I have tried to start this blog several times- without success in my eyes. So here goes again with the REAL blog.

Today we visited Eureka Mill near Heidelberg (that's in the Cape!). I used to sell a lot of their flour in Foxglove- especially when Penny Zeffert did her amazing natural bread courses.
We met Nico- the passionate miller (and everything else man). He took us on a tour and explained how they do things at Eureka.
I wasn't sure how to approach this, so this is what I decided on- I'll give you the facts and then my opinion.
Eureka does not use GM seed wheat. They do not grow organically (yet, as they can't afford to loose their crop). They stone grind all the wheat. They don't add anything (preservatives, bleaches, fortification- anything).
They collect, clean, sort, soak, mill, grade, seperate, pack, ship, build, bake- just everything- themselves.

If you hear Nico's explanation of what Eureka doesn't do, you will never use "large name brand" flour again. Why do you need to process wheat so far, that you remove the protein and good fats and then have to add vitamins for it to have any food value? That is not logical and in my mind should be illegal. The big guys should not be allowed to do what they do without disclosing it on their label. At least we can then choose for ourselves.

I suggest we all ask more questions. I am a strong proponent of READING THE LABEL but how about you try? Next time you buy something- anything- you try.

So this week I have had a taste of the "Small Town Syndrome". You know- the fact that everyone knows everyone and ALL their business. I have met a lady who is willing to share her opinions on everyone she has met in Still Bay in the few years she has lived here.
I will have to have my own opinions I am sure but it really is interesting to hear all the background.

People here seem to accept crappy service and poor quality without another thought. Anyone who wanted to come in here and take on any of the exisitng businesses, would have plenty to keep them busy. With excellent service and a great product, people would flock to it. I think complacency has set in and there neds to be a shake up.

In this little town, everything is left until the last minute. Manana, manana… It makes doing business very frustrating and difficult. However, with every whine, there is an opportunity to make a good business just by offering excellent service.

We have been trying the local restaurants and I am afraid so far they are appalling! The take-aways are awful too. We will have to go back to cooking more as we used to do. Got to plan the shopping too as not everything is available immediately or it is so pricey, to make you not want to buy it locally. Sad, as I would rather support local business. Silly and short-sighted, as it makes the locals buy out.

We 3 looking for the little holes to fill and finding big ones!

On the first day I arrived in Still Bay, we met a "tannie" who complained that it was raining. And last night, our neighbour over the road had her irrigation system going for over an hour. It rained most of yesterday. Don't these people know that the dams are only 18% full?! What will they do when they open a tap and nothing comes out?