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In this issue:
Editorial
Trash Bags
In the news
Easter Festival
From the Chair
Rymes
Profile - Mike Masterson Chair Person FRA
Easter Festival
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Editorial
Well another month
has passed and the
elections are over for
another four years. No
prizes for guessing that
now the electioneering has
passed, all civic matters
will be put on the back
burner once again. Items
that affect our “little piece
of Heaven” will be filed
away with no acknowledgment
of any complaints or
suggestions ever having
been received.
That sudden cold snap did
wonders to revive me from
heat exhaustion that I am
sure many of us were suffering
from. It was better
than a cold shower. A good
night’s sleep was really all
that was needed to recharge
my batteries and the cold
certainly allowed me to
snuggle up in bed and
sleep.
These electricity cuts are
beginning to be a pain in
the derrière. I, for one, am
scared to switch on my
computer as any power
surge can destroy my hard
drive, because I don’t have
a UPS system. I think that
we should be informed at
least three days in advance
about power cuts so we
can least plan our day. At
the moment we have to
phone the 08600 number to
find out their plans (ha ha)
for that day. To add insult
to injury the phones were
stone dead the other morning
as well. What next?
Enough of the doom and
gloom that living in darkest
Africa brings, so lets turn
to some happy thoughts to
cheer up. Hang on I am trying
to think of some…..
The Trivial Pursuit and
Bingo evening on
Thursday evening brought
a record number of participants
and although it was
very noisy I am sure everyone
enjoyed themselves.
Don and Frank asked some
very different questions
and it really made a change
from the same old ‘out of
the box’ ones we were used
to.
The boot sale was not well
supported – shame on all of
you. Please try and make
an effort to either put up a
table or at least visit and
give some support. Your
presence will suffice, you
needn’t spend anything. We
had a new table this month – a French Lady called
Genevieve. She is a fashion
designer and had some
really beautiful pieces of
fabric for sale. Being allergic
to a needle and cotton, I
bought some pieces to turn
into a designer outfit. I
have promised her that I
will wear it during our
Easter Festival - so I have
to go on an instant dressmaking
course.
Our Easter Festival is really
starting to take shape,
but to make it the ‘talk of
the town’ for the next 50
years, we will require the
support of all the residents.
It will be a sad thing if outsiders
are the only people
there. Johan from the Piccaninny has managed
to persuade Castle
Breweries to put up their
tent where the men, who
detest walking around,
can park off in a cool wet
place whilst their better
halves wander around.
Food, food and more food
will be available - so you
won’t go hungry. There
will be loads of things to
do for the little ones
including an Easter Egg
Hunt, Races, Karaoke, a
Police Dog Display, a
demonstration by the Fire
Department, a jumping
Castle and stalls to try
their luck and take a prize
home to Mummy and
Daddy. We are keeping
our prices very low,
because we want to promote
Fisherhaven showing
everyone that we are
really special. Watch the
posters at the Café’s and
the Notice Boards for further
information or phone
Pat on 028 315 1605, Dee
on 028 315 1600 or Bill
on 028 315 2595 and we
will be able to assist you.
Please spread the word -
word of mouth sometimes
works better than any
amount of advertising.
The Hermanus Times will
be publishing an article on
Fisherhaven in one of its
issues - so watch out for
it. The radio stations will
also be broadcasting news
of our Festival. So all in
all we are set to have a
great time.
We would like to thank
Pat and Rob Clacher for
the beautiful tiling of the
Info Kiosk. Great job
guys! Thank you. It looks
stunning. If you see anyone
defacing the handiwork,
please report it to
the Neighbourhood
Watch.
Before the lights go out
again, I am ending this
long monologue with
thanks to all our supporters,
as well as those who
intend to support us. A
very special thanks to
Sean and Karen for the
fab colour printing of the ‘new look’ Chit Chat.
TRASH BAGS
There we were all thinking that stray dogs were the culprits. Yes, I am talking
about the rubbish bags that are ripped open. Well, it turns out that they
(the dogs) have competition with the Pelicans. Marie, from the Coffee
Shop, saw five of the big birds totally destroying the black bags outside the
shop on Monday.
IN THE NEWS
How many of you saw the film crew on Monday the 20th in Fisherhaven?
They were from overseas. What they were advertising is a mystery. But
hey, who cares if it makes us famous.
EASTER FESTIVAL
Deon van Vuuren from the Municipality met a few of us down at the
Lagoon on Monday to discuss ways of improving the surrounds in readiness
for our Festival during Easter. We hope it will attract a lot of visitors
to our area. The number of stalls is increasing daily, so don’t miss
out. Contact Pat on 028 315 1605 or Dee on 028 315 1600.
UMBRELLA’S
Did you know that Umbrellas only became fashionable in England during
the reign of Queen Anne in the early 18th century? It was escribed as a “portable roof or pent house to carry in a persons hand as a screen from
heat or rain” The credit of introducing the umbrella to England is given to Jonas Hanway.
IS IT TRUE THAT A DUCKS
QUACK DOESN’T ECHO?
Nope, it would be quite revolutionary if this
modern myth were true. According to
Professor Trevor Cox who disproved this myth in 2003, the duck’s echo fades very rapidly,
making it difficult to hear. Somebody got it wrong, and the incredible ‘fact’ of the nonexistent
echo spreads faster than the duck could quack.. www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk.
FROM THE CHAIR
The municipal elections
are now history
and we have a
DA controlled Municipality
with an outright majority. So
far so good – BUT, the
Hawston/Fisherhaven ward
was one of the few won by
the ANC. To all those SA citizens
in Fisherhaven who
could have voted and didn’t
– I say shame on you. We
know from bitter experience
these last few years how
much return we can expect
from our rates and taxes
from an ANC councillor.
Now all we can do is hope
that councillor Gelderblom
is fairer than Ms van
Rensberg ever was.
We have our fingers
crossed that Alderman
Verrell Herbert will make
deputy mayor as just reward
for his years of hard work
representing the interests of
Hawtoners and
Fisherhaveners fairly and
equally.
Your letters of objection
were passed (like hot potatoes)
to Urban Dynamics,
and they will hopefully take
them into account when
completing their final recommendations
re the Spatial
Development Framework.
These recommendations will
be debated in the
Municipality and hopefully,
since we have a different set
of councillors, sanity will
prevail and we will be given
a real chance to comment on
the document.
Incidentally, the REAL
map I showed at our AGM
was correct and fully reflected
the intentions of our ex
mayor Smuts and his henchmen.
The fight is far from
over and the first item on the
agenda MUST BE ADEQUATE
REPRESENTATION
ON THE WARD
COMMITTEE. So ALL
FISHERHAVENERS who
are SA CITIZENS, here is
your chance to redeem yourselves.
BE READY TO
ATTEND THE FIRST
WARD COMMITTEE
MEETING – PLEASE. I
will inform you of the date
and venue the moment it is
known – we will need votes
to elect one member from
the FRA committee and one
or two private individuals.
So if you are civic minded,
tweetalig, have a skin like a
rhinoceros – stand for election
and fight for
Fisherhaven – it’s worth it,
isn’t it?
The crime front still seems
to be relatively quiet, with
drunks being the major nuisance – but that doesn’t
mean we (all of us), can
relax. Keep em peeled – if
you don’t - remember, criminals
quickly learn and we
will be back to square one.
In a previous issue, I
described a desperately
wanted criminal – Mowers,
the Hemel-en-Aarde rapist.
He is still at large, so be sensible,
be careful and phone
the Neighbourhood Watch if
you see anyone fitting that
description. DO NOT
approach him, he is possibly
armed and very dangerous .
Phone us - we will take it
from there.
The ladies are working
very hard to make the celebration
of the Fisherhaven
Jubilee a huge success –
PLEASE support them, not
only on the day but with
donations of books, unwanted
Bric-a-brac, cakes etc.
Phone Pat on 028 315 1605,
Dee on 028 315 1600 or Pat
on 315 2790 or Pat on 028
315 1272…confused???
Be positive – Dee could
have been a Pat too.
Be careful out there,
Regards, Mike.
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Most people know the old rhyme about
washing clothes:-
If you wash on a Monday
You’ve all week to dry
If you wash on a Tuesday
You’ve let a day go
If you wash on a Wednesday
There’s half the week away
If you wash on Thursday
You choose an awkward day
If you wash on Friday
It’s because you need
If you wash on a Saturday
You are a slut indeed.
Then there is the rhyme as to the cutting
of nails
Cut your nails on a Monday
Cut them for news
Cut on a Tuesday
A new pair of shoes
Cut on Wednesday
Cut them for health
Cut on Thursday
Cut them for wealth
Cut on a Friday
Cut them for woe
Cut on Saturday
A journey to go
Cut your nails on a Sunday
You’ll cut them for evil
For all through the week
You’ll be ruled by the Devil.
A very old rhyme refers to the best days
on which to move house or start a business
and runs:-
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for crosses
Friday for losses
Saturday for no luck at all.
Another rhyme is:-
Sneeze on a Monday
You get a letter
Sneeze on a Tuesday
You get something better
Sneeze on a Wednesday
You sneeze for danger
Sneeze on a Thursday
Meet a stranger
Sneeze on a Friday
Sneeze for sorrow
Sneeze on a Saturday
See your best friend
tomorrow
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As to birthdays we’re told
Monday’s child is fair of face
Tuesday’s child is full of grace
Wednesday’s child is full of woe
Thursday’s child has far to go
Friday’s child is loving and giving
Saturday’s child works hard for its
living
But the child that is born on the
Sabbath day
Is lucky and bonny and wise and
gay.
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OUR FRA COMMITEE
Each month we will be
profiling a committee
member so that you will know
who is working for the upliftment
of Fisherhaven.
It seems appropriate to start
with our Chairman – Mike
Masterson.
Mike was born in a small village
called Norton near York
in England on 31 October
1944 - Halloween Night –
which in the middle ages
would have made him a wizard.
So watch out! His mother
and sibling, 18-month old
Christine, were evacuated
from Clapham just before
Mike was born. The family,
however, returned two weeks
later.
His earliest memories are of
a semi-detached, 3-story
house in Brixton, London. He
can distinctly remember the
window of the bedroom he
shared with his parents being
blown in-wards, onto his bed
by a V2 or V3 bomb which
exploded three streets away.
He attended Effra Junior
School (sadly now a shopping
mall) between the ages of five
and eleven. He learned to box,
and play the violin. His
crowning achievement was
his ability to ‘master’ two different
makes of violins in a
childrens orchestra with
another 20 violin- and two
cello players, backed a piano
player during the tender ages
of seven and eleven at the
London School Concert in
Central Hall, Westminster.
He wrote his 11+ exam and
just scraped a grammar school
pass allowing him to attend
Tulse Hill Comprehensive
School for one term.
At this stage his parents
bought their first house in
Meadvale, just outside
Reigate in Surrey where he
attended Reigate Grammar
School.
The difference between the
schools in London and outside
London was all too obvious .
From top of the class to the
bottom in one easy step, Mike
was just beginning Latin
whilst his class mates were
conversing in it.
On leaving school with no
GCE, Mike found a position
with a remote-control company
as a drawing office clerk.
The company allowed Mike to
attend Redhill Technical
College one day per week for
five years and he emerged
with a MET Certificate -distinction
in maths no less! With
this certificate came the promotion
to Jig and Tool designer.
Remember the old Ford
Anglia with the backward
slanting rear window, the
Consul Classic, the Mk11 and
the 111 Zephyr Zodiacs? Well,
Mike designed the plastic
moulds that produced all the
dashboard knobs!
After several different jobs,
Mike met Pat and they were
married in 1968 and bought a
house in Horsham, Sussex.
Everything was rosy until the
Power Workers Strike.
Unemployment struck and
needing to keep his head
above water, he desperately
began repairing cars to pay the
bond. When, at the age of 25
he was told that he was “too
old”, he called a halt, sold
everything and came to South
Africa.
Mike’s big move resulted in
his family and some of
h i s friends also immigrated
to sunny South Africa.
Mike and Pat purchased their
first South African property in
Plumstead where they settled
in with their one-year old
daughter, Amanda. Mike started
a career at Safepak, designing
special-purpose machinery
to produce mini-grip plastic
bags.
Their son Antony, was born
a year later and everything
was coming up roses. Mike
made a career change to
designing fish processing
machinery and conveying systems
at I&J.
Pat’s folks followed the
Masterson’s and lived with
them in Bergvliet where Mike
and Pat had puchased another
property to house their
expanding family.
When Mike was still a ‘young’ 48-years old, I&J’s
profits dipped to R64million
for the half-year and Mike
along with 100 others, were
made redundant after 15-years
service.
He swore that he would
never work for a company
again and thus far, he has
stuck to his guns. From home,
he began drawing plans for
houses, extensions, factories
etc. Pat worked as a receptionist
at the local hospital and
between them they kept the
wolf from the door. Both their
children matriculated and successfully
attended college so
that at age 54 Mike could ‘retire’.
They moved to their holiday
home in Fisherhaven seven
years ago and today the extensive
renovations are evident.
Five years ago he was elected
chairman of the FRA committee
and in that unenviable
position he has made a positive
contribution towards the
Fisherhaven Community. in
In Mike words: “Boy oh Boy,
you soon learn that you can
often only please some of the
people some of the time”. Yet,
he is adamant to continue with
his efforts. God willing, he
will still be around to see our
village and surrounding area
develop in sympathetic and
legal ways.
Well done Mike.
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EASTER FESTIVAL COUNTDOWN
You are invited to join the residents of Fisherhaven at the Lagoon on
Easter Sunday, 16 April, from 11am for a day of fun.
Plenty of stalls including food, plants, books, fabrics, cakes, tombola, white
elephant, and lots, lots more. Live entertainment! Also a Jumping Castle, an
Easter Egg Hunt and Fun Games and Races for the kiddies. A Police Dog Display and a
Fire Engine. St John’s Ambulance will be in attendance. And of course the FRA and the
Neighbourhood Watch will be there in full-force.
Fisherhaven’s memories of the past will be on sale in the form of Postcards and Table
Mats, as well as John Annandale’s book on the history of the Flying Catalina’s.
Contact either Pat on 028 315 1605 or Dee on 028 315 1600. Don’t miss out. We intend
putting Fisherhaven on the Map!
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A REFRESHER COURSE FOR THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEY KNEW
EVERYTHING: DID YOU KNOW?
That Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise?
That the liquid inside young coconuts can be substituted for Blood Plasma
That no piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven times.
That Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.
That you burn more calories sleeping than watching TV.
That Oak trees don’t produce acorns till they are 50 years or older.
That the first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s Chewing Gum.
That American Airlines saved $40 000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad
served in First Class.
That Walt Disney was afraid of mice.
That you can lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs.
That a duck’s quack doesn’t echo and no one knows why.
Thanks to Joy Broad for the above.
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