Dear Members and friends,                                                     Sunday 14th August 2011.

This has to be the final “end of winter Sunday” and we feel certain that Spring will officially arrive this week so that we can all enjoy the wonderful function being prepared for you on Sunday 21st August at the Village of Happiness Bowling Clubhouse. Time is 12 for 12:30 and we have an amazing programme arranged for your enjoyment. Cost  of function is R65 p.p. and you can either get tickets and book at the Elna shop in Shelly Centre or by phoning Marge on 039-312-5150.  Numbers are limited to 80 and we already have over 40 bookings so be quick.

Our Pipe Band will be there in full force with some new numbers to entertain us, and our new
Chief Charles Carr will be installed by Sally Morning, Scottish songs by Peter Smith as well as a different variety from Christine Venter. The Haggis will be addressed and a short talk on the Immortal Bard Bobert Burns and some other surprises. Dinner will be Haggis, neeps and tatties to start with a Chicken dish by “Ma” i.e. Marlene & Marge, with help from our super Committee.

We held a very successful A.G.M. where Charles was voted into office for the coming year, and we have decided to charge membership fees as from July this year at R35 p.p. Please see that we have your membership/application form (extra forms will be available at the function).  We are delighted that Marlene McLeod is taking over our finances, but Charles will remain as secretary as he has done such an outstanding job over the past two years.  We also have to report that two new willing and capable friends of Scots descent have joined our Committee and it gives me great pleasure to welcome Felicite Prior and Mike Morrison to our ranks.  Felicite is so disappointed that she will be missing this function as she is overseas visiting her family. We wish her a happy trip and welcome both her and Mike to our workforce. Thanks to both of you.

Congress will be held in the Free State this year and anyone wanting to attend would be welcomed.  Next year we hear it will be in Fourways – Jhb and we will attend this as our daughters live in that area.   Our next function will have a Christmas Theme and will be held on either the second or third Sunday in November. The date will be advised as soon as the Bowling Club give us confirmation of dates.  Please give us feedback about our functions and whether you have any constructive criticism to pass on to us. We will try to please ye all.

Marge and I will officially and happily step into the position of “past” officials and will still be on the committee to assist, but we are both delighted  that the past two years have been so successful and that we can now take a back seat and enjoy without having so much responsibility. Our own health has not been as good as we could have wished recently and instruction from family and friends is to take it easy – that will be a pleasure!!!. First of all we have to get busy and sell our family home in Southbroom, We hope to find a buyer soon, and then surely we can relax and enjoy our lives for many years to come.

It remains for me to thank you all for the support and interest in Hibiscus Scottish and to praise our very capable, loyal and hardworking comittee for their unending hard work & enthusiasm. 

They all work with laughter and smiles at every function.  One does not have to ask this committee to do anything, they just volunteer – simply magic to lead a band like YOU!! Thanks++++++

Marge would epecially like to thank all the committee ladies and personal friends for their wonderful catering assistance. Without you we would not have held such successful functions.

You will all be happy to know that Noel Roos our pianist came second in the World Line Dancing competition held in England last week. Congratulations and well done Noel!. He is the current South African Champion and we are so blessed to have hime bring us beautiful music.

Yours aye,             

 Jack

2nd June 2011

Dear Members and friends,

We are into the most beautiful time of the year, with green gardens & Natal bush, sunny skies magnificent beaches, gentle seas and the most breathtaking sunrise and sunset scenes. We invite all our up-country friends to come and enjoy the blessings of our exquisite Natal South Coast. Sorry for the delay in writing to you, but we have been really busy, going up to the Old Transvaal for our granddaughter Kerry’s wedding to David Fraser, which was a beautiful, memorable, happy occasion, then coming back to face plumbing and water damage at Southbroom. Happy now to be able to advise you of forthcoming Scottish functions, so get out your diaries. We have an exciting programme for the coming few months – come and enjoy!

Our Irish function in March went across very well and everyone enjoyed both the singing and the Irish dancing. Our pub-lunch was a great success so thanks to all and particularly Marlene for the excellent catering. Sally Morning has written to thank us for her gift which she is greatly enjoying. Unfortunately she will not be with us on the 16th of June but has accepted our invitation to install Charles on 21st August. Molly Gould sent her apologies as Noel has been ill.

Thursday 16th June (holiday) is the date on which we welcome our Federation Chief Frances Dixon and her husband to our Hibiscus Society at a Bring and Share Braai to be held at the Lapa (next to the swimming pool) at the Village of Happiness. Time 12 for 12:30. Our Chieftain Doug McLeod will be doing the fires and the Pipe Band will be in good form to welcome you. Anyone may join us, so do bring your friends along for a really happy get-together. There will be a fun-quiz with small chocolate prizes so put on your thinking caps, and most importantly our Pipe Band will be there to entertain you. Bring your chairs, plates, cutlery, glasses, some meat/chicken for yourself to braai, and what-ever you will be drinking. No charge for this party, but please bring a generous bowl of salad for a bring & share table. Bring any salad you wish as it is interesting to share your favourite salad. There will be icecream cones for desert supplied by the committee, and should you wish to, your own flask of tea/coffee may keep you warm as we do not have the facilities to do this for everyone.

At the conclusion of our function, after we have sung Auld-Lang Syne, please note that we will have a very brief Annual General Meeting. There is little to discuss as your committee have put everything into place, but it is just to make us correct constitutionally, so that our new Chief Charles Carr can be officially proposed and accepted by the Society. Marlene McLeod has kindly agreed to take over the treasurer’s duty as she has done this previously , Doug will remain as Chieftain, and Marge and I will take up positions of past officials once again. Added to this is the joyfuly news that we have two new committee members to officially welcome. Both Mike Morrison and Felicite Prior have good Scottish backgrounds (not necessary these days but most fitting) and are happy to assist us on the new committee, where all other committee members are returning en-bloc. The bad news is that we will officially propose new membership fees, but they are likely to be R25 p.p. each year from now on, as we do have to pay capitation fees to the Federation and have a few cents for general running purposes. Anyone who has not filled in a membership form during the past year is asked to complete this form at the braai so that we can record your presence at the meeting for future reference. Also please be sure that Charles has both your e-mail and postal address, so that you can receive correspondence. Sorry that the notice is short, but this saves the need to bring you out again.

The Dixons will be staying with us on Wednesday and Thursday night as well as Sunday 19th, as they visit both Pietermaritzburg and Durban Societies over the weekend. Any of you who would like to see them that Sunday evening are welcome to join us for Soup and a Roll at 9 Link Road Southbroom, for a light supper at around 6 p.m. Just let us know on cell 084-517-3159 so that we prepare enough Soup.

Please diarise our special function to be held in the Bowling Clubhouse on Sunday 21st August at 12 noon. This will be our delayed Burns celebration and the instalation of our new Chief Charles Carr. We have a wonderful programe arranged for you, so book early to ensure your place at a memorable occasion. We have two incredibly wonderful singers to entertain you – Peter Smith whom you have heard and so enjoyed previously – with his magical deep Baritone voice, and Noel whom we all so love to hear, playing the piano again, as well as a special guest Christine Venter who in our opinion is the Souith Coast’s Sarah Brightman. That is not all as our own Pipe Band will be in full force with our new Chief in charge and then we will also have the traditional Address to the Haggis and toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns. Peter Smith will sing the “The Star of Robbie Rurns”. The proposed cost will be R65 – R70 p.p.with children half price, as we are doing our own catering of dinner and desert. Worth while? YES. Bookings through Gemmells, McLeods, or Mary at the Elna shop in Shelly Beach Mall.

We are terribly sorry if this speical date does not suit everyone, as we do have to fit tinto the Bowling Club’s busy time-table, and they have just given us the go-ahead for 21st Aug for which we are most grateful. An early date for our Christmas function is either Sunday 13th or 20th November, but again we have to wait and see what all their commitments are.

We end this letter on a sad note. Firstly your committee, with Charles piping a lament went down to the beach at Uvongo for a little ceremony to honour our late friend and past Chief Shirley Werepas who was called home after a difficult illness. We sent off a little wreath into the waves and to our surprise it was appropriately accompanied out to sea by a couple of dolphin whom she loved.

Then we have to tell you of the passing of our dear friend Angus Wilson very suddenly in May. Angus was a Caldeonian all his life and with his twin brother Guthrie made Caledonian history as both of them held the office of Federation Chief during the 1980′s. He was also chairman of Central Council for many years. They have numbered among our personal friends for the past seventy plus years since we were all junior Caledonians during the most thriving times of our Scottish Federation. To June, Carolyn, Betty and families we extend our heartfelt sympathy. Till we meet again Angus.

This will be our penultimate letter, as you wil receive a further one from us before Charles takes over, with confirmed details of the function on 21st August, as well as any other news and the date for our Christmas function. Looking forward to seeing you at the Lapa on 16th June. Pray for sunshine that day please, or bring your umbrellas. The seating area is roofed but not the braai, so guess who may get soaked while they are tending the braai?

Thankyou for your patience in reading this epistle, and for your continued support over the past two years. Let us continue to grow and thrive this coming year.

Yours aye,

Jack.

1st March 2011

 Dear members and friends,

We have just returned from a wonderful three week trip to the Cape, visiting as many family and friends as we could manage. With an aunt who celebrated 90 years, two sons, two cousins and their families as well as some friends of 55 years standing, we are sad not to have seen more of our Caledonian friends around the coast. However we hope there will be another visit soon as the Cape was truly magnificent and the roads so much better than ours here in KZN.

As promised in our last letter, we are putting on an Irish function on Sunday 20th March in The Village of Happiness Bowling Clubhouse. Time is 12:30, price is R45 and you are assured of a pub-style lunch with some excellent entertainment. We will also be welcoming our Provincial Chieftain Sally Morning on this occasion so please come along to give her a warm greeting. Our band will be there to entertain us, Noel will play for some Irish community singing and we have an Irish dancer as well as a short IRISH QUIZ. Come along, bring your friends and have a wonderful time together. No tickets, but please telephone to book for catering purposes. Marge 039-312-5150, Marlene 039-314-9277, Mary at the Elna Shop, Shelly Beach Mall 039-315-0624. Committee meeting to finalise catering at the Gemmell’s on Monday 14th March at 18:30.

We decided to take a rain check on our Burns’ celebration lunch and will be holding this on Sunday June 19th at the Village of Happiness Bowling Clubhouse at 12:30. A traditional meal will be served and both a singer and dancer will be attending for your entertainment, with traditional toasts and the Immortal Memory address on Robert Burns. Our ever willing Pipe Band will be coming along to inspire you. Cost will be R65 each with a reduction for scholars.

Tickets will be available soon and booking through the above committee members is advised as we expect a really good turn-out for this function. This will be our last function as Chief and Lady president of your Society as we are delighted to inform you that Charles Carr will be taking over as Chief after our AGM which will take place in July. Date to be advised. Charles has done a stirling job in holding office as our Honourary Piper as well as Secretary and Treasurer for the past two years, and we are happy to have him take over the reigns of our Society and wish him well.

We look forward to seeing you on the 20th March and the 19th June, but will be writing to you again before this latter function. Remember to send in your membership forms please.

The Chief’s Lunch is being planned for the 21st August subject to the availability of the Bowling Club, and we ask that you diarise this event now to give Charles the support he deserves for his coming years in office. Charles has offered to stay on as Secretary and with his piping he is going to be very busy, so we ask that everyone gives him great support, with maybe a few new offers to become a committee member.

Yours Aye,

Jack

Dear Members and friends,

This letter brings best wishes and Christmas greetings to you all. We will be thinking of all our Caledonian friends over the Christmas Season, wishing them good health, loads of happiness and special family blessings whereever you may be celebrating. A Good 2011 to you all.

Our Christmas Braai/ St. Andrews function will be held at the swimming pool lapa at the Village of Happiness on Sunday 21st November 2010 at 12 noon.

Wear a touch of Tartan if you can. The Margate Pipes and Drums will be there to welcome you, and play a few times during the day for which entertainment we are so grateful. Two fires will be lit by our Chieftain Doug MacLeod, and the salad table will be ready to receive your bowls of salad to share amongst us all.  Please bring your own meat, rolls  (possibly a hat and folding chair if you wish to sit on the lawn) and drinks, glasses, plates and cutlery  Please telephone Marge on 039-312-5150 to advise how many people you are bringing  and what salad you will prepare.  We need about 2 or 3 three mixed salads with tomato & greens, feta, olives etc and at least 3 potato salads besides, carrot, beetroot, 4 bean salad, 2 asparagus, paw-paw, avo, pasta, curried onion and cucumber or fruit & rice  and any other specialities you have,  There is no charge for this function, just your contribution of a super salad to share amongst the group.

Jack will run a short fun quiz and there will be some small prizes, so bring along paper and a pen to write down answers.  The band will play at the beginning, just before we eat, and again just before we join hands to sing “Auld Lang Syne”.  After the  quiz we invite you all to join us in a glass of wine or juice and some cake to celebrate Jack’s 80th birthday which will be on November 24th. He does not want a party, but offered to bring wine and allow me and my friends to bake a cake, which we can all enjoy at the end of our function.

Our Burns’ Celebration Luncheon will be held at the Village Bowling Club house on Sunday 23rd January 2011, so please diarise this date for a truly grand function. Once again the Band will be there to play for us, we will have the traditional speeches, and our pianist friend Noel Roos has agreed to play for this function.  Tickets will be R75 each (any change will be advised early) and there will be a cash bar at the club. We will be serving a meal and desert, so you can be assured of excellent entertainment, good food and a happy Scottish celebration. Tickets will be available at the Elna shop in Shelly Beach Mall from early January or from the committee, but please book early as we can only accommodate max 80 people.

Other news is that Durban Callies have their St. Andrews function on 5th Dec which we will attend, and their Burns celebration on Sunday 7th Feb. Anyone wishing can book through Molly Gould (The new Durban Chief), and they would appreciate our support, as Durban has been so good in supporting us.  We also congratulate Sally Morning from Pietermarizburg who has been installed as our Provincial Chieftain for this year. Hope to see you with us soon Sally.

Good news about our dear friend Shirley Werepas whom we spoke to this week.. She is making excellent progress, is on Chemo and being cared for in a home in Polokwane. She is quite a bit stronger and much happier and she thanked the society for the flowers which were sent when she was so ill. Good going Shirley!  Dancing classes will be resumed around March when the weather is cooler, and we are trying to organise a Thursday instead of Monday.

Happy Christmas, safe travelling to all who are going away, and may 2011 bring you good health and great happiness. The wishes come from us both, but the letter is from Marge to invite you to join us in a toast to Jack on the 21st. We have to celebrate his return to good health. A special word of thanks to our wonderful committee for their assistance during 2010.

Kind regards,

Marge.