www.sanlameer.co.zaMASTER HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

NEWSFLASH: JANUARY 2020THE

LIFEGOOD

2020

Outside lighting for villas

Dear Homeowners

Please note the below brochure with information, specifications, cost and details on a wall

mounted LED Bronze Up/Down light unit that was approved by the Board of Directors. This

LED exterior wall luminaire for glare-free lighting of paths and stairs. Luminaire head made of

cast aluminium; bollard tube extruded aluminium profile.

Down light per unit: R750.00 (excl VAT)

Up and Down light per unit: R950 (excl VAT)

Removal & Installation per unit: R550 (excl VAT)

For a quote / assessment contact:

Belinda Lotter: 074 104 4839 / specialist@prestigesignage.co.za

WIFI Air Fibre Connection - San Lameer Mast

Good day All Homeowners

Herewith information that allows you to connect your villa with

our WIFI tower if you wish. If you want to get WIFI for your villa

please note that you can only connect now if your villa has

direct line of sight on the lattice tower next to the Vodacom

tower at "The Heuwel". This line of sight can be from anywhere

at your villa including the roof top.

If your villa does not have a direct line of sight, you can report

it to me and we can determine where our next tower should be.

Below the links to the following documents for your attention:

1. Venture-Net

A document from Venture-Net with the various packages

(10mb, 20mb speed, etc.) offered. You can make contact

directly.

2. Key Computers or Educomp

Three proposals from three different companies that can

install the hardware that connects to the mast tower. All

three can be made contact with for a specialised quote and it

is the owner's choice of whom you ultimately choose to install

with.

If you have any further questions regarding the above please

do not hesitate to contact me.

Venture-Net Packages & Details

Jolanda Cloete

Marketing

Key Computers Hardware Installation

Educomp Hardware Installation

With Christmas a distant memory for some, our busiest time of

the year for San Lameer Estate has come and gone yet again.

The weather was a lot more stable than what we have come to

expect from this time of year but it's not to say we didn't have

our moments with strong winds and persistent rain but what

was “unusual” was the many days of slow and persistent rain.

To some a disaster, but finally as farmers we can smile again. th

The final rain count since 24 October has amounted to just

over a 1000mm at 1055mm.

Please be aware that, although this rain has been fantastic, our

water restrictions are still in place and it is still important to be

water sensitive especially within the gardens.

Strong rainfall and high temps have meant that the gardens

have notched it up a gear and everything is GROWING!! This

presents a challenge in the line of keeping up. Not only has the

grass excelled but so have the weeds that invade them. Being

primary colonisers and more prolific, (which is usually why

they find themselves in the “weed” category) the non-grass

species have dominated some areas of lawn. Although I am

circumspect about introducing any form of chemical into the

environment, it is the only real form of defence in combating

this type of invasion. We initially sprayed with an MCPA based

selective herbicide but have found varying results, so have

changed to a broader spectrum version which are showing

better returns.

It has come to our attention that tikki creeper( ficus Pumela - a

non-indigenous plant and therefore exotic) is currently

growing up the walls of several villas on the estate. The current

Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) provides for limitations

as regards to the appearance (aesthetics) of units, land and

buildings of villas on the estate (article 22 and more specific

Article 22.5) and being a registered Conservancy, exotic plants

only in pots and not into the soil is permitted.

Tikki creeper growing on the walls creates structural

damage to the plaster and at times the walls as a whole.

That aside, the MOI and Enviromental Policy do speak to the

fact that no exotic plant may be encouraged to grow on the

estate that is invasive and or has the potential to become

Gardens & Grounds - Leitch

invasive.

It is for the above reasons that a decision was taken at the

recent Environmental Meeting to request for all tikki

creepers to be removed from villas. We are also extending

an offer to help remove the tikki creeper, if needed.

Your cooperation in this regard is very much appreciated.

A small reminder to homeowners regarding the black rubbish

bins in your courtyards. These bins are your private property.

The replacement thereof is for your cost once they perish. The

bins do not have an indefinite lifespan and need replacement

often. They are subject to direct sunlight, heat, rain and

monkey abuse so they do perish after a certain period. I have

found that the lids perish first followed by the bin itself.

If you find your bin has perished on your next visit, please buy a

replacement from any local hardware store. We would prefer if

you can purchase the bins that have monkey proof lids as this

discourages the monkeys from pilfering through your rubbish

before we can collect it.

Brett Wortmann

Manager / Bestuurder

Brett Wortmann

Leitch Landscapes Manager

As they say all good things come to an end and I write

this newsflash with a very heavy heart.

The last six and a half years at San Lameer has been

an amazing journey and I would like to take this

opportunity to thank all homeowners, members and

guests for their years of support. We have made so

many friends during these years and we treasure each

one individually.

I would never have been able to enjoy my job as much

as I did without a great product and the right tools.

Special thanks must go to the HOA Board, Managing

Director Pine Pienaar, Golf Committee, Maintenance

contractors and all staff from the HOA and Country

Club. It has been such a privilege to serve you all and I

thank you for putting your trust in me to look after

your investment.

I am pleased to report that we had a great season.

The golf course is in immaculate condition and

structures have been put in place for my successor to

take the Country Club to the next level.

I wish San Lameer only the best going forward and will

follow the progress of the Estate and course with a

close eye. I can assure you that we leave here as an

ambassador and I will always promote San Lameer

everywhere we go.

Once again thank you.

Time to say goodbye!

LIFE

Meyer du Toit

Golf Director

@golfshan17

We have a few strategies planned to jump start 2020.

We have a great Estate that our guests love. The next

step isn't repeating everything we've been doing.

WE WANT TO IMPROVE.

Ÿ We re-designed our marketing material for the year.

The designs are fresh and minimalistic. Pictures

speak a thousand words.

Ÿ We are re-doing and updating the inventories in the

villas.

Ÿ Occupation in general is very low out of season, it is

between 8-12% including weekends. We want to

increase this number drastically. We have on

average 250 days out of season which makes it the

biggest season. We decided to run a promotion - 20

% discount because it is “2020” for mid-week

breaks Monday-Thursday.

Ÿ Innkeeper head office will be doing a site visit in

April, they will provide training for a system update.

Ÿ In the near future La main will be supplying all the

linen in the villas, the board approved the initiative.

The new rates include the daily rental that La Main

will charge.

Ÿ It is very important to combine skills and to

embrace technology to align strategy and business

results.

December/January 2019/2020 holiday has been very

busy and rewarding, occupation increased with 8% in

comparison to last year. I think one of the major

changes that contributed to the increase was the

bookings that opened 1 year in advance. A few of our

returning clients have already secured their next

December holiday. The homeowners that want to use

their villas for own use need to make sure they submit

their dates 1 year in advance to avoid disappointment.

Let's embrace the new while staying wise of the past.

A new month, A new year, A new decade

Villa Rentals

Marieta Badenhorst

Manager

R875 000 to R11 995 000

Crowned EaglesIn the past seven years, our Crowned Eagles have produced and

successfully reared five chicks. Last year the chick that hatched on 20

October did not survive beyond its first week. The reasons for its demise

are unknown. Theories that abound include speculations that the

excessive global warming temperatures during the incubating cycle had

something to do with it, or that the eagle pair may now be quite old with

a fertility factor that is no longer viable.

That meant that we would simply have to wait until the new nest-

building and breeding season started in February of this year to discover

what the future holds. Only then would we have the answer to our

expectations for this rare and threatened species that has been one of

San Lameer's most visible promotions.

Then, in December, a pair of Egyptian Geese settled themselves in the

eagles' nest. They had tried to do so several times in the past but we

were always aware of the invasion and had ejected them very firmly

before they had settled in. This year, however, I was away on an

assignment in the Karoo for a British Travel magazine and by the time I

returned to resume my observation of the eagles, only the head of an

incubating Egyptian Goose was visible in the nest. Where that has

happened in other places like Zimbali, the eagles simply abandoned the

nest and never returned. I contacted Shane McPherson in the hopes that

he could climb the tree and serve eviction orders on the squatters.

Unfortunately, he is doing research in Austria and will be there for the

whole year. His suggestion was that we should wait, let the goose

incubate her eggs over the customary period of 30 days, give her another

30 days to bring the goslings to the point where they will leave the nest

and then hope that the eagles return.

Unless one sits at the nest 24/7, one cannot be certain of all the

developments that take place but the sporadic visits I have made have

over the past two weeks have revealed encouraging signs. Yesterday,

Monday 20 January, I could not see any sign of activity in the nest. At

10:30am, I found the female Crowned Eagle sitting on one of her

favourite perches on a tree about 30 meters from the nest. That is a

good sign. She is still in the area and clearly has not forgotten where her

nest is.

Whether, when no one was looking, she actually chased the goose out of

the nest, we do not know. When I photographed the nest from the

southern side, there did appear to be a goose egg stuck in the branches

that are part of its construction. We will continue monitoring the

situation and keep fingers crossed that February will signal the start of

the annual nest refurbishment activities by the eagles that we have

observed for the past seven years.

The four pictures show:

What the juvenile would have looked like by now if it had survived in

October 2019. This is an image I took in March, 2011 of the 2010

juvenile for a comprehensive article on the San Lameer eagles that was

published in the South African Birds and Birding magazine of that year.

The second picture is of the nest, taken on Monday 20 January 2020

at 8am, showing no goose activity and the possible image on an egg

stuck in among the branches on the side of the nest.

The third image is of our female crowned eagle sitting on a branch

and surveying the 17th fairway, which is an area quite popular with

the eagles for catching their favourite prey of dassies and monkeys.

A question frequently asked is: Do Crowned eagles take domestic

pets?” The answer is, “Generally not.” They prefer wild animals.

There have been reports of small dogs and cats either having been

taken or ending up at a vet for stitching of wounds following a failed

attack by a Crowned Eagle. But these events are rare and generally

attributed to juvenile eagles that are still learning to hunt. Research

has shown that domestic pets are not on the eagles' menu of

preferences and that stories about them carting off small children

are merely urban legends of the bizarre.

The fourth image is of a pair of Egyptian Geese. They mate for life,

are extremely aggressive in their territorial claims and challenge

even apex avian predators like Crowned Eagles. One of their most

effective weapons is the loud noises they make which unnerve their

opponents.

Written piece and photographs:

Jacques Sellschop

It is hard to believe that 2020 is here

and an entire new year of possibilities

lies ahead of us. We would like to

wish you all a very happy and

prosperous new year. The festive

season is behind us and we are very

excited about what this brand-new

year has in store.

Camelot Spa had a very successful

festive season, welcoming over 1125

clients into our establishment! And

you know that Camelot Spa San

Lameer is the place to be when even

Alexander, the San Lameer mascot,

stopped by for some rest and

relaxation!

We would like to extend our heartfelt

thanks and appreciation to all of our

loyal clients, for once again

supporting us and contributing in

such a significant way to our success.

We would also like to take this

opportunity to thank our staff.

Without their hard work, dedication

and true passion for the industry none

Monya Ashburner

Spa Manager

of this would be possible.

The New Year is the perfect time to

unfold new horizons and realizing all

dreams. Rediscover the strength and

courage that lies within you and

continue to move forward. All the

best for 2020 from Camelot Spa San

Lameer.

The past holiday season proved to be rather busy

and challenging and with it well and truly behind

us, now is the time for reflection.

Although we achieved a number of successes, it is

imperative that we identify and address areas in

need of improvement. With that being said,

preparations are already underway to ensure that

we do not rest on our laurels.

For the months of February and March 2020, we

will once again be embarking on a Training and

Development strategy for all our staff. With the

Easter holidays just around the corner, we are

already taking the necessary steps to ensure that

we are more prepared this time around.

In closing, on behalf of the entire La Main team, I

would like to wish all our loyal customers a

prosperous 2020.

Julian Kevany

General Manager