Special Limited Edition

ATLANTIC SEABOARD October 2018

V I E W S N.O.S.S High Tea with Tamaryn Car club with a difference

Fashion: Belle of the ball

Food & recipes: Lets Braai

Miss SA for Miss Universe

ASV / N.O.S.S. Special Limited Edition

WELCOME

ATLANTIC SEABOARD

V I E W S October 2018

OUR SPONSORS

N.O.S.S High Tea with Tamaryn

Any fundraising event like this can never be truly successful without the goodwill of people believing in our cause and supporting our efforts. People who, without thinking twice, opened their wallets (cash donations which are so much needed for all the small expenses), their diaries (offering their time and effort to do the running around) and their expertise (beautifying the event and simplifying the organizational nightmare it could have been).

To these individuals and businesses, a HUGE thank you for your contribution in whichever form – be assured of our heartfelt appreciation.

EDITOR’S NOTE W

Our Sponsors

• Alrine Rodgers.

• ASV [Gilmore Smith] • Auden Carolissen • Barry Nel • Bossa Nova • Cape Olive Products [Erin Cupido] • DJ Tosch • Doreen Solomo

• Hanli O’Connor • Heidi Cupido • Heidi Cupido Flowers • Jémaine James • La Fontaine Guesthouse • Leigh Siebritz • Loren/Hayley • Miss SA Organization • Monchesca Rhode • Paulette Green

• Petro L.M. Gordon • Pioneer Foods • Porchia Julies • Reuben Riffel • Tylo Fortuin • VCF • Water Analytical Lab cc [Ethné] • Wayne Brink Web Printmedia

An event marked by so much style and panache like N.O.S.S’s annual High Tea, of cause could not happen without the perfect hosts and hostesses. These people not only provided the elegantly laid out spreads on the tables, but also made sure that their handy work is appreciated (and supported) by their guests.

The organizer of this event, Ms. Carlyn Oppelt, not only coordinated this event, but also ensured some fabulous prizes – thank you!

hen starting ASV just over two years ago, I’ve made an editorial decision never to have anybody’s face on any of the cover pages of this magazine [or any future magazines planned by CA Publications] because I’ve always maintained that any magazine produced by my publication house will not be about any one person, but instead, it will always be about ordinary people having extra-ordinary stories to tell. At the time, I’ve also not even considered for a single moment the possibility of publishing any s̀pecial edition’ within the first five years of running a publication house.

Then a few things happened…

A while back I heard about N.O.S.S’s High Tea fundraising event and as an alumni, I wanted to make a contribution – hence this special limited edition of ASV. Then I heard our current Miss SA, Tamaryn Green, is also an ex-learner and she’ll be guest speaker at this event – so obviously, it was a no-brainer – I had to put N.O.S.S’s [and I’m sure the whole of the Western Cape’s] pride on the front cover of this exclusive and limited special edition of ASV. Although this issue looks different from the normal ASV our readers are used to, this special limited edition is not only a compilation of some of the most fascinating [personal choice] stories we’ve covered over the past two years, but first and foremost, it is an ode to N.O.S.S. An institution that has helped shape me into the person I have become and am happy with. The institution that has taught me to care; to give back with compassion; the place of learning that has made the adage d̀on’t judge a book by its cover’ a practical reality in my life. A learning institution I’m proud to call my Alma Mater.

While working on this issue, I was pleasantly surprised, yet not really astounded at all the achievements of my Alma Mater over the past 30-odd years. Thinking about it, I realized that the reason for all these achievements [and my lack of surprise thereof], is the fact that despite the winds of change that most certainly have swept through the community over the years, and the school moving along with the times, N.O.S.S. has stuck to her ethos.

From the sports field to the boardroom to the stages of the world – you’re bound to find at least one old NOSS’ie excelling in his/her field of choice and expertise because our foundation was laid at this bastion, precariously nestled amidst two different Eastern suburbs of the picturesque Paarl…

Our Hosts / Hostesses

• Hayley Hendricks • Tina Williams • Melanie Prins/ Liezl Adams • Nazli Abrahams • Estheresia Du Toi • Brenda Oppelt • Cheryl Lynette Adams • Sajieda Cook • Ettiene Roux

• Suzette Barends • Shantel Pietersen • Nathima Adams/Sandy Heyns • Lamyah Meyer • Gilmore Smith • Chandré Hartogh • Benita Swartz/Wanda West • JéMaine Cupido • Fierdouz Badroodien • Donay Kock

• Towyn Ross-Julies • Natalie Sheldon • Caron Africa • Sameera Sampson • Lizette Cloete • Clarissha Joseph • Fierdouz • Chanelle Fredericks • Chanelle Fredericks • Lizl Naude • Carlyn Oppelt [Guest Table]

I furthermore realized that our achievements [whatever they may be], are to some degree due to our Alma Mater and a testimony to the amazing educators we were fortunate to have in our lives.

With this special edition of ASV, I would also like to challenge my fellow alumni. Whatever you do, wherever life’s path has taken you, remember where it all started – the communities surrounding N.O.S.S. Communities still being served up until this day by this beacon of hope – our Alma Mater.

So, let’s commit to support her in all her endeavors to build and strengthen these communities.

Let’s answer when she calls upon us; let’s offer what she needs when we are by the means; let’s volunteer our skills and expertise [grounded by her]. Let’s show our gratitude towards her by being the best we can be.

Look after yourselves and be good to each other! Until we chat again in Spring ‘18!!!

Car club with a difference

Fashion: Belle of the ball

Food & recipes: Lets Braai

Miss SA for Miss Universe

ASV / N.O.S.S. Special Limited Edition

Publisher: CA Publications

Editor: Gilmore Smith

Copy Editor: Zeenat Moosa

Advertising & Sales: sales@atlanticseaboardviews.co.za www.atlanticseaboardviews.co.za +27 (0)21 439 2517/+27 (0)76 183 7697 Shaakirah Ismail: shaakirah@ atlanticseaboardviews.co.za

Columnists: Andrew Cox Bilqees Capitão Dillon Canen Violetta Roziers Shaakirah Ismail

Contributors: Angela Ocker Johleen van Niekerk

Photography: Lindsey Appolis Photography Goosephotography JG Photography Clement Cupido Colleen Bruintjies Wesley Martin

Models: Azhar Levy Cassandra Woods Fayyad Levy Jo-Rushka Harris Kayla Van Tonder Olerato Pharasi Saeed Swanepoel

Hair & Make-Up: Kim-Lynne Fredricks Instagram: beautybyjud

Stylist: Aidan J

Art & layout design: Lee Arendse for CA Publications Nicole Oranzie

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE

86 Education: Kurt Minnar 40 Entrepreneur: Skateboarding 42 Inspired homemaking: 88 Words of wisdom:

6 My Story: With Zoe Brown 10 Top 10: Cocktails 14 One on one: Marlene le Roux -

Tidy your wardrobe Violetta Roziers

Home & decor : Small enchanted

44

skincare and make-up routine

Fashion: Eco Punk

26 32 Top 10: Picnic Spots

9

homes doesn’t know how to handle me

66 Food & recipes: Lets Braai 92 Charity: AHOS 76 Inspiration: Car club with 94 N.O.S.S: A preventative

Not an enigma but a champion

One-on-one: Aidan J

24 25 She says: Time to rev up your

90 Our readers’ story: The world

a difference resource centre

4

81 Inspiration: Nafiesa Natah 96 Diary: Upcoming events 86 Tina Schouw: Song bird

with heart and soul

43 36

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39 78

INTERNATIONAL ONE-ON-ONE

INTERNATIONAL ONE-ON-ONE

Ascia

Mother, Blogger & Diva Blog, blogging, blogger(s), vlogging are a few of the buzz words in social media lingua franca that have become terminology almost common in everyday speech. In the simplest of translations, it basically means an electronic record (diary) of one’s daily activities and/or a person’s opinion on any subject matter, shared on the worldwide web.

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he first blog was posted just over 20 years ago and today thousands of people worldwide have taken blogging up as a very lucrative full-time profession. These are people documenting everything from their personal style, travel, beauty and more. Often, these bloggers make millions of Dollars from endorsements and posts (blogs) and become true online influencers.

Their popularity is usually measured based on their following on the array of social media platforms they’re active on.

One such blogger is world renowned Kuwaiti content creator, the 28-year old Ascia. From humble beginnings blogging part time while still a student, this mother of two toddlers, Adam (four) and Noah (20 months], has grown her blogging from a hobby to an internationally recognized platform/ brand. Today, Ascia is collaborating with some of the world’s leading fashion, lifestyle and beauty brands.

On her recent visit to the Mother City to create the looks and film styling videos for Modest by Ascia label under the Riva Fashion label [for which she is the ambassador], I had the opportunity to sit down with this dynamic online influencer.

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Riding the waves of success

Though she is recognized as one of the leading international fashion bloggers, and an online influencer of note, Ascia is very conscious of her obligation towards her fans/followers and giving back for everything she has received, her responsibility as a role model for millions of young women world-wide and above all, her responsibility as a parent of two boys growing up in an Islamic country.

According to Ascia, ``… nobody really plans to make a full career out of fashion blogging.

Usually we go into it because we’re passionate about it; or because we have something to say.” Riding the waves of her success as an international blogger, Ascia is adamant that `ỳou’re only as good as your team”, when referring with deference to her husband, Ahmad whom she married in 2002, her mother and parents-in-law and her SA born Project Manager, Donna-Leigh Titus. She says that it is essential to have a strong support structure.

This multi-faceted career woman regards herself first and foremost as mother and wife before anything else. Being away from home so often, she ensures that when she’s there, she spent quality time with her family and loved ones. Since her mobile phone and other techno paraphernalia are the tools of her trade, when she’s spending quality time with her family, these gadgets are switched off. She prefers cooking family meals herself and according to guests to her table, she’s a phenomenal cook who loves entertaining.

Whenever possible, she also tries to be at home when it’s bath and bedtime for her two boys. Time spent with them is so important for this world travelling career woman, that she video-calls them every couple of hours when she’s abroad.

Referring to criticism that she’s not a good representation of a true covered Muslim woman, Ascia states unequivocally that she never tried to be a representation of anyone, instead, her aim has always been to normalize the idea of various ways to cover. She acknowledges that her blog is the ideal platform for doing this. ``I just want women to enjoy what they do in the space that they have. I’m aware that it’s a huge responsibility but I’m trying to make it a fun responsibility instead of a weight on my shoulders”. She strongly believes that there’s definitely a place for the modern Muslim woman in today’s society.

Observing Ascia interact with her local fans and followers, one is struck by this formida ble business woman’s humble, unique and “Formidable business woman with above all, genuine sincerity and compassion. genuine sincerity and compassion.” This compassion is a true reflection of her deep-seated spirituality.

Her spirituality is anchored in her belief that that people tend to suppress their emotions one doesn’t need to be a devout/practicing for fear of being labelled a drama queen. Muslim, Christian or Jew to be thankful to According to her, this term has an unneces- your creator. ``I start every day with being sary negative connotation because of the thankful to God for everything I have, but negative way of looking at someone who’s not expecting God to give me everything I honest and genuine with their emotions. ``In have for free. I work hard for it and I hope this day and age, everyone has some form that I’m kind enough to God’s creations of anxiety. We’re trying to suppress all of this along the way while earning it. And if I earn emotion for public image – and I find it so it at the end of it, then that makes more unhealthy”. This unwavering wish to be au- sense to me than like praying to God for thentic as far as possible and not present something to happen if I’m not prepared to a fully curated life, is exactly why she posts work at least half way of it.” emotional outbursts on her blog as well and This gratitude she feels for her blessings, refuses to edit it out. contributes without a doubt to Ascia’s

successful career as a world-renowned blogger and international influencer…

She tries to be a presence in her two sons’ lives even when she’s not present. ``It’s incredibly important that I give my sons a very strong female role model. I don’t want them to assume that a woman’s place is anywhere but where she decides it is – that’s why I do what I do”. Ascia admits that she would not be able to do this without the support of her husband Ahmad. Since they’ve been together for more than 10 years and know each other so well, he’s also the one person that keeps the d̀rama queen’ in check and keeps her grounded at all times. Having grown up in front of social media, she has learned ``to think about what I say before I say it”, however, admits that she is a drama queen and finds it extremely frustrating

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celebrity

celebrity CELEBRITY

CELEBRITY

Big heart, big dreams, beliefs strong beliefs Gilmore Smith goes behind the scenes with TV and radio presenter Zoë Brown and discovers a hardworking, compassionate, dynamic young woman.

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t some point or another, every little girl dreams about wearing the Miss South Africa crown when she’s grown up. In the run-up to the day when these dreams become a reality, some of these little girls might even explore the world of beauty pageants while growing up by entering an array of beauty competitions. As part of this preparation for ‘one day when I’m Miss SA’, others conduct serious research about the world of beauty pageants by studying digital recordings of past beauty competitions.

Being a 17-year-old teenager with this dream still very much alive and you then are crowned second princess of Miss SA Teen, the unwritten supposition is that you’ll spend the remainder of your teenage years earnestly preparing for your entry into Miss SA as soon as you come of age.

If, however, you’ve got the looks of a Miss Universe, the voice of a seraph and are confidently grounded in your belief system, you seriously think about your reasons for chasing the dream of a pageant queen. This is exactly what Zoë Brown did.

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Passing her first audition first time has got nothing to do with luck; it’s more to do with timing.“Timing of the universe, the energies at play and the reason for one’s journey in this life.There’s dumb luck versus luck you’ve 2018 earned because you’ve worked for it.”

When Zoë, popular and much-loved presenter of SABC3’s Expresso Breakfast Show and KFM Radio presenter, started thinking about her reasons for wanting to be part of the beauty queen world, she realised her main reason has always been about the opportunities this specific platform offers to plough back and bring about change in the lives of others. Being honest with herself at the age of 17, she realised that it’s more important to always be authentic and true to herself.

Possessing the “heart to want to give back”, Zoë realised that there are various platforms she could utilise to be true to this calling.

cause close to her heart, far away from cameras, the limelight or being noticed.

Volunteering is nothing new for this dynamic young woman. She’s been doing it since her Matie days.

An interest in media is ignited

Love for children made action

During her post-matric gap year, Zoë worked as an au pair in America, looking after three small children. On her return home, she enrolled at the University of Stellenbosch where she obtained an Honours Degree in International Relations.

Having joined MFM, the campus-based community radio station, because “I realised I need something creative”, it was only during her final year of studies that the dream of a career in media started taking shape.

While doing a TV presenter course in Cape Town after her studies, Zoë auditioned to be an entrant in a competition, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Zoë, who is very strongly anchored in her faith, says that passing her first audition first time has got nothing to do with luck; it’s more to do with timing.

“Timing of the universe, the energies at play and the reason for one’s journey in this life. There’s dumb luck versus luck you’ve earned because you’ve worked for it.” She believes that the harder you work, the luckier you get. That is also why it’s important to her to be recognised and acknowledged for the merit of her work and not only her appearance.

Being a self-confessed pragmatist (“I need to understand in order to apply”), she definitely doesn’t shy away from hard work. With an average working day starting between 04–04h30am (“ … depending on whether there are any dishes to do before I can leave”) and sometimes not ending before 9pm, Zoë still finds the time to devote to a good

Having a natural affinity with children and being passionate about their plight, it is logical that Zoë became involved with children’s charity organisations. She is among others, ambassador for the Children’s Hospital Trust (the independent fundraising arm of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital) as well as the Sunflower Foundation. This deepfelt compassion for the plight of children stems from her own happy, protected and treasured childhood.

Thinking about all her special and sentimental childhood memories, for example, the doll she played with until the age of 13, Zoë talks with passion about the sad fact that South African (also African) children are forced to grow up too quickly due to socio-economic circumstances and the pressures of today’s society. She strongly believes that “if we could preserve

She is among others, ambassador for the Children’s Hospital Trust (the independent fundraising arm of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital) as well as the Sunflower Foundation.

it [childhood] as long as possible, we [society] should do everything in our power to do so.”

Growing up as the middle child in a close-knit family in Durban, Zoë is unashamedly a ‘daddy’s girl’ who speaks to her father telephonically at least once a day.

“He’s the one man I unconditionally trust for all kinds of advice. As a businessman, he gets my drive and understands why I do the things I do.” She inherited her love for DIY and the outdoors from him having spent a lot of time with him when growing up. The example of her parents, “…they’re both wonderful people; the biggest lesson they’ve taught me, and for which I respect them endlessly, is to never give up”, has definitely influenced Zoë’s positive outlook on life.

Being her methodical (“there always has to be a plan B”) self, this level-headed and focused young woman has definite plans to be a dedicated parent when she’s ready, because she believes that women can enjoy the blessings of motherhood and have a successful career at the same time.

However, at this stage, Zoë is enjoying her current single status and focusing on reaching her personal career goals.

Her advice to young people faced with the challenging demands of today’s society is to always dream big but at the same time ask yourself why that specific thing is your dream. “Do what you’re passionate about because that can become your dream!”

Dress courtesy of Dirty Pink Vintage Boutique in Sea Point Make-up courtesy of Berniece Frylinck

FAST FACTS ABOUT ZOË She’s equally comfortable in high heels or takkies She prefers colourful clothes As a teenager, she was more of a tomboy and mainly pursued outdoor activities She enjoys spending her spare time sunbathing while playing sudoku She prefers ordering in to eating out Her wardrobe is colour co-ordinated Her favourite pastime is taking a nap whenever time permits.

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ASV TOTE BAG Fabric is manufactured from solution dyed UV stablized polyester.

•Making it resistent to rotting & mildew ideal for outdoor applications .

•It’s treated with Rucuguard fabric protector giving it water, oil & general soil repellency as well as fungicide to protect against molds and mildew.

•Machine washable at 40 °C; Can be dry cleaned; Warm ironing will renew the water repellency

B

N.O.S.S. HIGH TEA WITH TAMARYN GREEN

eing passionate about their callings as educators, the teachers of New Orleans Secondary school [N.O.S.S.] in Paarl, are very conscious about the needs of the school and the important role this institution fulfills in the communities they serve. Therefore, all of them are involved in the various programs and activities offered by the school in addition to their roles as educators.

As a no-fee school, one of their biggest needs is enough funding for the smooth operation of the school. As a fundraising initiative, one of the first teachers at N.O.S.S., Ms. Carlyn Oppelt, organized N.O.S.S’s first High Tea last year.

Based on the success of this, they’ve decided to make it one of their major annual fundraising events.

The High Tea that took place in the school hall was a fully sold out complete success and guests had fun competing for valuable prizes in the bingo games.

At the helm of things this year, once again was Ms. Oppelt, lovingly known amongst the alumni as the adorable social butterfly of N.O.S.S. She used her well-known charm and social skills to rally up a few alumni and friends of N.O.S.S. to volunteer as hosts and hostesses for this event and to sponsor some amazing prizes that were raffled out to lucky guests at this elegantly posh affair.

TAMARYN FOR MISS UNIVERSE And posh it was indeed, because the guest speaker was our current Miss SA, Tamaryn Green, another alumnus of N.O.S.S. Tamaryn, who’s travelling to Bangkok, Thailand later this year to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, wowed the guests with her sincerity, warm-heartedness and compassion. According to the latest polls based on social media popularity, Tamaryn is currently placed second favorite contestant to win the Miss Universe crown. The competition will be broadcasted live on Sunday, December 16 at 7pm local time. Please vote for via MISS UNIVERSE VOTE website or follow this link: https://missuniverseupdates.com/miss-universe-2017-voting-details/#Miss_Universe_2018_Voting_Online ]. Voting starts on Tuesday, 20 November till Sunday, 25 November at 1:00PM ET and the rules for voting are also on the website.

Referring to the growth between this event and the first one last year, and true to her credo, `Go big or nothing…’, Ms. Oppelt promises that next year’s High Tea will even be bigger and more elegant!

XL 62cm x 43cm = R350 ( + R99 Postage) = R450 L 52cm x 38cm = R300 ( + R100 Postage) = R300 M 45cm x 32cm = R265 (+R100 Postage) = R364 S 38cm Xx28cm = R230 (+R100 Postage) =R327 ORDER ON OUR WEBSITE : www.atlanticseaboardviews.co.za

Should you want to get involved in next year’s High Tea or contribute in whichever way to the alumni association, please contact the school directly or check out their Facebook page.

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top ten

TOP10

TOP TEN

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most most popular popular cocktails cocktails in in the the world world

7. Pina Colada

The Pina Colada is a classic tropical cocktail with a distinctive look and taste.

The simple yet exquisite mixture of rum, coconut milk and pineapple juice is a favourite in the tropics and among the less experienced cocktail drinkers looking for a sweet cocktail that is more like a smoothie than an alcoholic beverage. It is a popular drink to enjoy poolside or anywhere offering a glimpse of the ocean or the feel of sand between the toes.

The Pina Colada’s roots can be traced to Puerto Rico and it has long been considered the island country’s national drink. The cocktail is said to have been invented by a bartender at the luxurious Caribe Hilton Hotel’s Beachcomber Bar in 1952, shortly after a key ingredient, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, was developed. Puerto Rico honours the cocktail with a National Pina Colada Day celebrated each year on July 10.

10. Apple Martini

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any of today’s most popular cocktails are either variations of iconic drinks or based on old-fashioned remedies for illnesses that we now cure with injections or pills. The recipes might have changed and the liquors become more refined, but the enjoyment of a tasty cocktail remains the same.

From the sophisticated Apple Martini to the powerful punch of a Zombie, there are plenty of well-known cocktails available to patrons of any restaurant or bar. The presentation and experience of a fine cocktail defines the moment and even the character of the person enjoying the drink. Much like a brand of beer or the label on a fine bottle of wine, ordering a cocktail can say so much more than just a preference in taste.

The Martini, Screwdriver, Bloody Mary and even the Tom Collins are ordered with a fair amount of consistency at just about any bar. Even the Mimosa and Bellini have become standard additions to any bartender’s list. The following 10 cocktails, however, have become trendy and popular, or have managed to maintain their popularity despite great pressure from fine wine and even craft beer.

According to the website, therichest. com, the following are the most popular cocktails worldwide.

An Apple Martini or “Appletini” is a trendy cocktail that has gained popularity by adding a big twist to the typical dry martini. Vodka, instead of gin, is the basis of the cocktail and apple schnapps is most often used to add the sweet but slightly sour taste of apple to the trendier version of the cocktail. The Appletini is usually finished with a little lemon juice and garnished with a slice of apple to differentiate it from a normal martini served in the same glass.

The Appletini has been featured in several movies and sitcoms. In 2007, an Appletini was a focal point in a Disney movie, Enchanted, where a version of the cocktail made with poisoned apples was presented to the character Giselle in an attempt to harm her.

6. Margarita

9. Long Island Iced Tea

The Margarita is easily the most popular cocktail. The simple mixture of tequila, triple sec and lime juice is often blended with ice, but is traditionally served on the rocks. In either instance, the beverage is commonly presented in a salt-rimmed glass. Since the basic lime Margarita was invented, many other fruity variations of the cocktail have been created.

The origin of the Margarita dates back to the late 1930s or early 1940s and while the exact location of the origin of the drink has been a subject of great debate, the region of Baja California, Mexico, somewhere between Tijuana and Ensenada, is more than likely the birthplace of the drink. This refreshing cocktail continues to be popular in the sunny and somewhat arid regions of Mexico and San Diego, California as well.

Packing quite a punch, the Long Island Iced Tea is one cocktail that never seems to go out of style, especially with men. The potent concoction of rum, vodka, tequila, gin and triple sec is often finished with a mixture of sweet and sour, lemon juice and cola. Traditionally, there is no tea added to the mixture, but the ingredients, especially the taste of the cola, provide the flavour profile of a tea with far more taste and attitude.

The origin of the drink is debatable, but it appears to come from the community of Long Island. In 1920, a version was said to be created in the Long Island community of Kingsport, Tennessee, while the modern version was said to be invented in a contest in a bar on Long Island, New York in 1972. Much of the confusion surrounding its origin probably stems from the fact that there are many variations of the drink, including substitutions for tequila, cola and even the sweet and sour mix.

8. Californication

A California twist on the Long Island Iced Tea, the Californication is a Golden State version of the popular Long Island concoction.

The Californication comprises a mixture of rum, vodka, tequila and gin finished with orange liqueur, lemon juice and orange juice to taste. Strong and yet sweet, the cocktail is finished with either a slice of orange or a twisted peel of orange rind.

The Californication is not a subtle cocktail, but the citrus flavour imparted by the orange liqueur and orange juice attempts to disguise the punch it packs from the mixture of spirits. The name, Californication, is based on a term prominent in the lyrics of a song by rock group, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A television series of the same name has been running since August 2007.

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5. Caipirinha

In 2014, the Soccer World Cup introduced the world to the fun-loving country of Brazil. One drink that Brazilians are always delighted to share with others is the slightly intimidating Caipirinha. The national drink of Brazil is made with cachaca (spirit from sugar cane) or white rum, brown sugar and lime juice.

Some formulations of cachaca can be over 48% alcohol per volume and like magic, Caipirinha manages to hide almost all of the alcohol taste.

Caipirinha’s origin goes back to 1918 and is based on a remedy that was commonly used to treat Spanish flu. The word Caipira refers to a person from the countryside of Brazil who is far from modern or sophisticated in their ways. The drink is served from households to restaurants and bars in Brazil and has only recently started to gain popularity outside of Brazil. The inability to find good brands ofcachaca in North America and Europe has been the only limiting factor to its growth in popularity.

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4. Mint Julep

2. Mojito

The official drink of the Kentucky Derby, the Mint Julep, is a symbolic cocktail of the American South. The concoction of Bourbon, a little bit of water, powdered and granulated sugar, and plenty of mint has long been a very popular way to drink a cocktail in the region that produces the main ingredient. Simple and yet refined, the cocktail has gained acclaim elsewhere largely due to its association with the crown jewel of horseracing, the Kentucky Derby. th The origins of the Mint Julep go back as far as the late 18 century.

Evidence suggests that it was an established drink by the early 1800s with gin, brandy and whiskey all used to create different variations of the drink.

The current version with Bourbon has been promoted by Churchill Downs to Kentucky Derby fans since 1938. Currently, about 120 000 Mint Juleps are consumed each year at Churchill Downs during the two days of horseracing over the weekend that includes the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

3. Mai Tai

The Mai Tai is a Polynesian-style cocktail that has a fruity tropical taste indigenous to the western region of the United States. The mixture of light and dark rum, orange curacao, orgeat syrup and lime juice has been a symbol of Tiki or Tahitian culture ever since it was first created. The cocktail was very popular in the 50s and 60s and was even featured in Blue Hawaii, a 1961 film starring Elvis Presley.

The cocktail has over 10 documented recipes and is said to have been invented by the proprietor of Trader Vic’s of Oakland, California in 1944. He created the drink for some friends who were visiting from Tahiti and after one of them exclaimed that the drink was Maita’i (Tahitian for ‘very good’), the name stuck. A rival restaurant, Don the Beachcomber, also claims to have invented the cocktail in 1933 with a more complex version of the drink.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between, but California was more than likely the birthplace of the popular cocktail.

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The Mojito has become very popular as its fresh minty taste complements warm summer weather much like a cool glass of non-alcoholic lemonade.

The mixture of white rum, mint, lime juice, sugar and soda water is crisp and clean with a relatively low alcohol content. Sprite is often used in place of the soda water and a good portion of the sugar. One of the keys to preparing a proper Mojito is to crush, not cut or dice, the mint leaves to unlock more of the oils of the mint, thus enhancing the minty flavour.

The origins of this minty mixture with rum go back as far as 1586 when the men aboard Sir Francis Drake’s armada reached out to local Indians in search of a cure for scurvy and dysentery. Drake’s small boarding party returned from the shores of Cuba with the primary ingredients for the modern-day Mojito. Several other stories exist regarding the cocktail’s true origins, but most stories simply provide evidence to how long the general recipe has been in existence. The great author, Ernest Hemingway, was known to have developed quite a taste for the refreshing drink.

1. Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan is an ultra-modern drink that has surged in popularity over the past 20–30 years. The tangy concoction of vodka, triple sec, lime juice and cranberry juice has managed to leapfrog the venerable Screwdriver as many vodka drinkers prefer the Cosmopolitan’s cleaner and slightly tart taste. Two essential elements – a good brand of cranberry juice and Cointreau Triple Sec – are key to the preparation of this cocktail.

The origin of the drink is unclear, but the modern version presented in a sophisticated martini glass is said to have been invented in 1985 by a bartender at the Strand restaurant in South Beach, Florida. Other stories place its origin to a bar in Minneapolis around 1975. In either case, the cocktail has created quite a following with females and seems to have the perfect name to match its sophisticated taste and traditional martini-like presentation. The shortened name of “Cosmo” and the drink itself exploded in popularity during the 1990s with frequent mentions on the hit television series,Sex and the City.

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Not an enigma,

ONE ON ONE

but a champion!

“I am not an enigma, or an icon,” says the amazing, accomplished, compassionate and seemingly inexhaustible Marlene le Roux. She is, however, a champion in several respects, especially a champion for people. Gilmore Smith reveals more about this remarkable woman

C

hief Executive Officer (CEO) of Artscape is only one of the many hats that Marlene le Roux wears. She is also labelled as a champion for the disabled; a champion for black women; a champion for women from rural communities; and a champion for cultural rights among others.

She is also the recipient of a variety of both international and national awards – including a French Knighthood in the Performing Arts – and The Desmond Tutu Legendary Award, and the latest accolade – an honorary Doctorate in Arts from CPUT. Coming from a humble yet cherished background, Marlene sees herself only as an individual who’s been fortunate to have a blessed and fulfilled life. First and foremost, she is a loving and proud mother whose life centres around her 21-year-old daughter Aimee and her 16-year-old son Adam.

‘Mother’ is the only label she cares about, is interested in, and wears with pride – the rest is sometimes more of an embarrassment than anything else because, as she says, ``I’m not an enigma or an icon, I’m nothing special, I am who I am. Where I am is thanks to the people who brought me here, the people fighting for my right to live”.

She lovingly tells the story of how Christine, her working class mother, fought to get Marlene enrolled in the local mainstream primary school. Her mother, a strong and independent woman (who had to fight her own psychological journey of being an outcast), had most definitely set the example for Marlene’s future path. ``When it was time for me to start school, Tietie (Marlene’s pet name for her mother) put on her red lipstick and went to confront the principal. This brave move of challenging the system by a working class woman resulted in Marlene and another neighbourhood girl who had also suffered from polio, becoming the first children with disabilities from that community to attend a mainstream school.

A survivor whose struggles have made her stronger and compassionate Despite her modesty, this amazing 50-year-old woman is the survivor of many challenges she’s been confronted with along her life journey. She contracted polio as a three-month-old baby and spent most of her early childhood attending hospitals and wearing leg braces to facilitate mobility – not a very pleasant experience for a working class South African of colour in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

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In her early thirties, Marlene was diagnosed with a brain tumour and survived the traumatic experience of surgery. Her son Adam was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was six months old and today needs 24/7 care, provided by professional home-based caretakers. At the moment, Marlene is undergoing treatment for the post-polio syndrome that affects many polio sufferers in their adulthood.

Marlene sees herself as a facilitator for making processes work by bringing people and opportunities together. She uses all the challenges she must deal with in her personal life as platforms/vehicles to advocate for the rights of others facing similar challenges. Her latest quest is challenging the South African government to do more for people needing treatment for post-polio syndrome; this includes affordable access to physiotherapy, medication and support.

Given her upbringing and the fact that she `smelt, tasted and experienced poverty and discrimination’, Marlene is extremely conscious of and sensitive to the pain of others. This sensitivity was literally born in the dirty, smelly corridors of the hospitals she was forced to attend as a child and from witnessing how her mother, grandmother and the parents of other children with disabilities were treated as non-entities. While observing the treatment given to her mother all those decades ago, she made a promise to herself never to make other people feel small and insignificant.

Today, an accomplished career woman, she treats people with the kind of dignity and respect she had vowed to practise herself by acknowledging everyone’s right to a humane existence.

Whatever the cause, Marlene takes up the struggle on behalf of the `underdog’ and the voiceless. She knows most of the Artscape’s cleaning staff and security personnel by name and addresses them as individuals.

She gives credit to and acknowledges everybody who has, or is, playing a part in her life – her mother and family, her childhood friends and neighbours, and her two angels (Yolandi Titus and Jean Bailey – the nurses caring for Adam).

This resonates with her philosophy that you should never forget your people or your roots and the people you were born to and your community – because ultimately they will keep you upright and also keep you grounded.

This humaneness and compassion comes naturally to Marlene because she sees life in context – she is extremely aware of the psychological journey each of us are on and the different paths we need to walk.

She believes people sometimes just need the warmth or empathy of another human.

Bearing this in mind, Marlene has automatically become a hugger extraordinaire. No one she encounters will ever enter and/or leave her company without being hugged at least once.

Like the old Afrikaner oom from a small plattelandse dorpie that became so upset about her views on the church and human rights that she thought he was going to physically assault her. After the discussion, she went up to him saying, ``I can see oom is upset about my opinion. Please give me a hug because oom can’t go home with all that anger”. Needless to say and typically of Marlene, she and the oom ended up sharing jokes. That is what a hug from Marlene le Roux does to you.

An attitude of gratitude and positivity Since she’s very aware of her responsibility as a human travelling this journey called life, Marlene is extremely conscious of the need to spread positive energy always. Therefore she chooses to surround herself with positive people like her mentors, her childhood friends, and her family, but most of all, her absolute source of calmness and equilibrium, her cerebral palsied son, Adam. She describes Adam as the one person in her life who knows how she feels and knows when she has had a bad day. This makes the time she spends with Adam so much more precious to her.

This larger than life and welcoming openheartedness is experienced tenfold when visiting Marlene at her home. Reaching back to her roots and remembering the community where she was always loved and supported, it is important to her to cherish those stepping through her front door. Though her home is open to everyone, it is still the haven she retreats to with the two most precious things in her life, Aimee and Adam. She describes her haven as ``My huis is ‘n liefdeshuis want ek’t ‘n kind wat ‘n engel is wat daar bly” (`My home is a house of love because I have a child who is an angel living there’).

Even though she hates being labelled, there is one well deserved label I must add.

This dynamic woman is a mensch! This is exactly what makes Marlene le Roux, CEO of Artscape, still recognisable and as much loved as Ma Chrissie’s (her grandmother) Marlienkie of Versailles Street.

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15

CELEBRITY

MEET JADE HÜBNER s

M

eet Jade Hübner, a former Miss South Africa finalist and the youngest ever presenter of Top Billing, South Africa’s longest running local lifestyle TV programme.

Over the years Top Billing has become synonymous with beautiful people, high-flying lifestyles, elegance, glamour, elitism and even snobbishness, the latter being used to brand some of the presenters too.

Yet, when you meet Jade, the notion of unapproachableness’ is completely dispelled. The compassionate born and bred Capetonian has a wonderful down-to-earth attitude and open and honest personalist and is truly the epitome of the notion what you see is what you get.

Aside from presenting, she is also an actress, although you’ll have to tune into Netflix to see her in action, a singer who performs on the local music scene, a musician (she played the piano, flute and guitar as a child], an accomplished sportswoman and dancer and a successful entrepreneur. She and two engineering partners have already won an international entrepreneur competition and she is also studying a part-time B-Com course too.

These achievements and successes should not come as any surprise since Jade is accustomed to working hard while aiming to achieve her goals. When becoming a Top Billing presenter in 2015, Jade was merely 20 years of age but had already proven that she was more than the proverbial pretty face.

Quick to admit that she is sometimes a hopeful dreamer, she balances things out by also being a realistic perfectionist and is sometimes very hard on herself. It hurts her to see that not everyone around her trying to be a better person and that some people make other people feel they’re not worth something, but she is determined to remain positive.

• • • • •

5 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT JADE:

She is a self-confessed tomboy Her favourite food is sushi and pasta She loves animals Would be caught watching action movies and reality shows like Survivor Never steps down from a challenge

Jade’s deep-anchored faith in her religion, her small but genuine support structure and the life lessons she’s learned from her dad continue to keep her grounded and focussed during her hectic but exciting life.

Her dad has taught her to never make assumptions, be impeccable with your word” and never take anything personally. “It doesn’t matter how much money you make, how much success you have, what you have and where you travel to. It means absolutely nothing if you don’t have the right people who generally love you and genuinely get joy out of your success,” she says.

Jade is very close to both her parents and says she got her adventurous and creative side from her dad and her level-headedness from her mom, who is an IT programmer and who she describes as the most selfless person she’s ever known.

She also gets her strong humanitarian sense for what is right from her parents. She has a strong belief that everybody should be treated the same because we are all equal but different and that people should not be afraid to have different opinions.

“People should stand up for those who cannot do it for themselves – but do it with respect and love because that’s the place it should come from,” she says. “Imagine how wonderful it will be if no-one ever gets humiliated”.

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FASHION

PREPARATION IS KEY

For those about to start planning for their biggest event of their teens, Aidan has the following piece of advice. “Remember that the fabric is just as important as the choice of the colour and design. Choose a fabric that will complement the design and will show off not only the garment, but also your body and personality. When looking at accessories, choose items that will complement instead of distract from the overall dress,� she says.

Prices available on request.

Fashion Shoot location: Mandela Rhodes Hotel

Belle of the Ball

FASHION

We challenged local fashion designer Aidan J to create matric ball designs that will guarantee you get noticed, your pics liked, shared and re-shared on social media and remembered for years to come.

It is that time of the year again where our matriculants

are in serious planning mode for their annual gala event, their Matric Ball. Fabric needs to be chosen and purchased, dresses need to be made, shoes bought, accessories chosen and hair and makeup artists booked.

Young Cape Town designer, Aidan J, created a wide selection of exquisitely glamorous outfits, ideal for all shapes, sizes and tastes and in trending colours for this year.

From a graciously elegant look in a black or black/ silver cocktail dress, with hand stitched lace details or a daringly provocative number encompassing a customised black blazer with silver inserts paired with a Monroe high-waisted metallic silver bikini bottom or a truly Cinderella-esque dress made with luxurious purple Charmeuse and meters of black Tulle, Aidan J will make sure that you look at your best.

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“WHEN LOOKING AT ACCESSORIES, CHOOSE ITEMS

FASHION

THAT WILL COMPLEMENT INSTEAD OF DISTRACT FROM THE OVERALL DRESS”.

FASHION

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FASHION

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FASHION FASHION

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EDITORIAL

DESIGNING COUTURE FOR ALL A

t 25, Aidan Jeptha has packed more into her fashion designing life than most her age would only dream of – and she’s only just getting started.

Growing up with a father and aunt owning a lingerie manufacturing business, Aidan Jeptha literally grew up with fabrics, clothing and fashion in her blo od. ``Since I can remember, our house was always full of boxes of stock [clothing] that ne eded to be sent somewhere, or there were samples of new designs lying around the house,” she says.

“Chic, fierce and most importantly, suitable for all body types – hence her love for wrap-around skirts”

S

Experimental and authentic de-

signs

Just over two years ago, this 25-year old trend-setting She describes her clothing as chic, fierce fashion designer launched her own label, Aidan J [lo ok and most importantly, suitable for all body on page ……. for her take on matric ball garments for 2018 types – hence her love for wrap-around specially commissioned by ASV]. Though she loves designing wedding dresses and matric ball garments, her range is skirts. She also se es her designs as experimental and authentic because “I like very versatile, and she describes her market as `the young trying out new things and incorporating professional female who is fashion forward and more comthe client’s ideas to suit her specific body/ fortable to take risks’.

Apart from custom clothing, wedding and matric ball gowns, shape,” she says.

Self-confessed perfectionist, Aidan under the Aidan J design label you’ll find ready-to-wear is extremely particular about the key garments like high-waisted/tailored pants, shift dresses [long and short dresses], versatile jackets to complement any detail of her designs, including her handoccasion, and the trusted blouse [from plain to more daring]. stitched lacework, which she does herself.

Her hands-on-approach to her business is She also does men’s wear on request. evident when she confidently says that her Even though she has dressed a couple of local celebrities label is speaking for itself. for a few social occasions, Aidan fe els very strongly that she wants her designer couture to be accessible to everyone Following the trend of the past two years since launching her label, Aidan still has and will never turn a prospective client away only because big dreams… An exclusive Aidan J boutique of cost. This is also why she collaborated last year with a [or 2] …a more extensive men’s range… few other entrepreneurs to make one couple’s matric ball unforgettable by offering one of her designs fre e of charge. watch out for this forward-thinking young designer!!

Her clothing is currently available online and she couriers her designs nationwide [please se e her ad on page…….].

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The season of sun and light, and sunburn. Here’s what to do if you’ve overdone your time in the sun.

By Bilqees Capitão

Even though Aidan has be en sketching since a very young age, she never thought that she’ll end up being a fashion designer with her own label. After finishing her studies in Clothing Production, Aidan did an 18-month internship at a local design house in the Northern suburbs of Cape Town which specializes in wedding gowns.

Wanting to broaden her knowledge about the whole spectrum of the fashion industry and gaining as much experience as possible, she then went into retail and worked as a sales assistant in a boutique. While doing this, she had the opportunity to advice clients on styling and wardrobe planning and realised that she was ready to `d o my own thing”.

Aidan J Design Label

Summertime and the burn is real

EDITORIAL grow your own plants, you could buy an Aloe plant and rub the pulp directly on your skin. Ӿ Derma protective cream: Derma protective cream, a personal favourite, soothes and cools your overheated and reddened skin by taking the sting out of sunburn. I usually just dab it on the affected area as I find rubbing it in hurts the skin too much. Ӿ Aftersun spray: Unfortunately, Aftersun spray won’t reverse the sun’s damage to your skin, but it will help lock in the lost moisture and restore the dead skin cells, helping bring about new cellular turnover. Ӿ Glycerine: Glycerine is a brilliant tool for moisture rehydration. Glycerine traps moisture in the skin, soothing the burn and helping in faster cellular repair. It can be applied directly onto the affected area in either concentrated or diluted form, such as rose water and glycerine.

ummer! We all know what this means – late nights, beach parties, bikinis, sundowners and flip-flops; sounds heavenly just thinking about it!

Summer is practically everyone’s favourite season, but with all the social events and beach-partying coming, there is one guest nobody wants to ruin our summertime fun – sunburn. So, all you wanted was to be golden brown like a crispy fried chicken, but instead, you’re as red as the lemon butter crayfish you ate this past holiday.

Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us.

Here’s how to soothe the pain and mend the damage.

Sunburn remedies There are two routes to follow when it comes to trying to repair skin once it’s sunburnt – store-bought products or home remedies.

Store-bought Ӿ Aloe Vera gel: Aloe Vera is an excellent soothing agent for curing the redness and the blisters that accompany sunburn. When looking for Aloe Vera gel at the stores, try and look for one that has Vitamin E and is mostly made from Aloe Vera. If you are green-fingered and

Home-made Ӿ Cold Showers: Cool water, on a low pressure if it’s a shower, decreases excess blood flow to the skin, which will help reduce the inflammation and redness. If you’re only sunburnt on a small part of your body, then a cool cloth will do the trick, but stay away from ice as it can damage the skin even further.

When using this remedy, please keep our water restrictions in mind. Ӿ Cold yoghurt: My at home go-to technique when sunburnt is cold full cream yoghurt. It contains probiotics and cultures that help restore your

skin’s natural barrier. All you need to do is spread a thin layer over your sunburn and let the yoghurt sit for about 10 minutes, then gently dab it off with a cold cloth. Ӿ Apple cider water: For the first few days after acquiring your new undesired complexion, try spraying a bit of watered down apple cider vinegar – half water and half vinegar – on your skin for instant relief. Vinegar has antiseptic properties that kill germs, calm inflammation and ease painful, itchy skin. Ӿ Honey: The bees’ gift to the world.

Raw honey is a natural antiseptic and it can help heal damaged skin. Simply spread it carefully on the affected area, cover with gauze and allow the honey to do the bees-knees therapy. Ӿ Chilled tea: If you’re travelling this summer and can’t take an entire bottle of Aloe Vera on the airplane, just grab some black teabags. Simply brew a batch of teabags and leave to cool. Once chilled to your desired temperature, soak a cloth in the tea and pat the affected area of skin. The tea will help draw the heat out of the burn and alleviate painful stinging.

Now you know how to combat your sunburn and be a cool bombshell on your summer escapades. I hope that your skin remains clear and you don’t get sunburnt.

Remember, always wear sunblock, reapply regularly and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Bilqees Capitão is a young blogger based in Gauteng.

Follow her on instagram at: bilqeesc

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fashion

School’s out for summer

fashion

MODELS: Phoenix Bennett Saabirah Ismail Muttalib Benjamin Raees Richards Nea Appollis Ave Maria Appollis Ally Appollis Ben Appolis Azrah Rossier Shae Engelbrecht Mekai Engelbrecht Ella van Niekerk Lucy van Niekerk Nurul-Absaar Benjamin Gabrielle-Sue Stoffels Noah Stoffels

Summer – when the schoolchildren get their long holiday break – sees them spending more time outside playing.

S

ummertime and being outside is great fun for the children, but for some parents, this is also the time that they’re most worried about their kids’ clothing.

With Eco-Punk’s latest summer range of designer clothes for kids, parents really don’t need to worry about the longevity of their kids’ clothes. They can relax and enjoy the outdoors with their kids to the fullest.

Sticking to their trademark of comfort and playfulness, this season sees little girls dressed in soft pastel colours mixed with subtle floral

patterns. Skirts with mesh for the little party girl; shorts for the ‘tomboy’, both equally smartly matched with T-shirts in complementary colours.

For the almost teenage girl, who’s not always comfortable in shorts, EcoPunk has jumpsuits suitable for the beach, a day in the park or even for a playful party.

Boys are dressed in T-shirts made for comfort in combinations of greys, yellows and blues. Match this with an equally comfortable pair of shorts, available in varying lengths, and your little warrior is ready to take on the world.

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fashion

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top ten TEN P O

T

top ten

E

A

T

H

B

OA

RD

Feel like a day in the scenic outdoors, but not keen on

AT

LANTIC

SE

the beach or enthusiastic about driving long distances to find a place of peace and tranquillity? Well, if you are fortunate enough to live along the beautiful Atlantic Seaboard, you definitely don’t need to drive for hours to find the perfect place, offering solitude and quiet

with stunning views as value-add, to picnic.

On an expedition to find the perfect picnic spots in and around the Atlantic Seaboard, we came across some absolute jewels that are unique to Cape Town.

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top ten

top ten

1

Bo-Kaap (Photograph pages 4 and 5) Our first stop was for a sunrise picnic at a lookout

point in the historic Bo-Kaap We discovered this unspoilt piece of land in the middle of a residential area, at the end of a cul-de-sac. Offering a 360-degree view of the mountain, the city, the harbour and even Robben Island, this little gem of a spot offers peace and quiet and a majestic sunrise sight. Absolutely worth getting up early for!

2

Lion’s Head After enjoying the magnificent panoramic

early morning view of the city and its surrounds, we decided to explore Mother Nature at a closer range. Since this was our day for exploring our beautiful city in a quest to find the ideal breakaway without travelling too far, we decided to climb Cape Town’s iconic Lion’s Head. After about 30 minutes we reached the summit – this is certainly one of the easier hikes in and around Cape Town and a breathtaking picnic spot.

Wherever you look, there are stunning panoramas – the lively Mother City bustles amid a charming urban sprawl, while Camps Bay and the rest of the Atlantic Seaboard coastline beckons you to take a dip in the cool waters.

3

Table Mountain Although we did not actually stop at our third choice – this one is a

you are treated to the sights of Cape Town’s neighbouring suburbs spreading

Maiden’s Cove is a great spot for a sunset picnic, or you can set up a grill and enjoy

in all directions around the majestic mountain. For the more adventurous and energetic, you can hike up with your

a braai against the gorgeous backdrop of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles

picnic gear through Skeleton Gorge, Platteklip Gorge or Nursery Ravine. The truly adventurous can abseil down to the main station on their return trip.

Signal Hill

4

Heading out from Hout Bay, cruise along the

used to communicate with ships at sea, boasts spectacular views of the Atlantic Seaboard and is a perfect

point. Slip through the railings and make a tentative trek down the mountain

spot from which to watch the sunset. Dusk picnics at the top of the 350m-high Signal Hill are very popular. Alternatively, arrive with your basket just before 12:00 to catch the firing of the famous Noon Gun.

The Rock

5

At the end of Ocean View Drive, Fresnaye Make your way past the imposing houses on Ocean View Drive to the very end to what looks like a dead-end. Proceed on foot past the bushes and over the boulders onto a beautiful flat rock that overlooks Camps Bay and Clifton. This promises a secluded spot with a spectacular view – whether you are toasting the sunrise or sunset.

6

Oudekraal Beach

Situated between Camps Bay and Llandudno and set against the backdrop of the Twelve Apostles mountain range is where you’ll find Oudekraal

rest assured that the views from Table Mountain are sublime.

ideal spot to enjoy a relaxed picnic meal with family and friends. Visitors need to

A recognised World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Table Mountain supports over 1 500 plant species and boasts panoramic

pay a small entry fee to gain access to this private zone, but it is well worth it. The beach is open to the public between 8:00

under the age of four ride for free.

When ascending with the cable car,

8

infamous Chapman’s Peak Drive past the day trip point of no return until you reach the second lookout

Beach. This stunning, private boulderenclosed beach is one of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets, offering several grassy picnic sites under the milkwood trees – an

making it an idyllic picnic spot.

Aerial cableway tickets can be purchased at the office or online (online tickets are slightly cheaper) and children

The Cave, Chapman’s Peak Drive

The landmark flat-topped hill, which once bore signal flags

no-brainer.

The most identifiable landmark of Cape Town, and at an impressive 3 500 feet high, you can

views of Cape Town and surrounds,

mountain range.

and 18:00 every day, and on weekends only between 1 June and 1 October.

7

veering a little to the left. This sheltered sandstone cave boasts a perfect view of an almost Mediterranean Atlantic.

There’s plenty of space to enjoy a packed picnic lunch and take in the dreamy blue sea. Just be sure not to disturb this sensitive natural environment, so that others can enjoy it too.

9

Silvermine Nature Reserve

Although not quite on the Atlantic Seaboard, as part of the Table Mountain National Park, the breathtaking Silvermine Nature Reserve claims a large reservoir that just begs Capetonians to picnic along its pretty banks. Other activities in the area include mountain biking, bird watching, rock climbing, and hiking (there’s a short trail that goes to a viewpoint that looks over False Bay and Cape Point). Silvermine is open between 7:00 and 18:00 during the summer months and between 8:00 and 17:00 during winter. An entrance fee is payable

10

The Company’s Garden This large public park and botanical haven in the heart of Cape Town

features a rose garden, a Japanese garden, a fishpond, an aviary, and plenty of spaces to unwind and stretch out. It’s a popular picnic spot and is surrounded by the South African Parliament, a presidential residence,

Seek out the scenic lookout

the Iziko South African Museum, the South African National Gallery and The Company Garden’s Restaurant.

point between the Clifton and Camps Bay beaches on Cape

The garden is open daily between 7:00 and 19:00.

Maiden’s Cove

Town’s

Atlantic

Seaboard.

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ENTREPRENEUR

Desire to be of service

Typical Cape Flats girl, and then some…

R

onelle Hartnick is much more than just an ordinary businesswoman. The 24-year old entrepreneur is the proud co-owner of two different companies and in her own words is ‘a typical Cape Flats girl and then some’.

“I am a woman, an entrepreneur, a daughter, a sister, a godmother, a niece, a cousin and so, so much more,” she laughs.

Ronelle is part-owner of the two businesses and although they might seem worlds apart, both are important to her, as they provide valuable help and guidance to ordinary people who are trying to better their lives. Her desire to be of service to the community started way back when she was in primary school, when a grade seven teacher commented that the girls in the class would probably all be pregnant or already mothers, by the time they were 16.

“I will never allow someone to dictate what I can or cannot do”, recalls Ronelle. “I want to be a success story for those coming behind me, so instead of breaking my spirit, that teacher actually inspired me.

When someone’s’ not treating you well, you don’t have to accept it – you have a choice,” she says.

The company assists with work, study, investor permits and accompanying spouse and minor permits, as well as business visas and sponsored employment, including professional indemnity insurance. They can also assist with short and long-term global payroll projects and setting up of offshore businesses. A comprehensive medical and travel multi trip insurance policy is also in place for those clients ready to travel overseas. The policy covers medical costs and those associated with war evacuation or unrest as well as delayed flights and lost luggage.

Born and raised in Belhar on the Cape Flats, Ronelle qualified as a project manager and began working as an Ronelle and Ismail were never content with just setting immigration consultant for a local company specialising in up a successful business. After getting PMG Africa on assisting South Africans wishing to emigrate to Canada. a stable financial footing, the duo bought into a franchise business called Credit Rescue, one of South Africa’s She quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a full business largest debt rehabilitation companies. Credit Rescue offers partner at the age of 22, when taking over the company a robust solution to debt, including mediation and review, with her business partner, Ismail Toffar. Not only did the administration order reversals, family protection plans and duo change the name of the company to PMG Africa, Garnishee Rescue, or the reversal/rescission of emolument but also changed its focus. attachment orders.

Today, PMG Africa is a bespoke business process outsourcing company that manages and facilitates various “When someone’s not treating you well, visa and permit applications. Their main focus is the you don’t have to accept it – you have a oil and gas, power generation, telecommunication, IT, choice!” renewable energy, agriculture, mining, drilling and construction sectors across Africa and the Middle East.

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As an active member of her church, she is fully aware of the negative perceptions aimed at the youth. Ronelle’s aim is to show the youth that nothing is impossible and despite your background, social status and discouragement of others, you can still succeed and make a difference. Being raised in a Christian home and a committed believer of the Christian faith, she’s very conscious of the fact that most often, all young people need is a soundboard, and she hopes to be just that.

A huge obstacle for a lot of people is knowing what it is not to have and so aiming to have more than what we need,” she explains. I am grateful for what I don’t have and grateful for what I’m going to have”.

She is also grateful for what she does have, such as her mum, who raised her and is her biggest support structure, allowing her to spread her wings and be the superwoman she is striving to be become.

Raised by a Superwoman “I was raised by my mum, a superwoman and a strong warrior,” she laughs.

As a successful businesswoman, Ronelle has the following pearls of wisdom for other young business folk.

“You need to know who you are and what you want out of life for yourself - because only then will you be strong enough not to allow people to walk over you,” she says. “It is important that you carry yourself in the way you want to be perceived and know who you are, in order to have a positive impact on others,” she concludes.

After chatting to her, it is little surprise to hear that Ronelle’s life motto is that you become the choices you make. Her life story is the perfect example of how a negative choice helped to bring about positive change and that is something we can all learn.

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EDITORIAL: DESPERATE MAMA ITALIANS ARE WELL KNOWN FOR THEIR ATTENTION TO DRESSING-UP WELL; “LA BELLA FIGURA” , OR GOOD IMPRESSION AND THE `ITALIAN LOOK’ IS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CASUAL YET ARISTOCRATIC ELEGANCE.

Editorial: Desperate MaMa When Beatrice and her husband Fabrizio De Italians are well known for their a�en�on to dressing-up well; “la belladecided figura”, three or good impression andtothe `Italian Look’ is Grandi years ago to move ince January 2016 when Desperate MaMa generally associated with casual yet aristocra�c elegance.

South Africa with their two teenage children, opened their doors the first time in Woodstock, they first toured through all the major SA cities Cape Town’s fashion loving ladies have been able before making their final decision on where to to have exactly this, but all locally sourced and live. immediately fallSince January 2016 when Desperate MaMa opened their doors theHaving first �me in produced. loveexactly with thethis, vibrancy Woodstock, Catering Cape Town’s fashion to in have but all for women [she loving also hasladies a lot ofhave Euro-been ableen of the Mother City, there pean clients] between the ages of 25 – 60, Italian locally sourced and produced. born and trained designer, Beatrice Campagnol’s was never any doubt in their designs are creatively constructed, well-made minds that to –raise Catering for women [she also has a lot of European clients] between thethey ageswant of 25 60, Italian ready-to-wear garments - combining the distinctive their children in Cape Town. born and trained designer, Beatrice Campagnol’s designs are crea�vely constructed, wellItalian craftmanship with the informality and `liberisItalian family affair made ready-to-wear garments - combining the dis�nc�ve Italian cra�manship with the mo’ attitude of the Cape Town fashion circuit. All her Desperate MaMa is a informality and `liberismo’ a�tude of the Cape Town fashion circuit.

All her fabrics are locally fabrics are locally sourced and some of her fabrics family enterprise in the true sourced andissome of her fabrics is hand painted and/or embroidered by herself. hand painted and/or embroidered by herself. sense. While Beatrice is the creative force, Fabrizio, Personalized service PERSONALIZED SERVICE a qualified chemical Beatrice, with years of experience as a designer, has worked with some of the engibiggest Beatrice, with years of experience as a designer, neer, is responsible for the international fashion brands like Italian designer Gianfranco Ferré [also known as ``the worked with some of the biggest internationfinancial management of the architect ofhas fashion”].

This experience shows in the way she personalizes the services al fashion brands like Italian designer Gianfranco business [and according to literally Beatrice,see “…he’s offered by Desperate MaMa. Since all garments are made on the premises, clients can the now whole produc�on Ferré [also known as ``the architect of fashion”]. learning about fabrics and fashion…” ] and both process of their purchases. Beatrice gladly explains to her clients the produc�on process from the ini�al design [the technical This experience shows in the way she personalchildren help in the boutique over weekends and design] un�l the garment is ready to wear. It is her mission to bring some of the Italian flair to Capetonian fashionistas at izes the services offered by Desperate MaMa. school holidays. affordable prices.

Since all garments are made on the premises, Being so conscious about the importance of her clients can literally see the whole production proNever any doubt they want to raise their children in Cape Townown family, it’s thus no surprise that Beatrice is cess of their purchases. Beatrice gladly explains very much aware of the needs and realities of to her clients the production process from the her permanent employees were previously Since Desperate MaMa caters for the local as well as interna�onal markets, they alwayswho stock a range of Summer and Winter initial design [the technical design] until the garunemployed local women. garments at any given �me due to the difference in �me zones between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. They have a ment is ready to wear. It is her mission to bring Apart from the boutique/design studio in Woodcouple of new in theflair produc�on process every week which means there is always new stock available. As a designer, somedesigns of the Italian to Capetonian fashionistas stock, Desperate MaMa has recently launched businesswoman and mother, challenges of our current economic climate. Therefore, her at affordable prices. Beatrice is very conscious of thetheir online shop to make it easier for their clients designs areSince classical yet versa�le.

She describes her clothing brand as one basic range that grows and evolves because she Desperate MaMa caters for the local to shop in the comfort of their own homes. This believes that women should u�lize what they have and just add on to transform it into a brand new ou�it. as well as international markets, they always addition to the business is only the beginning of stock a range of Summer and Winter garments a lot more developments in the pipeline for this When Beatrice hertime husband De Grandi decided three years ago to move to South Africa with their two teenage at anyand given due toFabrizio the difference in time `local Italian’ brand. Please visit them at: www. children, they first touredthe through all the SA ci�es before making their final decision on where to live. Having zones between Northern andmajor Southern desperatemama.co.za immediately fallen in love with thea vibrancy thedesigns Mother City, there was never any doubt in their minds that they want to Hemispheres.

They have couple ofof new To bring these locally designed Italian crafted raise their in children in Cape process Town. every week which the production garments within reach of more locals, Desperate means there is always new stock available. As MaMa has recently opened a new shop at the Italian family affair businesswoman and mother, Bea designer, High Shopping Center in High Constantia in atrice is very conscious of the challenges of our collaboration with a well-known Italian shoe shop Desperate current MaMa economic is a familyclimate. enterprise in theher true sense. Whilecatering Beatrice theand crea�ve a qualified chemical Therefore, designs forismen ladies’force, shoes.Fabrizio, What better engineer, isare responsible for the financial management of the business [and according to Beatrice, “…he’s now learning about classical yet versatile. She describes her place to get the whole `Italian Look̀ at affordable fabrics andclothing fashion…”] children help the bou�que prices!! over weekends school holidays. brandand as both one basic range thatingrows Also look and out for another shop opening and evolves because she believes that women at the V&A Waterfront in the foreseeable future.

Being so conscious about thethey importance own it’s thus no surprise that Beatrice is very much aware of the need s should utilize what have and of justher add on family, to and reali�es of her permanent employees transform it into a brand new outfit.who were previously unemployed local women.

S

Apart from the bou�que/design studio in Woodstock, Desperate MaMa has recently launched their online shop to make it ATLANTIC | SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 2018beginning easier for their clients to shop in the comfort of their own SEABOARD homes. ThisVIEWS addi�on to the business is only the 39 of a lot more developments in the pipeline for this `local Italian’ brand. Please visit them at: www.desperatemama.co.za

entrepreneur

entrepreneur

TURNING PASSION INTO PROFIT A love for skateboarding, a school project and some ingenuity has given rise to the birth of Spawn Skate Co.

W

hen thinking about entrepreneurship, one tends to imagine young people having an epiphany about doing their own thing when it comes to earning a living, usually while they’re busy with, or have just finished their tertiary studies.

This preconceived notion is, however, proven completely wrong when meeting best friends Samson Scheffel and Mally Lord-Rule, 18-year-old matric learners from Kommetjie. Despite their youth and apparent lack of experience, these two young men have all the required skills and tenacity to be prime examples of what our country is all about; a country full of opportunity for those who aren’t afraid of taking chances and hard work.

Both avid skateboard enthusiasts, and very conscious of the lack of understanding of, and support for this ‘sport’ in South Africa, they’ve decided to make their

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hobby and passion a profitable business.

And, they plan to use their business as a platform to educate the broader public about the intricacies and value of the sport.

Both agree that skateboarding is, despite the apparent lack of set safety regulations, not only very safe, but, because it requires intense focus and attention, also serves as a venting mechanism to get rid of the stress to which our youth are subjected.

Though skateboarding is not currently fully recognised as an official sport in South Africa (trick boarding is but longboarding is not), it has a huge following throughout our country – we even have locals competing professionally in the international arena. However, because of a lack of understanding of the sport, skateboarders are generally treated as trespassers wherever they’re trying to practise their hobby/sport.

When Mally, a learner at Waldorf School, had to start work on his final year project,

it was a no-brainer to use and incorporate the business idea these two friends had been talking about for some time. And so, Spawn Skate Co – a company manufacturing skateboards designed and handmade by these two enthusiasts with years of skateboarding experience – was born. A little over 18 months ago, these two teenage boys started doing research about building their own skateboards. Their aim was to produce customised skateboards and manufacture them locally in the most costeffective manner.

Since the manufacturing of skateboards requires a very specific type of wood (veneer wood), which is not so readily available in South Africa, they had to call upon their international friends and connections in the skateboarding fraternity to source the best suitable wood. They ended up importing wood from Germany and Brazil.

Prototype developed For Mally’s school project, they began building their own skateboard press from scratch. An engineering friend of the family helped them with the design of this industrial machine. Both being creative and enjoying working with their hands, they built two skateboard presses using materials they’ve collected from

scrapyards or found in Samson’s garden and/or Mally’s father’s workshop. The purchase of the necessary parts to build the presses was financed with their pocket money and wages earned doing casual work over weekends and school holidays in their respective parents’ businesses.

When the presses were ready, they produced the first prototype of their own custom-designed skateboard. This board is made up of 21 layers of veneer wood from three different types of wood. After trial and error, they cut the production time down to two days per board and with their two skateboard presses they can effectively manufacture four skateboards at a time.

Skateboarding can be a pricey hobby – it needs certain safety accessories such as helmets, gloves, knee and elbow pads, shoes, and even clothing.

Added to this is that one gets different types of skateboards for the various styles of skateboarding – some skaters own more than one skateboard. In the current market, a quality second-hand skateboard can cost anything between R300–R800, and a brand-new one R1 000–R3 000. That is why Spawn Skate Co aims to produce personalised skateboards [and all the accessories at a later stage] at the lowest possible cost.

Their prototype has cost them just over R1 500, hence they’re in the process of exploring alternative locally-sourced materials, without compromising the quality of their skateboards, before they start full-on production.

Having received their official first order for a customised skateboard from an overseas friend, they have had to put production on hold as Samson is currently busy with his final exams.

Expansion on the cards True to the spirit of entrepreneurs, these two young men have

big dreams of where they want to take Spawn Skate Co. Apart from manufacturing skateboards and the accompanying apparel, they would also like to expand their company to organise skateboarding races in South Africa as currently there aren’t any. The dream is to bring international skateboarders to our country. They also feel very strongly about developing the skateboarding culture and advocating for it to be recognised as an official sport in South Africa.

Not only do they intend to change the landscape of the local skateboarding arena, but they’re also planning on taking their company global.

When Samson moves to Malta next year, they intend to run Spawn Skate Co as an international company with Mally looking after the local manufacturing plant, while Samson identifies and builds a European market for the company. They believe that trading on both continents will not only mean a bigger market, but will also help cut their production cost as they’ll be able to export and import between two different branches instead of two different businesses. Once again, this shows that these two budding businessmen have done their homework.

At this stage, however, while having to attend to their final exams, their biggest challenge is the administration side of running a business: “Maintaining the balance between creativeness and the essentials of business.”

Both young men believe that for their business to succeed, it is essential to make use of all available resources and “not be afraid to ask people if you don’t know”.

Samson adds that ”while still at school, choose the correct subjects. Think of everything you do as potential tools to equip you for your future – whether you’re planning a business or not.”

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inspired homemaking INSPIRED HOMEMAKING

foodIt&Yourself Do recipes Do you ever wonder what to do with your empty glass jars? Are you one of those people who cannot stand to throw away an empty jar in case you might need it one day, meanwhile your collection is growing and taking up valuable storage space in your cupboard?

Or, do you rinse and toss them in the recycling bin? Stop right there and read on…

Shower rings Don’t throw old shower curtain rings away. Slip them onto a hanger to make an easily accessible space-saver for scarves, caps or any other accessories.

Compiled by Andrew Cox

Create a colourful glow Simply decoupage layers of different coloured tissue paper to the outside of your glass jars. Enjoy the colours when placed in the sun or for an evening glow, add a lighted candle.

Salad on the go Keep it fresh and healthy for work lunches or a picnic in your favourite spot. Create a layered salad to go. Start by adding the dressing to the bottom of the jar and then fill layer upon layer upward with wet ingredients and then the dry. Close jar tightly to keep your salad fresh. When ready to eat, simply empty the jar’s contents into a bowl, give the salad a toss and tuck in.

Spice it up

Organise and tidy your wardrobe Six simple ways to use clothes hangers and other items in the home to create a tidy, organised wardrobe.

By Andrew Cox

Can’t find your herbs and spices that are scattered around your kitchen cupboards? Try this for an effective yet simple storage solution.

After washing and rinsing small baby food or pesto jars, secure the lids to the bottom of a shelf in a kitchen cupboard. Decant the spices into jars, mark them clearly, then just twist on or off for easy access. Hooray, no more scratching around for that secret ingredient.

Poolside drinking glasses There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day than a cool fresh summer punch. No need to worry about using your best glassware outside. Just fill your thoroughly cleaned glass jars with your favourite punch mix. Lie back, relax and enjoy!

And here’s our favourite punch recipe, perfect for Cape Town’s hot summer days: Quick Citrus and Mint Punch • Place 4 normal or rooibos tea bags along with several sprigs of mint in a large jug. Pour in 600 ml boiling water and leave to steep for 8 minutes.

• Remove tea bags and mint, squeezing out all the flavours into the jug.

• Add about 200g sugar (or to taste) and stir until dissolved. Add 250 ml of a good quality orange juice, the juice of a lemon and 1.2 litre cold water.

• Serve with plenty of ice, mint leaves and fruit slices for garnish.

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Did you know?

Repurposing or upcycling is a trend that is fast catching on. From clothes to accessories to glass jars and even old packing crates, clever DIYers are finding innovative ways to re-use items they would have previously thrown into the rubbish bin. Not only can you make beautiful and practical décor items for your home, but you are also saving the landfills from becoming overfull.

Back to front hanger trick

Can ring pulls

This may be a bitter pill to swallow, but maybe the lack of space may just be that you have too much stuff! After sorting out your wardrobe, make sure all the hangers face away from you.

Every time you wear an item of clothing, turn the hanger around.

After six months whatever is on the hangers still facing away from you really needs to be given away … think about it!

Save those ring pulls from your soft drink cans and increase your hanging capacity in one refreshing drink, check out the picture.

What could be easier?

Metal chains A variation of the can ring pull – a metal chain can be used in a similar way for heavier items in your cupboards if you’re worried about supporting the weight.

Is your wardrobe too small? Do you have too many clothes (lucky you)?

Or, does your wardrobe just resemble a disaster area? Whatever the case, here are some easy and quick ways to organise your wardrobe and better utilise the existing space.

Hooks Are your earrings, chains, belts and all the other little bits that make your outfit perfect getting tangled up or even lost? Why not secure small brass hooks on a hanger to keep them all in one place to grab and go?

Non-slip hangers

Idea on the side

Avoid the frustration of your clothes slip-sliding to the floor in a messy heap! Warp good oldfashioned pipe cleaners around the base of both ends of the hangers. If you have a glue gun handy, a little squiggle line along the same area will do the trick, but remember to let it dry completely before use. The simplest of all is to wrap rubber bands around both ends (over time they will deteriorate, so keep an eye out for when to replace).

Now that you’ve freed up some hangers from the unworn clothing you agreed to give away, here’s a quick idea for repurposing them. Make a cut in the centre of the long straight bottom section of the hanger and insert tin foil, kitchen towel, baking or wax paper and you have a practical mobile dispenser for use in the kitchen, workshop or at the braai.

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home & interior decor

home home&interior decor

From pewsto beds A former church has been given a new lease on life, thanks to an innovative renovation.

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home home&interior decor

home & interior decor

W

After looking at the renovation plans presented to them, their personal lifestyle and available budget, the couple decided to do the renovations themselves (apart from certain tasks that needed professional artisans like electricity, plumbing, etc.).

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47

hen Italian-born Anita and her South African-born husband Robin Goode walked into a neglected old church in Sea Point just over two years ago, she instantly knew ‘This is it! This is where I want to live!’ They immediately made an offer to buy this almost 100-year-old church building and started consulting with local architects on its restoration and renovation.

After looking at the renovation plans presented to them, their personal lifestyle and available budget, the couple decided to do the renovations themselves (apart from certain tasks that needed professional artisans like electricity, plumbing, etc.).

Once the paperwork was done and they took ownership of their new home more than a year ago, they immediately brought the professionals in to start the renovations.

Having fallen in love with the spaciousness of the building and true to their own minimalistic style, they set out to create a home for themselves and their four-year-old son Leonardo that truly reflects their personalities and their lifestyle. However, they regard the renovation as a work in progress.

To enhance the minimalistic feel of their new home and to make the intricate detail of the building the focus point as well as optimising the natural light pouring into their home, they opted for a mostly white interior accentuated with natural colours and the occasional splash of bright reds and greens. Strategically placed objets d’art, have definitely put the couple’s personal mark on their home. This is further emphasised by their repurposing of objects – from their dining room chairs (once the chairs in a well-known restaurant that were re-upholstered by Anita herself), familytype portraits (of strangers) bought at flea markets, and a clothing store mannequin that serves as a handbag and coat hanger.

They consciously decided to keep as much of the original detail such as the stained glass windows, lampshades,

home & interior decor

Having fallen in love with the spaciousness of the building and true to their own minimalistic style, they set out to create a home for themselves and their four- year-old son Leonardo that truly reflects their personalities and their lifestyle.

Cape Town 82 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town, 8001 021 461 9078

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Johannesburg Kramerville Place, Ground Floor, 14A Kramer Road, Kramerville 2090 011 262 0202

www.corefurniture.co.za

home home&interior decor

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home & interior decor

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home home&interior decor

home & interior decor

wooden floors, etc. as possible. This, teamed with mostly locally-sourced items (their handmade custom-designed dining room table and the customised kitchen by a local designer) and the use of exclusively local service providers, shows that this young innovative and creative couple is conscious and proud of the rich heritage of their new home along the Atlantic Seaboard.

Their main bedroom – once the cellar of the church – is uncluttered and the unplastered wall and visible electrical cables give this space an almost industrial feel, yet it’s warm and cosy. The whole room is a reflection of the couple occupying it.

What more can a very active four-yearold boy want than a bedroom big enough to call it his kingdom – complete with an ‘educational corner’ and a play area large enough that he won’t feel claustrophobic.

The spare bedroom (once the gallery of the church) is open with a panoramic view of the living area and kitchen, yet it is private enough to make visitors feel comfortable and secure a good night’s rest.

What more can a very active four-year-old boy want than a bedroom big enough to call it his kingdom – complete with an ‘educational corner’ and a play area large enough that he won’t feel claustrophobic.

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home & interior decor

Welcome to this

small, enchanted home

Discover how a professional, single male created a haven of peace and beauty in his small apartment through the innovative use of colour, lighting fixtures and carefully placed décor accessories.

By Tansy Sloane

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home & interior decor

A

s a professional person living alone, your living space should not only look its most beautiful best, but also be your haven. An oasis where you escape to rejuvenate body and soul to face the demands of your career, the expectations of society and the related stress, and the harsh reality of our ailing economy. And the best way to achieve this is to surround yourself with things you love and cherish; things that portray your individuality and your style.

Your living space is truly an extension of who you are as well as an ode to your achievements in life. For many of us, colouring this palette can be daunting because we tend to think that we need vast space and expensive objets d`art to beautify and personalise our space.

Many people believe that re-decorating is an expensive exercise way beyond their reach and budget. But, with the clever use and combination of colours, striking lighting effects, and some carefully placed decorations it is possible, no matter the size of your accommodation!

This winter, a local fabric designer living alone reveals how he has created a haven of tranquillity in his small (75m² ) apartment. Optimal usage of the available space in this two-bedroom apartment, accompanied by key multi-functional pieces of furniture, creates a sense of space that is not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing, while his use of lighting (including candles) to create ambiance completely changes the look and feel of the same room at varying times of day.

Using the same wallpaper in the different rooms as a focal point not only creates a statement wall in each room, but also carries the general colour scheme of the interior throughout the apartment, presenting it as one unit instead of four separate rooms. Each room’s individual identity is achieved by the clever use of accessories. The owner emphasises the ease and cost-effectiveness of `re-decorating’ each space regularly by simply changing accessories each season; a smart way to have a `new’ look home every season without spending too much money!

Colour your world Despite having the same type and colour blinds in front of all the windows (lounge, kitchen and both bedrooms), each space has been given its own individual look and feel by simply hanging a different colour curtain in each room. This unique look is continued through the artful arrangement of scatter cushions of varying shapes, sizes, fabrics and colours, and the use of different coloured and patterned linen in each bedroom.

The bright turquoise carpet [picked up from a national retailer offering branded home décor bargains] underneath the coffee table in the sitting area, provides a pop of vivid colour that immediately

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draws the eye and provides a direct line of sight to the bright yellow, custommade chair and the elegant silver floor lamp next to it.

The dining area features a custom made dark wood table accompanied by Eames chairs [available from Chair Crazy in Woodstock] with polyproplene (plastic) seat and wooden frame.

Light up your world The innovative use of lighting and lighting features (light fittings, lamp shades and type of lights) has resulted in a wonderful play of light, shade and ambiance throughout the apartment. Each room features a different style of light fitting as the main light [all supplied by Eagle Lighting and some customised by them], which is further enhanced by more specific lighting applicable to the style of each room.

In the main bedroom, two tall silver reading lamps on the nightstands, complemented by different objets d‘art [best place to find these is at a local retailer offering home décor items at bargain prices and/or a flea market], provide symmetry and character. The guest bedroom‘s medium height table lamp with an embroidered lampshade emphasises the subtle embroidery on the bed linen, and provides a lovely warm glow.

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home & interior decor

“You know you have reached perfection of design not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away.”

– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

“I think that when you invite people to your home, you invite them to yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey 58 ATLANTIC SEABOARD VIEWS | SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 2018

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WEYLANDTS/1542/E/SA

food & recipes

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD,

THE BON APPETIT CATERERS WAY In CapeTown, summer is synonymous with food. Food for year-end functions, food for holiday get-togethers with family and friends, food for entertaining guests, and food for the little soiree on a late weekend afternoon. By Gilmore Smith.

TA S T E N E V E R G O E S O U T O F S T Y L E

TIMELESS FURNITURE AND HOMEWARE AVAILABLE AT BROOKLYN, DURBANVILLE, FOURWAYS, GREEN POINT, KNYSNA, KRAMERVILLE, NELSPRUIT, UMHLANGA WEYLANDTS.CO.ZA

WINTER 2017 ATLANTIC SEABOARD VIEWS

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food & recipes

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or those of us who love food, but cannot be bothered to spend hours in the kitchen preparing it, or don’t have the budget for a professional catering service, we often have to resort to ordering a platter snacks from one of the big chain stores in order to entertain our guests.

Often, these ready-made platters are not quite what we’d like to treat our guests to, or might contain one item that’s not quite to our liking.

This is when and why you need Bon Appetit Caterers and Co-ordinators as your partner to host the perfect event.

In the catering business for more than 10 years, owners Carnitah and Nazeem Levy together with their professionally

food & recipes

trained staff have proven themselves to be not only reliable, but also capable of catering for all types of functions of various sizes, even though they mainly cater for commercial events. Bon Appetit Caterers and Co-ordinators is the dedicated caterer for the PPC Newlands Cricket Stadium, Western Province Cricket Association, Western Province Professional Cricket, South African Rugby Union, Western Province Rugby, and the SANDF, catering for all events hosted by these organisations, as well as for a leading retail group in the Western Cape.

Bon Appetit can cater for as many as 1 000 guests per event, and serving up to 5 000 meals daily all in a day’s work for this efficient, friendly and dedicated team.

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Strictly halaal and kosher, they’re able to cater for all religions and Carnitah, a self-professed entertainer, makes the perfect hostess, allowing you to enjoy your time with your guests rather than worrying about the smooth running of your event.

Passion, love and satisfaction Bon Appetit Caterers and Co-ordinators is built on the three pillars of passion (for their business, clients and guests), love (for food and what they do and believe in) and satisfaction derived from the gratitude of family and friends. To ensure healthy, tasty and presentable meals always, only the best quality ingredients available are used.

According to Carnitah, their winning formula is their customised approach and their commitment to consistently delivering top class service and food at affordable prices to their clients.

Apart from catering for family functions such as birthday and graduation parties, Bon Appetit Caterers and Co-ordinators also caters for corporate functions – meetings, conferences and launches.

They’re indeed a one-stop service provider delivering catering, cooking, serving, décor and fully-fledged function coordination services.

This family-owned business (each staff member is regarded as part of the family)

is quickly establishing itself as the caterer of choice when it comes to hosting a fivestar event. Therefore, it is no wonder that their long-term goal is to operate nationally in the very near future.

Observing the efficient team of Bon Appetit Caterers and Co-ordinators in action, we have no doubt that they’ll achieve this goal sooner than later.

See page 47 for images of their recent collaboration with Atlantic Seaboard Views during our first fundraising effort for Little Fighters Cancer Trust, our CSI project for 2018.

To make bookings and/or to get a free quotation for your next event, contact Bon

Appetit Caterers and Co-ordinators on 021 657 2011/083 429 4645/083 573 4586 or email them on cnlevy@webmail.co.za/ carnitah.levy@gmail.com Carnitah and Veronica, Bon Appetit’s kitchen manager, and the kitchen team were kind enough to allow us into their kitchen to observe them while they were preparing the dishes featured in this issue.

They have assured me that these recipes are so easy, that even I’ll be able to make them – my mission for this month is to try at least one recipe per week …. Let us know how you did and what the response was when attempting and serving these gourmet dishes at home.

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food & recipes

DELICIOUS NIBBLES AND BITES FOR EASY ENTERTAINING Packed with flavour, these simple and quick to prepare snacks will give any function a touch of class and be a hit with your guests.

To make: • Slice bruschettas about 2cm thick • Brush with melted garlic butter • Toast in oven at 180°C until golden brown on both sides

CANAPÉS

Very stylish and simple to prepare, canapés are delicate and can vary from bruschetta to pastry palmiers to potato rostis. Here are our favourites:

Toasted bruschettas with various toppings • Roast beef with onion marmalade • Smoked chicken quenelle • Goat cheese (Chevin) with pickled beets

Toppings: • Frilly lettuce, roast beef and caramelised onion marmalade, garnished with onion sprouts or micro herbs • Rocket, sliced Chevin goat cheese, pickled beet, cream cheese and micro herbs.

• Mustard smoked chicken on rocket with mayonnaise, garnished with chives .

What you need: • Any kind of crackers • Four different types of cheese, for example, matured cheddar, white cheddar, camembert and chevin • Fresh strawberries (or any other berries of your choice) • Black and green grapes • Fig preserve • Fresh coconut • Cherry tomatoes • Handful of dried fruit

This American classic is simple, yet rich in flavour,

What you need: • • • • • • • • • •

1 egg Pinch salt 1 heaped tsp melted butter 1 cup cake flour 2 tsp chopped parsley ½ cup chopped tri-peppers (red, yellow and green) 1 level tsp Raja curry spice ¼ cup chopped spring onion 1 level tsp baking powder ½ cup milk

To make: 1. Mix all the ingredients together 2. Ensure that the batter forms a onedrop consistency 3. Heat a large frying pan over a medium heat, spray with oil and add 1 large tablespoon of the mixture per blini to the pan 4. Cook blinis until browned 5. Top with salmon flavoured cream cheese and pieces of fresh salmon, garnished with fresh dill and chives

CHEESEBOARDS

The easiest preparation for a party by far! Cheeseboards are perfect for snacking, providing something for everyone, even vegetarians. A cheese platter gives you carte blanche to use the fruit in season and to personalise it according to your and your guests liking.

CREAM CHEESE & SALMON BLINI

SPANAKOPITA

This little snack is of Greek origin and is equally enjoyed by everyone including vegetarians. The crisp layers of phyllo pastry and creamy filling are absolutely delicious. No need for a dipping sauce!

What you need: • • • • • •

1 box phyllo pasty 1 cup melted butter 2 cups baby or swiss chard spinach Béchamel sauce Garlic Feta cheese disks

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To make: 1. Roughly chop baby or swiss chard spinach 2. Wilt in a pan with a sprinkle of water 3. Add 1 cup of thick béchamel sauce 4. Add 1 tsp garlic and 2 crumbled feta disks 5. Cut phyllo into strips of 7cm wide 6. Brush with melted butter 7. Layer 3 phyllo strips and brush each one with butter 8. Add a teaspoon of filling and fold into a triangle, ensuring the edges are closed 9. Brush with butter and bake at 180°C until golden brown

ORGANIC ROOIBOS RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS CAFFEINE FREE Available at:

food & recipes

food & recipes

Baby, you can light the fire

let’s braai

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food & recipes

food & recipes

Paul’s Crispy Chilli Wings Ingredients • Chicken wings • Braai Salt (to taste) • Dried red chilli flakes

Method 1. Braai over hot coals and sprinkle with chilli flakes and braai salt I strongly suggest that you provide at least four chicken wings per person – trust me, they won’t last long! For the kids and/ or those who do not like spicy food, just don’t add the chilli flakes.

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ummertime in Cape Town is synonymous with sunny blue skies, lazy days spent on the beautiful beaches around the city, long summer holidays and an air of fun and festivity. What Capetonians love to do the most during these long holidays and halcyon summer days is spend time with family and friends in the outdoors.

And, their all-time favourite pastime is to entertain around the swimming pool or on the patio with a fire burning brightly on the side ready for the unique and ultimate South African tradition – a braai!

To herald the start of summer, my friend Isabelle recently invited some family and friends over for a real Cape Town braai. And, they were generous enough to share some of their favourite braai dishes with me...

Our ‘braai master’ Paul once again outdid himself with his scrumptious Crispy Chilli Chicken wings. This was followed with a perfectly braaied tender steak served with Paul’s secret mushroom sauce [Unfortunately he was not prepared to share this recipe]. I believe everyone should have at least one secret recipe – just make sure that you continue inviting them or being invited by them to share, at least, the end product if not the recipe.

Of course, a braai is not considered a ‘real braai’ without homemade kebabs, one or two homebaked breads and a few delicious salads!

Being typical South Africans, we also cannot end a good meal without having something sweet – and Mark’s favourite Pumpkin Pie is the perfect tasty end to a good hearty meal.

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food & recipes

food & recipes

Andrew’s Artisan Breads

You need to plan when you want to eat the bread as a lot of time is involved.

Ingredients • • • • • •

450g white bread flour 10g instant yeast 2 tsps of salt 1 tsp sugar 750ml warm water

Method

Heath’s Hearty Salad Ingredients • • • • • • •

Butternut Beetroot Couscous Vegetable stock for cooking couscous Sunflower seeds Olive oil Nutmeg

Method 1. Place butternut and beetroot in a roasting dish, drizzle with oil and sprinkle salt and black pepper over the vegetables. Roast until cooked, but not too soft. Sprinkle some nutmeg onto the butternut and leave to cool, then cut into cubes.

2. Cook couscous with vegetable stock (to add flavour).

3. Dry roast sunflower seeds in a pan until golden brown.

4. Combine the butternut and sunflower seeds with the couscous, and add the beetroot just before serving.

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1. In a small bowl, mix together the yeast and sugar adding the warm water, set aside for a few minutes to activate.

2. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt, add the yeast mixture until flour is all incorporated into the water.

3. Cover this bowl with plastic and leave at room temperature for at least 18 hours.

4. After 18 hours, place an empty heavy casserole dish with lid in the oven and heat oven to 200°C. 5. Scrape dough (which will be very sticky) onto a floured surface and pull together into a loose ball, do not knead.

6. Put the dough on baking paper, it makes it easier to move and there’s less cleaning.

7. Place dough into the now VERY HOT casserole dish.

8. Bake for 30 mins with the lid on, and a further 15 to 20 mins with the lid off depending on how crispy you want it.

9. Cool and enjoy, even nicer when it’s still warm.

Variations Olive and cumin: When mixing the flour and yeast mixture together, add 2 tsps of crushed cumin seeds and 1 packet (about 70g) of pitted, drained, halved and padded dry black olives, follow as above.

Hidden Cheese: When pulling together the sticky dough mixture, make a flat plate shape with the dough and place a cold (even slightly frozen) whole disc of Camembert cheese in the centre and fold the dough around. Bake as above and enjoy the yummy runny cheese flowing from the sliced warm bread.

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food & recipes

food & recipes

Ouma Amanda’s Potato Salad Ingredients (serves 6) • • • • •

8 potatoes 4 to 6 spring onions, chopped 3/4 cup of grated cheddar Good quality mayonnaise 250g of bacon cooked (crispy) and roughly chopped.

Method 1. Wash and peel the potatoes, boil in salted water until soft. Place in a bowl.

2. Add the mayonnaise until potatoes are generously coated (ensure it’s not dry).

3. Add the spring onions, bacon and cheese and mix well.

4. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Isabelle’s Summer Medley Salad Ingredients • • • • •

• • •

Mixed lettuce (Italian) Cucumber Rosa tomatoes 1/2 packet of roasted marinated peppers [from your favourite supermarket] 1/2 packet of roasted marinated artichokes [from your favourite supermarket] 1/2 red onion, diced Feta cheese, crumbled Seeds to sprinkle over the salad

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1. Mix all the ingredients together, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and get munching.

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food & recipes

Mark’s Favourite Pumpkin Pie You can use either butternut or pumpkin for the recipe.

Ingredients • • • •

• • • • •

1 cup flour 1 cup sugar 2 tsps baking powder 3 cups cooked pumpkin or butternut (must be soft, but not to the point that it becomes watery) 1 tsp salt 2 tbsps melted butter 3 eggs beaten 250ml of cream (or 25ml cream and 125ml milk) Cinnamon to sprinkle on pie after it’s cooked and cooled down.

Method 1. Heat the oven to 180°C. 2. In a bowl, mash the butternut and add the cream, eggs, butter and sugar.

3. Once well mixed, in another bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder and sift over the butternut mixture while mixing.

4. The mixture should look glossy and without lumps.

5. Bake in a greased pie dish in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the pie comes clean.

6. Once pie has cooled down, sprinkle with cinnamon.

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INSPIRATION

JAPMOTION TOYOTA OWNERS CLUB

INSPIRATION

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hen thinking of Motorcar Clubs and Crews one tends to think of illegal street racing, illegal and irresponsible road usage and un-roadworthy cars. When meeting the members of Japmotion Toyota Owners Club, however, these pre-conceived ideas are immediately negated. These young men between the ages of 26 – 39 [most with young families], take pride in their vehicles and spend thousands of rands to modify [sometimes re-build completely] and maintain their cars with care. Members come from different parts of Cape Town like Bonteheuwel, Goodwood, Elsies River, Mitchell’s Plain, Athlone, Belhar and as far as Malmesbury.

Japmotion has more than 25 members, all proudly Toyota car owners (different models). The club was established in 2010, and the members fondly refer to this brotherhood as their second family. Since the members involve their wives/ partners [and even young children] in the activities of the club, Japmotion has indeed become one happy big family.

Membership of Japmotion is subject to strict criteria, which include the road-worthiness of the car, compliance to traffic legislature, presentability of the car, adherence to the Rules and Regulations of the Club as well as any future plans for further modification of the car. This includes adding accessories like rims, lowering kit, interior of your car and paintjobs.

Perks of the Brotherhood

Dillon Canem talks to the members of Japmotion – a car owners club and discovers that Motorcar Clubs and Crews are everything but road thugs and illegal street racers.

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Community Involvement

One of the perks that come with membership of Japmotion is the sharing of resources and networks among the members.

This comes in quite handy since maintenance of a modified car is quite expensive, e.g. Godfrey has only spent about R3000 to have the interior of his car redone, while it would have cost much more was he not referred by one of his fellow members; or Wesley who was helped by Anthony, another member, to rebuild his engine for far less than the R50 000 it would have cost him. This demonstrates the lack of rivalry amongst members and them taking pride in each other’s achievements by helping.

This brotherhood, sense of belonging and camaraderie Japmotion is known and loved for, is however, only part of it.

These guys use their passion for their cars to encourage the youth in their local communities to dream big and strive towards a better life.

About four years back, they’ve collaborated with other community members to make the matric ball something truly special for an underprivileged matric learner in their community. The members of Japmotion offered their time and cars in all its splendour, to escort this learner and her partner to her matric ball in convoy, free of charge. This gesture has become so popular amongst matriculants in their communities, that `the matric convoy’ has already been booked for a couple of Matric balls later this year.

place recently when they held a charity run collecting clothes and other necessities for the Heatherdale Children’s Home in Athlone. Instead of just dropping their collections off, the members of Japmotion [with their partners and kids] actually spent some quality time with the residents of Heatherdale Children’s Home. This visit has inspired the club to adopt this place of safety as their charity of choice and they intend to become much more involved in trying to provide in the needs of Heatherdale Children’s Home. They’re already planning their next visit to the Home to do some painting there.

This was mostly inspired by the fact that most of Japmotion’s members grew up in these areas and can hence relate to the struggles and needs of Heatherdale Children’s Home. It also resonates with the aim of their club - to give back to, and being agents of change in their community by motivating the kids and act as role models of what is possible when having goals in life.

The next community project of Japmotion is a fundraising event they’re planning for early October. A traditional `show and shine’ is planned to raise much needed funds for Bergsig Primary in Bontheuwel. They’re planning a fun-filled day with lots to eat, drink, and enjoy at the school where car clubs from all over Cape Town will display their cars as individuals and groups and are judged in different criteria. Children from the school will partake in modelling shows and local artists will provide entertainment. They hope to get the wider community of Bontheuwel involved in this event.

Slowly but surely Japmotion is breaking down all stereotypical notions of Car Clubs. By being agents of change, these young men and their families are making a difference in the gang-ridden communities they live, simply by using their hobbies and their passion for their cars as a tool of inspiration for the youth in those communities they grew up in themselves and call home.home

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MOTORING BY DILLON CANEM

Nissan’s Reach for the SUPERCAR

Nissan has been offered millions of pounds by various race companies for the GTR-R35 to partake in their races. However, they’ve been holding back because their designs are forever evolving.

The latest addition to the Nissan stable is the Nissan Skyline GTR-R36, which will make its debut in 2020. The prototype of this model was introduced earlier this year. to the world earlier this year.

According to the head of the design team, Nakamura-San, the Godzilla will be reincarnated.

The Nissan skyline GTR-R35 is a 2-door high performance car and since its unveiling in 2007, it gets referred to as the Godzilla of street cars. Since 2014 the GTR-R35 has been branded on its own and has been the only model built on Nissan’s Premium Midship Platform. The exterior of the GTR-R35 is protected with a 6-stage paint process including a double clear coat and chip-resistant paint (This process is the mixing of 6 different paints for doing the clear coat chip resistant process which is sprayed on top of the base coat and being dried in a heat issan being the sixth largest automotive company in room). It comes with optional the world has manufactured billions of automobiles such features like spoilers, headlights, as petrol-designed and electric-powered cars which are exhaust and other accessories that can be added on. eco-friendly. Being named Nihon Sanyo originally, Nissan The GTR-R35 is powered by a V6-Twin-Turbo engine and can was founded in 1928 by Japanese mechanical engineer, reach a speed of up to 6000rpm. The standard 2011 model retails Masujiro Hashimoto. After studying auto mechanics in at about R1.2 million. Price increases with any additional accesAmerica, Masujiro started working on his first prototype sory and/or available upgrade like adding a chip to your engine to automobile in 1914. Due to a lack of finances, he went increase the performance of the car, adding a spoiler to the boot into partnership with his childhood friend, Rokuro Aoyaof the car for aesthetic reasons or including specially designed ma, who assisted him designing and accomplishing his lightweight rims. project. Three years after starting this project, he sold his

first car FASTEST CAR The R36 boasts with the adjusted MOVING INTO SPORTS CARS engine of a formula 1 racing car Over the past decades Masijuro and his design team moving from a 2.8litre V6 to a started designing sports cars - one being the Nissan 3litre V6 engine reaching a Skyline GTR Range – making its debut in 1957. It won speed of 6500rpm. This hybrid a JTCC Group A series award for the fastest street car car with the vision of the gran in the world for 4 years running. Since 1957 the Skyline turismo effect, gives a clear idea Range has expanded to include the R31-GTR up until of what Nissan would look like in the R35-GTR - one of the world’s fastest street cars. The the future. The aim of the R36 is R35 GT3 GT-R has proven itself with wins in the various to beat the current fastest car, the international races like the Blancpain Endurance Series, Lamborghini Aventodor with a speed International GT, British GT, Asian Le Mans and others. of 740bhp. The R36 only reaches 600bhp and It’s a fast, angry-looking thing, and there’s no question runs a 7.4sec lap. Super cars are usually lightweight, but the R36 the R36 version will be the next step in Nissan’s ongoing is one of the heaviest racing cars, weighting 1740kg. To secure motorsport programme. more traction on the roads, the R36 will be equipped with a hefty kurbweight.

Apart from the shift towards sports cars, Masijuro also expanded his business into another direction. Twenty-one years after manufacturing his first car, Yokohama was born – building motorbikes.

Yokohama has since grown to also produce a range of tyres for a variety of cars. Since the merger of the two companies, Yokohama is focussing on the designing of the motorcycles while Nissan is responsible for the whole production process of the motorbikes.

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Standard model

retails at R1.2m

one on one

Inspirational

Roscoe

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he experience of a lifechanging trauma can have even the most resilient of us asking: “Why me?”. We might even shout out in anger at life, our Creator and the whole of human kind. In the darkest hour of our pain and trauma, and facing the reality of the permanent changes it brings, some of us might even decide it would be best to end everything, considering selfdeath to be one of our options (in some tragic cases, even committing the deed).

When young businessman Roscoe Jones lost his right leg about 4 years ago because of a condition called hypercoagulability (excessive blood clots), he was no exception in his reaction. At the time, he was an independent 29 year old with a growing start up business, and life and soul of every party (and he went to many). He was leading a full, busy life, intent only on fostering his business and enjoying himself to the full. Along the way, he did make certain decisions at which he looks back today with regret, and a sense of disbelief at all the time he wasted, and the opportunities he missed.

During his traumatic amputation he also worked through all the “why me?”s, and the anger. And

40

he did indeed shout out in anger at himself! During the long period of hospitalisation and rehabilitation therapy, he lost pretty much everything that was important to him. He lost his business, his accommodation, many of his friends and, most important to him, he lost his independence.

When his therapist came up to him that first time with a wheelchair, this born survivor decided to fight back, to retrieve his independence and wholeheartedly adapt to his new circumstances. One of the first decisions he made was to live a full and normal life as a one limbed individual. Six months after his amputation (it had been a six month period of intense therapy, hard work and tenacity), he took his first tentative steps.

While he was adapting to his new arrangements he drew up a list of the things he used to enjoy, but which, during the busyness of his old lifestyle, he had neglected or overlooked.

With help and support from his medical team, his family, and his fiancé, he slowly started to recover, and gradually built a new life for himself. He had always enjoyed sport and loved the great outdoors, and he returned to these interests as a much more determined and focused person.

ATLANTIC SEABOARD VIEWS AUTUMN 2017

Today, less than four years after losing his right leg, Roscoe has become a very popular trainer at a leading gym, where he inspires customers and colleagues alike.

Since that dramatic, and traumatic, change to his life, Roscoe now looks at everything in a completely different light, and he has become much more aware of the attitude of others towards people with disabilities. It is a mission of his to change that attitude. “People get so caught up in their own lives, they don’t recognize the hurt in someone else’s life”. Although he personally experiences complete acceptance as a capable individual by his colleagues and customers, he still unfortunately, finds that a lot of people simply don’t know how to react towards anyone they encounter who is different in some way from themselves. He feels that too many remain untouched by the plight of the physically disabled in our society.

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inspiration

OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO THE SUN

Spending, on average, about eight hours a day on his feet, going about his work as a personal trainer, Roscoe makes full use of a prosthetic. He firmly believes “everyone should get a fair chance, and everyone should have access to walking”.

He has been brought to the unhappy realisation, however, that a lot of amputees in this country are not in a position to lead functional lives if they are relying on the government-issued prosthetics, which, according to him, are of such “sub standard quality” that it is in fact “impossible to stand on them (the prosthetics) for very long”.

His basic daily prosthetic is costing him approximately R285,000 (this is a conservative estimate), and it needs to be replaced approximately every five to 10 years. A prosthetic limb is made up of

Nafiesa Natha shares her journey from the depths of despair to finding her place in the sun. By Gilmore Smith. several moving, and weight bearing, parts and, as a result, its maintenance is so hugely expensive that very few amputees can afford the expense — despite medical aid cover. Certain parts (like the socket) of the prosthetic need to be replaced as often as every two to three months, at an average cost of R8,000; a liner (replaced every six months) costs about R5,000.

Even though most of the top quality prosthetics are imported, research has shown that locally produced prosthetics of an equivalent quality could be supplied to amputees at more affordable prices.

This means that more amputees in our country would enjoy the opportunity to live functional, independent lives.

Roscoe feels very fortunate to have a good Samaritan in his life whose generous support has alleviated the burden of the enormous cost of his current prosthetic.

But grateful as he is, he is saddened and concerned about the thousands of South African amputees not fortunate enough to have such a bighearted benefactor.

As a sports enthusiast and avid 100 metre and 200 metre sprint athlete, Roscoe is dreaming of competing in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. To make his dream a reality will of course cost thousands, and for him the money can be raised only by sponsorship. According to Roscoe’s research, the financial outlay for a disabled athlete to participate in the Paralympics is about 10 times greater than for an able athlete to go to the Olympics.

Yet, despite their greater need, it appears more difficult for the Paralympic athletes than for their able-bodied counterparts, to obtain sponsorship.

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“

Finally, being able to put a name to what was wrong with her was also the beginning of the healing process for this young widow and mother who had put her own grief on hold to provide for her children.

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hen Nafiesa Natha’s relatively young husband passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, she not only became a widowed single mother at the age of 28, but, unbeknownst to her, she also entered the debilitating dark spiral of hopelessness, despair and acute depression.

Coming from a small Port Elizabeth town, Nafiesa met Dr Ebrahim Natha during the 1980s, while she was a nursing sister and he was an intern at the local

”

hospital. When she and Dr Natha wed, she not only married across the cultural divide (Dr Natha was of Indian descent), but also embraced Islam as her new religion. Though they had the support and blessings of her parents, the couple got married without his parents’ consent. This decision of theirs, taken with the blissful ignorance of young people in love, would later prove to have contributed directly to her absolute state of despair.

At the time of her husband’s sudden death due to an aneurysm, the couple

were living in Paarl with no relatives close by, had four children, and Nafiesa was expecting twins.

Soon after her husband’s tragic death, this ‘Cinderella’ found herself with no income and five young children to look after [she miscarried one of the twins]. On top of this, she further had to deal with her perceived altered standing in the community. After 12 years of marriage, of being ‘Mrs Doctor’, and dependence on her husband for her and the children’s upkeep, Nafiesa

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inspiration suddenly found herself alone and solely responsible for her own future as well as those of her five children.

In her grief, she was naturally angry at her Creator for taking her husband away and forcing her children to grow up without a father; she was angry at her husband for leaving her alone with their young children; and most of all, she was angry at herself for feeling so lost and weak without her husband. The only thing she was sure of at this early stage in her grieving process was that she would not compromise as far as her children’s education was concerned. She was determined to give them the best possible education she could afford.

Nafiesa suddenly found herself alone and solely responsible for her own future as well as those of her five young children..

After moving to Cape Town’s southern suburbs, and being extremely conscious of her dire financial situation, Nafiesa re-entered the job market as a cosmetic salesperson at various retailers.

Some 10 years after her husband’s death, while working for a big retailer in Cape Town, Nafiesa started feeling tired, restless and lifeless, but most of all, she started feeling hyper-anxious about everything. She found it difficult to leave her house; to get on a train to travel to work; to go shopping; and to socialise with family and friends. More and more frequently she had to be transported by ambulance from work to hospital after suffering anxiety attacks when dealing with customers.

This is when her hellish journey really started.

neither the energy or willpower to attempt anything and having depleted her medical aid insurance, she also had to face increasing medical costs without being able to put a name to her condition.

During this period, she also, for the first time, seriously considered taking the lives of her children as well as her own, because she could not see any light on her journey forward in this life.

Over the next couple of months, Nafiesa was admitted to the psychiatric wards of various hospitals in and around Cape Town until she was eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Finally, being able to put a name to what was wrong with her was also the beginning of the healing process for this young widow and mother who had put her own grief on hold to provide for her children.

Survival and maternal instincts After her final discharge from Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital just outside of Cape Town, Nafiesa’s survival and maternal instincts kicked in once again and she started selling homemade muffins doorto-door in her neighbourhood to provide for her family. Soon after, she started using her own vehicle to transport schoolchildren between their schools and their homes to supplement the income she was generating from selling the muffins.

Constantly looking for ways to provide for herself and her children and being

Doctors, desperation and the road to recovery Consulting different general practitioners without anyone of them being able to put a name to her sickness, soon Nafiesa was unable to perform her duties at her place of employment and was asked to resign.

Once again, she found herself without the income to support herself and her five children. What made the situation worse this time round, was that she had

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intensely focused on their wellbeing, Nafiesa also started selling certain branded hair products.

Becoming a strong, independent businesswoman About eight years ago, Nafiesa once again found herself at the crossroads, this time, however, a much happier set of crossroads. After more than a decade of feeling worthless and less than human, she finally found her place in the sun. Having always had a keen interest in fashion, she started buying clothes from a local boutique and selling them to family and friends.

This ‘business’ evolved and she was soon designing her own clothes and selling them at various markets in and around Cape Town, from Green Point to Stellenbosch, and at every available festival throughout the year.

Today, all five of her children have obtained a tertiary qualification and are well-rounded young people fulfilling their respective roles in society. Nafiesa, now a proud grandmother of eight, has finally become a person in her own right again. The person she was meant to be.

A strong independent businesswoman with a flourishing boutique in Sea Point.

Her journey of hardship and despair has enabled her to listen with compassion to people crossing her path, and by sharing the details of her journey she is able to be a beacon of hope to those needing it most.

one on one

one on one

TINA, THE SONGBIRD

is best described as a ‘heartist’ [her own definition]. And this is exactly who Tina Schouw is: a singer, songwriter, composer and author, writing songs, poems and prose from her heart; an artist singing from her heart and with her soul; and an artist touching the hearts of her listeners and readers, making them think about their own journeys and their own place in the universe.

WITH HEART AND SOUL

Finding and defining her place

Singer, lyricist and authorTina Schouw talks to Gilmore Smith about her personal and career journey and her return to the stage.

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the actions of so many others that have moved through ” ” Weandarejourneyed with us in our lives. I’m here because of the countless number of people and musicians that have touched me and grown me into becoming Tina Schouw.

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hirty years ago, at the height of the political unrest in our country, a young twenty-oddyear-old female singer and songwriter from the Cape Flats was invited to perform in the Netherlands as part of an awareness concert about the plight of South Africans oppressed by the government of the day. Her performances then could best be described as the voice of a political activist wanting to educate the world about the socio-political circumstances of her fellow countrymen. Based on the success of her performances and the honesty of her lyrics, she was later invited again and so her popularity in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden rose to unequalled heights.

This young woman’s career grew, and as she refined her natural talent, she developed into the artist who today

Tina’s career development can be defined clearly in three phases. During the first part of her performing career, she mainly wrote about what was happening in our country, and her lyrics were steeped in socio-political commentary because “I was married to the struggle”. After 1994, with the change in the political landscape of South Africa, her songwriting started to focus more on her personal reflections about love, life and humanity. She wrote more songs about love because “for the first time I felt I could put myself first”, and so this phase of her career was mostly about her personal journey. This phase also saw her perform in musical productions – she has, among others, played the lead role of Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar and Lady Thiang in The King and I. During this period, she performed in theatres across South Africa. The third and current phase of her career sees Tina far more self-reflecting because “I needed to get back to who I am”.

This mature, confident and self-assured Tina Schouw is not only very conscious of her blessings, but also extremely aware of her responsibility as an artist, a mother and a South African, but first and foremostly, as a human being.

Conscious of her history and being told ‘you’re not enough’ and conditioned to believe that everyone coming from her community were second-rate citizens, Tina had to unlearn this untruth through her journey. “Every time I walk on stage, it’s a reminder that this is my place; I’ve got a right to be here,” she explains. This is exactly why Tina takes her role as an artist extremely seriously.

She strongly believes that she has a responsibility to tell people that they are enough and that they’re loved. In the

same breath, however, she believes that love begins with the self. “Only when you accept and embrace and love and celebrate who you are can you embrace humanity in all its forms. Then, you can recognise, acknowledge and accept humanity in one another.”

Embracing her voice and self The feeling of ‘not being enough’ is the one thing Tina knows very well.

For a very long time throughout her career, this gifted artist felt ashamed of her unorthodox music – her unique eclectic blend of music includes the genres of jazz, folk, pop and Brazilian – and felt that she didn’t belong because critics couldn’t box her by placing her in a specific genre.

Thankfully, over the course of her life and career journey, this ‘heartist’ has come to believe the adage that it’s ok to be who you are. “Why do I have to wait for the world to say I’m ok? It should be ok for me to say I’m ok and that I belong. That I have a right to be.”

Tina, who describes her performances as very personal and intimate as she shares personal stories and is open about where she is on her life journey, has decided to do a few solo performances again after two years of silence and introspection. A huge contributing factor to this personal element in her performances is her belief that you can only help someone if you can help yourself and are comfortable with the self you see in the mirror. This further underlines her belief that getting on stage as an artist means being vulnerable and brave at the same time. This vulnerability opens the way and is a catalyst for others to be brave.

Her latest solo performance is a true culmination of this formidable woman’s career and life journey. She shares and performs songs, some of which have never been released, as well

as some old material and heartfelt new songs. Her love songs testify of her love for life. In her performances, she sings a heartrending love song written for her husband, a moving love song to nature, and finishes off with a love song for herself. Typical of Tina, even this is not about egotism, but rather a reminder of the need to love the self.

After being in the music industry for more than 30 years, Tina Schouw has not only found and embraced her own voice, she has also gathered a converted and dedicated following amongst supporters and lovers of the local music scene, which I am proud to have witnessed and endorse.

Thankfully, Tina’s last solo performance for 2017 is not the end of this amazing artist. “I hope that when I’m 95, I’ll still be learning things. I know I will because I want my heart to be open. That’s my plan – to always have an open heart so that I can learn. If you’re not prepared to learn, then you’re like an unopened rose, you never release the essence of life. It’s all about being open to everything,” Tina states.

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education Talented and passionate Kurt Minnaar, maths teacher and hip-hop artist, introduces his creative supplementary educational resource for Generation Z students.

W

Creative thinking and big dreams result in turning education on its head

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here does a God-fearing educator turn to when he discovers his purpose in life and realises at the same time that the system he’s part of [the South African education system], isn’t

serving the learners in the manner each one of them is entitled to? Say this educator is a qualified Mathematics teacher who’s been working in this system for the past eight years yet feels like a hypocrite every single day for practising his muchloved profession of choice in a system that he has no faith in. How do you marry your calling as an educator with having to become the type of teacher you despised as a learner yourself?

When your name is Kurt Minnaar, and you happen to be a hip-hop artist who’s represented your country in international hip-hop competitions, you use your Godgiven talent, your art and creativeness to challenge the system.

Bringing the art of hip-hop dancing into his classes, Kurt soon saw a transformation in the attitude of his maths learners towards his subject matter. This made him even more aware of the enormity of his responsibility as an educator. He then decided, in line with his purpose in life, that he owes it to every learner in every school who’s struggling with maths because of an undesirable learning environment, an inapt curriculum, and inadequately trained teachers, to take his approach of creative education to a much broader audience than just his own classroom.

Having completed an Honours Degree in Education Management and having all the right qualifications, Kurt says that even though he had all the tools to teach, he never felt ‘equipped to serve learners

the way they deserved’ within the framework of the South African schooling system. Earlier this year, this passionate educator resigned from the Department of Education, saying ``I left my job, I didn’t leave teaching.” To understand this statement, one only needs to follow Kurt on any of his social media platforms.

Since his resignation in March, Kurt has been focusing full-time on his life’s purpose: Creating a language that makes Mathematics accessible to ALL learners regardless of mother tongue language, socio-economic grouping, race, gender or even the school they attend.

Scientists and psychologists have designed the VARK model that identifies four primary types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic.

Each learning type responds best to a different method of teaching. Auditory learners will remember information best after reciting it back, while kinesthetic learners will jump at the chance to participate in a hands-on activity.

When your name is Kurt Minnaar, and you happen to be a hip-hop artist who’s represented your country in international hip-hop competitions, you use your God-given talent, your art and creativeness to challenge the system.

Referring to this model, Kurt says, ``When you fuse creativity into lessons, you cater to more learners and more will understand because now we’re speaking their language. Whereas if I just ‘chalk and talk’ standing in front of a class, it caters to one type of learner predominantly, who are mostly in the minority.”

Dreamer Education, an organisation that `` ...exists to bridge the ever-widening gap between teachers and students” was founded by Kurt in January this year. ``Through the creation of innovative educational resources and training, Dreamer

Education seeks to creatively change the way students receive and comprehend academic content while equipping teachers with the necessary tools to cater for the Generation Z-student”. Kurt stresses that Dreamer Education’s mission is not to replace the current schooling system, but ``to design and implement supplementary educational resources and training that will serve the academic needs of a multitude of stakeholders, namely students, teachers, school managers and parents”.

Over the past couple of months, Kurt has been working relentlessly on rewriting sections of the National Maths curriculum. He’s collaborating with various stakeholders (from educationists to famous artists like Soli Philander – people who share his passion for education) to make the whole learning process more enjoyable for learners. According to Kurt, it’s not only hip-hop music that should be incorporated into lessons, but other mediums as well. ``Where music cannot be used, I would use graffiti or beautiful visuals. Integrating creativity into lessons can be done with all subjects, we just need to take the time to create creative lessons!”

Early in May, Dreamer Education released the New Vanguard Multiple Motivation CD in collaboration with some local artists. This CD is being promoted as a tool that can be used by learners struggling with multiplication as well as for teachers looking for innovative ways to teach. It’s being distributed in more than 90 countries worldwide, including African countries such as Nigeria as well as Asian countries like India. In October this year, they will be collaborating with Youngblood Arts and Culture Development as they celebrate a ‘month when arts meet maths’ at the Youngblood Art Gallery in Bree Street, Cape Town.

And this is only the beginning…

This creative visionary’s goal is to `marry education and creativity and to put South Africa on the map of creative education’.

Looking at everything that Kurt Minnaar, hip-hop educator has accomplished since he started living his purpose, achieving this goal, will happen much sooner than later!

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words of wisdom

words of wisdom

Social worker Violetta Roziers tackles the thorny subject of suicide, particularly focusing on matriculants and their parents.

Edited by Andrew Matthews Model – Chloe Bailey

T

he December holiday period usually is a time to unwind and relax. For some households, however, the anxious wait for the 2017 matric results may bring a pale hue to their festivities.

South African youths are confronted with various demands, notably in education. According to the University of Cape Town Student Health Centre’s Counselling Guide, these demands can be both overwhelming and paralysing, especially when one is attempting to negotiate the already challenging transitions of adolescence. In this regard, according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), 9.5% of teenagers consider suicide as the only solution to their problems.

Photo courtesy of Clement Cupido@Four Clicks Photo Studio.

Photo courtesy of Clement Cupido@Four Clicks Photo Studio.

SUICIDE: THE PALE CAST OF THOUGHT

impulsive behaviour and when everything is felt more intensely. Teens might feel overwhelmed with despair and this is attributed to the incomplete development of the adolescent brain. The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thinking about consequences, does not start communicating effectively with the rest of the brain until age twenty-five.

The upside, according to neuroscience, is that adolescence is also a period of tremendous “neuroplasticity”, the term scientists use to describe the brain’s potential to change through experience.

There is then sufficient data to suggest that those who attempt suicide had wished that they did not, and very often having the right person, the right conversation, the right mental professional, and the right support from people who love them, changed the trajectory of that pale cast of suicidal thought.

Love and understanding

is just a way for our lives to show us we are moving in the wrong ” Failuredirection, that we should try something different. – Oprah Winfrey ”

they come unstrung: “a large body of evidence is consistent with the view that suicide is preceded by events that fall short of high standards and expectations, whether produced by past achievements, chronically favourable circumstances, or external demands.”

In contrast to the high levels of suicide in prosperous communities, I recently interviewed some high school teachers and police officers from several low-income coloured communities about whether they had any first-hand intra-community encounters with Risk factors and social prejudice teen suicide, especially matriculants.

Their responses were similar and quite Roy Baumeister, a University of Florida disheartening. Although they were psychologist, finds that the majority neither able to recall any personal of people who commit suicide lived experience nor produce any suicide better-than-average lives. Suicide statistics amongst coloured teenagers rates are higher in prosperous sociowithin their communities, they generally economic circumstances, whether a claimed that teenagers in their areas country or community. Baumeister lacked the ambition to succeed at their argues that for the most part, ideal material conditions heighten suicide risk. studies. Instead of striving for academic success, they said, teenagers exhibit Individuals set unreasonable standards abusive behaviour, engaging in drug for happiness or fulfilment, and when and alcohol abuse. Moreover, teens these great expectations are not met,

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are more likely to harm others: violent actions are aimed toward others instead of themselves. In the interviewees’ opinion, failure at school and at life was the norm for most adolescents in their low-income community. The teachers and police officers did not think that the matric results would significantly impact teen lives.

In addition to socio-economic demands, prominent risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are mental disorders. Depression, bipolar disorder and drug-and-alcohol use disorders are the most commonly diagnosed among those who think about, attempt, and commit suicide (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry).

Thankfully, there is a growing awareness globally and in South Africa about the relationship between mental health and suicide; however, the popular imagination still subscribes to stereotypes and assumptions about mental illness and those who attempt or commit suicide. The negative attitudes or prejudicial views often foster further

social isolation or loneliness, for the individual who survives the suicide attempt, and feelings of shame, for the family of the one who does not.

In a hospital waiting room recently, I happened to sit next to a woman who was waiting to identify the body of her 20-year-old brother. After overhearing her telephonic conversation with a family member to whom she broke the news that her brother hanged himself, I asked her if she was okay (the social worker in me could not resist). I was curious as to the reason behind her composure for the 15-minute duration from hearing the news and viewing the body to sharing the news.

She informed me she was angry: her brother shamed her family. Evidently he was a drug addict, but apparently, he had called her the previous day to apologise for the familial disgrace. To my mind, she was restraining herself from giving into grief, not because of his addiction or her lack of love for her brother, but because, based on her system of thought, his suicide was unacceptable.

The adolescent brain According to neuroscience, there is a marked difference between the brains of children, adolescents, and adults. The adolescent years are a vulnerable time, when teens are more susceptible to

I often read the following poem titled Don’t Be Fooled By Me by Charles C. Finn to encourage participation and establish trust within group settings: … I’m afraid that your glance will not be followed by acceptance and love. I’m afraid you’ll think less of me and you’ll laugh and your laugh will kill me. I’m afraid that deep down, I’m nothing and that I’m just no good and that you’ll see this and reject me … please don’t pass me by. It will not be easy for you. A lone conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls. The nearer you approach me, the blinder I may strike back.

It’s irrational, but despite what books say about man, I am irrational, I fight against the very things that I cry out for, but I am told love is stronger than strong walls. In this lies my hope, my only hope…

This poem describes exactly what we all fear and what we do to protect ourselves, and what we need in any type of relationship.

Parents, irrespective of what your relationship has been with your child, whether you have reason for concern about your teenager’s mental wellbeing during this transitional period, be mindful of your own inner landscape: your ability to be attuned to your son’s/daughter’s

emotional needs. Tell your teen that you love them. It might not ever have been said before, or it might be hard to express those feelings in your family, but you can start now. Create space for conversation with your teenager about their current emotional state, their fears and expectations. Some parents focus on what is wrong in a teen’s life to help correct it. Listen more: make sure your child feels heard and acknowledged.

To the matric class of 2017 – relax.

Whatever the outcome, success or failure, you WILL be okay. The exam result is but a chapter in your life. Oprah Winfrey said it best, “Failure is just a way for our lives to show us we are moving in the wrong direction, that we should try something different”. Often we try too hard to please others and the idea they have of us. Rather, reflect on what makes you happy. You do not have to prove anything to anyone. Be patient and don’t give up on moving in the direction of what makes you feel good about yourself.

Where to find help Call The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in event of a suicidal emergency. Contact 0800 567 567; 24-hour helpline 0800 12 13 14; or SMS 31393 (and we will call you back).

The Institute for Mindfulness South Africa (IMISA) offers Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction 8-week programmes, contact http://www.mindfulness.org. za/; e-mail lynne@mbsr.co.za; website www.mbsr.co.za for info in your area.

Read Brainstorm: The power and purpose of the teenage brain by Daniel J Siegel.

Violetta Roziers is a registered private social worker, with degrees in Social Work and Psychology. She recently completed a postgraduate certificate in Mindfulness Based Intervention at Stellenbosch University in conjunction with the Mindfulness Institute of South Africa and the Mindful Educator Essentials Course through Mindful Schools.

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OUR READERS SAY...

OUR READERS SAY...

For a new regular segment in ASV, we’ve invited our readers to share their personal stories with us.

Their experiences of trauma, pain and loss, but more importantly, their victories over the adversaries they had to deal with. We believe that by sharing these stories, all of us can gain insight into the realities of our society and the real life difficulties some of us are dealing with on a daily basis. We hope this insight will help build a compassionate community living the true spirit of Ubuntu.

The plan with this segment is to do as little editing as possible to reflect the true unfiltered voice of our readers as was intended.

Our first contribution comes from one of our readers from Wellington in the Boland, Johleen van Niekerk. ASV salutes Johleen for her courage to share her story with all of us.

A New Form of Punishment for Women like Us Watching Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria, sitting in the pews of that magnificent church…all alone, I instinctively thought of myself and many other single divorced mothers. These thoughts are not about Doria, it’s about women like her…. like me…

Even though I might have chosen the wrong man to marry; even though I went through all kinds of abuse; even though most of my decisions were made out of fear; even though I ALMOST lost my sanity; even though, in desperation, I have turned to all kinds and every kind of religious leader and psychologists - to find out what is wrong with ME; even though…even though…

Should the punishment continue?

Now, by a society that marks me as ``less than”; `s̀omething wrong with”. This societal system is built for and build upon the traditional idea of `father + mother + children household’. Like everything that is different and unknown, the world takes a while to accept that there are all kinds of households to deal with.

A household steered by a working mother with children to be brought up is more of a reality than ever before. And the numbers are increasing yearly at a faster rate. But, it is a burden on society. They tell me very clearly, as if it’s the gospel; as if I’m not aware, ``You must remember, with divorce there is always a good chance of having to make do with much less”.

And, amazingly, it’s almost always the mother and her children that get less. That reality is fine to deal with and I accept it as such. To the point when I want to build a life for me and my children and all doors seem to be closed [slammed] in my face.

The world doesn’t know how to handle me. The world doesn’t have a heart for the divorced single mother. Not the law nor the church; neither financial institutions or society.

You weren’t strong enough!

The widow has the sympathy of society because she’s ùnfairly’ bereaved of her loved one and therefore has a right to her grief; the married couple has the security of their union and are therefore entitled to their happiness; but, the divorced single mother gets looks that say: ``It was your own choice! You weren’t strong enough; you weren’t pretty enough; you weren’t clever enough; you weren’t sexual enough; YOU WEREN’T ENOUGH! You brought this upon yourself!” My personal favourite, ``You did not pray hard enough!”

Although these assumptions are BULLSHIT, (pardon my French) I believed it anyway. I believed it because it has been said to me for many, many years. I told myself these things many times and I did feel stupid and weak and foolish and ALL those other negative adjectives. Because if a woman can’t keep her man happy and her marriage intact, then she knows nothing about nothing. Her opinion means nothing.

While this process of m̀oving on’ is continuing, I have realized that no one will come to my rescue, not even those that are able to. I have realized I must do whatever I have to do – alone. That uphill climb is something I must do alone. Friends and family might be there, but at certain points of this journey it feels as if I have become a nuisance because things just never seem to end!

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RAISING OUR FUTURE What saddens me most is the fact that I and women like me are raising our future. We’re raising the doctors, teachers, engineers, artists of tomorrow. Even the next president might come from our hands. Even a princess. It is both a source of pride and a source of sadness. The most difficult thing is to be the disciplinarian and at the same time, the soft cushion for your children to fall onto.

Losing days at work to go to the courts, lawyers, colleges, bank, etc. can be daunting. Some days one can’t even lift oneself from one’s bed, because the burden is just too heavy. The emotional burden makes one physically sick at times.

Having to go and beg these people for a break; a chance, so that your off-springs can also have a chance. So that this country also stands a chance, because there are so many like me… There are so many of us…

The world doesn’t know how to handle me - not the law nor the church; neither financial institutions or society.

Eventually one realizes one needs assistance and usually one gets it from brave women who have travelled this journey before you.

They catch you when you fall and assure you that you’ll get through this. They guide you and tell you what to expect and what not to. They pray for you and at times shelter you from harm. They rebuke you when you want to give up and embrace you with love and acceptance. That acceptance is pure, and their love is unconditional. They speak with pride of their journeys because they’ve survived it.

But, make no mistake, it is an ongoing struggle.

AND they laugh!!! They laugh because their laugh had been stolen from them; or they have surrendered it to keep the peace and now they have reclaimed it; they will fight to keep their laugh!

The Lord sends strangers on your way to lift your spirit. And this is the truth. The Lord has send me reminders so that I don’t forget that I’m unique; I’m uniquely special; I’m uniquely strong.

By God’s grace I ended up at two schools with `broken women’. These women are full of visible cracks but their light shines through these cracks and they are beautiful souls.

UNCONDITIONAL SHARING

The system they have worked out for themselves through the years, they share with me unconditionally. Together we take each other’s hands and learn from each other. They keep me humble and thankful and proud of the long way I have come.

No progress is too small, and no challenge is too big. We form a network where each of us has a forte and we share what we have. We share everything. Time, money, food…I give what I have, and I receive what I need. And sometimes when we have nothing more to give, we laugh, and we pray.

For me it was both the worst of times and the best of times.

The worst, because I have lost SO much. And the best, because I have gained so much!

You reach the other side of the dark tunnel as a much stronger person. A worthy and proud, yet humbled woman. You appreciate so much more and take nothing for granted. You rise from the ashes and can’t wait to take flight…

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CHARITY

The organization, situated in Rosary Street, Charleston Hill, consists of: 1. The Shelter Opened officially in December 2009, The Shelter can provide temporary accommodation for up to 30

adults and children. It is staffed by permanent staff and volunteers from the community and victims are referred to AHOS by the South African Police Services (SAPS), Department of Social Services (DSD), Churches in the community as well as the Justice system.

2. The Vital Health Counselling Centre

Holistic Approach for Abused Women & Children We look at how the idea of a small group of local women in Paarl evolved into an uniquely South African non-profit organization that makes a difference in the violence ridden communities they serve.

In 1999, a group of women from five different churches in Paarl came together to build a shelter for abused women and children. Through the involvement of the then Provincial Director-General of Social Services, Ms. Virginia Petersen, this committee was redirected to establish a `One Stop Victim Empowerment Centre’, a unique concept in South Africa.

The concept encompasses a holistic approach to the plight of abused victims beyond their immediate physical and emotional needs. Its fundamental purpose is the empowerment and re-integration of the victims into society.

This initiative by the group of women with the support of the Athlone Institute Trust and the Western Cape as well as the local government, resulted in the Athlone House of Strength [AHOS] being registered as a non-profit organization [NPO] in 2001.

Vision `T̀o make children feel that they belong to a family and that they are capable of becoming good citizens who can make a contribution to society.’’

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Officially opened in December 2008, the mission of the Counselling Centre is to provide counselling and support to the victims and their families and they try to reunite families wherever possible.

3. The Holland Early Learning Centre The original idea of the Child Care Centre was to take care of the children of abused mothers while the mothers were working and to provide pre-school care for about 20 children. After opening in 2008 and receiving funding from government and international donors, the focus of the Centre moved more towards learning. Today, the Centre accommodates 40 children including children from the surrounding communities who pay a nominal monthly fee. They offer after-school care till 5pm weekdays.

4. A temporary Job Skill Centre Part of AHOS’s vision is working towards ending all forms of abuse against women and children; to restore a wholesome family life to all victims of abuse and assist them to become productive citizens. Reality however, is that survivors of abuse who cannot be integrated with their families, must be empowered to fend for themselves.

The Job Skill Centre forms part of the `One Stop Victim Empowerment Centre’ to teach women particular skills so that they can be integrated in the community and generate an income for themselves and their children. The Centre also serves as a training centre and production facility for needle work and industry sewing classes.

5. Kaya Thembi Secondary Housing Since the vision of AHOS is to restore a wholesome family life and to reintegrate victims of abuse with their families wherever possible, the need for Secondary Housing was also identified. Where there is hope for a renewed normal family life, families are housed in one of these secondary houses for up to nine months while receiving help and counselling to restore normal relationships within the family circle. The name `Kaya Thembi’ is a Xhosa phrase meaning `p̀lace of hope”.

These facilities and the variety of programs offered by AHOS enable this NPO to make their vision and mission statements a reality in the lives of the Paarl community plagued with high levels of unemployment, drugs, HIV/AIDS, crime, violence (including family violence) and the abuse of the most vulnerable in society – the women and children.

Mission • To provide a stable, caring and safe environment to abandoned, abused and neglected children.

• To work towards the reintegration of children with their own families or caring families in the community.

• To provide support to abused women and their children irrespective of race, religion or colour.

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N.O.S.S

Learning Institution with a Difference Since New Orleans Secondary School [N.O.S.S.] opened its gates for the first time in January 1984, this school has become much more than just an institution of learning. Ex-learner Gilmore Smith looks at the achievements of his Alma Mater over the past 34 years Nestled precariously amidst two different Eastern suburbs of the picturesque Paarl, this place of learning has truly become a community school – a preventative resource centre. For many of the learners coming from the surrounding community plagued by unemployment and the subsequent socio-economic consequences, it has become the only safe haven.

Having been identified by the Western Cape Education Department [WCED] as a priority Mass Participation Opportunity Access Development and Growth [MOD] centre for violence protection through urban upliftment, learners from the community have access to and are part of the afterhours sport and art programmes at the school. With the high levels of unemployment, widespread illiteracy and few basic amenities, a large portion of the community turns to the school for guidance. N.O.S.S., as bastion, offering its learners (and community) the map and compass which will lead to prosperity and happiness, works tirelessly to instil high expectations and thereby demonstrate the ability and power of an institution to transform a community.

Striving to instill a strong will and firm determination which are essential to achieving dreams for a better life, it therefore comes as no surprise to note the many achievers in various fields that N.O.S.S. has helped shape over the past more than three decades.

GROOMING ACHIEVERS GALORE Hilton Lobberts, Clayton Blommetjie, Clayton August, Denville Demas, Raybeen Engelbrecht, Moeselin Daniels, Verouscka Grain and Kyle Green U/17 SA Tripple Jump Champion (2016) are just a few of the achievers on regional, provincial and national levels in the sports arena, who stepped through the gates of N.O.S.S.

This institute has contributed to the entertainment industry of our country by producing well-known names such as Hein Poole, Charlton van Rooyen and Leroy Kroneberg who has also performed internationally – just to name a few. The much acclaimed local film, The Ellen Plakkies Story, features no less than four of N.O.S.S.’s old students namely Clint Brink, Regione Stephens, Jeffrey Moss and Abi-Gail Crail.

Over the years N.O.S.S. has produced business people in various industries who proved themselves leaders in their respective fields, entrepreneurs and ambassadors for our country, like our current Ms SA, Tamaryn Green who is on her way to represent our country at the 2019/2020 Ms World pageant.

All these achievers are groomed and the foundation of their achievements cultivated through the different programs N.O.S.S. facilitates, affiliates with and/or encourages its learners to partake in.

In 2016, then head learner, Ethan Conradie won the gold medal at the Provincial level of the Eskom Expo for young scientists and also a silver medal at the National level. The same year, the then Head girl, Nicole Petersen was chosen as best speaker of the Western Cape by judges of the UN-Debating committee and was invited to accompany the winning SA team to New York where she partook in the Model UN Debating competition.

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N.O.S.S LEARNER COUNCIL’S OATH To build a spirit of Ubuntu, the Learner Council is driven by an oath to uphold the ethos of the school and N.O.S.S. learners are also involved in the local Junior Council [JTC] and the Math Olympiad. In 2014 and 2015, the school’s team won the Paarlspelfees en Taalmuseum competitions and Casidy Petersen is crowned as National winner of the Spelling Bee festival.

Learners are encouraged to get involved with community work at Ahos and Butterflyhouse. Apart from the school newspaper, N.O.S.S. is also part of the AWSUM local newspaper.

N.O.S.S. was identified as one of the Youth Enterprise Society [YES] clubs. This entrepreneurs club is an initiative of the Education with Enterprise Trust [EWET] in cooperation with the Department of Education and the ABSA and ESKOM foundations. In 2015 the N.O.S.S. YES club participated in the National Simama Ranta School’s competition and triumphed as the national winner with a winning prize of R100 000 to establish a business at the school.

And it’s not only the N.O.S.S. learners that excel!

The Afrikaans Educator is not only chief marker for Afrikaans We need our alumni to become involved FAL, but in 2016, she was received the WOW award for best educator and received the Taalmuseum’s Neville Alexander prize for her contribution to the Afrikaans language. The Science Educator is a Telematics presenter for Life Sciences - a collaboration between the WCED and SUN, the presenter for Radio Sonder Grense’s [RSG] Life Sciences and also forms part of a small group of teachers at the Teaching Biology Project [TBP] that assists with the training of teachers in three provinces.

Under the ǹo fee’ policy of the DoE, the school

N.O.S.S AGAINST VIOLENCE

is partly responsible for obtaining funding for its

In 2016, N.O.S.S. was the first school in the area to take a stand against the violence and crime in the surrounding community affecting and impacting the operations of the school.

In a media statement at the time, the school said, ``As the first high school in the area … we want to make sure that we produce better pupils to become better citizens so that the whole mirror changes about this community – We want to change the face of dysfunctional / ghetto/ slums to functional/unified safe Haven.” They further said `T̀he violence makes headlines in the local newspaper in Paarl and can be googled under “Geweld in Paarl”, but this year we wish to get our message that we are against crime acknowledged nationally. N.O.S.S. is against crime and violence in the community.

We are going to use our annual Derby on 13.8.2016 as platform to convey our message to our community. This event attracts 15000 – 20000 per year.

On this day we as school is going to form the South African banner taking a stance against crime and violence.”

This affirms unequivocally that N.O.S.S. gets involved and demonstrate exceptional determination and fortitude in their quest to produce better pupils to become better citizens.

Former Head learner Odwa Mjezo perfectly sums it up when she said, `T̀hese teachers are not just teaching them about what is in the books, but they also teach them about life. They build them.”

successful operation. Hence N.O.S.S. has one major fundraising event per term: •Term 1: Collection list; •Term 2: Raffle •Term 3: The school hosts a Sports Day with a potjie kos competition; and •Term 4: High Tea To continue the outstanding work this institute of learning does – way beyond the scope of their role, N.O.S.S. needs your support!! According to Ms Carlyn Oppelt, organizer of the annual High Tea, ``…but most of all, we need our past pupils – our alumni to become involved.” Whether you donate money, your time and/ or skill, remember, whenever your Alma Mater calls upon your support, it is always with the aim of changing the face of this community they’ve been serving so selflessly for the past 34 years!!

Contact the school to see how you can get involved and plough back in gratitude and let’s echo the words of former Head Learner, Odwa Mjezo when she says, ``”The foundation that will make me stand and change the world is the foundation I attained here — in this school…”

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October 2018 – December 2018

PAARL AND SURROUNDS EVENTS DIARY

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EVENTS DIARY: CAPE TOWN AND SURROUNDS -Compiled by Dillon Canem

The Moore Stephens Night Run 17 October In associa�on with e’Bosch, The Stellenbosch Heritage Fes�val, this lovely route takes runners through the famous Stellenbosch Town. Winding through some of the oldest neighbourhoods and finally turning just before the beau�ful Jonkershoek area. 10km starts at 18:30; 5km starts at 18:40. Registra�on at the Neelsie on 15th October. Moore Stephens on the 16th and Laerskool Stellenbosch on 17th. Medals will be awarded to first 500 athletes in both the 10km and 5km as well as prize money to category winners.

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food & recipes

Paarl Post Charity Gholf Day 19 October In aid of local chari�es Venue: Boschenmeer Golf Estate, Paarl Summer Style Event 20 October A presenta�on of the latest Summer Styles and how to incorporate them into your wardrobe and lifestyle. Make -up and skincare �ps by �rban Decay and Kiehl’s. Taste a glass of Tanzanite Cap Classique while you enjoy some of Kikka’s delectable canapés and sweet treats.

Venue: 25 Berg River Boulevard, Paarl

Isabelle’s Summe Medley Salad Ingredients

• • • • •

Cape Holiday Show 26 October Held at Sandringham Estate in Stellenbosch, this show has something for the whole family. Boas�ng the largest collec�on of caravans, camper vans, leisure vehicles and camping related equipment. The ideal place to find your holiday des�na�on, leisure ac�vity, and holiday related products/services. With live entertainment and gourmet food it’s the perfect day out for the whole family set in the picturesque Cape Winelands.

Venue: Sandringham Wine Estate, Stellenbosch Friday night LIVE music with Libby-Anne 26 October Great food and good live entertainment. Bookings essen�al.

Venue: Entrance Security Gate 1, Boschenmeer, Paarl.

Mr & Miss Western Cape - Mzantsi Africa 27 October The Western Cape Provincial pageant.

Venue: Franschoek Cellar

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Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and get munching.

SUMMER SPRING 2016 2016 ATLANTIC ATLANTIC SEABOARD SEABOARD VIEWS VIEWS

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27 ASV TOTE BAGS Order on our website : www.atlanticseaboardviews.co.za

Fabric is manufactured from solution dyed UV stablized polyester.

•Making it resistent to rotting & mildew ideal for outdoor applications .

•It’s treated with Rucuguard fabric protector giving it water, oil & general

ATLANTIC SEABOARD VIEWS soil repellency as well as fungicide to protect against molds and mildew.

Carols by Candle Light 8 December Brought to you by Hope for Mia Cara. Tradi�onal carols will be performed by Stephan Cloete and Helene Burger of Salt and Light and promises to get the crowd into the Christmas spirit. Come early, bring a picnic blanket (no chairs please).

Venue: Laborie Estate 96 ATLANTIC SEABOARD VIEWS | SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 2018

Mixed lettuce (Italian) Cucumber Rosa tomatoes 1/2 packet of roasted marinated peppers [from your favourite supermarket] 1/2 packet of roasted marinated artichokes [from your favourite supermarket] 1/2 red onion, diced Feta cheese, crumbled Seeds to sprinkle over the salad

•Machine washable at 40 °C; Can be dry cleaned; Warm ironing will renew the water repellency 38 cm(W) x 48cm (H) = R375 ( + R99 Postage) = R474

| SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION 2018

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