by admin | May 5, 2026 | Notes From The Editor, St Francis, Surf Editorial
The year opened at full pace. Deadlines stacked up. Messages came in waves. Each day ran tight, with little space between one task and the next. Then Indonesia introduced a different tempo through jam karet.
You can’t fight time, and you won’t beat it. Arguing with it gets you nowhere. It just keeps moving, steady and indifferent. We have already lost friends and loved ones to time this year, and time is linear. There’s no going back.
That realisation has been sitting with me here, watching time march forward and the days move on. The sun rises, and we walk around, and we surf, and we eat things, and then the sun sets. Accepting time for what it is feels like one of the keys to finding a bit of calm. Stop pushing against it, and things begin to settle.
It is inexorable and impassive, yet in yielding to its rhythm rather than resisting it, the day begins to carry you with a quieter, more deliberate ease.
Time That Stretches
Jam karet translates as “rubber time.” In practice, it means that schedules hold lightly. A ten o’clock start might drift. A plan adjusts as the day unfolds. At first, that approach feels slightly off balance. The instinct is to check the time, to measure, to manage.
However, the longer the days unfold here, the clearer it becomes that everything still happens. It simply happens with less pressure.
Ferry Times and Perspective
Ferry schedules offer a perfect example. A departure listed on paper suggests precision. In reality, timing varies with conditions, loading, and the day’s general rhythm. The ferry leaves when it is ready. Everyone seems to understand this, and the system continues to work.
That small adjustment carries through into everything else. Waiting becomes part of the process rather than a disruption. As a result, the day still flows, feels less fragmented and more continuous.
A Useful Reset
Sitting in a warung with my son, waiting for a meal that arrives when it is ready, the value of this approach becomes clear. The gaps in the day start to feel constructive. Conversations stretch. Meals take their time. The need to optimise every hour fades.
This shift has helped ease the pace after a busy start to the year. The mind settles. Focus returns in a quieter, steadier way. There is still structure, but it feels more flexible and far easier to carry.
A Different Kind of Efficiency
Jam karet does not remove productivity. It reframes it. The day still moves forward, just without constant urgency. That change brings a sense of balance that is easy to appreciate and worth holding onto long after the ferry finally leaves.
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Read more:
– Cheese Tea and Avocado Cheesecake in Indonesia – Notes From The Editor
– Long Haul, Light Feet: From St Francis to Lakey Peak via Half the Planet- Notes From The Editor
by SFT | May 5, 2026 | St Francis
Kouga Local Municipality continues to invest in education through a focused laptop donation initiative. As part of this programme, 10 laptops have been handed over to high schools across the municipal area. Each school received two devices, strengthening both access to technology and daily school operations.
Partnership Drives Progress
This initiative was made possible through a partnership with Cell C. By working together, the public and private sectors have delivered practical support where it is needed most. As a result, schools now have improved tools to manage administration and support a more efficient, digitally enabled environment.
Schools Benefit Directly
The beneficiary schools include Humansdorp Secondary School, Lungiso High School, Hankey High School, Patensie Agricultural School, and Jeffreys Bay Comprehensive High School. These institutions now have additional resources to streamline processes and improve overall functionality.
Focus on Education
Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman welcomed the initiative and highlighted its value. He noted that investment in education remains a key priority and expressed confidence that the laptops will support both administration and the broader learning environment.
Training and Implementation
In addition, Global Leadership Academy played an important role by assisting with training at the respective schools. This support ensures that staff can use the software effectively, which in turn improves administrative efficiency and day-to-day operations.
Collaboration Delivers Impact
Furthermore, Bornman emphasised the importance of collaboration. A whole-of-society approach allows government and the private sector to deliver meaningful results. Through initiatives like this, Kouga Local Municipality continues to build a stronger, more capable education system for its communities.
Read more: Cheese Tea and Avocado Cheesecake in Indonesia – Notes From The Editor
by SFT | May 5, 2026 | Notes From The Editor, St Francis
Eating Well in Indo
Travel settles into a rhythm quickly in Indonesia. The days lean toward simple decisions, and food becomes one of the more enjoyable ones. On this trip, moving around with my son, meals have become the anchors. Between surf checks and short scooter runs, we keep circling back to the same thing. What is on the plate, and what comes next.
Two dishes stand out early and keep pulling us back.
Nasi Campur
Nasi campur translates loosely to “mixed rice,” which sounds modest and slightly underwhelming. In practice, it is anything but. A central portion of rice anchors the plate, and around it gathers a selection of small dishes. Chicken, fish, tofu, tempeh, vegetables, sambal. Each element is prepared separately, each with its own flavour and texture.
It has roots across Indonesia, with regional variations shaped by local produce and preferences. Bali leans one way, Java another. The format stays consistent, but the details shift, which keeps it interesting.
Sitting in a small warung with a local family one afternoon, plates arriving in no particular order, it becomes clear how this dish works. A bit of this with a bit of that. Adjusting combinations. Finding a balance between spice, sweetness, and something slightly smoky from the grill. It feels generous without being heavy, and it solves the eternal travel question of what to order. The answer is, effectively, a bit of everything.
Beef Rendang
Rendang comes from West Sumatra and carries a more serious tone. This is a dish built on time. Beef is slow-cooked in coconut milk and a carefully blended spice mix that typically includes lemongrass, galangal, garlic, chilli, and turmeric.
The process gradually reduces the liquid, leaving a thick, rich coating that clings to the meat. What starts as something resembling a curry ends closer to a dry, deeply flavoured braise. The colour darkens, the texture firms slightly, and the flavour intensifies.
There is history behind it. Rendang developed as a way to preserve meat in a tropical climate. The long cooking process removes moisture and concentrates everything that matters. The result is bold, layered, and quietly addictive.
Shared between us at a slightly wobbly table, it slows things down. There is less talking, more focus. It pairs naturally with rice and asks very little else of the moment.
A Brief Pause for Curiosity
Cheese tea has found its way onto Indonesian menus via Taiwan, where it began in night markets before spreading across Asia. It is usually green or black tea topped with a whipped mix of cream cheese, milk, and a touch of salt. The result lands somewhere between drink and dessert, with the salt lifting the sweetness in a way that works better than expected.
Avocado cheesecake follows a similar path. Smooth avocado folded into a dessert that feels both familiar and slightly unexpected. It looks good, it sounds interesting, and it appears often enough to suggest strong local support.
Both deserve a mention. Both can wait until we get brave enough.
For now, nasi campur and rendang carry more than enough weight.
Read more: Long Haul, Light Feet: From St Francis to Lakey Peak via Half the Planet- Notes From The Editor
by SFT | May 5, 2026 | St Francis
This document provides a clear, structured guide for individuals who wish to formally register, and it carefully explains how to lodge an objection as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed Eskom Nuclear Power Plant at Thyspunt.
It outlines the required steps to ensure that submissions are valid, recorded, and legally recognised, including registration as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP), access to official documentation, preparation of a compliant objection, and submission through the correct channels within the stipulated timeframe.
The intention is to assist participants in engaging effectively with the process, ensuring that all inputs are properly captured in the formal Comments and Responses Report and that procedural rights are fully exercised.
STEP 1
— Register as an Interested & Affected Party (I&AP)
What to include:
Full name
Contact details
Physical address
(Optional) Your interest in the project
Registered parties are legally entitled to receive responses and updates.
STEP 2
— Access the Official Documents on the WSP site at https://www.wsp.com/en-za/services/public-documents
Draft Scoping Report (main document)
Download Draft Scoping Report (DSR)
This is the core legal document under review.
STEP 3
— Understand the Process You Are Participating In
This is part of a formal EIA process under:
National Environmental Management Act
The current phase:
Scoping Phase (public comment open)
Deadline: 25 May 2026
Your input becomes part of the official Comments & Responses Report.
STEP 4
— Prepare Your Objection
Your submission should include:
Required elements:
Your details (same as registration)
Clear reference:
“Eskom Nuclear Power Plant – Draft Scoping Report (2026)”
Statement of objection
Structure (recommended):
- Introduction
State your objection to the Thyspunt site selection
- Grounds of Objection. Use headings like:
Inadequate/outdated data
Failure to assess renewable alternatives
Heritage protection (SAHRA Grade I)
Biodiversity sensitivity
Emergency planning / PAZ issues
Socioeconomic impacts
Climate risks
- Request
Reject Thyspunt as a site OR
Require full reassessment
STEP 5
— Submit Your Objection (Official Channels)
Primary submission method (verified):
Email: Nuclear-PP-EIA@wsp.com
Contact numbers:
011 254 4800
011 361 1300
Optional: Contact the EIA team directly
WSP Group Public Participation Office
Address: Maxwell Office Park, Midrand
WSP
STEP 6
— Include This Line
In your email, write:
“Please confirm receipt of this submission and my registration as an Interested and Affected Party.”
This creates a paper trail for legal purposes.
STEP 7
— Submit Before Deadline
Deadline: 25 May 2026
Late submissions may not be included.
STEP 8
— Follow Up (Critical for Legal Strength)
After submission, you should receive:
Acknowledgement
Inclusion in stakeholder database
Response in the final report
If not, this becomes a procedural flaw you can challenge later.
The process you are participating in is:
Scoping phase (not final approval)
Your objection influences:
Whether Thyspunt proceeds to full EIA
What issues must be studied
This is the most important stage to raise fatal flaws.
Key Takeaways
To be legally effective, your objection must:
- Be submitted through official channels
- Be tied to the Draft Scoping Report
- Raise procedural and legal issues (not just opinion)
Read further: Proposed Thyspunt Nuclear Power Plant – Additional Public Meeting, and an Interview With Trudi Malan
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