Tips for saving water

With the ever present water restrictions, we all need to keep in mind to save water.
Access to water is a human right, and therefore it is each one's responsibility to save this precious resource.

It is rather easy to save water in the household by following these tips.  We look at the method of saving water as we “walk through each room of the house’’.

Before we begin, put that hosepipe away in the garage for safe storage and check all taps, inside and outside the home, for leaks.

In the Kitchen:
Utilise a plastic container which fits snugly into the sink, is easy to take out when required to dispose of the water instead of pulling the plug and letting the water flow away.

Re-use your mug or teacup.  By rinsing out your mug or teacup you can use the same coffee mug or teacup throughout the day.
Collect rinse water in a container to use on the garden later.  Rinse your cup out after use, rinse your dishes before putting them into the dishwasher and use the collected water to water your plants.
Using a dishwasher saves water and electricity, if it is fully loaded.  Otherwise rinse and collect dishes until the dishwasher is full.  Only put the dishwasher on when full. 

Reroute your dishwasher outlet pipe to a collection bucket or into your garden.
Cooking: Collect the water from steaming or boiling vegetables and cool.  Use this water in the garden.

In the Bathroom:
Let bath water cool down and bucket it into the garden.
Switch off the tap while brushing your teeth. Don't let the water run.

Shower instead of bath: Less water is used when showering.  Don’t leave the shower water running while you soap up.  Switch off the taps, soap your body and then turn the water back on again to rinse the soap off.

Place a plastic container in the basin to catch the water you use to wash your hands. Use this water in the garden

Add a 1L or 2L soda bottle, filled with water, into the toilet cistern. By doing this you minimise the refill when you flush the toilet.

Alternatively use the collected water to fill the cistern of your toilet.

In the Laundry Room:
Re-route the washing machine outlet pipe into the garden or into a container for later use on the garden.
In the Garden:
Pool wise: put a cover over your pool to minimise evaporation.
The municipality is threatening to penalise households that are caught using hosepipes. They have also increased the tariffs for water usage, on a sliding scale, so financially it is in your best interest to save water.

Not only from a financial point of view but also because water is a precious resource which we need to look after.

www.harfield-village.co.za

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Pancreatitis - Kenilworth Vet

As the silly season approaches we will be stocking up on special food and treats. It is a time for over indulgence for us all, including your pet! But beware! There is a condition called Pancreatitis that can be real danger to your pet’s health.

Pancreatitis

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is a small organ that sits near the stomach.

It is part of the endocrine system (produces enzymes) and the digestive system. The pancreas produces enzymes that help to break down food.  It is also responsible for the production of insulin.

What is pancreatitis?

If the pancreas becomes inflamed (swollen and sore), the enzymes it produces no longer just flow into the digestive system but are forced out of the pancreas and into the abdomen. Once in the abdomen these pancreatic enzymes continue to digest the fat and proteins they come into contact with, only this time it is those found in other organs as well as in the pancreas itself. So basically the body starts to digest itself!

As the condition progresses the kidneys and liver become involved. The abdomen will become inflamed and can become infected. The pancreas can also bleed which can lead to shock and ultimate death. As you can imagine this can be an extremely painful condition.

What causes Pancreatitis?

 

There are several possible causes of pancreatitis:

 

·        Certain breeds seem more prone to this e.g.:

     Miniature Schnauzer’s, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels

·        Nutrition - high levels of fat in the blood eating a high fat meal particularly when pets are given table scraps that are not used to eating.

·        Obesity

·        Overweight, older dogs seem to be more prone to bouts of pancreatitis

·        Trauma

·        Drugs and toxins

 

‘Even without the presence of a high fat diet, an animal can have an occurrence of pancreatic inflammation after eating a large amount of fatty foods. This tends to occur around the holidays, when dogs are given table scraps that are not normally a part of their diets.’(1)

Symptoms.

‘Inflammation of the pancreas (or pancreatitis) often progresses rapidly in dogs, but can often be treated without any permanent damage to the organ. However, if pancreatitis goes long-term without treatment, severe organ, and even brain damage can occur.’(2)

Pancreatitis can develop very quickly and there are many different symptoms:

·        vomiting

·        diarrhoea

·        loss of appetite

·        painful abdomen

·        panting

·        fatigue

·        fever

Treatment;

Treatment will depend on how severe the case of pancreatitis is, as you can see by the long list of symptoms it is not easy always easy to diagnose pancreatitis. Your vet will need to run blood tests and may want to do an ultrasound scan.

There is no magic cure for this condition and the body has to heal itself. The main focus in treating pancreatitis is to give support to the kidneys and liver and to keep your pet comfortable and pain free.

Your pet will need to be hospitalised and given intravenous fluids in order to support the organs and ‘rest’ the pancreas.  Medications to prevent nausea and vomiting, antibiotics and painkillers may need to be administered intravenously.

When your pet starts to recover and begins to eat again you will need to feed a special low fat diet (prescription diet) for some time if not for the rest of your pets life particularly if the case was severe or recurring.

‘Dogs usually recover from mild cases, but if it's severe, it can sometimes lead to death. If your dog is overweight or has diabetes or epilepsy, he may have a harder time getting over an attack.’ (3)

So the moral to this story is don’t overdo the treats this festive season. Vets see more cases of pancreatitis during the holiday season! Your pet does not need to eat human food despite what they may ‘tell’ you with those eyes!

Fatty foods are BAD! Keep your rubbish bins secure!

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_multi_pancreatitis?page=2

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_pancreatitis

Kenilworth Veterinary Clinic

Shoes hanging from power lines

Most of us have seen it – a pair of shoes, laces tied together, tossed over telephone or power lines.

It’s not a South African phenomenon - you’ll find the same practice across most cities around the world.

The question often asked is why? Why do people do this and what does it mean?

The most common urban legend associated with ‘shoe tossing’ is that the shoes / sneakers / trainers are an indication of drug activity, or of a drug dealer hotspot, or of drug dealers ‘marking’ their territory.

However the practice has being going on for decades and despite exhaustive research, there remains no universal or definitive meaning.

Of course there is meaning to the prankster who threw them up there in the first place, but there is no official or common meaning. It’s often a case of kids trying out stuff, showing off and harmless ‘monkey see monkey do’.

Other associations with ‘shoe tossing’ include ‘celebratory rites of passage’ such as losing your virginity, or graduations. Or even as a symbol to recognise the passing of someone beloved in the area.

In the 1997 film, Wag the Dog, shoe tossing features as a spontaneous cultural tribute to Sgt. William Schumann, played by Woody Harrelson, who had been “shot down behind enemy lines”.

If you’d like to learn a little more about the practice, there is a wonderful short documentary called The Mystery of Flying Kicks, where the filmmakers compiled answers from people all over the world, describing local legends and customs associated with shoe tossing. Here is a link to the film https://vimeo.com/71867019

Whatever the meaning, shoes on power lines are striking and entertaining. They make us notice our surroundings, wonder how the hell the shoes got up there in the first place … and what they mean. It gets us talking to each other.

It’s also a little reminder that not all human activities can be rationalised  ;-)

Article by Madge Gibson – Harfield Village Resident

www.harfield-village.co.za

www.facebook.com/harfield.village.community

Festive Gammon Recipe

This Gammon recipe comes from my mother in law. We have had it done this way every Christmas since I met my husband 45 years ago.

SHEELAGH'S GAMMON

Ingredients:
Gammon
Cider
Brown Sugar
Dry Mustard
Water
Butter
Apple Cider Vinegar
Cinnamon
Large Tin of Peaches

Method:

Soak Gammon overnight (I don't bother to do this). Cover and boil for 20 minutes per 500gms with a bottle of cider added to the water.
Top up with water as needed.
Remove.
Rub with 1 teaspoon dry mustard and 2 teaspoon brown sugar.
Dot with butter and brown for 15 minutes.

Sauce:
2 - 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Little dry mustard
1 - 2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Large tin of peaches and juice

Simmer for 15 minutes and pour over sliced gammon. 

Serve at room temperature.

Lyn Staples – Norgarb Properties
Cell: +27 (0)82 846 0739
Office: +27 (0)21 674 1120
Fax: +27 (0)21 774 4927
Email: lyn@norgarb.co.za
Web: www.norgarbproperties.co.za

PERIMETER PROTECTION

This month I`d like to touch on the importance of having perimeter protection.

Security systems in the late 70`s and early eighties were rudimentary in comparison to todays sophisticated systems that are nothing short of computer systems, but so too then was the criminal behaviour back then. When the alarm sounded the criminal invariably ran away. As the criminals became better informed they changed their tactics and like a business they assessed what their obstacles were and adapted their strategy accordingly.

Until recently it was adequate to have interior protection only for a home or business but again the criminal has become streamlined in mythology and has ascertained that the “15min” response time to an activation is more than enough time for him to get away with ones possessions.

It takes a mere few minutes for a burglar to trigger an interior sensor and get away with quite a bit before an Armed Response Unit stands down.

Like the criminal we too at Princeton are seeking better ways in which to protect our client’s lives and assets.

Where one has a garden or open area before getting to the house it is strongly advisable that one looks at having exterior motion sensors installed so that when the burglar enters the erf he is forced to enter a protected area before he gets to the dwelling. These vital seconds will notify the control enter of an intrusion and the Armed Response can be dispatched arriving a lot quicker and ensuring that your home or business is better protected.

Give your local security service provider a call and get a quote on perimeter security.

You will be glad you did!

Join Princeton Armed Response in the month of Dec & get 1 month FREE!!

Princeton Armed Response

Patchwork | November in the Garden

Tip for the month: 

Water restrictions took effect on November 1st. This means it's time to save water in every way possible. If you're using buckets to water your garden, choose to water the veg more then the grass - grow food not lawns! Note that plants with lots of  leaves require more water to grow. So do some research and choose to plant veg that need less water.

November's plant list:
Amaranth, Basil, Bush and Climbing beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Butternut, Cabbage, Carrot, Chard, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chilli, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Leek, Leaf Mustard, Lettuce, Jerusalem artichokes, Onion, Parsnip, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rhubarb, Sweetcorn, Sweet pepper, Sweet potato, Turnip, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini 

Happy planting!​

Gabriella Garnett – Patchwork Group

Summer Salads - Kim Hofmann

Now that the longer, warmer days are upon us, a refreshing summer salad is the perfect way to ensure all your daily requirements are met.  The wonderful thing about salads is that you can create them to tantalize your taste buds; they can be served as side dishes as well as main meals and are simple to make.

TOP TIP WHEN MAKING SALADS: Fresh herbs like basil, mint, thyme, parsley, and dill are perfect ways to incorporate a range of flavours into your salads.

Watermelon & Spinach Salad

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

·         100g quinoa

·        80g baby spinach

·        1 ripe avocado – peeled and sliced

·        100g watermelon - cubed, peel and seeds removed

·        50g feta – crumbled

·        ½ small pack mint – chopped finely

·        1 punnet salad cress

·        2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

·        1 lime – juice squeezed

Method:

1.      Rinse the quinoa, put it in a pot, pour 200ml water over and cover with a fitted lid. Allow to cook over a medium heat until fluffy and the water has absorbed (approximately 15 minutes). Use a fork to separate grains and leave to cool.

2.      In a serving bowl, put the baby spinach, watermelon, avocado and mint. Toss through the quinoa; place the crumbled feta over along with the pumpkin seeds. Then squeeze over the lime juice. Top with the salad cress and serve.

Chicken & Avocado Salad

(Serves 1)

Ingredients:

·         2 cups butter lettuce - torn

·         60g chicken breast – cut into strips

·         ¼ tsp. salt

·         ¼ tsp. pepper

·         1 tbsp. olive oil

·         ¼ cup baby carrot – cut into strips

·         ¼ cup red onion – thinly sliced

·         ¼ cup avocado – peeled and sliced

·         2 tbsp. peanuts

·         15g feta – crumbled

Dressing:
·         2 tbsp. olive oil (optional)
·         2 tbsp. lemon juice
·         1 tsp. mustard
·         Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1.      Prepare the dressing by combining all the ingredients in a jar and shaking well.

2.      Marinate the chicken strips in olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir-fry over medium heat until cooked.

3.      On a serving plate, combine lettuce, grilled chicken, carrot, onion and avocado; place crumbled feta over; sprinkle with the peanuts. Drizzle dressing over and serve.

Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini Salad

(Serves 3-4)

Ingredients:

·        1 large eggplant – sliced (bite size pieces)

·        2 large zucchini – sliced (bite size pieces)

·        1½ tbsp. olive oil

·        ½ tsp. salt

·        ½ tsp. pepper

·        ¼ tsp. ground cumin

·        1 can chickpeas – drained and rinsed

·        ¼ cup feta cheese – crumbled

·        5 large mint leaves – sliced thinly

·        1 lemon – juice squeezed

Method:

1.     Preheat the grill to medium heat.

2.     Place the eggplant and zucchini slices on a baking sheet, brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and cumin.

3.     Grill until the vegetables are tender, but not overcooked (turn the vegetables after a few minutes).

4.     Place the grilled zucchini and eggplant in a serving bowl. Add in the chickpeas, feta cheese and fresh mint.

5.     Squeeze the lemon over the salad, and stir gently to combine. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

Kim Hofmann RD(SA)

Phone: 021 674 4666

Cell: 084 206 2715

E-mail: kimh.rd@mweb.co.za

Website: www.nourishdieticians.co.za

HVCID - November

Dear Residents

The festive season is fast approaching and many of you will be rushing to finish your working year and head off on your holiday. Please take the time, however, to make sure that your house and belongings are safe while you are away by following the security tips below:

• Make sure your alarm is in working order by testing it.  Advise the control room beforehand.  Testing should be done outside of peak hours (between 8am and 4pm, or after 8pm).
• Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding nearby key holders, in case of an emergency.
• Ensure key holders have keys, alarm code, and password.
• Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property.
• Be discreet about going away.  Park cars behind a gate or in a garage if possible.  Don’t leave a message on your answering machine saying that you are away, or advertise it on social media.
• Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post. A bulging post box is a dead giveaway that you are not at home.
• If hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly.
• Before going away, spray indoor motion sensors with bug spray to reduce the risk of insects setting off your alarm.
• Never leave a key in the inside of an outer door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock.
• Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically.
• Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer.
• Do not leave tools like ladders or spades outside, as they can be used to break into your house
• Clear signage indicating that you have security also helps to discourage burglars.

JENNI COLEMAN

Manager - Harfield Village Community Improvement District (HVCID)

admin@hvcid.co.za            +27 (0)81 412 6109