Ridge 110

MAY 2019 ISSUE 110

GRAND & EXOTIC Dreams do come true

Distributed to the communities of Ballito, Durban North, Gateway, La Lucia, Mt Edgecombe, Prestondale, Somerset Park, uMdloti, uMhlali, uMhlanga Ridge, uMhlanga Rocks, Zimbali

MORE THAN SECURITY Marshall Security offers more than just security. We offer a genuine commitment to delivering unrivalled service to our customers and clients. From residential estates to retail centres and business parks, we are always on guard, so that you don’t have to be.

Marshall Security is now offering comprehensive and compliant security services to the north Durban area.

GUARDING 086 133 3031 | www.marshallsecurity.co.za Marshall Security is a BEE compliant, level 1 rated company. Our industry accreditations include:

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BE INSPIRED

inspiration and passion in every detail. Turn to page 14 and enjoy. ow often have you felt inspired to take up art classes, put on your trainers and hit the road, join a bridge Wilderness, unplugged on page 22 is a first-hand experience by club or even learn a new language? I would bet the regular contributor Anne Schauffer that might have started with one majority of us are often inspired to step out of our too many anxieties, but by the end you’re inspired – and somewhat comfort zones and “do something different”. But I envious. I mean, who wouldn’t want to embrace a digital detox, and would also bet most of us just think about doing things, but spend time reconnecting with yourself and nature? don’t actually “flick that switch” and do it.

Last year Girls and Boys Town celebrated 60 years of empowering youth who are vulnerable and unsafe.

In each issue we do our utmost to feature people Anthony de Agrela – who spent four years in Boys and places that inspire and motivate us, and Town – can testify that his stint in BT laid the generally make us feel good. Unconsciously, foundation for his successful personal and when planning this issue, we have ended up business life today. Read more on page 26. with some amazing stories of people who From the age of eight Luke Mayo has set have taken inspiration to a whole new level. his sights high in the golfing world, and just Our cover picture was taken at The Grand two years out of school, Luke’s dream became Exotic, a brand new venue for signature a reality. We caught up with him while he weddings and stylish events in Sheffield on was on a break from the Sunshine Tour to find our North Coast. After sketching her vision for out what drives him to be the best. With bigger The Grand Exotic on a scrappy piece of paper, dreams on the horizon, here’s a young man who is owner Sarah Owen travelled far and wide collecting a true inspiration to the youth in our community. exotic pieces to use, and spent countless hours This is the best time of year for me. The humidity hand-crafting, creating, painting and mastering has left our shores for awhile, and the fresh the many projects that make The Grand Exotic something that’s quite spectacular. After 10 years Elorna.king@famouspublishing.co.za mornings are a good enough reason to inspire me to make the most of each day.

The Grand Exotic has opened its doors revealing www.theridgeonline.co.za Until next time ...

Sarah’s dream – a dream that’s oozing with W Ridge Magazine

TALK TO US

Great things never come from comfort zones

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A 45MM CASE. R 5 400

Shop G025 GATEWAY THEATRE OF SHOPPING 031 566 6741

#ThisIsYourTime

TI S S OT WATC H E S .CO M TISSOT, INNOVATORS BY TRADITION

in this issue*

GROUP EDITOR Doody Adams EDITOR Lorna King DESIGNER Kyle Griffin SALES CONSULTANT Lynda Kapsimalis (082 379 9912) DISTRIBUTION Mphumzeni Thusi Enquiries: sumayia.khan@famouspublishing.co.za ACCOUNTS Sumayia Khan CONTRIBUTORS Greg Ardé, Gareth Bailey, Tony Carnie, Sally Chance, Cathy Clark, Lee Currie, Gavin Foster, Glynis Horning, Jeremy Nell, Debbie Reynolds, Anne Schauffer, Stephen Smith

Copyright: All material in this issue is subject to copyright and belongs to Famous Publishing unless otherwise indicated.

No part of the material may be quoted, photocopied, reproduced or stored by an electronic system without prior written permission from Famous Publishing.

Disclaimer: While every effort is taken to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication, neither the authors nor the publisher will bear any responsibility for the consequences of any actions based on information contained herein. Neither do they endorse any products/services advertised herein.

Material which appears under ‘Advertorial’ is paid for.

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COMMUNITY THE GRAND EXOTIC

A North Coast venue that is extraordinary

WILDERNESS, UNPLUGGED Off the grid and reconnecting with nature

HARD TIMES REAP REWARDS Anthony de Agrela’s Boys Town experience

NO MONKEY BUSINESS

Michael Stephenson: bartender extraordinaire

STROKE OF GENIUS

LIFESTYLE 14

HAVING A #BLAST

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WE ALSO PUBLISH ...

Ballito’s R76-billion masterplan takes off

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SECTIONAL TITLE PROPERTIES

LOOSEN UP

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PEACE & PARADISE

50

Chilling out in the Midlands

Protecting our ocean

BALLITO IS BOOMING

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The latest trends in menswear

Optimal health ready meals

ARE DRUM LINES THE ANSWER?

DECOR TRENDS What’s hot in 2019

Luke Mayo’s golfing success The ABC logo is a valued seal of trust, providing measurement, compliance and auditing services which protects the way advertising is traded. The Ridge is ABC audited and certified.

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*To the people of uMhlanga, La Lucia, Zimbali, Mount Edgecombe, Ballito, Gateway, La Lucia Mall, the Crescent, the office parks, the residential estates and, of course, all our advertisers, thank you for your continued support

Published by Famous Publishing, 52 Mahogany Road, Mahogany Ridge, Westmead, Durban, 3610.

031 714 4700 www.famouspublishing.co.za Printed by Paarl Media, KZN Managed distribution by Vibrant Direct

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EAT MY DUSTER

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The new Renault Duster

REGULARS ED’S LETTER 1 TAKE NOTE 6 SEEN AROUND 10 TRENDING 48 LAST WORD 56

ADVERTORIALS Stone Wealth Management

Fuelling the demand for sectional title living

* ON THE COVER: Inside The Grand Exotic at Sheffield Beach. Picture: Sally Chance

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ar t deco

Gwyneth Paltrow

live your passion

supports DonorsChoose

foundation.frederiqueconstant.com

For further information contact Picot & Moss 011 669 0500

take note*

ou Keeping yp in the loo

ed's choice Shhhh! The Secret's Out! Tucked away on the property next door to the Beverly Hills Hotel is an exciting new venue space – “The Secret Garden”.

The secluded grounds with uninterrupted sea views form a blank canvas to let your imagination run free, and facilities will cater for up to 150 people at cocktail functions, or up to 100 guests for set lunches and dinners.

“This venue was borne out of a great

demand in Durban for unique spaces for both corporate and leisure events,” stated Samantha Croft, Tsogo Sun’s director of operations for KZN, “and offers a wonderful opportunity to take the legacy of this great hotel a notch higher.”

This exclusive and secular space highlights the natural fauna and flora of our beautiful province, and when entering the garden guests walk under one of South

Africa’s most valued trees and protected species, before opening into a garden offering dramatic sea and pier views.

“We are excited to open this alfresco venue where dining under the stars is an option.

The possibilities of use are endless and with my professional team we look forward to creating memorable and magical events,” said John Aritho, GM of the Beverly Hills.

Queries/bookings: Letaria Pillay  031 561 2211

Rhythm Of The Night Until June 9, Barnyard Theatre, Suncoast: Feel the rhythm and the heat as we take you on a journey through the sultry sounds of pop and rock hits, with a Latin flare! Rhythm of the Night features music by Santana, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, The Gipsy Kings, Pitbull and many more. With breathtaking dance routines, mind-blowing guitar features and a talented cast of singers, dancers and live band, this show features an assortment of hits such as Mambo No 5, Hips Don’t Lie, Let’s Get Loud, Fireball, On The Floor, Bailando, Black Magic Woman, and many more.

Know Your Numbers

HANDY PHONE NUMBERS FOR USEFUL SERVICES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 6

 NORTH DURBAN VICTIM SUPPORT SERVICES: (formerly Durban North/Umhlanga Crisis Team).

Trauma debriefing: 066 483 8589  NO WATER? SIZA WATER: 032 946 7200

 POISON INFORMATION 24-HOUR HELPLINE: (includes medication, toxic substances snake and spider bites): 0861 555 777  POWER FAILURE: 032 437 5081

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*take note

Step Out In Style Every fashionable woman desires a unique way to express her individuality through style, and each new season brings with it a new range of swoon-worthy Saint&Summer statement shoes.

This winter is no different. Whether it’s genuine leather sandals that take your fancy, pimped out block heels, lace-less ladies sneakers or embellished kicks, Saint&Summer takes the hottest runway looks and combines them with local South African inspiration to create a range of cool, urban styles with everyday street wear-ability.

Look out for the new winter range at Bianca Warren at The Square in uMhlanga Rocks Drive, Beach & Beyond at Gateway, and Willow at La Lucia Mall.

Tops At Spar Wine Show May 9-11, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment: It’s that time of the year again, so gather all your wine-loving friends for the best wine experience in town showcasing wines, wine manufacturers, glasses and much more.

Comrades Marathon June 9, 5.30am: Starting at the Durban City Hall and finishing at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, don’t forget to get out there and cheer on the 25 000 runners covering 87km. It’s gruelling – and the runners need all the support they can get.

SA Bridal Fairs Exclusive Bridal Fair May 19, 10am-3pm, Hilton Hotel: Getting married? This bridal fair will showcase products like bride and groom wedding apparel, wedding dresses, accessories, cosmetics, makeup, photography, cakes, flowers, decor products, venue locations, cuisine, and much more.

Tickets cost R50.

Whisky Live Durban June 13-15, from 5pm, Suncoast Casino: Local and international whisky aficionados are ready to talk you through the complexities and nuances of a range of whiskies. Learn which flavour profiles to look out for to get the most from your first taste of newly-launched whiskies, or discover layers of complexities in your old favourites.

Tickets cost from R120 to R1 495.  TO REPORT INJURED MONKEYS: Monkey Helpline: 082 659 4711/082 411 5444  CONCERNS ABOUT TREATMENT OF ANIMALS – SPCA: 031 579 6500

 TO REPORT POTHOLES AND BURST WATER PIPES: 080 131 3013  SNAKE CATCHERS: Jason Arnold 082 745 6375, Neville Wolmarans 082 561 4969

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 TO REMOVE BEES: Honey Bee Removals: 084 594 1122  WHALES AND DOLPHINS (beached and well as entangled in shark nets). Sharks Board: 031 566 0400

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GET INVOLVED! 3 For Fun And Fitness  Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk, May 19, 9.15am-12.30pm: Starting at uShaka Marine World and finishing at Moses Mabhida Stadium, you still have time to register for a 5km, 10km, or 20km walk, or a 9km run. Get together with some friends for a morning of fun.

www.durbanbigwalk.co.za Miss Messy, May 25, 8am-2pm, Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park: Miss Messy is a ladies only 4km run, so bring yourself or

your squad and immerse yourself in this unique, out of this world course. Expect fun from start to finish – mud, colour, inflatable obstacles and foam. n 082 892 7837  Fit Night Out, June 22, 4-8.30pm, Moses Mabhida, People’s Park East: Women’s Health’s incredible Workout Party is returning to Durban for a mid-year sweat session. Expect the hottest fitness trends packed into a late afternoon and early evening of fun and fitness, led by trainers,

Good News For Chocolate Lovers yogis, dance instructors and the Women’s Health team. Expect six supercool workouts pitched at all levels of fitness.

The line-up includes: an energising warm-up with Ceri Hannan; train like a beast with Mapule a.k.a.

Queen Fitnass; Bollywood Fitness with Veena Sukha; gumboot dance workout with Mpho Kunene; Rockingnheels with Takkies; and the S.W.E.A.T. 1 000 crew returns to end your night on a high! Sweat while you socialise. Tickets

cost from R370.

Charlotte's Web June 13-July 7, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre: This charming children’s story comes to vivid life in Greg King’s enchanting stage adaptation. It tells the tale of Wilbur, a prize-winning piglet and his unique friendship with an extraordinary spider, named Charlotte. This is heart-warming family entertainment that is perfect for the July holidays.

Tickets cost from R120-R180 for adults; R100-R160 for children, students and pensioners.

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New exciting flavours are in every mouthful of chocolate these days, but the good news for chocolate lovers who are wanting a healthier option, is that there’s a big move among chocolatiers to include superfoods, such as spirulina, goji berries, reishi mushrooms, and our humble rooibos in this delicious treat.

Rooibos is rich in health-promoting antioxidants, which help protect the body against cell damage caused by free radicals. Its naturally sweet taste also makes it an obvious choice for chocolatiers.

Swiss master chocolatier, Daniel Waldis, founder and owner of SA’s popular chocolate franchise, Le Chocolatier, affirms the growing demand for healthier chocolate products and says he has been experimenting with rooibos for some time, adding that rooibos and chocolate share many similar characteristics – from the fruity, floral and nutty aromas to the slight levels of astringency, making it an ideal match.

“Rooibos tea pairs particularly well with white chocolate as its citrusy undertone cuts through the richness of the chocolate, while the smokiness of rooibos complements the nuttiness of hazelnut milk chocolate.

Rooibos praline – a combination of white and milk chocolate along with a concentrated rooibos tea ganache – is a hot favourite with chocolate lovers.

For delicious chocolate treats that include rooibos W https://www.facebook.com/rooiboscouncil/

Monkeyland-KZN The award-winning South African Animal Sanctuary Alliance has opened its first sanctuary in KwaZulu-Natal.

Monkeyland-KZN is home to eight species of exotic primate who roam freely through a 23-hectare indigenous forest. A tour of this stunning forest is a unique experience – and your knowledgeable guide will help you find as many of the species as possible while also pointing out interesting indigenous flora and their traditional uses in Zulu culture. If you’re lucky, you may also spot other wildlife that occur naturally in the forest, such as the Natal Duiker and various bird species.

H Salt Rock Rd, Dolphin Coast  032 004 0178  www.monkeylandkzn.co.za

COMING

SOON

BelleZar

BelleZar is a new restaurant that will soon be opening up in uMhlanga offering something a little different for those wanting to celebrate South Africa, sea views and all things good in life – and it promises to be affordably priced.

BelleZar will be the only multipurpose entertainment facility directly on the uMhlanga beachfront offering a wide variety of South African inspired Meze and traditional

type foods with a generous variety of seafood to choose from, as well as a dedicated events room perfect for functions and conferences.

The inspiration behind the name BelleZar? “That’s easy,” says owner Duncan Heafield, “BelleZar is the perfect combination of ‘beautiful person’ and South Africa (Zar).”

H Located in front of the iconic Cabana Beach Resort on

the uMhlanga promenade, the restaurant will be open from T 5.30am to 11pm – so there’s no excuse not to miss sunrise and sunset!

DON'T FORGET 2019 Vodacom Durban July July 6, Greyville Racecourse: Fashion, fillies and a whole lot of fun. This year’s theme is “Stars of Africa”, and there’s still time to book your ticket and get your winning outfit organised. Be there or miss out on the most prestigious horseracing event of the year in KZN.

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Seen around!

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R100-Million Care Centre Opens The Mount Edgecombe Care Centre at Mount Edgecombe Retirement Village has officially opened its doors, and can unquestionably claim to be the only retirement village in KwaZulu-Natal to boast a care solution of this stature.

Cecile Nieuwenhuizen, Penny Rey and Elzabe Brent. Tracy Smith, Andrew Smith and Kirsten Barnes. Taryn Fleming, Sheila Lanzanakis and Manny Lanzanakis. Rick Cameron, Patrick Lambie and Adrian Hobson. Thandeka Mngoma, Charlie Oxenham and Thami Mngoma. Arvind Roopanand, Ranul Roopanand and Allen Liversage.

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*take note

Charity Golf Day Even heavy rains could not dampen the spirits at the Simbithi/ Pink Phoenix Cancer Foundation Ladies Charity Golf Day at the end of March. With a delicious meal on the table, fantastic prizes and a diamond pendant won in the raffle, this event was an overwhelming success. The guest speaker, Sharon van Straaten, spoke about the effects cancer has on the loved ones of a person who has been diagnosed.

Lana Tipmis, Shona Caulfield, Bambi Perry and Nicky Reuch. Lizette Loudon and Shelee Payne. Cheryl Gerber, Marianna Dreyer, Elmarie Lochner and Aline Jamme. Back from left: Rani Soman, Des Collint, Engela Henno and Wendy Gordon. Front from left: Paula Tavolari, Sharon van Straaten and Alison van Onselen.

Glam Evening The top 10 Bokeh Emerging Creative Talent finalists were announced at the glam “Bokeh on Tour” event in Durban recently.

Over 40 film entries were

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received from aspirant South African film creatives, and the top 10 will go on to compete for the grand prize of R50 000 which will be announced at the Bokeh South African International

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Lifestyle and Fashion Film Festival later this year.

Nazeera Mall and partner. Shaldon Srichund and Ruan Scheepers. Ashi and Selvin Govender.

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Neighbourhood Watch At a recent event at the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Somerset Park Neighbourhood Watch celebrated the launch of 45 CCTV cameras in the neighbourhood to strengthen their fight against crime, after realising that technology, video and social media were the way to go. This achievement was made possible by a generous and substantial sponsorship from Mzansi Fire & Security, Somerset Park Homeowners Association, Vuma and Tech 5. Here are some of the guests at the celebratory launch.

Business Rebranded Garach Corporation – specialising in financial services – rebranded its practice recently by inviting clients and prospective clients to attend a seminar at their offices.

Shikaar Bugwandin, Dilip Garach, Abhishek Garach and Avinash Garach. Grant Smith, Mfundiso Mthamo and Rishani Garach. Kiran Garach, Cliff Naidoo and Dilip Garach. Zee Cele, Shan Mackraj and Pratisha Mackraj.

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Kitchen Partners Inside Living welcomed Leicht to their uMhlanga store recently, and celebrated this partnership in style with friends and customers.

 Rhys Llewellyn, Daniel Grobler and Paul Rayner.  Katelyn Westbrook, Grant Larson and Paul Rayner.

Design & Lifestyle Day Miele, together with Neolith and Hansgrohe, recently held a Design & Lifestyle Day at the Miele Experience Centre in uMhlanga.

Interior designers and architects were invited to come along and be inspired. Here are some of the invited guests.

nd 1 s a0 160 ff i tar 94 or 031 f s n ll u tio Ca rma o inf

Somerset Lodge CARE CENTRE

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY OF EXCELLENCE, OFFERING DIGNITY-BASED AND INDIVIDUAL CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS Somerset Valley Estate – in close proximity to excellent uMhlanga hospitals and shopping centres Somerset Lodge offers strict, but discreet, security arrangements, with well laid out gardens and lovely furnishings Short-term stays are welcome, subject to availability Visit our website for a virtual tour

www.somersetcarecentre.co.za

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THE GRAND EXOTIC It’s shocking, the pink. Gloriously shocking. When you catch sight of The Grand Exotic, you just know it’s going to be extraordinary story anne schauffer pictures sally chance

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he Grand Exotic is opening its doors slowly, in complete contrast to the immense, intense amount of work which owner Sarah (Dykins) Owen, and partner, Curt Wolff have put into the project. It’s not possible to fling open the doors of The Grand Exotic, because although it’s growing organically – pretty much like all of their projects – it still needs to be perfect, and there are I’s to dot, and T’s to cross. One such T is the terrain – a road which needs to move, to provide ample guest parking. Yes, it’s being rerouted …

Sarah has been in the hospitality industry for many years. She was renowned for Churchill’s Antique Cafe, off Lilian Ngoyi Road, everyone’s favourite cafe-cumantique-shop-cum-quaint-littleVictorian house with astonishing decor. Sarah travelled extensively to India, France and Buenos Aires, and containers would cross the seas laden with massive carved doors, colourful gilt-edged saris, authentic old signage, and wonderful wooden artefacts, all of which would either be incorporated into her design and decor, or snapped up in her vintage shops by hunters of quirkiness. The decor was literally unlike anything Durban had seen, and Sarah not only dreamt it up, but painstakingly, on ladders, 24/7, physically did it.

She’s turned building and decorating into an extreme sport.

Ten years ago, she sketched her vision for The Grand Exotic on a scrappy piece of paper. She’d bought the land in Sheffield, but red tape – and just about every colour too – meant the project stalled constantly.

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She points to the back boundary: “This was a slope, filled with dense bush. Curt excavated, then cleared the bush … no fewer than three times, waiting for the various hoops we had to jump through.”

After selling Churchills – and bundu and head bashing at Sheffield – Sarah opened Crystal Barn wedding venue/cafe/shop on her farm in the KZN Midlands. Once again, she and Curt rolled up their sleeves, and created this astonishing venue from nothing … with all her colourful saris, building material from everywhere including India, and a range of paint colours and techniques hitherto unknown in the Midlands. It was a great success, but still, they hadn’t

LEFT: Owner, Sarah Dykins hitches a ride on her wonderfully ancient ricksha.

FAR LEFT: Look fleetingly, and it’s grand, exotic and utterly fanciful, but linger any longer, and the attention to detail is captivating. forgotten The Grand Exotic.

Curt and Sarah learnt a great deal from Crystal Barn, but still, they began from scratch with The Grand Exotic, still modelling their vision on that scrappy drawing, now an architect’s plan. It’s not your usual plan of course, because, among other things, Sarah likes angles.

Forget dreary straight lines: “I think in angles,” she laughs. No matter where you sit in the venue, no detail has been left to chance, so you’re certain to have a fresh angle on something. Anything pretty or exotic.

Sara chooses a paint colour, experiments with it, and usually, that’ll be just the first layer, with others partially covering it, so there’s a depth, a texture or a sense of antiquity. Sarah has an instinct for

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cover story*

ABOVE: Decorative Indian wrought iron panels; Toby and Alfred have long and wonderful histories; imposing Indian doors beckon guests into the large, high-ceilinged venue room; this venue is ideal for a wedding reception; intricate and wonderfully decorative wooden carvings are everywhere.

LEFT: This quirky interlinking space between the two key function rooms, houses the bar.

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Picture: Barry Bowditch colour, and she’s neither frightened by it nor feels herself beholden to keep it. She’s constantly questioning herself about the shade, the intensity, the feel …

Most of the fittings and fixtures have emerged out of the 400 square metre storage shed in which Sarah stashed her favourite pieces. Some, she says, from over 17 years ago. But it doesn’t mean she necessarily employs the door or window as it was intended – she puts together pieces of unrelated items, perhaps paints them to pull it together, and creates something entirely different.

There’s very little of The Grand Exotic which hasn’t been made

by Sarah and Curt. Sarah handmade many of the chandeliers out of Indian pots, embedded saris into the screed on the floor, inlaid

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“tiles” of broken plates and antique vases into the steps, painted 16 “stained-glass windows” for the ceremony and cafe space, and – on her veranda at home – painted and decoupaged fabric on to each of the 64 panels destined for the dome.

Curt built The Grand Exotic – he created the framework for the dome, attached all the panels, and had it hoisted by crane on to the building. But first and foremost, he’s a landscape gardener, responsible for creating magnificent gardens in and around KZN, including the beautiful gardens at the Oysters in uMhlanga. He is fully responsible for the greenery, in particular, the “secret garden” at the back of The Grand Exotic. “That secret garden – the rockery and water feature – was the first thing Curt created,” says Sarah.

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cover story*

ABOVE FROM LEFT: The lofty domed function room-cumcafe, with the shop off right; Curt’s charming secret garden, landscaped with waterfalls and rocks; Sarah’s hand-painted mural hints at Cuba... ; even the cloakrooms have a myriad quirky elements.

LEFT: Outdoors, furniture is often mismatched wrought-iron with intricate detailing; little and large chandeliers - many from India and others conjured up by Sarah - leave a warm, multicoloured glow in most corners.

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“From there, everything radiated.” It’s a magical little space.

The Grand Exotic is a certain traffic stopper. Something extraordinary, unexpected, on the doorstep of many prestigious north coast residential estates. There are two large function rooms: the main one for weddings and functions, and the dome for the ceremony, with seating in a symbolic circle of love – linking the two is a wonderfully crazy bar. The two main rooms can be hired separately for functions and conferences.

Well respected caterer Jacqui Rey heads up the function catering – there’s a full catering kitchen on site, including generator – and

Cathryn Hulett is the in-house event co-ordinator. The cafe – with barista station – and antique shop will be open during the day. To add to the experience, there’s a delightful wellness spa on site.

As would be expected, Sarah has innumerable creative and crazy concepts for The Grand Exotic.

Wonderfully memorable events, big and small, exclusive and inclusive.

But for now, it’s about to open its delightfully prepossessing doors, and everyone knows it’s guaranteed to be both Grand and Exotic.

Sarah Owen E antiquecafe@telkomsa.net Curt Wolff E sibonlandscapes@vodamail.co.za Cathryn Hulett E kath.eventfctr@outlook.com n 083 227 5431

The Grand Exotic is a certain traffic stopper.

Something extraordinary, unexpected, on the doorstep of many prestigious north coast residential estates

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wilderness*

WILDERNESS, UNPLUGGED Eight strangers set off on a Wilderness Leadership School Trail in iMfolozi Game Reserve in April. Apart from every single thing required for five days off the grid, we carried our anxieties, expectations, histories and hopes

H

story anne schauffer

ow on earth do we describe this trail to friends and family? This was the principal musing of the group as our trip wound down. It’s quite straightforward detailing the day-to-day rawness of the experience, but less simple describing that, through scraping away at life’s veneer, something truly extraordinary emerges. Something for which words seem inadequate, or are perhaps un-invented.

This trail had long been on my bucket list. Way too long. As you get older, so many of those bucket list items stare back at you accusingly, and suddenly you’re faced with this daunting queue … and the real possibility you might run out of time, or, my greater fear, steam. The realisation that I might be “too old” for anything,

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wasn’t something I was keen to face up to.

One soothing word popped up in the literature of the Wilderness Leadership School’s (WLS) trails – moderate. I thought, hey, I’m moderately everything, I can do this. Not that I had no concerns – I did, primarily the weight of the backpack, and the impact on the group if I couldn’t function effectively from around day two. Ego or concern for others, time would tell.

I knew no one on the trip. Would I be the oldest by far? The only one who hadn’t, or ever wanted to summit, Kilimanjaro? What if the average age was 18, and language Norwegian?

I deliberately avoided asking questions of WLS. I was going to do the trip come what may, and given the rising self-doubt, best to skip hard facts. What I knew was this – the trail took eight

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maximum, with two highly experienced and armed guides, and we’d be carrying backpacks with all our clothes, food, and sleeping gear. And we’d be sleeping without shelter.

Did I “train” for it? No. They were clear – this wasn’t a hike, safari or personal endurance test. It was a trail.

Moderation my mantra.

Our ages ranged from 22 to 74. Eight complete strangers who lived for five days in extraordinary intimacy, and who become for that period, family. More than family, a tribe even.

Out there it’s soon clear, you pull your weight or someone else has to pull double theirs. In the bush, every single activity that’s automated simplicity at home, needs a mindfulness and generosity of spirit. Whether it’s gathering and purifying water from the river, sourcing a loo and selecting leaves as your three-ply, washing pots with sand, or obeying a hand signal when you meet a lion, elephant, or herd of buffalo. Which we did.

You have no watch, and no cellphone. Time revolves around when you’re tired, rested, or

RIGHT: Eight complete strangers who soon become family, helping each other along the way.

LEFT: You are required to carry a backpack with all your clothes, food and sleeping gear – just the bare necessities ... and no cellphone. hungry … or the stars, moon and sun. Or, increasingly, your intuition, which becomes honed into a far more trusty tool out there, than in here.

At the outset our two guides, Mandla Mkhwanazi and Siphiwe Mthethwa, laid down the ground rules about safety, about leaving no trace of ourselves, and about why we were there. A deep respect for nature is a guiding principle, so too the simple fact that we were in the domain of the animals and the environment, not the reverse. As Mandla said, “The environment doesn’t need us. But we need the environment.”

A trail such as this is a great leveller. Your BMW and your bank balance aren’t visible, and if they were, it would mean zero. It’s those intangibles which show, and show they do.

A sense of caring about your comrades, a desire to play your part with the workload as much as sharing in the pleasure, and the complete absence of ego.

One thing which struck me forcibly was the great sense of humour which prevailed throughout our trip. Is it there with every group? I’ve no idea, but I do know I felt immensely fortunate to be a part of this joyfulness and often playfulness. » M A Y

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wilderness*

There is a darkly humorous side to eight adults frolicking in the muddy Black iMfolozi River, watched over by Mandla – who is knee deep in the water, rifle at the ready. It was a steamy day, and we were all delirious with joy when he scoped out a small sliver of the river as unlikely to house crocodiles. Our faith in him, our desperation to submerge ourselves in cold water – the only occasion in five days – exhibited itself as a certain craziness with which we were all, by then, perfectly comfortable. This was our new normal.

Life is the essence of simplicity on a trail. Walk, prepare food, cook, eat, sleep … and do your hour-long night watch.

No, you wouldn’t be sharing it with another, you’d do it alone.

Not only would you keep the fire alive, ensure that no wild beasts encroached on the camp, but, importantly, this was a contemplative time for you, and you alone. Night one, nervewracking – a solitary primal fear of the pitch-black unknown, see-sawing with the burden of responsibility for the others’ safety.

Night two and onwards, a gentle, growing curiosity, a calmness, an overwhelming sense of the majesty of a star-studded sky, and the utter thrill of lion calling to lion ricocheting through the valley, the plop of something unknown into water. Almost surreal.

On a WLS trail, it’s not a slow crescendo of emotion, with the end goal, a profound connection with the wild. For me, it was closer to a daily roller coaster, from exhaustion to elation, fear to acceptance, and so on. The wonder of the trip seeps into you, reveals itself in little bites, and now, looking back, some of the down moments are as rewarding as the up ones. And yes, you will experience a profound connection with the wild, but rather than an epiphany, it was more a drip technique. Well, for me anyway.

The wilderness – and this is wilderness, for unless you’re on foot, you will never access this part of the park – is so intensely quiet, yet not at all. The longer you submerge yourself in this environment, the more your senses are heightened. You don’t have to work at it at all, it just happens. Nature facilitates that long-lost,

BELOW: Ages ranged from 22 to 74. Eight complete strangers who lived for five days in extraordinary intimacy.

There is a darkly humorous side to eight adults frolicking in the muddy Black iMfolozi River, watched over by Mandla – who is knee deep in the water, rifle at the ready

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or perhaps, dusty, connection, and the deluge of city stresses you’ve been carrying, subsides.

It seemed as if, even if some on our trail had life issues with which they were dealing, the trail provided a hiatus. Instead of wrestling for five days, you were given the gift of a five-day break from it, simply focussing on basic needs, small pleasures, elements of survival, one foot in front of the other, and the extreme beauty all around.

Everything else receded.

I’m no stranger to the bush. But never like this. I don’t camp, nor do I hike. But I love it, and I’ve always valued the peace it offers and the escape from my world. But this trail was something entirely foreign to me – nothing I’ve ever experienced before. You’re stripped down to you, with no interference between yourself and the environment.

For me, it was like coming home. Contrary to feeling exposed, I felt protected. But that was my experience, and yours might be entirely different. Whatever, it’ll be an indelible one.

The Wilderness Leadership School was founded by Dr Ian Player and Magqubu Ntombela in 1957. The guides have a vast amount of experience, spending over 2 000 hours a year in the Wilderness ... they are arguably some of the best in Africa. The WLS trails have a 60-year incident free record.  www.wildernesstrails.org.za

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HARD TIMES REAP REWARDS

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A man who can wholeheartedly adopt three children and raise them to be responsible young adults has to be pretty special, particularly when his own start in life was a shaky one, writes Lee Currie

allito restaurateur and businessman Anthony de Agrela often looks back to 1979 when, as a defiant 14-year-old from a struggling family, he was placed in Boys Town in Johannesburg via the children’s courts along with his brother Gavin. It was an experience that helped shape his future. “We were very naughty,” he admits. “We never stole anything but we used to sneak out of the house at night and get involved in gang fights.” His grandparents were elderly and not in a position to take him in, but he says they remained a constant in his life until they passed away.

Anthony left Boys Town four years later, just short of his 18th birthday, and in 2004 since the introduction of girls, Boys Town is now called Girls and Boys Town (GBT).

Now 54, he explained the fundamentals of the peer group system at GBT. “It’s a system in which you can become a prefect even in Grade seven, depending on your leadership qualities. There’s a privilege structure based on merits and demerits, and you can earn your way up through a kind of tiered system where you can elect peer youth councillors and mayors – all of whom are resident. I began to understand and embrace the system and progressed to mayor. I look upon it as the best thing that could have happened to me. Today, while I still have difficulty turning the other cheek, I’ve managed to channel my negativity to my more positive side.”

Anthony started to work for family who owned a supermarket in Johannesburg

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Today, while I still have difficulty turning the other cheek, I’ve managed to channel my negativity to my more positive side BELOW: From a tough start in life, Anthony learnt many valuable lessons in Boys Town (pictured below right) that have shaped his success in life. Picture: Tyron Mackenzie

GIRLS AND BOYS TOWN

shortly after he left Boys Town. “I’ve since found that there are workers and there are bosses. I admit that I have never liked to be ‘just a worker’ and sometimes my enthusiasm to be boss got the better of me! I gained a lot of work experience though and opened my first supermarket in Hillbrow in 1987. Later my store was bought out by Massmart who converted it into their own brand.”

Fast forward to 2012 and the Dolphin Coast where Anthony opened the first of his popular restaurants, MamaG’s in Ballito, followed by a branch at uMhlali Country Club. At the time of going to press he had just opened a third branch in Palm Lakes Estate. He still owns property in Gauteng, including a fully equipped gym, and in total currently employs around 80 people.

“I know I can be a tough boss, but I’ve always tried to bring the same core values from Boys Town into my business; treating one another with respect, listening before judging, and awarding bonuses on merit.”

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Pearl Msweli, GBT National Marketing Manager offered an insight to Girls and Boys Town: “Girls and Boys Town is a national non-profit organisation, established in 1958, committed to helping and empowering youth who are vulnerable and unsafe, helping them to reclaim their lives and then S.H.I.N.E. ®.

“The story of the former Boys Town is one of the most heart-warming tales of human endeavour. Its journey is a reflection of everyday life in most societies of the world; namely the tragedy of fear, loss, despair, abuse, neglect and the triumph of faith, courage and hope that changes the way we care for children. Its legacy is about fulfilling dreams and improving lives. The organisation has continued to expand, including the introduction of young girls into our programme in 2004, which then evolved to Girls and Boys Town, offering service to between 20 000 to 50 000 beneficiaries a year.” www.girlsandboystown.org.za

It’s certainly not a new hypothesis that it takes more than DNA to be a good parent – and Anthony is a shining example. He married again in 2007 and soon adopted wife Jacqueline’s three daughters when the youngest was just four years old and the eldest a teenager of 13 – a challenging feat for any parents, biological or otherwise.

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profile* LEFT: Anthony and Jacqueline sharing a laugh together. Picture: Tyron Mackenzie

“My perspective of this is based on what I learnt at Boys Town; how the teachers, nuns and priests would love and care for children who were not their own.”

When he speaks of his “girls” his love and pride is clearly evident. His biological daughter Natasha, 31 and a well-known DJ, lives in Johannesburg with her partner.

The three younger women live at home or

close by. Angelique 24, is doing CA articles.

Rosalita 22, is mother of a six-month-old son Alexander, and Jennavive, the youngest at 17, is in Grade 11.

While he admits he is guilty of spoiling his children, Anthony has always been firm on boundaries and consequences. “At Boys Town I was always afforded the right to defend myself and I’ve passed this on to my

children irrespective of what they’ve done. I will always listen. It may seem old fashioned today but I hold fast on issues like eating together – we don’t allow trays in front of the TV. Church every Sunday is a given. As much as we have taught them to be selfreliant, I know I will always be their first port of call if they need help. Another life lesson, I’ve encouraged them not to dwell on what they think are their ‘bad points’ but rather think of their good points and combine them to get the best out of themselves. This is advice I would give to any parent.”

Anthony’s gym in Hillbrow is often open to street kids, who are taught physical skills such as the art of boxing. He also supports projects involving the elderly and drug rehabilitation programmes.

“None of us know what the future holds but I hope the values I’ve instilled in my children will never change.”

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Recruitment Agency Stands The Test Of Time WESTVILLE’S PRO APPOINTMENTS AND PRO TALENT CELEBRATE 25 YEARS CEO of the multiple award-winning recruitment agency, Cindy Norcott started off the business in a spare bedroom in 1994. Despite industry changes, recessions and legislative changes, the agency has grown from strength to strength over the past 25 years. Norcott believes that long-standing relationships built on a foundation of trust, mutual respect and customer care have been important ingredients of their success recipe. “The company’s slogan is a heart for people, and we strive to provide a friendly, professional and responsive service to both candidates and clients.”

The Pro Appointments division focuses on providing temporary and contract staff to many of Durban’s finest companies, while the Pro Talent division has a team of specialist recruiters who focus on specific sectors – such as finance, technical, IT, insurance, sales and logistics.

The company also offers regular business breakfasts and seminars to help upskill and uplift clients and staff. These events are reasonably priced, motivational and offer great value for money.

▪ To celebrate their 25th birthday and give back to the community, Pro Appointments and Pro Talent are hosting a free job seeker

workshop on Wednesday, 22 May in Westville, from 8am to 10.30am. Email Judy at admin@proappoint.co.za to book your seat.

▪ To contact the friendly team at Pro Appointments and Pro Talent, call 031 265 2000 or visit www.pro-talent.co.za

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he death of a spouse is traumatic enough without having to deal with the aftermath of a possible transition into poverty due to poorly managed financial affairs.

A recent survey by Mathew Greenwald & Associates of women whose partners have died, showed that half of them lost 50% of their income following their spouses’ death

living in poverty are 60 and older, and widows accounted for nearly 46% of poor women aged 60 and over. To avoid being one of these sad statistics, take the necessary steps to remain financially secure in widowhood.

Get involved with family finances: Involve yourself with the financial decision making, and when meeting with your financial adviser. It’s found that clients with a dual role in financial matters are

regime: How you are married will dictate how your and your spouse’s assets are dealt with on death. The impact could be significant. Here are two examples that demonstrate this: By being married in Community of Property, the very demise (if, for example, he was ill prior to death) of your husband may drive a once profitable business into insolvency. Being married in Community of Property means that you too will become insolvent, and the assets you thought were yours could be attached by creditors. If you were married with an antenuptial contract with accrual, you may believe that the assets in your name are yours.

However, your assets that were bought during your marriage may need to be sold to provide enough liquidity to pay for an

BE PREPARED Don’t let the death of your spouse be the death of your livelihood too, advises Lisa Praschma, Director at Stone Wealth Management and 48% had difficulty in determining what benefits they were entitled to.

Even though women are becoming more involved in their family’s financial affairs, widowhood still remains and plays a significant risk factor when it comes to possibly transitioning into poverty.

Statistically, women live longer than men, so it is important to look at widowhood as “when”, rather than “if”. This is particularly so when you’re staring at stats that claim that more than one in five women

more successful than with one decision maker. You should know the location of all important documents, original wills, safe combinations, keys for safetydeposit boxes, flash drives, computer logins and passwords.

Look at life insurances: If you have insufficient capital to support your lifestyle then you must ensure there is life cover in place to replace some of the income after the death of your partner. Consult your financial adviser as to the best way to secure life cover.

Look at your marital M A Y

ex-spouse’s maintenance claim.

Your marital regime plays a crucial role in how your assets are dealt with in the event of your spouse’s death. So, understand the implications to ensure you plan accordingly.

Understand your benefits: It is important to know what you will receive and when, after the death of your spouse. You also need to understand what benefits you will be entitled to, as it might affect your decisions before your spouse’s death. Ensure that beneficiary nominations are up 2 0 1 9

to date, especially if yours is your spouse’s second marriage, and that any beneficiary nominations are attached to as many assets as possible. You need to keep these assets from being frozen during the winding up of the estate. This also helps to reduce executor’s fees.

Consolidate your investments: If your spouse has many individually titled investments, it can lead to a complex and time-consuming mess for the surviving spouse to sort out. Avoid any financial headaches by building a solid investment strategy and consolidate accounts. Every investment requires its own process, when the owner passes. The investments that don’t require any strategic planning can be easily consolidated, resulting in less time and paperwork.

Work with an experienced financial adviser: Consult with an independent financial adviser who has the financial IQ to deal with high level planning that adds value across estate, investment, retirement and tax planning. If you don’t have a financial adviser or you usually just let your husband deal with yours, then it’s time to appoint one or get to know the one you have. You need an adviser you can trust in times of need.

The bottom line? Make sure you are ready for whatever eventuality – no matter how morbid and foreboding it seems at the time. It will likely give your partner peace of mind knowing that when they are no longer around you will still be looked after and are financially stable.

W www.facebook.com/

stonewealthmanagement  www.stonewealthmanagement.co.za

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he owner of the Lucky Shaker cocktail bars in uMhlanga and Ballito says he’s super proud to be able to fly the flag for KZN. “I’ve been competing in various bar tending competitions for 17 years and we’ve always been the underdogs, even though we’ve done a lot of dominating,” says Michael. “Last year Lucky Shaker won four national titles from three different bartenders, so we’re doing something right.”

He says it’s probably his experience and interest in “the full picture” that made him top dog in the Monkey Shoulder competition.

“I’ve been creating cocktail menus, doing proper calculations, pouring and measuring

NO MONKEY BUSINESS Winning the Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship for the second consecutive year makes Michael Stephenson a serious player in the industry, writes Debbie Reynolds for so many years that most of the competitions skills came naturally to me.”

Described as the competition that “tests the skills that pay the bills”, the format included six challenges: a general knowledge quiz, pouring, nosing, table service, the perfect serve, and round building.

Said Joe Petch, Global Brand Ambassador for Monkey Shoulder: “The Ultimate Bartender Challenge is an unconventional bartending championship, with a series of rounds aimed at testing all the skills that make a bartender extraordinary.

“It has been running for over six years globally and gives bartenders from each region the spotlight they thoroughly deserve.

“It is evident from the scores and flair witnessed at the 2019 South African championship that there are some undeniably talented and passionate bartenders in the region.”

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FACT FILE What is Monkey Shoulder? Besides being a 100% malt whisky made for mixing, it was voted the world’s best-selling and top-trending Scotch whisky by Drinks International for three years.

Using batches from just 27 casks, Monkey Shoulder is created by combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. Known for breaking conventional whisky rules and traditions, Monkey Shoulder puts the fun back into whisky drinking. Famed for its versatility, the taste has hints of mellow vanilla – a flavour which works well with mixers and in cocktails.

The term “monkey shoulder” harks back to whiskymaking heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that malt men sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand.

This had a tendency to cause their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s, hence the nickname “Monkey Shoulder”. Thankfully practices have changed, and the condition no longer exists.

Having been in the hospitality industry for much of his life, Michael believes the recipe for success is all about thorough training, learning new skills and having an insatiable curiosity.

“But you have to have fun doing it,” he laughs. “After all, we’re in the business of making people happy.”

Lifting the Monkey Shoulder trophy – which is a specially designed ring – from some of the best bartenders around the country – means that Michael will be jetting off to the UK for London Cocktail Week in October.

“With my fellow winners I’ll be exposed to all the latest trends in the industry through seminars, themed evenings, tours and brand events and, of course, I’ll get to visit some of the city’s top bars. It’s all about connection and inspiration.”

One bar on his wish list is Tayer Elementary in Old Street, owned by Alex Kratena and Monica Berg, who used to be bartenders at Artesian Bar, also in London, which won The World’s 50 Best Bars four years in a row.

“It’s their first venture on their own and with their amazing approach to hospitality and their belief in collaboration, it should be industry defining,” says Michael.

One of his overseas favourites is Duck and Cover in Copenhagen. “It’s owned by a friend and was modelled on his grandparents’ lounge … very Scandinavian, moody, comfortable and beautiful.”

Locally, Michael wouldn’t mind sipping a Negroni at Sin+Tax in Joburg or Cause Effect in Cape Town.

“Great decor, great service, great company and great conversation is what makes a great bar anywhere in the world,” says Michael.

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The Crest and The Ridge Magazine MS final.indd 1

2019/04/17 1:33 PM

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e seems almost shy having to pose for me in front of his friend at the Mount Edgecombe driving range, but the quietly-spoken young man possesses a steely determination. He’s on a break from the Sunshine Tour for a week and giving himself a little time out with friends and family before heading off to compete in the Investec Royal Swazi Open in May. The youngest player on the southern African professional golf tour, Luke started playing golf aged eight, “basically as a school extra mural”. “The coach realised straight away that I had a natural ability for the game and sent me off to play in a tournament in Joburg,” says Luke. “I came third and played in America the next year.”

He soon progressed from SA Kids Golf to playing for SA Schools in Grades 8, 9 and 10.

He matriculated from Clifton College in 2017 intent on pursuing his dream of turning professional and joining the Sunshine Tour. With only 30 spots available Luke had to play his heart out and did just that at the final qualifying tournament at Houghton Country Club in March.

“I came fourth after shooting 66 in the first round, which included a hole-in-one (Luke’s fourth in his career), followed by rounds of 69, 70 and 73 for a 10 under par total. It was definitely the hardest tournament I have ever played, because everything was riding on it, but I prepared properly, and it paid off.”

Dedication and discipline are key to keeping ahead of the game

STROKE OF GENIUS and for Luke that means practicing six days a week with a gym session in the morning. “It means missing out on a lot of social events and time with my friends, but that’s what it takes,” says Luke. “I recently started with a new gym trainer who keeps me fit and flexible and I drive to Kloof five days a week to practice with my coach, Shaun Coetzee. “He has been a great help in getting me through Q-school and keeping me disciplined.”

When it comes to big match temperament, Luke says he’s lucky in that he loves the “tournament

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With his sights set on the PGA European Tour, Mount Edgecombe golfer Luke Mayo is shooting for the stars, writes Debbie Reynolds

ABOVE & LEFT: Luke Mayo at the Mount Edgecombe driving range. Pictures: Debbie Reynolds feeling”. “Social golf doesn’t excite me,” he laughs.

“Now that I’m a professional, it’s much easier to get motivated and to make the sacrifices.”

Having been told how tough it was to earn his pro card, Luke said without sounding “over confident”, his advice to other aspiring players is to go for it.

“You have to really want it and work hard and, obviously, have the financial backing to afford the travel

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Om

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LEFT: Luke Mayo, who turns 20 in May, qualified to play on the Sunshine Tour this year. and tournaments, but it’s not as impossible as people say.”

Luke has played in Africa, America, the UK and Italy, but still ranks playing St Andrews (when he was 12) as a highlight, followed closely by playing in a SA versus India test match at Leopard Creek, Johann Rupert’s private course.

While he’s on the boil, he plans to go to the European Tour qualifying school at the end of the year, hoping to make it on to that elite circuit and, just maybe, playing with his hero Tiger Woods.

“Being good enough to play with Tiger is my goal,” says Luke.

“He’s achieved so much in our era and turned golf into the big industry it is today. As for local golfers, I’d like to play with Ernie Els and I think it would be very interesting to play with Gary Player – he is such a character!

“I have huge respect for SA golfers, as does the rest of the world.” There’s no doubt Luke is on track to add to the country’s golfing credentials.

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HAVING A

#BLAST

uMhlanga fitness trainer and lifestyle coach Wayne Collin and Old Town Italy executive chef Brad Wright have got together to produce a range of all-natural, nutrient-dense ready meals, writes Glynis Horning

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ean and lanky Wayne Collin, an intense endurance cyclist with eight Cape Epics under his belt, and surfer chef Brad Wright, compact and relaxed in his kitchen duds, go together like pasta and meatballs. But that’s not what they’re making today in the charming Old Town Italy deli, with its white-tiled walls, hand-painted murals and market-style stalls. They are preparing a new range of fresh ready meals and frozen meals aimed at achieving optimal health easily and deliciously.

They are creating #BLAST – and clearly having one.

In the kitchen today, smiling for a camera shoot, are bowls of green soup as potent as it’s delectable, packed with 15 different greens, from kale to coriander and basil pesto, and thickened with coconut milk; platters of glistening roasted cauliflower florets spiked with turmeric and sprinkled with chia seeds; golden fish cakes of sustainable salmon bound with almond flour; and wedges

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of gluten-free bread made from cauliflower and almond flour and studded with seeds. But the biggest surprise is a board of glistening chocolate brownies – made, Wayne informs you, with black beans, and sweetened with dates.

An International Sports Sciences Association-accredited nutrition and endurance coach, Wayne has been training people to improve their health and wellness for more than 25 years. He draws up exercise and eating plans tailored to their particular bodies, lifestyles and tastes, encouraging them to adopt regimes that are sustainable “and fun”!

For some years now he’d been toying with the idea of a range of ready-prepared meals to make this easier in increasingly time-pressured lives. The final impetus came when his teenage daughter, Ashleigh, battling a weight issue, turned to him for help.

“It can be difficult with people close to you – you don’t want to dictate, even when as a parent you may know best. But when

Ashleigh opened up, I was able to guide her to eat my way, which boosts energy and fights inflammation. In 12 months of sensible, sustainable living, she shed 17kg, with a 20% reduction in body fat! She has now turned 20, studying design and marketing at Vega, and doing great,” says Wayne very proudly.

Four months ago, Renzo Scribante, the restauranteurturned-founder of Old Town Italy and the Rembrothers Group, and his wife Emma became

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clients of Wayne. Wayne’s way of eating resonated with them to the degree that this year, a formal business partnership was born, to produce the #BLAST range of foods at Old Town Italy, with Brad using Wayne’s recipes and adding a pinch of his own creative flair.

This flair was developed on the International Hotel School training programme in Durban, and honed in the 15 years since in stints at the Royal Hotel and restaurants across the UK, Asia and the Middle East.

THE ORION SOFA

THE APOLLO LOUNGE SUITE

ABOVE: Old Town Italy executive chef Brad Wright (left), and lifestyle coach Wayne Collin preparing a new range of fresh and healthy ready and frozen meals.

“We’re both into natural, quality ingredients sourced locally, ethically and sustainably – grass fed free-range meat, seasonal vegetables and fruit, unprocessed grains like brown rice and quinoa, and pulses,” says Wayne.

Adds Brad: “The key is to respect good ingredients, to keep in the goodness and flavour. Too many people overcook them, over-salt or add sugar, rather than using fresh herbs and healthy spices for flavour, like garlic, ginger,

cinnamon and turmeric.”

All #BLAST meals – as well as the menus which Wayne can draw up for customers – are carefully balanced: “You need protein, carbs and healthy fats in the right proportions, and in the best form for your body, without preservatives, refined ingredients or additives,” he says. “It’s about nourishing you – and being delicious.”

THE ALPINA BEDROOM SUITE

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#BLAST meals are available at Old Town Italy, 39 Meridian Drive, uMhlanga n 083 456 0138 or 083 265 0797  www.waynecollinfitness.co.za

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THE BELLAGIO DINING ROOM SUITE

environment*

ARE DRUM LINES THE ANSWER? The length of shark nets at uMhlanga and other Durban beaches has been scaled down to reduce the ecological impact on sharks and harmless sea creatures. Tony Carnie considers the pros and cons

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he deep, blue waters of the Indian Ocean have served as a powerful recreation magnet for generations of tourists and Durban residents. But, there was a time nearly 70 years ago when the stability of the tourist economy along the KwaZuluNatal coastline was shaken by a series of fatal shark attacks.

There were 21 attacks (seven fatal) off Durban between 1943 and 1951, prompting the city to put up the first gill net installations to kill large sharks from 1952. This was followed by “Black December”, when another five people were killed in a series of attacks in KZN between Christmas 1957 and Easter 1958.

These attacks triggered an exodus of panic-stricken holidaymakers, prompting the formation of a new organisation to protect bathers from sharks.

Known today as the KZN Sharks Board, it extended shark netting to popular swimming beaches across the coastline

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– a strategy that has proved remarkably successful from a human safety perspective.

Dr Geremy Cliff, the board’s head of research, notes that there have been no fatal attacks at protected beaches since the board was established in 1964.

However, the nets have inflicted a heavy toll on the marine ecology, with thousands of sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays and other harmless sea creatures being caught and

killed in the nets over the last seven decades.

During the 1970s the nets stretched for over 45km and over 1 000 sharks were killed each year. Increasing criticism about these impacts led to the gradual scaling down of the number of nets, and by 2004 the total net length was reduced to about 27km.

Where nets were removed, however, the board also introduced an extra safety

BELOW: Thousands of sharks – along with dolphins, turtles, rays and other harmless sea creatures – have been killed in the bather protection nets off the KwaZuluNatal coastline over the last seven decades. Picture: Geremy Cliff, KZN Sharks Board

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intervention known as drum lines – large, baited hooks anchored to the seabed beneath a large float.

Now the board has reduced the total length of nets at all eThekwini beaches (effective from March 2019) to further reduce impacts – and has introduced more drum lines.

Drum lines – which have been used in Queensland, Australia, since 1962 – are considered to be more selective in catching potentially-dangerous sharks, while reducing the by-catch of harmless creatures. Earlier this year, New South Wales also announced that it was introducing a modified form of drum lines on a trial basis.

LEFT: Members of the KZN Sharks Board deploy another drum line off the Durban coastline. Picture: KZN Sharks Board

DRUM LINES – originally named because they were attached to floating drums – are anchored to the sea bed and incorporate plastic floats and a baited hook to catch large sharks. Illustration: Sabine Wintner, KZN Sharks Board

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“Shark nets and drum lines both have an excellent safety record,” says Sharks Board head of operations Greg Thompson.

“Neither provide absolute protection from shark attack – only a physical enclosure can achieve that – and the construction of such enclosures at surf beaches is impractical.”

But criticism persists from marine conservation activists who suggest that nets and drum lines have become an anachronism.

Mark Addison, a local diver who has spent decades swimming underwater in close contact with a variety of shark species, says: “Neither nets nor drum lines are currently needed 2 0 1 9

and the entire infrastructure could have been taken out entirely nearly two decades ago.”

Mark says there are times when bathers should avoid going into the sea to avoid the risk of a shark attack. For example, he would not advise people to swim during the annual sardine run, when large sharks are pursuing massive fish shoals.

“I would also never go swimming while the sea is still murky and turbid after heavy rains.”

But he is worried that drum lines may expose surfers and swimmers to greater risks.

He suggests that larger, adult sharks generally remain in deeper waters but may be lured closer to shore by the smell of baited hooks or the presence of dead or dying sharks caught on drum lines.

Mark believes research about the effectiveness of drum lines is inconclusive and claims their introduction is driven by cost-saving.

Greg Thompson rejects these fears, saying the board’s key mandate is to protect bathers.

“We would not make changes to our gear, such as the introduction of drum lines, if we thought the public were at greater risk,” he said.

On whether baited hooks could attract more sharks, Greg said: “The distance over which sharks are thought to be sensitive to smell is of the order of a few hundred metres, as opposed to kilometres. The baits are likely to attract only those sharks that are already in the vicinity of the beach where the drum lines are anchored.

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business*

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lossoming Ballito, was there ever a ’burb more blessed in South Africa? Probably not, which is great for the people who own property on this patch of paradise in KwaZulu-Natal. And a bummer if you don’t own there. Buying now will cost you dearly. Well, almost.

Two quick riders to this generally upbeat story: there are apartments to be had for R1-million and, while the market is flying, infrastructure can barely keep pace with the build.

Cobus Oelofse, who heads up the Ilembe Chamber of Commerce, says about 600 000 residents call his area home – an area that spans from King Shaka International Airport to Amatikulu in the north and inland as far as Kranskop.

Its biggest concentration is Ballito where there are 16 housing estates – either completed or under construction – involving upwards of 12 000 residential units. This created the gold rush in Ballito and the explosion of businesses to service them: malls, hospitals, lawyers, plumbers, the works.

“We are trying hard to maintain the growth trajectory, especially with the sugar industry in the doldrums,” Oelofse says. “We are pushing industrial growth to make our economy more diverse so employment is more permanent. The property boom has meant infrastructural challenges. We need a new substation, for example, and our business confidence index shows significant overtrading in the retail sector.”

Oelofse says the rush on retail is an indicator of the excitement around Ballito. It might be overtraded now, but in the long-term it means the pioneers who take a risk in the rush get in early and are more likely to reap rewards.

The boom has meant a variety of shopkeepers appear to be flourishing. Retail mogul Allan Hirsch says his Ballito store was “very seasonal” when it opened.

“Out of season we really struggled with just locals popping in. However, over the last few years, it has changed completely.

It is difficult to tell the difference between the holiday season

BALLITO IS BOOMING Ballito is no longer the quiet holiday town it once was. Property investors and business owners are taking advantage of the rapid move up the coast where a R76-billion masterplan has been hatched, writes Greg Ardé 38

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and off-season now. The store has done incredibly well.”

Craig Toweel owns The Wedge, opposite the entrance to Zimbali. The 4 700m² mall has 28 tenants and opened in December. “Trade has been good. We’re doing well. Our position has paid off.

Restaurants in Ballito seem overtraded, but on the whole, people are attracted to convenience.”

Anthony Diepenbroek is the KZN MD of Balwin Properties, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that is developing one of the last free sites in Ballito. The Ballito Hills development consists of 3 000 units behind Ballito Junction, with

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a 59m² unit starting at R1-million. So far 418 units of varying sizes have already been sold, and R180-million is being budgeted to spend on bulk infrastructure.

Diepenbroek says: “We hit the price right. It’s the last piece of land offering development on scale on the seaside of the N2. We are selling to young professionals, many of whom commute to uMhlanga, a 20-minute drive. The capital growth prospects for Ballito property are so good because there’s limited land left. What is left is expensive.”

Balwin’s success is but one of a number of development triumphs. According to property marketing and research company, Rainmaker, annual residential sales on the KZN North Coast are upwards of R2-billion, and the population on the eastern side of the N2 around Ballito has grown from 17 000 in 2011 to 32 000 in 2018.

The largest private landowners in the area have hatched a R76-billion masterplan there.

One of them is Murray Collins from Collins Residential, who says the area is “undoubtedly one of South Africa’s fastest growing residential nodes”.

Collins says semigration to KZN, especially the North Coast, and growing tourism is fuelling investment demand. “That’s why a R76-billion masterplan through various stakeholders has been created to ensure the North Coast demand continues to ‘boom’ exponentially.”

Collins says the plan includes his R2,5-billion Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate at Sheffield Beach. Launched in December 2016 with beach access, revitalised dams and wetlands, and spanning over 140-hectares, Zululami sold 80% of phase 1 before launching phase 2. That project alone employs 5 000 people and construction is at full tilt. Already bulk infrastructure and the gatehouse are built.

The next component of this masterplan is the R10-billion development Seaton, that borders Zululami and covers 411-hectares and envisages an equine district, a lifestyle village, college node and retirement home.

The Collins component of the masterplan incorporates seven development zones over 5 089-hectares including commercial, retail, residential and lifestyle. The goal is to create over 34 000 residential units and 320 000 jobs.

To date, Seaton and Zululami, the first components of the plan, have involved infrastructural spend of R71-million.

The Ballito investment machine has created a plethora of opportunities. One is the Zimbali property fund.

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business*

RIGHT: An interior view of one of the apartments at Lush, within Elaleni Coastal Forest.

BELOW: An aerial view of Ballito Junction.

Last year Kuwait’s IFA Hotels & Resorts – which broke ground in Zimbali in 1996 – partnered with a finance firm to create the fund to drive investment into its properties.

The latest component is Zimbali Lakes Resort, launched in 2017, which has since achieved over R700-million in land sales.

IFA’s Phil de Sylva says the fund is meant to help taxpayers take advantage of incentives to invest in sectors like hospitality, adding that he expects it to grow to R2-billion in a few years. De Sylva says Zimbali has contributed R10-billion to the economy of KZN. Another interesting development is that associated with the estate Lush, within Elaleni Coastal Forest. Developer Clifton Smithers has created an Airbnb type facility for his property investors to extend the investment potential beyond bricks and mortar. His short-term letting platform allows owners to exercise greater control over who rents

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there, mindful of preserving their estate.

Smithers says the market demand for short-term letting in Ballito is high, and owners are looking for ways to maximise this opportunity.

“We introduced a short-term rental scheme for Lush. We see two types of investors: those who let their properties on an ongoing basis, and others who invest to use it as their primary residence for most of the year and then let out during the high season.”

Rainmaker says Airbnb reported 66% of KZN hosts shared their primary residence with guests for an average 13 nights a year, fetching R20 000 in income.

Smithers said: “The demand for short-term letting opportunities is unquestionable, and this demand is ever-growing. KZN’s North Coast is a top performing area when it comes to short-term letting for holidaymakers.”

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ALL YOUR HOME DECOR NEEDS IN ONE DESTINATION Introducing Umgeni Deco & Lifestyle Park; a first-of-its-kind in KwaZulu-Natal.

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Situated within the popular Umgeni Precinct and boasting easy access from all major routes, the Umgeni Deco & Lifestyle Park presents a safe and tranquil retail environment with ample parking. With Zebbies Lighting and CTM having already opened their doors, the vision for Umgeni Deco & Lifestyle Park is to become a one stop retail destination for all household, DIY, electronics and lifestyle needs.

decor*

DECOR TRENDS What’s trending for your home in 2019

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re you moving into a new home, or considering doing a few renovations?

If you are looking for inspiration, here are a few trends for you to keep in mind when it comes to fabrics, textures and colours.

• Velvet: Velvet was once seen as old fashioned and stuffy, but is now viewed as luxurious yet funky. This multi-dimensional fabric has already started gaining a lot of attention this year.

• Natural: The vibe in 2019 is moving towards fresh, natural materials such as stone, concrete and granite. These elements will help add an organic, classy and serene ambiance to your living space while reflecting the world around you.

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•Copper Accents: This year we are expecting to see less rose gold and more copper accents – along with a mixture of other metals. With its red and orange tones and overall earthy hue, copper is a muchneeded breath of fresh air.

• Brass: 2019 is setting up to be a year where we wave goodbye to stainless steel and polished nickel, and welcome brass accents – surprisingly warm and subtle – back into our homes.

• Colours and Prints: The Pantone Colour of the year is Living Coral, and blues and greens help this colour stand out while also adding contrast. There is a strong focus on animal prints as well as big, bold extravagant florals.

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ABOVE: NeoLITH follows the latest European trends with slimline countertops which are resistant to scratching, stains and heat. NeoLITH is made up of 100% natural composition.

IN THE KITCHEN Home design and renovation usually starts with the kitchen space – the central home feature where meals are enjoyed and family stories shared. Pewter and gunmetal taps give a softer look to what we’ve had in the past, while concealed storage for appliances

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and handless cupboards offers a seamless, clean look. As for countertops, an essential component of the kitchen, quartz is here to stay – mimicking the look of natural stone, and veining and patterns create character.

The Studio Collection shares their top four kitchen trends for 2019:  Natural African grain veneers: We are seeing a move towards celebrating the natural and warm features of this earthy look.  Crystal or high-gloss surfaces: Although matte finishes are a big conversation in the interior design zeitgeist, we are still seeing a strong preference for crystal or high-gloss finishes.  Classic-contemporary design: We are seeing more hybrid kitchen designs that incorporate the best of classic and contemporary designs – such as combining natural veneers in a traditional door style with sintered stone worktops.  Island mounted hobs and extractors: We’re liberating the chef and allowing him or her to move more freely in their kitchens, rather than being pressed up against a wall.  studiocollection.co.za W OJ Communications

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fashion*

LOOSEN UP Get the edge this winter with a more relaxed, laid-back and layered style perfect for our not-too-chilly days. Debbie Reynolds asked three local designers what the guys should be wearing this season

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o, guys, if there’s just one thing you must do to be on trend this winter, it’s lose your skinny jeans.

“Everything is baggier and more generous and, at last, the skinny jean is heading for the hills,” says Laurie Holmes of Holmes Bros fame.

“They’re not cool anymore, so bros, let them go!

“From shirts to pants, the silhouette is bigger, looser and boxier … think the 90s with a fresh twist.”

Cargo pants are back in a big way along with fresh safari-style jackets and carpenter’s vests

Longer-length shirt (R1 495) layered under woven sweater (not for sale), cargo pants (R800), and bucket hat (R495).

AMANDA LAIRD CHERRY Geometric take on traditional camouflage created using seven shades of Shweshwe fabric with garment panels made into a “shacket” (shirt jacket) and trousers. Only made to order (R19 995). All-black utilitarian look with parka (R1 000), longer length shirt (R1 495), and Cargo pants (R800).

Multi award-winning Terrence Bray agrees: “Shapes are more oversized, slouchy and generous mixed with an element of tailoring.”

He says menswear trends are very exciting as they get edgier and men take more risks. “I think we’ve been starved for so long, that we’re finally embracing a more interesting look.”

For Durban fashion doyenne Amanda Laird Cherry, it’s also about a more relaxed “dressed-down” style with the utility look taking centre stage.

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 Double-breasted print knit jacket with printed pull-on knit pants. Camo kilt leggings and zip cardigan. Liberty print shirt, camo jacket with puffer lining and paper bag pants. Liberty print shirt with reversible coat and baggy pants.

The “it” item is a classic Liberty-print lawn shirt then layer it with a cardigan or overcoat TERRENCE BRAY

“Cargo pants are back in a big way along with fresh safari-style jackets and carpenter’s vests.”

Spot on, says Terrence, with camo utility jackets being elevated with bright embroidery. “Think the 70s Vietnam army jacket reworked and upcycled with mix-and-match prints.”

Laurie calls it the “technical” trend with zip-up nylon jackets, lightweight for Durban and more puffer-style for Hillcrest.

Embellishment is another hot trend taking winter fashion by storm.

“There’s lots of embroidery – dragons and snakes and college

»

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fashion*  Afro dot shirt (R699), charcoal Lee jeans (R749,95).  Big stripe sweater (R490), Wabash trackpants (R559).  Made in SA white LS T (R420), stripe trackpants (R559).

Laurie, left, wears grey zip hoodie (R590), Wrangler shirt (R1349,95), and Lee Detroit chinos (R749,95). Josh wears self-label hoodie (R550), Wrangler jacket (R1 899,95), and indigo Wrangler jeans (R1 379,95).

From shirts to pants, the silhouette is bigger, looser and boxier … think the 90s with a fresh twist LAURIE HOLMES jacket motifs – with bigger logos and imagery,” says Laurie.

For the East Coast’s more balmy winter you also can’t go wrong with a good long-sleeve shirt. Amanda advocates the white shirt in various cuts, fits and lengths which can be worn smart or layered and relaxed.

For Terrence the “it” item is a classic Liberty-print lawn shirt then layer it with a cardigan or overcoat. “It’s perfect for the Durban climate where you can bundle up or peel it off.”

The consensus on colour is that the muted shades are being pushed

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out by richer colours. Laurie is going for washed-out purples, blues, oranges and yellows, while Terrence is opting for bright jewel tones.

Amanda’s palette is tending towards interesting dying techniques, including tie-dye and ombre effects, which, she says are “a revival of yesteryear, but done in an updated sophisticated way.”

She’s also pushing a contemporary take on the idea of a classic suit. “We’re going for both subtle and bold versions, exploring print and plain options.”

H Terrence Bray garments available from E studio@terrencebray.co.za. All prices on

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request. Pictures: Simon Deiner (SDR Photo) H Holmes Bros garments available from stores at La Lucia Mall, Ballito Lifestyle and Watercrest Mall, Hillcrest H Amanda Laird Cherry garments available from The Space stores at Gateway and Pavilion and online at Spree. Pictures: Simon Deiner (SDR Photo)

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on trend*

YOU'RE THE MAN Father’s Day is a great opportunity to appreciate the love and effort of our fathers, so shower your dad this Father’s Day with any one of these great gift ideas THE FITNESS FREAK DAD Treat dad to a sports massage by Lauren Uys, a qualified sports massage therapist with a chiropractic background. A massage helps improve his circulation and lymphatic flow, relax his muscles and decrease his tension. It also improves his flexibility and range of motion, helps prevent injury and speed up his recovery, and improves his muscle tone and energy levels, relieving any pain and making him feel great. Flow Hands: n 083 300 9824

LA U R EN UYS

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THE OUTDOOR DAD A far cry from the old polystyrene cooler box, Rogue Ice Coolers are built to last, utilising heavy duty rotational moulding technology and are foamed, to ensure optimal thermal insulation. The end result? A cooler that is incredibly strong with brilliant ice retention. Inspired by the natural African bush and great outdoors, the look in olive green is rugged but refined and sophisticated, with genuine leather straps and handles for a uniquely South African feel.  www.rogueicecoolers.com

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Without my dad I wouldn't be here

- MARIA SHARAPOVA

naval orange wedges, and pomegranate arils. R199,

THE GIFT-IN-ABOTTLE DAD  Turn any sundowner into a fundowner by adding your choice of Botanical Bombs to a shot or two of gin, vodka or rum. Top up with ice and 250ml ice cold tonic water, dry ginger or soda. Stir gently. Let the Botanical Bomb infuse for a couple of minutes. Sip, savour, sunsets, surrender. Choose from Canal Cruising with fresh tastes of pineapple, naartjie, lemon grass, grape slices, and juniper berries, or Rumble in the Jungle with spicy tones of cinnamon bark, red jalapeno chillies, star anise, black pepper,

Unison Store, Flanders Mall.  www.sundownersociety.com  Distillery 031 have created craft spirits that offer a distinctly Durban flavour. Two great choices for dad are: D’Urban Scarlet Gin – the world’s first gin made with cascara (coffee cherries). It is South Africa’s most internationally awarded gin, having won gold medals in New York, London and San Francisco. This exciting gin is crafted in small batches using cascara, the red, fleshy covering around the coffee bean, and adds subtle berry notes to our gin without being overpowering.

If liqueurs are your dad’s thing, then Heart of Darkness Coffee Liqueur is a must for him to try. This all natural liqueur is hand-crafted with ethically sourced Arabica coffee beans from the Meru region in Tanzania.  www.distillery031.com  As the world’s best-selling and top trending Scotch whisky – as voted by Drinks International for three years running – Monkey Shoulder is sure to be the top trending Father’s Day gift too. R369,95 from leading retailers.

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THE FUN LOVING DAD Mantality’s Mystery Box is an awesome, mysterious box of manly goodies. Each box is randomly picked and will contain between two and five items – depending on the size

you choose. No two boxes are alike, and we constantly add new products to the Mystery Box all the time. Available in small,

medium and large boxes, for R399, R499 and R899 respectively.  www.mantality.co.za

THE MASTERCHEF DAD  Deejo expresses its love of cutlery with an exclusive collection of Deejo table knives which are tattooed around four collections: Art Deco, Blossom, Geometry and Toile de Jouy. Playfully and skilfully alternating between tradition and modernity, these collections entertain in a single harmony a unique tattoo for each guest.

R4 199.  www.yuppiechef.com  Mile 8, a cookbook by David Higgs, co-owner of Marble restaurant, celebrated chef and co-presenter of My Kitchen Rules, grew up along the SA coastline, and for him, Mile 8 is where he caught his first fish and his food journey began. This is his story, and with over 90 dishes and 150 recipes influenced by the journey of Higgs’ career, Mile 8 is a culinary adventure bringing together the unique and interesting flavours of southern Africa. The perfect gift for a taste adventure enthusiast. R550.  marble.restaurant/mile-8-cook-book

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weekend escapes*

PEACE & PARADISE An hour-and-a-half from the bustle of city life, Pleasant Places is a four-star country getaway offering much-needed peace and tranquillity, writes Lorna King

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weekend break to the Midlands is the perfect pick-me-up for Durbanites. In summer it offers a welcome breather from the humidity at the coast, while in winter it affords the opportunity to snuggle in front of a roaring fire – and hopefully the chance to see snow. But, with the vast range of accommodation on offer to suit all tastes and budgets, it’s difficult to know where to start looking.

Pleasant Places is a small, select guesthouse that is ideal if you’re wanting to enjoy the peace and quiet, take in picturesque views, and simply chill out. Recently refurbished by well-known Durban interior decorator/owner Philippa Courtenay and her soon-to-be husband Phillip Dreyer, the couple have made sure the most important aspects have been met: comfort, good food, and the opportunity to enjoy private spaces dotted around the 16-hectare property.

Saturday morning started for us just after 6am as our body

Other than the gushing sound of the Lions River far below us and the odd cow mooing, the peace and tranquillity was pure bliss 50

clocks were still in city mode. Not wanting to miss the early morning freshness, we enjoyed a coffee on our deck as we watched the cows in the distance venturing out for a day of grazing. Other than the gushing sound of the Lions River far below us and the odd cow mooing, the peace and tranquillity was pure bliss.

Breakfast was standard and filling, but the evening meals – which are available on request and not included in the rate – were full of flavour, classically presented and perfectly proportioned. All three courses were certainly worth leaving home for and the ideal end to the day. Philippa and Phillip do all the cooking themselves, and don’t follow a set menu, but rather serve what’s fresh, available and in season. And of course, they tailor the menu to your needs, so any special dietary requirements can be met – just remember to tell them in advance. A nice touch which is not common these days is an honesty bar, fully stocked with beer, local wines and cool drinks.

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by local artists; and chilling out with a taster G&T paddle at Nottingham Road Brewing Company. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Pleasant Places is more than pleasant, but just the sort of place you feel comfortable kicking off your shoes, chilling out with a glass of wine and watching the world go by – just the place to go to when you need to recharge your battery. And best of all, it’s reasonably priced and good value for money. n 078 768 2319  www.pleasantplaces.co.za

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Even though Pleasant Places is a four-star guesthouse, the accommodation is not flashy and pretentious, but rather comfortable, homely, tastefully decorated, and a perfect match for the country surrounds. There are five suites available and one family suite, plus two of the rooms have a fold-out bed settee for little ones if required.

The grounds are vast, offering visitors plenty of quiet areas to sit, relax and reflect on life – or simply just stare out into the distance enjoying the views. There is also a rambling walk on the property which takes you down to the Lions River and stables where horses roam freely. For children, this is the perfect place to ride bicycles and enjoy the adventure.

A trip to the Midlands would not be complete without a lazy drive on the Midlands Meander stopping where the fancy takes you. My top three must-visits were Piggly Wiggly where we quenched our thirst with wickedly delicious freshly squeezed juices from The Greenery; a browse around The Platform admiring art, sculptures and all things beautiful

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motoring*

EAT MY DUSTER Stephen Smith tries out the new Renault Duster, and explains why it is more than just a name and deserves its 4x4 badge

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hat do people want in a family car? Space … affordability … reliability and safety. Add a modicum of 4x4 ability to the equation, and you’ve basically described the Renault Duster 4x4. In my opinion, it also offers pretty good value for money, and I love the humble way it goes about its business – there’s nothing too flash about the Duster, except maybe the chrome grille, and yet it ticks so many boxes.

Compared to the previous model this newer version is replacing, there are no extravagant design changes, probably because the original design of the Duster was so popular, and because big changes would be more expensive. The grille and headlights have been made wider, with LED driving lights, and the taillights are now square. The wheels have been made bigger and the bonnet has been sculpted, while the roof rails have been made more prominent.

There are a few more subtle changes, but the overall effect is a car that is instantly recognisable as a Duster, but also obviously as a new generation.

The interior has some very welcome changes – a 7-inch touchscreen is the interface for information and entertainment and includes Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto, which has been moved to a more userfriendly position. Other than that, materials have been improved and the seats made more supportive and comfortable.

Some of you might question whether the Duster’s 4x4 badge is worth anything, but rest assured, the Duster 4x4 can actually traverse some pretty tricky stuff. The 4x4

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model is only available in manual form, with a six-speed gearbox, but the first gear has a lower-than-usual ratio for good control at slow speeds. The 4x4 system itself features three selectable modes: 2WD (where power is sent to the front wheels), Automatic mode (where the car determines which of the four wheels to send torque to), and Lock mode, where torque is sent to all four wheels. I’ve tested this system a number of times, and it really does work well on everything from slippery slopes and mud, to those bumpy moments where only three wheels are touching the ground. The all-important ground clearance figure is 210mm, which is class leading.

Entirely new to the 2019 Duster 4x4 is a multiview camera, enabling drivers to see

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PETROLHEAD SPECS ENGINE: 1,461cc four-cylinder turbodiesel | POWER AND TORQUE: 800 kW @ 4,000 rpm 260 N.m. @ 1,750 rpm TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual | MAXIMUM SPEED: 168km/h | ACCELERATION 0-100km/h: 12,5 seconds FUEL CONSUMPTION (claimed): 5,2-litres/100km | DRIVER AIDS: ABS with EBD and emergency brake assist, ESC with hill start assist | PRICE: R327 900 with 5 year/150 000km warranty and 3 year/45 000km service plan

terrain in front of them, to the sides or the rear. Very useful in tight 4x4 situations.

In terms of safety, the Duster features two airbags in the front, as well as a relatively full complement of active safety features such as ABS braking with electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist. Blind Spot Warning also helps to avoid accidents by warning the driver of vehicles they can’t see.

My conclusion? The Duster offers arguably the best value of any new car on the market, and in a segment where space is so desirable, that goes a long way to ensure success. That said, there’s a lot more going for the Duster than mere spaciousness, with a great engine and gearbox setup, a very competent 4x4 system, and good specification levels.

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property*

FUELLING THE DEMAND FOR SECTIONAL TITLE With the rising cost of fuel, more and more homeowners are considering convenient sectional title living, says Gareth Bailey

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ne thing is certain, apart from the overall inflationary impact, the spiralling cost of fuel directly impacts on the demand for conveniently situated, sectional title property in key economic hubs – close to the workplace, schools and all amenities.

On the back of rising global oil prices, the price of fuel has risen significantly twice recently due to changes in the general fuel and Road Accident Fund levies as announced in the National Budget Speech.

Motorists will be expected to pay even more at the pumps in June as a new, additional tax – a carbon tax – takes effect.

The high cost of fuel in South Africa, coupled with increased traffic congestion in major centres and the ever-rising cost of utilities and property rates, has already seen the emergence of a trend towards sectional title living in easily accessible locations as people sacrifice space for location.

The growing demand in this property segment is likely to increase exponentially as consumers do their utmost

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to avoid the cost of fuel and transport eating away at their disposable income.

According to Lightstone and CMA Info statistics, sectional title properties account for approximately 70% of all properties in our North Durban market comprising Durban North, La Lucia and uMhlanga.

More broadly, in the Durban Metro area, sectional title sales as a percentage of total sales has risen by 9% from an average of 52% in 2010 to 61% in 2018.

Consumers’ appetite for more compact, lock-up-and-go, hassle-free living with access to high quality communal facilities

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is also driving the demand for sectional title homes across all sectors of the market. This includes first-time buyers, who are further encouraged by the banks’ increased willingness to lend and compete for bond business, as well as those opting to downscale earlier than they would otherwise have done.

UMHLANGA 031 561 5300

GARETH BAILEY

Pam Golding Properties, North Durban area.

According to ooba’s statistics, in January this year, first-time buyers nationally accounted for nearly 53% of all bonds extended – continuing the rising trend evident since mid-2017.

Two interesting trends evident in our North Coast market include: • An increase in the number

of mixed-use developments in prime business nodes, such as uMhlanga Village, uMhlanga Ridge and Sibaya; • And a growing number of sectional title apartments located in security estates as developers realise that apartment living is a lifestyle choice, a question of affordability and a means of achieving greater diversity of homeowners within their estates.

Naturally, from a price growth point of view, more demand for sectional title is translating into firmer price growth for apartments than freestanding homes.

This is especially true along uMhlanga’s front line, where, according to Lightstone, the median price of sectional title units has grown by 89% during the 10 years spanning 2010 to 2018, while the freestanding price has grown by just 34% over the same period.

As a result, sellers of freestanding homes should be mindful of pricing their homes realistically if they wish to sell their homes within a reasonable time period – the national average being close to four months, according to FNB. While some people will continue to embrace the sense of freedom and space associated with freestanding properties, an increasing majority will seek out sectional title schemes and estates that are secure, centrally located, wellmanaged and have access to quality communal facilities – and they will reap the rewards of this investment decision.

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Umhlanga / R17.5 million

Ref# 1ND1431820

Beds 3 / Baths 3 / Garages 3 / Palatial mansion with seaviews in prime position. Double volume marble entrance, spacious, luxurious reception rooms. Covered entertainment area leading onto pool. The perfect home.

Ellmarie Spencer 083 256 4381

Durban North / R8.650 million

Ref# 1ND1426746

Beds 4 / Baths 5 / Garages 2 / Off-plan gated development just launched in Monteith Place - prime upper Durban North. 10 luxury freestanding homes, 40% sold, don’t miss out.

Stella Simes 084 556 5842 & Bryan Tuck 083 252 3536

Umdloti / R8 million

Ref# 1ND1432674

Beds 5 / Baths 4 / Garages 2 / 6 Parkings / One of the few gated estates which offer freestanding homes. Spectacular seaviews from the upper level bedrooms further add to the charm of this home.

Mandy Radmore 073 587 3815

Umhlanga / R2.85 million

Ref# 1ND1427360

Beds 3 / Baths 2 / Garages 1 / Enter into spacious open plan living area extending out onto patio and level private garden. Loads of space for outdoor entertaining with seaviews. Walking distance to the village.

Jocelyn Jacobs 076 901 9282 & Robin Sklarchik 084 467 2563

last word*

F

lying just ain’t what it used to be. Despite claims that theirs is the safest, best organised industry ever, the airlines who pay young women to demonstrate how to put on a lifejacket as a prelude to flying over the Sahara Desert have made the news for all the wrong reasons lately. Early in March we read how one of our national carrier’s pilots used forged documentation to prove that he was qualified to fly Airbuses full of passengers around the world. He got away with this for two decades and was only caught out during a routine investigation into a minor incident over Switzerland.

Scarcely had my hands stopped shaking after digesting this than I was confronted with a report on the shenanigans that took place when a British Airways flight from London, England, scheduled to fly to Dusseldorf in Germany, mistakenly delivered all its passengers to Edinburgh in Scotland. It appears that most of the passengers only realised there was a problem when the pilot cheerfully welcomed them to Edinburgh. There was much mirth and some grumbles when an embarrassed air hostess asked for a show of hands by those who had bought tickets to Dusseldorf, and the passengers’ response looked like the semi-final of a world championship one-handed clapping competition.

Flying hundreds of people safely and comfortably between countless cities and countries requires a huge amount of organisation, but one would expect things to be a lot

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simpler when a pilot has just one passenger to worry about.

Apparently not. A French military pilot’s logbook in March gained an interesting endorsement when he took a civilian passenger for a joyride in a Rafale B two-seater fighter jet, only to see him make a spectacularly noisy departure just seconds after take-off.

French journalists and politicians are sometimes allowed to accompany aircrew during sanctioned flights on military aircraft, but they’re usually expected to remain seated in the plane until the performance is over. On this occasion the passenger was peremptorily ejected from the

WE HAVE TAKE OFF Being a passenger in a plane is one time in life when the control of everything is put into someone else’s hands – unless you choose to fiddle with that yellow and black striped lever, writes Gavin Foster illustration jeremy nel aircraft shortly after take-off.

Leaving an aircraft by way of an ejection seat is not something to be undertaken lightly. When the lever is pulled upwards by as little as 1,5cm, an explosive charge blows off the canopy, another one blasts the seat and its hapless occupant clear of the aircraft, and a rocket motor then propels the seat perhaps another 100m upwards. The

individual’s parachute then opens, and the seat falls away to allow an unencumbered landing a few seconds later.

The whole process – from pulling the handle until the parachute opens – takes less than two seconds, and the person in the seat can experience forces of up to 20-G’s while being blown free of the aircraft. In this case,

w w w . t h e r i d g e o n l i n e . c o . z a

the pilot landed the plane safely, and the parachutin’ passenger was hospitalised with compression injuries to his spine from the extreme accelerative forces.

We had a very similar mishap in our air force back in 2009, when a civilian passenger anxiously snatched at the black and yellow striped handle between his legs while being treated to a stunt session in an SAAF Silver Falcon’s air-display team’s Pilatus PC-7. Just like that he was gone – literally in a flash – and when he regained consciousness he found himself dangling silently below a parachute amidst a bank of clouds. Perhaps he thought he’d died. Once on the ground again he was swiftly tracked down and recovered by an SAAF helicopter. One wag was widely quoted as saying that the fellow had been treated to a very special day – he’d gone up in a jet, come down by parachute, and then returned to his starting point in a helicopter.

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