Fredie Blom van Delft is die oudste man in ons land.

Wes-Kaapse LUR vir Maatskaplike ontwikkeling, Albert Fritz, het ook by hom gaan kuier toe hy op Dinsdag 8 Mei 114 jaar oud geword het.

Fritz het tydens sy besoek gesê Fredie is ‘n inspirasie vir die mense van sy gemeenskap omdat hy so ‘n goeie voorbeeld is van hoe mense hulself behoort op te pas.

Sy rekord-verjaardag moet nog deur Guiness World Records bevestig word, maar daar word vas geglo dat hy nou die oudste mens op aarde is. Volgens Guiness is dit ‘n man in Japan wat op die oomblik hierdie rekord hou. Masazo Nonake is wel 112 jaar oud, wat dus beteken dat Kaapenaar Fredie die titel as oudste gaan oorneem wanneer sy rekord erken word.

Volgens sy identiteits-dokument is hy in 1904 in Adelaide in die Oos-Kaap gebore. Hy is die afgelope 48 jaar met Jeannette (85) getroud en het geen kinders van sy eie nie. Hulle het wel ’n grootmaakkind wat hulle aangeneem het, en een kleinkind.

Jeanette het twee kinders uit ’n vorige verhouding gehad. Albei is egter reeds oorlede.

Volgens sy vrou is hy nog baie aktief in en om die huis – voor sy destydse aftrede het hy gewerk as tuinier.

Jeanette sê hulle suksesvolle huwelik is daaraan toe te skryf dat hulle altyd seker gemaak het daar is vrede in die huis voor die son sak, en dat dit soms harde werk vereis het, maar gewis die moeite werd was.

Sy meen hy is gelukkig om nog op sy ouderdom perdfris en gesond te wees – soms is dit net sy bene wat bietjie pla. Hy’t glo ook nog nooit opgehou om van oor tot oor te glimlag nie.

Sy verjaardag is gevier met ‘n deftige koek, en familie en vriende van Delft wat kom kuier het.

As a huge fan of South African sport and especially the Olympics and the Commonwealth games, there is one name that every South African sports lover knows and that is Chad le Clos.

Who will ever forget that gold medal in the 200m butterfly edging out the two-time defending Olympic champion Michael Phelps.

His father said it – unbelievable!

The good news for Capetonians was the announcement that he has opened the Chad Le Clos Academy (CLeC) at the Quadrant Complex in Claremont, with a view to opening a world class swimming academy.

I was delighted to see a very special friend involved in the academy as one of the coaches.

In 2016, I was asked by Hermann Steyn of the SA Transplant Sports Association, to speak at the capping function of the team about to head off to Argentina to represent South Africa.

It was such a moving experience for me to see people who had often knocked on death’s door dressed in their Protea colours and ready to do battle with the best in the world.

In the group I addressed that day was a young swimmer called Lisa du Plessis. She has received a kidney transplant only two years previously after a diagnosis of renal failure in 2006 and here she was on her way to the World Transplant Games.

It had not been an easy time for her. Fortunately, her sister-in-law was found to be a match and she received her new kidney.

Lisa had always been a swimmer and enjoyed team sports and is competitive in nature. The team competed in Argentina and ended third out of 44 countries, a fantastic result. Lisa entered four events and brought home 4 gold medals and broke three world records and went on to become sportswoman of the year.

Now regarded as a lucky mascot I was again asked to speak at their 2017 capping ceremony as they were on their way to Malaga in Spain for the World Transplant Games.

Again, Lisa was a star. This time swimming in 5 events, she won 5 gold medals and the award for the most outstanding athlete of the games.

So what is the link between Lisa and Chad?

As her love for swimming grew, Lisa had joined Swim Smart in Claremont as a stroke correction coach. Which organisation did Chad pick to partner with and start the CleC Academy. You guessed it, Swim Smart.

When Lisa was diagnosed with renal failure it was a difficult time, but thanks to her donor and an attitude of hope and lots of hard work, she now works along side one of our South African sporting heroes.

Maybe I should rephrase that. Two of South Africa’s sporting heroes working side by side.

Unbelievable! Welcome to Cape Town, Chad le Clos.

Venicia McGhie and Madge du Preez are two formidable women with a long relationship with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) who both want to see first-year students adjust to university life easier. They wrote a book that imparts crucial knowledge every parent and prospecting student should read to help them make the transition from school to university or college less challenging.

Dr Venicia McGhie, senior lecturer and head of the Department of Academic Development in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and Madge du Preez, retired senior faculty officer and coordinator of the EMS Student Support and Research Unit (ESSRU), combined their expertise to create a book that could be the saving grace for many prospective first-years at university (or any other tertiary institution).

The first part of the book speaks to the power of education and what learners and their parents can do while they are still at school. The second part covers what learners should know and prepare for once they arrive at university or college. And the last part provides information and advice regarding courses one should study, application procedures, contact details of most of the post-school institutions in South Africa, and a GPS checklist amongst others.

Dr McGhie conducted the research on which the book, Accessing Post-School Studies: A Student’s GPS to Successful Learning, is based; while Ms Du Preez, a keen creative writer, provided creative and stylistic input.

The two authors share a deep concern and love for struggling students, especially those from rural communities, and are both passionate about the book and the contribution it could make to successful student learning.

Dr McGhie (who was in the news recently for working her way from domestic worker to lecturer and obtaining a PhD) explains that she wrote the book because she wanted to empower prospective students with knowledge and information that could assist them to make informed decisions about further studies after Grade 12.

Dr McGhie says: “We’re excited about the book and hope to receive buy-in from the national department of education, so that it could be used as part of the life orientation curriculum in high schools.”

Ms Du Preez was motivated to do something when she encountered students with very little self-confidence in her tenure as faculty officer and coordinator of ESSRU.

Prof Christopher Tapscott, recently-retired founding director of UWC’s School of Government and current Board Member of the Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management, notes that the book entices readers to study further, and reassures them that studying will be beneficial and that education will further their careers and selves.

Accessing Post-School Studies is currently sold at R330 (hard copy) and R260 (ebook). The book can be purchased from African Sun Media via email at orders@africansunmedia.co.za or via their e-shop at www.africansunmedia.co.za

As a cat-mom I try to spend as much time with my fur baby Arwen as possible. We watch TV together, she likes to lie on my desk and nibble the corner of my laptop when I’m working from home and she even enjoys sitting on the kitchen bar stool and watch me cook. One thing I never thought of doing with her is yoga! However, after reading about Animal Anti-Cruelty League’s cat yoga class, I’m intrigued!

On Saturday the 21st of April, Animal Anti-Cruelty League’s Epping Branch hosted its first ever cat yoga event. On this sunny afternoon 10 participants were joined by five very special four legged yogis who all reside within the adult adoption cattery whilst awaiting adoption.

Muffin (a newcomer to the cattery) took an instant liking to Mr. & Mrs. van Zyl and seemed to “adopt” them while they were doing their stretches.

Participant Jacques pulled off a very impressive side crow and wife Kristien enthralled Muffin who refused to move from her mat until long after everyone else had called it a day.

Jasper, a young black cat made himself at home on the corner of yogi Sandrine’s mat and enjoyed a leisurely nap whilst Callie entertained the rest of the class with her meows.

Juanita, a veterinary nurse from the Epping branch, initiated the cat yoga and is passionate about the initiative specifically to raise awareness for their adult adoption cats. Sadly, the older cats are often overlooked as most people come to the organization with the idea of adopting a kitten and don’t give the adult cats a second glance. While kittens are a little too active for cat yoga, the adults fit in purrrrrfectly.

The Animal Anti Cruelty League is a nonprofit organization and all proceeds from cat yoga events contribute to the operations of their adoptions department that rehomed over 300 cats over the last year.

The more I think about it, the more this seems like such a great idea! Studies show that yoga can improve your balance, your breathing, your sense of self and your overall health. It can reduce anxiety and fight off depression. It strengthens your core and can help ease chronic pain. There are no studies about the health benefits of cat yoga yet, but I’m sure one would get all the benefits of regular yoga plus a few laughs sharing your mat with a cat. Who knows, you might even go home with one!

Yoga instructor Natalie Simpson’s relationship with the organization is personal: it’s where she adopted her own cats. The good ‘mews’ is that they are planning more classes and their next one will be in June. Don’t worry if your love of cats is stronger than your downward dog, classes are suitable for beginners and advanced yogis, so keep an eye on Animal Anti-Cruelty League’s Facebook page for their next event.

I just love the idea of getting flexible with felines and it’s such a great way to get people into the shelter to see the adoptable animals. Hopefully these beautiful kitties won’t ‘Namaste’ there too long but rather find their fur-ever homes with loving families.