Howick local, Andrew Beyrooti, the 1st XV lock at St Charles College, has been offered a contract with The Sharks.

Present during the signing at St Charles, to congratulate Andrew was, Mr van Blerk (Principal), Mr Irons (Director of Sport), Mr du Plessis (Rugby Specialist) as well as Mr Elder (Strength & Conditioning Specialist).

St Charles' 1st XV rugby coach, Mr Jackson, had the following to say, “I am extremely happy for Andrew as he is deserving of this opportunity due to the quality of person he is as well as the dedication he has shown to the game. He is a natural sportsman, with a high cognitive understanding of the game and has the physical presence to match. He will be an asset to the Sharks and his future coaching staff due to his dependability and dedication.” Our Rugby Specialist concluded, “I’m very proud of Andrew. He has great athletic ability and he has worked extremely hard to be given this opportunity. Andrew has set the bar for many St Charles College boys and I know that he will continue to grow and impress. I’m excited to see Andrew competing in a professional environment. He has strong leadership qualities and is just an all-round good guy. I wish him all the best for next year and can’t wait to see him represent the sharks at some level!”

Well done Andrew Beyrooti, Howick is proud of you.

Karkloof Conservancy has noted the arrival of winter over the last few days, -8 degrees was recorded at 6 am one morning over the past weekend in the KZN Midlands. These photos were taken at 10.30am in the morning.

More about Karkloof Conservancy.

How to heighten your happiness levels

I have recently had the pleasure of interacting with a number of individuals living in one or the other of the local retirement villages. Unlike most, a small handful of these individuals have managed to sustain a generally happy and content 'frame of mind' throughout this lockdown period.

And it seems to me that their positive attitude is not because they are in denial about the current situation and/or because they are unable to acknowledge the unpleasant emotions of uncertainty, anxiety and/or frustration that most others are experiencing. It seems, rather, to be because of the well-practiced skill of noticing the good; of looking out for the small daily experiences that are positive and then really soaking them up.

So, what does result in happiness and contentment, especially during difficult times like these?

Well, recent studies have shown that being happy is often about choosing a simpler life that enables one to focus on the essential. And happiness research strongly suggests that by practicing gratitude on a daily basis we will be much more likely to sustain feelings of happiness and contentment.

Gratitude is the feeling that tells us things are good enough as they are; a feeling that sets us free from high expectations and allows us to see magic in the little things. To make gratitude a habit, we need to learn to place more focus on small moments of joy.

The challenge then is for you to recognise the simple things that can make you feel good (and grateful); a friendly exchange with a teller at the supermarket, the last fire-coloured Autumn leaves, a beautiful Winter sunset/sunrise, a genuine compliment, etc.

We are all capable of gratitude, but sometimes we need a little reminder to practice it. And there are many reasons to practice gratitude, including the fact that it has the capacity to change and strengthen the brain in very positive ways.

Research shows that gratitude can improve general well-being, increase resilience, and strengthen social relationships. The more grateful a person is, the greater their overall well-being and life satisfaction. You will have a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, better sleep (and better waking hours).

You will also be more alert and more generous, compassionate, and happier. Grateful people also have a greater capacity for joy and positive emotions.

Gratitude simply involves being mindful of, i.e. paying attention to, the goodness in the world, but it doesn't mean ignoring the difficult or unpleasant stuff that we all experience from time to time. Gratitude makes sure that in the midst of the things that serve up a good dose of difficult and/or unpleasant feelings, we don't lose sight of the good.

Research has found that we tend to feel more grateful for experiences than for things we have. One theory is that 'things' can cause us to compare what we have to what other people have, while experiences are more likely to shift our focus to our own personal circumstances, and expand feelings of appreciation and contentment.

It has been found that regularly practicing gratitude will actually change the structure of your brain. This is because the feeling of gratitude activates areas of the brain that are involved in feelings of reward (the reward when stress is removed), morality, interpersonal bonding and positive social interactions.

Gratitude also causes a surge of feel-good brain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. These all contribute to the feelings of closeness, connection and happiness that come with gratitude.

And the more that gratitude is practised, the more your brain learns to tune in to the positive things in the world. This doesn't come naturally because we humans have a negativity bias, which means that we're wired to notice threats in the environment.

This bias has helped to keep us alive... but not necessarily happy. Gratitude can be a way to nurture a more positive focus, and teach your brain to spend more time on the good and less time hanging on to the things that cause emotional pain and/or turmoil.

It is also important that you hold the good experiences for about 20 seconds as this is long enough to create positive structural changes in the brain. Gratitude gives us space to 're-experience' the event, rather than having us quickly move on from it.

So, how do I practice gratitude? There are plenty of ways, but however it's done, it's important that it's done with consistency and novelty. Our brains like novelty which is why the great joy we feel for things in the beginning often quickly fades.

Gratitude can change this if we regularly give our brains something new and positive to focus on. Being grateful for the same things every day just doesn't work very well. As for consistency, if negative feelings are your default, it can be difficult. So start small. Here are some ways to practice.

1. At the end of each day make a mental note of (or even write down) 3 things that have happened during the day that you're grateful for. They can be as big or as small as you want. Doing this for 21 days will train your brain to start scanning the world for positives instead of for threats. Make sure that the things you are grateful for are new and specific. So rather than, 'I'm grateful for my friends', try, 'I'm grateful for Sally because of the way she made me laugh today.'

2. Spend two minutes writing down in detail one of your positive experiences from today. Try to recall every detail about it. As you remember positive experiences, your brain labels it as meaningful and the imprint in your brain deepens.

In general, gratitude rewires our brain so we become more likely to focus on the positives in the world than the negatives. We're not going to become oblivious to danger if we appreciate the positives for a little while but we will become more open to the good, the things that nurture our happiness and emotional well-being.

The result of my "naming competition" to provide a name for my new psychology-related training "school" / services... is that there were so many clever names offered by so many people that I am feeling a little stuck in trying to choose just one name! A sincere thank you is due to all who participated.

I have decided to offer everyone who reads my Newsletter free access to my online "Dealing with Depression without Drugs" course (for a limited time). This course will be beneficial for all those who have experienced or are currently experiencing depressive symptoms and/or for those who are wishing to support a loved one who is experiencing a depressive episode. The URL for this course is below:

https://midlands-assessment-and-therapy-centre.learnworlds.com/course?courseid=deal-with-depression

My 8-week online "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction" course is about to be finalised. I will let you know as soon as it is ready for you to access.

With warm regards,
Alistair Mork-Chadwick (Psychologist)

Mediclinic has been a trusted healthcare partner to many families for decades and, as such, we regard the safety of our patients, staff and doctors as our highest priority.

During these trying times, we understand that many potential patients are avoiding Emergency Centres or visiting their doctors for care. We recognise that the public has been told to stay at home in order to reduce the risk during the lockdown period. We are also aware of the concern that individuals may have of being exposed to the virus by coming to a hospital and, as a result thereof, urgent medical care is potentially being delayed.

We want to assure you that during the lockdown period, Mediclinic and our supporting specialists have implemented a number of measures to ensure, as best possible, each individual’s safety. You have trusted us in your times of need and we will continue to carry you through these challenging times of unprecedented crisis with expertise.

Mediclinic is striving to make our facilities as safe as possible for our community, placing our patients in the centre of every decision that we make. We have implemented screening for patients, staff, doctors and all other individuals coming to the hospital. We have separate COVID-19- and non-COVID-19-related treatment areas to further reduce the risk. Our staff have all been equipped with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment to ensure that we are able to care for all our patients, whatever their medical needs. Our procurement team has ensured the availability of stock so that each patient who doesn’t have their own may be issued with a cloth mask for the period of admission unless a surgical mask is appropriate in order to further reduce the risk of transmission. We follow the National Institute of Communicable Diseases’ guidelines when our staff members are exposed to or infected with the COVID-19 virus to protect you and other members of the public. This may entail quarantine or in extreme circumstances, the closure of a unit.

Rest assured that if you or a family member require any form of medical care during the coming weeks and months, the Mediclinic Emergency Centres and hospitals, as well as all our supporting doctors, are, as always, ready to treat and assist you. We want you to feel comfortable seeking out care, rather than placing your health at further risk through delayed treatment.

Should you require any information regarding symptoms or other queries, you are welcome to call the Mediclinic COVID-19 hotline on 0860 24 00 24 or visit our website (www.mediclinic.co.za) for further information.

We would like to thank you for choosing to place your trust in our expertise. Our teams are here to assist.

Kind regards

Koert Pretorius

With Fern Hill Hotel only able to reopen at Level 1, The Snooty Fox Restaurant is soldiering on to try to keep some form of business ticking over. With a tiny team of 3 people, we need lead time with hot food orders, but for those wanting something same day, we have our frozen meal range available here: www.thesnootyfox.co.za.

We thank everyone for their understanding and support!

We are also now allowed to sell wine with our orders under the Lockdown level 3 regulations.

To find out more or make a booking, WhatsApp or call Steph on 0794250106.

More about Fern Hill Hotel.

'The time to get back to work has arrived. The GARDENATOMY Team return this coming week as we see our lowering to Level 3 of the lockdown. We're ready, well-rested and eager, and anticipate some interesting times ahead in getting gardens back to their former glory through our Garden Care Program service as well as landscaping contracting using all manner of hard and soft materials to create stunning living spaces and aesthetically appealing surroundings. Can't wait!' shared Gardenatomy in their excitement to garden in and around Howick once again. As permitted in Level 3.

Groundcover is more than just a leather shop selling shoes and handbags it is a place where commitment to staff and community is taken seriously.
Situated along the scenic Curry’s Post road the historic shop selling the sought after genuine leather goods may be all you notice if you pop in on a sunny day. Smiling Thuli, the sales lady usually offers customers advice and a smile. The smell of tanned leather is likely to leave a deep impression and if you look out of the window you will see a herd of Nguni cattle grazing on the hill.

But around the corner, the busy leather workshop is a hive of activity as this is where the shoes, are manufactured, up the wooden and Nguni hide stairs you may find Amanda McCarthy checking her emails and trying to sort out customer queries.

Groundcover was her husband Justin’s vision and together they worked very hard to build the brand and establish the workshop and shop, tragedy struck when he was killed in a tragic bicycle accident a few years ago, Amanda was left to make the business work.

It may have been a temptation to pack up and leave, but for this Midlands stalwart, Amanda felt she was too deeply connected to the land and to the families who have built up the business with her, the business had become them, Amanda McCarthy was not going anywhere.

One of her beliefs is that her staff’s children should get the best access to education possible and often you may see the Groundcover delivery vehicle stopping off at the local schools in Howick fetching the children after school.

The staff at the shop and at the factory may not be paid enormous salaries but the friendly attitude and perks make up for a traditional setting; they know they are valuable members of this industrious little company. Amanda said: “We grew up in the Apartheid era and we knew it was wrong for certain people to have access to all the benefits.

We felt that we really ought to make a difference, so we left the country after University and joined a cultural development project in Lesotho, where the idea was to teach the local people how to make leather goods.

“Our idea was to empower people by sharing skills. We had a wonderful time and at that time we focused a lot on hand-stitching and giving people skills they could adapt.

“When we decided to come back to South Africa and we decided to settle in the Midlands, we thought Groundcover would be a vehicle to teach people skills to create their own micro-businesses, but our focus moved to uplifting our immediate community. Our staffers needed housing and their children needed schooling and so our focus changed.

Some people make shoes to make profits, but we like to think that we make shoes to build community. They employ 25 people and they sell their shoes through other outlets.

Amanda said they liked to make decisions together with their staff and if someone was off sick, the others pulled their weight, because they knew if they got sick they would also be supported.

A strong part of their ethos is after-sales service and shoes can be re-soled. One of the initiatives that Justin started was to make shoes for those people who battled to find shoes because of their strange feet. Podiatrists refer clients to their shop to get comfortable shoes made up.

Amanda said their shoes were supported by locals because they knew the shoes were made by a local business “with heart”. She added: “The process has become more mechanized but we still make sure we stick to the principles of good leatherwork.”

The little historical sales shop is a tourism drawcard. It is an Oregon pine and tin house. They bought and re-assembled it on their property in 1994. It originally came from England as a house kit over 100 years ago and was ordered by a colonial farmer who needed a home. It arrived in Delagoa Bay and was transported to Creighton by ox-wagon to the Smiths who owned it originally. The McCarthy’s bought it 80 years later and it re-assembled it as their shop and showroom in Curry’s Post.

Another beautiful feature at Groundcover is the exquisite sculpture in the garden of the Grimm’s - Elves and the Shoemaker done by Karkloof sculptor Abbo Hall. It is a fine and detailed permanent sculpture that captures some of the magic of the story and of the labour and dedication that goes into making fine handmade goods.

The latest addition is The Barn Owl, a beautiful artisan Coffee Shop situated in front of the Groundcover Shop. It also does cakes and light lunches. Lately, it has broken into the niche market of small weddings, ideally suited to this with its beautiful location, and attractive interior.

More about Groundcover Leather Company.

Fern Hill Hotel's Snooty Fox Restaurant is maintaining extreme health and hygiene measures this side. Food is cooked by 1 chef, packaged with extreme measures and very carefully delivered to our customers. Getting ready-made meals incurs less hand to hand transfers then going shopping at the moment.

Howick free delivery times: 15h00-17h00

Merrivale free delivery times: 15h00-17h00

Hilton free delivery times: 15h00-17h00

PMB delivery times: 15h00-17h00

For same-day delivery please make sure you place your order before 14h00.

More about Fern Hill Hotel.

As we look forward to the easing of restrictions on our day to day lives, we eagerly anticipate the joy of spending time with our families again.

Grandparents have been missed, during the last 11 weeks, their absence has been deeply felt. Grandparents provide an extra layer of support and are an important, positive, influence on the social and emotional development of children. They listen, advise and are a link to our children’s cultural heritage.

They offer an affordable babysitting service too!

From our CG Carers' family to all the amazing Grandparents, ‘We love and miss you, see you soon!'

More about CG Carers.

Great news for golfers! Sakabula Golf Course will be open every day from 9am starting this Sunday, 14 June 2020. Bookings are essential. One person per cart unless occupants are from the same household. No sit-down meals or gatherings. Social distancing and sanitizing need to be followed.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Please note that as a small business we have suspended all specials while we try to get back on our feet.

More about Sakabula Golf Course.

The future of recycling is in your hands, literally!

Waste management and recycling has taken a huge step sideways since December 2019 when the pandemic first began. On the local front many plants will close as sorting recycling by hand while maintaining COVID-19 health and safety standards is virtually impossible. Recycling businesses that remain active are plotting a new way forward and need your active commitment to a healthier planet for them to survive.

There is only one solution for household and business waste going forward, you must sort into categories, place into clear plastic bags, and drop or arrange collection once done. This is critical as a single mistake in sorting can close a recycling plant!

Guide to the separate categories for your recycling;
Paper (old books, newspapers, magazines all with staples removed)
Board (cardboard, boxes)
Glass (containers - jars and bottles no metal lids)
Plastics hard (containers – bottles – plastic lids)
Plastics soft (shopping carry bags, bread bags)
Milk cartons (lids off and pack separately, cleaned, and squashed flat)
Metal (Food and drink cans, metal lids removed form bottles)
Tetra Packs (foil-lined containers e.g. milk and juice boxes)

Important notes:
• Remove all caps and lids and place in correct categories
• Empty all contents and rinse (bottles and jars)
• Flatten all plastic and paper containers/boxes
• Ensure that bottles are not broken

It is important to note that there are items that must go to your “Other Waste” bin as these will not be accepted or collected by Central Waste;
Chemicals: medicine, paint, solvents
Organics (Food leftovers, vegetable and fruit peels, garden waste are meant for your composting system and if you do not have one find a neighbour who does!)
Clothing
Disposable nappies
E-waste e.g. cell phones
Batteries
Polystyrene

While some components of the waste listed above are recyclable, they are not processed by Central Waste.

Complimentary Service for Confidential Shredding
Central Waste offers a confidential shredding service, this is available free for paper collections that exceed 1 cubic metre. Your papers will be collected and shredded at no charge if you live in Hilton, Howick, Merrivale or Pietermaritzburg. A Certificate confirming that your documents have been confidentially shredded is available if you need one.

More about Central Waste.

We are happy to announce that our offices are now open and ready to operate under the Regulations of Alert Level 3. We would like to take this opportunity to assure you that we have initiated strict safety protocols and checks in order to protect and prioritise your well-being and ours. These are outlined below.

While we are now able to re-open our Pam Golding Properties offices, our agents and staff are still encouraged to work from home where possible in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.

With this in mind, a workplace plan and safety measures have been put in place in accordance with health and safety guidelines as published by Government.

Our offices will be open Monday to Friday at the following times:
Pietermaritzburg 09:00 to 16:30 (t) 033 342 8108
Hilton 09:30 to 15:30 (t) 033 343 1233
Howick 09:30 to 15:30 (t) 033 330 4331
Nottingham Road 09:30 to 13:30 (t) 033 266 6000

Thereafter, meetings can be arranged by appointment between the hours of 9am and 7pm, Monday to Sunday, as stipulated under the Guidelines.

As far as possible, meetings with clients will continue to be conducted via telephone and/or video call. With regard to in person client meetings at properties for valuations, listing and viewings, this is only done by appointment and safety protocol measures will be followed. Please note that we have been advised that all showhouses are strictly prohibited at this stage.

We would like to thank all of our clients for their continued support and we wish you all good health, success, and enhanced emotional well-being as we start this new chapter of “unlock”.

Belinda Driemeyer
Principal
Pam Golding Properties, Pietermaritzburg & KZN Midlands

KSS is proactive and is involved with special operations with SAPS on a continuous basis. With the recent spike in crime, KSS is out there working with SAPS, community groups and community members. KSS Officers have also affected more arrests over the past 10 days.

Remember - Your security starts with YOU. What have you done and what measures have YOU taken in order to safeguard your home and business?

How vigilant are you really? Do you leave items in view from the road with doors and windows open? Are you working from home and have a laptop lying on the dining room table?

Please be aware – there is a lot of opportunistic crime where criminals are taking advantage of people being slack about their security while at home.

Technical advice
Do you have an electric fence and would like it monitored so that early warning activations can be responded to? KSS can do this for you.

Would you like CCTV cameras installed that also trigger an intruder alert? KSS can do this for you.

KSS Client Care
Please note that KSS caters for the individual and does not just blanket our clients under one monthly rate. KSS takes the following into account: If you are a pensioner, working full-time, a one-income household or if you have been retrenched or are struggling financially. KSS knows that everyone is different and circumstances change.

KSS Patrols
KSS has increased patrols in all areas and increased the number of vehicles on the road. KSS has posted in previous newsletters that the Armed Response units with two (2) Armed Response Officers in them, were split so that KSS could have more vehicles, visible patrolling, eyes and Response Officers on the road.

Where KSS had four (4) vehicles on the road, we now have eight (8) vehicles. KSS has the most vehicles and Response Officers in the Howick, Howick West, Merrivale, Merrivale Heights and surrounding areas, and back-up is never far away.

More about Knight Security Solutions.

'Please be careful driving up Main Road in Howick towards Greendale side. Outside the Methodist Church there is a massive pothole that takes up half the lane. We have requested that it is repaired urgently.

We painted a white line around it this afternoon to warn those motorists who may not know about it.' shared Janis Holmes on Facebook.

Thank you Janis, your effort is appreciated as this has been a growing problem.

I haven’t written much about the importance of relationships during stressful times. But, I am hearing more and more of home environments in which interpersonal tension (and frustration) is beginning to reach dangerous levels.

So it seems that now is a good time to give attention to how we can strengthen our relationships to help ensure that emotional support is available when we most need it (which, for many of us, is right now).

First of all, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, research shows that the quality of your relationships has an influence on every aspect of your health and that people with strong social connections have better health and longer lives.

From your relationship with yourself to your children, friends, and romantic partners, each of these holds significance for your short- and long-term health outcomes, starting in childhood and having a cumulative effect throughout life.

Our connections to others are integral in how we are able to manage life, deal with stress and find a feeling of belonging. Yet, most of us stumble when it comes to overcoming challenges with those we love, and these relationship difficulties are often highlighted during periods of chronic stress such as is currently the case for almost all of us.

So, how can your relationship with someone affect your physical and mental health?

Firstly, our social connections influence our actions and, often, how we feel about ourselves. Socialising with someone who eats really well can inspire you to do the same while socialising with someone who always criticises and/or complains is very likely to have a negative impact on your sense of self.

Our social ties also impact our health on a cellular level. Studies have found social connections can influence the way our immune system responds to challenges, as well as our inflammatory pathways which, we now know, have a significant impact on our brain functioning and mental health.

Friend power definitely appears to be more impactful than willpower. Strengthening your friendships and having a supportive community provides numerous health benefits, as indicated above.

Studies show that the ability to feel connected to others is neurobiological. Our brains are also wired in a way that causes us all to want connection and be part of a group (e.g. a family or “tribe”). So embrace that instinct by continually working on your relationships with friends that elevate you, the people who make you your best self.

Importantly, research also shows that the best way to connect with others at a meaningful level is through talking about, or exposing, those aspects of yourself that make you feel awkward, uncomfortable and/or ashamed. This is what vulnerability is all about.

During stressful times like these, when you might be feeling that you are not coping with life, or are failing to deal with what life has thrown you, it is very easy to feel some level of shame.

And it can be difficult, if not impossible, to admit any of this to those in your social network. In other words, it can be very difficult to allow ourselves to be vulnerable with, and accept love and support freely from, those we know well (and those we know less well).

Still, in order for you to feel connected to another person, you have to allow your self-perceived weaknesses to be seen and/or known. You have to be vulnerable.

And yet many of us numb, avoid, or disconnect from, vulnerability. However, you cannot selectively numb or avoid difficult feelings such as vulnerability, disappointment, grief, fear or shame without numbing the other emotions.

So when we numb those, we numb joy, gratitude, and happiness. And then we feel miserable, and we look for purpose and meaning. And then we feel vulnerable, so we have a couple of beers (if we can get hold of them) and/or a whole bar of chocolate.

The other way to live your life, especially during these difficult and uncertain times, is, as the vulnerability expert Brene Brown says, to let yourself be seen, deeply seen, vulnerably seen; to practice gratitude and joy in those moments of fear and uncertainty. Just to be able to stop and, instead of catastrophising what might happen, to say, "I'm just so grateful because to feel this vulnerable means I'm alive."

And, we need to believe that we are enough. Because when we work from a place that says, "I'm enough," then we are kinder and gentler to ourselves, and we are kinder and gentler to the people around us. And our relationships become stronger and we feel more supported, and we are able to cope better with the curve balls that life throws us. 

Competition time...
Prior to the lockdown, I decided to give time and energy to creating a range of courses that would help individuals achieve excellent mental health, a sharp and vibrant mind, and a brain that functions optimally. The competition that is mentioned in the title of this newsletter requires you to put your thinking cap on and come up with a catchy name for my new psychology-related training “school” / services. The best name wins its creator free access to my online courses, including my 8-week “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction” course and/or my 3-week “Dealing with Depression without Drugs” course.

Send your ideas to my email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

And keep an eye open for my next newsletter delivered to your inbox next week.

With warm regards,
Alistair Mork-Chadwick (Psychologist)

'In the midst of a rapidly contracting economy in limbo under an extended lockdown, today’s (21 May 2020) announcement of a further reduction of 50 bps in the repo rate will have a positive effect on the residential property market, albeit deferred until potential buyers can begin transacting in earnest.' says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

More about your local Pam Golding Properties.

As the first cold front rolled in last week, Angel's Care Centre managed to get 350 blankets to desperately cold and needy children. They honestly cannot thank everyone enough for making this possible and only wish they could have shared the moment of pure joy and gratitude with you. They hope to continue raising funds for the expansion of our winter warmth programme to not only ensure that the children are warm but also their families. If you can contribute towards blankets (R100 each), or drop off anything warm at the centre it would be hugely appreciated. http://www.angelscare.co.za/donate.

Their thanks goes out to Makro PMB for sourcing 350 blankets for Angel's Care in record time and helping to load into not one but two bakkies (thankfully Qondile Branding and Signage Qondile Stay Real came to the rescue as they ran out of space). They have been completely overwhelmed by the incredible support received and promise that they are doing everything in their power and budget to look after the most precious children and their families.

Photo credit: Dané Turvey.

News from Angel's Care Centre.