The annual cricket challenge that takes place on Boxing Day on the Village Green has an exciting line up of teams. 12 teams will vie for glory in this popular tournament, where teams are booked a year in advance. The majority of teams are from previous tournaments and some have been participating since the first game was played 10 years ago. Only if a team from the previous year cannot make it do we open the invitation to wait-listed teams. This year we have two new teams joining us.
We are very fortunate to have Robbie Fleck, Bobby Skinstadt and Schalk Burger returning again. Schalk says this is “the best
day of the year” for him.
The potjie competition was sorely missed last year, so it’s back. Every 6‟s team has to enter a pot plus any individual or team may enter. The pot has to be made from start to finish on the field. Judging times will be given on the 26th December. Anyone interested in entering a pot must please contact Johan on 0825503552.
It is a fun day for all around the Stanford S.C.G. The kids get to play social cricket or paddle in the lei water, friends and
family spend a relaxed day with picnic baskets, or supporting our local school by purchasing food from them on the field.
Ice cold refreshments are also on offer. This year the prize giving will be held on the field as soon as the final match is played. The first match is at 8.00 am and the prize giving should be at 6 pm. The after party is at KC‟s restaurant and bar in Stanford.
All proceeds from this event will be used towards the greening of the Village Square, so it is a very worthy cause that will
benefit the community of Stanford who all use the square, and it will enhance the beauty of our historical town. For more information please contact Mandy on 082 213 0512 or via email moo@omail.co.za

The very popular Stanford Bird Fair starts on Friday 30 September with interesting and engaging guest speakers, slide shows, boat trips, raptor displays, gin tasting and the prize giving of the photographic competition. The new Sasol bird book will be launched at the Art Cafe and Doug Newman will release his new book on LBJ’s.

The Stanford Sunset Market will take place on the Market Square on Friday evening.

There will be guided birding outings on the Klein river on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 07:00 and outings have been arranged to Danger Point, Kleinbaai and the De Kelders Strandloper caves.

There will be an Arts and Crafts sale in the courtyard of the Stanford Hotel on Saturday morning from 10:00 - 14:00. Restaurants and wine estates have teamed up for wine tastings and food pairings.

Come to Stanford and join the fun.

For the full programme, visit http://www.stanfordbirding.co.za/program

MARIANAS by Bibi van der Zee published on 2 July in the British Spectator.
At last, after many years of questing, I have had the perfect lunch. On
holiday in South Africa, and alone for the first time since our honeymoon
back in the pre-baby mists of time, we found our way to the tiny but famous Marianas, where they serve only lunch, and that just four times a week.
Peter, husband of the eponymous chef, greeted us like old friends and
ushered us to a little table, wreathed round by grape vines and anemones,
and looking down over the garden, through the vegetable plot, and up to
purple mountains that drowse behind Stanford.
We ordered wine by the glass, and the first sip of Hermanuspietersfontein
Sauvignon Blanc actually brought tears to my eyes. Peter brought home-made bread and talked us through the day’s menu, local foods all cooked with Mariana’s own twist of humour, some classical style and a subtle hand with ingredients. Starters were barley salad, springbok rillette, pear salad or gruyère tart, followed by pickled fish, confit de canard with lentils, apricots and honey, springbok pie, oink nek or skaap and dinges (’sheep with two teeth - lamb but slightly older, has a bit more flavour,’ explained Peter).
My pickled yellowtail fish in a cold curry sauce was tangy and wonderful,
while Mike’s tender oink nek (deboned neck of pork) came in a sea of buttery gravy. Full of giggly happiness and wriggling our toes in the sun, we ended our meal with a shared glass of sparkling wine with Peter and Mariana, and my favourite sort of rambling amiable political conversation. It’s an odd feeling to know you have actually had the perfect lunch. The quest for the perfect dinner, however, continues.
Since her return, Bibi has been drinking nothing but South African wine.

The Whale Coast Route is a treat for the weekend traveler. The route meanders from its start in Gordon’s Bay, through Rooiels, past the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, through the sleepy town of Kleinmond and on to Hermanus, the Whale capital, and host to the annual Whale festival every September. Beautiful views await one at every  curve of the road; mountains towering above, clear aqua seas below.

During the winter months, there is the added bonus of being able to observe the visiting whales, very close to the shore. At many points along the route, and in particular along the cliff path of Hermanus, it is possible to watch as they lazily perform  for us, waving their massive tails, sailing, spyhopping or lobtailing - or while they summon up energy to launch their 40 ton bodies out of the water for an impressive display of breaching.

Driving away from Hermanus, hugging the lagoon edge, the road takes one to the delightful Victorian village of Stanford. No whales in the quiet Klein River that flows through undisturbed, but otters and owls, welcoming country kitchens and an award winning wine route. Stop here for a day or two and fill your picnic basket with the local cheese, superb wine and freshly baked pane di mare and take a river cruise on the Platanna to enjoy the fantastic bird life and stunning views of the mountains. Book into one of the delightful cottages dotted through the quaint village, and soak in the village atmosphere while taking a stroll along the Wandelpad.

Continue the next day along the coastal route to the quiet settlement of De Kelders, where the rocky cliffs offer a perfect viewpoint of the whales down below. Listen to their eerie calls echoing in the cliff-side caves as they talk to each other. Every year, these wonderful mammals come into our protected bays to breed and calve and nurse their young in the relatively warmer waters of the Walker Bay whale sanctuary. After a brisk walk along the cliffs, or to the caves below on the Duiwelsgat trail, pop into Coffee on the Rocks for their mouthwatering chocolate cake.

Press on to Gansbaai for an adrenaline boost. Board a boat and head out to sea to get close to Great White Shark while safely ensconced in a cage that has been  lowered into the chilly ocean. Cruise around the famed Dyer Island, situated 8.5 Km off the coast from Kleinbaai harbour to watch the penguin colony.

All of this in a short weekend. Pack the binoculars, fill up the car and head over to the Whale Coast.

This quiet little village of Stanford, tucked away alongside the meandering Klein River as one drives between Hermanus and Gansbaai, sure knows how to throw a party!

At the recent STANFORD OESFEES CHALLENGE on the 19 March at Sir Robert Stanford Estate, 200 participants successfully competed in the first Stanford Oesfees Challenge. The 10km trail run and mountain bike ride was presented by Hermanus Adventures. They generously donated R1, 000.00 of their entry fees to Hospice Overstrand.

The Stanford Canoe Race was staged during the morning with over 100 canoeists participating. The 20km circular race was won by Lance King of the Milnerton Canoe Club.

The  Summer Concert audience  enjoyed the music by Sterling EQ, while tucking into their picnic hampers. There could not have been a more spectacular venue enhanced by an amazing Harvest Moon.  Stanford’s wine farms are hard to beat for setting, scenery and good old fashioned hospitality.

Put this date in your diaries for next year folks! Stanford is the place to be during the harvest.