New Issue of St Francis Bay’s WILDSIDE times Magazine Is On Shelves and Online – local and lekker.

New Issue of St Francis Bay’s WILDSIDE times Magazine Is On Shelves and Online – local and lekker.

by | Dec 16, 2024 | St Francis

New Issue of WILDSIDE

 

St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis – Issue #9 of the popular St Francis Bay magazine WILDSIDE times is now available. Find it at SUPERSPAR, Fresh Stop, The Bakery, The Store, Blue Bottle, Rambling Rose, the Cape St Francis Resort and others. If you’re out of town and want to know what is happening in this pretty glorious neck of the woods, head over to our Online Catalogue

and

Issue Nine, our latest issue.

It was an absolute pleasure putting the new issue of WILDSIDE magazine together. It is a series of snapshots from the year gone by, with more recent coverage of happenings in and around St Francis Bay.

Kromme Enviro-Trust and FOSTER

There is a very cool yearly wrap from the Kromme Enviro-trust and FOSTER in Cape St Francis.

Some entertaining reading from Richard Arderne provides information on the St Francis Paddling Club and the St Francis Cycle Club.

Rip Curl GromSearch and Key College

We cover the Rip Curl GromSearch surf event at Cape St Francis, and there is an excellent review of Key College’s very successful year.

We delve into the phenomenon of Flash Float with Cathryn Hempel. A long look at how this popular event had a humble beginning and how it has shown quite unbelievable growth in size and popularity.

SFPO Association and Seal Point Boardriders

There is an SFPO Association yearly round-up. We also report on the very successful year for the revamped Seal Point Boardriders Surf Club with club chairperson Dan Thornton. (Don’t forget the SPBRC Boogie big jol and fundraiser this Friday, 6 December 2024, at the Pig and Rooster. It’s open to all.)

There is a look at the ambulance service, initiated by Calibre and Gardmed, as well as the new development, the Harbour Club.

 

Pop-up Food Trucks For The Season

We dive into a few local mainstay eating establishments and check out a few of our popular annual pop-up food trucks and a few new entries in this much-liked category.

Incredibly well-supported by the local community, this issue of WILDSIDE has listings of all the happenings at The Links, as well as a comprehensive listing of events in the general Kouga Region as presented by the Kouga Local Municipality.

Thanks to everyone, both creatives and advertisers, for the overwhelming support. We will be publishing an entire year’s worth of magazines in 2025. Watch this space for more details, and a happy festive season to all.

The online version

 

 

https://issuu.com/wildsidetimes/docs/wt_9

Kouga Municipality Lifeguards Rescue Surfers In Distress

by | Dec 16, 2024 | St Francis


At 09:55 on Friday, 13 December 2024, Kouga Municipality’s lifeguards responded swiftly to a distress call involving four surfers who had been blown out to sea by strong westerly winds.

Quad Bike and Jet Ski



The municipality’s quad bike and jet-ski were immediately activated, thanks to the vigilance of the lifeguards stationed at the tower, who promptly informed squad leaders M. Geli and K. Hammond of the situation.

A rescue operation was expertly led by skipper M. Geli, supported by rescue swimmer L. Perils. The team, with assistance from squad members C. Sampson, V. Siyephu, D. Jonker, and K. Hammond, launched the rescue equipment without delay.

All Four Surfers Safe


Through their coordinated efforts, all four surfers were safely brought back to shore along with their surfboards. Thereafter, no further assistance was required, and the surfers were unharmed.

Kouga Municipality commends the lifeguards for their rapid and professional response, ensuring the safety of all involved.

(Regarding the Municipality Lifeguards Rescue Surfers article, there have been some crazy westerly winds blowing lately, which is unusual for this time of the year, but what is usual these days? Still, milder weather will come our way, starting on Wednesday and sticking around for a few days. So check the weather forecasts, especially the wind predictions, and take necessary precautions. With the recent rising high tides and a slightly smaller swell than usual, there have been some quite dramatic changes in sand banks, rip strengths and rip angles, so please be vigilant. The next worry will be the blue bottles. If you do get stung badly, maybe you can ask someone nice to wee on you. Editor)

Read More: Kouga Municipality gears up for a safe and enjoyable festive season

Check this out: Kouga Municipality raises prestigious Blue Flag at pristine beaches

Read More: Kouga Municipality Newsroom and press releases

Sunrise Cape St Francis – Photo Of The Day

Sunrise Cape St Francis – Photo Of The Day

by | Dec 16, 2024 | Photo Of The Day, St Francis

A beautiful morning – sunrise Cape St Francis – photo by Marc White/Facebook

More POTD’s here: Photos

Sunrise Cape St Francis WIKI

 

 

see a whole lot more below…

 

Time and Money in Retirement: Planning for a Life Well-Lived – The Human Side of Money presented by Client Care

Time and Money in Retirement: Planning for a Life Well-Lived – The Human Side of Money presented by Client Care

by | Dec 16, 2024 | Financial Planning

Time and money are two critical components of retirement, deeply interwoven in shaping the quality of life during this phase. Studies reveal that retirees’ spending typically does not increase in line with inflation, underscoring the importance of establishing and maintaining good spending habits early in retirement.

A well-structured plan

Developing a thoughtful long-term spending plan is essential to alleviate financial stress and support a fulfilling lifestyle. A well-structured plan enables retirees to better anticipate and accommodate changes in needs and wants over the course of a typical 30-year retirement. For instance, early retirement years are often characterised by greater health, mobility, and a desire to explore, making it crucial to allocate sufficient resources for discretionary spending during this phase.

Time and Money in Retirement

Unfortunately, many retirees fall into the trap of underspending during their early years, missing opportunities to create meaningful experiences and memories. Understanding core spending needs—such as housing, healthcare, and daily living expenses—and separating these from discretionary spending for travel, hobbies, and leisure activities can create clarity and balance in financial planning.

Make deliberate choices

A lack of structure around spending can lead to a sense of aimlessness, making time seem to pass more quickly. To counter this, retirees should approach life with intentionality and design their days around chosen activities, passions, and relationships. Making deliberate choices about how to spend both time and money enhances the retirement experience and ensures that life doesn’t simply “happen” to them.

Time and Money in Retirement

Regular reviews of the financial plan are vital to ensure it remains aligned with changing circumstances and goals. As the years progress, needs may shift from travel and exploration to comfort and healthcare. Adjusting the plan ensures continued relevance and stability.

Ultimately, the key to a fulfilling retirement is finding the balance between financial prudence and purposeful living. By designing your retirement life and making intentional choices, you can enjoy this phase to its fullest while maintaining peace of mind about your finances.

Remember, not making choices is a choice in itself—so choose wisely.

Dirk Groeneveld, Certified Financial Planner.

Previous Columns:

Shipwreck Day in Cape St Francis

Shipwreck Day in Cape St Francis

by | Dec 16, 2024 | St Francis

Shipwreck Day in Cape St Francis – 21 December – 08:00 to 14:00

In October 2023, Dave Bowmer, an amateur shipwreck historian, botanist, and local resident, realized his dream when the Mayor of Kouga officially opened his shipwreck display at the Anchor Garden at Cape St. Francis’s entrance. Since then, the display has been updated with the addition of a cannon, the rear mast, and other artefacts from The Elke M, which ran aground off Shark Point in the Cape St. Francis Nature Reserve earlier this year.

Private Collections

On 21 December, from 08:00 to 14:00, Dave, along with South Africa’s foremost shipwreck expert and resident of St. Francis Bay, Malcolm Turner, will be displaying some amazing artefacts and treasures from their private collections retrieved from wrecks that have sunk off our coast. The first recorded sinking was the Noord in 1690, followed by over 60 ships since then, many of whose names now make up the street names of Cape St. Francis.

Malcolm, an ex-commercial and navy diver, also authored a book titled “Shipwreck & Salvage in South Africa – 1505 to the Present.” His collection is awe-inspiring and will hopefully soon find a new home in a dedicated local shipwreck museum. Other notable individuals associated with the sea and diving may also be present. An interesting fact is that Nick Sloane is recognized as the world’s best salvor and a South African who was involved in the salvaging of The Elke M.

Anchor Garden

The Anchor Garden is situated at the entrance to the Irma Booysen Nature Reserve, one of the four nature reserves surrounding Cape St. Francis managed by FOSTER, who will also be present on the day to tell you more about the incredible biodiversity of our area and why conserving it is so important. For example, many people are not aware that when they walk around the lighthouse, they are in the Seal Point Nature Reserve, which contains some endemic plants that only grow here.

We look forward to seeing you on the 21st between 08:00 and 14:00.

FOSTER

Read more: Wildside Times Issue 9

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