With just R200 a month, you could help us feed and provide veterinary care and ensure that your kennel is always ready to welcome any animal that's sad, frightened, or hurt.

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to play your part in giving lost, neglected and unwanted animals a second chance to find true love and a forever home. Businesses, that includes you too!

Your kennel will be named after you (or anyone you choose).

Section 18A Tax Certificates available.

Braai Board Special at Piggly Wiggly available for Heritage Day celebrations from Friday 23 September to Sunday 25 September in 2022.

On the menu:
- 200g Fillet
- 200g Boerewors
- 2 Lamb ribs
- Fresh green salad
- Chakalaka
- Our own homemade traditional ‘ujeqe’ bread

Cost: R290 for two people.

Why not add a local Weiss beer!

More about Piggly Wiggly Midlands

Spring has sprung and we are having fun at House of Organics, Howick. This is the perfect time to start planning, preparing and growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible weeds and flowers. At House of Organics we teach you what you need to know, using the resources and space you have available to you. Using biodynamics, regenerative permaculture principles, no dig gardening, you are able to grow organic food with the highest nutritional content with ease and save money. There are 4 Modules which you may choose to do all 4 in two days or 1 a day or spread them out over 4 months. Workshops are held in our urban food garden in Howick. You will receive a flipfile with notes for each workshop to take home. Workshops consist of teaching by Norma and practical hands on in the garden. Spaces are limited so booking is essential.

Contact Norma on 060 314 8498 for bookings and enquiries.

SEPTEMBER DATES AND MODULE CONTENTS:
MODULE 1: Organic, biodynamics, regenerative permaculture, no dig gardening, the best place for your garden, protecting your garden, what to plant when, regional planting guide, The Moon Calendar, Companion planting, possible problems with crops and pest control.
COST: R350.00 per person

MODULE 2: Understanding soils, soil nutrition, the importance of compost, compost making, Irrigation and waterwise methods.
COST: R350.00 per person
MODULE 3: Planting of seeds, mulching, caring for crops, crop rotation, succession planting, container gardening, growing seedlings, transplanting seedlings, harvesting of crops, harvesting and saving seeds.
COST: R350.00 per person

MODULE 4: FRUIT TREES -planting, maintaining, pruning, specific fruit trees, harvesting of fruit, pests and diseases.
COST: R350.00 per person

THURSDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER
MODULE 4: See above for content
TIME: 9am to 1pm
COST: R350.00 per person

TUESDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
MODULE 2: See above for content
TIME: 12.30pm to 4.30pm
COST: R350.00 per person

WEDNESDAY 28th SEPTEMBER
MODULE 1: See above for content
TIME: 8am to 12noon
COST: R350.00 per person

MODULE 2: See above for content
TIME: 12.30pm to 4.30pm
COST: R350.00 per person

THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER
MODULE 3: See above for content
TIME: 8am to 12 noon
COST: R350.00 per person

MODULE 4: See above for content
12.30pm to 4.30pm
COST: R350.00 per person

If you can't make these dates enquire about upcoming workshop dates in October.

Are you tired of power outages? No hot water - cannot cook?

Save electricity - save water etc. Trying to get off the grid as far as possible.

We can assist you! We specialize in supply and installation of gas geysers.

We also install and repair all gas appliances. We are registered and can issue a Certificate of Compliance for insurance purposes.

Please call Wayne - ‪072 409‬ 0047 for a free quote!!

Please take note, we are now situated at c/o Hilton Ave & Cedara Rd - opposite Crossways in Hilton.

More about Gas To Go.

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal celebrated Tourism Month yesterday, on the back of tourism figures that show that the province is making a resounding recovery.

Recently released figures by South African Tourism revealed that in the first six months of 2022 KZN received over 2,2 million domestic trips. This was just shy of the 2,6 million total number of trips for 2021 and indicates that the province is on track to beat last year's number of visitors by a landslide.

Another indicator of recovery is hotel occupancy. In KZN the trend is upward and equal to that of 2019. In July hotels, on average, were 68% full. That is four percent higher than July 2019 before Covid-19 hit SA.

This success was the outcome of a tactical and strategic provincial tourism recovery plan. A concerted effort by the tourism sector and marketing campaigns spearheaded by Tourism KZN.

This year’s World Tourism Day theme Rethink Tourism was appropriate given the recent hardships that the sector has endured, said Nhlakanipho Nkontwana, Head of Department for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental. He was delivering the speech on behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal MEC EDTEA Siboniso Duma, at the KZN Tourism Month Celebrations held Midmar Resort in Howick.

“The United Nations World Tourism Organization unpacks rethinking tourism as putting people and planet first. Bringing everyone, from governments to businesses and local communities together around a shared vision for a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient sector. This is the type of tourism that we want to see in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.

Turning to the Midmar Resort, Nkontwana said that the resort was undergoing a multi-million Rand refurbishment by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, which would transform the resort into a multipurpose destination that offers, in addition to its current activities, cycle hire, jet skis, kayaking, inflatables, boat cruises and kiddies play area.

In addition, Ezemvelo had packaged its accommodation with other outdoor activity providers. Through camping and hiking tours Midmar had been listed as a glamping venue by Gauteng Tour Operators, which had seen Midmar record more day visitors and overnighting campers in August than in previous months.
Nkontwana also outlined government programmes to assist in the transformation of the KZN tourism sector.

Transformation in the tourism sector is critical for the success of the tourism sector, he said outlining some of the projects to assist emerging tourism entrepreneurs.
Tourism KZN has reintroduced the Enterprise Development Programme through are calling for small tourism enterprises in the tourism sector to apply for capacity building support. This can be done on www.zulu.org.za.

An EDTEA initiative was hospitality business skills training, targeting Community Trusts managing tourism assets on behalf of communities.

“These are tourism assets built on land returned to communities as part of the land restitution programme. It is critical that these community trusts can ran their businesses well to ensure that the tourism products they manage continue to be productive and sustainable.

“We have seen perfectly productive businesses becoming white elephants when communities fail to run them properly after the land restitution process, and we are determined to ensure that tourism business are not listed as such,” he said.

Nkontwana acknowledged and congratulated the tourism trade for their resilience and enthusiasm to go the extra mile to ensure this vital sector survived. Domestic travellers too were thanked for keeping the tourism sector alive during the most trying of times.

He concluded by encouraging everyone to show the world that KZN was back in business, by taking part in a tourism activity be it a day trip with family and friends, a weekend away or taking a loved one for a fun lunch date.

Pictured here: Midmar Dam in the KZN Midlands was the backdrop for the 2022 KZN Tourism Month Celebration. From left are Sthembiso Madlala TKZN Board Chairman, Sihle Mkhize Acting Chief Executive Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Chris Pappas Mayor Umngeni Municipality.

Howick Prep Family Fun Day 2022 - Calling all Flea-Market exhibitors.

We are going to be holding a Family Fun Day in November. We are looking for market Exhibitors to join us on this fun occasion.

The site will cost R100. You would be required to provide your own table, gazebo, chairs etc.

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 033 3302070 for more information.

The European Film Festival in South Africa goes hybrid for its 9th edition between 13 and 23 October.

Festival co-director Magdalene Reddy explains that the festival will continue to cater for its viewers and followers who have become accustomed to the ease of watching films in the comfort of their own homes, while also providing for those who long to return to the full cinema experience. ‘This is our transitional approach of coming back to theatres gradually,’ she says. The online screenings will be free while a ticket price will be charged for the theatre screenings. Each film will have a single screening at both Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg and at The Labia in Cape Town.

Sixteen award-winning films, eight of them by women directors, will be screened. This year’s theme, Innocence and Beyond, explores innocence not just as a legal concept, but as a human quality. This includes two stand-out perspectives through the eyes of children in Petite Maman and Playground. Petite Maman is a tender tale of memory, friendship, and family by the gifted and often unpredictable French filmmaker Céline Sciamma, while in Playground Belgian director Laura Wandel deploys cameras rigged at child level to effectively portray the emotions and experiences of school bullying from a child’s point of view.

There is no set age for when loss of innocence can occur and a number of films focus on youth as they navigate the often turbulent process of growing into adults. From the Netherlands, Shariff Korver's slow-burning psychological thriller Do Not Hesitate depicts unprepared Dutch youths thrown into the crucible of war, a situation complicated by their naiveté when encountering other cultures. Swiss film Olga, by Elie Grappe, is a tense but sensitively handled tale of exile reflecting the clash between the personal and the political in a young Ukrainian gymnast's search for identity against the backdrop of revolution in her mother country. The riveting women-driven film Small Body is an adventure story infused with a wonderful mythological sensibility that earned Laura Samani the best new director prize at Italy’s David d’Donatello awards. How much does innocence inform a young woman's quest for love and meaning as she enters her 30s without any idea about her identity and purpose in life? This is the question in Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World, a Norwegian/ French/ Danish/ Swedish co-production that earned two Oscar nominations this year. Then, Stefan Arsenijević’s Serbian/ French/ Luxembourgian/ Bulgarian/ Lithuanian co-production As Far As I Can Walk highlights that it’s not just securing a roof over one’s head but also the challenges of emotional and intellectual deprivation that young migrants in Europe face today.

Is innocence solely about what’s right and what’s wrong? Sometimes it’s about what we don’t do. Sometimes it’s about making choices that impact both ourselves and those around us, and in some cases society and the wider world? Silent Land, by Poland’s Aga Woszczyńska, is a case of what the protagonists didn’t do, and how that leads to the collapse of a relationship. The film is also about the collapse of value systems in the modern world, about a general indifference to reality, and about social lethargy. Erik Poppe’s Swedish film The Emigrants is an epic period drama about a poverty-stricken family who emigrate from Sweden to the United States in the 1800s. Told from a woman’s perspective, their search for a second chance in life is, like the stories of migration in our current era, about a journey of hope. From the Republic of Georgia, Levan Koguashvili’s comedic Brighton 4th is a portrait of parental sacrifice and the love of a father for his son that also offers an authentic look at the immigrant experience and the elusiveness of the American Dream. Enveloped in music and humour, Ali and Ava, written and directed by one of the UK’s most distinctive cinematic voices, Clio Barnard, is about a couple from different cultural backgrounds beginning a relationship with a mixture of nervous excitement, openness and innocence. The Good Boss, directed by Fernando León de Aranoa, is the Spanish film in this year’s festival – it’s a hilarious satirical comedy about the indignities of working life, with the questionable innocence of Javier Bardem in the spotlight.

Overturning conventional definitions of innocence Austrian Sebastian Meise’s Cannes-winner Great Freedom explores tenderness, love, lost time, and the tenacity of the human spirit while chronicling an ignominious chapter in queer history. Portuguese director Catarina Vasconcelos’s unorthodox film The Metamorphosis of Birds sifts through the memories and dreams of her ancestors in an extraordinary homage that demonstrates how something deeply personal can be profoundly universal. Is a humanoid robot innocent? That’s one of the questions in the witty and delightfully entertaining German film I’m Your Man by Maria Schrader. It’s a spunky sci-fi dramedy that also asks what it is that humans want in relationships, and if AI beings should have rights.

Finally, the world is again witnessing and affected by a terrible war, and innocence is an unfortunate casualty during wartime, at all levels. Along with the already mentioned war drama Do Not Hesitate, there is director/screenwriter/editor Maryna Er Gorbach’s Ukrainian-set drama Klondike. About the travails of parents-to-be living near the Russian border this film couldn’t be more timely as it exposes the absurdity of war and how it affects those who aren't directly involved just as easily as those who are.

The EU Ambassador to South Africa Sandra Kramer comments; “This year’s European Film Festival has been inspired by innocence as a human quality. The festival’s theme – Innocence & Beyond – tries to capture our loss of innocence on a number of levels as we deal with the present and lay foundations for the future. I invite you to join us for the best of European cinema: award-winning films that will not only offer a temporary escape, but also a space for pause and reflection.”


eSwatini and Lesotho
This year’s festival extends its reach to neighbouring countries eSwatini and Lesotho with 3-day programmes of screenings and discussions taking place at the Alliance Française in Mbabane (21 to 23 October) and the Alliance Française in Maseru (28 to 30 October).

Side Events
Real-time Zoom panel discussions and Q&A’s with film directors will enrich the experience and understanding of the filmmaking processes and motivations as well as the topics raised in the films, while a programme of Filmmaker Engagements is formulated to inspire young filmmakers at film schools in South Africa. In addition, with an emphasis on youth, the festival will again provide a number of screening and discussion programmes at select secondary schools and community centres in different parts of the country.
For film synopses, trailers and how to watch visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za

The European Film Festival 2022 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa and 14 European embassies and cultural agencies in South Africa: the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, Georgia, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut, Italian Cultural Institute and Wallonie-Bruxelles International. The 2022 festival is presented in partnership with the Labia Theatre and Ster Kinekor The Zone. The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa and coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

Pictured here: A scene from Great Freedom.

Supplied.

This week is National Wills Week - a reminder to ensure you get a will drafted, or to make sure it is up to date! Plus, many law firms offer this service for free!

But why do you need a Will in the first place? Here are 5 reasons why having a Will is essential!

1 - To appoint a guardian for your children, ensuring they are taken care of by those you trust
2 - To protect your business
3 - To decide who receives your assets
4 - To provide for a favourite
5 - To make a difficult time less difficult

More about Oakleigh Funeral Home 

Now that the trio of Spotted Eagle Owl fledglings are all back together, have been given the all clear with regards to their health, and are eating on their own, they have been moved into an outdoor recovery enclosure to get fit and flying.

As soon as we are confident they are strong enough to fly up to the perches on their own, they will be sent straight back home to their parents. Owls are incredibly loyal parents and we have successfully returned owlets to their parents on many occasions. (often using an owl box from the Owl Box Project to do so)

We love what we do and how we do it. 

But we can't do it alone. Let's pull together to help our wildlife:

Become a FreeMe Wildlife Custodian -
https://www.freemewildlife.org/custodian

Donate (it takes 10 minutes of your time) -
https://www.freemewildlife.org/donate

Have a look at our website for other ideas of how you can help -
www.freemewildlife.org

More about FreeMe Wildlife

Howick High School Old Girls Nicole Archer nee de Klerk (class of 2016) and Alex Candler (class of 2021) opened the innings together in the Dolphins Ladies T20 match vs North West. This was a very special moment as Alex made her debut for the Dolphins Ladies team. Nicole was the first girl to play for the Howick High 1st XI and Alex was the first girl to captain the Howick High 1st XI.

Age Quod Agis, Ladies!

'Our second winner of a beautiful painted kennel is 11 year old Sbahle Zondi and his dog Sponono. Sbahle has always loved dogs and used to spend many hours playing with his neighbour's dog. He begged his mother to allow him to get his own dog and finally, she surprised him with a dog for his birthday. Sbahle immediately joined Funda Nenja as he wanted to learn more about how to look after his dog properly. He said his dog is very precious and he loves him a lot. Sbahle was awarded this kennel, a blanket and a bowl, for looking after his dog so well. Thank you Joint Prosperity once again for the beautiful kennel.' from Funda Nenja.

The Howick High School Junior A Cricket team participated in the inaugural Curro Hillcrest Community Cup.

Howick's campaign started with a win, chasing down 161 runs posted by the hosts Curro Hillcrest. Their second game was against Hillcrest High School who posted 138 runs which Howick was able to overcome losing just 4 wickets. Their final game of the round robin stage was against Kloof High School. Howick managed to restrict them to 121 and chipped away at the target, winning by 9 wickets.

After winning three from three Howick were up against Hillcrest High school in the final. Howick began well with a 65 run opening stand between Kiyaal Ramroop and Treyson Wilby. This paved the way for Captain Troyden Wilby, who delivered some glorious boundaries to finish the innings at 170 for 4. In reply Hillcrest managed to get 98 runs with the Howick bowlers doing an excellent job to finish off the game and take home the trophy, winning by 71 runs.

Special mention is made of Kiyaal Ramroop who had an outstanding tournament taking the 'Best Batsman' and the 'All Rounder' awards.

We congratulate the team who were true ambassadors for Howick high school. Age Quod Agis!

More about Howick High School in the KZN Midlands.

Our AGM was held on Wednesday, the 14th of September where a new president and committee were elected. A big thank you must go to our outgoing president and committee for all the hard work and dedication they’ve put into the club, and best wishes to the new committee.

Congratulations to Kevin Palmer who was elected to be the new president, as well as the following club members who will be serving in the following roles:-

President - Kevin Palmer
Vice President - Richard Chard
Honorary Secretary - Sharon Trower
Honorary Treasurer - Sharon O’Brien
Competition Secretary - Lisa Nagel
Green’s Manager - Graham Sharp
Social Manager - Shayne Knott
Committee Member - Koos Marais
Committee Member - Wendy Smith
Committee Member - Pippa Griffin

In other news, our club novices singles final was played on Tuesday, the 13th September with Mel Ross playing against Kevin Palmer. It was a fun game to watch and both bowlers did their absolute best. Well done to Kevin who is our Novices Singles Champion.

Our league games have continued and we’ve had some pleasing results. The men’s and ladies teams came up against Howick B Team on Saturday the 10th of September where the ladies team wone their games and the men won one and lost one. This past week saw our ladies teams play Howick A. Unfortunately we weren’t as successful against their stronger side, but we did score some points and certainly held our own.

Well done to our ladies who have gone from strength to strength over the past season. It’s been wonderful to see some of our novices step up and take on the challenge and to watch them grow and improve through the experience.

Good luck to our men’s teams who will be continuing their league games in October.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, 20 September: J Leslie Smith Drawn 2-4-2. Start time 09h00
Wednesday, 21 September: Warwick Wealth Competition. Start time 13h30
Friday, 30 September: Woodstone Restaurant & Wine Bar Nominated 2 Bowl Trips. Pre-entries required. Start time 09h00
Regular days and start times are Tuesdays at 09h00, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 13h30.
Visitors are always welcome.

Coaching by registered coaches is available. Phone 071 164 3162.

More about Umgeni Waterfall Bowling Club

This all-in-one wildlife identification book for birds, mammals and other Southern African species is a must for your next safari. This little gem of a book contains far more than collective nouns. It is a jam-packed full wildlife guide and the only book you need!

Find your copy at Nuts About Books & Toys in Mare Street, Howick.

We treated four puff adder bites last week!

A snake bite is classified as an emergency! If the patient is brought in soon after a bite, the species of snake is identified, and the appropriate treatment is given, we successfully manage to save most of our patients, like little Benz here, a 7-year-old Daxi who went home yesterday.

It is important to note that we do stock anti-venom at all of our branches and are ready for emergencies. Although we do keep a significant stock of anti-venom it can be difficult to source at times. Thus in the case of your pet being bitten or suspected to have been bitten by a snake please phone first so we can get everything ready so treatment can get started as soon as possible on your arrival. The sooner we can get treatments started on your pet the higher the chance of survival.

It is extremely important to try to identify the snake. The only effective treatment for severe snakebite envenomation from a potentially deadly snake is antivenom.

However, the antivenom is snake specific and can only be used in the case of a Black Mamba, Green Mamba, Jameson’s Mamba, Cape Cobra, Forest Cobra, Snouted Cobra, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Rinkhals, Puff Adder, and Gaboon Adder bite. The development of antivenom is extremely expensive and takes many years as each new antivenom needs to be subjected to clinical trials, for that reason there is only antivenom for those snakes that have caused fatalities in the past.

In summary, if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake:
1. Call the Vet to assist you in what is the best course of action
2. Try to safely identify the snake
3. Take your pet to the vet immediately

Howick Small Animal Veterinary Clinic - 033 330 6184

DON'T FORGET... It's Harvest Day tomorrow and Friday! That is 9am - 12am on 15 and 16 September in 2022.

Every Thursday and Friday you can come and harvest your own veggies with Beauty!

All you need is cash and your own bag.

All our veggies are organic and start from just R10.

Currently Available:
- Broccoli
- Red Cabbage
- Celery
- Lettuce
- Herbs
- Beetroot
- Spinach
- Leeks
- and more!

The Old Mushroom Farm is at 11 Karkloof Road.

'On Friday, at dog school, we awarded the kennel to this delightful young lady, Azola Zondi and her dog named Puppy. She was grinning from ear to ear with delight and just couldn't believe it was for her. Azola is 11 years old and lives with her grandmother. We have noticed her wonderful gentle manner with her dog at dog school and her gorgeous smile. Azola and her grandmother take such good care of Puppy and it was an easy decision to award one of the beautiful donated kennels to this lovely pair. Yesterday, Nomonde went to check up on them and took these lovely photos. Once again, thank you to Joint Prosperity for donating these awesome kennels and Dons Deliveries for bringing them down to us in KZN. Keep watching this space to see who our second winner is. Each kennel comes with a blanket, bowl and a personal letter to the recipient.' shared Funda Nenja.

More about Funda Nenja

Much excitement this weekend. Guests at the cottages were walking to the right hand fall and spotted a minute and very rare mushroom. Herewith details; Green Wood Cup Fungi Chlorociboria auriginascens.

So these little mushrooms have been hunted for 100's of years. Treasured by the Turkish jewellery box makers for a single reason.... They stain the wood of the host tree the same colour as their pretty pileus.

The tree limbs exhibiting these mushrooms are felled as soon as the mushrooms appear so that the mycelium would not consume the wood to dust over consecutive flushes.

The green/blue wood was used as inlays in the jewelry boxes, and the colour has been retained in some very old examples still to this day.

The hues of the colour green are only found in the rarest of mushrooms. A fantastic find. All praise to God for his awesome creation.' shared Twin Falls Lodge.