Monty Brett

Environmental and Cultural Courses

Newsletter

 

 

July

2011

 

It snowed here in Nottingham Road on Monday, and the ground was covered in a blanket of white – it looked completely wonderful, but was as cold as Cruella!  The R103 into the village was littered with the cars of snow-tourists from further south, snow-fighting and building snowmen for all they were worth.  Now the snow and the tourists are gone and all that remains are the snowmen, sad and forlorn, like little melted orphans.  Ah, the joys of country living.

 

Our recent LBJs and Waders Course was very well received – everyone seems to have enjoyed the course and benefitted greatly, thanks to the sterling efforts of Geoff Lockwood and Clive Hopcroft.

 

Coming up in the next few months:

 

Bird ID Course – Johannesburg

An intensive and exciting 10-session adventure into the world of birds by our experts, Geoff Lockwood and Clive Hopcroft.  The absolute beginner and the more experienced birder alike will benefit immensely from this course.  Besides teaching you how to identify birds accurately, the course will also cover a variety of other topics, including:

 

·         How on earth do birds sing?  And why do they sing?

·         Why the different nesting and breeding strategies?

·         Why do some male birds have outrageous plumage?

 

Lecturers:  

Geoff Lockwood, Clive Hopcroft, Marion Melville, Monty Brett

Dates:

August 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25th, 29th, September 1st, 5th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 2011 10 evening sessions, 25 hours in all

Times: 

8h30 to 21h30 each evening

Venue:      

Wanderers Club, Illovo, Johannesburg

Cost:           

R1 650 per person for the full ten-evening course.  The cost includes a copy of our bird-call CD and a book of course notes which will be given to you on the first evening.

To bring:    

Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa, notepad and pen or pencil.

To book:    

Press “reply”, or click here kim@montybrett.com.  Or call me on 033 266‑6954.

 

 

Classical Music Explained

Do you know the difference between a sonata and a symphony?  Or a rhapsody and a requiem?  Join Dr Richard and Sue Cock on this four-evening course as they help to demystify the world of serious music.  Learn to distinguish between the four main eras: Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern.  This course is for everyone who enjoys music, and will enhance your listening pleasure immensely.

 

Minimum 30 people.

Lecturers: 

Dr Richard Cock, Sue Cock

Dates:       

October 11th, 13th, 18th and 20th (Tuesday and Thursday evenings)

4 evening sessions, 10 hours in all

Times:       

18h30 to 21h30 each evening

Venue:      

Wanderers Club, Illovo, Johannesburg

Cost:         

R660 per person for the four-evening course.

To bring:  

Notepad and pen or pencil

To book:   

Press “reply”, or click here kim@montybrett.com.  Or call me on 033 266‑6954.

 

 

Calling all music-loving campers

Baroque in the Bush is coming up in September, from 24th to 27th at Shingwedzi Camp, Kruger Park.  Richard Cock and members of the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra will be giving midday and evening concerts on the veranda overlooking the Shingwedzi river-bed.  The music is sublime, the company is always entertaining, the days are not too hot, and the evenings are beautiful.  Game viewing and birding are usually good – it’s one of the best times of the year to be in the Park.

 

Although the hutted accommodation is booked up, there’s always plenty of camping space, and it seems a pity to waste it.  There are good kitchen and bathroom facilities dotted around the camp, plenty of electrical points, and a gorgeous swimming pool.  Why not join us for the weekend?

 

Dates:  

24th to 27th September, 2011 (in on Saturday afternoon, out on Tuesday morning).

Venue: 

Shingwedzi Camp, Kruger National Park.  Directions and other details on receipt of your booking.

Cost:   

R2 470 per person camping.  Cost includes dinners on all three nightsand all the music and birding events for the weekend.Not included are breakfasts, lunches, drinks, and the conservation fee of R135 per person which is payable on entrance to the Park.

To book:       

Press “reply”, or click here kim@montybrett.com.  Or call me on 033 266‑6954.

 

 

Have a happy weekend.

 

 

Kim

Monty Brett Courses

P O Box 314, Nottingham Road, 3280

Tel: (033) 266-6954  Fax: 086 652-7662  Cell: 082 824-9378

email:  kim@montybrett.com   website:  www.montybrett.com

 

Our contact details

 

Monty & Kim Brett

P O Box 314

Nottingham Road

3280

 

Tel: (033) 266-6954

 

Fax: 086 652-7662

 

Email: kim@montybrett.com

 

 

Web: www.montybrett.com

 

 

Quotes

 

The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition.

Carl Sagan

 

Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the Universe, or we are not.  Both are equally terrifying.

Arthur C. Clarke

 

To get what you want, you must be prepared not to have it at all.

Bishop Noel Jones 

 

 

Swarovski Binoculars

 

 

Buying Swarovski quality means making a purchase for life.  The company offers outstanding after-sales service and life-time guarantees on their products.

 

There are some new products in the Swarovski range:

·    SLC 10 x 42 HD (high definition)

·    EL 10 x 32 Traveller

·    New EL 10 x 42 Swarovision

 

For prices and availability, please contact Monty directly on 082 824‑9374, or email him on monty@montybrett.com.

 

Unwanted emails …

 

are a pain in the neck.

 

If you don’t want to hear from us anymore, please reply and simply type “please unsubscribe me” in the body of the email, and I’ll take you off the mailing list straight away, no questions asked.

 

 

Make your own

Green Cleaning Kit

 

 

Most of us use vast quantities of toxic chemicals in keeping our homes clean.  Here are some tips on how to lose some of the nasties and replace them with eco-friendly, non-toxic alternatives:

·     Oven cleaner – sprinkle a generous amount of water onto the grime at the bottom of the oven, and then cover with a good layer of baking soda.  Leave overnight, and wipe down in the morning, using a little detergent if necessary.

·     Anti-mould – combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups water, and spray onto problem areas, leaving it on.

·     Clogged drains – combine 1 cup coarse salt, 1 cup baking soda and ¼ cup cream of tartar, and store in a sealed container.  To clear drains, use ¼ cup at a time followed with boiling water.  

·     Vinegar is (almost) the only cleaner you’ll ever need.  It has a multitude of uses such as cleaning tea-stained cups, fighting mould and mildew, cleaning counters, freshening loos, removing carpet stains, and a whole lot more.  Click on the links below for a really comprehensive list of uses: www.thenewhomemaker.com/vinegar www.versatilevinegar.org/usesandtips.html

Information courtesy of www.all4women.co.za.