Tag Archives: Belvidere

New KIM party splashing the DA in Knysna

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) has registered as a party to fight the Democratic Alliance (DA). It’s unlike other small parties that dot the province like pinpricks instead of injections. It’s arisen as a result of Cape Town trying to control the town by repeatedly trying to kick out two of the more popular councillors – Mayor Mark Willemse and Peter Myers. The interesting fact is that they’re still DA; Willemse recovering from a heart attack; and Myers in his first week of a monthly suspension. STANDING AGAINST DA BULLYING … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Colonial History of Knysna 1770-1890 (Part 2)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The History of Knysna – Belvidere, Portland & the village of Newhaven: The next major player to settle in Knysna was Captain Thomas Henry Duthie, late of the 72 Highlanders, who married Caroline Rex and, in 1834, bought the farm Uitzicht from his father-in-law George Rex, which had been re-named Belvidere by Rex, located on the west side of the Knysna Estuary. Here, in 1848, Duthie built a stone farmhouse and raised a family. He was also the driving force behind the building of the little Norman style sandstone church … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Help Find this Mushroom in Knysna

Mike Hampton Posted on by

A mushroom researcher needs Knysna’s help. Yes, you heard me correctly 🙂 We already have the rare Knysna Seahorse and the rare Brenton Blue Butterfly. Be very cool if we have this mushroom too!   The researcher is currently working on a new field guide to the mushrooms of South Africa. He’s in need of info about a mushroom which has been believed to grow in Belvidere and in the forest areas of Gouna and Diepwalle.   The mushroom is called Morchella and is extremely rare in South Africa.   … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Shock as Knysna’s ex-ANC Mayor Turns DA Blue

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Eleanore Bouw-Spies, the ex-ANC Mayor of Knysna, has joined the DA and announced that she’s running for the Ward 5 seat (Rheenendal to Brenton-on-Sea) in the forthcoming by-election after Councillor Magda Williams (DA) died last month. Elsewhere this may be considered as an April Fool’s joke but as Winter approaches, it’s just another day in the roller-coaster/steam-roller that is Knysna’s politics wherein power makes no sense and the public has little input beyond biased, uneducated voting. Eleanore Bouw-Spies was a councillor representing the ANC for 11 years. An action-packed, special … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Joke of the Week: Veet Destroys Hair…and Men’s Dignity

Mike Hampton Posted on by

After having been told by my Belvidere wife that my danglies made me look like an aged gorilla and that it was embarrassing when we wined and dined on the Knysna Waterfront, I decided to take the plunge and buy some Veet as previous shaving attempts had only been mildly successful…and I nearly put my back out trying to reach the more difficult bits. Being a bit of a romantic I thought I would do the deed the night before the missus’s birthday as a bit of a treat for … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Environmental Groups Object 2: CMAI & Chris Mulder’s Plans

Mike Hampton Posted on by

Examples of CMAI developments and proposed developments. Uitzicht (above Belvidere): Another client listed on the website is Barloworld, in connection with the Uitzicht project, a highly controversial proposed development in the pine plantations above Belvidere. At the time the development application commenced, the Uitzicht property, which was previously under fynbos, had been afforested with pine trees since the 1970s.  The pine trees were in the first rotation. It is widely accepted that the rehabilitation potential of fynbos, after harvesting of first rotation pine trees, was excellent and relatively inexpensive. Yet … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

What Happened With the Fire in Belvidere?

Mike Hampton Posted on by

On Friday 26 April at approximately 9.30am, a serious fire started at the so called Margaret’s Viewpoint on the Brenton road, overlooking Belvidere. Plumes of smoke were clearly visible from Knysna town. Within three hours, the fire seemed to be out of control and had raced most of the way down the hill to the redundant railway line below. Half an hour after that, the flames, having already circumvented Belvidere Heights, were licking at the fences of properties in Belvidere’s Upper Duthie Drive, threatening house and hold. Questions need to … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Joke: Stuck Under the Bridge

Mike Hampton Posted on by

A driver of a huge furniture truck takes the turn-off to the Knysna suburb of Belvidere. Suddenly there’s a CRRRRRNCCHHH as he grates to a stop underneath the bridge. He hadn’t seen the warning sign telling him that the truck was too high. It isn’t long before a Knysna traffic cop turns up. The cop gets out of his car and walks around to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and states the obvious, “Got stuck, heh?” The truck driver says, “No, I was delivering this bridge … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!