Heading up the Lomsa, Craft from Waste Project is a powerhouse of a woman called Yandiswa Mazwane. Yandiswa started out as a beach cleaner and now manages a project that produces desirable sculptures and homeware products from litter that is washed up on our beaches. Most of the products are made from non-recyclable plastics. Who would have thought that plastic bottle tops could be fashionable items?

Yandiswa has just received an order for 450 cow heads from a company in Paris and Lomsa is therefore URGENTLY LOOKING for detergent bottles in bright colours. i.e. VANISH, MR, MUSCLE, CAR WASH, HARPIC, STA SOFT ETC.
If you can help - please drop off your detergent bottles at the Lomsa shop at KEAG, Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie. (They also recycle glass, plastic and cans. Newspapers and cardboard can be taken to Kommetjie primary School.)

This project supports up to 16 previously disadvantaged people at a time, many of whom are illiterate or disabled. Thank you so much.

Please call YANDISWA MAZWANE/SHERRI BELL for more information
TEL: 0823003337

Have a good weekend,
Sally

Presidential Fleet Review for SA Navy - 5 September

The SA Navy has honored the Commander in Chief of the South African National Defence Force President Thabo Mbeki with a Fleet Review on Friday 5 September 2008 in Simon’s Bay (False Bay).

The Fleet Review consisted of a number of phases being the arrival of the State President, the 21 gun salute for the President and the boarding of the SAS Protea (the White Lady) which was the ship chosen to take the President past the fleet to take the salute.

The ships that sailed past the President on SAS Protea (Hydrographic survey vessel), all in formation and keeping station as if connected by underwater cable, were the 4 X Frigates, SAS Drakensberg, , 2 X off-shore patrol vessels (ex strike-craft), 2 X mine-hunters, two submarines and 2 X inshore patrol vessels. SAS Protea was accompanied by 3 HPB’s as mini escort.

While sailing past the crews were lined up on deck, all tuned out in their whites and looking ever so smart, to salute their commander in Chief. When returning to port the Umalusi tug gave a magnificent display of her ability to spray huge amounts of water, as they do when new ships arrive in a port, which is part of her firefighting equipment.

Thanks to Eddie Wesselo for the information and images

Spring Splash Post-mortem!

DIARISE NOW THE 6TH SEPTEMBER AT 15H30 AND COME JOIN US ON FISH HOEK BEACH FOR THE 2009 SPRING SPLASH!!

Well we did it!
Despite (or in-spite) of the raging storms and wild conditions - Sunday afternoon 31 August turned out to be a chilly 11C with the ambient air temperature exactly the same as the water! (I didn't measure wind- chill factor!). There was an amazing turnout at Fish Hoek beach and although there were more spectators than swimmers - about 70 people got into the water! The waves and tide were so high that as the beanies and fleeces were being peeled off the bodies, a wave came up and almost whisked everyone into the water whether we liked it or not! So the countdown wasn't exact but there was a lot of yelping and squeeling and some remarkable enthusiasm from both splashers and supporters.

A massive congratulations to the people of the south who joined the Cape Point Route Spring Splash and especially to those who braved the conditions to come from further afield!

Hats off and a big cheer to Fish Hoek Galley - the staff were dressed up to the Spring Theme in brightly coloured t-shirts. The restaurant was covered in flowers and balloons were set off amidst a resounding song of encouragement! Well done.

Thanks also to Mark Sampson for his commentary and to Fish Hoek Galley for the meal voucher prizes!