Fairlady July 2017

When my husband can’t sleep, he reads. Anything, including The Wealth of Nations (in an attempt to bore himself to sleep –unfortunately he found it so interesting he was awake all night), Americans on Twitter who annoy him into further sleeplessness, and scientific research going on in weird corners of the world that he finds completely riveting. So not much sleep for him, but a whole lot of info going in. The next morning, he has a LOT to say. My voice, on the other hand, takes a couple of hours to figure out where my face is. This usually works quite well for us: I plough through a lot of coffee and look attentive while my husband gets what he found out the night before off his chest. But…

ALMOND MILK & HONEY BODY CREAM FROM THE BODY SHOP It feels very nourishing and clean, and settles to a really lovely fragrance. INA GARTEN’S VEGETABLE TIAN (EASY TO FIND ONLINE!) I’m a bit obsessed with this at the moment. I use aubergines instead of courgettes, and it is superb. Lovely for a cold night. Now, if only the rains would come. THE MICK HERRON SLOW HORSES SERIES The Slow Horses are a group of disgraced spies who while away their days doing dull admin and not much else – except when they do. They’re flawed and broken, but they’re not stupid, especially not the disgusting (but extremely smart) Jackson Lamb. There’s something very English about the approach and the characters, and I’m loving the series. THE BUDDHIST RETREAT CENTRE…

WINNING LETTER Let’s all fight bullying Today, when I went to fetch my daughter, Raven, from school, we saw a group of Grade 2s verbally bullying a little boy. They were making fun of his appearance, laughing all the while. He took his backpack and pressed it against his face to hide the thing they were mocking him about. My heart broke into pieces. I went over to him, wrapped him in my arms and told him, ‘You are beautiful! You are perfectly made by the Creator. Don’t let them make you feel less.’ I offered him some cold water, because it was very hot, and he walked off with his backpack on his back – where it belongs. I had a talk with Raven and insisted that she never…

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Georgina Avlonitis Urban ecologist and foundation programme manager at Greenpop by day and owner of Antheia bespoke headwear by night ‘When you’re walking around the Binnekring at AfrikaBurn, you’re looking people in the eye – there’s an immediate engagement and openness. It’s something we lack in day-to-day living, especially in an urban environment. We’re so atomised, in our own headspace with our blinkers on, trying to get things done. It opens up your energy and makes you more perceptive in interactions. AfrikaBurn is an incredible visceral, imaginative playground that reminds human beings to nurture their playfulness and their connection.’ Natalie Edkins Clinical social worker in private practice ‘AfrikaBurn isn’t about losing yourself; it’s about being more deeply yourself. I read Women Who Run With the Wolves, a book about women’s…

‘I guess my starting up the business now could serve as motivation for other women who have faced tragedy, showing it is possible to start again.’ The Butcherette and the Farmer Owner: Lana Robertson Start-up costs: We rely on the farmers and their facilities, but we purchased our own machinery, which cost around R200000. Turnover: Starting out with a couple of sheep and a few odd boxes a month, we are now 200% up per month on average. What started out as a favour for some friends in the Cape turned into full-time work for Lana Robertson. ‘Why not start getting paid for my efforts?’ she thought. With a background in the food service industry and having worked at the Marks & Spencer head office on Baker Street in London…