Lifestyle - Leefstyl

• World-renowned experts adjudicate Veritas wines
• New procedure for spines
• Plant a tree
• Seminaar vir ouers

This year's entries will be evaluated by 13 panels of seven judges per panel.

Quality

The team of international adjudicators will join local experts to ensure that only wines of exceptional quality are honoured with Veritas Awards.

A total of 1 567 wines are competing in the taste-off at Nederburg. The Shiraz class attracted the highest number of entries this year (188), followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (177) and Sauvignon Blanc (149).

The prestigious Veritas Awards – presented by the South African National Wine Show (SANW) for the 14th time this year – is South Africa's biggest competition for market ready wines and the most famous wine awards in the country.

Veritas double gold and gold medals – the wine industry's highest accolade for quality wine – will be awarded to this year's top achievers during a gala dinner at Nederburg on Friday 8 October.

DR JACK EKSTEEN of Paarl is one of a number of South African orthopaedic surgeons who have been accredited to repair collapsed spinal vertebra with kyphoplasty.

It is a minimally invasive procedure involving a short operation in which a balloon is introduced into the collapsed vertebra and inflated under X-ray control to make a space, which is filled with viscous bone cement. This acts as buttress to stabilise the vertebra.

Vertabral compression fractures which are left untreated have a marked effect on patients. They often suffer pain, which then subsides. They then tend to develop a curve in the spine which is known as dowagers' hump, accompanied by a protuberant abdomen. This is especially associated with older women suffering from osteoporosis, but men above the age of forty can also suffer from this problem.

The weakened spine causes the patient to take smaller steps, suffer from decreased mobility, poor balance and muscle fatigue as well as loss of lung capacity.

The operation is extremely successful, and is associated with minimal hospitalisation, rapid relief from pain and immediate return to normal activities, extending the patient's productive life

ARBOR WEEK celebrates the value of trees in our society.

Arbor Day was first celebrated in South Africa in 1983 and in 1999 was extended to a full week.

From 1 to 7 September every year, schools, businesses and organisations are encouraged to participate in community "greening" events to improve the health and beauty of the local environment and propose a green future for South Africa.

This year's theme is "Trees are our heritage". During Arbor Week one should plant at least one tree, which will help contribute to a beautiful environment in which to live.

A tree produces oxygen while using up carbon dioxide and a tree's foliage filters out fine particulates and smog, and also traps ash, dust and pollen. The falling leaves and needles of trees decompose, providing rich nutrients for the soil.

KOM olie die gesin se ratte. Die Paarl ACVV bied op Donderdag 16 September 'n seminaar vir ouers aan oor tienergedrag en die praktiese hantering van tieners.

Die sprekers is Carien van der Merwe (maatskaplike werker) en Martin van der Merwe (voorligting sielkundige). Die seminaar begin om 17:30 vir 18:00 op Nelson's Creek, Agter-Paarl.

Kaartjies is tot 9 September beskikbaar by die ACVV Noorder-Paarl, Gimnasiumstraat 5, tel 872-3487. 'n Oppasdiens vir kinders is beskikbaar teen R10 per kind (hotdog ingesluit).

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