Looking back on an exciting year of being published!

Last year, I wrote and submitted a number of articles to the Pinelands Muse community magazine and the Reserve Force Volunteer magazine, as well as the Equestrian Express and the Sawubona in-flight magazine of South African Airways, our national carrier. In order to update my CV at the start of January, I compiled a list, which I thought I’d share with you, in case you are curious.

It was such a thrill to see my name in print, and I hope to have many more opportunities this year.

Here, for your reading pleasure :-), are the links and PDFs to the various articles (Updated!):

1. “In solemn celebration of our fallen heroes: Remembrance Day at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2012)

Mr Colin Eglin reminisces about the founding of the Hospital in the 1950s

“On Friday, 11 November 2011, military dignitaries in regimental uniform gathered on the premises of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Rondebosch, to pay tribute to their fallen comrades. In South Africa, we remember those who have fallen in wars and conflicts around the world in World Wars I and II, as well as those of the Korean War (1950-1953), the Border War between northern Namibia and southern Angola (1966-1989), and the internal conflict in the country before the official end of apartheid in the 1990s. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about this event)

2. “Western Cape Schools Drill and Marching Festival 2011 at Vygieskraal Stadium in Athlone” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2012)

Led by Drum Major WO2 André van Schalkwyk (Army Band) and Drum Major WO2 Steve Leibbrandt (Pipes and Drums)

“The Western Cape Schools Drill and Marching Festival was held at Vygieskraal Stadium, Johnson Road, Rylands, Athlone on Saturday, 15 October 2011.

It was attended by learners from numerous schools in the Western Cape who, judging from their enthusiastic cheering and singing, were very excited to be attending this event. It had been organised by the SANDF in close cooperation with Mr Saeed Ruiters, the president of the WP SMDEA….”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about this event)

3. “The Ride – KwaZulu to Cape Town” (Pinelands Muse of February 2012)

The Whole Team: Jack, Barry, Leanne Black, Natalie Basson, Joe and Cola

“On 14 January 2012, Barry Armitage and Joe Dawson rode into Cape Town, like two adventurous cowboys coming in from the wilderness, having covered 2,000 km, much of it on rough terrain, since leaving KwaZulu Natal ten weeks earlier with their horses – Jack, Pat, Cola and Cherokee. Buoyed up by the generosity, friendliness and hospitality of ordinary South Africans throughout their epic journey, they overcame countless challenges (swollen rivers, dangerous paths and rough terrain). Along the way, they raised funds for the Cart Horse Protection Association in Epping, the Highveld Horse Care Unit and the Coastal Horse Care Unit. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about this event)

4. “Scrumptious scones and delightful roses at Chart Farm in Wynberg” (Pinelands Muse of February 2012)

Fragrant roses at the Chart Farm in Wynberg

“Over the years, it has become a bit of a tradition for us to visit the Chart Farm in Wynberg whenever hubby’s family pays us a visit in Cape Town. It’s a delightful little place, just visible off the M3, driving from Constantia towards town.

There’s a lovely restaurant there called The Terrace, which serves home-made cakes, breakfasts and lunches, from 9h00 to 16h30 every day. Next to it is a little farm stall, where you can buy whatever fresh farm produce happens to be in season, as well as compost and mulch for your garden. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about our visit to the Chart Farm)

5. “Our Little American Roadtrip” (Pinelands Muse of June 2012)

An unforgettable moment: meeting my penpal of 25 years

“In February 2012, I flew to America to meet my penpal Bobz in person for the first time in my life. We had been writing to each other for 25 years. Bobz, his wife Dana, their teenage son Daniel, and their black-and-white dog Annie, fetched me from the airport, and we spent a week together at their home, near the small town of Hazard in the coalfields of south-eastern Kentucky. They made me feel completely at home, introducing me to their friends and colleagues, and showing me around their neighbourhood. It was like being reunited with family I didn’t know I had. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about the article and blog posts about our America Trip 2012)

6. “Cart Horse Angels to the Rescue: Protecting the cart horses of Cape Town” (Equestrian Express, Issue no. 3, August 2012)

Molly has such a beautiful face

“With sirens howling, the bakkie of the Cart Horse Protection Association (CHPA) with horsebox in tow, is driving rapidly along Valhalla Drive and Duinefontein Road towards Philippi, a patchwork of dairy and vegetable farms on the Southern Cape Flats.

For more than 9 years, senior inspector Diana Truter, in charge of the CHPA’s veterinary and rehabilitation unit, has criss-crossed the Cape Flats to provide emergency medical care to working cart horses and donkeys.

Today, I have joined her on a call-out to gain some first-hand insight into the challenges the Association faces in protecting these animals from abuse, and contributing to the social upliftment of Cape Town’s carting community. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog posts about the CHPA)

7. “Rotary Anns Spring Gardens” (Pinelands Muse of November 2012)

This was our favourite garden – sooo colourful and pretty!

“This year, the five gardens opened for fund raising included a fascinating aquaponics garden…, a tucked-away ‘secret’ kitchen garden full of vegetables, herbs and edible plants …, and a wooden bench under a large tree, surrounded by fragrant flowers beds, offered welcome respite from the sun… An exquisite cottage garden with its many colourful flowers was simply enchanting, as was the tranquil shade of Betty’s Island in the communal garden area….”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about the Spring Gardens Day)

8. “A Tribute to the Military Musicians” (Pinelands Muse of December 2012)

One of the salvos – boom-boom-boom-boom….

“The Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012 was held at the Castle of Good Hope from Wednesday, 31 October until Saturday, 3 November 2012.

The massed military bands from Cape Town, Kroonstad, Pretoria, Botswana and Congo-Brazzaville entertained the spectators with bagpipes, drums, trumpets, trombones and violins, as the full moon rose over the castle walls. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog posts about the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012)

9. “Thank you for the Music: The Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012” (Sawubona in-flight magazine of January 2013)

Het Historisch Tamboerkorps van der Koninklijke Marechaussee visiting from the Netherlands

“The Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012 was held at the Castle of Good Hope from Wednesday, 31 October until Saturday, 3 November 2012. This year’s theme – ‘A tribute to the military musicians’ was perfectly encapsulated in the familiar ABBA song, ‘Thank you for the music’. While performing this song, the massed military bands formed the letters of the word MUSIC.

Bandsmen have always been part of the military, transmitting and relaying calls in the field, warning the garrison of danger, and notifying soldiers of parades. The drummer on the Castle’s Leerdam bastion used to recall off-duty soldiers to their barracks, by ordering tavern-keepers to “Doe den tap toe” (Close the taps on your beer-barrels) – a nightly ritual that evolved into the military musical spectacle known as a ‘tattoo’. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog posts about the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012)

10. “Thank you for the Music: The Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2013)

The Drums and Pipes of the Cape Town Highlanders

“As the pipers and drummers, attired in their distinctive tartan kilts, sporrans and glengarries, exited the main arena through the Kat archway with its wooden block cobbles, the echoes of the wailing bagpipes, the thumping bass drums and the rattling tenor drums gradually died away.

For one brief moment, silence fell.

It marked the end of the CT Military Tattoo 2012, which had run at the Castle of Good Hope from Wednesday 31 October until Saturday 3 November 2012. The crowd of over a thousand spectators who attended the spectacular final night’s performance in perfect weather conditions reluctantly filed out through the spike-studded Van der Stel Gate. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog posts about the Cape Town Military Tattoo 2012)

11. “Defence Force Imbizo and Static Display at Nomzamo in the Strand” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2013)

Under the watchful eyes of Lt Dlakadla of Regiment Oranje Rivier, the youngsters obediently line up in neat rows, patiently waiting their turn to climb aboard the Rooikat

“On Saturday, 15 September 2012, the Defence Review Committee (DRC) held the final imbizo of their public participation process at Nomzamo community hall near The Strand outside Cape Town.

An important role in this event was played by the various Regular and Reserve Force units of the SANDF in the Western Cape, which set up a static display outside the hall to give the community an opportunity to interact with the soldiers. Early Saturday morning, in the pre-dawn darkness before sunrise, the soldiers who would be participating in the event were preparing to depart in a convoy from Fort iKapa in Goodwood. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog posts 1 and 2 about the Imbizo)

12. “The Western Cape Schools’ Marching Drill Festival at Florida Park in Ravensmead” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2013)

The marching drill teams arrive at Florida Park sports ground in Ravensmead

“On Saturday, 20 October 2012, Florida Park Sports Ground in Ravensmead hosted the Western Cape Schools’ Marching Drill Festival of 2012. It was an even bigger event than the previous year’s festival at Vygieskraal stadium in Athlone. It had been organised by Mr Saeed Ruiters, the President of the WPMA, working closely together with the SA Army Band Cape Town and various Regular and Reserve regiments of the SANDF. …”

(Read more: website and PDF) (Blog post about this event)

13. “A first-class change of command parade at Fort Ikapa” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2013)

Col B Ashlin formally hands over command of Fort Ikapa to Lt Col S E Pierce

“On Saturday, 10 November 2012, Colonel Bernie Ashlin formally handed over command of Fort Ikapa Military Base to Lieutenant Colonel Stephan Pierce. The change of command parade took place in perfect Cape Town summer weather, with the heat shimmering off the parade ground outside the Base Headquarters, and a very light breeze fluttering through the South African flags that lined the approach road.

Fort iKapa is the first fully functional SA Army Reserve Force Base in the SANDF, and the first such base that is managed and operated by Reserves, supported by a very small Regular contingent…”

(Read more: website and PDF)

14. “Regiment Oranjerivier celebrates its 60th Birthday with the opening of the new ROR Laager at Fort Ikapa” (Reserve Force Volunteer magazine of January 2013)

This is the venue of the ROR’s 60th birthday celebration

“The weekend of the 1st of July 2012 was a special one for the Regiment Oranjerivier (ROR): the regiment was celebrating its 60th birthday.

ROR is an armoured regiment whose mission is to perform and execute armour and reconnaissance tasks for the SA Army’s Armour Formation. It is a reserve unit, which means that its members are not full-time soldiers, although they can be called up for active duty if the need arises. Their regimental motto is ‘occuli et aures’ (eyes and ears), and the badge, which is worn on the traditional black beret of the Armoured Corps, depicts an eagle with outspread wings. …”

(Read more: website and PDF).