Riebeeck Wes

Riebeeck West is well-known for its Olives and its wine.

We had Aneta's big-0 birthday there this weekend. It was lovely to connect with old friends and make new ones.

I couldn't take any photos because my batteries were 'pap'-flat, and the spares that I usually carry around for just such an eventuality didn't even let the lights come on they were so flat. Weird isn't it?

Lunch was a spitbraai with baby potatoes, baked veggies and salads. The meal was rounded off with divine puds. My favourite of course was the chocolate mousse with flake crumbed on top, oh me gosh!

When we arrived I was thirsty, but was only allowed some punch, that had such a 'skop' that I had to sit quietly for a while to get my composure back. I didn't want to misbehave.

What a lovely day.
Thanks.

Lalaland, Piket Bo-Berg, Western Cape, South Africa

Lalaland, symphony in green

We left Saturday afternoon after my writing workshop. It was torrenting with rain all the way to within 10km of Piketberg. As we went further up the mountain, the sun came out. Glorious.

Some of us camped on the lawn, others were more fortunate and slept in the house.

We drank Buchu Schnapps and the tongues wagged much better. Some of us, I won't mention names, talked a lot of, you know what, and we all had fun.

The storm came over late the evening after we had our "braai" (barbecue) and waterblommetjie "potjie" (a lamb and vegetable stew we make in a traditional three-legged black pot, on the fire).

Sunday morning we picked oranges in the orchard and had freshly squeezed orange juice. Yum! There is nothing like fruit freshly picked.

The next morning the sky was clear and we could see forever.

If you ever want to visit this area here is a link for: what to do, food and accommodation in Piketberg area.

Beacon Isle Hotel Plettenberg Bay

Beacon Isle Hotel Bliss

We left Cape Town at 11 pm and arrived there at 6 am the next morning. We encountered minimal traffic. Most of the big trucks pull off the road at about 3 for some shut-eye. Our little Honda Jazz did itself proud, it ate up the miles/kilometers no problem

It was a treat to stay in the Beacon Isle Hotel. We were on the first floor. Our sliding door opened up onto a huge balcony that we shared with the rest of the first floor. From there we had a 300 degree view. We saw whales sprouting and cavorting and a 5km school of dolphins passing just beyond the breakers. We could hardly believe our eyes. As soon as we thought this must be the last of them, more would come past, and more, and more.

I tried out the gym, but only once. It was fully air conditioned with no fresh air coming in. It felt like I was exercising in an aeroplane. Gross.

I did not try out the beauty salon, game rooms, nor sport facilities. It was still too cold to swim for my liking. I must have been a feline in my previous life. I am not much of a water lover, unless it is snugly body temperature.

We had some lovely sundowners on the deck. The hotel suppers were reasonably priced, and a handsome portion of very palatable food, not gourmet fare, but definately edible. We licked our platters clean (figuratively speaking). We did not try the restaurant.

We drove back at a more reasonable hour.

On the way back near strand we saw these birds flocking towards a spot. It must have been a shoal of fish.

We got back safe and sound.

Looking for accommodation in Plettenberg Bay follow this link

Kiki Theo's launch of new book Money Well

Hugh and I went to Kiki Theo's book launch at the V&A Waterfront Exclusive Books and was joined by Dorian Haarhoff. Liesl Jobson took the photos for BookSA

See more pics of us and Kiki on Flickr

In her book "Money Well" she speaks about creating wealth by being able to contain money, for if there is no containment, money has nowhere to land, it disappears.

I have only just started reading it, and love the exercises. I have already had some insights into ways that I can open myself up to being more attractive to money, and generating greater wealth and prosperity in my life.

Tania Van Schalkwyk's launch of Hyphen in the V&A Aquarium in Cape Town

Tania did a masterful job of organising wine, cheese, poetry, in the Aquarium at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on August the 31st 2009. Guests had a great time feasting their eyes and feeding body and soul.

Spring tide and storm coincide on 23rd June 2009 in Kommetjie

A huge storm and spring tide coincided on Tuesday 23rd June 2009. Waves of 5 - 7 metres caused the water to wash over the banks and path leaving huge mounds of kelp on the catwalk.

The island that separates the inner and outer kom was awash and waves came in in quick succession.

As usual we had some surfers who braved the weather to surf in weather where most people wouldn't even put their noses out the door never mind their bodies in cold water and the wind blowing a gale. Different strokes for different folks. I think my blood would curdle if I tried this, they are very brave.

There are more photos on my web album. Here is the link to it: http://picasaweb.google.com/sonja.wilker/KommetjieStormInJuly2009#

Pygmy Whales stranded on Kommetjie Beach

What a very sad experience it was to see these exquisite creatures' dead bodies being washed in the waves. There were many spectators, so much so that it caused a traffic jam in our usually quiet suburb. One wonders at the reason for the Pygmy whale pod getting stranded on the beach. There is a lot of conjecture. Hopefully the research will throw some light on the subject. I saw quite a number of blue-bottles washed-up all along Long beach to Kommetjie and was wondering if whales and dolphins are immune to their sting or not, and whether they had anything to do with the beaching.

Sunflower Fund & Business Network Fashion Show

Sunflower Fund Charity Fundraiser Fashion Show and Expo Extravaganza

Bergvliet High School was the venue for this Fundraising event organised by Claudia and Tanya Jovanovski in association with Planet Productions, African Caleidoscope events and Salience Thinking. All proceeds went to the Sunflower Fund. Other sponsors include Carl Isaacs institute for Hair and Make-up of models, Music by Triple M Music and Decor by Visual Creations.

Irit noble spoke about Love, Fun and Money Honey.

An idols singer strutted her stuff, bands played, there was some networking and fabulous fashion with many other fashion houses sponsoring the clothes and many volunteers doing wonderful work.

Maryna Allmann of Chata Romano Image consultants did a presentation on what to wear. There were 6 of us and Truworths sponsored our clothes for the evening. This is me on the ramp.

Latest Trends in Coaching article in Odyssey Magazine

On page 6 of Odyssey Magazine February/March Issue 2009 you will find the article "Coaching trends in South Africa"

Highlights are:

• Coaching has been a fast growing profession in South Africa and now has the potential to begin to mature.
• Particularly in the world of business it is no longer considered unusual, or a 'nice to have'.
• Coaching success in the corporate world has led to a trend toward training managers and human resource staff in coaching practice....this has pros and cons...

Please buy a copy and read if you are interested.

Kommetjie

Kommetjie's different faces. From the hill behind our house we can see the fishermen in their little boats. The walk up the hill is about an hour round trip and has lovely views as you can see and the English Bulldog Pub or the church at the end of a walk, depending which way you choose to come down. Then sunrise with its beatiful rainbow colours in pastel and metallic.

Find Sonja Wilker on Social Sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Ecademy, etc.

Social Networking

I have added myself to the a number of Social Network sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Ecademy with plans to go onto Twitter and others soon.

The links to my profiles on these sites are as follows:
Sonja on Facebook
Sonja on LinkedIn
Sonja on Ecademy

Thupelo "Found Objects" Art exhibition at Greatmore Studios

Greatmore Studios in Woodstock, Cape Town hosted Thupelo "Found Objects" Workshop

A group of us worked from 8 in the morning till 8 at night creating.
WOW! What a pleasure.

Getting out of my comfort zone with Thupelo “Found Objects” workshop 26 Sept 2008 – 11 Oct 2008
I have been surprised, fascinated and inspired by the variety of mark making and transforming rubbish, discarded by humanity (even hobos), into functional and/or pieces of beauty and art.

I have moved from mark making materials, paper, canvas and sculpture into a new world of creation using whatever I can find in my environment and changing it into something virtually unrecognisable from the source.

Click on the links below to see

my art Blog

my web album

Nova Constantia Art Exhibition

Group Exhibition at Nova Constantia with Judy Moolenschot

Self-portrait.

For more pics view my web album
or my Art blog


Our Art Group exhibited at Nova Constantia in March 2008. People loved the work and had very good comments.

What art means to me
As a child, I always loved drawing and painting and despite winning an award, I was told by a High School teacher that I did not have artistic ability. That remark took thirty years to overcome.

Art has now become an essential part of self-expression which was so often suppressed; especially in my job. Twenty five years of computers exercised my left brain. Then twelve years ago I discovered that making one's mark is gratifying whether through painting, photography, song, crafts and other arts. I have done some Painting and Figure drawing and eventually focussed on Process Art that considers the Product far less important than the act of being creative. This was liberating and I could express my rebellious, non-conformist nature.

While everything else in my life was about producing something, I learnt how to express my responses to the world in the ‘messy’, energetic marks I make. However, I can also ‘behave’ if I have to - or want to.

Texture, colour, contrast, energy and the dynamic dance between them, excite me. I don't mind making ‘mistakes’ as they can be fixed, changed, or used to add layer, movement, and depth.

Some of my paintings have been reproduced as covers for the SA Literary Journal (New Contrast magazine). Others have been published in books as examples of "process”.

Walking on the wild side in the Kruger National Park, Game Reserve

In May 2008 we went on a holiday that both Hugh and I have been dreaming about. We went on a game trail, walking through the bush, surrounded by animals.

Before dawn we would set out in a 4X4 vehicle to start our walk at sunrise till about 11 in the morning.

When we got back to camp a huge brunch would be waiting that we would enjoy in the "lapa", followed by siesta time in the heat of the day till about four when we would all pile into the truck and go out for more game viewing.

We had 2 rangers walking the bush with us who told us a lot about the marks animals made, their droppings, about birds, and insects. We had a fantastic time. See the webalbum for more pics

Trip to London in September 2008, livin' on a barge

We stayed on a barge when we visited London in September 2008. It was a wonderful experience. The water would recede completely and we would be stranded. The tide would come in and we would be afloat, twice a day.

We visited all the normal places and some of the not so normal places, and I will leave that up to your imagination.

We were there for Hugh's daughter's wedding. see our web album pics for before, the wedding, and after
Kellie and Michael's day
The wedding
The morning after the night before

Sanddrift long weekend in the Cederberg

The beautiful scenery on your way to the Sanddrift Camping site in the Cederberg mountains between Sitrusdal and Clanwilliam in the Western Cape, South Africa.
The long weekend in December we, with a host of friends, usually trek with tents and caravans to camp at the site which is right next to the river so that you can cool off. It has wonderful day walks all round, and "braai" facilites so that we can have our traditional African barbecue. Lovely shady trees protect us from the blazing sun. The ablutions are adequate. In the evenings we have poetry and singsongs around the camp fire. The ideal place to chill after a hectic year.