The Hills are Alive- it’s Festive By Collatain Hendricks-Cloete

A real look at Christmas preparations in the Cape Flats in the 1985 set against a backdrop of 1980s music and fashion
Christmas 1985 and the Cape Flats are buzzing with anticipation of the festive period yetto come. Meat stamps have been collected, money saved, year-end bonuses and holiday pay received and now it’s time to splurge out on Christmas food and clothes.First, there is the matter of cleaning the house from top to bottom.For eighteen-year-old Jessie, the run-up to Christmas is filled not with just the fragrancesof gammon and turkey but with keeping an eye on her two younger brothers whilecleaning the house from top to bottom. The unexpected arrival of her older sister fromEngland brings news that will shake the military-like cleaning operation up.The prospect of camping at Soetwater with her family doesn’t hold the appeal for Jessieit used to, however, the arrival of Rafael will make things more interesting.“A charming story about family and love, set on the Cape Flats. It is a thoroughlyenjoyable, unputdownable book…” Dr Timothy Spracklen.“Once I started reading, I couldn’t put the book down. It evoked nostalgia from theSunday koeksister run before church to the art of swirling hair…” Millisia Ramia.“…love the book, couldn’t put it down…. So many memories…” Bronwyn Arendse