Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2022 i Fairlady

I’M one of those word nerds who look forward to seeing which new words dictionaries choose to include each year, and this year I’m very happy to add ‘vax’ (Oxford) and ‘NFT’ (Collins) to my lexicon. I’m a bit peeved that ‘cheugy’ didn’t make it, although apparently it means ‘no longer regarded as cool or fashionable’, so it’s quite thrilling that it lived up to its own definition. But while I was adding the new words to my folder – yep, I’m afraid that is precisely how nerdy I am – I came across another list I’d kept: words from other languages whose meanings don’t easily translate into English. And ‘hiraeth’ jumped out at me: ‘Hiraeth: homesickness for a home you can’t return to, or that never was. The link…

Do you need more than a bimonthly fix of FAIRLADY? If your answer is a resounding YES, we have just what you need. Our weekly newsletter – delivered directly to your inbox – will help you stay in the know. Here’s what you can expect every month: WEEK 1: Be part of the FAIRLADY book club for the ultimate good-read guide and the wine you need to sip on, book in hand. WEEK 2: Take a peek at the stories we can’t stop talking about. WEEK 3: Read our reviews on products we’ve given the once-over in Test House to help you choose items that suit your needs and your pocket. WEEK 4: Get the lowdown on the fashion and beauty picks we’re adding to our carts right now. And, of course, there are…

‘My style is somewhere in between sleek chic (classic lines and silhouettes) and casual (simple, with an easy-going attitude and an emphasis on comfort).…

ARIES (21 MAR – 19 APR) This could be your lucky year. RELATIONSHIPS The year 2022 brings two eclipses in your Self-Esteem Zone, and that’s important. It suggests that if you haven’t been valuing yourself highly in enough in relationships, you can change this. Once you value yourself more, others will too. More-over, lucky Jupiter in your sign for the first time in 12 years (between May and October, and again in December) will make you more popular with everyone. CAREER Start the year by working through any fears you know you have around being successful. What holds you back? Consider talking to a counsellor if that’s what it’ll take to clear your success blocks. It’s time to blast away any past career dramas. Move on. May takes you on…

IF asked, I would characterise myself as a rubber duck. Not perpetually optimistic or cheery, but the kind of person who, when sinking, rights herself no matter what and pops back up again. But the past 18 months… good grief and deep breath… have been an assault on my robust self-confidence. Gone is my notion of indestructible resilience and the perception that all, no matter how difficult right now, will eventually turn out okay. Of course, this unsteadiness has not affected me alone. All of us are wobbling. Like many others, I’ve scrambled to put in place a mental health scaffolding to hold me and my battered resilience in place. The one method I hadn’t really considered as a tool was hypnosis. Actually, that’s not quite true: I did consider…

Tracee Ellis Ross is having a moment – finally! In 2021 she was nominated for an Emmy for her role on the popular US TV series Black-ish (she won a Golden Globe for the same role in 2017) and received a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. She has a TED talk and a hair-care line, and it has recently become apparent that she can sing too (see 2020’s The High Note). But, most importantly, the past few years have seen her step into her power. She exudes the confidence and joie de vivre of a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. ‘Learning to be me has been a really long journey,’ she says. ‘I tried being small and feeling things in little ways. It took me a…

Lemuria is perfectly positioned on the beach in Betty’s Bay (the sea is literally right outside your front gate), and set just far enough away from the main beach to provide a private and secluded refuge. Originally a small stone cottage, it’s been completely reimagined and redesigned as a very stylish, contemporary single-level house with large spaces and views everywhere you look. It’s a beautiful home that really lends itself to holidays with friends or family, and the beach is a joy, full of rock pools teeming with life, just waiting to be explored. The main hub of Lemuria is the living area, which has vast sea views. We were there in summer, but I think during winter it would be dramatic and gorgeous, sitting next to a blazing fire…

There’s a certain kind of magic to a place when you can stroll through your front garden gate and wade into a warm tropical sea for a morning swim. And when you emerge, it’s onto a stretch of white sand (7km long) framed by swaying palm trees, with a few local women farming seaweed, Maasai touts hawking wares in their characteristic red shawls, and the odd fellow tourist trundling by. That’s seaside Zanzibar for you. Part of Tanzania, Zanzibar lies 40km off the east coast, and a few degrees south of the equator. That means near-perfect days – the temperature hardly varies from the standard 24°C at night and the day-time 30°C, and a balmy sea breeze rustles through the palm fronds. A reef encircles the island and the water…

If reaching financial abundance is one of your resolutions for the new year, Joanne advises that you start your year on the right foot with these goals: Do an honest assessment of your financial state. Go through your personal accounts, what you own, your debt, your income and your average monthly spend. Create a spreadsheet if necessary. You need to get a clear idea of where you stand. Manage your spending. Now that you have an idea of how much is coming in and what you owe, you can put together a budget. When going through your spending, it’s important to distinguish between needs and wants. Be brutal! Reduce your debt. The most important goal for the year is to prioritise paying off bad debt, such as retail accounts, credit…

The vagus nerve is your longest cranial nerve – technically, twin nerves that emerge from either side of your brainstem and wander through your body like, well, vagabonds (hence the name). It forms a network of some 100000 fibres running to nearly every internal organ and carrying information back to your brain for analysis. The brain then sends commands down to the organs, with effects only recently becoming better understood in terms of stress, epilepsy and, increasingly, inflammation. STRESS The vagus nerve is a major part of the parasympathetic nervous system, counterpoint to the sympathetic nervous system – the one responsible for the fight-or-flight survival response. In the past, this response would have been triggered by the occasional encounter with a woolly mammoth, but today your sympathetic nervous system can…

It’s important to choose a product that will be easy to include in your daily routine. I put my collagen on the shelf with my tea cups so I remember to take it every day. I add it to my tea or coffee (the efficacy of the collagen isn’t affected by heat), but I’ve also mixed it into yoghurt and even added it to a salad dressing. Many brands have also diversified into making collagen tasty, so instead of sneaking it into your diet you can actually enjoy it in a smoothie or hot chocolate. Beauty Gen Naked Collagen +Plus (338 g) R499 Beauty Gen has an excellent variety of flavours that are easy to include in your morning smoothie. They also make a coffee creamer that I’ve very happily…

JHAL MURI SERVES 4 Jhal muri is the Bengali equivalent of bhel puri, an amazing street food salad found in Mumbai on India’s west coast and in south India. If this is your first date with chaat masala, you’re in for a treat: it’s the distinctive aroma that permeates Mumbai streets in the evening. The ingredients may seem exotic, but don’t let that put you off: they will all be available at your local Indian spice shop. • 3 boiled potatoes, cooled, peeled and diced• 3 large red tomatoes, seeded and diced• 1 red onion, chopped finely• ½ cucumber, seeded and diced• 125ml (½ cup) mung sprouts• 125ml (½ cup) chopped coriander leaves• 125ml (½ cup) chopped mint FOR THE DRESSING • 125ml (½ cup) tamarind (3 tbsp paste diluted…

(Yes, we’re still on holiday!) The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY As an armchair tennis fanatic, I’ve always wondered how this master of the game makes it seem so easy. ‘You see the beauty,’ his trainer Pierre Paganini says, ‘but you forget the work behind it.’ Like many other highly talented people, Federer had to overcome his impulsive behaviour and burn off some energy before proving himself against the likes of Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. He mastered the technical aspects of the game, learning the technology behind the equipment and how to read various playing surfaces, then used this knowledge to adapt his game plan. He also understands what he needs to play his best: he always travels with his wife, Mirka, and his…

✸✸✸ TAURUS DIGITAL PLUS (973980) R2 499; CREATIVEHOUSEWARES.CO.ZA 1 500 W; 3.5 L This air-fryer can handle a variety of cooking tasks, and fared well in terms of ease of use and relatively quiet operating sound. Round baskets are quite restrictive in capacity, but this fryer is bigger than its sibling, the Fredigora Aire (above). Performance was relatively good in our tests – most of the foods cooked well within the set testing time. The digital touch panel features nine programme options, and cooking temperature can be adjusted. It has a good weight and size for easy handling and storage – and it’s impressively easy to clean. Within our testing time, pastry cooked well but there was slightly uneven browning. Chicken, beef burger patties and vegetables were slightly underdone with…

The first correct entry drawn will win a Vice Reversa hamper worth R1 060. Vice Reversa microneedle patches have been hailed as more effective than collagen-promoting face creams in addressing wrinkles and skin elasticity. The medical-grade patches feature microneedles formed from crystallised serum that painlessly penetrate the epidermis, then dissolve to deliver active ingredients to the deeper layers of the skin. The Plumping Patches contain collagen, hyaluronic acid and peptides, which plump and hydrate skin cells, firming the skin and reducing fine lines. The Pimple Patches, which contain a soothing formulation of salicylic acid, totarol and green tea extract, help to reduce spots fast and to reverse them even before they emerge. #VICEREVERSA Vice Reversa Plumping and Pimple Patches are available at selected Dis-Chem stores and online from dermastore.co.za, beautybuy.co.za…

Van Comfy I love this range of beautiful, affordable loungewear! Van Comfy clothes are ‘slow-made’ by hand, specifically for each client, and use only locally manufactured and sourced materials. Their winter tracksuits were a joy, and I love the look and feel of their lightweight summer sets too. Twilly d’Hermès Eau Ginger EDP I’m a big fan of both ginger and Hermès fragrances, and this zesty, floral scent just puts me in a good mood. It’s very strong, so a little goes a long way… The French Dispatch The new Wes Anderson movie is a love song to The New Yorker magazine (although it’s set in Paris), and I absolutely loved it. The cast – Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Benicio Del Toro and Jeffrey Wright, among other incredible actors –…

Eucerin DermoPURIFYER is a range of effective dermo-cosmetic solutions for impure skin. Its ingredient combination addresses the four key factors of impure skin: hyperkeratosis (disrupted skin cell shedding), seborrhea (increased sebum production), microbial colonisation (bacteria proliferation) and redness. Eucerin DermoPURIFYER products have been proven in clinical and dermatological studies to be effective and very good for skin tolerability. THE HAMPER COMPRISES three Eucerin DermoPURIFYER products: Mattifying Fluid (50ml), Cleansing Gel (200ml) and Skin Renewal Treatment (40 ml).…

This month’s fashion inspiration comes courtesy of three cool women with a style all of their own. ‘My style is eclectic, playful and always full of life. In my wardrobe you’ll find a wide range of items that allow me to feed my creativity.’…

‘I am youthful at heart, I don’t take myself too seriously, and I am an incurable optimist.’ Cuma Pantshwa Tell us about your three favourite items in your wardrobe. That’s a tough one! Clothes must be versatile and easy to wear. My Ankara print kimono goes with everything from jeans to shorts; it’s the perfect statement piece. I bought fabric and had it made; I think every woman needs a great kimono in her wardrobe. Secondly, my white Converse sneakers. If I could choose to wear any shoe daily it would have to be my All Stars; they are comfortable and they go with everything! No. 3 has to be my high-waisted black cargo pants; they are so comfortable and I can dress them up or down. Best buy from…

Ronewa Creations Dinah Kgeledi & Lesego Seloane START-UP COSTS: ‘Early on, I funded the business and covered the basic costs,’ Dinah says. ‘We then got some funding for the necessary equipment, which was a great help, and within the next two years we purchased a vehicle. All in all, our start-up costs came to between R150 000 and R200000.’ TURNOVER: ‘From 2019 to 2020, we turned over just below the R800000 mark; now we are close to R1 million if not slightly above,’ Lesego says. ‘We started with a team of five, and now there are 25 employees on our books.’ With a background in botany and a passion for beautiful green spaces, aunt-and-niece team Dinah Kgeledi and Lesego Seloane decided to break into the male-dominated space of landscaping together.…

You may picture a swinging pocket watch and being on stage quacking like a duck when you think of hypnotism. It’s hard not to. But while it may be funny to watch a grown-up getting in touch with their inner poultry, let’s just say stage hypnotists haven’t really helped hypnosis with its positioning as a therapy. Beyond the silly is the fear and/or cynicism associated with it. Some consider hypnotism almost as a form of possession, worrying that you can be hypnotised into doing terrible things, whereas others see it as entirely fake: a big money-making scheme that simply doesn’t work. ‘If you look at the literature, hypnosis is a part of many cultures,’ says psychotherapist and certified hypnotherapist Dr Sherin Bickrum. Also a trained hypnotherapist, Jeanie Cavé, clinical psychologist…

Find a therapist registered with a regulatory body so you have recourse if you’re unhappy with the service provided, Jeanie advises. If you’re looking for a therapeutic treatment, find a psychologist who’s also a trained hypnotherapist. ‘When it comes to someone who’s not qualified as a psychologist, I would then go on referrals,’ Sherin says. ‘Don’t be afraid to ask for their qualifications,’ Jeanie adds. Lastly, trust your gut. ‘You need to have a connection with the person,’ Sherin says. ‘If that’s not there or you don’t trust them, it won’t work.’…

ON HOME ‘Home for me is about safety and embrace. It’s about shedding all the external masks that we have to wear out in the world. Home is really about beauty, safety, history. My friendships are home for me. My family is home for me. It’s an energetic connection that creates a sense of safety and groundedness, where I don’t have to wear any mask. I can just be myself.’ ON WOMANHOOD ‘Women, particularly black and brown women, are told we should occupy a smaller area of real estate. Everything in my being and my career is about encouraging women to give themselves permission to take up the space.’…

MY 18-year marriage would not inspire a classic love story. We spent long periods apart. He was a private chef for a Swiss family, a job that required him to work abroad for months at a time. The family travelled frequently and he accompanied them. When our son was younger, the three of us travelled together, but as my husband became increasingly immersed in work, we were left at the main family residence for long periods. It was often lonely. My son was a talented singer and needed the stability of one schooling system, so he and I came home to South Africa. My husband and I had already grown apart by then and we considered splitting. But we both valued our history, and the fact that we were a…

Does anything in the news seem more preposterous than a report on abortion where the ‘expert’ being interviewed is a man? Or when a discussion about progressive workplaces is debated by an all-male panel – or a “manel”? It’s a common problem, since more than 80% of sources quoted in the news are men, even on issues that directly concern women. That’s a global statistic that South Africa mirrors closely. While most of us just raise our eyebrows in dismay, Kathy Magrobi set out to overthrow that sexist, lazy or ill-considered reporting by creating Quote This Woman+, a South African database of female experts in subjects ranging from aerospace to xenophobia. These 500 experts are available for interviews, panel discussions or speaking engagements, and have been vetted to confirm their…

This idyllic family seaside escape is on the water’s edge of one of the most magnificent stretches of beach on the Dolphin Coast. Apart from retaining the old Oregon floors and painting them white, the rest of the house was rebuilt from the ground up, making the most of the incredible views and direct access to the lagoon, the sea, and the long hours of sunlight flooding every room. With open-plan living, dining and entertaining spaces, four gorgeous en-suite bedrooms and two dormitory rooms for the kids (also en suite), a fabulous fully equipped kitchen with a tiered outdoor space cascading down onto the rolling emerald-green lawns and directly into the water below, the White House is a subtropical wonderland. The waves curl endlessly onto the golden beach, making it…

A NATURAL APPROACH TO MENOPAUSE Anara aloe-based products were developed by women for women, to help relieve symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flushes, night sweats, hair loss and vaginal dryness, in as natural a way as possible. Always speak to your doctor before using new products or medication, made in South Africa, the range is available at Wellness Warehouse stores or online at anara.co.za COOK WITH PRIDE The Pride range from Clover is great for cooking and suitable for every meal and palate! Pride’s 750ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil is packed with flavour, making it great for drizzling over any dish, while Pride’s 1L Blend is a perfect combination of seed oils and extra virgin olive oil ideal for frying, grilling, stewing, and baking. The Pride 500g Fat…

Nailing it! Working from home is taking its toll on the condition of my nails: I always seem to find something to wash up while I’m waiting for the kettle to boil! They’ve been thin and seem to split more easily than I’m used to. But, within a week or two of using Dermelect Cosmeceuticals Phyto Strong Plant-Based, Bio-Sourced Nail Treatments, R600, they were harder and stronger, and looked great. The treatment comprises three steps: STEP 1 Apply the Nail Hardener Base Coat STEP 2 Apply your nail colour STEP 3 Apply the Solar Active Manicure Extender Top Coat. The base coat contains squalane to moisturise and condition nails, hydrolysed soya protein to harden them, and bamboo sap extract to make them stronger. The top coat is designed to protect…

ACROSS 1. Dry-throated 6. Carers 11. Ignorant (of) 15. Delete 16. Ascertain 17. Impolite 18. Likewise 21. Dingier 22. Add-on building (4-2) 23. Weather feature (2,4) 24. Zimbabwe’s capital 28. Minor hitch 30. Follow directives 32. Vanquish 35. Fertile desert spots 37. Stricter 38. Horror 40. Acquiring 43. Geographical tomes 45. Musical pace 47. Castrates (horse) 48. Mustiness 52. Sorrow 53. Edicts 56. Donkey or zebra 58. Indigenous 60. Toothpaste chemical 61. Trimmed 62. Unruly person 64. Baronet’s title 65. In vogue,… mode (1,2) 67. Senior NCO 69. Battling (with) 72. Most impenetrable 75. Biblical first man 77. Notion 78. Abominable Snowman 79. Arabian Nights hero, Ali… 81. Flu pill 83. Fraudulent schemes 84. Tier (of command) 86. German Mr 87. Established practice 90. Admission 92. Nuzzle 93. Effect 95.…

You could win one of three book hampers, each worth R550, courtesy of NB Publishers. CLOSING DATE: 17 FEBRUARY 2022 ADULTING 101: HOW TO SURVIVE THE REAL WORLD by Jen Thorpe School doesn’t teach us much about life in the world of work, relationships and responsibilities. This is a primer on a variety of topics and is filled with helpful advice and practical tips. LOVE AND ABOVE: A JOURNEY INTO SHAMANISM, COMA AND JOY by Sarah Bullen When her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour, Sarah discovered a world of spiritual searching. Then she fell into a coma, from which she woke up with a conviction: to choose joy.…

‘I don’t go by the fashion “rules”, and I’m not one of those “fashion people” who talk about “what so-and-so did for their autumn/winter collection”. Because I don’t know. What I do know is that I understand clothing, construction and fabric, and how to use these to be the best version of yourself in this weird world.’…

Right now, many small businesses are struggling – they feel the pandemic pinch, and cash flow is seriously stretched. Here are some ways you can get a better grip on your business finances to survive and even thrive in the coming months: Many hands make light work You don’t always have to go it alone. Sometimes clubbing together with others in your field can make your business costs more manageable. For example, try combining your purchasing power with that of another owner and negotiating a good deal on one large combined order from the same supplier. Embrace the future If you know where to look, modern technology can do a wonderful job of helping you keep costs down while increasing productivity. Innovations like Santam’s SmartPark can help reduce your premiums…

In the ’80s, ‘recovered memory’ therapy led to thousands of false allegations of satanic ritual abuse. How could these people remember so clearly events that never happened? One theory is so-called false memories. ‘With regression work, you’ve got to be incredibly careful not to suggest a particular experience as a possible explanation for something the person is experiencing, because it can then create a false memory,’ Jeanie explains. ‘It’s a process we call confabulation, where the mind makes up memories to explain the phenomenon.’ This is why, when doing past-life work or memory regression, you should work with someone you can trust, and certainly never alone. People on psychedelics can experience false memories too. ‘And we have no way of knowing whether those memories are real or not,’ Jeanie says.…

MARIAN GAYLARD LAWYER – OWNER OF THE FIRST SOUTHERN AFRICAN OUTLET OF THE SPANISH FASHION BRAND DESIGUAL A trip to Spain planted the seed for lawyer Marian Gaylard’s entry into the world of fashion. The 49-year-old, who lives in Johannesburg with her husband and two teenage children, has an honours degree in economics and an LLB from Wits. She’s spent the past 25 years providing corporate finance advisory and JSE regulatory advisory services in the investment banking industry. For the past 10 years she has also been offering training, in conjunction with the JSE, to listed companies, directors, JSE sponsors and advisors, banks and law firms on listing requirements. On a 2013 trip to Barcelona, Marian fell in love with the clothing brand Desigual and returned home with more than…

If you’re an expert in your field by qualification or experience, add your name to the database of voices at quotethiswoman.org.za. Anyone interested will be vetted and then given media training, which includes advice on how to relax and make sure an interview is a good conversation, not just a staccato delivery of hard facts. Next, you’d prepare a short bio to explain why you’re a great person to talk to in your field, list the topics you can discuss, and mention organisations you’re affiliated with. The experts are encouraged to be readily available for interviews by phone rather than email to help journalists meet their deadlines. Members can also decide if they’re comfortable appearing on TV or radio, or if they’d rather just be quoted in print media or…

Denise* comes from a large, poor family. ‘I started working at 14 and had to educate myself.’ Although she has done quite well for herself since then, she has allowed others to take from her. ‘When people are struggling I end up giving them everything I can, and then I’ve got to work harder to help myself get it back again.’ Denise met Joanne at an art retreat and her interest was piqued when Joanne explained the concept of money constellations. ‘I knew how beneficial family constellations were, so I was fascinated by the idea.’ At the time, she decided to gift her son with a session, and he raved about the experience, which is when she decided to try it too. ‘I was amazed to discover how much anger…

◗ SIMPLY BEE LOTION BAR Handy for keeping in your handbag, this nourishing lotion bar in a tin is made of 100% natural ingredients such as beeswax, sweet almond oil and shea butter. It has a heavenly scent thanks to uplifting essential oils. R93 (35 g); simplybee.co.za ◗ MY EQUA SMART BOTTLE Stay hydrated in style! This smart bottle from Poetry, which comes in white, grey and pink, links to the My Equa app (myequa.com, available on Google Play and the App Store) to track your water intake and send you reminders. It has double-wall insulation and comes with a rechargeable battery. R1399 (680 ml); poetrystores.co.za ◗ THE BODY SHOP LIP JUICERS These moisture-boosting lip balms are scented with irresistible smoothie-inspired combinations, such as Acai, Blueberry & Dragon Fruit; Coconut, Passionfruit &…

I got some collagen powder to take home in a jam jar as a gift from a collagen convert. Every morning, I took one spoonful of the powder in my cup of Earl Grey, and within weeks I was getting comments about my glow. It made my skin feel great – not just on my face but also all over my body. Collagen is a buzzword in the beauty biz, and I was beginning to see why. My interest piqued, I started to delve into the research. There’s a lot of it, so buckle up! WHAT ISIT? Originally focused solely on the healthcare benefits of collagen, researchers started to investigate the possible skincare benefits too. One of the most abundant, naturally occurring proteins in our bodies, collagen is found in…

With a nod to Valentine’s Day, we thought we’d try a little tenderness in the form of these delicious dessert wines. I love a small glass absolutely ice-cold or on the rocks, but you can also enjoy them at room temperature, either with dessert or cheese, or as a dessert in themselves. • La Motte Straw Wine, R295 Sweet jasmine and almond are elevated with tart dried apricot. This is intense and delicious. • Delheim Edelspatz 2019, R310 This was a good year for noble rot, and the sweetness and acidity are perfectly balanced. • Boschendal Vin D’Or 2018, R415 A tiny powerhouse of a wine, this has honeysuckle and zesty citrus doing a languorous and beautiful tango on your tongue. • Muratie Amber Forever, R160 Made from Hanepoot grapes, this…

Anything you can do in a fan oven you can do in an air-fryer – the latter is just more compact and energy-efficient. And you need much less oil to brown and crisp food. An electric coil provides radiant dry heat, which a fan circulates to cook the food. The convection action converts the small amount of oil you use into a fine mist that coats the food as it circulates. Moisture in the food creates the steam needed to complete the cooking process. THINGS TO CONSIDER: • Air-fryers differ in size and versatility, so think about what you’ll most likely be cooking, and for how many people. Also check the dimensions to see if you have enough counter and storage space. • It’s a plus to buy an air-fryer…

Turn to page 171 for the solution to MegaXword 177, page 184 for entry details, and page 185 for winners’ names. ACROSS 1. Conductor’s platform 6. Descends (5,4) 11. Banner 15. Distasteful 16. Excite 17. Behave affectedly (4-3) 18. Waterfalls 21. Prowling 22. Foreshadow 23. Ultimate 24. Surest 28. Nobleman 30. Chickens 32. Small packet 35. Loathed 37. Unmissable viewing (4-3) 38. Cause (destruction) 40. Got by (financially) 43. Desert illusions 45. Nairobi’s republic 47. Written composition 48. Messing about 52. Crucial 53. Criminally wreck 56. Tennis player, Andre… 58. Allergic inflammation 60. Leakage 61. Type of electrode 62. Licensed pub owner 64. Taxi 65. Short 67. Probe 69. Tibetan priests 72. Charity 75. Scat! 77. Scraped (out a living) 78. Match before final 79. Dull thump 81. Party decoration…

ACROSS 1. Bewildered 5. Short &fat 9. Hot &damp 12. Brazen 16. Banishment 17. Lifting device 18. Implement 20. Frozen regions 22. Pursuit 23. Hush-hush (3-6) 24. Clans 26. Wheat 27. Serenity 28. Airway constriction 31. Antelope 32. Nullify 34. Magazine chief 36. Hamburger, Big… 37. Plato was one 40. Alias (1,1,1) 42. Dutch centre of govt, The… 43. Film star 45. Site 47. Alarm 49. Thick 50. Feebleness 52. Toboggans 54. Avid 55. Nigerian city 56. Sicilian volcano 58. Earthy hue 59. Ledger entry 60. Standard 61. Arm bone 62. Ethic 63. Gigantic 64. Triumphant hollers 67. Jet-baths 68. Placed 69. Invalidate 72. Guided 74. Betrayal 78. Round loaf 79. Oscar winner,… Brynner 80. Night before 81. Chaplain 82. Bedouin 85. Massage 87. Spiny succulents 88. Biblical ark patriarch…

I’M hanging out in the kitchen, as one does, just minding my own business and doing my own thing. I am entirely alone in the house. For once. And it is bliss. This is one of the many things about Covid-19… It used to be that going away for the weekend was the treat, but now there is no bigger treat than everybody else going away for the weekend, leaving you alone in your own house to do whatever you like, whenever you feel like doing it. I’m standing in front of the open fridge, wondering whether it might be time for a little something, when there’s a polite cough at the door, a kind of discreet clearing of the throat. This is a very well brought-up intruder, I think;…