Penhill Post — May 2024 (Autumn Edition)

PHORA & NHW Update — a letter from the PHORA chairperson

In the previous issue we featured Julia from the NHW committee. This issue, a letter from PHORA chairperson Paul Clark:

“Dear Penhill, my name is Paul. I serve on the PHORA committee as Chairman. In 2007 my wife and daughter and I moved to this beautiful area called Penhill. As most of you, we were taken aback by this little gem in the middle of nowhere… the giant Blue-Gums, wide open spaces (later changed to a conservation area), starry nights, gravel roads, spacious properties, the odd horse, pig and peacock — all add to the Penhill rural charm which we call home. We all have a similar story.

This being said, the biggest gem of Penhill is our community! Over the past 17 years many friends have been made, moments shared, recipes swopped and helping hands lent. I know of many people in other suburbs who have lived next to their neighbours for years and have never even spoken. As we all know, this is definitely not the case in Penhill. We are very privileged to live in such a tight-knit community.

The sad thing is it sometimes feels like we take this closeness for granted. Being such a tight-knit community, like family, it is easy to get irritated, agitated, short off and even rude. I think we have all experienced this. The more involved you get in the community, the bigger the chance of standing on someone’s toes.

I have, however, seen a lovely change in the community over the last few months. We need this change to move together in the same direction if we would like to keep Penhill the way we know it. There are many matters needing attention in Penhill. We cannot afford to be divided. By all of us changing for the positive, giving the other the benefit of the doubt, working in each other’s interest, seeing what we can do for our community, we will quickly see the results around us.

I would like to end off by thanking those who are involved, working hard, making the difference in the community. Thank you! To those who would like to make a positive difference and not sure how, please get hold of us at PHORA so that we can assist to get you actively involved. It is an honour and privilege to be part of this great community and even a bigger privilege to serve it. I look forward to seeing the positive contribution from everyone; this is our neighbourhood, our Penhill.”

— Kind Regards, PHORA Chairman Paul Clark

March Against Gender-Based Violence

On 2nd December last year a march against gender-based violence was organised by members of the Penhill NHW. It would be fantastic to see more residents supporting these initiatives in the future. (Photographs by Michelle Engelbrecht)

Lucky Lucy

Many will remember the dog that spent the day hanging around the Penhill entrance on 8th December last year. A number of people kept an eye on her during the day, taking food and water, and Heidi and Pierre kindly took her in for the night. On 11th December she was taken to a vet to check for a microchip — it turns out she did have one, her name is Lucy, and her owner didn’t want her back. So Lucy ended up staying right here in Penhill, where people with the kindest hearts live, and moved in with Heidi and Pierre for good.

From Our Garden Guru — gardening tips for Autumn

By Whaleed Isaacs

In March we prepare our autumn gardens for the cooler weather ahead, though our weather stays unpredictable with some warm days still to come. Fertilise your garden before the first winter rains, and remember to go organic and mulch flowerbeds to retain heat in the soil as the weather cools.

Since COVID, people have become more aware of the importance of growing their own food, especially with high food prices — potatoes, for instance, are expensive to buy but easy to grow. Start sowing veggies for winter rewards: potatoes, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, leeks, spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce and eggplants. Plant herbs like basil, chives, rocket and parsley too — expensive to buy, easy to grow endlessly at home.

Create water-wise gardens

Water is still scarce and expensive on municipal supply. Plant indigenous drought-tolerant plectranthus in sunny or shady areas, and seedlings like asters, calendula and dianthus. Try to collect grey water from the shower and washing machine for the garden.

Remember: we have the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle destroying our trees — have a chat with our resident tree team (Ashton and Lynda) to get your trees checked.

Down the Mole Hole — the Puff Adder

By Lynda Myrdal

Welcome to the 2nd edition of Down the Mole Hole. Last time we covered the Cape Cobra and snake habits in general. This time: our hefty, fat, very bad-tempered, beautiful but dangerous Puff Adder (Bitis arietans).

The Puff Adder is common throughout South Africa (though not in our desert areas). We don’t see them as often as the Cape Cobra or mole snake, since they prefer to stay in one place, being lazy, unlike the other two which are more on the move. They’re nocturnal but can sometimes be seen basking in the sun on warm days in bushy areas — on the farms especially, though we haven’t come across one in the conservation area yet. They find their way onto our roads and highways, where they bask and, sadly, often get run over — sometimes deliberately, due to fear and misinformation.

Puff Adders are masters of disguise, their earthy colours blending almost perfectly into undergrowth and leaf litter, making them very easy to miss when out walking or hiking. They also prefer to freeze rather than move off, which is how people end up getting bitten — they’re opportunistic hunters that lie in wait for prey rather than searching for it, and will strike at anything that moves, including a passing leg. Most bites in the wild are to the lower leg. When threatened, they form an S-shape with the top half of the body and hiss and puff loudly as a warning before striking. Although slow and sluggish, they strike very quickly — but that strike isn’t meant for you, it’s precious venom meant for prey.

Adults range from about 90–140cm. Females have short stubby tails, males much longer thinner ones. Colours range from light yellow, yellow-brown, orange-brown, light brown to grey, with chevron-type darker markings down the back and dark bands on the tail, a thin neck and an unmistakable big triangular head with a round snout and vertical pupils.

Their enemies are, sadly, first and foremost man, then warthogs, birds of prey and other snakes. Prey includes rats, mice, ground birds, lizards, toads and occasionally other small snakes, always swallowed head first.

Puff Adders are viviparous — they give birth to live young, 20–40 at a time, born between December and April as a rule, in a membranous sac they break out of at birth. The babies are fully independent immediately and, like all venomous snake babies, capable of delivering venom from birth. If you see a baby, the rest of the family isn’t necessarily nearby.

Puff Adder venom is cytotoxic, primarily meant for prey, delivered via large hinged fangs capable of a painful, deep bite. Symptoms include swelling, pain, blisters, tissue damage and necrosis — seek medical help immediately if bitten. If you encounter one in your garden, don’t try to capture it: stay calm, get dogs and kids inside, keep an eye on it from a distance, and call one of the ASI-approved handlers below. It’s illegal to capture or transport snakes without the relevant qualification and documentation.

Snake handlers’ details

Rudolf Visagie 082 613 3464 · Andries Cilliers 084 569 1510 · Murat Parker 076 495 3636

These are our three nearest snake handlers. Should none be available and it’s urgent, a notice will be posted onto their network of qualified handlers and someone will contact you asap.

Aunt Essie’s Kitchen

Recipes and tips from Esther Thomas

Crunchies

Ingredients: 170g butter or margarine, 12.5ml (2½t) golden syrup, 5ml (1t) bicarbonate of soda; 2 cups oats, 1 cup coconut, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour.

Method: Heat the margarine or butter with the golden syrup and bicarbonate of soda, mix, then add the remaining ingredients. Spray/grease an oblong pan or two round cake pans, pat the mixture flat (not too hard), and once the oven reaches 180°, bake for only 5 minutes, then turn off the oven. Leave in the oven about 15 minutes, then take out while still soft and cut into squares. Return to the oven to dry out a bit more. When cold, drizzle with melted chocolate if you like.

Crumbed Chicken Breasts

Buy filleted chicken breasts, place on a board and beat with a mallet to flatten, trimming the edges (use the offcuts in chicken soup or a pie). For 12 breasts: 3 beaten large eggs; a packet of white onion soup put through a sieve to remove lumps (any flavour soup packet works), plus 25ml flour, shaken together in a plastic bag; breadcrumbs, home-made or bought.

Method: Shake each breast in the flour/soup mixture, dip in beaten egg to coat all over, shake off excess, then coat in crumbs. Place on wax wrap. If frying the same day, rest in the fridge 15 minutes or longer first to help the crumbs stick — or freeze at this stage.

Household hints

Storing cheese: grate it straight away and keep in the freezer — it lasts much longer than cutting off pieces, and can be packaged in 100g portions for sauces, sandwiches or scones.

Getting rid of ants: moisten slightly 5ml Borax mixed with 10ml sugar, and place a neat trail near the ants. It’s taken back to the nest and destroys the eggs.

Price flashbacks — 1973

A blast from the past: a 1973 special-offer flyer from Kalahari Slaghuis in Upington — half a sheep at 39c per pound, boerewors at R2.28 for 5 pounds, and a dozen eggs for R1.20.

Conservation Corner — seed collecting and fire recovery

By Ashton Mouton

From November 2023 through to April 2024, residents and Recreation & Parks officials have been tirelessly collecting a variety of Fynbos seeds for restoration projects within the Conservation Area — over 25 species of unique Cape Flats Sand Fynbos collected so far, with more planned before the end of the seeding cycle.

The December wildfire that burned half of the Conservation Area caused real concern for the restoration plots, but in some plots, miracles happened — the fire burned around some young Fynbos plants, leaving them intact and doing better than expected. In some instances plants managed to produce seed before the fire, which has now dropped and awaits the rainy season to germinate. A live Drimia (true poison squill, possibly Drimia media / itchy squill) was also spotted and identified by Lincoln Rait — it flowers most abundantly after veld fires from January to March, and is a very exciting find for the Conservation Area.

Fires in Penhill

Penhill has had its fair share of flames recently, with two fires: one in December last year, and another on 21st February. We’re used to grass fires popping up on the outskirts of Penhill from time to time, but these two were a bit too close to home. Quite a bit of vegetation was destroyed in the December Conservation Area fire, including some seedling plots, but not all was lost and the vegetation is making a comeback (photo by Louise Lloyd).

On 21st February a fire started outside of Penhill and moved rapidly into the area, driven by a strong wind. It threatened to burn down a house, but fire services and residents fought it and got the flames under control (photographs of the fire and its aftermath by Louise Lloyd).

Bug Invasion — Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer Beetle found in Penhill

By Ashton Mouton

Residents are urged to check trees on their property for symptoms and signs of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle: gumming from the tree (usually from the bottom), wet spots, dark spots, white sugary discharge, shotgun-like holes, and tiny drilling or frothy noodle-like discharge.

The alarm was raised in January 2024 that the beetle is now found in a number of Penhill trees. Although many trees show visible symptoms, we believe we’re still in the early stages of the infestation. Residents are urged to research the beetle’s life cycle before opting for tree removal or untested treatments — there are currently no recognised legal treatments that can eradicate the beetle or its associated fungus. Please use discretion with any third party claiming a “miracle cure,” and always ask for a money-back guarantee contract to protect yourself as a consumer.

Penhill residents Lynda and Ashton are available to any resident who suspects their trees have the beetle. The City of Cape Town has also published a list of recommended replacement trees for infested properties, including coastal silver oak, wild pomegranate, num-num, bastard saffron, Cape saffron, Atlas cedar, pock ironwood, red alder, Mediterranean cypress, assegai, pom-pom, sand olive, wild gardenia, maidenhair tree, sausage tree, bush box, stinkwood, elephant bush, candlewood, willow, white karee, milkwood, turpentine tree, water pear, camphor bush and fever tree.

History Hub — Graves on the edge of Penhill

By Wendy Golding and Esther Thomas

Many residents will remember the Fletcher family, who lived in Gourley Road for many years. We heard from a few sources that old graves are located on the edge of Penhill, in what is now the Conservation Area. Mienie Fletcher told us she remembers the graves being near the blue gum trees running along Headfort Avenue, possibly in the corner along the farm/Conservation Area boundary.

According to the Carinus family, the graves may be a bit lower down than that, more in line with Gourley Road. A family member from the farm believes they may be closer to the R102/Hawke Rd, but definitely within the Conservation Area, and recalls from childhood that this is where community elders and children were buried. No doubt they’ve been covered over the years by sand and vegetation, and unfortunately we haven’t managed to find much more information than this.

Request for information: please share with Wendy or Esther any interesting early memories of Penhill — photographs are welcome too.

Trending Teen Movies — a look at what’s hot right now

By Megan Clark

Teen movies have always been a popular genre, blending humour, drama and relatable coming-of-age themes. A few recent favourites: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (based on the Jenny Han novel, following Lara Jean Covey’s secret love letters gone astray); Eighth Grade, Bo Burnham’s coming-of-age drama about an introverted 13-year-old navigating her final week of eighth grade and the challenges of growing up in the digital age; and, in the realm of fantasy, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, following Miles Morales as he teams up with Spider-People from other dimensions — praised for its ground-breaking animation and heartfelt story.

Creative Corner

By Wendy Golding

There are many talented and creative individuals in Penhill. This issue features planters made by Whaleed Isaacs and Ken Hull — great ideas for brightening up empty corners in your garden, or a fun focus point, and they make lovely gifts too.

Whaleed makes herb/vegetable planting benches — contact him on 076 315 3397. Ken Hull makes gorgeous canine (and feline) planters that make a fun statement in any garden — contact him on 082 570 7802.

Rogues’ Gallery — with Dan the Destroyer

Dan, fur-child of Ruth Truebody, challenges all Penhill pets to better his mischief if they can — achieving a look of complete innocence while creating havoc, the perfect poster child for our Rogues’ Gallery. He’s a proud supporter of South African sports and was recently caught destroying a beloved toy kangaroo belonging to Ruth’s granddaughter, earning 50 Facebook ‘likes’ for his destructive activities. He does shoes too, and you won’t catch him to get them back.

Also featured: Oswald (‘Ozzie’, photos by Linda Otto), who prefers the coffee table to the couch for his best table manners and apparently climbs trees too; and the Millwards’ Mechanics — Oreo and Smudge (photos courtesy of the Millward family), who assist with car repairs (and gardening, mostly by burying tools), before rewarding themselves with a swim, a roll in the sand, and a well-earned snooze on the couch.

Celebrations

A belated happy birthday to Susarah Johanna Evans, affectionately known as “Ouma” to her granddaughter Deone Rossouw. Ouma is a leap-year baby who celebrates on 28th February, is well into her nineties, and possibly holds the distinction of being Penhill’s oldest resident. She loves sitting in the garden and knows all the birds, according to her granddaughter.

Congratulations also to Penhill’s Prof Anthea Rhoda, newly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the University of the Free State. (Photograph supplied by Llewelyn Rhoda.)

Restaurant Review

By the Lunching Ladies (Pippa, Pauline, Cleo, Astrid and Hester) — this issue’s review by Cleo

February’s lunch get-together was at Val de Vine on the R44 between Somerset West and Stellenbosch. Tables are set out in a neat garden with plenty of umbrellas for shade — think a high-gloss-magazine spread of artichoke, mushroom, bell peppers, pecorino, basil, pancetta, chorizo, radicchio, tikka chicken and coconut across the pizza, seafood, pasta and salad lunchtime menu.

It was one of those out-of-nowhere heatwave days, with water and ice free-flowing alongside G&Ts and wine. Cleo had the Vegan Risotto, Pauline the Pasta Arrabiata. The pizza/pasta-style menu would suit a “need comfort food” cooler day just as well — R150 is a good ballpark per dish, and it’s cashless, so bring your cards. Hester’s niece has her paintings exhibited in the restaurant, beautiful work with a distinct Asian influence, and the group was fortunate to meet artist Natalie Jordaan, who joined them for lunch. Two resident Boerbull dogs round out the charm.

Till next time: Pauline, Hester, Pippa, Astrid and Cleo

Penhill Diary

Nature walks and seed collecting — keep eyes open on Penhill WhatsApp groups, as notices are posted from time to time.

Last but not least… this photograph of Penhill’s tiniest gecko, by Riaan.

We would love to hear from you. What would you like to see in the newsletter moving forward? We welcome any Penhill news (hatches, matches and dispatches included). Information and photographs for our History Hub will be gratefully received as well.