Table of contents for Jan/Feb 2023 in Fairlady

When our kids were still too young to tell the time, New Year’s was at nine o’clock, although they didn’t know it. Sparklers would be lit, bubbles popped and heartfelt good wishes exchanged, after which they’d swagger off to bed, proud to have seen the new year in with their favourite grownups. The second their downy, trusting little backs were turned, the favourite grownups would haul out the good stuff and have a thumping good party. These days, the thought of being tucked up in bed with a nice cup of herbal tea at 9pm on New Year’s Eve sounds completely fabulous to me, but given my ‘friend group’, as the youth say (anyone know what happened to just ‘friends’?), the thumping good party it will be. And I will…

IT sounds frivolous, I know. Selfish. A waste of time, even. If I had to venture a guess, I reckon ‘having fun’ doesn’t even feature on your list of priorities, never mind your daily to-do list. Even in the world of positive psychology, it’s not a topic that gets a lot of attention. Gratitude, sure. Whip out that gratitude journal before bed and write down three things you’re thankful for. So many proven health benefits. Happiness? That one has whole psychology departments studying it. And why shouldn’t they? ‘Cultivating happiness’ sounds like a noble academic pursuit. By comparison, ‘having fun’ is the dunce in the corner, doing handstands and chewing on a crayon. Yet fun covers much of the same ground as happiness. There’s also some overlap with ‘play’, another…

Gabrielle Swimwear GABRIELLE KOOL START-UP COSTS: ‘I used my savings to get things started; it covered all of my basic needs. From the very beginning, I was involved in every single aspect of my business, which also saved on costs. I did everything from building a website to making, marketing and selling the product.’ TURNOVER: ‘My current turnover has increased dramatically from when I started, maybe by 500%. I still work with someone I’ve been with for years – she works from home and employs about five women and helps with smaller production. I also have two assistants who help me with online orders and markets – so between six and eight employees now work alongside me.’ Gabrielle was raised to share her dad’s love of the sea and her…

December 2018. I was rolling, tumbling and swearing at the waves of Banana Beach, a small coastal town south of Hiberdene in KwaZulu-Natal. You can’t actually call it a town; it’s a community of hard-core South Coast surfers and retirees looking to find new meaning after years of slogging away in Gauteng. Throw in the odd musician and a holidaymaker and you have a melting pot of characters, all vying for a place in the sun. Christmas at Banana Beach is filled with sun, sea, family and food – delicious German biscuits and stollen, my German husband’s version of Christmas cake. I felt like a stranded whale: overweight, unhealthy and lost to the world. I was 53 and in the throes of menopause, continually experimenting with hormonal treatments to reduce…

Heading the entire team is the legendary Magdalene Minnaar. It’s quite an adjective to use, given how young she is (41), but it makes sense when you consider what she’s achieved in a short time. A mother, wife, singer, director and entrepreneur, she somehow manages to be extraordinarily focused and innovative. Cape Town Opera’s latest production is Handel’s Alcina. In October 2022, the company presented a short season of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, which Magdalene directed. It was unusual in many ways – they performed at The Theatre on the Bay, an intimate theatre not generally viewed as a place to stage opera, and the musical accompaniment consisted of a single pianist on stage, his back to the audience. The choreography was witty and contemporary; the surtitles were hilarious. It was…

The Mountain, as the locals fondly call Magoebaskloof, has been transformed from a rural backwater into a picturesque destination. Haenertsburg is the quaint heart of Magoebaskloof, containing a few hundred houses. The main street in the village – yes, there’s only one – features a handful of restaurants and pubs, galleries, gift shops and a fantastic second-hand bookshop. There’s a village arboretum with trees from around the world; and above, the reassuring presence of the Iron Crown, the highest peak in the Northern Drakensberg range. Beyond the village there are plenty of attractions, whether you’re into adrenaline-pumping outdoor stuff or just an eat-read-chill weekend. Magoebaskloof is also a foodie haven, with subtropical fruit and vegetables grown in abundance, organic farms, roadside stalls, neighbourhood food markets, farm delis and country bistros.…

HOT & STRESSED An interesting find from a study presented at the 2022 Annual meeting of the North American Menopause Society was that women who experienced night sweats had a higher level of stress than women who only got hot flushes, whether during the day or the night. ‘We know that sleep disturbances are one of the biggest challenges for women going through menopause, but these results are unique because they show that women experiencing night sweats, rather than just hot flushes, may be at an even bigger disadvantage,’ said Sofiya Shreyer, lead author of the study done at the University of Massachusetts. ‘We are not sure yet of the relationship between night sweats and stress,’ she added in an interview. ‘Do the night sweats cause stress, or do women who…

Well, you only need to put one foot in front of the other with FAIRLADY’s six-week walking workout programme and healthy meal plan. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise there is. Any able-bodied person can do it anywhere – and because it’s low-impact, it’s easy on your joints and your risk of injury is low. This at-home workout programme is suitable for every fitness level, and gives you everything you need to trim centimetres off your waist, plus sculpt and tone your figure if you want to take it to the next level. You’ll receive weekly walking targets, workouts to keep you strong and fit, and a nutritious low-carb meal plan to give your body the right fuel – one less thing to think about! No gym?…

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE This locally made cozzie has wide shoulder straps, making it super comfy, plus you can choose your own print – and we love this colourful motif. PICK ’N’ MIX A tip for mixing prints: stick to the same colour palette. In this case, the earthy tones of the tie-dye print pick up on the sunset hues of the bright-orange bikini underneath. RUFFLED AND READY A floral motif and ruffles? Hey, why not? Now’s the time to embrace your romantic side. DRIVEN TO ABSTRACTION Not quite sold on animal prints? The right kind of abstract print will give you a similar feel without being obvious about it. Neutral accessories add a sophisticated touch. BIRDS OF PARADISE Donning an all-over print can be a bit much, so…

Happy New Year! Start your evening off with a bang that also hits your health markers: kiwi fruit not only bolsters your immune system (handy on NYE) but is also stuffed with good things like vitamins C, E and K. Its beautiful tartness pairs wonderfully with the six botanicals in Roku gin (‘Roku’ means ‘six’ in Japanese – bet you knew that already). So it’s basically a health drink, when you think about it. ROKU FOUR SEASONS • 2 parts Roku gin (50 ml, if you want to be specific)• 1 part kiwi purée• 1 tsp fresh lime juice 1. Mix all the above together with ice, then top up with Prosecco and soda water. 2. Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of thyme. Cheers! HEARD IT…

BUYER’S GUIDE ◗ A hair-straightening brush is like a flat iron and a brush in one: you’re styling your hair as you’re detangling it. ◗ A straightening brush retains some natural volume, which makes it a better option than a flat iron for fine or thin hair. (A flat iron is better suited to thick, very curly hair.) ◗ We considered weight and size in our tests. It can be tiring to use a heavy brush if you have long or thick hair. And a larger brush is best suited to thick hair, while someone with fine or thin hair can get away with using a smaller tool. ◗ The location of the buttons is something to consider. With some brushes you can accidentally change a setting while in use.…

FIELDBAR I never thought I’d have anything to say about a cool box. Keeps stuff cold? Fine. But this extremely stylish South African Fieldbar fills me with joy even when we’re not using it just because it’s so damn pretty. Made up of 58 parts that are all specifically designed to be removed, repaired or replaced, it’s also an investment in longevity – and your great-grandchildren will thank you for your foresight. Extremely effective as a cooler (I find it fits three bottles of bubbly and a whole lot of ice rather well), it also works very capably as a seat – it can withstand 120kg! Plus, it’s exceptionally well designed and comes in beautiful retro colours. I love it. What Writers Read: 35 Writers on Their Favourite Book by…

WHO CAN JOIN? You don’t have to be an entrepreneur or have a business background! This course is for anyone who wants to start a business, grow a business or earn extra income. WHAT DO I GET? 1. Access to all the course material online – you can do the course in your own time. 2. A proper understanding of every aspect you need to know to run your own business successfully, including how to turn a good idea into a marketable product. 3. Insight from successful entrepreneurs Dawn Nathan-Jones and Lesley Waterkeyn, and the opportunity to learn from local case studies. 4. An excellent online business course for a fraction of the cost you’d normally pay for such courses: only R950! FIND OUT MORE AND SIGN UP NOW! SMARTWOMEN.FAIRLADY.COM…

Admittedly, it was a long shot, but I was hoping to snag an interview with author Colleen Hoover late last year. The hotly anticipated follow-up to her top-selling It Ends With Us was about to come out, and I figured that she, like every other author in the world, would be out there promoting it. But then the email arrived: ‘It looks like Colleen has pulled out of all publicity, including her US tour.’ For an author about to release a book, this would be a career-crippling move. For Colleen Hoover, it’s barely a blip. Because let’s be real here: she doesn’t need the publicity. At this very moment, 9 of the top 15 trade paperbacks on The New York Times best-seller list are hers. On the Combined Print and…

Sometimes, when people ask me questions about money, I find that the way the question is phrased tells me far more than the question itself does. Take this one, submitted to me a few months ago during an online Q&A: How do I stop my wife from chowing all my money? Isn’t that something? That sentence is dripping with resentment. Half-joking, but not really. The word choices: ‘chowing’, ‘my money’. I don’t know a thing about this person or their relationship, but don’t those 11 words tell a heck of a story? I wanted to say to that person, ‘Buddy, you don’t have a money problem; you have a relationship problem. Specifically, a not-respecting-your-life-partner problem.’ In my experience, that’s often the case when couples fight about money. What you do…

◗ Carrie Soto is Back BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID Six years after she retired from tennis, Carrie Soto is sitting in the stands at the 1994 US Open, watching her world record being demolished. The moment Nicki Chan takes the win, her mind is made up: she plans to come out of retirement and reclaim her place in history. Carrie is a great tennis player. The best. But she’s 37 now. She hasn’t played professionally in years and she doesn’t have the speed and stamina she had at her peak. This comeback could fail miserably – she could tarnish her legacy. The media are already saying she can’t hack it. But that’s probably because they never liked her: Carrie is unapologetically competitive, she’s not particularly gracious in victory (or defeat),…

Fab, fit and so much fun! Who knew working out could be a full-on party? CAPE TOWN LADIES BROUGHT THE ENERGY AT THE RECENT SATURDAY NIGHT FITNESS EVENT HELD AT GRAND WEST CASINO. PICTURE A GROUP OF NEARLY 1000 WOMEN UNITING TO DANCE THEMSELVES FIT AND CELEBRATE THE START OF SUMMER. The experience was truly unforgettable – packed with increased endorphins and a new-found appreciation for working out. The event combined epic tunes, high-octane cardio sessions and a group of fantastic women to create the ultimate fitness party. Local super-stars like Queen Fitnass, Mapule Ndlovu, and Fitness Icon – a dance cardio crew from Jozi – joined alumni like SWEAT 1000 for a back-to-back workout-fest that included dance, cardio, HIIT and body conditioning. Attendees were introduced to the UK’s popular…

ACROSS 1. Beat soundly 4. Blood component 7. Foundation garment 10. Cavort 13. Getting rid of (7,3) 15. Intruder 17. Porridge cereal 19. Dog lead 21. Pull 23. Most cheerful 25. From the Far East 28. Beard trimmer 29. Clad 30. Musical group,… Gees 32. Diapers 36. Craving 37. Feminist, Germaine… 38. Release grip (3,2) 40. Alcove 42. Doctrine 44. Smooth 45. Disturb 46. Model,… Macpherson 47. Draw along behind 49. Come into conflict with 51. Divine messenger 53. Unknown author 54. Rouse 55. Yemen port 56. Sharp hook 57. Prison time reduction 60. Appeared again (2-7) 65. Cash settlement 66. Enmeshed (in) 68. Wedding promise (1,2) 69. First-born 71. Abscond 72. Once in a…moon 73. Huffed and… 76. Actress,… Thurman 78. Heating wire 83. Pitiful 85. Reckless criminal 88.…

ACROSS 1. Dilemma 6. Kitchen wiper 12. Levelled (series) 17. Alleviated 18. Brahma follower 19. Without ceremony 20. Popular cause 21. Hearing membranes 22. Dog restraint 24. Smelt awful 26. Levied 29. Lewd 33. Founded (upon) 36. Thickly 39. Signs 41. Surname of Billy Ray & Miley 42. Scraped by (4,2) 43. Frankfurter snack (3,3) 44. Three-foot lengths 46. Small lizard 48. Crime,… &battery 50. Italian sparkling wine 52. Measured walk 54. Acting companies 56. Bumped into 58. Timber source 60. Office table 61. Witch 62. Conifer seed casings (4,5) 66. Newspaper chiefs 67. Thrill-seeker 70. TV aerial 71. Japanese garment 72. Climb up 73. Centre of network 75. Stopwatches 76. Lack of caring 77. Wobbles 78. Emma writer, Jane… 80. Laid up 81. Word comparison 82. Describes 85. Spotlessness…

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 of 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. We’re also launching our travel…

After the suicide early in 2022 of Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst, her mother said in an interview that the beautiful, accomplished woman who seemed to have it all had been dealing with high-functioning depression, ‘which she hid from everyone, including me, her closest confidante, until very shortly before her death’. You won’t find ‘high-functioning depression’ in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), but it is a term that has cropped up more and more in contemporary mental health spaces over the past few years. We asked psychiatrist Dr Aneshree Moodley and clinical psychologist Jeanie Cavé to give us some insight into it. The different faces of depression We know what ‘real’ depression looks like, as it’s so often portrayed in the media: someone who has shut…

1 We have an excellent environment for entrepreneurs Our Santam/FAIRLADY/TRUELOVE Women of the Future Awards remind us every year how brilliant Saffers are at coming up with excellent new businesses, many of which go on to succeed globally: Monalisa Sibongile Zwambila’s The Riverbed Agency, Cara Saven Wall Design, Sarah Collins’ Wonderbag, Lindiwe Matlali’s Africa Teen Geeks, Dr Mmamontsheng Rakumakoe’s Quadcare Occupational Health, Welile Gumede’s Azowel Projects… to name but a few. 2 Matjiesfontein, population about 402 and previously (entirely justifiably) on the map mainly for its excellent pub, has just become our Houston Matjiesfontein is set to be the base of the new NASA lunar communications facility. Really. And it’s going to help land a woman on the moon. Matjiesfontein, we have no problem. 3 A free press A few…

SIGN UP NOW ONLY R499! 12 Weeks to Sleek is intended not only for weight loss but also for increased mobility, better tone and stronger functional muscles. The low-kilojoule eating plan is affordable and can be adapted to suit your budget. Designed by a master fitness coach and a professional dietician, 12 Weeks to Sleek is a scientifically formulated eating and exercise plan with proven outcomes, aimed at achieving healthy and sustainable weight-loss results. WHAT IT INCLUDES An easy-to-follow 12-week exercise plan designed to burn fat – complete with video demonstrationsofeachworkout A detailed 12-week eating programme with inexpensive healthy food that doesn’t taste like ‘diet food’ and won’t leave you feeling hungry BENEFITS Guaranteed results Simple at-home exercises that require minimal equipment Customisable menu options designed for ease of use…

Come meet the girls.’ Aaron Menezes smiles proudly as he leads the way into Mukwa’s chicken coop, where a flock of egg-laying hens come trotting over. He scoops up one and strokes it while the rest gather around him, companionably pecking away at his red-laced vellies. (‘There’s your photo op,’ quips the woman next to me: ‘’n Hunk met ’n hoender.’) An integral part of the Mukwa River Lodge team in Zambia, Aaron is the chef and runs this picturesque riverside retreat together with the owners, the Rudge family, known for their Houghton boutique hotel The Residence, and Camp Ndlovu in the Waterberg. The lodge’s menu is a true testament to Aaron’s ingenuity. Upon arrival, we are welcomed with a brightly coloured drink made from sindambi (or wild hibiscus), which…

We are immensely proud of our winners and finalists. BEAUTY SPONSOR MAKEUP SPONSOR The winners of the annual Santam Women of the Future Awards, in association with FAIRLADY and TRUELOVE, were recently announced at a glamorous awards ceremony in Johannesburg, emceed by Jo-Ann Strauss. Santam partnered with us to celebrate some of South Africa’s top female entrepreneurs. The excitement was palpable as Monalisa Sibongile Zwambila of The Riverbed Agency was named the Woman of the Future 2022; Janna Kretzmar of EarthChild Project took the Social Entrepreneur title; and the Rising Star award went to Amahle Ntshinga of LUNTU. The three winners received a total of R220000 in cash from Santam; a year’s worth of products from beauty partner African Extracts Rooibos; a hamper of products from makeup partner CATRICE; and…

1 ◗ TELEMEDICINE The Covid pandemic drove even technophobes among us online as lockdowns closed fitness studios and consulting rooms, and our medical and mental-health professionals, from therapists and dieticians to personal trainers, went digital. In 2023, although the lockdowns have been lifted, many of us will stay digital, preferring the protection against infection from ongoing coronavirus mutations (and who-knows-what new zoonotic ills), and freedom from hours frittered away in traffic and waiting rooms. ‘Globally, telehealth consultations have increased 38 to 78 times compared with pre-pandemic baselines,’ says Dr Ron Whelan, chief commercial officer at Discovery Health. ‘Across Discovery Health, virtual consultations with doctors increased more than 90-fold. Research has indicated that 73% of patients expect to continue to use telehealth to consult with their doctors in future.’ For those…

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DATE, HAZULNUT & COFFEE CAKE SERVES 10 PREP + COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES • 260g (1½ cups) self-raising wheat flour• 100g (1 cup) hazelnut flour• 5ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda• 15ml (1 tbsp) cocoa powder• apinch of salt• 250g butter, softened• 5ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract• 370g (1½ cups firmly packed) brown sugar• 3 eggs• 60ml(¼cup) milk• 250ml (1 cup) freshly brewed strong black coffee MARSALA DATES • 160ml (2⁄3cup) Marsala fortified wine• 55g (¼ cup) caster sugar• 12 fresh dates (240 g), halved lengthwise and pitted RICOTTA FILLING • 540g (2cups) firm ricotta• 250g (1 cup) mascarpone cheese• 110g (½ cup) caster sugar• 5ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Grease two deep 20cm round cake pans, and line the…

JUMBO CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1 ACROSS 1. Support given little credit, badly cut by the aspiration (6) 8. They are taken to by those fleeing (5) 9. Man’s parliament lady won’t supply, having nothing less (7) 11. Would they make good fishwives? (8) 12. Rang around with your head in an inflamed state (5) 15. Party back in with this old god (4) 16. The East will disappear on this trip (3) 17. One of the forces Mary turned to (4) 19. Nothing bold about being upset by the sight of it (5) 21. Democrat leader is sat for his portrait, being so inclined (8) 24. Is being very loud, with the result that one doesn’t hear it (7) 25. Ashow of energy leading up to the front door (5) 26.…

ACROSS 1. Weepy 4. Curt 8. Churlish 11. Grandma &… 16. Shelter 18. Artistry 19. Possible outcomes 21. Out of date 23. Be frugal 26. Immobilise 28. Handsome Greek god 30. Food store 32. Unmentionable 34. Pig enclosure 36. Love deeply 38. Dr… & Mr Hyde 39. Perhaps 42. Ill,… the weather 45. Lucky emblem 47. Jumps up 49. Bird of prey 50. Family car 53. Taiwanese capital 55. Glows 56. Pass (of time) 57. Extra servings (3-3) 59. Tertiary college 60. Raised (livestock) 61. Optic cover 63. Terraced 66. Dries (dishes) 68. Medical practitioner 70. Crimson 71. Grecian pots 72. Pakistan currency 73. Sponges lightly 76. Phone message (1,1,1) 77. Sniper 78. Paltry 79. Country,… Lanka 81. Yes votes 83. Fuses (metal) 85. Dickinson or Byron 86. World news…