Polo meets Jozi

For the first time ever, the South African Polo Association (SAPA) brought the Prince of Wales Cup to Johannesburg.

Previously held in KwaZulu Natal, the Prince of Wales Cup is the Inter-Provincial tournament where the South African National Polo team is selected. This annual three-day tournament sees most of the top South African players competing in their provincial teams for the prestige of the Prince of Wales trophy, with the national team being selected on Sunday.

Named in honor of the heir apparent of the British or English monarch, the Prince of Wales trophy was first presented for the Inter-Provincial tournament in 1925 by His Royal Highness Edward, the Prince of Wales, when he visited South Africa and played in a series of polo tournaments.

Today's tournament was held at the exclusive Waterfall Equestrian Polo Fields. With the theme of ‘Polo meets Jozi’, the Prince of Wales Cup brought together the prestige and glamour of polo with the energy and vibrancy of the city of gold.

Ready for the day and any kind of weather, I had my faux fur lap blanket and my parasol by my side just in case.

1 2 3 4 ...

The view from the west bank was awesome.










Like a Ralph Lauren ad.

We could not have been closer to the action!

Swapping ponies between chukkas.

Refreshed and ready to go.

 Following the action ...











It was fast and furious!

We were right next to the VIP tent.













They may have had cushy couches ...

... and concierge service,

But we had the same view ... and the best bloody marys in South Africa!

 Hanging with our fellow tailgaters.

 Remember this spot.












We even had access to the VIP potties!

We didn't bring Lou & Serge this time. There weren't any rules or regulations on the website stipulating whether dogs were or were not allowed. So rather than ask and risk getting the wrong answer, we decided to scope it out at the Prince of Wales and see what the local custom dictates.

Next time for the BMW test Match, Lou & Serge in the house!



The newly chosen South African National Polo team took a victory lap.

Next month, the South African National Polo team will take on the USA in the BMW International Polo Series. The second and deciding Test Match will be played back at Waterfall.

Of course we're going and we're bringing Lou & Serge!

From Baroque to Boogie Woogie

Can you autograph a CD?

We were totally blown away during the early evening we spent at Glenshiel listening to the Charl du Plessis Trio with Charl du Plessis on piano, Werner Spies on bass and Hugo Radyn on drums. It was billed as an evening of "baroque swing" ... but it turned out to be so much more.

How about Bach's Brandenburg Concerto arranged for ABBA?
... Or his Air on a G String played South African style?
... The three Winter movements from Vivaldi's Four Seasons arranged for a jazz trio (the two Allergro movements) and for a pop group (the Largo movement)?
... Or our favorite, Scarlatti's Harpsichord Sonatas played with a boogie woogie beat?

 Here's a snippet ...

Who are these crazy dudes? Clearly, the leader of the Charl du Plessis Trio is Charl du Plessis. Charl was born in Pretoria where he still lives and teaches at the University of Pretoria when he is not traveling the world performing and recording.

Charl has the honor to be the first South African to be named a Steinway artist, a special relationship cultivated by Steinway & Sons with pianists from every genre. By being elevated to a Steinway artist, Charl joined the ranks of 1600 Steinway artists ranging from classical pianists such as Lang Lang to jazz stars like Diana Krall, pop icons like Billy Joel, and "immortals" including the legendary Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Arthur Rubinstein.

I couldn't help thinking as I listened to the trio perform that the person who would appreciate this concert even more than Vince and I would be our brother-in-law Mike Perryman. Mike, a gifted pianist in his own right, played  drums for many years with the Kansas City Jazz  Orchestra. So we had to buy all six CDs Charl sold in the lobby to send to Mike for Christmas. An early Merry Christmas to you Mike! You're gonna love it.

For their encore, the Charl du Plessis Trio played Billy Joel's "Piano Man" arranged as a classical jazz instrumental. Unforgettable.

Charl performed on a beautiful Kawai grand piano at Glenshiel, but if you want to hear the Steinway artist play on a Steinway, check out a concert on his exciting new 10 Chair Tour where he will perform 10 Solo Recitals on 10 Steinways in 10 Cities across South Africa. The Steinway comes with its own piano technician who apparently demonstrates his piano tuning in front of the audience before Charl takes the stage. The Joburg appearance will be on October 12 at Wits University's  Linder Auditorium. We'll be there.

A Classic Week

I had the opportunity to go not once, but twice this week to the classic mansion Glenshiel in West Cliff to hear some classical music.

On Monday night, it was for a Peace concert featuring American concert pianist Mark Damisch who performed Bartok's Six Romanian Dances, a Beethoven Sonata, the Wanderer Fantasy by Schubert, as well as some contemporary classics and even some of his own compositions.

Mark's talented daughter performed as well

Mark has traveled the world, both before his successful law career and since 2000 after he retired, performing Peace concerts for the benefit of charity. He covers all his own costs so the proceeds are pure profit for the lucky receiving organization. Mark has played over a thousand concerts and has raised over a million dollars for charities all around the world.






This performance was for the benefit of The Order of St. John, the offices of which reside at Glenshiel. Glenshiel, one of Johannesburg's famous historic homes, was built for Sir William and Lady Dalrymple in 1908. A classic in its own right, the house and stables were designed by renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker.

Glenshiel is no stranger to musical entertainment. Sir William, a mining magnate and his actress wife, Isobel were well known for their entertaining, music and tennis parties. Many a well known personality, including Princess Alice of Athlone, stayed at Glenshiel.

The grounds of Glenshiel boasted one of the first swimming pools and tennis courts ever to be built in the city. Whilst the tennis court still remains, the swimming pool has since made way for a beautiful rose garden.

And Glenshiel is no stranger to charity either. When Sir William passed away in 1941, the estate, which originally comprised 27 acres, was divided into two portions. The late Major Gordon Haggie purchased the seven acre portion on which Glenshiel and the adjoining stables were situated. He immediately loaned Glenshiel to the Order of St John so that it could be used as an auxiliary military hospital. (The Order of St John operated eleven such hospitals during the Second World War). The hospital at Glenshiel was run under the supervision of Muriel Walton, a great friend of the Haggie Family, who was also the Superintendent-in-Chief Nursing for the Order of St John.

During its three years of operation as a hospital, Glenshiel provided a restful and tranquil home to almost 2 500 soldiers who were recovering from amputations as a result of injuries sustained during the war. Numerous ramps were built and iron bars were built to protect the teak paneling from damage. The drawing room formed the main ward and during the warm summer months, beds were placed on the verandah to accommodate more patients. Just like Downton Abbey did in the First World War!


During their stay, soldiers were encouraged to participate in occupational therapy making such items as leather writing cases and sheepskin slippers. Carpentry played an important role and was excellent exercise for those patients with injured hands and arms. Many of the patients went on to become expert carpenters who walked off with numerous prizes for works exhibited at the 1945 National Eisteddfod.

Glenshiel has a history as a fundraising venue as well. Polly Ann, a Tudor Style cottage, now situated in the grounds of Glenshiel, was just one of many similar cottages which were erected to form Olde England, a fundraising initiative during the World War II. At the end of the fundraising event, Major Haggie, with the assistance of the patients, re-erected Polly Ann along with the Wishing Well and Town Sign Post.




The St John flag was ceremoniously lowered at Glenshiel on March 26, 1946 and Glenshiel once again became a stately home. In 1950, on behalf of the Haggie Trust, Major Gordon Haggie, lent Glenshiel to the Order of St John in perpetuity.



 

The Stables, which originally housed the coach house, stables and garage, was converted, with the minimum amount of alteration into a residence and became the official home of the Haggie Family, who still reside there to this day. Glenshiel was declared a national monument in 1979.





On Saturday, we returned to Glenshiel for the Charl du Plessis Trio who performed their musical collaboration called "baroque swing." The Charl du Plessis Trio is one of the most versatile and respected crossover ensembles in South Africa. The diverse style of music this ensemble performs ranges from Baroque, Latin, Swing, Classical to Funk and sets them apart from other instrumental groups. The trio consists of Steinway Artist Charl du Plessis (piano), Werner Spies (bass) and Hugo Radyn (drums).

 

Jay Gould's mansion Lyndhurst

Both performances at Glenshiel reminded me so much of the fabulous summer concerts we would attend annually at the mansions and stately homes of the golden age all around New York. Jazz at Lyndhurst in Tarrytown. Flamenco in the courtyard at Caramoor in Katonah. A chamber music quartet on the grounds of Old Westbury on Long Island. Usually held outdoors in a beautiful garden with fireflies and the smell of jasmine in the air, these were magical nights.

In New York it was summer but in South Africa it is a midwinter's night dream.

Let your fabric do the talking ...

in the tea house of a Balinese temple

I fell in love with Javanese fabric and designs when we visited Bali and Indonesia in the 90's. The feel of the waxed batik, the metallic sheen of the thread, and the riot of colors. What's not to love?

Trader Manto's Tiki Party

It wasn't very hard to incorporate these fabrics into our summers at the beach in New Jersey. Our yacht club always gave us ample excuse to bring out our Javanese and coordinating Polynesian fare to wear at dinner dances and cocktail parties or just to use as a cover-up at the beach.

Tiki team

After visiting the original Trader Vic's in Oakland with my son, I was even inspired to co-chair a Tiki Party at Mantoloking Yacht Club one summer complete with Javanese print tablecloths, a grass-skirted Tiki Bar and tiki statues.

racks of Hollandais at The Fabric Hanger

The Dutch loved the fabric too. After establishing a stronghold in Indonesia in the 1400's as part of their immense trade empire, the Dutch East India Company brought the fabric to their colonies in west and south Africa on the backs of the servants and slaves who wore it.

Hollandais throw pillows go perfectly with my shweshwe quilt

Renamed "Hollandais", the waxed batik fabric became the signature fabric worn by the natives of countries such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana ... and South Africa.








One of the most contemporary and wearable of the Hollandais fabric is made by the Dutch company Vlisco and you can buy it at The Fabric Hanger in Sandton. Vlisco is the fabric behind the popular dress Jill Biden wore to the recent US Africa dinner.













But it wasn't until I actually visited the shop that I found out that many of their heritage fabrics also hold a secret message in their design. For instance, Vlisco has recently re-introduced a new collection inspired by the Heritage Wax known as "Tu sors, je sors." The name of the design translates as "I go, you go."  

The story is that this Wax fabric is worn by newlywed women to warn their new husbands that if, like a bird, he flutters away from their marriage cage, then she is free to be unfaithful, too. The design became particularly popular in Ivory Coast in the 1980's and 90's. When words fail you, let your fabric do the talking.

I am having a coat dress made from this fabric to wear to an upcoming event. Not because I particularly want to send a message to my husband, but because I just like the design. But come to think of it, even after almost 34 years of marriage, I think I'll just leave it out there.

Go Grey on World Elephant Day August 12

96elephants.org is asking Facebook users to go grey on August 12 in order to recognize World Elephant Day.
 

To show your support for the wildlife of Africa,  greyscale your profile picture and cover photo and post it on August 12.

Thank you!

Bloody Winners

We won!

I know it's not about winning. It's about participating in the creative process and trying on the shoes of the murder mystery writer, blah blah blah. But we had crafted a really good story with intrigue, subplots, sabotage and double-crosses. We tied it up with a biblical bow and Amanda, our group's author, presented it flawlessly.

And our story won!

Team Amanda at work.

About 60 of us - plus seven authors - gathered in the Rosebank Gautrain Station last night for a Murder on the Gautrain. The mastermind behind Bloody Book Week and the mistress of ceremonies for the evening was Jenny Crwys-Williams, the radio talk show host whose weekly Book Show (Wednesdays on Talk Radio 702) is a forum for author interviews and reviews of the latest releases in the book world.

We were separated into groups of about eight and teamed up with one of the celebrity authors with whom we would travel on the train. Our team was assigned Amanda Coetzee. Amanda was the perfect leader for our little group's part reality show / part master class. When she isn’t writing crime thrillers, she works as a deputy headmistress. She grew up in Bedford, England, and now lives in Rustenburg with her husband and son. Her novels include Flaming June, Bad Blood, Redemption Song and her latest, One Shot.

Furnished with two typed copies of a description of a murder scene full of clues - and red herrings - we were instructed to pick up where the story ended so far and solve the murder. Present day Joburg. The apparent murder of an already terminally ill Russian nurse and former hit woman. A gang of five. A hand-picked investigator named Hitch. A cat.

Amanda in the zone

We huddled in the train car as it hurtled towards Pretoria and ironed out the basics of our plot. The why, the how, and the who, all whilst trying to be extra careful not to let another group overhear our ideas. We had the skeleton of an outline concocted even before the train entered the final station.

Once we arrived at the exclusive Blue Lounge, Amanda was handed a laptop and she quickly got into the writers' zone. She wrote the first attention-grabbing line which she read to us for approval and then she was off.

But she needed details. Who was on the other end of that phone call? What did Hitch see that turned his blood cold? What kind of alcohol would Hitch drink? What was the code name of the 5th man? The code name for the gang of 5? Where was the secret place where the gang would reconvene? How would justice be served? What did the riddle mean?

What is a nickname for Svetlana?

We got out our smart phones and our iPads in order to look up facts. What are the symptoms of digoxin poisoning? How do you say, "the truth is revealed" in Russian?

Jenny introduces Penny Lorimer

After about an hour, some wine and some really delicious snacks, we all reconvened back in the Blue Lounge and one by one, each group's author was called to the high hot seat to read their team's chapter. Next to them on the couch sat the judge and author, Alex Eliseev, who would ultimately decide whose ending he would use to finish his story and be published on the Bloody Book Week website

Peter James

Some stories were really funny. A little bloody 50 Shades of Grey anyone? Some ideas came straight from the front page headlines. The scandals of Pistorius and Malema and Zuma. They were all really good and surprisingly very, very different.

Amanda and Alex

But as Amanda read, you could see that she had the audience on the edge of their seats. You could hear a pin drop in the room as she made her way through the twists and turns of the action. Alex was listening intently too.

Team Amanda with Jenny

After the readings, Jenny and Alex deliberated behind closed doors. The guests were served more wine and hors d'oeuvres. Back in came the judges and the verdict was announced.

Amanda Coetzee's team were the winners. Bloody brilliant!