Once upon a time in an “Ego Estate”

Once upon a time a developer called King Ian acquired some land for an exclusive and expensive low density housing development among the hills of Alberton.

Nearly all these expensive stands were sold off to “immature” millionaires (as King Ian fondly refers to them) and he will reign over this estate, now as the “Ego Estate”, until the last stand has been sold. At this point in time, the “immature” millionaires will be reclassified by King Ian as “mature millionaires”!

Of course, King Ian just has to keep his last unsold stand and he will be king forever and ever and so deny them their right of one man one vote. All of us doomed to be considered immature forever.

The “immature” millionaires are unhappy that the King does not like democracy to prevail at annual elections of the King’s council of 13 people. The King allows himself to appoint six of the council members, mostly buddies, and all unopposed.

He also has 150 special votes that he can use to vote on the remaining seven council seats. He is perplexed why most of the “immature” millionaires are unhappy about this injustice.

The “Ego Estate” does not match up to what the majority had expected. They have formed a resistance group to battle this very injustice and bring about true democracy (perhaps a bit like what transpired out of the Magna Carta – year 1215) in England, whereby the monarch became a powerless figurehead.

King Ian is furious about how he was criticized at a meeting of the people held earlier this month in the Ego Estate.

History will show how these things work out and how good majority rule is when it comes.

Long live the (soon to be powerless figurehead) King Ian.

Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Lowly Ego Estate peasant dweller.

I thought this letter was just classic.

Cheers

Ciarra

Farewell

Dear “Ego Estate Residents” – joking!!!!

I am sorry that I have neglected the blog but we are no longer living in the estate and our house is up for sale. To all of you who have shown a true love for the concept of the estate that we all bought into, but feel that it would be a far better place if some of the many injustices were not there, I wish you all the best.

With the formation of Meera, and a certain no nonsense member of the board there is light at the end of the tunnel. I think the days are numbered for this board member under the current flawed election system. This board member has, is and always will be a thorn in the side of the many board members who wants the estate run in a way that leaves them unaccountable and answerable to anybody.

The day when the estate board is comprised of democratically elected home owners it will run a lot better. There are some unelected members of the board, there not by the choice of the electorate, but forced upon the home owners by the rules laid out in a cleverly thought out Articles of Association for the estate. This was not by accident it was contrived and it leaves a bad taste.

As in society in general, the only way to bring about morally acceptable change is by continually naming and shaming all who are involved in contentious actions. There are some incumbents on the board whose skin is so thick that any targeted Rhino would gladly swop their skin for. One might ask why? There must be a reason and I would bet my last dollar that it is for financial reasons, after all, if I was a board member and received so many negative comments as have been published via this blog I would have resigned. Think about it, if you are on the board because the developer mandated that you should be there, then you are not allowed to suddenly drop your duties and allegiances. They were put there (not elected) to be the impervious front people/puppets of the developer. Historically any who show that they are not available for this practise won’t be invited to sit another term. Those who do accept this format are usually rewarded well but to the detriment of the homeowners.

As pointed out in the satirical letter to the Alberton Record that was emailed to me, the developer can hold on to the last stand he owns in the Eco Estate, pay his monthly building penalty, continue to mould the nature estate with increased expansion as he so desires. The status quo is thus unchanged.

Let no one be fooled! The number of residential dwellings in ‘his estate’ will continue to grow and by the time the Eco Estate owners wake up it will be too late. You may need a dual carriage way going up Roller Street and an entrance gate like the Vaal Toll Plaza. Added to this, you will all need back-up generators on standby for there will not be enough power on the grid.

On another note, I feel sorry for the prospective new home owners at the “so called” crusher site. There is year round water spring in that very area that has been there probably for thousands of years!! Most of this underground water has been cleverly diverted through large underground pipes to hide this fact. Tough luck for those who build on top of the spring. There is a similar area to this at the lower end of extension 2 where this homeowner (Jan Aucamp) has had to build a sump with a automatic water pump to pump out the excess just to prevent damage to his house structure, and this at his own cost. Getting back to the crusher site, there is an official Geotech report that states that the ground in this entire area is highly unstable. This begs the question as to whether the new buyers in the crusher site area were/will be informed of this before they put their hard earned cash into the developer’s account. Time will tell but I bet some will suffer and rightly feel cheated. If any are not informed then they must sue on the grounds of deception and will have a good case.

I would like to think that this blog has been instrumental in some honourable and positive changes to the benefit of the general eco estate owners. I advise that all home owners throw their weight behind Meera as their only chance -- you have nothing to loose and a lot to gain.

I wish you all the very best, but not luck because it won’t help you--- you are going to have to work for it. Sorry to those of you who sent opinions that I did not published after the last meeting at the clubhouse. I felt that too many postings were too aggressive in the extreme. I feel for those bloggers because their opinions were born out of frustration, disgust and fear for persecution if approaching the board directly. The board can be vindictive.

I reiterate that the official estate blog is a sham as it is run by an inner circle board member who is unelected and censors postings that he feels uncomfortable with. Further to this he charges the estate a fee for this. I set up this blog/web site for under R1000 and that’s all to this date. I wonder what the estate pays for his services? Free perhaps out of neighbourliness --- you have got to be bloody joking. Pay up with no foreplay.

A few years back, a board member who obviously has inside knowledge of persons who are financially unable to pay their levies made an offer and bought an unfinished property off an unfortunate owner. This owner had sold under duress to this board member under circumstances that seem very much like insider trading to most.

I will revisit one day and I wish from the bottom of my heart that you folks have managed to exorcise these people out of estate control.

Thanks to all and “arrivederci e buona fortuna!!”

As the last posting for those who did not get the copy of the Alberton Record, here it is.

Ciarra

Last special meeting

I was at the last special meeting in March and as a fairly new resident, I was amazed at the dislike shown towards the board. At the time, I thought it very “Jo’burgite” but now realized that all is not well. If I had knew that the composition of the board was at the call of the developer for ever and ever, Amen, then I would have rather bought somewhere else. There will be never peace in this estate as long as this situation is not reversed. The estate that I lived in Durbs was the most peaceful environment, and yet, I come to Johannesburg to what I thought was a top of the range estate, and all I find disenchantment.

I have not experience it before but people are angry about security, angry about the board, angry about more development in the estate, angry about things that professional people should have be able to resolve from the start.

My wife and kids work on my case about wanting to go home to KZN. For business reasons I cannot do this for four years but, I hope for the day when this estate is run in such a way that people appreciate living here.

As said before, democracy must prevail. The Board must not be an extension of the developers a……..

Shark out of water (maybe).

Crush the crusher site

Hello Ciarra,

You may think that stopping the crusher site has run out of steam, but I can assure you it hasn’t. My wife is actively pursuing this campaign and significant progress has been made. The 161 people who signed as objectors to this project is proof enough that the crusher site development is maybe as unpopular with the home owners as the developer is himself.

Regards

Adrian Farrar

Palisade

At my house, palisades will not fit in a straight line because of rocks. So I have no palisade fence. Now they want me to drill holes into the rocks, so that I can run a straight line. Have you ever heard of such bull s—t!! I would rather not put a palisade at all, it is after all an echo estate. They won’t allow electric fences even thought we have k-k security, but they pick on people who want to gamble with no palisade fence. Whose risk is it anyway? It is far more likely that you will bump into a thief than a common Wildebeest.

Gato

Rare creatures

Hello Ciarra

Recently I looked out the window at night to find a security guard patrolling. I took a photo because this is such a rare site offered by our overrated security company. If anybody else has seen one, please say as this might be a new trend.

My family and I are sick and tired that some undesirable person will break in to our home. When the dogs barks I rush to one window and my wife to the other window. What a horrible way of living!

I had to shake my head when one home owner stood up at the last meeting on the 7th March 2011 and praised the running of this insecure estate. Maybe home owners living here don’t realize how serious security is. At Zimbali in Natal they fall short of asking for a DNA test, just to get in. The reasons for the tight security are obvious, you pay a lot of money for your property, you pay a high levy, because you insist on peaceful sleep at night and safety during the day. If you pay a lot for security and you don’t sleep well, then you have made a mistake where you have bought. If things don’t change the value of our investment will take a dive because people don’t want to live here.

The estate is a great concept badly run by a badly chosen board. The next AGM I will be there to vote against any previous board member who wants to stand, especially the ones chosen by the developer.

Peace Lover

Rock Elephant-shrew

Hi all

I was at a house party within the estate about two weeks ago. Our hosts were talking about an elephant-shrew, and being typical blond, I had no glue what they were talking about. After my hosts describe it as a mouse like creature with a nose like an elephant, I was actually quite prepared to believe that they were pulling my leg. My nosy streak made me Google this little creature and I came across interesting facts that I would like to share with you all.

The creature is called a Rock elephant-shrew and its biological name is Elephantulus Myurus. Length wise (including tail) it get up to 26cm and weigh up to 60g. The colour of the body is buff-grey / white and the eyes are ringed with white. At the end of the snout are sensitive nostrils, and the senses of smell, hearing and sight are all acute. Faced with this battery of equipment the elephant-shrew's insect prey hasn't a hope - which is just as well for a mammal with an extremely high metabolic rate: they feed frenetically and sleep intermittently throughout the day. From the shady cover of a rock of shrub the rock elephant-shrew can dart out like a flash of lightning to pounce on its victim. Normally they travel on all fours, but at speed they leap on their hind legs. Smaller birds of prey are amongst elephant-shrew's enemies. Sitting motionless on a shaded rock, the animal is well camouflaged and may be mistaken for a stone - its only giveaway being a twitching of the snout and ears. Their natural lifespan is only about 13 months, but can reach up to 19 months. The funniest of all is the Afrikaans name being "Klipklaasneus".

Regards

Rynette

Hi, I am back!

Hi all,

I’ve been away on business and came back to find that my work computer had been borrowed on a permanent basis by people who came in through the roof of our offices. Please resend e-mails sent through the past month. I saw lots of postings coming though on my Black Berry which I deleted (too costly to operate out of SA) and hoped to retrieve them when back at work ...... bastards (as Julius would say).

A chat with my neighbour revealed much controversy, dissension, disgust, venom, hatred in fact nothing nice except that Zakume the little giraffe is growing up nicely. Peace for the board seems unlikely and the quest for the halting of the crusher site seems to have run out of steam. This is sad for the people at the top of the estate but I turn left through the main gate.

The thought of having to maybe pay nearly R5000 plus costs regarding court cases comes as a shock. Is there no other way that a compromise can be negotiated. How does our board get us into this position beats me.

My neighbour also told me that info going around that Trevor Colman (the board member with a finger in many an estate pie) runs the estate blog nogal. This is run by IT Horizons, owned by the same guy. Office computers, estate accounts – yes you guessed right, there seems to be no limit to board members who are involved in supplying goods of services to the estate .... for a fee of course. It is even muted that should we require the services of a company specialising in the collecting of animal droppings, then there is a board member who happens to have such a company. So weird!!

Can anybody report on any board member who offers services within our estate. I stand corrected, but surely a board member would be given favourable support from fellow board members, who state that they can fulfil a need of our estate. Lots of questions, but as we know, few if any answers.

I had a request before I went overseas, to publish documents, facts, etc. I will now do this but please make sure that they are legitimate.

Good luck to Meera. Where and to whom should we apply? I believe Neil Diamond is a facilitator and a competent campaigner for any just cause. Go for it Neil!

Ciarra

Info meeting attendance

I hope as many members as possible attend this meeting and please try keep an open mind to what you might hear. My wife and I would have loved to attend a meeting like this had it be about a year ago. We would have gladly offered explanations, documents, technical drawings all relavant to the dispute.

After two years and three months of fighting this with e-mails, lawyers letters, investigations etc., the time is now past for that. Our lawyer, who is familiar with some of the board members, also advises us not to attend this meeting.

Just like Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrian, Libya etc; - undemocratic things must change. This will never be achieved if people sit back and do nothing but moan in the comfort of their own homes.

I would also like to thank all those recent e-mails and phone calls of support (unexpected in view of the potential liability).

Please try and have a look at the building that offends us before this meeting on Monday. It is accross the road from the our house on the corner of Roller & Lourie street. It is easy to spot as the only house that is a storey higher than all the others on the same side of Roller Rd.

Regards

Adrian Farrar (stand 289)

Time to rehearse????

I have picked up the meeting leaflet at the front gate and had to laugh when I saw it called for questions upfront.

Obviously they need time to rehearse their answers. They should worry for we don't need to rehearse our questions.

No ropes allowed please.

Mr Owl

Monday meeting

I hope everybody attends this meeting. It might be a good time and long overdue for the board to become transparent like they promise us -- every year for the last three years. We should also ask what other trouble is in the pipeline that we haven't been told about.

Spiro

Summons

E-mail from the chairman that was circulated to all owners on the 22/02/2011.

Dear Owner,

In the interest of disclosing substantial liability to members of the Meyersdal Nature Estate Homeowners Association;

Adrian Mitchell Farrar of 1 Loerie Close, Meyersdal Nature Estate, Alberton and Rynette Farrar of 1 Loerie Close, Meyersdal Nature Estate, Alberton have instituted legal action against Meyersdal Nature Estate Homeowners Association as second defendant for 1.25 Million Rand.

This equates to a potential liability of approximately R4460 per stand plus legal representation fees.

We have set up a specific sub-committee to deal with the potential liability and appointed legal representation.

A copy of the summons is available at the clubhouse.

Regards

Nico Kruger



Adrian Farrar's responce to the chairman's letter:


Dear fellow homeowner,

I am sure by now you have received board chairman Nico Kruger's e-mail and I am also sure you are very angry and have every right to be. This e-mail was very short on detail and mainly done to discredit my wife and I in the homeowners eyes. This is in very bad taste for I can assure you that court action is the very last resort I am using. After over two years of giving the board a chance to rectify their errors in this matter, I have no other option. All along my desire was for our neighbour in front of us to build his house in accordance with the estate guidelines. He did not and the board has assisted him to this end. In the court documents that are filed, the money award is a poor secondary option. The first option is to force this home owner to conform with the guidelines - most of us have done this so why should he be exempt? Keeping in mind he had his warning before he even laid a brick. In the court papers this home owner is the first defendant and the MNEHOA the second. This was not mentioned in the e-mail from Nico Kruger. Why? I have attached a copy of the combined summons to save you having to go to the estate offices. Why could he not attach a copy? These guys always want to be short on details.

Because I am not a 100% sure which board members are ultimately responsible for the poor decisions made in this dispute, my lawyer advised that I sue the MNEHOA. It is the current board's responsibility to stop protecting those responsible (current and ex-board members) for their poor performance and neglect of duties regarding this case. It is those very people who are responsible and they must pay back to MNEHOA any award made to me. It is not the homeowners fault and therefore why should they pay? One should understand that it was only a few board members who messed up and acted beyond their authority. They also did not inform all the other board members about this dispute until things were out of control. The rest of the board then opted to safe guard these board members responsible.

We should not forget that the previous boards, just like the current board, are comprised of about 50% of co-opted (not democratically elected) memberswho are only there because of the developer exercising his so called 'preferential voting rights'. Is their conduct influenced by what the developer says we may all ask? This voting system has got to change to full democracy - soonest possible!

I'm sure that some board members would like to be rid of my wife, Rynette Farrar, from the board. She is one of the few people on the board who was democratically elected and she is very anti any board member/s who wish to act unethically. Rynette wants to be the conscience that some of the board members may need - but will obviously hate her for it.

My wife goes to nearly every subcommittee meeting, regardless of the fact that it is not in her portfolio, so that she may assist in any possible way. She goes to many meetings and my cooking skills have improved tremendously because of this. Four meetings a week is about average plus personal visits to help out with homeowner's problems. All this she does apart from running a company and being a wife and mother to two kids.

Please try and see through to what is the truth and contact me if you require any further details. I have always maintained that the truth must come out and I will have my wish come true - I will not rest until this happens. My office number 011 908 3861.

Regards

Adrian Farrar (stand 289)

Newcomer - Zakume

Some of us home owners have discover a new comer to the estate after sun rise this morning.

Our giraffe population is standing now at 4 with the arrival of Zakume!

Just look at the proud parents looking on!

Ciarra

The importance of our ridges

The five major ridges in our area is the Magaliesberg, Roodepoort, Bronberg, Klipriviersberg and the Suikerbosrand ridges.

A wide variety of bird groups utilize ridges, koppies and hills for feeding, roosting and breeding. These groups include some owls, flacons, nightjars, swifts, swallows, martins, larks, chats, thrushes, cisticolas, pipits, shrikes, starlings, sunbirds, firefinches, waxbills, buntings, canaries, eagles and vultures. It also provides important habitat for sensitive species such as bats (roosting sites) and the rock elephant shrew. Hills and koppies generally have more insects that the immediate surroundings. If ridges are allowed to become developed in Gauteng, this will have serious implications for the future survival of many invertebrate species, many of which provide essential pollinator services such as the honey bee, certain butterflies and the dragon fly. A rare species of scorpion is apparently confines to some of these ridges.

The conservation of ridges in Gauteng will provide habitat for significantly high numbers of species allowing for their continued survival in a rapidly urbanizing province, a desirable long-term conservation goal. The ridges of Gauteng form vital habitat for many threatened of Red Data plant species. Sixty-five percent of Red Data plant species have been recorded growing on ridges in the province, while 42% of Red Data plant species are confined solely to these habitat type. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that 71% of Gauteng’s endemic plant species, i.e. plant species that occur nowhere else in the world, have been recorded on these ridges.

Many of the latter plant species are critically endangered or endangered, the highest categories of threat to which species can be assigned. These Gauteng endemics are predominantly threatened by habitat transformation and fragmentation and the accompanying resulting decline in habitat quality, all brought on by urbanization of “prime real estate properties” that the ridge environment offers.

Ridges may have a direct effect on temperature / radiation, surface airflow / wind, humidity and soil types. Ridges also influence fire in the landscape, offering protection for those species that can be described as “fire-avoiders”. The protection of the ridges in Gauteng in a natural state will thus ensure the normal functioning of ecosystem processes. In contrast, development of a ridge will alter these major landscape processes. For example, water runoff into streams and wetlands will increase.

The Klipriviersberg is virtually the only ridge system left somewhat intact in Johannesburg. A highly sensitive habitat for at least two Gauteng plant endemics, one of which is only found predominantly on the Klipriversberg, it is absolutely essential that all efforts are made to prevent any further transformation of this last remaining ridge in Johannesburg. The Gauteng ridges, together with the Drakensberg escarpment, should be regarded as one of the most important natural assets in the entire region of the northern provinces of South Africa.

Ciarra

Away with the old

In answer to ABC's letter 'preferred providers' of 13 February 2011

I have enquired about the same questions that you raised in your mail, about three weeks ago and I was told that the tenders for a new auditors firm as well as the managing agent is still on the cards. Apparently the tenders will go out at the end of February when the contracts expire.

Uiltjie

Preferred providers

If you recall, we were informed by one of the board members last year about preferred providers.

We were also informed that Coleman Properties were appointed by the developer at the start and that that would also go out to tender.

To my knowledge this has not happened.

Any reasons why not?

Here is the link from last year:

http://meyersdalnatureestatenews.blogspot.com/2010/10/answer-to-award-without-tender.html

Is this going to happen or were we being lied to again?

ABC

Board Members exempt from general rules:

It would appear that board members are exempt from general rules in the estate.

Let me cite just two glaring examples:

A certain board member has painted part of his house in colours that are not permitted. He has been asked to conform(more than a year ago). The colour still remains. Now I see another resident has also painted a similar colour.

Another board member, does not put up building boards according to the rules, but paints his details on the walls. Yet we tell other builders to put up their details otherwise they will be fined (and they are).

Why oh why can we not ALL follow the rules. Perhaps we must just scrap all the rules
.
Keep in mind, board members, that these questions will be posed to you at our next information meeting.

The Mole.

Old boy racers

We live not far from Soetdoring gate and today was not a good Sunday for peace and quite yet again.

The reason for this is that there are a few drivers namely -flat red car, flat silver car , big black car, fat grey haired man with curved belly and curved back to match riding a motorbike. I’m not interested in and do not know the makes or models. I’m sure these men with their boy mentality get a hard spot somewhere by racing their noisy machines from one speed bump to the next. As they do this they look around with arrogant pride, hoping that people see them and think WOW!!!.

Think again most don’t care a damn.

Please would these men who quite obviously lack attention at home, play with their X Boxes or themselves instead.

Kwaai tannie

Neighbourhood watch

Should we in our upmarket estate consider starting a neighbourwood watch to proptect ourselves?

Our security is patchetic and very poor value for money.

If I hear any sound I am up and checking but this is not what I had in mind when I bough here.

It is not reasonable that the good security that we were promised is beyond our reach. The current security company is far worse than we had before and at less than half the price of Protective Force.

What is the board thinking about?

Ex happy home owner

Security

I have heard that some howe owners have been driving around in the night checking on security. You guys all need a big thankyou for what you are doing, but it also shows what a bad state our very expensive security is in.

My neighbour calculated that if four of us get together we can have a private guard just to look after us for the same price. We have the most expensive estate security, for our size, that I have heard of.

I hope that when the contract expires for these people that we will have a better and more reasonibly priced replacement.

Owl

Answer to Moles letter

I would like to give my opinion about “the mole” posting and the letter to owners by Liz Waite. I think “the mole” has hit the nail op the head and this has been confirmed by Liz Waite. What is the reason for proof reading? Just give us the basic facts as soon as possible, details like how many pairs of knickers are stolen are unnecessary. All we want is uncensored facts and not a crime thriller novel.

I am aware that Liz Waite as a board member is very anti this blog and therefore the board don’t like the embarrassment that come about because of some of the postings.

In case anyone missed the letter by Liz Waite here is a copy

Dear Owner,

In order to communicate to you in a courteous and accurate manner the board has chosen to "proof read" all e-mail communication to residents. This is currently the role of myself, Liz Waite as communications officer.

The reason we have taken this approach is because we have had complaints from a number of residents that the messages in the past from the Eco staff were unnecessarily abrupt and somewhat dictorial. Additionally incorrect interpretation of rules had also been sent to residents.

In the case of Security breaches and service break downs (water/power etc) those communications do not get proof read they should be going to residents ASAP via SMS -this has not happened in recent times, which is unacceptable, and Nico Kruger as chairman is addressing that directly with Eco staff.

I trust that this information is of assistance to you.

Regards

Liz Waite
Communications Officer

Ciarra

Local is Lekka

This is about petrol prices and an invitation to join the resistance. By the end of this month petrol prices are set to soar even higher.

If we want the petrol price to come down, we all need to take some intelligent, united action.

Last year was a "don't buy petrol day", but the oil companies just laughed at that because they knew that we would "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy petrol.

But, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work.

Read on and join the action

We need to teach the oil companies and the OPEC nations (the bullies like US and Britain) by taken aggressive action that the buyers control the marketplace and not the sellers.

The only way we are going to see the price of petrol come down is if we hit someone in the pocket by not purchasing their petrol. And we can do that without hurting ourselves. How? Right, here's the idea -

For the rest of the year, don't purchase any petrol from the two biggest overseas oil companies (which are now one) BP and SHELL.

Local is Lekka - so only buy Sasol / Engen and Excel.

If the overseas companies are not selling any petrol, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact we need to reach literally millions of petrol buyers. So please spread the word!

Cheers

Gringo

Fable of the porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever - many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each other wounded their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other. After a while they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close relationship with their companion, but the most important part of it, was the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

Moral of the story:-

The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but the best is when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

Regards

Ciarra

Not really indigenous species

A couple of week ends ago we had a braai for our friends and obviously show off our city game farm concept . I was pointing out the Wildebeest, Spring Bokke and Giraffes etc.all living in perfect peace with no threat from lions or hyenas or the like.

So I thought, the next thing two non-indigenous cyclists came chasing down throught the veldt and that was the end of our game viewing. The animals scattered.

If these non- indigenous animals want to cause disruption to the indigenous animals then I think they should ask our animals if they are worthy of asylum. My vote would be to tell them to stick their bicycles where they don’t fit best.

Why can’t these people stick to the road routes? Every society has their village idiots I suppose.

Spiro

Estate Manager and the secretary gagged

Hi Ciarra,

Greetings and God’s blessings for this New Year.

I am a wee concerned about some things happening currently.

It appears that our Estate Manager and the secretary have been “gagged”.

Any releases apparently have to first go to the communications committee to be ratified before being released. Are we going back to being secretive about everything again? I thought we had come out of that mode. That also makes it very difficult for a manger to manage. Is the Board responsible for management or oversight?

Communication or lack thereof:

We have had three break-ins this year, why are we not being notified immediately? The previous board had made it a point to release statements immediately after break-ins to ensure that residents are made aware and that they can be vigilant. Now it is being kept from us? Why?

I just get a bit uncomfortable.

Look forward to hearing from you.
Watch this space……………….

The Mole



Thank you for your blessings.

I will forward your mail to Grant Hinckley - the chairman of the security committee for comment.

Ciarra

Wyse woorde

As 'n ouma nie plooie het nie, het sy nie genoeg gelag nie.

Die enigste mense wat nooit misluk nie, is die wat nooit probreer nie.

Om oud te word is erg, maar die alternatief is erger.

Sukses word nie bepaal deur die vermoë om aan te hou nie, maar deur die gewilligheid om van voor af te begin.

Leef so dat die predikant by jou begrafnis die waarheid kan vertel.

Genade verstom omdat dit teen gesonde verstand indruis.

Net die mense wat niks doen nie, maak nie foute nie.

Kies - terug na die Bybel of terug na die oerwoud.

Liefde is die enigste diens wat mag nie kan beveel nie en geld nie kan koop nie.

Niemand kan 'n leier wees as daar nie mense is wat hom volg nie.

Groete

Rynette

Ek het per ongeluk op Rynette se Facebook profiel afgekom en sulke oulike gesegdes en wyse woorde daar teëgekom, dat ek haar gevra het om 'n paar met ons te deel.

Baie dankie vir hierdie wyse woorde.

Ciarra

Waterbuck

As our estate has 6 Waterbuck that hardly anyone has seen, I have asked Jaco to compile an article of these animals for anybody that is interested in them.

Thank you Jaco!

Regards

Ciarra

Animal under observation

Waterbuck (Kobus Ellipsiprymnus) is a mammal, antelope, at the order of Artiodactyla and family Bovidae.

Shoulder height – 0.9m – 1.3m
Weight – 150 – 250kg
Life expectancy – 15 years
Gestation period – 8.5 – 9 months
Number of offspring – 1, rarely 2

The Waterbuck is a large, robust, stately and easily recognized antelope. They have coarse, shaggy coats. Their coats are a greyish brown and their legs are darker in colour. They have white muzzle and a cream-coloured “bib” on the throat. The most conspicuous feature of the Waterbuck is the white ring that surrounds the base of the tail on the rump.

They have numerous glands all over their bodies which produce a turpentine-like odour that is believed to have a waterproofing and insect repelling function. Male Waterbuck have impressive backward curving horns which are heavily ridged. Females do not have horns. They have large rounded ears.

Waterbuck are most active in the mornings and late afternoons. They are intolerant of dehydration and therefore one would usually found them within 1 – 2km from water. One would normally find them in long grass areas or on savannah plains. Waterbuck associate freely with other antelope. Their diet consist of 80% grasses and 20% reeds or leaves from trees and shrubs. The normally feed on coarse grasses that are seldom eaten by other grazing animals. They wade into swallow water when drinking and are known to seek sanctuary in deeper water when pursued by predators. They are also very good swimmers.

They are usually found in breeding herds of 6 – 20, led by a territorial bull. Females leave the herd and move to thick cover to give birth. Births are normally in April and November. The calves remain hidden for 3 weeks, with the mother returning to the hiding spot 3 – 4 times a day to suckle it. After joining the herd the young follow their mother, who raises her tail as a “follow me” signal. The calves are weaned in 6-7 months. Females mate again soon after giving birth.

Author - Jaco van Staden

He is a board member and should be an example

I really like you sense of humour Echo from Eco.

In the past a person can only stand to be elected as a board member if his/her levies are paid up to date. Maybe we should make a new rule - only if his/her levies is up to date and if he/she is not paying any penalties for doing something wrong.

I mean he is the chairman of the Architectural Committee - what a example for us all!! I have talk to him about this and he is non chalant about it, like it is normal.

Regards

Ou suinig

I will deliver his fine!!

In answer to Spro's letter of 17 January 2011.

Hi Spiro,

Look on the official Meyersdal Eco Estate Web page under compliments and complaints and you will see that someone else has allready complaint about the BUSHMAN Paintings on his wall. Does he now think he is above the law like our goverment. Looks like Fred Botes is to light in the pants when it comes to the appointed trustees. Where can I get the fine book to personally deliver the fine to him??

Regards

Echo from Eco

Welcome to the club

In reply to Home Executive’s letter of 12 January 2011.

I took a drive and found the very property I think you were talking about and I am positive that is is the very board member we are both thinking about. Is his Afrikaans poor or non excistant. Am I correct? I see you read the posting about the election system? Can you now see why things are as they are and always will be usless we do something.

Do as your are told and do not complain. If you do complain we will ignore your complaint and make sure your life is hell.

I have posted many subjects on your blog but nobody from the board, now or past, has commented except Dr George. Sad that he is not around on the board anymore.

I am sure that your blog is a big irritation to the click but the times are a changing as the song goes. Soooooon Pleeaase.

Crime channel is a better TV option during the next AGM with better disclosure.

Spiro

Petty rules

We had just received a fine for a so called sub standard sign for the home we are building in the Eco Estate.

I hope that I am not the only person who has been fined for such a ridiculous thing, but I’m willing to bet that the chairman of the Architectural Committee a man who should know better, has not even got a sign but has painted his name and phone number on the wall. As often mentioned before on your blog there are rules for some and rules for others. This is not quite correct as there are realy rules for all except those on the board and others who are connected.

Not only has this commitees chairman no legal sign, his so called future castle looks like a derelict attempt of building a home. Most unusual about this structure is that nature is slowly taking a bit back and that his garages are built right up to the boundary of his property and have crossed the building line that all of us have had to follow. I have it on good authority that this may only be allowed in areas like Alberton North and Mayberry Park.

I bet that the estemed chairman of the Architectural Committee and board member of long standing will make good and set an example. Only then will I be more than willing to upgrade my sign. Hopefully he will also chop down that portion of his garage to a length that is within the 2m building line.

The board is comprised of a few gems in a bucket of waste rock.

I would publish this on the Estate web site as well as your blog but these board members will instruct Mr Botes to persecute us even more.

This year when the time comes for the AGM we will be at home watching something more believable like Cartoon Network where what you see is what you get.

Brian Boswell must be jealous as our board has more clowns than his circus.

Home Executive

Het julle ma’s julle nie maniere geleer nie?

Ek en my man het besluit dat dit tyd was om ons vriende kring uit te brei. Dus het ons laas jaar regdeur die jaar verskillende paartjies oorgenooi vir ete en ‘n lekker kuier.

Ons het nou tot die volgende slot som gekom –

Meeste van die paartjies wat ons genooi het, het die neiging om op dieselfde tyd te praat. Probreer dit gerus – om na twee mense te luister wat dieselfde tyd praat en dan nog in te neem wat elkeen te sê het. Jy weet naderhand nie wie om voor te kyk nie.

En nou vir die cherry op die koek – hulle vra jou ‘n vraag en so half pad deur jou antwoord praat hulle alweer. Hulle luister nie eers klaar nie, so hoekom dan ‘n vraag vra?

Ek dink by party van hulle is dit so ‘n gewoonte dat hulle dit nie eers agterkom nie. Doen my ‘n guns – die volgende keer as julle by iemand kuier en julle sien die gasheer en die gasvrou kyk heen en weer soos ape in ‘n hok dan moet julle asseblief ‘n bietjie oplet na julle gedrag.

Ag nee man ..... kom ons gaan weer terug na die maniere wat ons ouers ons geleer het.

Ek sê maar net ........

Daleen G

Years come and go

Years come and go,
but this year I specially wish 4 all of you
a double dose of health and happiness
topped with loads of good fortune.
Have a great year ahead!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!!!!!!

Spiro

Each moment in a day has its own value

Each moment in a day has its own value.
Mornings bring HOPE,
Afternoons brings FAITH,
Evenings brings LOVE,
Nights brings REST,
Hope all you MNE home owners will have all of them everyday.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

Ciarra

Vlug 2011

Welkom by Vlug 2011 - vertrektyd - middernag - ons vlieënier - Jesus Christus

Sy bloed is ons veiligheidsgordel, die Bybel ons kompas

Gebede ons vlerke, Geloof en Hoop ons brandstof

Liefde vir ons mede-passasiers is verpligtend

Vrede, Geluk, Vertroue en Voorspoed ons bestemming

Aangename vlug met Jesus op Vlug 2011 die Nuwe Jaar in!!!

Denise