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Number 29 : April 2008

 

No advertorials

We are still surprised when advertisers ask us to write an article on their businesses. In some cases they are prepared to pay for such an “advertorial”, in others they offer a barter deal involving free accommodation or suchlike.

Although advertorials are common practice with most South African magazines and newspapers these days, we believe our readers and advertisers are best served by keeping advertising separate from articles. By publishing factually correct and interesting editorial matter – with the help of our growing panel of contributors – an environment is created in which a proper advertisement shares in this credibility. The uncluttered, structured layout of our pages is also aimed at making information accessible, and advertisements more visible.

Our position on this has often been validated by comments from readers, who generally say they hate to start reading an article, only to discover that it is in fact an advertisement in disguise.

So, Village Life is not going to change – there are more than enough stories waiting to be told to fill its pages for a long time to come. We trust you will keep on enjoying our efforts!

 

Contents

3: At the office

Letters and other important matters: More than 700 people attend the launch of Annalize Mouton's book Portrait of a Village

 

4: Well over 100 years old... and still counting

There is uncertainty about Mrs Rachel Lamini’s exact age, but sprightly she certainly is. By Annalize Mouton

 

6: The face of South Africa

A display of pumpkins is a reminder of the old way of life in Gamkaskloof, the once-secluded valley in the Swartberg. By Maré Mouton. View as PDF

 

8: Old postcards tell their stories

Carol Hardijzer looks at the role of picture postcards a century ago

 

12: Kniphofia is a red-hot number

Gardening for wildlife: Charles and Julia Botha introduce Red-hot Pokers in the garden

 

18: The Diary of Iris Vaughan

Our fifth excerpt from this charming diary written by a young girl a century ago: Life in Adelaide in the Eastern Cape, with gas lamps and Guy Fox Guy

 

22: Chrissiesmeer: wetlands under threat

This pristine nature area in Mpumalanga Province will disappear if proposed mining goes ahead, writes Lindsey Sanderson

 

28: Lend a hand with the Butterfly Atlas Project

Steve Woodhall explains how anyboy can help to identify and map the butterflies in South Africa

 

32: Doornboom rises from the mud

Herman Fourie recounts how he and other volunteers set about saving this farm house in Heidelberg, Cape Province, dating from c.1728

 

38: The demise of the ‘trekbokken’

Herds of millions of springbok and other game once thundered across the Karoo. The last such migration took place in 1896, writes Steve Moseley

 

42: Drawn on stone

Dr Duncan Miller discusses the rock paintings of the Cederberg

 

48: The Heron and the eel

Nico Myburgh tells the story of an eel that got away from an over-ambitious Grey Heron – and has the pictures of the event to verify his tale. Read full text

 

52: Call it paella or potjie

We share some more recipes from our Country Table, this time a delicious pot of mixed seafood

 

54: Camera work

J L du Plessis explains how he managed to get the flower inside the drop of water

 

56: Tail piece

A young baboon meets some friends. View as PDF

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