Are:
Tuesday mornings Tabs in by 8.45am (Civvies)
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons Tabs in by 1.15pm. (Club Colours)
Visiting bowlers are welcome to join us at these tabs in times.

News supplied by Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club.

The only reason that KZN can claim that it actually has a winter is because it is cold in the morning and cold at night. As for the rest of the day…. Eish… it’s beautiful…and with beautiful weather comes beautiful bowling days.

Competitions
The Halfway Toyota Howick Sponsored competition was held on Wednesday 13 June in glorious sunny weather. The competition produced some scintillating bowling and was duly won by the team of Tony Gage, Derek Balfour, Tim Waring and Audrey Van Coller. Second prize went to the team of Ed Sharpe, Bruce Coldwells, Chantal D Hotman and Pat Ciro. Margie Wheelwright of Halfway Toyota Howick was once again on hand to present the prizes to the winners. Thanks again to the Halfway Toyota Howick for their generous sponsorship and ongoing support of our club activities.

By the time that this report goes to press we will have played our J Leslie Smith & Co Inc 2 4 2 Competition. We will report on this in next week’s bulletin. Our club will also be hosting the J Leslie Smith Business Bowls Challenge on Thursday 21 June and request that members please avail their bowls for some of our visitors to use on the day.

Our Men and Women’s Senior Fours acquitted themselves well at the NIBA Competition. Our men reach the playoffs where they narrowly lost.

Regular Times Are
Tuesday mornings Tabs in by 8.45am (Civvies)
Wednesday and Saturday afternoons Tabs in by 1.15pm. (Club Colours)
Visiting bowlers are welcome to join us at these tabs in times.

News supplied by UWBC.

Fern Hill Hotel will host a fundraiser for Funda Nenja at the end of July, this will take the shape of an Art Exhibition, Auction and  Gala Dinner with music by Charles Webster. Stephen Cloete (MSC Cruise Director) will be the auctioneer for the evening. Bookings are being accepted by Lisa at Funda Nenja, please call her promptly on 082 657 5201.  

Funda Nenja roughly means 'learning with your dog'.

It is a programme which aims to educate children and the community; care and responsibility for animals and at the same time develop respect and compassion for all living creatures through the medium of dog training classes.

The programme focuses on educating children while addressing animal welfare in partnership with uMngeni SPCA . Funda Nenja also focuses on child well-being by using the services of a social worker and promoting skills development for the youth.

What makes Knight Security Solutions different?
• Our 29 years of operation in the KZN Midlands region.
• Our hands-on approach by the Owners and Management of KSS.
• Our expert Technical teams with a combined knowledge of over 70 years.
• Our proactive Operations teams (Armed Reaction, Guarding and K9).
• Our highly efficient and competent Controllers that work quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes co-ordinating and supporting our staff on the ground.
• Our capacity to respond to and facilitate a response to all types of emergencies.
• That our Management Team and Mentors we are continuously looking at ways to improve, and that we value any feedback from our clients and the community as a whole.
• That we know and understand the needs of our clientele.
• That we really do care for our community – because we also live in it!
• Seriously – who else goes the extra mile like we do!

Remember – You ARE safer with Knight Security Solutions!

News supplied.

Howick Covered 2018/2019, the annual business directory with a big heart has been distributed.  If you live out of the residential delivery areas please collect a copy from Fern Hill Hotel, Il Postino, Ruby Orchard or MediClinic.  They move fast!

Thank you to all our advertisers for their wonderful support.

It is evident that Sandra at The Plan and Plant Nursery (at Fairways on Main) has been planning all year long for the upcoming annual garden show.  As a result, the nursery is looking great, with an impressive range of many plants, and if you are still crazy about succulents her stock will delight. The growing stock of white rock roses is especially desirable and will be available at The Witness GARDEN SHOW, 7 - 9 September 2018 at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg, open from 09H00 until 17H00.

Children from three schools in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands enjoyed a hands-on, fun-filled experience at the uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve, as they helped plant 250 indigenous trees as part of the Trees4KZN initiative.

The brainchild of local NPO, Blue Sky Society Trust (BSST), Trees4KZN is aimed at increasing the province’s tree count while educating KZN’s youth about why it is important to plant and nurture our trees. BSST recently teamed up with IT trailblazers, Network Configurations, and WESSA uMngeni Valley for the KZN Midlands rollout. They were joined by 120 children from Shea O’Connor Combined School, Corrie Lynn Primary School and Currys Post Primary School as well as little ones from Siyabonga Helping Hands and the Shiyas Bizali Eco Club.

“Great weather, magnificent surroundings and a bunch of people doing good - the feel-good factor was high!” says BSST founder, Carla Geyser. “During my many expeditions through Africa, I have seen the negative impact of deforestation. It’s a massive problem. We need trees to survive. They provide us with oxygen, shade and beauty. What’s more, studies have shown that tree planting is a sustainable way to combat the effects of environmental pollution. So, planting more trees is crucial and we’d like to see more people involved.”

For the 50-strong Network Configurations team, the day’s experience was both priceless and humbling, knowing that the trees they helped plant would be there for generations to come. “The children’s laughter and smiles were definitely the best part of the day,” says Ian Emmerson, Managing Director of Network Configurations. “Our team really enjoyed being able to work together in a natural environment, interacting with the children and witnessing their joy as they caught all kinds of creatures and learnt about nature.”

The Trees4KZN Midlands rollout received a huge thumbs up from the WESSA team that pours its heart into conservation education. “What a fantastic initiative for our beautiful nature reserve!” says Matthew Cocks, Centre Manager for uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve. “We are working hard to eradicate alien vegetation on the property, and by planting yellowwoods, acacias, cabbage trees and stinkwoods in the place of the resident gum trees, we are returning the valley to its natural state.”

The sobering message amidst a day of planting, learning and playing was not lost on the children and Cocks believes there could well have been budding environmentalists and conservationists among the group! Some of the comments received by the WESSA team include, “What a cool day! We had so much fun exploring the stream and catching all those awesome bugs!’’ and ‘That was the best day of my life, all I want to do is work on that reserve and protect nature!’

Pictured above: Network Configurations’ Operations Director, Erica Floweday, and founder of Blue Sky Society Trust, Carla Geyser, at WESSA’s uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve.

News issued on behalf of Blue Sky Society Trust by KZN Media and Communications.

It was a beautiful winter day today for the first farmers market held at the tourism centre in Mpophomeni. So much fresh, organically grown and delicious food on sale along with local crafts.

Grace Ngobese had tubs of amadumbi and new season dried beans.

Spha Mabaso had guavas, kale and amangoza (turnip tops).

Ntombenhle Mtambo's fresh vetkoek flew out of the bowl as did her just picked spinach, mustard greens and leeks.

Neli Ntombela sold local eggs - there were dressed and live chickens too.

The gardeners from Vuka Wenza - Mr Mtshali, Elizabeth Ngobese and Bonge Zungu had ibece and pumpkins, pickles and sweet potatoes.

Sabelo Xaba was promoting his Mpophomeni Horseback Tours, Nana Ngcobo of Ikwanathi made all the market signs with her cut out wooden letters.

There was music, sunshine, views of the hills and friendly people - what more does a market need?

Next Market Dates: 30 June, 14 and 28 July 9am to 3pm.
Contact Bongani Maseme for details: 065 982 7533

News supplied.

Harvard Electrical is the only ELECTRICAL WHOLESALER in the greater Howick area.

When you shop at Harvard Electrical you will find safe and secure parking and top class customer service.

22 Harvard Street, Howick.

To avoid the Taxi Rank - Turn into Bell Street, Drive past the former "Shoprite Building", take the first left, the first left again and you will find us in the complex on the left.

+27 (0)33 330 6193.

News supplied by Harvard Electrical Wholesalers.

Time for your children to explore the wild and have outdoor adventures this school holiday.

We need Eco Heroes to guard our planet for year's to come.

Reservations are essential.

News supplied by WESSA uMngeni Valley.

Polliwiggle Pre-School are open for enrolments for 2019.

From 3 months to 6 years old, Grade RRR, RR and R.

Their dedicated, qualified and experienced staff will take care of your child in a creative and safe environment.

News supplied by Polliwiggle.