TWEEDE Tol, a campsite and caravan park in the Bainskloof Pass near Wellington, was a hit with holiday makers in the Cape this summer. This leisure spot lies within the Limietberg Nature Reserve, and is one of only a handful of campsites in the Boland mountains.

The campsite has been popular with visitors for many years and has a flock of loyal campers who faithfully come back every year. Gautengers and overseas visitors also make up a fair ratio of the total number of visi-      tors.

Good news is that the booking for Tweede Tol is now open a year in advance, not two months as was the case previously. That means you can book now for December 2003 and January 2004.

This season, most of the 25 campsites were booked out, while occasionally queues were evidence of day visitors' determination to make it into the picnic site to join those who had booked in advance.

Fortunately, the day picnic site, across from the campsite, allows up to 130 people - advance bookings over weekends and public holidays is essential.

Tweede Tol has the magic ingredients of fresh mountain air, montane fynbos, walks that end at waterfalls, and rock pools that take the heat off the summer day.

The campsites are also shaded and spacious, and the staff helpful. A jungle gym will even keep the kids entertained.

So, if you're keen to see what the fuss is all about, and to get first-hand experience of what draws people back year after year, make that booking now by calling the Cape Nature Conservation Tourism Office at 426-0723.

You can also get permits for day walks in Limietberg Nature Reserve at the Wellington Tourism Office at 873-4604 for hikes such as the popular Happy Valley, that ends at Junction Pools between the Bobbejaans River and the Krom River.

There's also the Rockhopper trail that allows you to make your way down the river bounding from one rock to another, and the Bobbejaans River trail where you will be accompanied along your walk by the musical sound of tinkling waterfalls.

IT'S so easy to be a lifesaver. All you have to do is lie down for half an hour every 56 days and give blood!

If you are 16 or older and weigh 50 kg or more, you can donate blood by visiting the Western Province Blood Transfusion office in Paarl on Thursdays.

* What is the shelf-life of blood? 42 days.

* Will I know my blood group?

When you give your second unit of blood, you will receive a membership card and your blood group will appear there.

* How many blood groups are there?

There are four main ABO groups: A, B, AB and O. Every person in the world belongs to one of these groups. In addition, donors are classified as being either Rhesus positive or negative.

For example, AB+ means that you are group AB and you are Rhesus negative.

* How common is my blood group? The average blood group distribution is 38,5% or O Positive (1 in 3); A positive is 30,4% (1 in 3), B Positive is 15,8% (1 in 6) while less common is AB Positive at 4,4% (1 in 23).

Also scarce is O negative at 4,5% (1 in 22); A Negative at 4,1% (1 in 24), B Negative at 1,6% (1 in 62) and AB Negative at 0,6% (1 in 167).

* What is a "universal donor"?

Since group O Rh negative blood can be given to anyone, these donors are referred to as universal. Group O Rh negative patients can however only receive group O Rh negative blood.

Group O Rh positive blood can go to any patient who is Rhesus positive.

* Whose blood is not considered safe for transfusion?

People or their partners who have HIV/AIDS, have had sex with or have worked as a commercial sex worker in the last 12 months, have been treated for a sexually transmitted disease in the last 12 months, have had more than one sexual partner in the past six months,  have abused drugs or are homosexual.

For information about blood donor clinics in your area, contact the Paarl office of the WP Blood Transfusion Service on 871-1030.

MINISTERS, pastors and leaders of Christian churches of Paarl can attend a workshop on HIV and Aids, facilitated by the Christian Aids Bureau and World Vision on 17 and 18 February. A similar workshop took place last year in April.

The objective of the workshop is for participants to acquire more than the basic knowledge about HIV/Aids, as well as the emotional, spiritual and physical impact on the individual, the family and friends.

They will also have an opportunity to explore the calling of the church to become involved, including possible interventions and projects. Information on HIV/Aids programmes in the Paarl Municipality area will be available.

The facilitators are Christo Greyling (Africa Regional HIV/Aids/Church Relations Advisor of World Vision International), and Logy Murray (Programme Manager of the Christian Aids Bureau for Southern Africa at Huguenot College, Wellington).

The workshop will take place from 08:00 to 17:00, at the NG Kerk Drakenstein Church Hall, Antoinette Street, Denneburg, Paarl. The cost is R50 per person. This includes workshop handouts and lunch. Only 30 people can be accommodated.

The contact persons for registration are Weziwe Busakwe (868-0890 or 083-442-7063), Lona Liebenberg (872-5119 or 082-382-0526) and Rev Stephan Snyman (862-2747).

Send your registration form before 12 February to Lona Liebenberg, 35 Christelle Street, Paarl 7646; fax (021) 872-5119, or e-mail liebies4@absamail.co.za.

THERE is still limited space available for these interesting Summer School courses presented by Iziko Museums of Cape Town:

 * Anti-gravity and matters cosmological by Prof Tony Fairall on Monday from 19:00-20:00.

 * Cricket in 21st Century South Africa by Mike Bruton, Dr Helen Moffett and Prof André Odendaal.  This 4-part series runs from 3-6 February from 16:00-17:00.

 * Ramanujan: The life and legacy of a remarkable mathematician by Prof Daya Reddy on 5 February from 17:30-18:30.

 * How DNA can be used to trace and date the evolution of man (and other animals) by Prof Eric Harley on 6 February from 17:30-18:30.

 * Interpreting rock archaeology and rock art exhibit by Royden Yates on 10 March from 17:30-18:30.

 All courses are held at the S A Museum and the fee is R27 per lecture. Booking is advisable. Inquiries: Sandra 021-481-3823 (09:00 - 13:00 weekdays).