Category Archives: Camps Bay

Open Letter to the Camps Bay CID Steering Committee.

Yesterday I attended the first meeting of the proposed Camps Bay CID. It is to have three legs: Crime prevention, Homelessness prevention, and Environment/Cleanliness.

The Steering Committee is heavily dominated by males who are not on Social Media. The presentation focused on it only costing R1000 pm more per household, in addition to our Rates & Taxes. The main reason for having a CID is that Camps Bay cannot rely on the work of Volunteers, as they go on holiday, move to other areas, die, lose interest, run out of money…. Etc. I was seething, a Proud Volunteer.

They had not contacted me about Camps Bay Clean, and only featured a year old photograph of one of our beach clean ups, without recognition of Camps Bay Clean.

Today I decided to address the Steering Committee, to inform them of what I do, and to invite them to our Beach Clean on Sunday.
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Open Letter to the Camps Bay CID:

‘Dear Spencer and CID Steering Committee

Thank you for the opportunity to meet you yesterday and for the punt for funding of CAMPS BAY CLEAN for the next 10 months and hopefully beyond 1 July 2024.

I was sad that you have so little information about CAMPS BAY CLEAN and the work that I have done in the past 4 years, on a volunteer basis. I’m proudly working as a volunteer in keeping Camps Bay Clean, and I have no intention of losing interest, in moving house (I’ve lived in Camps Bay for 33 years) again, or in dying anytime soon!

As a keen walker I started noticing litter in the stream at the Tidal Pool on 2 nd of January 2019, and fetched refuse bags from my home, and cleaned the stream of picnic plates, plastic bottles, and KFC chicken bones in the main. Given that the stream flows into the ocean, I have taken the stream under my wings, and ‘adopted’ it.

Increasingly I have seen and read about Litter Hotspots in various parts of Camps Bay: ironically next to green bins, around vagrant structures, in parks, on walking trails, at the Camps Bay Drive viewpoint, at MyCiti Bus stops, at the Hussar Grill parking area, at the Symmonds Field, at Maidens Cove, and in lanes and steps, to name a few.

I worked with three homeless persons supplied via Ignisive initially but two of these were a disaster : one on drugs with mental problems, another was lazy and slept in his car when I wasn’t with them, and the third, a lady, wanted to be a car guard and work close to where her husband did the same. I gave up, very disappointed!

By luck I met Malawian Gift, who is a gardener by day, but could spend an afternoon a week with me to deal with litter hotspots.

Gift had other work obligations, so I found Malawian Joy, who also had a morning job, but could work with me once a week in the afternoons for a year. He is a real ….. joy to deal with, pardon the pun, smiling and loving his job. Since 1 August 2023 he has been working with me full-time, when he was retrenched by his former employer. Joy is a fantastic ambassador for Camps Bay and CAMPS BAY CLEAN. I bit the bullet in employing him full-time, and I am extremely grateful to the Camps Bay Community and businesses in providing donations and sponsorships.

We request the Community to identify Litter Hotspots on the days that Joy is available, and then we drive from hotspot to hotspot to remove the litter. We drop off the bags at the rock opposite Pick n Pay, for the City orange Truck to collect them before the end of the day, and before they can be torn open by vagrants.

Once a month we involve the community in a Beach Clean, the last Sunday of the month, for an hour, and I am delighted that so many families with their dogs and children participate. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has joined two such Beach cleans in the past two years, with record attendance.

In the past six months (1 January – 30 June 2023) Joy filled 413 bags of litter, while the community Beach clean saw a total of 183 bags filled, a combined total of 596 bags.

I have an excellent relationship with Councillor Nicola Jowell and the City Cleansing Department.

I am confused between a vague promise in the Business Plan of working with Cleansing volunteers (not sure why the CID cannot acknowledge CAMPS BAY CLEAN by name) after 1 July 2024, given the Volunteer-bashing throughout the Business Plan and in the presentation yesterday.

I am willing to guide you about Litter Cleaning in Camps Bay. There is no one else in our suburb with the experience that I have, after four years of CAMPS BAY CLEAN.

I would like to invite all the CID Steering Committee members to join us at our Community Beach Clean on Sunday 27 August, from 11h00 – 12h00, meeting opposite The 41 Restaurant. Only 3 members of the CID Steering Committee have ever participated in one of our Beach Cleans. Please see details below.

Camps Bay Community Litter Clean on Sunday 27 August 🌴🐠🐳🐬🦤🐡🐟🌴

Please join our Community Beach Clean on Sunday 27 August, from 11h00 – 12h00. We meet opposite The 41 Restaurant. Please bring members of your family and friends and colleagues, wearing gloves. We will provide bags. The 41 Restaurant offers complimentary Fitch & Leedes beverages for each participant. It also offers a prize of two Burgers for the person collecting the most litter.

We welcome learners in joining us for their Community projects. We welcome donations, having appointed Joy full-time on weekdays from 1 August.

We are grateful for the sponsorship of NOX, Camps Bay Ratepayers Association, and Harcourts Atlantic, and donations from our residents. 🙏

LETS KEEP CAMPS BAY CLEAN, TOGETHER 🌴💚
Chris von Ulmenstein 🌴Camps Bay Clean💚 Camps Bay Ratepayers Association 0825511323

Thank you

Chris von Ulmenstein
CAMPS BAY CLEAN
Camps Bay Ratepayers Association Environment Portfolio
0825511323’

Beloved Carte Blanche presenter Derek Watts passes away.

Today Derek Watts, the well-known, respected, and loved Carte Blanche TV presenter, passed away. He was 74 years old. He was a presenter for 35 years.

News 24 writes, quoting his long-standing fellow presenter Ruda Landman:

Carte Blanche started in 1988, and although it was a difficult and tumultuous year, the changes were inspiring and filled with hope. We were always live in the studio, and I was always relaxed with him next to me. Nothing could faze him. Nothing caught him off guard and unaware’.

‘He was always ready. His jokes always caught me off guard. We were different personalities, meaning the show had a wider range and reached more of our viewers in their hearts, ‘she said.

Last year, Watts was diagnosed with skin cancer that then spread to his lungs’.

I met Watts in 2020 when he investigated the story about the misleading marketing of the SA Butler Academy, brave former student of the Butler Academy Lin Yang having alerted the Carte Blanche producers to the shenanigans of the Butler Academy.

As I had written about the misleading marketing of the Butler Academy on this Blog in 2013, Ms Lin, a past student, and I were interviewed. As it was during Covid, the interview with me was filmed at my home in Camps Bay.

Derek struck me as a kind and gentle person, making me feel relaxed before and during the interview. The Carte Blanche program highlighted the lack of credibility of the SA Butler Academy and its owners.

Carte Blanche exposes SA Butler Academy Marketing deception, first exposed on WhaleTales Blog in 2013!

My condolences go to his family. May he RIP.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323

Twitter:@Ulmenstein

Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide, WhaleTales Blog, Camps Bay Clean

Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide @whaletalesblog @campsbayclean

Kfm 30 Best of the Cape Awards 2023 announced

Today Kfm, the Cape’s largest radio station, announced its 30 Best of the Cape businesses in the Western Cape, having narrowed down its Top 5 Finalists in each category after its 1,2 million listeners voted, and revealing the 30 category winners.

The 30 winners are the following:

Eat & Drink :

*. Best Breakfast Spot : Bo-Kaap Deli

*. Best Date Night Restaurant : Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia

*. Best Takeaway Spot: Butler’s Pizza

*. Best Coffee: Bootlegger Coffee Company

*. Best Pet-friendly Eatery : The Grill Shack

*. Best Local Craft Beer: Darling Brew in Woodstock

*. Best Family Restaurant: Ashley’s Family Restaurant in Goodwood

*. Best Farm Stall: Peregrine Farm Stall in Grabouw

‘. Best Biltong: J&M

*. Best Bakery : Ou Meul Bakery & Café

*. Best Local Craft Spirit Brand: Hout Bay Harbour Distillery in Hout Bay

Fan Favorites

*. Best Professional Sports Team or Person : DHL Stormers

*. Best Amateur Sports Club : Hamilton’s Rugby Club in Green Point

*. Best Local Musician : YoungstaCPT

Business

*. Best Hairdresser: The Mom Salon in Kuilsriver

*. Best Barber: Moustache Barber Shop in Camps Bay

*. Best Place to Sweat: Parkrun

*. Best Neighbourhood Shop: The Roots Earth Friendly Pantry

*. Best Internet Service Provider : Afrihost

*. Best Online Store : Takealot.com

*. Best Professional Service Provider : Dogs Day Out in Strand

Stay

*. Best Wedding Venue: Joubertsdal Country Estate in Swellendam

*. Best Weekend Stay: Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve in Cederberg

*. Best Dorpie: Knysna

*. Best Hotel: Old MacDaddy Trailer Park

*. Best Market: Elgin Railway Market

Experience

*. Best Farm Stall: Peregrine Farm Stall in Grabouw

*. Best Adventure Experience: Ceres Rail Company in Cape Town

*. Best Tourism Attraction: Table Mountain Cableway

*. Best Wine Farm Experience: Babylonstoren

*. Best Kids Party Spot : Bugs Playpark

A special new Kfm Station Choice Award 2033 went to Bertie, the smallest coffee service in Cape Town.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323

Twitter:@Ulmenstein

Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide, Camps Bay Clean, WhaleTales Blog

Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide @whaletalesblog @campsbayclean

Sweet Service Award goes to Woolworths Dash, Sour Service Award goes to Takealot

The Sweet Service Award goes to Woolworths Dash, which is a most amazing order and delivery service, surpassing Checkers Sixty/60, mainly because it does not surprise one with out of stocks as does Checkers. Today I received a new feature – the name of the packer, and the stages of packing and delivery completed, the delivery arriving punctually in the one hour period requested. It has changed my life, as I don’t have to lug my shopping bags up the steps from my garage, nor tolerate mainly unsatisfactory service at the tills.

The Sour Service Award goes to TakeaLot, for yet another delivery disaster, the worst to date. I had ordered a new Bosch citrus juicer, and was promised next day delivery, a surprise given the deliveries taking a week or longer of late. It was scheduled for a Saturday, and I stayed at home all day, waiting for it. I received two sms messages, notifying me of my delivery being out on the road and that it would reach me before 17h00. At 16h54 I was notified that the delivery was not made as I had not been contactable, yet I was at home, and I had not received a call or message from the driver. I contacted the company and had to postpone the delivery to the next Monday, worried that the same could happen again. Fortunately I checked the Tafelberg website, and saw that they stocked exactly the same juicer, but for R100 cheaper. I had to request permission from Takealot to cancel my order – yes, and finally received a credit for the paid-for juicer. Another order earlier this week arrived after 19h00, and only because I saw a missed call from the driver. Takealot should brush up its service, given that Amazon is on the horizon!

The WhaleTales Sweet & Sour Service Awards are presented every Friday on the WhaleTales blog. Nominations for the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be sent to Chris von Ulmenstein at chrisvonulmenstein [at] gmail.com. Past winners of the Sweet and Sour Service Awards can be read on the Friday posts of this blog.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog

Tel +27 082 55 11 323

Twitter:@Ulmenstein

Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide, Camps Bay Clean, WhaleTales Blog

Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide @campsbayclean @whaletalesblog