Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2018 i Fairlady

The news that the Department of Education has shortened this December holiday quite radically was hardly even a blip on my horizon. Not only because we’ve all been working so hard that we’ve barely been able to look up as the year blitzed past, but because I don’t need to think about it. For the first time in 14 years, my husband and I won’t have any schoolgoing kids in January. It’s extraordinary. We’ve had a tiny taste of what it will be like over the past three months because Eighteen has been writing matric, so we’ve had to do the school run only on the days she actually wrote exams. It was weird: early morning suddenly became an actual period of time rather than a blur of lunchboxes and…

Carven Le Parfum is an ethereal floral fragrance with a subtle signature scent of sweet pea. The simplicity, freshness and charm of this eau de parfum embodies the incredible energy of Carven couture. It opens with mandarin blossom and white hyacinth. The heart is a floral bouquet of sweet pea, jasmine and ylang-ylang, and the sensuous woody base is a combination of white sandalwood, osmanthus and Indonesian patchouli. THIS HAMPER CONSISTS OF: a Carven 50ml EDP, Carven 50ml EDT and Carven Homme 50ml EDT Carven fragrances are available at selected Foschini stores. ☞ WRITE TO letters@fairlady.com…

Q: A friend has been diagnosed with swine flu – hasn’t it been eradicated? How serious is it? A: We often use the word ‘flu’ to describe a case of the sniffles, but if you’ve had real influenza, you’ll know that the combination of fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose can be a terrible experience. Happily, your body learns immunity to flu, which is why we don’t experience it all the time – but the virus can mutate to fool our defences. A new strain can cause a pandemic. In 2009, when swine flu first hit, no one was immune, so several people were affected and some even died. But many have become used to this strain, and H1N1 ‘swine flu’ is…

1 MOOD & SLEEP Oestrogen and progesterone closely regulate the production of neurochemicals in the brain: GABA (calmness and sleep), serotonin (a sense of synchronicity and wellbeing) and dopamine (pleasure, motivation and drive) can all be impacted when female hormone levels are depleted. Hormonal health colours the way we see ourselves and the world around us, and depression and anxiety are common in women who are going through any hormonal transition, whether after giving birth or during menopause. There are many pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical options to help improve mood and sleep, but hormones play an important role and should be discussed as part of a holistic plan to adequately address these issues. 2 MEMORY Female hormones have been shown to maintain memory, focus and reasoning skills. Starting MHT within 10…

‘A track that has stood out for me comes from The Carters. ‘Apes**t’ is the lead single from the duo’s collaborative studio album, co-written and co-produced by Pharrell Williams and the boys from Amigos.’ Roger Goode, DJ & host of The Roger Goode Show on 5FM ‘My favourite jam for 2018 is Troye Sivan’s ‘My My My!’. It’s an incredibly powerful song about not denying the feelings you have for someone – we can all relate to being afraid to take the first step!’ DJ Suga, host of Drive326 on Heart FM ‘There is something incredibly retro about the song ‘Jealousy’ by Freshlyground. It reminds me of Talking Heads and David Byrne, and also a little of Bryan Ferry. The retro-ness of the song makes it surprising and super fresh.’…

Christmas is about nostalgia. About going back and looking forward; about a little bit of soul-searching and a whole lot of fun. About reconnecting with family and friends… And what better way to do that than by spoiling the special people in your life with an exquisite gift that spells LOVE and HOME and all the wonderful memories associated with them? Happily, no trawling the malls: Poetry is your one-stop shop with something for everyone!…

WILLOW CREEK OLIVE OIL Their Estate blend and their Directors’ Reserve both won Gold at two prestigious competitions: the 20th L’Orciolo d’Oro in Italy, and the Terraolivo International Olive Oil Awards in Israel. Brilliant and delicious! DERMALOGICA MULTIVITAMIN POWER FIRM This eye cream has made such a difference to my skin’s dryness. It also seems to have helped the laugh lines – that might also be because there’s not much to laugh about in the mad rush towards the end of the year! Just kidding – I think this product is doing the trick. PRETTY ICONIC:  A Personal Look at the Beauty Products That Changed the World, by Sali Hughes I’ve always loved beauty products – and this fantastic book is an ode to all the greats. Hughes looks at…

Julia Roberts enters a room like a stealth bomber, unobtrusive yet impressive; impossible to ignore. Today she’s wearing a black Yves St. Laurent suit with red patent leather Christian Louboutin school-flats. Her honeycomb-blonde hair is pulled up in a chic high pony with the side parting she seems to favour for big events. Humungous glasses perch on her nose. Going incognito? Hardly. On another face the hair and lenses might be too much, but somehow the frames accentuate the überrecognisable delicate features and that famous smile. Tall and lithe, with a famous mane and an even more famous laugh, this southern belle and mother of three might be the darling of Hollywood for four decades now, but respect for her talent was hard-won initially. Showing true grit, she rejected the…

Jan Brady, The Brady Bunch Always in the shadow of her perfect older sister, Jan was the OG [original gangster] TV middle child. Say it with me, ‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!’ Lisa Simpson, The Simpsons The often-mistreated hero of the family, Lisa’s storylines, though funny, are always the most thought-provoking. Malcolm Wilkerson, Malcolm in the Middle As the middle child in a rambunctious family of four (later five) boys, Malcolm’s genius IQ didn’t make his life any easier, at home or school. Stephanie Tanner, Full House and Fuller House The sassy middle child, Stephanie Tanner had a catchphrase for every situation. ‘How rude!’ will always stay with us, especially with the revival, Fuller House, getting a fourth season. Alex Dunphy, Modern…

THE NINEVITES NONKULULEKO ‘NKULI’ MLANGENI Start-up costs: Nkuli Mlangeni says she didn’t start with much capital. ‘I needed about R15 000 to make the prototypes.’ Turnover: ‘In 2017, I made a turnover of more than R150 000. But I still have to do freelance work to sustain myself and the business.’ When the first rug you’ve ever made is chosen as Design Indaba’s Most Beautiful Object in South Africa, you know you’re onto something. Named after the revolutionary president of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara, the Sankara rug fuses African-style geometrical patterns with fresh, modern colours. ‘African textiles go way back,’ says Nkuli Mlangeni. ‘It was a language to document African stories. Because I was graduating, the idea of the rite of passage inspired the Sankara,’ she says. ‘I’m half Ndebele…

1 CARS There’s something to be said for buying a brand-spanking-new item, and being the first person to use it. But some things get better with age – or are just not worth paying full price for. You know what they say – one’s (wo)man’s trash… Petrolheads will wax lyrical about that new-car smell, of course, but that whiff of untouched brand-newness is going to cost you, from the moment you drive your new baby off the showroom floor. Luxury sedans, sports cars and lesser-known brands are the ones to steer well clear of as their value depreciates considerably – by almost 50 percent, even within the first year! Not that other models are exempt: most cars depreciate at a rate of 10–20 percent a year. Bu that doesn’t mean…

1. She relates more to the main character from her children’s book, Princess Pincushion (the African Warthog Princess of Rains, Plains and Sky Above), than she does to Lisa Lassiter. 2. Her daughter Milla created the Instagram account @sexteenmagazine which creates awareness around the sexual reality of teenage girls. 3. Vanessa and one of her best friends have an Unfinished Book Club. ‘We'd go out for lunch or sit around a fire and talk about the great next idea for a book.’ 4. She doesn’t believe in guilty pleasures. ‘If something makes you happy, why apologise for it?’ 5. The one piece of advice her book editor Alison Lowry gave her? ‘It’s got to have a really twisty-turny satisfying end and hook to it.’ (And yes: Plus One has a…

1 KNOW YOURSELF Happiness is linked to using your strengths regularly, so align them with your work as much as possible. Use online assessments or the results of psychometric tests to determine what makes you unique, and make them part of your life, including work. Finding flow, the experience of losing yourself in an activity, also raises your happiness levels. 2 EXPLORE YOUR CREATIVE SIDE Research shows that creativity heals. Create a sanctuary in your home where you can make things: experiment with colouring in, drawing or painting. Give yourself permission to relax and to have some fun. 3 PRIORITISE SELF-CARE Self-care goes beyond grooming, but it s a good place to start. If you tend to neglect your needs, start by doing something small, even if it’s as simple…

TEAL & LILAC The key to pulling off an oceanic-inspired eye look? Keep the rest of the look dead simple: start with a flawless base, define the cheekbones with a sweep of bronzer and finish it off with a slick of nude gloss. For the eyes, blend a cobalt or turquoise shadow over the lids, and accent the corners with lavender so it’s not a solid block of colour. With a pencil brush, take the shadow along the bottom lashline as well, leaving the first third shadow-free to open up the eye. For colour that stays in place, colour in the lid with an eyeliner, blend out the edges and layer a shadow on top. Voila: mermaid eyes! HOT PINK & BERRY Barbie’s favourite shade is back with a bang…

True Stories! THERE GOES ENGLISH TEACHER BY KARIN CRONJE (R280) Needing money, Karin Cronje packed up her life to teach English in Korea. Her unusual and compelling book is about homesickness and identity, safety and risk, madness and friendship. THE LAST HURRAH: SOUTH AFRICA AND THE ROYAL TOUR OF 1947 BY GRAHAM VINEY (R263) With loads of previously unseen and intimate photographs of the Royals (in one you can surely see the beginnings of Princess Margaret’s love affair with Peter Townsend), this is from a time when we were still ‘subjects’, and thousands of people literally lined the railway tracks to watch the Royal train go past. Weird, but quite wonderful too. THE ECHO OF A NOISE BY PIETER-DIRK UYS (R224) Beloved entertainer and activist Pieter-Dirk Uys…

1. Your guests are going to bring special wines that they really want to share with you – let them! No room for control ‘freakery’ here. 2. Choose relatively affordable wines you know and love: this isn’t the time to experiment. 3. The wine shouldn’t be the focus of your Christmas table – the people should. Let it take a back seat! 4. Resist the temptation to open a really special bottle when you’re already deep into the festivities: although it will seem like a really good idea at the time, it’s probably better to share your prized bottle with one or two friends in a more sober setting. 5. It’s summer! And it’s hot – don’t be afraid to chill your reds slightly. Our suggestions We’re not going to…

TURKEY ROLL WITH SAGE AND PANCETTA Serves 12 or 20 as part of a buffet Prep and cook time: 3 hours, 40 minutes • 3.6kg turkey buffe (see Test Kitchen tip) • 500g turkey mince • 2 cups (140g) fresh breadcrumbs (see tip on page 99) • 4 green onions (green shallots), sliced thinly • ½ cup (70g) pistachios, roasted, chopped coarsely • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves • ¼ cup chopped fresh sage leaves • 1 cup (250ml) water • 250g thinly sliced pancetta • 2 large (400g) onions, sliced thickly • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • ¼ cup (35g) plain (all-purpose) flour • 3 cups (750ml) chicken stock • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1. Place the turkey buffe skin-side down on a board. Using a…

DREAM PUFFS, CREAM PUFFS, CHOUX PUFFS… … no matter what you call them, this recipe needs to be part of your baking repertoire. It’s a delicious pastry for the tea table and can be served in so many different ways. In Europe they even have éclair boutiques that specialise in sweet and savoury éclairs. Makes about 40 small choux puffs • 125ml milk • 125ml water • 100g butter, cubed • 2,5ml salt • 5ml sugar • 150g cake flour • 4–5 eggs • extra milk Equipment • electric mixer • 2 baking trays, lined with baking paper or a silicone sheet • large 30cm piping bag • 1cm piping nozzle 1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C. 2. Heat the milk, water, butter, salt and sugar over a high heat…

OLIVES ✭✭✭✭✭ SPANISH OLIVES – WHOLE GREEN MANZANILLA IN BRINE (200G) ABOUT R15; SPAR These plump olives have a firm texture but are a bit small. The flavour is strong and there’s a good salt balance and no bitter taste. ✭✭✭✭ HALKIDIKI OLIVES STUFFED WITH RED PEPPER IN BRINE (230G) ABOUT R81,99; WOOLWORTHS These firm-textured olives have just the right amount of salt. Well-rounded flavours come through and the red pepper stuffing complements the olive flavour well. Lovely! B0NELESS GAMMON ✭✭✭✭ UNCOOKED BONELESS GAMMON  ABOUT R67,99/KG; PNP This gammon is deliciously moist and tender. The flavours of the glaze (the recipe for which is included) are perfectly balanced and complement the meat well. It has a good layer of fat, though tasters found the meat a bit dry and felt…

Accessorize 021 447 7718 @Home 0860 834 834 Aldo Cavendish Square 021 671 2333, 011 555 2300 Barbara Hoffman www.barbarahofmann.de/home.html Benefit www.benefitcosmetics.com/za/en-gb Bionike available exclusively at Dis-Chem pharmacies Clicks 0860 254 257 Colette by Colette Hayman 021 937 4686 Crocs 087 237 6845 Country Road www.woolworths.co.za/cat/Country/_/N-1z13s4tZ1z13t66 Clarins available at selected Edgars, Daphne Accessories daphneaccessories.co.za Della www.dellala.com Dior available at selected Edgars stores or call Dis-Chem pharmacies, Edgars, Foschini, Red Square and Truworths stores Elizabeth Arden available at selected Edgars, Essence available at Clicks stores and Foschini, Truworths and Woolworths stores, and selected pharmacies Exclusive Books www.exclusivebooks.co.za/ Filorga available at selected retail stores and pharmacies Forever New 021 419 4552 (V&A shopping centre); 011 944 9468 (Rosebank) Gosh Cosmetics available at selected Edgars, Foschini, Red…

✽ WINNING LETTER The shadow of abuse Jani Allen’s article ‘Fear and loathing in New Hope Pennsylvania’ [October 2018] read like a tick-list of my 11-year relationship with an abusive partner, my then-husband. From accusations of being a lesbian and being throttled to silence, right down to the duvet being ripped off the bed – it was all too close for comfort. It’s been two months since the divorce, but I still feel as if I’m walking in the shadow of the abuse. I’m so grateful for Jani’s inspiring account because I know what it feels like to walk away. I’d like to encourage abused women to speak up, and stop being scared and embarrassed: we don’t diminish ourselves when we break the silence. In fact, we grow stronger from…

FOUR, SCORE! How long do you spend really, properly, applying your mind every day? According to Alex Soojung-Kim Pang’s book, Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, there is a definitive answer: four hours (not always consecutive). The idea of working 9–5 is outdated, he says, and no longer appropriate in a ‘knowledge’ economy. It doesn’t matter what work you do: studies across all disciplines give the same result. Pang says that not only will more rest make you happier, it will also make you more productive! FRUIT LOOPY A zoo in Melbourne is weaning its animals off fruit because of its high sugar content. ‘Cultivated fruits have been genetically modified to be much higher in sugar content than their natural, ancestral fruits,’ said the zoo’s head…

SO many women still don’t know that hormone imbalances can make us feel grotty. We assume that these symptoms are a normal part of ageing or the result of leading stressful lives. We also assume that if our doctor does a few blood tests and finds no sign of disease, we must be fine. But hormones regulate more than 400 functions in our bodies. They behave like an orchestra: each has a vital set of functions, its own tune to play – and they all interact together to produce a rich, layered ‘song’ of health and wellbeing. That’s why it’s so important that each hormone is in tune and plays its part in the greater composition. From the hair on your head to your mood, to glowing (or lacklustre) skin,…

1. Helmets Protective headgear like bike helmets, motorcycle helmets and horse riding hats are built to withstand just one hard blow. ‘If you’re in a biking accident, throw out the bicycle helmet and replace it with a new one,’ the Mayo Clinic website reads. And here’s the thing with buying second-hand: unless it’s cracked, you won’t know if it’s been in an accident – there might be unseen damage. 2. Mattresses Two words: ‘dust mites’. And ‘sweat’. And, hey, let’s throw in some dead skin cells, pet dander and bodily fluids for good measure. Oh, and bed bugs. Convinced yet? 3. Makeup & perfume Used makeup is a bad idea – this is something someone has been applying to their skin, smearing over their lips or lining their eyes with.…

THE GIFT OF SECURITY Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and all the more traumatic if the deceased was the breadwinner. Life insurance is the financial security your family needs. With 1Life you can rest assured that your loved ones will always have a roof over their heads, retain family vehicles, and that daily expenses, medical costs and school fees will be covered. SMS LIFE to 45386 for an obligation-free quote, or visit www.1Life.co.za  for more info. (Ts&Cs online. Standard rates apply).…

There’s little we love more than a fabulous cookbook: inspiring, mouthwatering and thoroughly informative. These are our Christmas faves: Simply Zola: The Journey Continues by Zola Nene, R232 From A Persian Kitchen: Authentic recipes & fabulous flavours from Iran by Atoosa Sepehr, R545 Basics to Brilliance by Donna Hay, R580 Root & Leaf: Big, Bold Vegetarian Food by Rich Harris, R395 Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi with Tara Wigley and Esme Howarth, R464 Le Braai: Braai with a bit of je ne sais quoi by Kobus Botha, R257 Recipes by SuzelleDIY, R287 The Mandala Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Heal and Restore Your Gut by Marlien Wright, R330 The Jewelled Table by Bethany Kehdy, R616 The Nordic Baking Book by Magnus Nilsson, R795 Salt,…

Sagittarius 22 Nov – 21 Dec Nothing is too much. Those landmines and potholes you’re dodging aren’t going to trip you up for long, as a certain largesse in attitude buys you plenty of positive energy during a potentially prickly period. In fact, you might be blind to exploding shenanigans and quietly going about your business, blissfully unaware of the shake-up. Whatever. It’s all good, and you’re hundreds. Capricorn 22 Dec – 19 Jan Drop a gear for a spell to avoid banshee mode and treading on toes as you wrap up a humdinger of a year. But the book is still open on page 2018, so attempts to put it behind you and ratchet things up for even more moolah or adventurous moments may leave you pooped. Pat yourself…