The following laundry tip was provided sent to us from Linen Drawer www.linendrawer.co.za.

If you should find chewing gum on your cotton bedlinen, this is what the team at Linen Drawer suggest you do to remedy the situation:

• Chewing gum - Harden with ice. Remove as much gum as possible. Remove excess by soaking in a solution of kerosene and water.

WELCOME TO HOSTEX CAPE 2012
South Africa's International Hospitality & Catering Exhibition

15-17 May 2012, 09h00-17h00
Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa

Africa's BIGGEST and BEST International Hospitality and Catering Exhibition returns to the Western Cape in May 2012.

Hostex Cape 2012 is the only exhibition that provides a one-stop resource to help hospitality industry providers to showcase their products and services to a completely targeted segment of the hospitality and catering industry, in the most direct way possible, HOSTEX CAPE 2012 presents boundless opportunities to build your brand, make sales, and be seen as a leading player in the hospitality and catering industry.

Hostex is the largest and longest-running exhibition of its kind in Africa, and the only one endorsed by the South African Chefs Association, attracting 6 000+ visitors in three days. An integral part of the local food services and hospitality sector for 25 years in Gauteng, and returning to the Cape for the ninth time from 15 to 17 May 2012 at Cape Town International Convention Centre, HOSTEX promises to bring all the attractions which have become firm favourites, as well as some new and exciting additions.

From non-stop action in the SA Chefs Village, the Hostex Wine Circle and competitions such as the SA Barista Championships, and the Global Pizza Challenge, HOSTEX Cape will be hotter than ever before.

To all our members, GHASA will be at HOSTEX and we hope to see you there.

V&A Waterfront

Earth Hour, from 20h30 - 21h30 on Saturday 31 March, is the largest mass participation envi­ronmental event in the world, and presents a unique opportunity for South African businesses and individuals to turn off their lights for one hour in a symbolic ges­ture to pledge their commit­ment to combating climate change.   The V&A Waterfront is proud to participate and celebrate again this year.

Here at the V&A Waterfront, we’ll be showing WWF and Earth Hour footage on the Amphithea­tre screen during the day. The highlight of the evening will be a performance by the Cape Brass Ensemble in the Amphitheatre during Earth Hour.  We will dim the lights nearby, the audience will hold candles, and we’re encouraging nearby restaurant tenants to host candlelight dinners, while the free unplugged concert takes place from 20h30 – 21h30.

Drip-free, child-safe candles are also on sale for R2 each at the V&A Water­front Information

Centre.  For more information please contact Zulfa Nordien on (021) 408 7600.

We are also hosting a staff competition, encouraging employees to write in telling us what they with their family and friends did to participate and celebrate this year.  The entries will go into a lucky draw, with great prizes for the winners drawn.

We have embarked on an active communications and PR plan, using our regular channels from our social media platforms, the &A Waterfront website, our plasma screens and our digital signboards, so as to generate awareness and promote Earth Hour to all our various audiences.

 We have actively encouraged our retailers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and V&A Waterfront leisure and commercial tenants, to get involved - turn off their lights, spread the message, join the Earth Hour social networks etc.

 Let us unite and take a stand against climate change!

Love is around every corner, during the month of love at the V&A Waterfront. 

At the V&A Waterfront, you’ll find love around every corner and more so than ever during the month of LOVE>  We invite you to share this special time of year with us because anyone who has ever taken a stroll along the water’s edge under a starry sky, sipped a cocktail while watching the sunset or fallen in love while browsing our malls, knows that love is all around and you don’t need to travel too far or search too widely to experience it.   To see the special please go to the following link:  http://www.waterfront.co.za/Pages/Loveisaroundeverycorner,duringthemonthofloveattheVAWaterfront.aspx

It is that time of year again and not matter how much you clean, scrub and remove every single tiny crumb, there are FLIES!!!  I have always disliked flies, but I dislike the smell of repellents just as much.  So what is the solution?  I am very lucky to have a beautiful herb garden and have seen, read and heard that herbs can be used for pretty much anything.  So why not as a fly repellent?  After some research this is what I have come up with.

Herbs seem to work best if they are moved around once in awhile. It brings the oils to the surface of the leaves and releases more of what it is that the pests don't like. Just brushing against a growing plant or stirring up the leaves of a dried one should do it.

1. Basil

Most people know fresh basil is delicious in pesto, tomato based dishes, and salads but did you also know that it is one of the best ways to keep flies out of your house? Just plant basil next to the doors, use as a foundation planting mixed in with your flowers, or plant in containers. The flies will stay far away.  As an added bonus, mosquitoes don't like it either.

2. Bay Leaf

Flies seem to hate the smell of bay leaves.

You can grow bay outside in the summer but you will need to bring it indoors during the winter months. You can buy dried bay leaf at the store if you find you are unable to grow it; the dried variety that you put in stews and soups works as well as the fresh for keeping pests away

3. Lavender

Besides being a beautiful plant that smells wonderful, Lavendar repelles flies as well as mosquitoes. Lavender also repels moths, mosquitoes, and fleas.: - Hang a bundle of it in your closet or lay a few sprigs of it in with the out of season clothes you are storing. - Grind it to a powder and sprinkle it on your pet's bedding. - Grow it in containers on your patio to repel mosquitoes. - Grow it in your kitchen garden to keep rabbits out of your lettuce and spinach.

4. Mint

Mint is repugnant to fleas, ants, flies, and mosquitoes Mint planted around the foundation of your house can keep both ants and mice out of your home. Neither of these pests seem to like the smell and all but the most determined will head to a better smelling yard. You can also place shallow bowls of the dried mint leaves in your pantry to discourage mice..

5. Rosemary

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs, not only for cooking and grilling but because it has a number of uses medicinally and as a household herb. As it grows it repels flies and mosquitoes.

Herbs were the original household cleaners, disinfectants, and bug repellents. They had been used for thousands of years with good results before humankind came up with toxic chemicals in a can. These herbs are not only better for the environment; they actually improve the environment. Herbs continue to work for you when you have finished with them and discarded them to the compost heap. They enrich the soil and add nutrients. Next time you are tempted to reach for the fly spray, reach for the basil instead.