The Ridge 129

DEC-JAN 2022 ISSUE 129

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

STAYING HOME is the new GOING OUT

Leisure Lounge specialises in the manufacture of top quality, custom-made upholstered furniture which is manufactured in our Durban-based factory. We offer a range of over 200 designs, with each item being custom-made to the customer’s exact requirements.

Visit our showrooms to fully appreciate the choice and quality of our extensive range.

Scan the QR code below to view our products page.

ANY ITEM. ANY FINISH. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

RidgeFestiveAdR1.pdf

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CHILLIN’ AT MOZAMBIK THE PEARLS Looking for a restaurant that ticks all the boxes? Look no further than Mozambik Restaurant at The Pearls Mall, Umhlanga Rocks.

Our Beautiful play area overlooking the Umhlanga promenade, offers loads of fun for the kiddies, while you sit back, unwind and enjoy our delicious Afro Porto Cuisine.

For the young at heart, Sip on Cocktails and R&R's from our expansive bar and enjoy the views of the Ocean and beach Vibe down below.

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NelspruitMagAd.pdf

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FIND US AT SHOP 9A, THE PEARLS MALL, LAGOON DR, UMHLANGA, 4320 CALL US FOR BOOKINGS ON 031 020 1097 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT MOZAMBIK THE PEARLS MALL

Shop 6, De Hallen, 104 Ferreira St, Mbombela, 1201 | 087 057 3383

*ed's letter

LEFT: Our festive friends, from left: Wendy-Leigh Cousins, Dean Gorrie, Ant Ellis, Lisa WaltersHunter, Francois Vedemme, and Nicole Kruger.

Celebrate 2022

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here’s not much predictable in life. Just when we thought the dreaded virus was taking a back seat, and a degree of normality was starting to creep into our lives, we’re now faced with a new variant which is tryng to spoil our holiday plans.

When will it end?

As I’ve said before, South Africans are a resilient bunch and we will come through, but I can’t help thinking this virus is testing our patience, strength and endurance.

On a more positive note – and one thing that is predictable – is that Christmas and the New Year are a few short weeks away. They will happen!

A big thank you to our team of festive friends – Lisa, Nicole, Ant, Francois, Dean and Wendy-Leigh – for their input, creativity, hard work, long hours and dedication in creating an amazing feast of festive and holiday splendour for you to drool over in this issue. Table decor for a special occasion, luxurious Christmas decorations, easy-to-make food, stunning

IT’S FREE! Join The Ridge newsletter community and receive interesting reads, competitions and lots more.

To subscribe, email sarah.mackintosh@ famouspublishing.co.za

To advertise

in our education and Valentine issue, contact Lynda on 082 379 9912 to book your space. fashion, beautiful jewellery, and cocktails to get the party going.

There are loads of ideas to inspire you to make this holiday

season with family and friends a celebration of life – especially as we welcome in 2022.

If you’re still trying to find your festive groove – and especially if you have young children – then take a trip to Gateway Theatre of Shopping.

From one end of the mall to the other follow the trail of lights offering magical scenes, photo opportunities, and loads of family fun for the little ones right through to the grandparents. What better way to make happy holiday memories?

From the team at The Ridge, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a safe and blessed festive holiday season filled

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with joy and peace, and may 2022 bring you everything your heart desires. To all our new and long-established advertisers, thank you for your continued support during this trying time. May our journey together be a long and rewarding one.

Until next year, stay safe, and God bless.

TALK TO US

lorna.king@ famouspublishing.co.za www.theridgeonline.co.za W Ridge Magazine

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in this issue*

GROUP EDITOR Doody Adams EDITOR Lorna King 078 750 9669 DESIGNER Kyle Griffin SALES CONSULTANT Lynda Kapsimalis 082 379 9912 DISTRIBUTION Mphumzeni Thusi ACCOUNTS & DISTRIBUTION QUERIES Meghan Dewet 083 533 5898 ONLINE EDITOR Sarah Mackintosh CONTRIBUTORS Les Abercrombie, Gareth Bailey, Michigan Behn, Darrel Bristow-Bovey, Cathy Clark, Wendy-Leigh Cousins, Lee Currie, Ant Ellis, Dean Gorrie, Nicole Kruger, Shirley le Guern, Sarah Mackintosh, Dawn Rouse, Anne Schauffer, Francois Vedemme, Lisa Walters-Hunter 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.

* 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

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LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

BRINGING OUT THE BEST 12

Celebrate the festive season, holidays and New Year with ideas galore – table settings, delicious food, glitzy fashion and jewellery

Printed by Novus Managed distribution by Vibrant Direct

SANTA'S LITTLE WORKSHOP

In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4, if you do not want to receive The Ridge magazine for free, please email sarah.mackintosh@famouspublishing.co.za For more information visit: www.famouspublishing.co.za

Margaret Hirsch's winning attitude

WE ALSO PUBLISH

The best food for picnic celebrations

SURF'S UP FOR DAVID

COMBATING THE AGEING PROCESS

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Choose your sandals wisely

REGULARS

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ADVERTORIALS

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FROZEN FOR YOU GATEWAY THEATRE OF SHOPPING SIYANQOBA WORLDWIDE EXPRESS SHIPEROO

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Swimwear to turn heads

ED’S LETTER TAKE NOTE TRENDING LAST WORD

Gary Halfpenny's quirky shop for men

DRESS FOR THE ACTIVITY

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LIFESTYLE SIZZLE THIS SUMMER

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Stefan Terblanche shares his tips

MORE THAN 2 CENT'S WORTH

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Why homeowners are on the move

Local para surfer

A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE

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Advice to get you through this common problem

REASONS FOR SELLING

What we can expect 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.

MAGNETIC MAGIC SEPARATION ANXIETY

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COMMUNITY

LIFE'S A PICNIC

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Lauren Scherman – be a better you Magnetic fasteners for baby clothes

Crackers galore – and made on our doorstep

2022 PROPERTY TRENDS

ON THE COVER: Lisa Walters-Hunter with *children Charlie and Ben Picture: Michigan Behn Photography

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16 FESTIVE

Published by Famous Publishing www.famouspublishing.co.za

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Small Modern

FLOWER RING 18ct rose gold, 1.77cts of round brilliant cut diamonds

morningside | 469 innes road | 031 303 4417 umhlanga arch | 1 ncondo drive | 010 013 2116 www.markgold.net

take note*

KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP Know your NUMBERS HANDY PHONE NUMBERS FOR USEFUL SERVICES IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD  NORTH DURBAN

Massimo Galassi and Viki Ferreira.

Forest CAFE Smelling the sea air, strolling along the uMhlanga promenade and enjoying a coffee – what better way to enjoy the outdoors this holiday season. By the time you read this Forest Cafe will have already opened at the northern end of the new boardwalk.

Bike & Bean have been appointed to operate the cafe, and owner Viki Ferreira says they look forward to offering the public their usual top-notch Bike & Bean experience through a variety of meal and beverage options as well as the ability to enjoy the forest as an added benefit to the beach side cafe atmosphere.

Regarding the new boardwalk, the first 250m of the 1km long structure has been completed and the addition of the Forest Cafe will add a new attraction to the area.

But there is still a long way to go to completion and the UIP is calling on local businesses and the public to get behind this worthwhile initiative which not only protects and enhances the natural environment but also supports job creation and tourism.

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

Sharks Board: 031 566 0400

SUPPORT LOCAL C.R.O.W. Runs Wild With Their 2022 Calendar The Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife and Compass Cares partnered with talented South African photographer Kierran Allen, who graciously donated wildlife photos to be used in this year’s calendar. His impressive photography of the Great Migration in the Masai Mara inspired the 2022 calendar theme, “Running Wild”. The calendar features a collection of beautiful wildlife photography including photos of the Big 5 in a bold contemporary design.

The A2 wall calendar costs R200 and is packaged in an elegant box to make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, and corporate gift. The calendars are also available as an A5 tent calendar for R100, and a CD size desk calendar for R50.

The calendar launch also included the Compass Cats 2022 Wild Whiskers Calendar.

Each of the 12 kittens and cats in the beautiful A3 calendar has a heart-warming story to share, with some seeking their furever home by adoption. The calendar costs R150 and is packaged in a gorgeous box.

FOR MORE INFO: Go to compasswasteservices. co.za/compass-cares to place your order or view stockists. Visit their Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/ compassmedicalcares

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Oribi Gorge ZIP LINE TOUR The longest zipline tour in Africa, at 4,5km, doesn’t disappoint!

Consisting of 14 slides, the most memorable and exhilarating being number six – which soars over the 300m high gorge and offers breath-taking views – this Lake Eland

Adventure celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Another zipline crosses over the lake, and if you stretch your toes far enough you might just be able to touch the water.

The final slide is through a tunnel and across a river.

For those concerned about safety, the lines are

inspected by qualified guides every morning, and every six weeks by the engineer who helped design and build the course.

So live a little, step out of your comfort zone, see fear turn into fun – that’s what it is all about!

FOR MORE INFO:

www.lakeeland.co.za/zip-line/

Personalised SANTA SACKS Sustainable and personalised, these Santa Sacks are made from the jute plant, are biodegradable, and proudly local! Designed by an awardwinning South African illustrator and manufactured in South Africa, each sack is individually hand-finished with love in Durban by our skilled team of elves.

At 80cm tall and 53cm wide, the sacks are able to accommodate a wide variety and size of gifts. R399 per sack, includes personalisation and delivery.

FOR MORE INFO:

www.thechristmasco.co.za

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KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP

Little Shop With A BIG HEART While home industry shops have always had a welcome place in the food market, the perception is that they are generally limited to selling cakes, cookies, muffins and the like made by local food artisans. Home Baked in Durban North was much the same until Bronwyn

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Steenhuisen Matthews purchased the business in late 2019. A home baker of note, Bronwyn had been a supplier of some of their favourite cakes. “I saw huge potential and while I’ve always loved the home industry vibe, I had the idea of a bakery, deli and gift shop.”

Today the shop is a festive treasure trove with

some brilliant ideas for home entertaining and culinary gifting. There are gourmet pastes, (think aubergine, chilli and basil), pestos (mushroom, leek and feta), relishes, vinegars, oils, hand-made Christmas crackers and sweets, delightful Christmas cookies, table decor, sumptuous cheese platters and yes, cakes.

“Our build-your-own Gingerbread House Kits have been very popular as gifts at the same time helping support a cause,” comments Bronwyn.

This dynamic mother of three young children takes immense pride in her business which currently supports 129 small businesses and employs a staff of five. “I’ve lived in Durban North all my life and love this special community.”

FOR MORE INFO:

082 880 6980; 175 uMhlanga Rocks Drive; www.facebook. com/homebakeddurban

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Cox Yeats CELEBRATES Cox Yeats Attorneys are proud to announce that 14 of their partners – the majority of them from the Durban practice – have been recognised in the 13th Edition of Best Lawyers® in South Africa. This is the largest of their number ever to have been included in the prestigious annual list, and a listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honour conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers.

“We couldn’t be more delighted with both Cox Yeats’ performance overall and the individual achievements,” says managing partner, Andrew Clark. “Richard Hoal’s (above) Lawyer of the Year accolade (Construction Law) is the cherry on the top.” This recognition goes to the nominee earning the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.

KEARSNEY COLLEGE One of SA’s leading independent traditional boys’ schools, just 45 minutes from Umhlanga.

Weekly buses for returning boarders from Umhlanga, Ballito and Zululand.

2022 Information Evenings for boys entering Grade 8 in 2023 At Kearsney College: 25 and 27 January; and 08 and 10 February In Johannesburg: 01, 02 and 03 February The events begin at 18h00. Registration is essential.

Please email marketing@kearsney.com for more details and to register.

Seize the Day Apply now for Grade 8 2023 Enquiries: marketing@kearsney.com or 031 765 9600

See more on kearsney.com.

Application pack

take note*

KEEPING YOU IN THE LOOP

Frothy THEATRICAL TREATS The Playhouse Company presents a full and fantastic festive season with a fabulous selection of frothy theatrical treats to be staged over the year-end holidays. Traditionally the festive season is a time of families and whimsy, laughter and fun, pantos and ballet, song and dance. The Playhouse theatre has produced a carefully-curated programme of old school nostalgia, with a contemporary twist.

The Nutcracker: Opera Theatre: Dec 18 &19.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Drama Theatre: Dec 18-30.

The STUDIOS When next you’re browsing around Ballito Lifestyle Centre call into The Studios.

Perhaps enjoy a nibble and quiet cup of really good coffee at Coffee Lab, before exploring this new shopping landscape.

This well designed, multi-functional space offers an eclectic mix of bespoke and personalised stores. The anchor store, One; mind body soul, offers the discerning buyer fashion conscious products ranging from furniture to note paper, linens and clothing.

Explore Petit Bisous or Sweet Peas for

something special. You may need to visit Rush for all-day activewear or Rowdy for that must-have hand-made leather bag or satchel. It’s a millennial space, busy but with a quiet shopping atmosphere.

The Gallery is another browsable fixture bringing art back to the Ballito community.

And, for the active or injured in need of rehabilitation, you can dash upstairs to the TashB full service pilates studio or join a Zumba class in the FitPod. There is truly something for everyone within this intimate, beautifully designed little arcade.

FOR MORE INFO: https:// playhousecompany.com; tickets available at https://www.webtickets.co.za

Sibaya Community Trust PROMOTES READING

ABOVE: Former Judge President Vuka Tshabalala, a Trustee of Sibaya Community Trust, with learners from Stanger Primary School.

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Sibaya Community Trust has taken the initiative of sponsoring the double award-winning book My First IsiZulu Picture Dictionary to underprivileged schools.

Learners have found that the book has made reading and learning fun and interactive, and has brought families together to read the stories.

“Schools that Sibaya Community Trust has sponsored the books to have adopted it into their

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reading programmes and have praised the versatility and efficacy of My First IsiZulu Picture Dictionary,” said Vivian Reddy, Chairman of Sibaya Community Trust.

“The culture of reading must be expanded from a very young age and this full colour, easy-to-understand book is a great step towards that.”

To date, over 20 schools have benefitted from this book via the sponsorship of Sibaya Community Trust and Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom.

‘Tis the season… and a perfect reason to celebrate!

Feel the spirit of good cheer and gift-giving, and share the love this holiday season with Bella Luna!

Bringing you the best in watch and jewellery brands from all over the world, with unique (and chic!) styles that spread the magic and love of the holidays.

Discover our new collections and find a gift worth wearing all year round.

Find us at Gateway and La Lucia or www.bellaluna.co.za. .

GATEWAY | Shop 155-6 LA LUCIA | Shop 229 WWW.BELLALUNA.CO.ZA

celebrate*

Let the good times

ROLL

FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD, FUN – THE SECRET TO THE PERFECT FESTIVE SEASON. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO PUT 2021 BEHIND US AND CELEBRATE THE JOYS, HAPPINESS, FRIENDSHIPS AND GOOD HEALTH THAT AWAIT US IN 2022

“ Whatever is beautiful. Whatever is meaningful. Whatever brings you happiness and makes you feel ‘‘home’. May it be yours this holiday season and for the year to come.”

– Lisa Walters-Hunter, Lisa Walters Interior Design 12

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Large

classic flower ring with lemon quartz and diamonds; small modern flower ring with peridot and diamonds; white gold classic flower earrings with blue topaz and diamonds.

All Mark Gold.

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he past two years have thrown unprecedented challenges at us, but as we head towards 2022 let’s leave the bad memories behind us and promise that next year will be about making at least one good memory every day. Shining spirits, festive cheer, gorgeous glam, easy food – we’ve got it all packed into this issue of The Ridge.

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Flip the pages and feast on ideas galore to bring a festive holiday mood into your home. From stunning table decor, cocktails to celebrate the occasion, party food, glitzy designer outfits and jewellery to dazzle, there is no time to celebrate like the now, so join us on a spectacular festive ride filled with ideas to make this holiday season the best ever. Let’s raise a glass and embrace the New Year with an abundance of hope and happiness.

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“The black Christmas tree was the starting point for my inspiration,” says uMhlanga interior decorator Lisa Walters-Hunter. “I thought this tree and look would translate beautifully with the colour palette of my home. I love things to be tonal, so I chose elements that fit well together.”

Lisa wanted the theme to be more of a celebration – not a traditional Christmas. “To me, even though I have young children, times have changed. I wanted to have my own spin on the look and feel, one that could be interpreted

“ Wishing you a dazzling festive season spent intentionally with the ones you cherish!”

– Wendy-Leigh Cousins, Indigo & Ivory

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for a Christmas occasion, New Year party, birthday party – in fact any celebration, not just Christmas. I also wanted the mood to be glam, luxe, playful and fun.”

Two Christmas trees is not the norm, but the new black tree teamed beautifully with Lisa’s old favourite silver tree. And decorated with baubles, faux birds, bows and poinsettias

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in shades of gold, silver, black and white – all colours found in Lisa’s home – the look certainly was impressive. The black tree and decorations are all from uMhlanga Rocks SUPERSPAR Decor Division.

Lisa dressed her table with a cloth she had made, and layered it with items she already had, as well as new decor items that blended beautifully with her theme. Each table setting had two underplates – one glass plate, and one black and gold rimmed underplate. The finishing touches to the table were stags with candles, various vessels filled with white peonies, Celebrate candles from the SOH Collection with festive scents, and various decor items that resonated with Lisa.

Homemade Mince Pies With Fresh Fruit & Spiced Gold

refrigerate for a minimum of 48 hours, stirring every 6-8 hours.

Pastry: Add flour, icing sugar, salt and butter to a food processor or mixer, blend to fine crumbs. While blender is still running, add vanilla and egg, process until mixture is clumpy and holds together as a ball.

If too wet, add flour, and if too dry, add teaspoons of iced water to bring the dough together. Knead for a minute until smooth, then wrap in cling film and refrigerate until firm, up to 48 hours. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to 3mm thick and cut into rounds. Press each pastry round gently into each hole of a sprayed or buttered muffin or cupcake tray. Spoon a generous tablespoon of mincemeat into each pastry shell, then refrigerate. While chilling, preheat oven to 180°C. Crumble topping: Combine all ingredients into a crumbly mixture, then work with your fingers to form clumps. Top mince pies with crumble. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until pastry and crumble are crisp and golden.

Cool, then transfer to a wire rack. When completely cool, dust with icing sugar.

Take a break from the mass-produced pies – these beauties are the grown-up version, packed with sweet and spicy festive flavour. “Be warned,” says Ant, “plan ahead, the mincemeat needs a couple of days to develop.” Makes 24 Mincemeat: 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and grated •250g raisins or sultanas, chopped •110g dried apricots, finely chopped •175g soft dark brown sugar •zest and juice of 1 small orange •zest and juice of 1 lemon •50g almonds, chopped •1 tsp ground allspice •1/2 tsp ground nutmeg •1 tsp ground cinnamon •4 tbsp spiced gold rum, dark rum or brandy Pastry: 350g plain flour •125g icing sugar •pinch of fine salt •125g cold butter, diced •5ml vanilla extract •2 medium eggs, beaten Crumble topping: 75g plain flour •½ tsp ground cinnamon •50g butter, diced •50g brown sugar •3 tbsp almonds, chopped Decorate: icing sugar for dusting Mincemeat: Simply add all mincemeat ingredients to a bowl. Mix well, cover and

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Lisa's tips Texture: For fairly neutral colour tones, play with varying textures. On the table much of this is evident: Two large pewter stag candleholders (with ombre candles); small glass candle votives in black and gold glass; solid marble candle vessels; bone boxes; linen napery; velvet ribbons on hand-made paper with gold bells made by Indigo & Ivory Designs; gold foiling on handmade crackers (SOH Collection); leather boxes with brass edging; marble look black decorative boxes; mirrored disco balls; glass urns with marble and gold foiling detail; Perspex swizzle sticks; glass Christmas trees; and fresh flowers to add softness. Height: I also like to use decor items of varying heights so that the table is not visually at one height, but has variance, which makes it interesting. I stacked bone boxes for height, and topped with other decorative items. Using candle sticks at different heights also helps achieve this, as do flowers which I used in two different vessels on this table. Mood: I used flowers that were soft, flowing and gentle, and not too structured, with the colour toning with the decor. Lots of candlelight added mood and drama, while subtly-scented candles were placed on the table as well as around the room. In my

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Kids Easy Oatmeal Cookies With Cranberries, Apricots & Yogurt Frosting

“ Don’t give them what they ask for – give them what they never dreamt of having.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.”

– Dean Gorrie, Mark Gold Jewels

Get the kiddos away from the screens for an hour to bake up these rustic, delicious Christmassy treats and decorate like the little lunatics they are.

Squares: 2 cups cake wheat flour •2 cups raw oats •1/2 tsp salt •1 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda •280ml butter, melted •1 cup soft brown sugar, packed •3 tsp vanilla extract •80g dry cranberries, roughly chopped •1 cup of fruit jam Yogurt frosting: 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt •6 heaped tbsp icing sugar •1 tsp vanilla extract Squares: Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a square or rectangular pan with foil or baking paper (leave a bit overhanging on two sides for easy removal). Spray well with non-stick spray. In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, salt and bicarb of soda.

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In a separate large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar and 3 teaspoons vanilla until well combined. Add cranberries, stir well until fully combined. Separate out about ¾ cup (just less than half) of the dough and set aside for topping. Add the bigger portion of dough to the prepared pan and press down into a flat, even layer. Bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and carefully spread jam on top of cookie base. Use the reserved dough to crumble over top of jam layer. Return to oven and bake for 14-16 more minutes, until topping is golden brown. Remove and place pan on a wire rack to cool, slice when half cool. These can be soft when they are warm – to firm up further, refrigerate.

Yogurt frosting: Mix yogurt, icing sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla (add a touch of milk if necessary to loosen), and decorate the cooled squares.

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Grilled Prawn & Avocado Tostadas With Pineapple Pico De Gallo Salsa Quick, bright, fresh and tropical. Just do it.

•3 flour tortillas of your choice •cooking oil •extra ground cumin •12 medium prawns, cleaned and shelled •dry rub of 1 tsp each of ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, and a pinch each of salt and black pepper •1 ripe avocado •1 tbsp lemon juice •salt and black pepper •fresh coriander leaves Salsa: 2 cups ripe plum or jam tomatoes, diced (about 6 tomatoes) •½ cup onion, finely diced •½ cup chopped fresh coriander, loosely packed •2 cups pineapple, finely diced •1 jalapeño or serenade pepper, stemmed, cored and finely diced •1 lime, zested and juiced •½ tsp sea salt •¼ tsp ground cumin Salsa: Premake salsa by mixing

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all ingredients except tomatoes, pineapple and coriander. Marinate for an hour. Add tomatoes, pineapple and coriander, refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours before serving (will last up to 3 days in the fridge). Check seasoning and add salt to taste.

Tostadas: Preheat oven to 180°C. Using a round cookie cutter, cut 24 small rounds out of the tortillas.

Brush both sides with cooking oil and a touch of cumin. Lay on a nonstick baking sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes, turning once. Cool.

To assemble: Mix prawns with dry rub and grill in a hot skillet for 2 minutes on each side until cooked, set aside. Mash avo with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Spoon a flat layer on to each tostada. Set one prawn on each, cover with salsa and fresh coriander leaves and a final squeeze of lime juice if desired.

opinion there is nothing more stunning than a room that smells beautiful in a signature scent you love.

Partnering with Lisa, Wendy-Leigh Cousins from Indigo & Ivory Designs designed complementary stationery to feel festive, tactile and personal with the modern star element, touches of gold and hand-made paper carried throughout.  Notecard: For the notecard Wendy-Leigh designed a custom scallop flap envelope in a LUX black cross hatch card. The personalised notecard was made from a pillowy cotton handmade paper with each envelope featuring gold script and fine lurex thread for the closure.  Ring in the new year/bells: At each setting we placed a deckled edge note with an oversized velvet bow and carried through the same bell and star element.  Menu: A mini glass and gold frame housed the festive menu, with detail of the deckled edging from the hand-made paper.

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“ Warmest wishes to everyone this Christmas. We hope you have a holiday season filled with peace, joy, and lots of Fabulous Fashion! Merry Christmas.”

– The Team @ francoisvedemmefashion

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Bar signage and swizzle sticks: The mini frosted Perspex bar sign featured fun 3D Perspex lettering and carried the star element through on to the custom black Perspex swizzle sticks.

Of course, no celebration is complete without food. Durban foodie Ant Ellis adorned his apron and whipped up easyto-make dishes – including his best-ever Mince Pies (no Christmas is complete without this treat). The canape’s – Pear Crisps with Blue Cheese, and Prawn and Avocado Tostadas – were a real crowd pleaser and were washed down with Ant’s favourite entertaining cocktails. The party had begun.

“ Wishing you beauties a rocking and delicious festive season with the people who matter most.”

– Ant Ellis, Rock The Kitchen 20

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“ Heartfelt wishes and blessings over the festive season. May your days be filled with love, laughter and lasting memories!”

– Nicole Kruger, Kru & Co

Pear Crisps With Blue Cheese, Onion Marmalade & Walnuts “Slightly cheaty, very delicious. Take my advice – make double, they’ll disappear fast,” says food guru Ant Ellis.

•2 ripe pears •onion marmalade or jam • your choice of ripened blue cheese •raw walnuts, chopped •herbs for garnishing To make the crisps, preheat oven to 120°C. Cut off the top and bottom of the pears, thinly slice (about 1mm thick) as uniformly as possible, removing any pips. Lay pear slices on baking trays ensuring they do not overlap.

Place in oven for 1 hour 15 minutes. After 1 hour 15 minutes, turn pears and return to oven for a further 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn off oven but leave them in oven for 1 hour more to crisp. Lay out on a serving platter and top each with about a teaspoon of onion marmalade, a crumbling of blue cheese and a sprinkle of chopped nuts.

Finish with fresh herbs.

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Durban fashion designer Francois Vedemme was tasked with creating bespoke garments “fit for a queen” for our festive shoot. Francois spent time with each client finding out their style preference, taking into consideration individual likes and dislikes like preferred length of dress, length of sleeves they were comfortable wearing, neckline, the amount of sparkle they were happy to wear, and the colour theme.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Francois is wearing a bespoke peaked sateen lapel tuxedo in a Dormeuil superfine wool fabric and a Stenströms pleated fitted body superior two-fold cotton tuxedo shirt.

Wendy wears a one shoulder, hand beaded mermaid-style dress with bow detail on shoulder and cut-out detail on bodice.

Nicole looks great in a sparkle jumpsuit with built-in corset, draped cup and sleeve detail.

Dean is wearing a bespoke sateen shawl collar tuxedo in a Cerruti superfine wool fabric and a Stenströms textured fitted body superior two-fold cotton tuxedo shirt.

Lisa wears a classic black gown with a deep V-neckline, puffed sleeves and hand beaded flower detail.

Lamb Chop Tray Bake With Olives, Thyme & Mediterranean Vegetables

In a mixing bowl, mix lemon zest and juice with half the olive oil, garlic, thyme and a good pinch each of salt and cracked black pepper. Add lamb chops, mix well to coat and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 220°C. Toss potatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil and season. Tip into a large, shallow roasting pan or casserole tray, cook for 15 minutes.

Remove dish and shake to loosen potatoes. Add peppers, onion, thyme sprigs and tomatoes. Drizzle with remaining oil, season. Return to oven for another 10 minutes.

Mix, then place lamb cutlets on top of vegetables. Scatter olives and capers over. Cook for a further 1012 minutes, turning lamb halfway through until pink inside. Serve straight from the tray with a salad.

Holiday days can be just as busy as work days. If you’ve got hungry family staying with you and you ain’t feeling a complicated dinner, get this in the oven and grab that welldeserved glass of wine.

•6 lamb loin chops, half the fat trimmed off •4 tbsp olive oil •1 clove garlic, crushed •zest and juice of 1 lemon •500g baby potatoes, cut into 5mm thick slices •1 onion, cut into eighths •1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced •1 yellow pepper, deseeded and sliced •4 sprigs thyme, leaves picked from and chopped •1 cup rosa/cherry tomatoes, halved •50g black olives, pitted •3 tbsp capers, rinsed • salt and black pepper

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celebrate*

Easy Pavlova With Summer Berries & Berry Coulis “This is my friend Nicky’s top-notch recipe.

It’s a classic, simpler than you think and perfect for the festive or holiday table. A great way to end a meal,” says Ant. Meringue base: 6 egg whites •375g castor sugar •3 tsp cornflour •1½ tsp white wine vinegar •½ tsp vanilla extract Topping: 500ml double cream or Orley Whip (the latter my recommendation) Berry coulis: •340g frozen mixed berries •1⁄4 cup water •4 tbsp sugar •pinch of salt •1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed To serve: large handful each of strawberries, blueberries/blackberries, raspberries •sprigs of fresh mint Meringue base: Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw a rough 25cm diameter circle on it (trace a plate with a pencil or similar). Whisk egg whites until satiny peaks form, then whisk in castor sugar, a tablespoonful at a time, until meringue is stiff and shiny. It’s ready when you rub a bit of the mixture between your thumb and index finger and it’s not grainy. Sprinkle cornflour, vinegar and vanilla extract over meringue, fold in lightly with a metal spoon. Mound meringue on to baking paper within the circle and use a spatula to make an indentation in the centre (about the size of a side plate) with high sides in which to place your topping. Put in oven and immediately reduce heat to 120°C. Cook for 1 hour. Turn off oven and leave to cool completely with door closed, or leave in oven overnight. Once cool, the base can be stored for up to 2 days.

Berry coulis: Add berries, sugar, water and salt to a pan, cook until sugar is dissolved.

Purée if desired in a blender and stir through lemon juice.

To assemble: Carefully peel off baking paper from meringue. Whip cream or Orley Whip until thick, and scoop into meringue indentation, spreading to edges in a swirly fashion and covering over any cracks in the meringue.

Drizzle a generous amount of coulis on to the cream (ensuring no contact with the meringue).

Decorate with fresh berries and mint.

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Out with the old year and in with the new. There’s no better time to celebrate with family and friends than with a glass of the best. With the widest range of gins, whiskeys and speciality champagnes, the Mount Edgecombe KwikSpar & Tops is your one-stop shop for all your festive and holiday celebratory drinks. Try us for gift box ideas to take the stress out of Christmas shopping.

With ample parking, the Mount Edgecombe KwikSpar & Tops offers convenience and personalised service, as well as being able to assist with bar function bulk orders.

Together let’s make special memories Let’s raise a glass to 2022!

FIND US AT: Mount Edgecombe Kwikspar & Tops 1 Flanders Drive, Mount Edgecombe 031 502 7535

mtedgecombekwikspar WMount Edgecombe KwikSpar & Tops Whatsapp orders: The Butler guy 083 382 3037 mtedgecombe1@retail.spar.co.za

celebrate*

Kentucky Buck

Champagne Margarita

Get a surprisingly fresh, fruity and decidedly summery kick from this badass baby, a riff on the world famous Moscow Mule.

•2 tot measures bourbon •1 tot measure lemon juice, freshly squeezed •1 strawberry, halved •½ tot measure simple syrup (method below) •ginger beer •2 dashes bitters •1 strawberry for garnish •lemon wheel for garnish Simple syrup: •1 cup water •1 cup white sugar Simple syrup: Heat 1 cup of water in a pot (not boiling), then add 1 cup of white sugar. Stir until dissolved, and cool. Bottle and refrigerate.

Cocktail: To make the cocktail, muddle the strawberry and lemon juice in a glass, then add with the bourbon and simple syrup to an ice-filled cocktail shaker (if you don’t have one, a jar will do). Strain into a tall glass filled with ice, top off with a splash of ginger beer, add bitters, and garnish with strawberry and lemon.

Margaritas rule. Champagne rules. You get where I’m going?

Festive and summery all in one, and beautifully fresh.

For each drink: coarse salt for rimming glasses •1 tot measure silver tequila, chilled •1 tot measure orange liqueur • juice of a fresh lime, reserved •½ teaspoon honey (optional) • champagne or prosecco, chilled • lime slices for serving Cover a saucer with coarse salt. Moisten rim of a glass with squeezed lime, turn upside down on the salt-covered plate and turn until the rim of the glass is coated in salt.

In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, shake tequila, lime juice, honey (optional) and orange liqueur. Pour into your prepared glass, top up with chilled champagne or prosecco, and garnish with lime slices.

Credits Decor & Styling: Lisa Walters-Hunter, Lisa Walters Interior Design Pictures: Michigan Behn Photography Creative collaborator: Nicole Kruger, @KruandCo_official Food and cocktails: Ant Ellis Dresses: Francois Vedemme Fashion Suits: Armitage Mens Outfitters Jewellery: Mark Gold Stationery: Wendy-Leigh Cousins, Indigo & Ivory Designs Decorations: uMhlanga Rocks SUPERSPAR Decor Division Crackers and candles: SOH Collection

by Sarah McGregor Cake: Monz Macarons Make-up: Volenti from Nixon Make-up

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I T ’S T I ME TO CRU ISE

AG A I N

We are excited to be cruising AGAIN! This summer, we welcome vaccinated and non-vaccinated SA residents on MSC Orchestra on a journey of discovery around the Indian Ocean.

Our great value for money holidays include great family activities, onboard entertainment, a variety of shops, bars and restaurants. Your cruise holiday is closer than you think with departures available from Durban and Cape Town.

For more information, visit msccruises.co.za

With MSC Cruises tried and tested Health & Safety Protocol in place, we preserve a unique cruise experience for a stress-free holiday in a safe bubble Visit our website on msccruises.co.za for our current special offers and for more information on our health and safety measures.

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11/24/21 07:38:30

advertorial*

O

wners, Karen and Adrian Short, have been voted top caterers locally and internationally for 28 consecutive years. “I think of food all day,” laughs Karen, who trained in London as a chef, and together with husband Adrian, began their legendary catering company, By Word Of Mouth. A passion for food is the understatement of the century.

Four years later, and Frozen For You was an entirely natural offshoot. “This range is not frozen meals,” stresses Karen. “It’s fresh meals, frozen. No stabilisers. We’ve imported the very finest freezing technology so we can prepare wonderful home-cooked meals with ingredients you would never normally be able to freeze – the basil leaves on our melanzane remain fresh basil leaves when defrosted. Our roast potatoes are just that – crisp and golden roast potatoes.” She explains, “Our meals are frozen in seconds. We describe our specialised process as ‘Nature’s pause button’ – we literally lock in the flavour instantly.”

The Shorts chose all their – and their clients – favourite home-cooked recipes, and made them accessible to everyone, all the time … in their freezers. Fresh meals, only frozen.

With 14 shops countrywide, KwaZuluNatal rejoiced when Frozen For You arrived in Flanders Mall in Mount Edgecombe. Now they’re in Hilton, too.

But no matter where you are between Sheffield and Hillcrest, Frozen For You delivers same day if you order online before midday*.

Seven days a week. Can’t face cooking tonight? Let them know online by 12, and you can tick off dinner.

From meals for one person, right

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My fabulous

FREEZER

BON APPETIT! RESTAURANT QUALITY FOOD AT HOME, SAME DAY DELIVERY*, IS NOW IN KWAZULU-NATAL – FROZEN FOR YOU HAS ARRIVED, AND THEY’RE DEFINITELY NOT FROZEN MEALS up to catering for a crowd or special occasion, Frozen For You works. Baby showers, dinner parties, harvest table, school lunches, delectable dinner for one … or, massively popular, a gift voucher to make life easy for someone else or as a treat. As Karen says, “The best gift is a consumable one … then the teacher or friend can choose whatever they’d like to give themselves a break.” And the bonus? You, the giver, haven’t had to wrap a single gift.

For Karen, wholesome ingredients are an important part of their great meals. “Our wide range also caters for dairy free, low fat, low carb, gluten free and more. Some meals are endorsed by Vitality Health, and their 100-year-old culture Sourdough Bread by the Diabetic Society. There really is something for everyone. Vegan?

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No problem.” And the Shorts constantly work towards environmentally sound practices, by reusing boxes and doing whatever it takes to uphold their ecofriendly ethos.

Generosity, simplicity, quality and convenience – the Frozen For You mantra. For Karen, particularly as we head for the holidays, “Don’t cook in your cozzie!

Rather enjoy quality time with family and friends. Take a Frozen For You meal, pop it into the oven from frozen (or defrost if you prefer), and the meal’s sorted. That’s a real holiday, whether you’re in the bush or at home around the pool!”

To order, just nip on to the Frozen For You website, click a few buttons, and you’re done. End-of-term gifts, holiday meals to take away with you, contributions to friend’s luncheons, festive gifts … all sorted.

Not frozen meals, but restaurant quality meals … frozen.

FOR MORE INFO www.frozenforyou.co.za

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advertorial*

Twinkling lights & Santa's

DELIGHTS

GET THE WHOLE FAMILY DOWN TO GATEWAY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO ENJOY A FESTIVE LIGHT EXPERIENCE WITH EIGHT MAGICAL SCENES AND POPPING PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES

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G

ateway is embracing the festive season on a grand scale, creating unique experiences that bring families and friends together, to make special holiday memories and shopping a pleasure.

“We invite visitors to use what we’ve created as fascinating backdrops to capture holiday fun together,” says Gateway Theatre of Shopping Marketing Manager, Michelle Shelley.

“With enchanting holiday displays stretching the length of the mall, visitors can join the festive light experience at any point and follow the trail of lights to make sure they don’t miss anything,” Michelle says.

Santa has taken over the Expo Explore

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area to set up a village with a host of interactive scenes to enjoy, let your imagination run free, have fun and take unforgettable pictures. To enhance the experience, Santa’s sleigh will be making virtual flips to deliver presents up until December 23. “Hop on and feel the exhilaration of soaring around the world on our Covid-compliant sleigh,” enthuses Michelle.

The Palm Court promises to be extraspecial this summer, dressed up as the “garden of light” with twinkling fairy lights and a suspended swing. “The outdoor area is ideal for relaxing over a meal, and in addition to the Lighthouse & Ocean Play area, we will be hosting live music in the evenings from December 16, turning up the

holiday vibe,” adds Michelle.

The mind-bending World of Illusions have been a runaway hit with all six rooms having a festive snap-ready holiday theme.

Just imagine yourself in a snow globe?

A “present surprise” starts the trail outside @home, and the grand scale continues to a walk through the giant bauble for a dash of stardom.

In the centre of the mall, couples can snuggle up close on the colour-changing “love in paradise bench”, while kids enjoy “a teddy bear’s Christmas” on the other side of the escalators.

Decorated with plush Disney character toys, the impossibly tall giant Disney tree is back on the glass floor at Food Republic.

As a Disney, Gateway, Nedbank and SMILE

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Foundation initiative, the plushes are generously donated to children.

Giving back to the community and offering a valuable service to shoppers, Reach-for-a-Dream will do gift-wrapping at a station set up in the mall.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Follow Gateway’s social media, or go to www.gatewayworld.co.za for trading hours updates and more details on live acts in the Palm Court. Stay safe this festive season by wearing your mask and practicing social distancing.

ENTRANCE: Except for the Santa Virtual Sleigh ride, which costs R20 per person, all other Festive Light Experiences, including the World of Illusions, are free.

GATEWAY FESTIVE SEASON TRADING HOURS: OPENS: 9am.

CLOSES: December 15-23, 10pm; December 24, 9pm; December 25, voluntary trading; December 26, 9pm; December 31, 8pm; January 1, voluntary trading; January 2-6, 9pm.

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festive*

T

ucked away in the heart of Ballito’s industrial area is a business bringing joy to the world by handmaking literally millions of gorgeous, bespoke crackers every year. Crackers not only for Christmas, but for all occasions – weddings, birthdays, baptisms, anniversaries, parties, corporate events ... they all go better with crackers.

Miles Rasmussen, one of the founders, took me on a tour of the factory floor. Here, during peak times, 200 women from neighbouring Shaka’s Head handmake and box crackers, each containing a hand-packed upmarket gift. In other areas of the warehouse recycled board is printed with bespoke designs and then machine-cut to the required size for the crackers and boxes. It reminded me of a happy family of littles elves scurrying about getting ready for a “grand event”. Miles said that the company culture, worker fairness and decent renumeration plus easy access to work has resulted in a stable, well-trained labour force.

“And anyway,” he says, “it’s fun working here.”

“What do you tell people who ask you what you do?” Miles replied with a broad grin, “I tell them I’m a cracker-maker and that I sell joy and fun!”

Glenart was originally founded by Miles’ father Rowan in 1994, who started out importing and supplying all forms of Christmas products. Over the years the business has

SANTA’S

little workshop LES ABERCROMBIE VISITS A LOCAL CHRISTMAS CRACKER-MAKING ENTERPRISE AND DISCOVERS WHERE THE JOY AND FUN BEGINS

TOP: Miles and

Candace Rasmussen having some fun pulling one of their confettipopping crackers.

LEFT: Sithembile Mkhwanazi and colleagues pack a box of Christmas crackers which will bring much joy to the festive table.

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specialised in manufacturing Christmas crackers, and eventually building their own custom factory on the North Coast.

Years before, Rowan had had an idea for a specialised cracker. Miles decided to take the risk and the small team knuckled down to patent, design and make Rowan’s idea a reality. And so, the Crackertoa®, a confettipopping party cracker and their best-seller, was born. Innovative and pure, recyclable joy – as you pull a Crackertoa® cracker, a built-in confetti popper explodes confetti and streamers into the air causing even the

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Automatic Pool Cleaners Get a new pool cleaner, or a few replacement parts. We'll also repair it for you.

Legend has it that Christmas crackers were invented in the UK during the Victorian Era by Thomas Smith, in about 1860. Thomas was a confectioner who came across paper-wrapped bon-bons while visiting Paris. He decided to emulate the idea in the form of a Christmas wrapper but then, watching logs crack in the fireplace one evening, worked out a way of adding a “crack” to his invention and voila! The Christmas cracker was born.

1848: Christmas trees, a German tradition, were introduced by Prince Albert.

1851: Henry Cole had the first Christmas cards designed and sent to friends and family.

1860: Thomas Smith produced the first Christmas crackers.

grumpiest of guests to smile. It’s fun in a box.

In South Africa, Glenart initially only did business with contract wholesalers, working with their brands and designs. Miles then took another risk and started their own brand, Holly and Ivy®, which gave the team freedom of design and opened their market share. Holly and Ivy® is another success story. The brand is available from all the top Spars around the country, including Lifestyle Spar which has a number of Holly and Ivy® displays. Holly and Ivy® crackers are also sold in the UK, some European markets and Australia. Congratulations must also go to the team for recently securing a deal with Walmart in the USA. A Crackertoa® Christmas to everyone. May your confetti shoot high and your smiles be wide.

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FOR MORE INFO Holly and Ivy at Glenart: 032 947 0317 or sales@hollyandivy. co.za; for online purchases: www.hollyandivy.co.za

Pool Pumps Pool pumps to suit most residential pool sizes. Or bring in your existing pump for a service or inspection.

Filters Filters available from a 1 bag, up to a 5 bag. Don't forget the filter sand to go with it.

Chlorine and Chemicals A full range of chemicals to balance your pool water chemistry, and give it that sparkle again.

AG-RIDGEAD-15NOV21-PRINT.pdf

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15/11/2021

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property*

C

ovid-19, looting, trade issues, load shedding and rocketing fuel prices have rocked the economy this year – yet, both the residential and retail property markets remain buoyant, according to property experts.

A debate that began a few months back when First National Bank (FNB) hosted local property gurus at a dinner at the Oyster Box revealed some surprising positives during an apparently bleak year.

Beachwood Golf Course has been sold. Most properties to be developed there – priced at around R20-million – are already spoken for, mirroring the unexpected success of Phase 1 of Salta Sibaya which sold out in just six weeks during the hardest of lockdowns.

Further new developments

2022 property

TRENDS

THE PROPERTY SECTOR MAY HAVE FACED CHALLENGING TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, BUT THERE IS A RAY OF OPTIMISM ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS. SHIRLEY LE GUERN REPORTS

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are in the pipeline while many others are emerging. The fate of the controversial Virginia Airport site could even be decided during 2022.

“Growth north of Durban is a long term given. That’s where the Gauteng semigrants go as well as large numbers of Durbanites who are moving from suburbs to more secure, gated estates,” said FNB economist and property strategist, John Loos.

He noted that significant political and economic shifts were coming and that South Africa was close to its “Margaret Thatcher moment”.

In August, John said the interest rate cycle that had reached new lows and probably sparked a residential property buying spree during Covid, had bottomed out.

A small interest rate hike followed and he now says further increases will follow in 2022 and 2023 despite the Reserve Bank’s awareness of a fragile economy.

Despite this, property investors remain upbeat with many speaking of “sweet spots” aplenty. One is social and gap housing in the R600 000 to R900 000 bracket, another is »

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property*

luxury estates. Empty nesters are relocating, new buyers are spending and a wave of new divorcees post-Covid are purchasing new homes.

Covid deaths have also unlocked inheritances to spend on property, maintained respected Durban business leader, Moses Tembe.

“One of the specific

Gateway is seeing far more encouraging results from the latter half of the year, paving the way for a potentially successful festive season and making business owners optimistic about 2022” attributes that makes humans survive is adaptability. The demand for social and gap housing seems to be insatiable. There’s an opportunity in taking what is one man’s poison and making it your food. The ability to see the good and exploit that, is where the opportunities are,” he said pointing to the stirrings of an economic uptick.

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Although John Loos believes the Covid crisis has been exaggerated, he is less upbeat. During a FNB quarterly property market briefing at the end of November, he said there were indications that the much-anticipated economic recovery “was stuttering” and that it could take a further two years for South Africa to return to 2019 growth levels.

But what Covid did, John said, was change lifestyles which would have a long-term impact on both residential and retail property.

“Initially, we were nervous.

But that has subsided.

Vaccines are rolling out and people don’t necessarily want to avoid public places anymore. What is important

 John Loos: FNB economist and property strategist.

 Moses Tembe: Durban business leader.

 Vanessa Blevins: Centre manager, La Lucia Mall.

 Feysel Potgieter: General

manager, Gateway Theatre of Shopping.  Malusi Mthuli: FNB Commercial Property Finances KZN regional manager.  Nazrana Premlal: Growthpoint’s retail leasing manager.  Chico Premji: Trapezoid.

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is that Covid has forced a lot of late adopters to embrace technology.”

That means the work-fromhome trend that was growing even pre-lockdown would continue and demand for ever closer retail outlets would gather pace. The fact that retail outlets are now being located inside estates such as Salta Sibaya is a natural progression.

Retail, in general, was far from down and out it emerged.

Vanessa Blevins, centre manager at La Lucia Mall, said there had been a rebound in retail with the spend per head up by about 30 to 40%.

Feysel Potgieter, general manager, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, added: “We’ve seen waves of both positive and pressurised trading conditions in 2021. On the upside, however, more stable trends are emerging alongside increased consumer confidence. Gateway is seeing far more encouraging results from the latter half of the year, paving the way for a potentially successful festive season and making business owners optimistic about 2022.”

FNB Commercial Property Finances KZN regional manager, Malusi Mthuli, said that the time lag for rebuilding of properties such as Bridge City and the Springfield Value Centre could be between two to three years.

Shoppers had relocated to socalled survivor properties where demand for space was strong»

Designed for the

sophisticated

Izinga freehold stands from R3.195 million

Located on the beautiful North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Izinga Hills boasts expansive North facing views of the Indian Ocean and is perched above the bustling hub of Umhlanga.

Blending exclusivity, Izinga Hills has unlocked a private domain where you can discover a like-minded community and an environment designed for high-end family living.

Izinga Hills presents spacious freehold stands starting from R3.195 million. These stands allow you and your family to build a legacy home and experience open spaces unlike any other residential opportunities within the neighbourhood. Enjoy access to the holistic premium estate facilities that promote family-friendly time within this secure estate.

Clubhouse

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24-hour security

property*

and tenants were benefitting, resulting in healthier rental earnings for landlords.

Nazrana Premlal, retail leasing manager at Growthpoint, said looting had also reversed a situation where landlords were not listening to struggling tenants.

Now, there is negotiation to keep shops occupied.

Where fallout from Covid and political volatility is impacting most is office space where vacancies continue.

Companies would continue to downsize, said John Loos.

He suggested that vacant commercial space in upmarket nodes such as Gateway and uMhlanga could even be converted into residential accommodation.

“A worst-case scenario is that they end up like the inner city CBD’s. But I’m not predicting that. Hopefully, we’ve learnt a lot of lessons from

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

Vanessa Blevins, centre manager at La Lucia Mall, said there had been a rebound in retail with the spend per head up by about 30 to 40% previous decades,” he said.

Yet, only a limited amount of residential conversion can be done at current property values.

“The income demographic may change followed by the

retail offering. I don’t think that high income, skilled workers will see the appeal of living in high density apartment blocks when they are going to spend less time in the office. The selling

point for luxury apartments a few years ago was avoiding traffic and walking to work. Now the walk to work is from the bedroom to the home office or lounge,” he pointed out.

Already apartments are shrinking in size according to developers like Chico Premji of Trapezoid. Price escalations and shortages of building materials were forcing investors to reduce the size of apartments and increase the number of units to make developments viable.

This also compensated for stagnant apartment prices over the past two years.

The good news was that these smaller apartments would act as springboards for first-time buyers to move up the property ladder, he said. The end result was that, although the property market remained volatile, there was still something for everyone.

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Somerset Lodge CARE CENTRE

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY OF EXCELLENCE, WITH DIGNITY-BASED AND INDIVIDUAL CARE FOR OUR RESIDENTS WE ALSO OFFER FRAIL CARE, END-OFLIFE NURSING, AND STEP-DOWN CARE Residents of Somerset Valley Estate may now make use of our Aging in Place (home based) care, and we are soon to offer accommodation for Independent Living at Somerset Lodge.

Visit our website for a virtual tour

www.somersetcarecentre.co.za

FI N LA A U L P N H C A H S ED E

YOUR STORY CONTINUES WHE RE Y O U GE T T O LIVE YOU R W AY, EVERY DAY! The depictions herein are for illustration purposes only and are subject to change without prior notice.

STYLISH NEW VILLAGE HOMES FROM

R2,95 million The Village is a celebration of modern life tailored to a brand-new generation of retirees – because you do things differently. Brought to you by KZN’s leading residential estate developers, Collins Residential, Mount Edgecombe Village is an exclusive development situated within Kindlewood Estate. There are a variety of tasteful homes and apartments to choose from, all single level.

Wetlands & Walking Trails

Community Clubhouse

Sporting & Fitness Facilities

Pet-friendly Living

At Mount Edgecombe Village the sense of security, comfor t and joy of connecting with family and friends is effor tless.

Centrally located within Umhlanga, just a stone’s throw away from shopping centres, beaches, restaurants, friends and family, Mount Edgecombe Village is where you get to

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E N Q U I R E N O W M E R V. C O . Z A | D AV E 0 8 3 4 5 6 1 8 9 7

advertorial*

I

t’s rare. A courier company with its head office in Durban, but Larry and Gill Wittstock loved – and love – where they live, and knew it could work. Today it’s one of the fastest growing express courier companies in South Africa. It’s proudly South African, proudly KZN … and with a national and international footprint.

“Seventeen years ago, we began SWE in my son’s bedroom,” laughs MD, Gill Wittstock. Gill was by no means new to the industry, and brought extensive sales and operations knowledge to the table, while husband Larry, a CA, added the all-important financial acumen. Gill knew that, with her absolute passion for the industry, she could build it from anywhere – a bedroom

ABOVE: Siyanqoba Worldwide Express owners Larry and Gill Wittstock.

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SERVICE,

passion & partnerships

SERVICE. NOT LIP SERVICE, BUT SUPREMELY PERSONAL SERVICE. THAT’S THE FOCUS WHICH HAS ENSURED THAT KZN NORTH-COASTBASED SIYANQOBA WORLDWIDE EXPRESS – SWE – COURIERS HAS STOOD OUT FROM THE CROWD FOR OVER 17 YEARS in Durban did just fine.

Recently, Larry has become CEO, and Gill that of MD. SWE has a solidly established footprint throughout South Africa and internationally, with branches in the main centres, and dedicated agents in all areas throughout SA. Over the years many independent SA courier companies have been bought out by larger global companies with only a few of the larger independents remaining.

SWE’s client list is impressive, but perhaps even more than that, is their client loyalty. That speaks volumes.

SWE has a diverse client base ranging from A-lists to smaller clients, all of whom have been with SWE from the outset.

For Larry and Gill, there are two immovable principles by which they and their 250 plus strong staff operate: “Service and communication,” says Larry. “We, and every single one of our staff, are unswerving in our approach to our business.

Our clients are not clients – we consider them partners. We are always at the end of the phone, no matter what time, and we

make things happen. What appears impossible, is not to us.”

In an era where authentic service excellence is lacking, SWE retains that as a constant.

All the staff who joined SWE from Day One are still there, and everyone operates on the same principle – nothing is too much trouble. “It’s a relationship,” says Gill. “Not just a business arrangement. We consider ourselves an extension of the client’s business.”

SWE is an independent courier company specialising – but not exclusively – in corporate clients/printing/ retail/shipping/attorneys, and particularly in the timesensitive area of express freight. That’s what they’re well known and respected for.

It’s what Larry, Gill and their staff take great pride in: “We have a passion for it,” says Gill, “so it’s important to us that, to the very best of our ability, we get it right, we get it there, and on time. It’s not just business, it’s personal.”

Although SWE has grown substantially, the core ethos remains the same: swift, effective communication and

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superior service levels.

Siyanqoba is a Zulu word meaning to win or to conquer, and the name reflects the Wittstock’s commitment to meaningful empowerment.

Every staff member has the opportunity to win or conquer and grow through training programmes and advancement incentives.

“After 17 years, we really want to thank our staff for their loyalty, support and their heartfelt commitment to our shared goals.”

Equally, SWE thanks its amazing client base for accompanying them on this journey: “At SWE, we will continue to do what we do best for the next decade – deliver superior service, partner with you, and continue to build valuable relationships. All from here in our wonderful city of Durban, province of KZN, and nationally.”

FOR MORE INFO 031 569 6808; swe.co.za

fashion*

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Sizzle this

SUMMER AT LAST HAPPY SUMMER DAYS ARE HERE. KICK OFF THE HEELS, GRAB THE SUNTAN LOTION AND ENJOY THE SUNSHINE IN THE LATEST DESIGNER SWIMWEAR THAT’S SURE TO TURN HEADS!

TOP: Cas wears a gold tri top,

R699, and gold bottom with side ties, R599.

ABOVE: Mandisa looks great in an underwire tankini, R1 099, with basic bottom, R499.

LEFT: Underwire twist bandeau, R899, with ruched band bottom, R599, in fern luxe.

FAR LEFT: Pretty pink pineapple one-piece, R899, with matching mesh kimono, R899. »

D E C - J A N

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fashion*

ABOVE: Yellow horseshoe

bandeau, R599, and basic bottom, R399, with silk kimono R1 299.

BELOW: Mandisa wears an underwire twist bandeau in floral white, R899, with ruched side bottom, R499; Cas wears a crop top in floral white, R699, with high leg bottom, R499.

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: One-piece

halter in fern luxe lycra, R999;

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Black tank top, R599, with high waisted bottom, R499; One-piece halter in floral white, R999.

FOR MORE INFO Find Beach & Beyond at their brand new Gateway store, uMhlanga Centre, and the Ballito Lifestyle Centre or online at www.beachandbeyond.co.za; 032 586 3221

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LUXURY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WHO SAYS ONE CAN’T HAVE IT ALL? When it comes to eyewear and eye care, Optical Emporio marries the sophisticated science of clinical optometry with cutting-edge designer eye-fashion. Our range is tastefully curated each season from the runways of Paris, Milan, London and New York, displayed at our branches in an intimate, boutique retail environment.

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food*

Life's a

PICNIC!

TRADITIONAL PICNICS ARE MAGICAL AND, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SUMMER AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AS WELL AS THAT EVER-LURKING PROBLEM WITH COVID-19 AND CROWDED INDOOR SPACES, THIS COULD BE THE IDEAL WAY TO ENJOY CREATIVE CUISINE IN A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SETTING, WRITES SHIRLEY LE GUERN

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he good thing about picnics is that it’s definitely not one size fits all. For the most part, the South African picnic has been sarmies on the beach or the inevitable add-on to a braai. Then again, there’s also that romantic picnic in a scenic spot at sunset.

According to executive chef, JP le Roux, the new trend is for picnickers to get far more creative. Book clubbers are going alfresco with individual members hosting different themed events with the added challenge of finding a spot that many may not have thought of as picnic worthy – until now.

Mom’s groups, too, are spreading their blankets far and wide while those social bubbles that are tired of stoking the coals on the same old stoeps

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are now packing their baskets as well as some board games and settling under a cool tree a little further afield.

Instead of being lured into picking up that inevitable takeaway, those who aren’t culinary artistes do have the option of buying a ready prepared picnic feast through the likes of Dial A Picnic which caters for high teas, gourmet feast boxes, children’s parties and can combine your food with a venue or activity of choice.

There’s also do a DIY version where they provide the food and you do the rest.

Other good options for a pre-prepared basket are the Gwahumbe nature reserve in mid-Illovo or The Harvest store at Hillcrest’s Camp Orchards.

But, according to Chef JP, much of the fun is in packing your own basket to either cater

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food*

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for a crowd or to spread around in bring-andshare style.

To prove his point, he created his own which he entitled JP’s Flamboyant Forage Feast – a perfectly practical picnic that incorporates food that can be easily assembled and served at room temperature.

JP starts with a Mediterranean salad which combines fresh radishes, pitted Kalamata olives, peppered feta, rocket, picante pepper dews, baby spinach leaves, a sweet basil herb dressing and homemade traditional tzatziki, made from double cream yogurt, cucumber, garlic and fresh lime.

Then comes the crispy tempura prawns with a taramasalata dip. Just prior to leaving home, he dunked his prawns in a tempura flour mix and panko breadcrumbs,

deep fried them and left them on a kitchen towel to cool. He serves them with fresh lime and taramasalata (a fish row dip).

Also on JP’s picnic menu is charred melon wedges which have been preprepared in a pan with olive oil and a dash of brown sugar. His adds trimmings such as streaks of prosciutto (a delicate Italian ham), Austrian cream cheese, fresh rocket and then dresses it with a tangy olive and balsamic vinaigrette and pomegranate molasses.

JP’s phyllo pastry pockets are made by pressing squares of thawed phyllo pastry into muffin pans, brushing them with olive oil and then baking them for about eight minutes. Pack when cooled. The filling – grilled chicken breast, grilled pineapple, a dash of coconut cream, fresh dhanya and

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ABOVE: Peal Pearl Ngcobo, Namhla Zungu and Chef JP le Roux enjoy a picnic in style.

smoked paprika can be mixed and stored separately and then spooned into the pastry cups before serving.

His Perfect Peppa dish includes roasted bell peppers, thyme, garlic cut Spanish chorizo, peppadews, blistered Romanita tomatoes, roasted sunflower seeds, and fresh Italian parsley. All can be mixed together in a salad bowl with a lid and then packed in the basket.

His two sides are homemade beetroot humus (chickpeas mashed with salt and pepper and a dash of beetroot juice or beetroot vinegar to add some bright picnic colour) served on toasted olive bread and Melba toast with creamy blue cheese, traditional biltong and fig preserve.

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Untitled-27.pdf 1 2021/11/29 16:06:47

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CMH FORD BALLITO

35-37 Moffat Drive Ballito Business Park Dolphin Coast 032 946 5600 | www.fordballito.co.za

community*

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ur ocean waves in KZN can be very challenging, as most surfers will tell you. Some may admit to being more than a little apprehensive when a massive wave threatens a “wipeout” which indeed can be very dangerous. So a surfer who is physically hampered by a disability must be, by comparison, pretty scared – if not terrified.

“Absolutely!” admits David, who was born without legs from below the knees. “In fact, I have had a lifetime fear of the ocean – especially the bigger waves.

However, once I was introduced to the sport, I caught a serious case of the surfing bug. I’ve found that it’s a massive mind game tied to physical ability, which means each time I conquer the waves it gives me a sense of pride that makes me that much stronger mentally and physically.

“I am still fighting anxiety attacks, but in many ways

SURF’S

up for David LEE CURRIE CAUGHT UP WITH GLEN HILLS PARA SURFER DAVID WILLIAMS, PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR THE 2021 PISMO BEACH ISA WORLD PARA SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP IN CALIFORNIA surfing heals us. It’s a form of therapy and rehabilitation which in itself can be addictive,” explains David – who is a quality assurance manager for the IT systems at the Mr Price Group.

In May this year, after winning both KZN and national para surfing championships, David was selected to represent South Africa in the ISA World Para Surfing

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Championship at Pismo Beach, California, taking place between December 7 and 11.

“I have always said I would love to use the adage ‘It was a dream come true’. Just becoming a surfer was so out of my league, I had never even dreamt of this happening. To this day it still doesn’t feel real.”

Real it certainly is judging by the intensive, often gruelling training ahead of the big event.

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ABOVE: For Glen Hills para

surfer David Williams, being selected to represent South Africa in the ISA World Para Surfing Championship in California is like a dream come true.

RIGHT: David shows off his collection of surfboards.

LEFT: David and his partner Kayla.

This starts at 4.50am and includes a strict eating plan (which David quips is harder than the physical training), yoga, breathing exercises, gym, weights, high intensity cardio, swimming and rowing, all factored around a working day. “Oh! And a 15-minute ice bath as part of the recovery,” he grimaces. This remarkable athlete is upbeat about this too, and sees the end of his physical endurance as the beginning of his mental endurance.

“I have been extremely fortunate in having family, friends and my partner Kayla encouraging me all the way.

And I am where I am right now because of a non-profit company called Made for More. They transformed my life through surfing, making those battles easier to fight. You know, we disabled people are not as fragile as we think we are or appear to be.

“This championship certainly wasn’t even part of

Each time I conquer the waves it gives me a sense of pride that makes me that much stronger mentally and physically

my future plans a year ago, but it was the proudest moment of my life to be selected to represent my country in a sport I have fallen in love with.

My plan is to enjoy every step of the process while making the journey to winning – but I am going to focus more on enjoying the journey than reaching the goal.”

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FOR MORE INFO Made for More is a non-profit company and a public benefit organisation that aims to include, empower and equip people with disabilities through sport and mental health programmes. www.facebook.com/madeformoresa/ PS: As we were going to press, David and other SA contestants were not able to attend the championships in the USA due to the travel ban. His story is still worth reading.

EST 1970

031-208 7131 • 082 635 0165 55 Buro Crescent upholstery@benze.co.za • www.benze.co.za Mayville

community*

A woman of

SUBSTANCE WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, BUSINESSWOMAN, ENTREPRENEUR AND CHAMPION OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, MARGARET HIRSCH’S POSITIVITY IS SOMETHING WE COULD ALL LEARN FROM

Q

You have been such an inspiration to people during this time in our history. How you do it? Where do you get that inner strength from? What motivates you?

We have undoubtedly been through one of the hardest times in our history with Covid, the looting, strikes, power cuts, etc. However, what we all need to do is just focus on the positive. I focus on what I am grateful for and the good things in my life. I have always been a strong person and realise that life is a journey, not a destination, and we just have to get over the bumps in the road.

What challenges did you face this year and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was Covid – and as everything was coming right we were looted and our Springfield Park store trashed. That was devastating!

It was like watching 20 years of hard work go down the drain in an hour. We are so grateful that although our building was burnt, some structures remained, so our entire team pulled together to help rebuild the store in just one week.

Yes we have had challenges, but we look for the silver lining

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Transformational Tuesdays have seen image experts Megan and Fay Coleman transforming people and giving them that added glow.

Women Working Wonders workshops host fantastic women, like Pearl Osa, who do amazing things. On Fridays our Entrepreneurs workshops, which I co-host with business coach Marlene Powell, reach out to people who wouldn’t know who to speak to or what to do to transform their businesses.

Your plans for next year? What does the future hold for you and Hirsch’s?

During 2021 we continued to open stores, and we start off 2022 by opening a new Midrand mega store on February 1. So Hirsch’s still continues to go from strength to strength. We feel that this country is a land of wealth and opportunity. It is ripe for entrepreneurs to start new businesses now, and I do believe South African entrepreneurs are the reason why this country has been kept afloat through tough times.

It’s up to every one of us to start a business and to make sure we serve the needs of the community, and to ensure this country goes from strength to strength.

ABOVE: Margaret Hirsch,

executive director of Hirsch’s Homestores.

in every single challenge, find it and capitalise on it – and that’s how we have grown back our business from strength to strength.

Tell us about some of the virtual workshops you have put in place to help people through hard times.

Our virtual workshops – a positive to come out of Covid

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– range from cooking shows to mental health talks. We realised people were struggling with mental health issues and I was happy to team up with wellness counsellors, Jess Mostert and Stacey Spilsbury, to start wellness workshops which we call Margaret’s Motivational Mondays. Our listeners have been blown away by being able to spend time on themselves and improve their own psyche.

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FOR MORE INFO W MargaretHirschSA margaret_hirsch/?hl=en T MargaretHirsch /in/margarethirsch/

RidgeMagazine - Final.pdf 1 11/26/2021 3:17:39 PM

IT´S ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

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THE LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE JUST LANDED IN UMHLANGA

Umhlanga NOW OPEN

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Say SHIPEROO

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SHIPEROO HAS BROKEN THAT ONLINE SHOPPING BARRIER. NOW YOU CAN BUY INTERNATIONAL BRANDS ONLINE FROM OVERSEAS RETAILERS WHO DON’T SHIP TO SOUTH AFRICA. FEEL 100 PERCENT SECURE WITH SHIPEROO’S SPEEDY, PERSONALISED AND PROFESSIONAL COURIER SERVICE FROM THERE TO HERE

hiperoo. South Africans are going to love this concept, for very good reason. Grant Barrie and Matthew Walsh are the brains and brawn behind Shiperoo – Grant based in the UK, Matthew in Durban. That’s important, because they’re fully hands on, and they take their service personally.

How often do you try to buy something online in the UK, Europe or the USA, and you’re hamstrung because they don’t deliver to South Africa? You need a local address in the country of purchase. Latest camera lens not yet released here, beauty product unavailable here? No go.

Now there is. Enter Shiperoo.

Grant and Matthew have designed a service specifically for those who want things they can’t get here. It works like this. Sign up on their website. Shiperoo provides you with a local address and unique ID. When making your online purchase, you put in that local address as your delivery address. Shiperoo notifies you when your parcel has been received at the warehouse, you log in and select your preferred courier option. Shiperoo takes care of the rest.

Essentially, you shop as you normally would online, but you have the major advantage of using the warehouse address in the country where you’re making the purchase – instead of your own physical address. Many more doors open for you.

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ABOVE: Grant Barrie and Matthew Walsh – the brains behind Shiperoo.

As Grant says, “Shiperoo basically enables South Africans to shop a broader range of brands, accessories, and products, by opening up the rest of the world, and enabling them to shop with confidence. These are retailers who generally don’t ship to SA.” Grant has a strong financial background, and Matthew’s spent 14 years in logistics and the e-commerce world, so they’re the perfect partnership for Shiperoo. They know what the clientele wants, are highly service oriented, and very responsive to queries.

“Our focus is on delivering a high quality,

personalised and efficient service to our customers,” says Matthew. “We’re there on the ground daily, so we make sure everything runs smoothly. You email us, engage with us on our website chat – if you have a question or there’s an issue, and we’re on to it.”

Another major plus – they offer a consolidation service. You can purchase from five or six different retailers, and Shiperoo will consolidate your parcels into a single shipment, reducing your shipping costs by up to 70%. Take a look at their website for a host of additional services to enhance the user experience.

How fast is Shiperoo? Fast. Your parcel is usually delivered within five to seven days of leaving their warehouse. The Guernsey warehouse is a winner too. Save 20% VAT when shopping UK retailers using Guernsey – best suited for one-off orders of £150 plus.

Shiperoo also works with South African companies who are looking to expand internationally and need a reliable logistics partner.

Shiperoo is currently in the UK/Guernsey, Europe and South Africa, and the USA is imminent. They’re going to be everywhere, and that name will be on everyone’s lips.

Shiperoo. Shopping the world made easy.

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health*

P

eople have always asked me why I train so much, and it’s something I have long stopped asking myself. I was fortunate enough to play professional sports for a good part of my life and enjoyed every moment of it, and even though it came with its fair share of disappointments and sacrifices, it did afford me the opportunity to do what I loved.

More importantly, it also allowed me to get to know my body and to get into the habit of looking after it, giving it the best to enable me to succeed when I took to the field for the Sharks or Springboks.

And even when cutting out all outside influences and distractions, I still did not get it right every week. There were occasions when my body just did not perform the way I wanted it to.

Life is no different. We need to give our bodies the best possible chance and necessary support, to give us what we need from it when we need it most.

Like it or not, as we get older certain things will happen to your body. However, scientific tests and research indicate there are many ways we can slow down the process that’s happening to our ageing bodies. Many of us suddenly decide – for whatever reasons – that we can’t possibly train hard and with intensity as we get older.

Ageing is a “biological” process that can be speeded up or slowed down by multiplerelated factors. Read that again and again.

This means we can slow down the ageing process through the way we live. We can also speed up the process of ageing by not following simple yet very effective changes to our lifestyle.

Not all of us want to train like professional athletes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t follow advice from professional sportsmen and incorporate it into our fitness regime.

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Combating the ageing

PROCESS STEFAN TERBLANCHE SHARES SOME TIPS ON KEEPING FIT AS WE GET OLDER

Please don’t deadlift 100kg the next time you train, but rather pay attention to the following to take your training and healthy lifestyle to the next level in order to combat the three primary signs of ageing – declining aerobic capacity, increasing body fat, and the loss of muscle mass.

Weight training: Even for ladies, I would suggest you incorporate resistance training into your schedule. I understand most women don’t want to look like a body builder, and this will never happen. If you are one of the lucky few to build muscle easily – especially as you get older – then thank your lucky stars or your parents for a very unique set of genes.

Train with intensity: Not all of us will train with the same intensity, but we need to add some form of intensity to our training schedule. Rather than doing long slow distances, throw in an interval session where you run for 30 seconds, then walk for 30 seconds. Your heart rate will be elevated but your recovery period will allow for it to come down significantly. If you’re used to running long distances, you’ll find this hard but your body will react to it quickly and you’ll be amazed at how fast you get fit.

There is so much more to be said about training as we get older, but the good news is we can improve our overall fitness and general well-being, to thrive and live a painfree life. We just need to make some small changes to our lifestyle.

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suitable to all levels of activity and lifestyles, including a magnificent 18-hole golf course. The on-site exclusive residents only clubhouse facility – with its fusion of desirable lifestyle amenities including a gym and heated lap pool, steam room and sauna – will cater to all needs.

For years Zimbali has been the most desirable, premier vacation destination in KwaZulu-Natal.

Now you can secure your own lock-up-and-go or rental resort style apartment set within a secure gated community protected by 24-hour state-ofthe-art security. As part of the established and internationally acclaimed Zimbali brand, The Ocean Club Zimbali will prove itself to be an unrivalled investment option which ensures longevity in line with market demand.

Contact the Zimbali Estate Agency today to find your perfect space. For more info visit www.oceanclubzimbali.co.za 031 566 5271 / 083 395 1098 / 083 307 0669

community*

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landers Boutique Mall in Mount Edgecombe has always boasted an eclectic selection of stores and restaurants. In addition to a woman’s clothing boutique, a number of the other shops have introduced clothing and accessories to their range, a refreshing change from chain store offerings. It was ladies only up until September when historical clothing retailer, Gary Halfpenny, introduced an option for men.

“Having had a spectacular history creating brands with Renzo Scribante, within the Rembrothers group portfolio, Renzo contacted me and mentioned a small space available in the mall and proposed a menswear retail concept,” recalls Gary.

It is a small space, but Gary says the size was perfect for an incubator type concept. “The shop is presented with a blend of history, quirk and an old school, men’s dressing room mentality.

The product mix is carefully curated within the brands we carry, but the uniqueness is in how it’s co-ordinated.”

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More than 2 Cent's

WORTH 2 CENTS – A QUIRKY MEN’S CLOTHING STORE – IS ALIVE AND WELL AT FLANDERS BOUTIQUE MALL, WRITES LEE CURRIE

Why the name? “Forty-four years of men’s clothing design, retail, manufacturing, brand building, experience and Scott the wizard from The Curators, mustered up the name 2 cents.

The idea of offering a specialist service, great enduring products conjured up the quirky saying, ‘Can I give you my 2 cents worth?’

“The difference shopping at 2 cents is about the brand package and how you work it. The brands that stand up at this juncture are Original Penguin, Nautica, North Face, Holmes Brothers (the homegrown local brand which

ABOVE: After years spent in men’s clothing design and building brands, 2 cents clothing is Gary Halfpenny’s latest project.

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certainly gets my support), together with the limited edition Marc Jacobs sunglasses and a really cool cross-over sneaker called Warrior. Since its introduction, Warrior has gained a rapid acceleration in popularity with both male and female. There are more premium brands on the cards but stocks are limited at the moment since ‘The Lurgy’ came to town.ww “Keeping stocks tidy in a small space is always a merchandising challenge, especially with visual appeal making such a difference,” says Gary. “Having spent 35 years travelling the retail globe, one of my passions was to study interior mechanics and practical retail design. There are tricks that one picks up along the way as well as advice from the retailers themselves. The aim is to present great staples, enduring products and a small sense of quirk in a marginal space. Oh! And if you’re looking to spoil someone special, enquire about our last-minute memorymaking gift vouchers.”

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FOR MORE INFO 083 455 4377; Flanders Boutique Mall; 2centsclothing; Email: 2centsthestore@gmail.com

foot care*

D

id you know you should have more than one pair of sandals? Or that you should have more than one pair of sandals in the same colour?

And of course, your sandal cupboard should offer you a choice of styles and colours perfect for summer.

It’s best to choose the sandals you wear depending on the amount of time you’ll be spending on your feet or the activity

ABOVE: Ballito podiatrist Nelfrie Kemp offers sound advice for good foot care.

Dress for the

ACTIVITY

COMFY SHOES IS ALL ABOUT HAVING A CHOICE OF SANDALS IN YOUR WARDROBE, WRITES LOCAL PODIATRIST NELFRIE KEMP you’ll be doing, as your sandals should complement your feet and function as a unit when walking.

Here’s an idea of what your shoe cupboard should be made up of: High heels: These are for special occasions like weddings. Be wise with heel height, heel design and supportive straps over the top of the foot. You risk sore feet the morning after, so make the evening worth your while in them.

Fashion sandals: Mainly for sitting occasions. These are sandals you love, but if worn for some time your feet ache. They’re usually non-supportive, slip-on or very flat.

Sensible fashion sandals: These make your feet feel secure and supported, allowing you to spend quite some time on your feet. Your foot and shoe function as a unit when walking thanks to supportive straps over the top and around the ankle, and a slight heel. You may risk your feet

getting niggly if worn for too long.

Sensible sandals: These faithfuls hug your feet and are compulsory for every cupboard. They can be used for out and about but are gems when your feet are clocking hours in the kitchen, in the shops or running around.

Orthopaedic sandals: At first sight they may remind you of your granny, but once you try them you’ll be converted.

These are very supportive shoes with adjustable straps to accommodate swelling, bony prominences, and in most cases, offer relief to painful feet. They can be used for periods when you are in agony with your feet, then once recovered you can revert to your other sandals. Be prepared to be judged – those who judge have never been in agony with their feet.

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FOR MORE INFO Nelfrie Kemp: www.nelfriekemp.co.za; @nelfriekemp; W@nelfriekemp

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picture dawn rouse

lobally, psychometric tests have been a tool for many years to help employers find the best person for the job.

While much depends on the candidate and position, essentially the result can give an overview of the candidates’ character, strengths and weaknesses.

There’s also been a growing demand for individuals to test their own abilities, perhaps find hidden talents and strengths whether for career choices or improving their quality of life – or both.

So, if we feel the need to plumb our own depths, how do we go about this? Lauren Scherman, an uMhlanga psychometrist, updated us on the complex world of psychometry. Lauren recently moved from Pretoria to uMhlanga and bought the popular uMhlanga Health Shop, the products adding value to her independent practice Psycognition.

“Clients often ask what more they can do to better their mental and physical well-being and how a psychometric assessment can improve their daily life. I administer assessments for personality, cognitive abilities, career and subject choice, intelligence (including emotional intelligence) which gives them more information about themselves. Each client receives a personalised report that highlights his or her unique traits and abilities, cognitive development, strengths and weaknesses as well as coping styles and methods. The testing is usually divided into several individual sessions to avoid fatigue and achieve optimal performance,” explains Lauren.

The learners - finding their light Evexia is a psychiatric day clinic where Lauren is head of the psychometric unit of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychometrists, psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, dieticians, occupational therapists and more. “The focus from the

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Bringing out the

BEST WITH A NEW YEAR AROUND THE CORNER, NOW IS THE TIME TO IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE – PERSONALLY AND CAREERWISE, EXPLAINS LEE CURRIE

psychometry side is on pre-school, primary and high schools,” says Lauren, who carries out assessments at several schools.

“I have found that parents generally don’t want to hear that their children may have a learning disorder or other underlying problems. However, we need to address this early, thus preventing it from manifesting and growing into adulthood which takes much longer and may even be too late to fix.

Prevention in these cases is definitely better than cure. Severely limited school hours during the pandemic have also exacerbated learning difficulties. We work with complex children and teens and take time with each

ABOVE: Psychometrist Lauren Scherman offers psychometric assessments to adults and schoolchildren to help them improve their daily lives. learner creating comprehensive evaluations with ready access to other services. If a child needs to see other specialists, we co-ordinate the consultations. Giftedness or very high intellectual ability may come to light during the assessments which will allow recommendations for accelerated learning opportunities. We are all passionate about helping children overcome their obstacles, watching them blossom and reach their full potential.”

The shop Umhlanga Health Shop has been in existence for more than two decades, and residents and visitors have always been welcome to pop in for a chat and advice.

“We will continue to stock the majority of products such as nutritional supplements, vitamins and so on, while increasing the range of new products to keep up to date.

While the health shop allows a holistic approach towards improving our clients’ well-being, it’s important to note we do not diagnose nor offer homeopathic treatments, and where necessary refer the client to the appropriate health professional. I believe in going that extra mile as each person is unique and we enjoy learning and growing with them.”

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FOR MORE INFO Psycognition, Level 3A, PearlsMed Medical Centre, The Pearls of uMhlanga; Psycognition.co; Email: lauren.psycognition@gmail.com

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

S E R A B E L L A – M E A N I N G A B E AU T I F U L E V E N I N G I N I TA L I A N – I S A N E W D E V E LO P M E N T I N T H E H E A RT O F I Z I N GA I N U M H L A N GA C O N S I ST I N G O F M O D E R N C O N T E M P O R A RYI N S P I R E D V I L L AS T H AT E M B R AC E A S E N S E O F S PAC E A N D E L EGA N C E A N D F E AT U R E STAT E - O F -T H E -A RT F I N I S H ES W I T H I N I TS AU T H E N T I C BA L I N ES E A EST H E T I C S .

No transfer duty payable Stunning architecturally designed modern contemporary / balinese inspired homes embracing a sense of space and elegance situated in a prime position in the prestigious Izinga open suburb, Umhlanga making it one of the most sought after addresses in the area.

Gated with an electrified perimeter fence and surveillance cameras with a 24 hour security guard manning the access control from the guardhouse providing residents with absolute peace of mind.

The guardhouse area will also incorporate domestic help washrooms, change rooms and toilets.

Only a few kilometres away from the famous Gateway Theatre of Shopping complex, as well as in close proximity to some of KwaZulu Natal’s most prestigious schools and hospitals. A short drive to the Umhlanga coastline beaches.

Location, security and privacy translates to peace, happiness and a coveted lifestyle that only Sera Bella can provide.

Peace of mind: Situated within a double gated security precinct, in addition to patrolled security and tactical presence, Sera Bella also has an electrified perimeter fence with surveillance cameras and a 24-hour security guard manning the access control from the guardhouse.

Location is key: Sera Bella is ideally located to Gateway Theatre of Shopping, hospitals, prestigious private schools, King Shaka International Airport, restaurants and beaches.

Privacy is paramount: Ranging from two- and three-storey villas to three-bedroom apartments, each villa’s garden is totally private and fenced off, offering total seclusion. Within the complex there is also a communal pool and braai area.

TO FIND OUT MORE Website: www.serabella.co.za / Email: sales@serabella.co.za Mobile number: +27 83 786 8999 / Address: P.O. Box 22115, Glenashley, Durban 4022

*community

I

t was battling to change their baby Rainn’s clothing in the middle of the night that gave Mount Edgecombe couple Kimball Swarts and Ross Dickinson the idea to magnetise the process.

“Rainn was a terrible sleeper.

He would wake up several times needing changing and it became extremely frustrating to pop the little press studs at night when we couldn’t put the light on as it would wake him. Then, because Rainn wriggled so much (plus our lack of sleep), we had buttoned the press studs up incorrectly and would have to start again. We also found that the quality of the fabric for sleepwear was not thick or warm enough – especially after he had wriggled so much the blankets had fallen off him.

“It was in that moment that Magnetic Munchkin was born.

EYEBROW MAKEOVERS WITH

Debbie Jean

Magnetic

MAGIC

ONE COUPLE’S WRIGGLY BABY HAS TURNED A COMMON PROBLEM INTO A GROWING BUSINESS, WRITES LEE CURRIE

We went online researching better quality and more simplified clothing options and found out about magnetic fasteners. We couldn’t believe the lack of availability in South Africa and in late 2020 decided to try out these closures. Our mission? To simplify the time spent dressing your baby allowing more time to bond with them,” recalls Ross.

“The magnets come together effortlessly compared to other fasteners. They are encased in a soft pouch and safely sewn into each garment. While there are special instructions on each item which should be adhered to, the garments are all washer and dryer safe.

“As far as safety is concerned, we have done extensive research as we also had our doubts. According to WHO (World Health Organization), exposure »

Reviews

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community*

to static has not been proven to have any negative effects on humans. We have used our products with our son for over a year and have not encountered any problems.”

Magnetic Munchkin offer 3407) Nando'sofBallito Junction_Now a collection high quality garments, ranging from new-

born to 24 months. “Rompers, Footies, Onesies all benefit from magnetic fasteners. Even our bibs can keep the baby dry during feeds without slipping off. And most importantly, all are proudly SA made,” says Ross.

Open “Through Press Ad 105x137,5mm_V1_HR.pdf social media (mainly Instagram) we gift

incredible response!”

The garments are available nationwide from Magnetic Munchkin’s online store. “We keep all stock on hand so orders will be dispatched very quickly (currently within three days) and we also have a pickup option where your order can be collected on the same day at no charge. Further plans are to stock our collections at local baby boutiques and retail stores,” says Ross.

ABOVE: Kimball Swarts and Ross Dickinson with their son Rainn – the inspiration for their range of baby clothing with magnetic fasteners.

‘mom influencers’ with Footies and Rompers. They review FOR MORE INFO the products and share their www.magneticmunchkin.co.za; 1experience 2021/11/26 with 17:33 their followers. @magneticmunchkin; W Magnetic SW1 The Wok Box magazine article.pdf 1 2021/11/29 15:20 Munchkin We’ve been blown away by the

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The Wok Box Shop 10D, 8-12, Mackeurtan Avenue, Durban North Mon-Sun: 11:30 - 15:00 / 16:30 - 20:30 Sit-down, Take-away & Deliveries Landline: 031 564 2939 / WhatsApp: 084 225 6811 At SW1 & The Wok Box, it's all about serving authentic Tasty Thai Food!

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Even our bibs can keep the baby dry during feeds without slipping off”

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It’s fer’ment to be.

Let’s get back to basics.

Rawbiotics = raw, liquid probiotics in their most natural state.

When nature gives you probiotics, don’t let the natural enzymes, lactic acid and live bacteria escape. We don’t freeze-dry, meaning all the good stuff stays put.

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2021/10/14 11:51

*parenting

Separation

ANXIETY

IF YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE HOW DIFFICULT THIS CAN BE, WRITES SARAH MACKINTOSH

M

y son has always found it difficult to separate from me, especially when in playschool and preschool.

There were days when I would leave the school in tears, feeling terrible after the teacher had to pry my child off me and told me to go and don’t look back! It’s just awful. As a parent, you feel so guilty and your heart aches for your child.

According to clinical psychologist Lauren Snailham, it’s normal and expected for children to experience anxiety, crying, tantrums or clinginess in reaction to separation during early childhood. These are healthy reactions and a normal stage of development. Separation anxiety is a condition in which a child becomes excessively anxious when separated from parents. The anxiety experienced is more than just clinginess.

Common expressions of separation anxiety can include an inability to think about anything but the present fear of separation, crying, nightmares, palpitations, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, physical complaints (such as a sore tummy or headache), and sometimes depression.

These experiences of emotional and behavioural distress can develop into a serious emotional problem called Separation Anxiety Disorder, which includes symptoms such as clinging to parents, extreme and severe crying, refusal to do things that require separation, constant worry and fear about separation, physical

Anxiety Disorder overlap, which can make it confusing for parents and cause an uncertainty of whether to try support the child through ‘this phase’ or to seek professional help. The main differences, however, are the intensity of your child’s fears and whether these fears are interfering with their daily life and functioning,” explains Lauren.

“Separation anxiety occurs because a child feels unsafe. This may have been triggered by a change in the environment (new teacher, new school, new house, new sibling), stress (loss of a loved one including a pet, parental conflict, separation or divorce), having an insecure attachment to a parent, or having an overprotective parent – as children and parents can feed into one another’s anxieties,” says Lauren.

It’s normal and expected for children to experience anxiety, crying, tantrums or clinginess in reaction to separation during early childhood - these are healthy reactions

illness (such as headaches or vomiting), violent, emotional temper tantrums, reluctance to go to sleep, poor school performance, and failure to interact in a healthy manner with other children.

“Many of the symptoms of normal separation anxiety and Separation

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Tips to deal with separation anxiety “Prevention is always better than cure, so I always encourage empowering our children and building resilience. Helping them to learn about their feelings, learning to name them, recognise the bodily sensations their feelings cause, and how to cope with these feelings in healthy ways,” says Lauren.

Other tips include: • Address any root causes you may be aware of (such as, bullying or not having friends).

• If there’s been a change in routine, try get back to the normal routine as soon as possible. »

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parenting*

• Discuss the difficulties with the school and identify a safe person and place for your child to seek out if necessary.

• Provide a consistent pattern for the day (routine creates predictability and children LOVE predictability).

• Set limits (let your child know that you understand their feelings, affirm their feelings but that they are still expected to follow rules, do chores, etc. These boundaries help contain and create a sense of security for your child).

• Offer choices (anxious children often like having control so give options such as where at school they’d like to be dropped off, what toy they’d like to take along in the car for the drive, what song they’d like to sing – age-appropriate choices and control).

Lauren Snailham

is a clinical psychologist in Kloof with a passion for helping children. She has many resources on her website www.childtherapytoolbox.co.za that can be used for empowering children to cope with difficult feelings and to encourage families to work together, as well as books that address anxiety.

• Name their feeling, validate the feeling, set limits and offer coping skills like talking to someone, asking for a hug, playing with pets, breathing in and out slowly, humming gently to themselves, drawing, or holding a small fidget toy or object which can help with grounding in flighty moments.

• Help your child build confidence by focusing on strengths.

• Encourage your child to move out of their comfort zone, each time they do they will see what they have achieved and what they are capable of.

“If symptoms persist and your child’s anxiety is escalating to the extent that is causing them great distress and interfering with their daily functioning then it’s advisable that you seek professional help,” advises Lauren.

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trending*

It's all fun and

GAMES

WHETHER YOU’RE RELAXING ON A TROPICAL ISLAND OR STAYING LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE HAVE SOME HILARIOUSLY FUNNY AND MINDCHALLENGING BOARD GAMES TO KEEP THE WHOLE FAMILY ENTERTAINED

Cards Against Humanity: A party game for horrible people Cards Against Humanity is an adult party game in which players complete fill-inthe-blank statements using words or phrases typically deemed offensive, risqué or politically incorrect printed on playing cards. Its title refers

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to the phrase “crimes against humanity”, reflecting its politically incorrect content.

The game is simple. Each round, one player asks a question from a black card, and everyone else answers with their funniest white card. The objective of the game is to turn awkward personalities and dull social skills into hours of fun and laughter.

And for the whole family, the newly released Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition is a

brand-new game for kids and adults to play together. There is even a glow in the dark version.

From R514; www.takealot.com.

I Should Have Known That Put down Google, don’t ask Siri, it’s time to play I Should Have Known That! In no time at all this perfect dinner party game is bound to have all guests saying, “It’s on the tip of my tongue!”

An addictively entertaining trivia game with over 400 questions about things we should know. Unlike the format of traditional trivia games, you don’t receive points for answering questions correctly, instead, points are subtracted for every incorrect answer!

The fast-paced game is guaranteed to give non-stop brain freezes, loads of laughs and blushing answers – how embarrassing! Suitable for ages from 14 upwards.

R440; www.takealot.com.

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

What Do You Meme?

The creators of the popular For The Girls, now bring you the latest Tik Tok favourite game of the season, What Do You Meme? An adult party game for meme-lovers. The rules are simple. Compete to create the funniest meme by pairing Caption cards with the Photo card in play. A rotating judge picks the best combination each round. Suitable for ages from 17 upwards.

R419; www.takealot.com.

The Comrades Marathon Centenary Monopoly

Happy Little Dinosaurs Through the pandemic we’ve all felt like dinosaurs trying to avoid the falling meteors – well Happy Little Dinosaurs is exactly that.

The goal of the game is to try and dodge all of life’s little disasters, whether it be a pit of hot lava or being ghosted by your favourite dino date.

Ultimately, the dino who survives it all, is the winner!

During each round, you’ll flip a Disaster card featuring a Natural, Predatory, or Emotional disaster. Each player will play a Point card in the hope of collecting points and avoiding the disaster. You will work to avoid all of life’s little disasters and laugh as they happen to your friends.

Point cards feature weapons, trinkets, and good luck charms you use to collect points and avoid disasters.

Will you successfully dodge the disasters or get eaten by

WIN!

The Comrades Marathon Centenary Monopoly board game has just been launched

by South African events company Sportsvendo – and is the ideal Christmas gift!

Or perhaps you just want to keep it to yourself, to enjoy with family and friends over the festive holiday period?

For more info, please visit www.marathonmonopoly.com

Which piece was your favourite in Monopoly – the dog, top hat or maybe the battleship?

Monopoly has become a part of an international popular culture, and has been licensed locally in more than 103 countries and printed in more than 37 languages. There are many popular Monopoly boards with specific themes.

Recently a limited number of Comrades Marathon Centenary Monopoly boards were launched to celebrate the centenary year of the Comrades. Get ready to join the Legends of The Comrades Marathon, on Polly Shorts, or in Kings Park Stadium.

This exciting collaboration is sure to awaken some fond memories and is the perfect

gift for all Monopoly board game enthusiasts, Comrades Marathon enthusiasts and anyone wanting to have this collector’s item added to their collection.

R780; marathonmonopoly.com.

Ridley's Games Room, Party Compendium Gather your friends and family, young and old alike for a series of games that will challenge all your skill and luck with this Party Compendium from Games Room. With four games, there’s something for everyone! Settle in for a fun games night with Guess What?, Classic Charades, Sing It Back Music Quiz and Name Game Quiz. Packaged in a geometric print box, it will look smart on the games shelf once you’re finished playing!

R308; www.iwantoneofthose.com.

We are giving away a Comrades Marathon Centenary Monopoly to one lucky winner, please visit our website www. famouspublishing.co.za to enter

a prehistoric whale? Only the cards can decide. Suitable for ages from eight upwards.

R409; www.takealot.com.

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property*

W

hile there have been some recent sales due to emigration, according to Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group, the overwhelming majority of reasons for selling continue to be: relocation for a better lifestyle; upgrading to more spacious homes following the restrictions of the hard lockdown; relocation for business purposes or retirement; to be nearer to close family; or downscaling – due to lifestyle changes and in some instances financial pressure.

Coupled with these trends, one of the significant benefits of the prevailing low interest rates remains the large number of first-time buyers active in the marketplace. This is a positive trend for the country in general, as home ownership and a growing middle class are key factors contributing to economic growth and stability. This has had a knockon effect across the market, unlocking sellers – who were unable to sell – to both realise their own properties and utilise the proceeds to engage in a subsequent property transaction – including buying-up, which also unlocked additional upstream sellers.

Regarding emigration, in our experience many people acquiring offshore property are not all necessarily looking to relocate or sever ties with the country. Instead, some are

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Reasons for

SELLING EMIGRATION, DOWNSIZING, BETTER LIFESTYLE, LOW INTEREST RATES – JUST A FEW OF THE REASONS WHY HOMEOWNERS ARE ON THE MOVE, WRITES GARETH BAILEY

looking to acquire EU residency or citizenship in order to provide themselves and their children with opportunities to travel or work in the Schengen Europe, or spend part of the year overseas, while others are looking for sound offshore investment opportunities as a potential property and currency diversification.

Notwithstanding this, the abolishment of the requirement to formally financially emigrate is positive. Furthermore, recently there have been reports of South Africans living overseas who are looking to buy property back home – an interesting trend to monitor.

As far as Covid-19 is concerned, we have not seen that this has prompted more people to consider relocating overseas. On the contrary, it has sparked a significant shift in circumstances, priorities and lifestyles triggered by weeks and even months spent more or less confined to home, which has prompted homeowners to make either new or longplanned changes to their living conditions. These decisions

may in part be prompted by the marked deterioration in economic prospects resulting from the prolonged restrictions in business activity due to the lockdown.

Various additional trends evident in the marketplace include relocation to smaller and/or coastal towns – or “zoom towns” – as well as downsizing due to financial

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pressures or upsizing to satisfy the need for workfrom-home space and more outdoor space. In this regard, we have seen a shift back to freestanding homes with garden cottages and/or additional room(s) for office purposes and an increasing demand for homes in secure lifestyle estates. We are however still seeing a good uptake of conveniently located sectional title apartments in desirable hubs or nodes in the various centres.

Furthermore, depending on how the pandemic and lockdown impacts, some families are choosing to live together to save costs, namely multigenerational living, others are relocating provincially – perhaps to a more relaxed

NORTH DURBAN Durban North office · 031 573 6000 Umhlanga office · 031 561 5300 Umdloti office · 031 568 1299

ABOVE: Gareth Bailey, Pam Golding Properties.

Home ownership and a growing middle class are key factors contributing to economic growth and stability lifestyle in a second-tier city.

This trend has been reinforced by the redevelopment of many of these former retirement and holiday towns, which have

seen significant investments in medical, educational and retail facilities in these areas, making them more attractive to a young home buyer.

Towns and villages offering the better quality of life which semigrants seek usually also offer more affordable properties – which improves the prospect that their property investment will be a profitable one.

Many of the semigrants have families, and are choosing to relocate their homes to ensure a better quality of life for their children and often greater security. Good schools and an outdoor lifestyle are thus key considerations when relocating. Often the breadwinner will commute back to Johannesburg or the relevant city during the week.

For those opting to relocate to our KZN North or South Coast the commute is much easier than from Cape Town.

The rise of online working during the global pandemic has made the decision to semigrate more realistic and more appealing for a greater number of homeowners.

The development of private medical facilities and schools, as well as good retail outlets, in many towns previously considered to be holiday or retirement destinations, has made a growing number of towns and villages even more appealing to potential semigrants.

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Umhlanga Rocks / R5.395 million

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Bedrooms 3 / Bathrooms 2 / Parkings 1 / Right on the beach in prime Umhlanga. This spacious and elegantly decorated ground floor apartment with a lovely undercover patio offering magnificent sea views.

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Umdloti Beach / R1.795 million

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Bedrooms 2 / Bathrooms 2 / Parkings 1 / This apartment is without doubt one of the best buys in Umdloti this year. Open plan, complete with an entertainment area and beautiful sea views. Holiday letting is allowed.

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Glenashley / R6.495 million

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Bedrooms 6 / Bathrooms 7 / Garages 3 / This mansion will take your breath away. From the minute you walk in through the double volume front door you will be impressed by the wonderful open plan spaces.

Brett Kallides 083 258 9631

La Lucia / R3.750 million Ref# 1ND1551278 Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 4 / Parkings 4 / Stunning home with limitless opportunities. Close to the Mall and excellent schools. This property has two self-contained, income generating flatlets. Don’t miss out on this amazing property.

Deidre Chaperon 083 680 7625 / Sarah Corlett 073 249 2990

last word*

W

e all have our own rituals to help us into a new year. For a long time, my New Year’s Eve ritual involved a vacuum cleaner. By 8pm at the latest, I’d haul out the Dyson and vacuum my study, making soothing patterns on the red pile of the carpet. Why do I have a red carpet in the study?

Does it energise me and help me write? No, it’s because it was there when I bought the house, and every year since my list of New Year resolutions has included the line item: “Change the carpet in my study”, usually just after “Eat less” and “Exercise more”.

It felt soothing to vacuum the carpet, to suck up the dust and detritus and sloughed DNA of the previous year. It felt as though as I was giving myself the best chance of a good year.

Then I would go downstairs and make a Spanish omelette, and a Pisco Sour for my partner, which she only drinks once a year.

Just before midnight we would open the back door then the front door and listen to the schmucks down the road celebrating 30 seconds too early. We would allow the old year to leave via the back and the new year to arrive in the front, then we would close the doors and stroll around our neighbourhood, then go home to sleep and wake up the next

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A moment in TIME CELEBRATE THE DAWNING OF 2022 – CELEBRATE THE MOMENT, SAYS DARREL BRISTOW-BOVEY WITH A TEAR IN HIS EYE

morning without a hangover and feeling smug about our choices.

The very thought of changing the ritual would cause me to break out in cold sweat and indignation. How dare you invite me to your house on New Year’s Eve?!

Do you want to ruin my year?!

Why do you hate me so?!

But then 2020 happened, and 2021 as well, and I realised that superstitions are fine but they don’t protect you from anything. Rituals should be made from joy, not fear.

In September this year I was at a lunch party. One of the guests was bewailing the

fact that because of lockdown, she hadn’t had a countdown to New Year with her extended family. Every year, in the seconds before midnight, their ritual was to hold hands and count backwards from 10 – and then cheer and kiss at midnight, and wish each other a good year ahead. Without it, she said she felt her year was hollow, as though it hadn’t yet properly started.

We understood, but what could be done about it? By now it was 2.18pm on September 12.

Then someone suggested a countdown to 2.19pm. It started off politely and sedately – a group of people humouring

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a friend – but then it reached zero and everyone shouted “Happy New Year” and as we turned and hugged the people on either side of us, it suddenly felt as rich and intense and emotional as a real New Year, but the best kind of New Year, a New Year of our own deciding, something starting because we wanted it to start, a moment being celebrated because moments are worth celebrating, because really moments are all we have, and the more of them we can have the better.

So we all started laughing and everyone stood and hugged everyone else and we felt happy and we wanted each other to be happy and I beamed and shed a quiet weird tear.

I hope we all have a good year. Wherever we all are on New Year’s Eve or at 2.19pm on September 12, I hope we’re happy and making new rituals, even if they only last for just that moment.

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 Specialising in entrance solutions for gated estates and business parks Manual or automatic booms with a GSM intercom system for hassle free communication or an automated, commercial gate, manufactured from wood, galvanised steel or clear-view panels.  We offer after-sales service and maintenance on all installations Service level agreements available for optimal functioning.

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