Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2022 - Edition 103 i Gay Pages

NATURAL DISASTERS VS POLITICAL WILL On 11 April 2022, a weather system caused considerable volumes of rain to fall over KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in severe flooding. The cost of damages is still being calculated, but it’s probably safe to estimate that billions of rands in damage have been done. The presence of severe weather is entirely normal. However, scientists estimate that climate change is already increasing its intensity and frequency. For those located in disasterprone areas, this isn’t good news. Even those of us who live in relative safety from natural disasters may find ourselves having to contend with more anomalous weather and climate. The warnings have been there for a while, and scientists and climate activists continue to advocate for action, but “action” is where things start to look a…

The quintessential luxury limousine reflects the exclusivity of the marque and its superior products, which a two-tone paint can enhance. A Burmester high-end 4D surround sound system has 31 high-end speakers with an amplified output of up to 1 750 watts. An 18cm longer wheelbase compared to the long variant of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class delivers an elegant and commanding presence whilst wafting gracefully through any landscape. Mercedes-Maybach S-Class can be equipped with electrically operated comfort rear doors which can be opened automatically from the driver seat or remote and closed through gesture control. Experiencing the car’s brilliant lighting, which constantly adjusts to other road users and the surroundings, is impressive. The Mercedes-Maybach represents the ultimate in sophistication in motoring with a compilation of the finest quality materials, phenomenal craftsmanship, incomparable…

The Tiggo 7 Pro fits between the Tiggo 4 Pro and the 8 Pro. Two versions add technology and luxury to the upper-midrange SUV market. “From the striking modern and flowing design to the alldigital cockpit, our customers will never feel like they have had to compromise on luxury, specifications or performance when buying a Tiggo Pro,” says Tony Liu, Executive Deputy General Manager of Chery South Africa. Sporty 18” alloy wheels with red brake calipers on the Executive model adds some buzz and both models have electrically adjustable, foldable, and heated side mirrors with integrated LED indicators. LEDs switch on automatically sporting intelligent wide-angle fog lights and light-bar-type LED daytime running lights. Front wheel drive is delivered via ultra-smooth CVT transmission with nine pre-programmed “spreads” with an electronic gear…

Defenders, like most Land Rovers and Jaguars, are mysterious creatures and don’t expect them to be flashy with any kind of insignia. Our powerful new wheels arrived, and the only thing that was obvious was that it’s powerful and could go anywhere you point it. Soon you discover that the 400W Meridian sound system Sound System with ten speakers plus a subwoofer is way more than you would ever need, but if you’re heading to an open-air music concert powered by Eskom, you may just become the new best friend of the DJ. Whether you use Android or Apple CarPlay, everything works perfectly; so no hunting for signals is required. A rather understated badge mentioned the top line X Spec, which meant there is not possibly something you could want…

In a UCLA Health article about how Covid has changed the way we view dating and intimacy, it’s shown that people who indicate their Covid negative status or proof of vaccination received 14 percent more matches on dating apps. People are more cautious – in a good way. The pandemic and experiences of trauma are tilting what we’ve seen as normal upside down, making us wonder – why did we do things a certain way in the first place? And why are the Generation Y’ers so blasé towards commitment and normality? In a blog post about why millennials are so hard to date, WHYTT Magazine (2022) shines some light on the topic. Apart from their urge for instant gratification, their social media mania, the fact that the diversity of their…

There is a special feeling one gets when you’ve made something – whether it’s building a piece of flatpack furniture, completing a painting, or tackling a new craft project. We aren’t all academic artists with gallery representation, but a case can be made for creativity in any form and the positive impact it has on the human psyche. As children we love to draw and make things to play with. We give our imaginations free reign. But then, as we get older, very few of us keep on making. Parents and teachers, as well as friends, will often make fun of those ‘creative kids’ and dim their spark. Few will carry their creative spark into adult life, and they are the ones whose art adorn our walls, whose imaginations decorate…

JEEP GLADIATOR by Johannes van der Merwe The 2022 Jeep Gladiator is Jeep’s new mid-sized bakkie. It aims to continue Jeeps long and iconic history of styling and build quality, now with even more capabilities and features. The Gladiator arrives in a 3,6 V6, 8-speed automatic transmission with an output of 209kW and 347Nm torque. Weight Capacities are set up for a 693kg of payload and for the towing of a 2712kg trailer. It follows through Jeeps known-for off-road capabilities with alloy rims and 32-inch BF Goodrich tyres handled by gas charged Fox aluminium monotube shocks. It comes with Command-Trac and Rock-Track systems, Tru-Lok electric front and rear axle lockers, Trac-Lok limited slip differential, sway-bar disconnect and off-road tyres. Off-Road+ (Off-Road Pages) allows you to see off-road vehicle information, we…

We instantly bonded with the quirky Opel Mokka that pedestrians adored. Both the Mokka Elegance and the Mokka GS Line, has a zippy turbocharged 1,2-litre petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Opel Vizor reminds you of a full-face helmet, with a single element grille, LED headlights and a new logo with the Opel lightning bolt. “Mokka” stretched in a wide landscape format, at the rear emphasise the width of the car. Minimalist design displays essentials only, unlike crowded dashboards, as Opel designers have placed great emphasis on digital detox. Buttons still control the most important functions without having to navigate through menus. A feisty all-aluminium petrol engine is economical and delivers 96kW at 5500rpm with plenty of torque. The Rüsselsheim engineering shaved 120kg off the body weight of its…

Sarcopenia is the decline of skeletal muscle tissue with age, causing much functional decline. Accompanying this loss of muscle mass is a shrinking of strength and decline of power, as we lose two to four kilos of muscle in a decade. Indulging in the bad habits of over-eating and drinking, and becoming more indolent and less active, will guarantee ill-health, diminishing fitness and a riskier future. Those who care about how they look, feel and act are certain to be the individuals who enjoy more balanced nutritional meals. They also share active social lives, and they are definitely more physically active. Today’s movers and shakers are those who move! Remaining consistently active is the essential explanation for the cool, sleek, confident, healthily mature folk we see in gyms, on the…

I still keep those plans in a drawer. Maybe one day I will build that house. He was the quiet one. He loved her with all his heart. The only retired couple in their neighbourhood who held hands when they walked Ringo. The dog has become my most prized inheritance. But dad kept his emotions locked. Riana, a supportive neighbour, told me that the day they first found the lump, he walked over, white in the face, and said, “My wife has cancer”. That is as much as he uttered on the topic. But his body told a different story. It was a Friday. I was invited over for a curry and a glass of wine to celebrate my mom’s health after what we thought was her last bout of…

Priority Escapes charters an Air Seychelles plane, so their customers fly direct to Malé instead of having to stop over in hubs like Doha. Priority Escapes is currently the only travel operator offering this eight-hour flight via Air Seychelles. The flight is perfectly comfortable, the staff are friendly, and the food is good too. It turned out that other than Francois, I was the only male. And the oldest. But the girls made me feel at home right away, and as the trip progressed, we became firm friends. Gosh, I miss everyone already. It was such an incredible week, and I adored my travel companions. What a trip it was! Firstly, most of them are influencers, so they needed plenty of outfit changes. Me, not so much. I jokingly said…

The flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class has epitomised luxury for 50 years and sold a staggering 4 million cars globally. As such a status symbol it is one of the most popular cars chosen by VIPs, politicians and top executives, but now the Maybach option takes us one step further as the pinnacle of luxury. Being such a sensual car, it’s modern design language “Sensual Purity” has a futuristic interpretation of status & prestige. You experience it through your senses, and indulge in the areas of driver assistance, protection, interaction and a colour brilliant 12,8-inch OLED central display screen in portrait format is a key visual highlight. The elegant S-Class encapsulates the highest degree of quality, sophistication and technological intelligence with an all-round feel-good ambience that redefines luxury to a new level.…

The next-generation Ford Ranger Raptor raises the off-road performance bar and is the ultimate performance SUV with smarter technology and hardware. An incredibly powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 delivers 292kW and 583Nm and will be here soon. The Ranger Raptor’s anti-lag system keeps the turbochargers spinning for up to three seconds after the driver backs off the throttle, allowing for faster resumption of acceleration out of corners or between gears when the driver gets back on the accelerator. A 10-speed automatic transmission works well on gravel, dirt, mud and sand. Drivers can even amplify the engine note in four modes, from tame to wild. Some modifications and reinforcements ensure that the butch-looking raptor can take the punch in tough off-road conditions. The running gear has to match the power, so…

Audi proudly welcomed six electric e-tron models, which no automotive brand has launched so many electric vehicles in one go yet. The transition toward electric mobility has yielded positive results for the e-tron model range around the world already. Audi offers the largest number of fully electric models to its consumers around the globe. Audi is committed to growing the e-tron model range locally and will introduce at least one new electric model each year. Partnering GridCars has led to the building of the largest and fastest electric vehicle public charging network in the country. The full range of Audi e-tron models retailing in South Africa from now on consists of three e-tron 55 derivatives, the e-tron 55 Sportback, e-tron S Sportback, and the pinnacle of the line-up, the e-tron…

Our readers have appreciated David Vance’s photography for many years, and rightly so – he has an exceptional eye for beauty, and his images never fail to evoke a strong emotional response. They convey a sense of beauty that is immortal and innocent. One senses that the soul of David Vance is more important to the photograph than the camera. A particular delicacy is sensed in his powerful portfolio of the male nude. Quiet strength is interwoven with even the softest of his studies of the female form. You can purchase his signed books directly on his website or order high-quality limited-edition prints printed on museum-quality, archival, Hahnemuhle paper to decorate your home. Each is personally signed and numbered by the artist. Follow David on Instagram @davidvancephoto. www.davidvanceprints.com…

I started doing Botox and other treatments when I was twenty-four years old. Many laughed at me and said that I was mad and that it was totally unnecessary. However, I am way too scared of growing old and all the rest that goes with it. Now that I am turning forty, I am grateful that I started when I did. To me, doing aesthetic treatments is about self-love, self-esteem and investing in yourself. I have had quite a few procedures over the years, from lip filler, cheek filler to Botox, chemical peels and micro-needling. Today I’m getting chin filler and a mesoesthetic tranx chemical peel. This “lunchtime” kind of peel specifically targets pigmentation but also gives you that instant glow with absolutely no downtime. On my chin, Dr Nadia…