This morning at 04:00, the Weather Bureau issued a national warning of very cold conditions on the high ground, very rough seas and wave heights exceeding 5 metres. Hikers were evacuated from the Otter Trail on Wednesday, and the trail has been closed until conditions clear. The camp site at Natures Valley reported that lapping waves had reached as high as the top of the wheels of hikers’ cars parked there!

The good news from the village of Stanford, is that the weather will start improving from the weekend, with a warm and sunny week ahead. Temperatures will edge up to a pleasant 24 on Thursday!

Spare a thought for those in our communities who don’t have the luxury of a warm home and snuggly clothes and consider clearing out your old winter clothes….it’ll make you feel warm inside!

South Africa’s so-called Big Five will soon become the Big Seven, when the whale and the shark are officially added to this tourist “tick list”. The department of Environmental Affairs has decided to add the two ocean predators to the current Big Five, which are the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo. This as “a very significant move for tourism as we will become the only country in the world to boast a Big Seven. We can offer tourists, amongst other things, a shark dive in Gansbaai. We will be marketing these animals - sharks and whales - to the whole world. It will have a significant impact on tourism.”

The arrival of the Southern Right Whales to the Cape Whale Coast every year between June and November brings a flurry of tourists to our shores.  Southern Rights, the less common Bryde’s (pronounced ‘broodess’) and Humpback Whales are frequently sited along the Cape Overberg Coast from Stony Point near Betty’s Bay, along the cliff paths of Kleinmond, Onrus, Walker Bay, the De Hoop Nature Reserve and Witsand. These marine giants spend summer feeding around Antarctica and then migrate thousands of miles to our waters where the sheltered bays of the South African coast provide perfect refuge to mate and calve.

Last night I attended my first ever major soccer game. The World champions, Italy, against the African Champions, Egypt, at Ellis Park. I have been to many rugby games at this stadium, but this was a brand new experience to hear the hoots of the vuvuzelas thundering across the crisp evening air, and feel the energy and excitement of the passionate spectators. We were swiftly whisked off to the stadium in a taxi; the iTransie programme supplied minibus taxis and buses from the park and ride points across the city. The taxi driver was courteous, careful and a great ambassador for the country. Once in the stadium, I was overwhelmed with pride as I became one of the 52 100 who was there to cheer on their favourite team. It amazes me how sport has the ability to unite us all, and I got goosebumps listening to Shosholoza being sung by a few thousand people. After the game, we finally boarded yet another taxi (this one had an amazing 442 000km on its odometer) and drove back to Wits, proud, and happy to be South African.

The Stanford Information bureau is publishing an informative newsletter every week, called the Stanford Grapevine. This week’s news is that the Neighbourhood watch will be hosting a ‘Bring and Braai’ at Gypsies next Thursday 25th of June. Gypsies has recently opened their doors, and serves light meals during the day.

Mosaic Farm is offering a special Fathers Day weekend package, with lunches served picnic style in good weather, or around the fireplace in the Spookhuis on chilly days. Rugby enthusiasts can watch the big games between the touring British Lions on the BIG screen in the Spookhuis while enjoying a pint of Birkenhead beer on tap, and wonderful views of the Hermanus Lagoon and Overberg mountains.

Today is Youth day, a day of commemoration of the student uprising in the Soweto riots in 1976. A day that changed the course of our lives, no matter which side you came from. Today’s celebration of Youth Day is a tribute to the energy, the passion, the drive, the enthusiasm, the innovation, the commitment and the bravery that  young people in our midst display with such maturity. We place the future of the country, and indeed the World, in their capable hands.  I salute them.