JHB West - Dec 20 / Jan 21

JOBURG WEST 

DEBBIE HANNIBAL 

Fun & full of sparkle 

5reasons to 

explore 

Knysna 

Eat, drink, 

(shop) & 

be merry 

BRING OUT THE 

CHEER 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

DEC 20 / JAN 21

Ice Rink 

Wave Pool 

Games Arcade 

Ster-Kinekor 

Restaurants 

FUN FOR THE 

FAMILY 

www.foresthillcity.co.za | Find us on

CONTENTS 

GET IT 

Editorial 

Instagram: @getitjoburgwest 

Facebook: Get It Joburg West 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za/joburg-west 

National Group Editor and National Sales 

Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za 

Layout & design Megan Brett 

Subeditor Rose Chinery, Lorraine Brown 

Contributors Rialien Furstenberg 

Head of sales 

Debbie Pienaar 

debbiep@caxton.co.za 

Distribution 

15 000 copies monthly 

Get It Joburg West is distributed 

free of charge. For a full list contact 

011 955 1130. 

Competition rules 

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be 

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions 

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton 

employees or their families. Get It Magazine 

reserves the right to publish the names of 

winners, who will be contacted telephonically 

and need to collect their prizes from Caxton 

Northern branch within 10 days or they will be 

forfeited. Prizewinners names are published on 

our Facebook page monthly. 

WHY DON’T YOU... 

5 Do your Christmas shopping, visit the Wonderland of Lights or watch 

a feel-good movie 

6 We’re packing these books into our suitcase ... 

WISH LIST 

8 We’re longing for the romance of the ocean 

PEOPLE 

10 Cook and event planner extraordinaire, Debbie Hannibal is loving 

all things party and offers a few tips for stress-free hosting 

12 Tracy Loubser, author of her memoir, Unlocked 

shares her journey to discovering her truth. 

BEAUTY 

16 Get mistletoe ready with these shimmering essentials 

THIS MONTH WE’RE ... 

19 Packing sunsational beach goodies • getting the 2020 festive 

party started • celebrating New Year’s Eve Cubana style • and having all 

the fun without the hangover 

GARDENING 

28 We’ve put together our top garden tasks and tips for the hols 

TRAVEL 

39 A trio of books for lovers of animals and history 

40 Eat, shop and be merry in Knysna 

WIN 

15 We’ve got a set of journals to give away 

42 We’re feeling all gifty ... and have a Clarins hamper up for grabs 

COVER LOOK 

Personality: Debbie Hannibal • Jumpsuit: The Window Dresser. 

Details: 082 830 8774, bornfreeptl@gmail.com • Make-up & hair: 

Antoinette de Beer from EA Academy West Rand. Details: Follow @ 

EAMakeupandHairstylists on Facebook • Photographer: Jaco Bothma 

from Empire Photography. Details: empirephotography.co.za 

DEC 20 / JAN 21 

Dec 20 / Jan 21 Get It Magazine 03

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A hot date! 

Yay! It is the holidays ... 

04 

The Wonderland of Lights promises a family-fun 

experience with all that is glittery and festive including gift 

shopping, carols and more than 100 of the most dazzling display 

of lights across the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. The 

light display will run from 6am to 10pm from 4 – 24 December. 

Tickets: R80 per adult, pensioners R70, kids R50 - limited tickets per 

night will be sold. Details: www.miid.co.za 

06 

Gather your friends and family and head over to the 

Cedar Tree Craft Market to get a head start on your 

Christmas shopping. There is really something for everyone … 

think leather items, home-baked treats, handmade products, 

craft drinks, jewellery, plants, clothes, gifts, kids’ entertainment 

and live music. Entrance is free and pets on a leash are welcome. 

There will be a market on the 6th and 13th from 10am and a 

night market on the 18th from 5pm. Venue: Khosa Sports Club, 

corner of Shannon Road and Frederick Cooper Drive, Krugersdorp. 

Details: Chanelle on 081 500 6884 or westsidemarkets@gmail.com 

Holiday vibes are in the 

air and we’re in the mood for some 

fun-filled family-friendly activities. And, we’ve 

got just the perfect entertainment destination in mind 

– Forest Hill City. Let the kids burn off all of that pent-up 

energy on the ice rink, practice their surfing skills at the wave 

pool, play at the Super Games Arcade or knock over some pins 

at ten pin bowling. There will also be Carols on Ice with the 

Mzansi Youth Choir on December 5 and a festive market 

until December 24. To keep in the loop of what’s 

hot and happening, follow Forest Hill City on 

Facebook, @ForestHillCity. 

A feel-good message 

You are in for a treat with this joyful movie on Netflix. The 

Prom tells the story of two New York stage stars that have 

their careers flatlined after an expensive Broadway show 

flops. When they discover a high school student has been 

banned from attending prom with her girlfriend, they see a 

perfect opportunity to support a cause and resurrect their 

public image. Expect a star-studded cast, eccentric costumes 

and lots of energy. The Prom is based on Matthew Sklar’s 

Broadway musical of the same name. 


Book club 

We’ve got your holiday reading sorted! 

06 Get It Magazine Dec 20 / Jan 21 

Newly promoted Detective Sergeant William Warwick has been reassigned to the drugs squad. 

His first case ... to investigate a notorious South London drug lord known as the Viper. As he and 

his team close the net around the criminal network, he’s also faced with an old enemy, Miles 

Faulkner. It will take all William’s cunning to devise a means to bring both men to justice ... a trap 

neither will expect, one that’s Hidden in Plain Sight. This is Jeffrey Archer’s second thriller 

featuring Warwick – it follows on from Nothing Ventured but reads well as a stand-alone story. 

Full, as Archer fans would expect, of thrills and twists and turns. • Oh, joy for fans of The No 

1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series. A new instalment, just in time for the hols. Alexander 

McCall Smith’s How to Raise an Elephant allows readers to catch up on the latest from 

Mma Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi and other favourites. The book starts off nice and easy ... in 

fact, Precious Ramotswe wonders whether rising heat in Gaborone could be the reason 

that business is particularly slow. But add some new neighbours who, by the sound of it, 

have a rather volatile relationship, a distant cousin who arrives at the agency with a plea 

for help, and a hair-raising night-time expedition, and things heat up pretty quickly. But 

nothing that can’t be sorted out over a slice of Mma Potokwani’s fruit cake. • You know 

what you’re going to get in Together By Christmas. Girl meets boy, heart-wrenching 

dilemmas, some long-buried secrets and a whole lot of romance. But that doesn’t take 

away from the sheer hedonistic joy of a chick-lit novel to read on a sun lounger this 

December. Karen’ Swan’s latest love story is just lovely. 

As it’s time for the holidays, a wine from Journey’s End boutique winery seems 

appropriate, particularly a bottle of Destinations Chardonnay 2018. The 

vineyard, owned by the Gabb family, has just released its rebranded top-tier 

Precision Series ... this gold medal Chardonnay is rich and full and creamy and a 

complete treat for the last book club of the year. It’s a limited edition – only 20 

barrels were produced – and is vegan-friendly. R280 from good bottle stores and 

online from shop.journeysend.co.za.

In Peter James’ Find Them Dead, Roy Grace gets a tip-off about a drug ring operating out of Brighton, and is investigating 

what appears to be a senseless murder. His investigations lead him into the sinister sphere of influence of a ruthless, evil 

drug dealer on trial, a man who’s prepared to order the death of anyone it takes to enable him to walk free. One of the jurors 

is a woman who’s just getting her life back together after a car crash that killed her husband and son. While she’s doing 

jury duty, her daughter is off on a gap year, travelling around South America with a friend. A few days into the trial, she gets 

home – and lying on her kitchen table is a photograph of her daughter in Ecuador. Then the phone rings. She’s told if she 

wants to keep her daughter alive, all she has to do is make sure the jury votes not guilty. We’re massive fans and this book 

simply races along, dragging you with it. • All is not calm on Mustique. A tropical storm is heading its way, and most of the 

villa owners have left the island, with just a few young socialites staying behind, not wanting summer’s partying to end. One 

of these thrill-seekers, an American heiress, disappears after an early morning swim. When her body’s found, the investigation 

turns from one of a missing person to murder ... and things turn even nastier when the storm hits and someone else 

disappears. Murder on Mustique by Anne Glenconner is full of glamour and mystery ... another great beach read. • If you’re 

one of the many, many Jeremy Clarkson fans, here’s your Christmas gift, sorted. Can You Make This Thing Go Faster? is the 

latest in The World According to Clarkson series, and is just as funny, rude and sharp as the previous seven. Full of strange 

and diverse issues that perplex Clarkson – why saving the planet means soggy straws, why fishing is for people who hate 

kids – irrelevant but entertaining. 

If you need an adrenalin shot these hols, pick up a copy of Robert 

Pobi’s Under Pressure, which will deliver in spades. A tech company 

is holding a private gala event at New York’s Guggenheim Museum. 

Lots of cocktails and air kisses and an impressive holographic and laser 

display. Lots of blood and gore, too, when a thermobaric explosion 

brings an end to the evening, and to more than 700 guests’ lives. Move 

over to Dr Lucas Page, an astrophysicist whose mind is exceptional, but 

body not so much ... an accident has left him with a prosthetic arm and 

leg and only one good eye. He’s called in to help find the person behind 

the bombing, and those that follow. An action-filled plot, with some 

laugh-out-loud moments (Pobi’s wicked wit and spot-on descriptions 

are terrific), this is a follow on to last year’s City of Windows thriller, but 

reads easily as a stand-alone. It’s fast, sharp, and gruesome. Everything 

you want from a holiday thriller. 


Wish list 

Palm groves and oyster shells ... 

we’re longing for the romance of the ocean 

These work just as well at a glam poolside 

lunch as they do at a sunset cocktail party. Gold 

shell earrings, R99.95 from Woolworths; and 

gold conch shell choker necklace with a single 

white shell, R299 from takealot.com 

Compiled by KYM ARGO 

This glorious Palm Grove graphic is printed on archival watercolour 

paper, using pigment-based archival ink. You can have it printed in the 

size of your choice, and framed however you wish ... it’s right at the very 

top of our Christmas wish list. Prices depend on size and framing. 

Details: pezulainteriors.co.za 

08 Get It Magazine Dec 20 / Jan 21

The suggestions for how to use this faux giant clamshell 

include filling it with bath salts in the bathroom, or with 

fruit in the kitchen. We think it would be an eye-catching 

salad bowl on your lunch table if you’re having a beachy 

theme. R805 from bespokehome.co.za • We’re completely 

besotted with these hand-crafted silver mussel shell 

risotto paella servers. 

Big enough to dish up 

a healthy portion, glam 

enough to be the centre 

of attention. For your next 

seafood lunch, you need 

them! R970 for the pair from 

hauteedit.com 

Whether you’re fortunate 

enough to be having a seaside 

break or not, you can still 

breathe in the intoxicating, 

stress-releasing scent of the 

ocean. Soothing Seaweed 

Bath Crystals have been 

made with the nourishing, 

soothing and hydrating 

properties of seaweed 

extract. Pour a handful into 

your bath, and follow up with 

the matching Body Souffle. 

Bonus ... you won’t get 

dunked! R240 and R189 from 

Woolworths. 

Oysters at sundown. Serve them 

with a bottle of Stellenbosch 

Hills 1707 Reserve White 2019 – 

a premium wine (just 3000 bottles 

were produced) that’s elegant 

and voluptuous. A blend of 70 

per cent Chardonnay, 20 per cent 

Semillon and 10 per cent Viognier, 

it’s lively and crisp and in addition 

to oysters, pairs well with sushi, 

fish curry, mussel soup, risotto, 

grilled chicken and cream-based 

dishes. R135 from stellenboschhills.co.za 


Ready, set, 

party 

Though social gatherings are much more intimate these days, they are here to stay. 

Cook and all-round event planner extraordinaire, Debbie Hannibal chats 

about loving all things party and offers a few tips for stress-free hosting. 

Years ago, Debbie Hannibal’s idea of 

a quick and easy meal was bangers 

and mash. Not quite the type of 

dish a foodie would admit to be 

serving ... Nowadays, the cheerful and 

free-spirited Debbie whips up lipsmacking-good 

dishes with the same 

heartiness, but keeping it simpler, and 

adding her creativity that has made 

her the successful cook she is today. 

Craig and Debbie’s home has been 

described as an entertainment hotel, 

merely because you never leave there 

empty-handed. Debbie is not one 

bit afraid to go all out, and by that 

we mean you can expect a party like 

none other if you are invited over … 

every single time. Hosting people 

doesn’t frazzle her, in fact, nothing 

makes her happier. Whether it is an 

impromptu dinner or entertaining 

friends and family, spoiling people 

with food is what makes her tick. 

And don’t expect to be served boring 

finger foods (a food trend that should 

rather go, according to her). Instead, 

you will indulge in food to swoon 

over … like her signature baked 

brie wheel with sundried tomatoes, 

tomato jam and olive pesto served 

with warm olive ciabatta, or hot 

fondant potato thickly smeared with 

cold Lurpak butter, Maldon salt and a 

rosemary needle. Almost impossible 

to think bangers and mash were once 

her tried-and-tested meal … 

Debbie’s late mother was her first 


culinary inspiration and, determined 

to recreate the flavours and 

fragrances of her childhood, she 

enrolled at a hotel school. 

The catering industry followed 

and expecting something entirely 

different, Debbie was soon bored 

by budgets and stock sheets, and 

subsequently lost all interest in 

the kitchen 

But, after attending a friend (also her 

kitchen muse), Lisa Brink’s creative 

cooking classes, she plucked up the 

courage to start her own culinary 

studio. Soon, her classes were 

jam-packed. 

‘For the past few years, virtually every 

waking moment has been consumed 

by teaching, testing, food styling, 

photography, updating my Cook 

Studio Facebook page, pinning, 

blogging and helping friends throw 

stylish parties. 

‘I’ve decided to take a much-needed 

break from my cooking school. This 

doesn’t mean I’m going to sip on 

Mimosa’s all day long … I love being 

busy and need to keep up the same 

energy. I find cooking, organising, 

entertaining and socialising uplifting, 

and I always have a project on 

the go – from planning parties to 

community work. So, I’m going 

to spend more time on my blog. 

Although I prefer being in the kitchen 

to being on a computer, I just have so 

many recipes and ideas to share! 

‘On my blog, you will find exactly 

what women want. How to entertain 

without having a breakdown. 

Some women find the thought of 

entertaining terrifying while others 

do not have the time. Teaching how 

to add the wow factor to simplicity is 

what all women love. 

‘Plus, I have all my old course notes 

up with loads of original recipes you 

can try.’ 

When Debbie is not busy whipping 

up a MasterChef creation, she is mom 

to two daughters, Alex and Camilla, 

does creative graphic work for friends 

and family setting up a new business, 

spends time on their boat at the Vaal 

Dam and reads recipe books like they 

are novels. 

The holiday season is here and 

gatherings or parties, although 

much smaller, are on the cards. What 

is Debbie’s recipe to a successful 

get-together? 

‘Make sure each guest is treated as 

important as the next. Apart from 

serving good food, music, a planned 

playlist, champagne and a theme 

are musts. You don’t need to break 

the bank, think anything with a dash 

of vintage or kitsch. Nothing is too 

corny to add to a theme. And oops 

moments happen, so if you stumble, 

make it part of the dance.’ 

Details: Cookstudio.co.za or follow 

her on Facebook, @cookstudio and 

Instagram, @cook_studio.

Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Photographer: JACO BOTHMA. Make-up & hair: ANTOINETTE DE BEER. 

Visit 

our website, 

getitmagazine.co.za/ 

joburg-west for Debbie’s 

easy Millionaire’s trifle recipe. 

Think white chocolate, 

caramel, Swiss roll and 

cream … 

Debbie’s stress-free hosting tips 

DRINKS 

• Make festive ice cubes in advance with 

mineral or boiled water and shaped 

silicone trays. Muffin pans can be used 

if you do not have shaped trays, these 

make marvellously large ice cubes for 

voluptuous gin glasses. Add berries, herbs, 

chillies or rose petals. 

FOOD 

• Take scones and jam which are certainly 

not associated with the festive season. 

Pile mini scones into a tower, add a dollop 

of cranberry to your jam, serve with a 

reindeer spoon and dust whipped cream 

with raspberries and gold stars. I have 

made festive trees from Oreo cookies, 

mini doughnuts, crumpets and Ferrero 

Rocher. Even Sweetie Pies can be served 

unwrapped and dusted with gold glitter. 

• Warm crusty ciabatta, festive butter 

shapes and cheese always make a 

crowd-pleasing starter. The bread can 

be wrapped in a beautiful dishcloth or 

adorned with a ribbon. 

• Turn salad into a wreath. All you need 

is a large, white round plastic tray from 

West Pack which retails for under R100. 

Match your colour scheme and use either 

traditional greens and tomatoes, a brightly 

coloured salad with a beetroot dressing, 

or a white potato salad with fresh basil. 

• Avoid dishes that need washing up 

on the day – like any roast. Roomtemperature 

platters served on baking 

paper will save your festive goose. 

THEME 

• Adjust any theme or colour scheme 

into a festive occasion. I have even pulled 

off a British-themed ‘Keep calm it’s only 

Christmas’ table in red and blue. Stars and 

a bit of sparkle tie any theme together. 

• Etsy (www.etsy.com) is filled with readyto-download 

printables. Use framed as 

wall art, placemats, tags for jars, vase 

wrappers and crackers. 

• Crafty is clever: Use old decor like Alice 

bands, feathers on old Easter hats and 

spray-paint mismatched plates gold for 

serving. Avoid tinsel and candles, and opt 

for fairy lights, gold dust and stars. 

• Buy inexpensive takeaway containers 

and send your guests home with a 

helping of their favourite dish for lunch 

the next day. 


The utter truth 

Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Image: MERINDA WESTCOTT. 

This year has forced us to slow down. To take stock 

of what really matters … and with that came a lot 

of assessing our relationships, values or lifestyles. We 

chat to Tracy Loubser, author of her memoir, Unlocked 

about her journey to discovering her truth. 

From the outside looking in, Tracy Loubser 

had it all – married to her childhood 

sweetheart, two gorgeous daughters and a 

lifestyle that many would envy. But all was 

not as it seemed. In the process of making 

sure that everyone was taken care of, she 

turned a deaf ear to the cry of her inner 

voice. Tracy tried to conform to societal and 

religious expectations by persuading herself 

that all was well and pretending 

to be happy … 

When Tracy launched her memoir, Unlocked: 

A journey inward to utter truth, she did not 

think for one moment that it would fly 

off the shelves. Her initial idea was to tell 

her story to inspire others. Yet, she felt her 

perfectionism and self-doubt kept her stuck. 

‘The journey of writing my biography was 

tumultuous. The idea of the book was 

born more than nine years ago when I was 

navigating a tough decision to leave my 

marriage. It was not a decision I took lightly. 

Breaking up a precious family unit is huge. 

I longed for a book that would take me on 

a journey into a deeper diversity of myself. I 

felt lost and desperate. Little did I know that 

it would only be years later that 

the inspiration to write a book would 

come to life. 

‘I so often pictured how my story would 

land with my readers, which inhibited the 

flow. I then began to write my book like 

nobody was ever going to read it, except 

for my younger self. With very little intention 

of publishing at that stage, it is almost like it 

removed all the unnecessary pressure, and 

words started to flow. At times I needed to 

dig deeper than imaginable and other times 

it just gushed out onto the pages. It ended 

up being an invaluable cleansing process. 

I then chose to publish, not for myself, but 

for my daughters and every other woman 

rising above societal demands.’ 

Now, months later and Tracy’s book is being 

received with raving reviews like the 

one below. 

‘Love how this book is written, it is raw, real, 

authentic and truly inspiring. It takes you 

right there in every moment with Tracy, 

experiencing it with her, feeling her 


feeling, thinking her thoughts, yet simple 

enough to take you to the core of each 

scene and message. A good reminder that 

there is life beyond pain and potential 

when we push past our own limitations 

and the lies we tell ourselves; there are no 

limits when you step into your truth’ — 

Donna van Aswegen 

Tracy’s intention was not to crucify 

anybody when telling her story. For years 

she felt imprisoned within the cages of 

belief systems, traditions and authority, and 

never feeling good enough. 

‘I was told how to be, what to say and 

how to feel. I didn’t know how to access 

my truth … always feeling that someone 

else was holding the key. We spend 

most of our life longing to be like others, 

moulding ourselves to please others, and 

suppressing our authenticity, replacing 

it with a superficial sameness. I was one 

of these women. Only when I realised 

I had imprisoned myself and took full 

responsibility for my own happiness, I 

could begin to unlock the magnificence 

of who I truly was. Today I feel free of every 

shackle I had created for myself along the 

way. There is so much joy in freedom!’ 

What you might not know is that growing 

up, Tracy wanted to become a famous 

singer, then hairstylist to a professional 

golfer. Somewhere in between she aspired 

to be a writer, never really thinking 

that one day she would become a 

published author! 

Apart from being a writer (bookworms 

rejoice, more great reads are coming!), 

she is also a speaker, transformational 

coach, facilitator and professional 

photographer, specialising in artistic nude 

and boudoir photography. 

Fortunate enough to live next door to 

the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, you 

will often spot Tracy hiking through the 

Garden or sitting at the waterfall, which 

she says, ‘... fills my soul’. 

With so many things happening this year, 

Tracy’s message for the new year is simple, 

yet we all tend to forget it in our busy lives. 

‘There is peace in surrendering to 

uncertainty, and being comfortable with 

the unknown of what the future may hold. 

It is only the present moment that holds 

any value.’ 

Details: Purchase the hard copy of her book 

at www.tracyloubser.com for R250 (excluding 

courier costs) or as an ebook or kindle version 

from www.amazon.com or follow her on 

Facebook, @TracyLoubserAuthor. 

Tracy’s five tips on surviving the holiday blues 

1. Do what makes you happy and ecstatic. Go where you want to go. Who 

are you aiming to please? A martyr cannot blame anyone but themselves. 

2. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. 

3. Only perpetuate the traditions that work for you and your loved ones. 

4. Take an old set of Jenga and create a fun game by writing engaging 

questions on each block, encouraging everyone to get to know each other 

better. Tell the person third from your right what your favourite thing about 

them is. Or, sing Jingle Bells in a Donald Duck voice. 

5. Create an inspiring holiday routine. It’s the small daily habits that lead to 

fulfilment. You don’t want the holidays to disappear into a blur. 

EXCERPT FROM UNLOCKED: 

‘When the tethers of generational hand-me-downs can be unlocked 

and severed, we realize that we are free to live to the rhythm of 

our very own heartbeat – a playlist custom made. I was raised 

traditionally, to fit the mould. Like a perfect panna cotta – just enough 

firmness, just enough flavour, just enough wobble, constantly being 

fixed and measured. But after a while, I wanted more than to be 

just some perfect little jelly dessert on a plate for the eating. I knew 

well how to be desired. Oh, I was so good at being wanted and 

acknowledged and placed on a pedestal, and until I knew better, I 

craved that. But then, I wanted something different – something wild 

and unordinary, deep and satisfying – I wanted more. I wanted to 

desire. I wanted to dream and unfold my own greatness, outside of 

the shadows of those close to me. The more I suppressed, the more 

the pressure built, eventually oozing out of every crack it could find, 

like larva out of a quiet but lethal volcanic eruption.’ 


TEARDROP DESIGN 

OUR GIFT TO YOU THIS CHRISTMAS 

379 HE GI MAG WS 210X275mm

Count your blessings 

By taking time every day to focus on everything you have, rather than dwelling on the 

things you don’t, by appreciating your blessings and fostering an attitude of gratitude, is 

one of the easiest ways to improve your life. And there’s no better time to start than now. 

Why gratitude? 

Quite simply, it makes us happier. 

By spending just a few minutes a day 

reflecting on what we have to be grateful 

for – by paying conscious attention to 

what’s good instead of what’s bad – can 

make us feel a lot more positive about our 

lives, which in turn makes us happier. 

It increases our well-being ... physical, 

psychological and emotional. Being 

grateful for what we have has a positive 

effect on our self-esteem, and reduces 

toxic emotions – regret, resentment, 

envy, frustration. It’s said that gratitude 

increases happiness, and so reduces 

depression. Physically, grateful people 

are more inclined to take care of their 

health, to eat well and exercise more. And 

gratefulness during times of stress leads 

to resilience. 

It makes us more optimistic. The 

more we realise how much we have to 

be grateful for, the more we find to be 

grateful for. It’s a positive circle. 

It helps us sleep better. It’s thought that 

if we spend 10 or 15 minutes completing 

a gratitude journal last thing at night, we’ll 

go to bed in an optimistic frame of mind, 

which will lead to a better night’s sleep. 

It improves our relationships. If we’re 

grateful, we have less aggression, less 

jealousy, are less self-centred and have 

more empathy. It makes us happier and 

positive ... which means we’re nicer to be 

around. Whether it’s friends, a romantic 

partner or work associates ... if we practise 

gratitude ourselves, and are grateful to 

others, our relationships improve. Just one 

more thing to add to our ‘grateful for’ list. 

It allows us to appreciate what we have. 

If we’re grateful for what we have, we 

become less materialistic. And no longer 

being obsessed with having more, makes 

us content. Which is mentally a really 

good place to be. 

Journal your gratitude and your goals. 

If you agree that developing an attitude of gratefulness will enhance your 

life, you’ll love these locally designed and created journals. The Gratitude 

Attitude Journal – 100 days of intentional daily focus on gratitude, is 

undated and has a page-a-day, helping you to focus on what you are 

grateful for and what you have to look forward to the following day. 

Besides getting one for yourself, these are the perfect gift for Christmas 

this year, when many people are thinking about actually living the life of 

their dreams, after realising how precious their days are. 

In the same range – and equally as inspiring, is the Inspired Change 

Journal – all about goal-setting and formulation, with 100 days of 

productivity and focused action-tracking to help take small steps daily and 

consistently get closer to your dreams. There’s space to tailor the journal 

for your specific dreams and goals, and unlike many of the journals we’ve 

seen, this one is professional and sophisticated in an easy to manage size. 

The Gratitude Journal comes in raspberry or charcoal and costs R350, 

the Inspired Change Journal comes in black, charcoal and grey and costs 

R480. There are also notepads – Goals, Feed Your Focus, and Make Magic 

Happen, from R80 to R150, or R280 for the set (another great gift for a 

goal-orientated friend). All available online. Details: inspiredchange.co.za or 

Instagram at inspiredchangejournal 

We’ve got a set of these journals to give away ... to stand a chance of 

winning (and being seriously grateful!), visit getitmagazine.co.za and look for 

our Gratitude Competition. Entries close December 15. 

Text: Kym Argo 


Filorga Skin Perfusion 

SHP Youth Cream 

is a rejuvenation 

cream crammed with 

ingredients that improve 

skin firmness and 

elasticity, reduce wrinkles, 

improve hydration, 

restore and protect skin 

barrier function, stimulate 

skin regeneration and 

also has a wound-healing 

agent. A long list of 

reasons to try it. R1720. 

For a list of stockist 

near you email 

info@filorga.co.za 

There comes an age when we can finally feel 

beautiful and confident just the way we are 

… naturally radiant. So we’re loving the new 

range from Clarins, devoted to the ‘silver’ 

generation. The Nutri-Lumière range has four 

new exceptional skincare products to deliver 

a complete pro-ageing nutrition action. All 

nourishing and revitalising, there’s a day 

cream, a day emulsion for those who prefer a 

lightweight lotion, a comforting, melting night 

cream and a renewing treatment essence. 

From R820 to R1985 from clarins.co.za 

Stila 

Heaven’s Hue 

Highlighter, 

R610. 

It’s beginning to look a lot like 

CHRISTMAS 

The party season’s here. Perfectly prepped skin, a 

slick of metallic, a touch of shimmer. 

Get your glow on! 

Sagging skin. Wrinkles. A dull complexion. Everything 

we don’t want for Christmas. What do we want? 

Something that works. Pronto. Unwrap one of the new 

SVR ultra-concentrated ampoules and let them do their 

magical thing. There is a trio of these phenomenal little 

powerhouses. Ampoule A has Vitamin A / Retinol – a 

leading anti-ageing active ingredient which retexturises 

the skin and corrects deep wrinkles. • Ampoule B3 has 

a high concentration of vitamin B3 which soothes and 

strengthens the skin, lastingly restores skin’s moisture 

reserves, skin becomes plumper and the signs of ageing are 

diminished. • Ampoule C contains 20 per cent optimised 

Vitamin C ... it recharges the skin’s batteries and leaves 

skin radiant. R725 each from riekiemedaesthetic.co.za, 

absoluteskin.co.za or shopfomo.com 

Needing to hydrate and retain moisture 

all day? Solal Hydration Serum is just 

what your skincare regime needs as 

we enter a new season, which not only 

does that, but also helps repair the skin 

barrier and has skin-soothing properties. 

Solal Even Tone Serum is suitable for all 

skin types and ages – especially those 

with mature skin who tend to suffer 

from age spots. With ingredients that 

brighten skin, it does what it says ... gives 

the skin a more even appearance. R439 

each from Dis-Chem. 


Everyone needs a signature scent ... and this season, ours is Mont 

Blanc Signature. This eau de parfum is chic, addictive and above all, 

ultrafeminine. It’s all sparkling clementine, enchanting magnolia and 

ylang-ylang, sensual vanilla and musk. From R999 at Woolworths. 

Wet n Wild cult-favourite, Photo Focus, has just 

launched Dewy Foundation ... weightless, supernourishing, 

with natural, all-day wear. Also easily 

buildable, so works from day to night. R99. Add a 

little shimmer with the Hello Halo Blushlighter in 

After Sex Glow, R99. Both exclusive to Clicks • And 

for golden eyes, also look out for Pretty by Flormar 

Stars Baked Eyeshadow in Golden Party ... it’s longlasting, 

works wet or dry and adds a glam shimmer. 

Also in Silver Blaze. R99.95 each, only from Foschini. 

Glow girl. Stila Heaven’s Hue Highlighter is a 

radiance-enhancing highlighter ... gossamer-light, it 

melts into your skin for a barely-there feel, and gives 

a soft, luminous, natural-looking glow. R610 • Stila 

Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows come in 

gold and bronze party shades ... think Kitten Karma, 

Bronzed Belle, Retro Rosegold and Perlina – rich, 

beautiful colour with a high shimmer sheen, minus 

the glitter! R395. Stila available at Woolworths. 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 


Get your glow on 

Sunsational beach essentials for the hols 

A Summer holiday isn’t complete without 

a bottle of NUXE Huile Prodigieuse, and 

we love this snazzy limited edition bottle 

– one of three designs created by young 

artists from the French design school 

Penninghen. This magic oil nourishes, 

repairs and beautifies your face (mix it with 

your moisturiser), body (use on dry areas 

and stretch marks) and hair (apply to the 

ends, or use as weekly intense conditioner). 

R520 from Woolworths • Filorga UV 

Bronze is a brilliant choice for your face. 

With a high SPF (50), it’s not the slightest 

bit oily, and targets wrinkles and dark spots. 

R400 from absoluteskin.co.za • NUXE Sun 

SPF 30 Lotion protects and offers antiageing 

cellular protection while promoting 

a sublime tan. R460 from Woolworths • 

No time to tan? Lily white and need help? 

We’re big believers in getting a little help. 

And if you plan it right, a gradual tan is 

the best option. For a beach goddess 

glow, we use Australian Gold’s Gradual 

Build Sunless Lotion ... believable colour, 

no streaking, and a wonderful coconut, 

vanilla, orange scent. R299.95 from Clicks. 

• Glow-getters will be delighted there’s 

a new self-tan brand in town ... St Moriz 

… and it takes your tan to the next level. 

This UK brand lets you get your glow on 

easily, and affordably. There are more than 

half a dozen products, from a fast tanning 

mousse to a golden glow moisturiser 

for those who want a light tan. Try the 

Gradual Tanning Lotion – which builds 

up a natural, controllable, glowing tan. Oh 

... and for mistakes (hate a streaky ankle!) 

there’s a Self-Tan Remover. Clever! Prices 

from R119.95, all from Clicks. 

There e isn’t a beach on the Med 

where you won’t see the bronzed 

and the beautiful reaching for 

a bottle of Piz Buin. We LOVE 

these sun products ... they’re 

fast-absorbing, non-greasy and 

-sticky, offer great protection ... 

and promote a really lovely bronze 

tan. Gets 10 out of 10 for the 

scent of Summer, too. You’ll find 

the Piz Buin range at Clicks and 

pharmacies from around R119. 

Text: Kym Argo

JINGLE 

Profanity alert ... there’s 

a little swearing. But if 

you’re broad-minded, 

this Classy as F*ck 

Cocktails, with 60 damn 

good recipes, is fun to 

have. With it’s gold foilstamped 

cover, and with 

Calligraphuck’s expletives 

sprinkled throughout, 

the recipes are not too 

complicated, the book is 

frivolous and irreverent 

... just what we need this 

festive season. R335. 

Sexton Irish Single Malt has just arrived in SA ... and is about to 

send shivers through the whiskey drinking fraternity. Packaged 

in a stylish, dark hexagonal bottle, it’s an Irish single malt – a 

rarity in South Africa (while there are a number of Scotch single 

malts on our shelves, Irish ones are few and far between). Made 

with 100 per cent Irish malted barley, distilled in copper pot stills 

and exclusively matured in hand-selected Oloroso sherry casks, 

it’s triple-distilled, resulting in a smooth approachability and 

memorable character. Infinitely drinkable, it’s all honeyed malt, 

dried fruit, nuts, spice and citrus oils and is perfect on ice, or in a 

Barista’s Old Fashioned. You’ll find it for around R499 at Makro, 

Norman Goodfellows, TOPS at Spar, Liquor City and Ultra Liquors, 

or online at grooveco.co.za 

BELLS 

ROCK 

Nothing like a little glitz and 

glamour – and a sparkling cocktail 

or two – to get the 2020 festive 

party started. Have fun. 

Dress up your salad bowl with 

these Golden Brass Queen salad 

servers, made locally. R780 from 

hauteedit.com • Throw a little 

light in a dark corner ... gold LED 

pillar candle, R169, and strings 

of fairy lights (top of page), from 

R220, from Woolworths. 

Copmpiled by KYM ARGO.

Baglietti boasts being the prosecco of celebration, 

sparkle and excellence. Madly popular in Italy, you 

can now get this exclusive sparkling wine here. Three 

massive cheers! We’re drinking the Baglietti No.10 

– a dry prosecco with flavours of pears, citrus and 

almonds, but also love the Baglietti No.7, an organic 

spumante rosé ... all raspberry, citrus and Summer 

berries. Around R229 from Yuppiechef, Norman 

Goodfellows, TOPS at Spar, Makro and Takealot. 

We’ll be very merry indeed if we try out the 

50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season in 

Jessica Strand’s Very Merry Cocktails. It’s packed 

with lovely drinks, cheery photos and just the right 

amount of Christmas kitsch ... a great seasonal gift 

(pop it into an ice bucket or wrap with a bottle of 

bubbly for a fabulous hostess gift). R420. 

Glam up your Christmas table with this 

porcelain White Stars dip bowl. Use it to 

serve snacks then, when January rolls in, 

pop it onto your dressing table to hold 

jewellery. R450 from bespokehome.co.za 

We all know (and love) Musgrave gins ... but we’re 

now all over Musgrave Copper Brandy in Vanilla 

and Black Honey. Described as the ‘bourbon’ of 

brandies, they’re beyond delish, and are perfect for a 

stylish Dom Pedro. When this dessert drink is made 

with Copper, it’s so much more than a grown-up 

milkshake. It’s sexy and luxurious and sophisticated. 

An old classic with a new twist ... which promises 

that as you cool down, your night will heat up! Try 

this Vanilla Copper Mango Chai Dom Pedro, and 

see for yourself. For two drinks, you’ll need 100ml 

coconut cream, 2 chai tea bags, 2.5ml ground 

cinnamon,150g frozen mango pieces, 100ml 

Musgrave Vanilla Copper, 500g vanilla ice cream 

and ground cinnamon to garnish. To make ... heat 

the coconut cream, chai tea bags and cinnamon in 

a saucepan over a gentle heat. Once the coconut 

cream starts to simmer, remove from the heat and 

allow it to infuse for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, discard 

the tea bags and chill in the fridge, allowing to cool 

completely. Then blend with the mango, Musgrave 

Vanilla Copper and ice cream, and whizz until 

smooth. Pour into glasses, and top with a dusting of 

cinnamon. Details: musgravespirits.com

We’ve been told by the lovely Lindt chocolatiers that gin and chocolate 

make a perfect pairing. And as members of a team who’ve never said no to 

a gin, or turned down a chocolate, we’re just all over this! What you do is 

take a bite of the chocolate and let the rich flavour coat your mouth. 

Then take a sip of the liquid and it will strip the oils from your palate 

and intertwine with the chocolate. Suggested pairings are Mint Intense 

with Inverroche Classic and Indian tonic (the peppermint enhances 

the gin’s citrus, ginger and cardamom flavours); A Touch of Sea Salt 

with Inverroche Verdant and elderflower tonic (the salt brings out the 

sweet marzipan and coconut notes of the gin); or Lindt Excellence 

70% Cocoa with Inverroche Amber on ice with a curl of orange (dark, 

intense, with hints of citrus, vanilla and toffee ... this one’s our fave). 

Not just for 

kids. Christmas 

isn’t the same 

without a candy cane ... 

on your place setting, tied 

to a gift, hanging from 

the tree. R17.99 each from 

Woolworths. 

This December we may be staying 

closer to home, so it would be good 

idea to have some enjoyable recipes 

and projects to keep the family busy. 

Advent, by Kerstin Niehoff and Laura 

Fleiter, is full of old-fashioned Christmas 

goodness. Although aimed at those 

enjoying the season in the Northern 

hemisphere, it’s still got plenty for us 

to enjoy, from orange and cinnamon 

syrup and red velvet cranberry cake to 

table garlands, salt dough decorations, 

watercolour Christmas cards, and 

door wreaths. And if you’ve a friend 

who’s not mad about the season, but 

does have a sense of humour, there’s 

a recipe for Grinch Cookies .... a jar of 

these chewy green cookies would 

make an appropriate gift. R300. 

Joy to The World ... these 

festive treats – two dozen 

of them – are certainly 

a joy. Created by Silke 

Martin, the book has 

recipes for cookies and 

biscuits from around the 

world, perfect to serve at 

teatime or give as sweet 

gifts R170. And if you can’t 

be bothered to make 

your own .... Woolworths 

(as always) to the rescue. 

The festive Holiday Treats 

collection is a sweet as can 

be ... we love this DIY braai 

soetbroodjie jar, R149.99.

Don’t throw away your Christmas 

tree. Eat it. With recipes for preserves, 

feasts, sweet treats and drinks, How 

to Eat Your Christmas Tree by Julia 

Georgallis encourages you to think 

about food waste and to be more 

resourceful in an age of deforestation 

and climate crisis. From simple ideas 

– infusing pine needles to make a 

delicious and warming Pine Tea, to 

more lavish dishes – the decadent Fur- 

Cured Salmon – the book also has tips 

and advice on how to have a more 

sustainable Christmas. R260. 

Morgenster Estate Olive Oil 

in lovely bottle, R149.99 from 

Woolies. Great hostess gift! 

A trio of South African festive bar essentials. Using locally grown sugarcane from the heart 

of KwaZulu-Natal and water from the hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Vodka Vusa is one 

of the latest local spirits to hit bar shelves. The Vusa (which means awaken) distillery is in the 

Natal Midlands and you can pick up a bottle for around R250 from TOPS at Spar or Takealot. Details: 

vusavodka.com • Not resting on their gin laurels, Hope has two spirits which are exceptional festive 

options. Hope Small Batch Vodka is distilled from a grape base sourced in the Western Cape, with 

only the pure heart of the distillation run being bottled, ensuring it’s smooth enough to be sipped 

on ice. Clean, crisp, with hints of citrus fruit, it’s also perfect in cocktails. R350 from hopedistillery. 

co.za • As it’s not made in Mexico, we can’t call it tequila. Instead, we order a Hope Esperanza Agave. 

Designed to be sipped, this is a floral, smooth agave spirit ... think rich caramel with some spice, and a 

soft vanilla finish. Not brave enough? Try it in a TnT – a ‘tequila and tonic’ – made by mixing with tonic 

water and a slice of lime. Tiempo de fiesta. R340 from hopedistillery.co.za 

For goodness sake, 

don’t eat this one! Faux 

tree from Woolies ... all it 

needs are a few baubles 

or, for a simple look, a 

string of lights. R499 

from Woolworths.

Havana nights 

We’re going all hot and sultry this season. 

Let’s serve rum on ice, turn up the music and 

do the salsa, the samba and the mambo to 

celebrate New Year’s Eve Cubana style. Salud.

Que comience la fiesta ... let the party start. The Kraken Black Spiced Rum – named for a sea monster of myth and legend, 

said to have brought down the world’s largest shipment of Caribbean rum – is dark and powerful and smooth. Distilled in 

the Caribbean from naturally sweet molasses, you’ll taste notes of cinnamon, citrus, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorn and 

a big punch of vanilla. Oh ... and also danger. Lots and lots of danger. Drink on the rocks, or with cola, ginger ale or ginger 

beer. R335 from takealot.com • Limestone Rum – a limited edition 10-year-old pot still rum from the incredible Inverroche 

distillery – is a distinctive, full-bodied sipping rum, all toasted oak, caramel and nuts, orange zest , dried fruit, marmalade and 

vanilla, followed by cinnamon, butterscotch and spice. It’s dry, warm and smooth and is exceptional with dark chocolate, 

or a curl of orange zest on ice. R409 from cybercellar.com • Great bottle appeal! Don Papa Rum is a small batch, single 

island rum from the sugar island of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Aged in American oak barrels for seven years, 

it’s a light amber liquid that’s smooth and delicate with flavours of vanilla, honey and candied fruits. Drink it neat, or over 

one large ice cube. And be sure to look out for the 10-Year-Old and Sherry Cask Limited Edition versions, too. R549 from 

yuppiechef.com • Hand-distilled on a sugar estate in Gingindlovu in Zululand, the amazing Tapanga Premium Reserve 

single batch, five-year barrel-aged rum is made from freshly cut sugarcane and is gorgeous ... think vanilla and cherry, dried 

fruit and citrus. Great gift, if you can bear to give it away, R750. Details: tapangarum.com or Facebook @Tapangarumafricole 

• Dominican and Barbados rum, with hibiscus, orange blossom and honeybush. Swoon! Suncamino Spirit Aperitif is 

distilled and aged for eight years in Barbados and the Dominican Republic, then shipped across to Cape Town, where it’s 

infused with locally sourced floral extracts, matured and bottled by hand. R299 from yuppiechef.com • Rhino Rum from Port 

Elizabeth on our east coast is all raisin and toffee, honey and vanilla, with just a hint of dried fruit and banana. Look out, too, 

for the Spiced Rhino, which is more aniseed and liquorice, clove and ginger. Around R350 from your local bottlestore. 

Copmpiled by KYM ARGO. Photo by MEGAN BRETT

ALL THE FUN 

without the hangover 

Mocktails. Phwa. There’s nothing mock about these. Whether you’re not 

drinking for personal or health reasons, or have been designated as the driver 

for the night, there’s no reason to hold back on festive cheer. 

These non-alcoholic options scream party, without the morning-after woes! 


From G&T to cocktail, in one easy (garnish) step 

If you’re planning a party, add a dozen bottles of The Duchess non-alcoholic gin 

& tonic to the bar station, and go mad with the garnishes. For the horticulturist 

guest ... a few sprigs of freshly cut rosemary and thyme enhance the gardeninspired 

extracts in The Duchess Greenery. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon 

juice, loads of ice – ideal for a sunny day in the garden. Romance in the air? 

The Berry Burst is simply a few raspberries and a sprig of mint 

in The Duchess Floral, garnished with lime zest. For a very 

Christmassy drink, pour The Duchess Botanical into an icefilled 

glass and add either a sprinkling of star anise seeds and 

some thin orange peel, or some cardamom seeds and one or 

two cinnamon sticks. Details: drinktheduchess.com 

Dress up that drink 

Garnishes can make or break a 

cocktail ... alcoholic or otherwise. 

Some of them are purely for aesthetic 

reasons, others add aromatics and 

flavour. A glass of soda with a splash 

of flavoured syrup goes from ho-hum 

to let’s-do-the-salsa with the addition 

of a mint sprig and a lime wedge. Set 

aside a little spot on the bar, make a 

display and let your guests go mad. 

Easiest (and most common) is a 

citrus peel – orange, lemon, lime or 

grapefruit. Make sure you give it a 

good twist before dropping it into the 

drink, allowing the oils to spray and 

add flavour. A bowl of maraschino 

cherries is a must, as are fresh berries 

– strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, 

raspberry. Pomegranates are great, 

and very festive. For tutti-frutti 

cocktails, have slices of pineapple, 

peach, melon balls and coconut 

meat. Balance 

all the sweet 

options 

with olives, 

cucumber 

ribbons, and have 

loads of herbs – mint, 

rosemary, basil and 

thyme all work well. 

And don’t forget 

the pretties ... rose 

petals, pansies, 

violas, 

lavender, 

nasturtiums.

Our drink of the season is this lime & coconut 

flavoured syrup, mixed with sparkling water or soda 

(or still water, if you’re not into fizz). Pretty up with 

mint, shavings of coconut, loads of lime and ice and 

sip away all day. R73.49 from Woolies. 

Have you 

tried Schweppes 

Mojito? You’ll find this 

mint and lime drink in cans 

at your local supermarket and 

it’s a delicious way to enjoy 

an alcohol-free version of the 

classic Cuban cocktail. Add 

fresh mint and a wedge of 

lime to dicky it up. 

Move over G&T, it’s time for a spritzer. The new 

Duchess Spritz doesn’t need much doing to it ... just 

pour into an ice-filled wine glass and you’re good to 

party. There are two flavours of this de-alcoholised 

wine spritzer ... Elderflower White (crisp, sparkling 

and refreshing, with a definite wine ‘tang’) and Berry 

Rose (pink, sweeter … add a strawberry to the glass 

for a pretty touch). Both at local supermarkets like Spar, 

or online from yuppiechef.com for around R79 for a 

case of four. • We’re massive fans of the Monin range 

of syrups ... which add all sorts of exciting options to 

our mocktails. Our latest craze is the Mojito – born in 

the sultry bars of Havana, it’s a sexy drink made with a 

simple syrup muddled with lime and mint leaves and 

local rum. For our non-hangover version, we take the 

easy way out and use this delicious Monin Mojito/ 

Wild Mint Syrup (available in one litre bottles, so we 

never run out) added to soda or club soda with a good 

squeeze of lime. Decorate with fresh mint leaves from 

the garden and it’s all hola-Havana-nights. R180 from 

onlinebeveragestore.co.za • Fluére is the latest nonalcoholic 

spirit to arrive on the shelves. Three options ... 

Original (a floral blend of botanicals), Amber (a spiced 

cane dark roast – think dark roasted coffee, cocoa, 

liquorice, tonka beans and toffee), and Pink (all fresh 

raspberries in flavour). Serve with tonic water, ice and 

garnished with a few sprigs of lavender and juniper 

berries. Around R299 from local bottle stores. 


Indoor & patio plant of the month 

What else but poinsettia? It’s become the festive plant of choice 

around the world, with its Santa Claus red ‘flowers’, bright yellow bracts 

and lush, green leaves – the colours of Christmas. It’s a showy gift plant 

(even for those without green fingers) and for decorating the home. 

These indoor plants like a warm position with good indirect light but 

no direct sunlight. Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy. To keep 

it going past the holiday season, feed with a houseplant fertilizer once 

a month, but don’t fertilize when it’s in bloom. After flowering, cut it 

down to 10cm and repot into a larger pot or plant it in the garden. 

Details: plantimex.co.za 

We’re planting ... 

Alstroemeria Summer Red is a dazzling summer flower, 

especially for gardeners who love bright 

pops of colour in the garden over 

the festive season. This summerflowering 

perennial forms an 

upright clump – 60cm high and 

wide – with narrow, dark green 

leaves. It grows in full sun, likes 

fertile soil that drains well and 

regular watering. Being compact, 

it doesn’t need staking. As the 

flowers fade, cut or twist off the 

stems at the base, leaving the tubers 

in the ground. The foliage dies down in 

winter but shoots out quickly in spring. 

Prevent slug and snail damage of young 

plants with organic Ferramol snail bait. 

Details: ballstraathof.co.za 

Veggie of the month 

What could be yummier than freshly 

picked and cooked sweetcorn 

smothered in melting butter? Did you 

know that sweetcorn is at its sweetest 

and tastiest 30 minutes after picking, 

which is why shop-bought sweetcorn is 

nothing like home-grown? This Golden 

Bantam is an heirloom variety that grows 

tall and produces multiple 14 to 16cm 

cobs filled with sweet yellow kernels, 

the first of which cobs are ready for 

harvesting within 75 days from sowing. 

It needs full sun and fertile soil. For good 

pollination, plant in blocks, or two or 

three rows, with plants 35cm apart and 

60 to 70cm between rows. Plant two 

seeds together in each hole. Thin out the 

weaker plant later. During the growing 

period, water regularly, keeping the 

soil moist with mulch and feed with a 

nitrogen-rich fertilizer when plants are 

knee-high, repeating two weeks later. 

Harvest when cobs are plump and 

well-filled. Test for readiness by piercing 

a kernel. If it’s still milky it’s ready for 

eating. The tassels should also be dry and 

withered. Details: kirchhoffs.co.za 


December in the garden 

In the absence of rainfall, water regularly and 

plants in pots should be watered daily. • 

Decorate your outdoor entertainment areas 

with pots of flowering plants or herbs. • Keep 

whitefly and other pests away from veggies 

by spraying with organic insecticides. • Feed 

annuals and other flowers with a liquid 

fertilizer to keep them flowering over the 

festive season. • Fertilize the roses mid-month 

with Ludwig’s Vigorosa. • Spray the roses with 

Ludwig’s Insect Spray and Chronos or Rose Protector to 

protect roses from pests and black spot.

Deck the halls 

Fa la la la la, la la la la la la la la la la la la 

‘Tis the season to be jolly ... and 

we’d be jolly happy to find this set 

under the tree. The fresh scent of 

this Cape floral range is refreshing 

and hydrating. Ideal to use straight 

after your bath or shower, the Cape 

Floral Body Mist, Body Lotion and 

Shower Foam are approved by Beauty 

Without Cruelty, are dermatologically 

approved and vegan-friendly. R149 

each from Woolworths (also look out for 

the Starry Wild Jasmine range ... sublime 

scent, too). 

Christmas 

wreath, R349 

from Woolworths. 

Make greener choices this Christmas 

If you feel guilty about the sheer excess of Christmas 

– and the effect it has on our planet – Green 

Christmas is an excellent buy. It’s all about making 

greener choices this festive season, about focusing 

on more than just presents, about conscious gifting 

... without giving up any of the fun. There are tips 

about sustainable cards, about pay-it-forward advent 

calendars, about home-made and home-grown 

gifts, about natural decorations – in all, 24 green, 

Christmassy chapters. And when it’s all over, relax in 

a bath with a pine-scented bath soak (author Eilidh 

Gallagher has given you the recipe!). R330. 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO and ALICE COTZEE 


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Armchair 

travellers 

A trio of books for lovers of 

animals and history 

British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett founded the 

Remembering Wildlife series five years ago when, after the horror of 

seeing a poached elephant in northern Kenya, she approached several 

wildlife photographers, asking them to donate images for a book on 

ellies, a book to raise awareness of the plight of these animals, and to 

use the profits from sales to support organisations working on the 

ground to protect them. The successful Remembering Elephants venture 

was swiftly followed by three more books – featuring rhinos, great 

apes and lions, with close on R13-million raised so far. This fifth book – 

Remembering Cheetahs – is not only page after page of exceptional 

photographs by some of the world’s – and South Africa’s – leading 

wildlife photographers, but the profits will go towards the protection 

of cheetahs in the wilds of Africa ... so double the reason for buying it. 

R895 from hphpublishing.co.za • Another photographic treasure – and 

exceptional fund-raising venture – this one a celebration of one of our 

most charismatic and endangered predators. Africa’s Wild Dogs – A 

Survival Story is a photographic celebration by wildlife photographer 

Jocelin Kagan, who’s made it her mission to bring the extraordinary lives 

of these often misunderstood and maligned animals into the spotlight. 

With only around 6600 left in Africa, these nomadic animals, whose 

territories range for thousands of kilometres, are non-confrontational, 

smart and sociable, and form complex and close family bonds, as shown 

in this tremendous book, the royalties of which will be donated to the 

Africa’s Wild Dog Survival Fund. R529 from Exclusive Books • If you’re a 

Boer War buff, this is a fascinating and impressive, comprehensive military 

atlas, which covers every aspect of it, from Kruger’s invasions of Natal and 

Griqualand West, through the famous battles of the conventional period, 

to the vast ‘drives’ of the guerrilla war phase which brought the war to an 

end. With more than 200 full-colour maps, diagrams and detailed ORBATs, 

(Order of Battle) covering the conflict on a strategic, operational and 

tactical level, The Boer War Atlas by Chris Ash is also lavishly illustrated 

with photos and drawings. By showing where every operation and battle 

fitted into the bigger picture, the reader is able to understand how and 

why any given action was fought. Utilising standard NATO symbols to 

represent the various units involved, the maps were drawn specially for 

the Atlas, working from modern contour maps to ensure accuracy and 

detail. R1100, excluding delivery, from 30degreessouth.co.za 

Text: Kym Argo 


5 

REASONS TO 

VISIT KNYSNA 

1Eat, drink, (shop) 

and be merry 

Thesen Harbour Town, as well as 

the centre of Knysna, is a hub of restaurants, 

shops, art galleries ... and not much makes us 

merrier than a successful shopping expedition 

followed by an exceptional meal. 

On the shopping list – boho kaftans, sexy 

swimwear and local jewellery, which you’ll find 

in the many boutiques that line the streets. 

Lots of tiny little stores in The Boatshed (we 

were mad about Rawganic health food store). 

Art, too, is a great buy in Knysna. There are 

Moving Art Galleries – with local art displays 

... check out the collections at the Knysna 

Fine Art Gallery, as well as on the walls at the 

Turbine Hotel. Our non-negotiable stop is 

Madame Botany (the main one in town, a tiny 

version next to Ile de Pain bakery). It’s exactly 

what you’d expect from the name ... all things 

botanical, from floral table runners to garden 

accessories to herbaceous lotions. And if you’re 

in Knysna on a Saturday, pop over to the Wild 

Oats Community Farmers’ Market in Sedgefield 

... stalls of fresh farm goodies, a real treat. The 

harbour town has eateries well-fed-cheekby-jowl 

... from the obvious seaside spoils like 

seafood (oysters and bubbly at sundown is 

hard to beat), sushi and tapas, to family faves 

like pizza, steak and burger bars. The one you 

shouldn’t miss is Ile de Pain Bakery and Café 

in The Boatshed ... made famous by the bread 

(it started out as an artisan, wood-fired oven 

bakery, one of the first in the country ... and 

turns out loaf after loaf of exceptional breads, 

to be eaten before anything else with loads of 

thick butter and a sprinkling of salt) but now 

also dishing up heavenly pastries and healthy, 

fresh lunch options. 


2The Knysna Forest 

A little over 3000 square kilometres, this massive expanse of 

Afromontane forest is thick with trees and ferns, flowers and 

creepers, bright orange fungi, green moss and old man’s 

beard. Amazing birdlife for twitchers ... with the colourful 

Knysna louries, Rameron pigeons and Knysna scrub warblers, as well 

as mountain buzzards and Cape eagle owls. There are bush pigs and 

baboons, vervet monkeys and bushbuck and blue duiker. Leopards, 

thankfully elusive, and elephants ... apparently just one female left. 

It’s an exceptional destination for hikers and mountain bikers – 

with more than a dozen well-marked trails, ranging from the fairly 

easy and immensely enjoyable – we did the Terblans 7km walk in 

about three hours, with plenty of stops along the way (great photo 

opportunities, as well as quiet spots to simply sit and take in the 

splendour) – to the more challenging routes for those who want to 

push themselves. Details: visitknysna.co.za 

3Ziplining ... 

not for the faint-hearted 

Zipline across the Kranshoek Gorge between 

Knysna and Plett. Here’s one for the brave and 

fearless. A new zipline has just opened ... with four cables 

taking you more than 2km, while you’re more than 200 

metres high ... with another two cables to be added 

before the end of the year. If you can keep your eyes 

open, there are spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, 

as well as the forest, fynbos and valley far, far below. 

Details: knysnaziplines.co.za 

4You won’t get bored 

There’s something new to do every day of your 

holiday. For water babies, there’s stand-up paddling, 

kayaking and sailing as well as fishing, whale 

watching and sunset cruises. You can hire everything you 

need, including GoNow electric bicycles, which make 

exploring a breeze. For beach babes, there are 10 

exceptionally beautiful swimming beaches within a 42km 

radius of The Lofts Boutique Hotel, while golfers have a choice 

of three world-class courses.

5The Lofts, a four-star, 18-room boutique 

hotel ... which is so amazing it deserves 

five of its own must-visit reasons. 

1. Location, location, location. The hotel sits right on the water in the heart of the Knysna Lagoon 

on Thesen Island. The shopping, the restaurants, the activities are all just a few minutes walk away. 

And then there’s the iconic view from your bedroom window. 

2. Staff. Let’s face it, staff in the hospitality industry should be great. But they’re so often not. 

Here, they rock. Shout out to Justice Witbooi, who took time off to walk with us in the forest, 

and then back at the hotel kept the cold cocktails coming. 

3. Fabulous food. There’s no formal restaurant at The Lofts ... but there is an atrium speciality coffee, 

snack and drinks bar – all indoor plants and soaring ceilings – where really lovely breakfasts 

are served, as are all-day snacks and very early (and exceptionally tasty) dinners. 

4. The Boatshed. A cocktail of local whisky, apples, cinnamon and Ginger Ale. A five-star cocktail! 

5. Something for everyone. There are exclusive lagoon suites, comfy loft rooms, and brilliant 

self-catering two-bedroom units that are perfect for families. Add to this a splash pool, a spa 

(a massage with a view ... swoon), and sundeck ... and it’s clear why this is the latest addition to the 

Cape Country Routes’ collection of around 20 owner-operated and managed hotels, lodges 

and guesthouses on the scenic and historic routes in the Western and Eastern Cape, all carefully 

selected for their character, charm and romance. 

Details: bookings@capecountryroutes.com, www.capecountryroutes.com 



Are you party pretty? We’re raring to start the holiday season with a gorgeous bang ... 

and we’ve put together a hamper of our favourite Clarins products to make sure we’re 

looking our festive best. With loads of parties, cocktails, late nights ... our skin may need 

a little SOS help. Hello colour correcting SOS Primer ... which gives 24-hour moisture, 

minimises signs of tiredness and revitalises our complexion. For eyes, the 4-Colour 

Eyeshadow Palettes have satin, matte and iridescent shadows, allowing us 

to go light during the day and dazzle when the sun goes down. Not much of a 

party without some flirty winking ... Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D 

gives volume, length, curve and high definition. Wink, wink indeed. Blush prettily 

with Joli Blush ... it adjusts to any skin tone, has an airy, fine, soft and lightweight 

texture that lets your skin breathe, and smooths the skin’s texture by blending into 

the surface – in just one step. We wear this in Cheeky Pink for absolutely irresistible 

cheeks. Kick off kissable lips with a lip liner pencil for definition and to improve 

lipstick wear. For a casual holiday look, we love Instant Light Lip Comfort 

Oil, which simply melts on the lips. It’s a nourishing lip care product that 

gives a non-sticky, sweet coat of shine. Up it just a bit with Intense Lip 

Perfector, which plumps lips and gives a wet-look gloss. For a more intense 

jolt of colour, the Joli Rouge range is creamy, with strong colour and a 

delicate satin finish. This is a win-win option ... the lipstick hydrates the lips 

from within for six hours and leaves them soft, supple and comfortable. Seriously 

stunning lips! Ready to go? Not quite. A quick spritz of Clarins Fix’ Make-up – a 

light and refreshing mist – will set make-up and give longer-lasting hold, instantly 

moisturises and soothes the skin and has a lovely fresh scent, too. 

Spoil 

Festive 

As it’s Christmas, we’re feeling all gifty 

... and have a Clarins hamper worth 

R3775 (wow!) to give away to one of our 

gorgeous Get It readers. To win, pop over 

to Get It Joburg West on Facebook, find our 

Clarins Party post, and enter. You’ve got until 

December 15 ... so get going!

JHB West - Dec 20 / Jan 21

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