Monty Brett Environmental and Cultural Courses Newsletter	November 2011
A week into November and I can almost taste the boxing-day leftovers already!  Another year has hurtled past like a train through an empty station, and the next one is tooting its arrival. Scary how advancing age shortens not only our eyesight and our memories, but our perception of time too. Speaking of poor eyesight, if you’re battling to read text on-screen, why not zoom in a little?  Hold the Ctrl button down on the keyboard, at the same time as scrolling the little wheel on your mouse, and voila – instant readability.  This little trick should work in most applications you use. Our plans for 2012 are coming together nicely, so here are some details: New York and Washington Music Tour 23rd April to 7th May, 2012 Dr Richard Cock, South Africa’s favourite conductor, will be the musical guru and companion throughout the trip.  Richard has developed his own inimitable and compelling presentation style, making concert-going a complete and enthralling experience.  His prodigious knowledge and irrepressible sense of humour make him the ideal guide on a trip such as this. Highlights of the trip include: La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera House NY Philharmonic playing Berlioz, Mozart and Debussy Bach’s Mass in B minor Emerson String Quartet playing Mozart and Beethoven’s Late Quartets Pianist Richard Goode plays Schuman and Chopin at Carnegie Hall Pianist Maurizio Pollini New York Pops Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plays Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony in C major Morgenstern Trio plays Debussy, Brahms and Bernstein Verdi’s Nabucco, performed by the Washington National Opera Tour of the Juilliard School of Music Tour of Steinway & Sons piano factory Backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera House and the iconic Radio City Music Hall New York Nicks basketball game at Madison Square Gardens *** Raptors Learn to recognise the different groups of raptors, and to differentiate between similar species.  Eagles and vultures, sparrow-hawks and goshawks, buzzards and kites – all these and more will be covered during the course.  On the last evening, Lorna Stanton will bring a selection of her rehabilitated raptors for the group to see, including Jessica, her beautiful African Hawk Eagle. Our lecturers will be Clive Hopcroft, Geoff Lockwood and Lorna Stanton.  The course will run over four evenings starting 31st May. *** Bird ID Course – Johannesburg This is the course for anyone interested in birds, whether you’ve been birding for some time and know a thing or two already, or whether you’re a complete beginner.  Our bird experts will cover a wide range of topics including why and how birds sing, why some male birds dress in such outrageous plumage, the ins and outs of bird courtship and breeding and, of course, how to identify and differentiate between the many species of birds found in South Africa. Clive Hopcroft, Geoff Lockwood and Marion Melville will be lecturing, joined by Monty for the lecture on raptors.  The course will run over ten evenings starting mid-August. *** Kilimanjaro 16th to 24th June, 2012 At 5 895 meters, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, and one of the highest free-standing mountains in the world.  It is located 330kms south of the equator, on the northern boundary of Tanzania.  Climbing Kilimanjaro is not a walk in the park, but it is well within the capacity of most healthy people. There are numerous routes up the mountain, but we’ve decided on the Machame route, which is one of the most scenic and also the best one for first-time climbers.  It allows for a more leisurely pace, maximising your chances of success. Nights are spent camping, with equipment provided and carried by the porters.  On booking, you will be sent a training schedule which will help prepare you for the rigours of the climb. The cost of the trip will be in the region of R20 000, depending on the US$ rate of exchange when making payment.  Cost includes flights, airport taxes, accommodation at the Keys Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, all meals on the mountain, tents, mattresses, etc.  It doesn’t include tips for the guides and porters, which should be budgeted at between US$170 and US$190 per person, visa costs, travel insurance, dinners at the Keys Hotel, drinks and other items of a personal nature. *** Baroque in the Bush 21st to 24th September, 2012 This will be our 18th year.  The hutted accommodation is already full but there will be cancellations early in the new year, so get your name onto the waiting list before it gets impossibly long.  As always, there’s camping space aplenty. *** Rainforest Expedition to Central African Republic 20th to 27th July, 2012 A unique and extraordinary adventure with Monty.  Situated in the northern part of the Congo basin, and sharing borders with Cameroon and the Congo, the Dzanga Sangha Protected Areas are internationally renowned for their beautiful rainforests.  These are home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife, comprising western lowland gorillas, forest elephants, bongo antelopes, forest buffalos and a multitude of bird species.  The area also boasts some very unusual nocturnal species such as Galago, Potto, Genet, Civet, Golden Cat, Hammer Bat and a number of owls. A very special part of the trip is spending a day with the Ba’aka Pygmy tribe, getting to know this secret culture.  Accompany the men on their hunt, watch the women gather and use plants for medicine and food, see their skill in constructing a rain-proof shelter, and visit the dwelling of a Ba’aka family to experience their music and culture. *** Trips in 2013: Machu Picchu June next year is looking a bit full right now, so I’m planning this trip for May / June 2013. Join me on an adventure to Machu Picchu, a magical set of Inca ruins perched on top of a mountain in Peru.  This sacred site has captivated travellers since it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and is now recognised as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  Machu Picchu is reached by a four-day hike along ancient Inca roadways, over high altitude passes, taking in a series of Inca ruins along the way before arriving at the Sun Gate of Machu Picchu itself. Included in this trip will be an excursion into the Amazon, Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon, which is thought to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.  Andean Condors can be seen at fairly close range in this area as they float on rising thermals, scanning for carrion far below.  Also to be included will be visits to Lima, Cuzco, and Ballestas Islands with its concentration of marine animals and birds, including pelicans, Peruvian Boobies, Inca Terns, sea-lions, dolphins and whales. *** Photographic Safari to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti This is specifically aimed at wildlife enthusiasts who want to improve their photographic skills.  Led by a professional photographic guide, the safari is structured to be all about photography and lots of it, with destinations chosen for their prime game-viewing and photographic opportunities.  Daily workshops, plenty of hours in the field, and evening show-and-tell sessions will give guests time to relax and chat about their work, and receive constructive criticism from the expert. This trip will take place in early February 2013, giving you plenty of time for forward-planning. *** For details of any of our events, please contact me – all my contact details are below. It doesn’t feel quite right to wish you season’s greetings so early in November, but since I won’t get another opportunity before 2012 screeches in, I do hope you all have a fabulous and safe festive season, with oodles of time spent with the ones you love. Warm Regards, 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
	My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there’s much less competition. Indira Gandhi Many of our fears are tissue-paper-thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them. Brendan Francis What most people need to learn in life is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things. Author Unknown
	Swarovski Binoculars
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	Green Tips
	The fuel in your fuel tank is prone to evaporation, particularly on a hot day, so always try to park in a shady spot, reducing the evaporation. Water: Remember that you pay twice for your water – you pay for the amount you use, and then you pay to dispose of it as sewerage.  So saving water isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for your pocket too. Regularly check for leaks in pipes, taps, and appliance connections and hoses.  A small leak can waste hundreds of litres a month. Rinsing things in running water is very wasteful – rather plug the sink when rinsing dishes, fruit and veg, hands, etc. Don’t run the tap waiting for it to get colder – rather store a bottle of drinking water in the fridge. Install a rainwater storage tank for watering the garden – this will drastically reduce your water consumption. Stand a couple of smallish buckets around you whilst showering, and use the gathered water for the garden and pot-plants. Water used for cooking pasta or veggies can likewise be cooled and used in the garden. Newspaper: Use it to line kitty litter boxes. Use as a wrapping for fruit that needs to ripen. Line the bottom of the fruit and veg section of your fridge to help absorb drips and odour. Use newspaper dipped into water and vinegar to clean windows and other glass surfaces. Old pillow-cases: Use as a garment protector: make a hole at the bottom end of the pillow-case, and slip it over the coat-hanger hook of your rarely-worn special items. When washing delicate items such as silks, pantyhose and sweaters, put them inside a pillow-case before popping them into the machine. Ditto for machine-washable takkies and sneakers – stops them clattering around inside the machine. Information courtesy of www.all4women.co.za.