Innehållsförteckning för Nov/Dec 2024 från Fairlady

The story of Patric Gagne, who is a diagnosed sociopath and has written a book about it (page 50), is interesting – mainly because sociopathy is one of those conditions, like ‘narcissism’, that we use to describe people without knowing what it really means. Patric knew that there was something different about her, that she was way more detached than the people around her. She tried to fill that emptiness with the thrill she got from behaving badly: breaking and entering (she did steal, but it was mainly to snoop), and episodes of violence and destruction. A functioning sociopath, Patric has learnt to become a part of society, more or less; but even so, her utter fearlessness is oddly enviable. Another fearless woman (definitely not a sociopath, just so we’re…

Do you need more than a bimonthly fix of FAIRLADY? If your answer is a resounding YES, we have just what you need. Our weekly newsletter – delivered directly to your inbox – will help you stay in the know. Here’s what you can expect every month: • Be part of the FAIRLADY book club for the ultimate guide to good reads and the wines that go best with them. • Take a peek at the stories we can’t stop talking about. • Read our reviews of products we’ve given the once-over in Test House to help you choose items that suit your needs – and pocket. • Get the lowdown on the fashion and beauty picks we’re adding to our carts right now. • Find out about cool places…

‘My style is schizophrenic at best, LOL! Some days, I’m all about basics in neutral tones with clean lines and minimal details. Other days, I prefer bold colour and standout patterns. It depends on my mood, really.’ ‘I’m not really one for trends. I wear what I like and what I believe suits me.’…

We may all acknowledge that perfectionism is a flaw, but even so, there’s some grudging admiration woven into the mix. It’s all about having high standards and being meticulous, right? Yeah, not really. ‘Perfectionism is a symptom of something,’ says psychologist Thomas Greenspon, an expert on the topic (and a recovering perfectionist himself). ‘It’s not the disease.’ At the root of it, perfectionism is about anxiety – being so afraid of failing, making a mistake or even just falling short of expectations that it’s debilitating. ‘Perfectionism is more than pushing yourself to do your best to achieve a goal; it’s a reflection of an inner self mired in anxiety.’ ‘In the most accurate, technical, and literal sense of the word, a pure perfectionist is someone who is completely dysfunctional in the…

Our world, like Barbie’s, has been plastic since the 1950s, when mass production took off with post-World War II cravings for practical, playful synthetics. Plastics were cheaper, lighter, and more versatile and colourful than wood, metal, glass or stone. And thanks to plasticisers such as phthalates, they were fabulously flexible and difficult to break, giving us everything from funky vinyl flooring to raincoats, plastic packaging film, invaluable medical tubing and blood-storage containers, and children’s toys – like Barbie. Grans and moms who passed down their dolls to us would have been shocked to learn they were also passing on hormone-disrupting chemicals, and raising our risks of allergies, asthma, bronchial obstruction and even obesity – all now listed by the US National Center for Health Research as dangers of exposure to…

GLYNN MASHONGA Globescope globescope.co.za Founder and chief executive of Globescope Glynn Mashonga is revolutionising the security industry with her bold vision and relentless drive. Her commitment to making communities safer and her ability to navigate the male-dominated security sector have earned her this year’s Readers’ Choice award. ‘The purpose in setting up Globescope was to find solutions to make life safer for families and businesses,’ says Glynn, who grew up in a community where safety was a major concern. She launched Globescope in 2019, with the aim of addressing both personal and corporate security concerns. The company offers an extensive range of security solutions, such as intruder alarm systems, CCTV installations, advanced fire detection systems and electric fencing, and runs an accredited training centre for future security professionals. Despite fierce…

ACROSS 1. The probable future outlook (11) 8. Musical pipes once used by writers (5) 9. One may be able to stand reading at it (7) 10. Former queen given a mound like this (7) 11. It is a sort of brown grayling (5) 12. Festival at which a tree’s brought into play (6) 14. To say ‘Greek cheese’ will restrain one (6) 18. Dance in a brief period of complete freedom (5) 19. Car laid out for fundamental use (7) 21. Happen to have a quarrel with somebody (4,3) 23. Show one the way to be a Girl Scout (5) 24. Will sort out the knots, and is gentle about it (11) DOWN 1. It is queer to put up with a wig such as this (7) 2. Unit that turns sour,…

ACROSS 1. Climate chart (7,3) 6. Nasty sprites 10. Prized examples 15. Internet junk mail 18. Closer (of fit) 19. Flowering shrubs 20. Injure 22. Songbird 23. Peeked 24. Binds (4,2) 25. Devoured 26. Elegance 28. Edit (text) 30. Conger or moray 31. Commence 32. Wine, … Spumante 33. Cancel (actions) 34. Stared lasciviously at 35. Bona fide 37. Prayer’s final word 39. Neither 40. Iraq’s neighbour 42. Simple 45. Sizeable chink 48. Cow excrement 49. … and nays 50. Folk heroes 53. Top executive (1,1,1) 54. Severe 56. Line of talk 59. Manner of treating 61. Hymn, ‘… Maria’ 62. Resound 63. Bedevil 64. Scottish outlaw, Rob … 65. Hurt 66. Indistinct 68. Determined 69. Music discs (1,2) 70. Penthouse 71. Contemporary (6-3) 72. Outmoded, old … 73. Copy…

MegaXword 1 MegaXword 2 Brainteaser 1 Brainteaser 2 Sudoku Very easy Easy Medium Difficult Very easy Easy Medium Difficult Word search Code words Cryptic 1 ACROSS: 1. Prospective 8. Reeds 9. Lectern 10. Quondam 11. Umber 12. Easter 14. Fetter 18. Fling 19. Radical 21. Fall out 23. Guide 24. Disentangle DOWN: 1. Peruque 2. Onerous 3. Posed 4. Column 5. Include 6. Eve 7. Donor 13. Engross 15. Ticking 16. Relieve 17. Triton 18. Fifty 20. Dogma 22. Lad Cryptic 2 ACROSS: 1. Poppy 4. Straits 8. Pound 9. Corsica 10. End 11. Lightship 12. Airs 13. Itch 18. Doctorate 20. Ado 21. Actuary 22. Duple 23. Turns in 24. Rides DOWN: 1. Pepper-and-salt 2. Plunder 3. Yodels 4. Socage 5. Rarity 6. Irish 7. Sharpshooters 14. Trapped 15.…

WINNING LETTER More scams After reading your excellent article on scamming in the July/August 2024 issue, I felt compelled to add another category to the ever-growing list of commonplace scams: job offers. Retrenched last year, I started the rather soul-destroying job search and found that the environment was rife with scams. The various job-seeking groups I belong to are full of comments from heartbroken people who have parted with their money after being ‘guaranteed’ a job. Here are some examples: 1. You’re emailed an urgent request (a deadline is usually attached) to apply for a job for which you’ve been shortlisted. It all seems so real that it doesn’t immediately occur to you that if you hadn’t already applied, you couldn’t have been shortlisted. By now you’ve applied for dozens…

A real mouthful If you’re looking at the picture and wondering what the deal is with that half a cookie, let me just say this: it’s a miracle there was anything to photograph at all. It was all very nearly just a plate of crumbs. My husband came home with a box of six, and I thought they’d last a few days, but the next thing I knew we were down to two… and-a-half. I don’t know what to tell you except that you have to try the éclair one. And the Nutella one. And also the milktart one. And if you put them in the microwave for 30 seconds, they go all warm and gooey. A Classic Cookie Box with six gourmet cookies costs R275; they’re all home-made by…

‘I’ve always identified with a character from a novel I read years ago, Fabulous Nobodies, about a girl in love with her clothes. That’s the best way to describe my style: less about trends and more about the memories attached to each piece. My wardrobe tells the story of my life; I can recall the most important events based on what I wore.’ ‘I absolutely love clothes, and I find it nearly impossible to part with any.’…

AmBi Book Club This global community for bi people, their partners and their allies is open to anyone who is bi-friendly, regardless of sexual orientation. With chapters in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the virtual book club focuses on Pan-African LGBT fiction. Members log in from all over South Africa, and even from the US. meetup.com/amBiJNB well & read Founded by Mischke Bosse, well & read is a social club that occasionally discusses books. This casual gathering of literature enthusiasts combines the joy of socialising with a love for reading. The club doesn’t adhere to a schedule or format, allowing members to connect over shared interests in a relaxed atmosphere. instagram.com/wellandreadclub The Good Book Appreciation Society The Good Book Appreciation Society was founded by author Paige Nick. What began as a…

For as long as she can remember, Louisa Treger has adored stories – and has had a gift for sharing them. ‘As a child, I kept diaries, scribbled in notebooks, and wove ever more complicated bedtime tales for my sisters,’ she says. ‘And my mother [who was from Durban] worked in publishing and showered us with books.’ Add the childhood lesson that ‘working hard and making people feel loved, seen and heard were key values’, and it makes sense that dreamy, bookish young Louisa would evolve into an author with a penchant for writing about unusual, trailblazing women. Not that it was a straight line from early imaginings to four acclaimed novels: much as she loved stories, Louisa’s first career was as an orchestral violinist and teacher. ‘I loved feeling…

• Abingdon Wine Estate, an award-winning pioneer winery known for outstanding Viognier and cool-climate red wines. • Ardmore Guest Farm, home to the studio that produces whimsical and highly desirable ceramics and artworks, as well as standout homeware and gifts. • The majestic Howick Falls, also known as KwaNogqaza (meaning ‘Place of the Tall One’ in Zulu), one of South Africa’s 10 highest waterfalls. It’s a thrill to watch as it powers down to the Umgeni River. Legend has it Inkanyamba, a giant snake-like creature, lives in the pool at the foot of the falls. • An ingenious and powerful sculpture at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, which marks the icon’s arrest in this region in 1962. The piece comprises 50 steel poles, which form a portrait of Mandela’s face…

ZANELE NJAPHA The UnLearners theunlearners.com Zanele Njapha, founder and CEO of The UnLearners, has been named 2024’s Santam Women of the Future Rising Star for her innovative approach to driving change. The UnLearners is an enterprise dedicated to guiding organisations in building a culture of learning, unlearning and relearning, making the often-daunting process of change simpler, less scary, and even enjoyable. Zanele’s inspiration for The UnLearners stems from a lifelong observation of how society frowns upon change. ‘Growing up, I noticed how changing – or changing your mind – is frowned upon,’ she says. ‘When most of us change careers, get divorced, or close a business, we get judged, shamed and ridiculed, even though the purpose of life is to grow, change and develop.’ Zanele identified a deep-seated fear and…

BONE-IN GAMMON BUY! SHOULDER BONE-IN GAMMON R89.99/kg; SPAR This well-seasoned gammon had a lovely hit of smoke and a good amount of seasoning. Our tasters enjoyed the meaty flavour. It was also succulent, but rather chewy in texture. It lost quite a bit of weight during cooking. Overall, our tasters thought it was delicious. LIMITED EDITIONBONE-IN GAMMON R89.99/kg; CHECKERS This nicely shaped gammon cooked beautifully, and the tasters enjoyed the delicate smokiness. It had a lovely balance of flavours and a good amount of seasoning, and the meat was pleasantly smoky and succulent. It lost the least amount of weight during cooking. BOELESS GAMMON BEST BUY! LIMITED EDITION BONELESS GAMMON R109.99/kg; CHECKERS This gammon has a good meat-to-fat ratio. Our tasters described it as full of flavour and succulent, with…

Foodie news URBAN DINING The ground floor of Liam Tomlin’s Bree Street culinary hub has reopened as the Chefs Warehouse & Canteen, a partnership between Liam and Jan Tomlin, David Schneider and head chef Adrian Hadlow. In this sophisticated space with exposed brickwork, industrial steel, black tiles, great lighting and stand-out artworks, the food is adventurous, flavour-packed and serious, every dish displaying a culinary finesse. Order from the menu, a reflection of tastes and textures from around the world, or try the ‘Tapas for Two’ (a four-course tapas menu with eight dishes and the best of the day’s offerings) or the ‘Tomlin Holy Trilogy’ (oysters, risotto and lemon posset). There’s also a library of cookbooks from Liam’s personal collection, and a split-level dining room sandwiched by two wine cellars full…

ACROSS 1. Quantifiable 6. Farce 10. Liberate 15. Street urchin 18. Makes 19. Shine 20. Clutch 22. Coat arm 23. Sloping letters 24. Censures 25. Hallucinogenic drug (1,1,1) 26. Wading bird 28. Atlantic or Pacific 30. 40 winks 31. Smell 32. Bludgeon 33. Forbidden activity (2-2) 34. Injured with horns 35. Celebrity 37. Revise 39. Missing in action (1,1,1) 40. Cordon … cookery 42. Pig fat 45. Camp lavatory 48. Goo 49. Blotch 50. Dress 53. US city, … Angeles 54. Marinate 56. Aquatic mammal 59. Jugs 61. Cry 62. Relax 63. Mass unit 64. Knight’s title 65. Ringing sound 66. Jet-bath 68. Self-defence skills (7,4) 69. Typewriter button 70. Freeloader 71. Military exercise 72. Fah, soh, … 73. Brainchild 74. Ill-matched 76. Trendy London district 78. Dusk 80. Beetle…

Winners! Congrats to our WINNERS MegaXword 194 C. Barkhuizen, Hermanus Brainteaser 193 A. Booth, Waterfall C. Ward, Plettenberg Bay K. Salt, Bryanston HOW TO ENTER MEGAXWORD & BRAINTEASER The MegaXword and Brainteaser crossword competitions close on 12 December 2024. Scan or photograph your completed crossword and email it to puzzles@fairlady.com with MegaXword 196 or Brainteaser 195 in the subject line, and provide your name, residential or postal address, email address and phone number. Digital copies of the crosswords are allowed, but photocopies are not allowed. Delivery of prizes may take up to six weeks after notification. STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. Competitions and giveaways are open to permanent residents of South Africa over the age of 18. 2. Staff members of the respective prize sponsors and Media24, as well as their…

With more than 60 years of expertise in cosmetic innovation, Diego dalla Palma Professional is 100% made in Italy, applying the latest scientific innovations to create solutions for every beauty need and formulas that deliver visible results. A long-standing tradition of excellence characterises every aspect of the brand’s work, and all its cosmetic ranges are designed, developed and manufactured exclusively in Italy. The hamper includes Diego dalla Palma Professional Icon Time Gold Elixir (30 ml), Icon Time Intensive Redensifying Neck and Neckline Treatment (50 ml) and Icon Time Correcting Eye Cream (15 ml).…

‘My personal style reflects my creative personality: it’s celebratory, art-inspired and expressive. My style is anchored by exaggerated silhouettes, layers of natural textures, and an eclectic mix of unique vintage finds with premium and Pan-African brands.’ ‘I wear my traditional attire whenever I feel like wearing it.’…

What are some of the most-worn pieces in your wardrobe? • A mohair cardigan I bought from Laduma Ngxokolo the day I met him in 2011. It was part of his very first collection, when the MaXhosa Africa brand was still called MaXhosa by Laduma. • My collection of Sean Wotherspoon sneakers; they were a gift from Sean himself. • A black Giorgio Armani pantsuit my sister bought me. • My Pangaia tracksuits. I love co-ords, especially when they are made through sustainable means by an ethical, innovative brand. Tell us about some local designers you wish more people knew about. • SEVEN, a brand of stunning leather handbags by Sithasolwazi Kentane. • Gugu by Gugu – I’ll be wearing her crochet dresses and beaded vests this summer. • Boyde…

Fiction may well be the only place where sociopaths are portrayed as multifaceted. ‘I’m not a psychopath; I’m a high-functioning sociopath,’ Benedict Cumberbatch clarifies in the very first episode of Sherlock. ‘Do your research!’ Wednesday Addams got her own Netflix show and made Jenna Ortega a star. And in recent years, a spate of larger-than-life villains (The Joker, Maleficent, even puppy-skinning Cruella de Vil) were all given their own films to round out their one-dimensional, cardboard-cut-out bad characters with a sympathetic backstory. But for the most part, the words ‘sociopath’ and ‘psychopath’ are used interchangeably to describe monsters. The ruthless, cut-throat CEO. The morally dubious politician. Villanelle in Killing Eve. Dexter. Hannibal Lecter. Christian Bale, hair slicked back, wielding an axe in American Psycho. Cruel, power-hungry Joffrey Baratheon in Game…

Snow Swimwear TALITHA SNOW START-UP COSTS: ‘Many young entrepreneurs get put off from starting a business because they think they need to take out a loan or get investors. I believe the “make one, sell one” strategy allows a sustainable pace – your capacity as an entrepreneur growing in tandem with your business as you figure out your processes.’ CURRENT TURNOVER: ‘The business has grown year on year, so I haven’t needed to subsidise it since the start-up costs. I kept my initial expenses low by filling every role myself. As I got busier, I began outsourcing manufacturing to trusted CMTs.’ The pandemic lockdown became the catalyst for Talitha’s Snow Swimwear brand. With an eye for what makes women look good and a passion for sustainability, she set out to…

• The last great book I read: The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, a sumptuous, brooding Southern Gothic that gripped me from the first page to the last. • Authors in my genre I love: Paula McLain (The Paris Wife; Love and Ruin) and Annabel Abbs (The Language of Food). • A book I wish I’d written: I could say this about many books, but I’m going to choose Charlotte Brontë’s Villette. It’s a passionate love story, an attack on the conventions that bound 19th-century women, and a beautiful, strange work of poetic fiction. Lucy’s night-time walk in the park in a state of drug-induced hallucination is an extraordinary piece of writing: the syntax bends and flows, and threatens to disintegrate completely. It has always haunted and inspired me. • Next…

CANDICE POTGIETER The Unlimited Child theunlimitedchild.org ‘I believe in the power of education to transform lives and unlock potential,’ says Candice Potgieter, CEO of The Unlimited Child. She has dedicated her life to making a significant difference in early childhood development (ECD) across South Africa and beyond. Candice’s journey with The Unlimited Child began in 2016, when she was brought in to grow the organisation, which was initially founded by Iain Buchan. ‘At that time, The Unlimited Child had a beneficiary list of about 47000 children and 257 female-led micro-enterprises,’ she recalls. Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded its reach to over two million children and more than 5 000 female-led ECD centres across South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and even Yemen. Driven by her passion for social entrepreneurship,…

Balmy days If you’re a fan of the iconic Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, you’ll love this new do-it-all balm. The key to the new formulation: a plumping peptide that stimulates the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, and a potent trio of plant oils. Sweetbriar rose oil, rich in omega-3 and -6, helps to hydrate lips and reinforce the skin barrier. Nourishing jojoba oil, rich in fatty acids, gives the balm a comfortable feel. And hazelnut oil, rich in omega-9, helps to protect lips from dehydration. Available in six shades (Pale Pink, Pitaya, Lychee, Almond, Cherry and Fig), it provides a sheer wash of colour, and has notes of vanilla and blueberry. Clarins Lip Oil Balm (R490) Scent of the summer The latest instalment of Jimmy Choo’s I Want Choo fragrance line…

6 BAKLAVA CHEESECAKE SERVES 16 PREP + COOKING TIME: 35 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION) Make this cheesecake a day ahead and keep it in the fridge overnight. BASE • 35 g walnuts• 90 g shelled pistachios, unsalted• 10ml (2 tsp) mixed spice• 250 g coconut biscuits (such as Bakers Tennis Biscuits)• 70 g slivered almonds• 125 g unsalted butter, melted FILLING • 15 ml (1 tbsp) powdered gelatine• 60 ml (¼ cup) water• 500 g cream cheese, softened• 110 g caster sugar• 60 ml (¼ cup) honey• 375 ml (1½ cups) whipping cream ➊ Preheat the oven to 220°C. Grease a 26cm springform pan. ➋ MAKE THE BASE: Toast walnuts and pistachios on an oven tray for 5 minutes. Sprinkle nuts with mixed spice; toast for a further 1 minute. Cool. Process…

ACROSS 1. Makes redundant 6. Have 10. Piercing 15. Whisky flavour 18. Absorbs (food) 19. Assistant clergymen 20. Expectation 22. Fissures 23. Bring ship to a standstill (5,2) 24. Purloined 25. Corral 26. Signal interference 28. Compass point 30. Cleopatra’s serpent 31. Movable joint 32. Self-righteous moralist 33. Pieces of turf 34. Black-and-white sea duck 35. Fervent prayer 37. Pudding starch 39. The masses, … polloi 40. Bridge fee 42. Mentioned 45. Disbelief in God 48. English garden county 49. Stare lustfully at 50. Passes (of time) 53. It is (2’1) 54. Breeds 56. Grouchy 59. Lustrous gem 61. Underwater vessel 62. Consequently 63. Decline 64. Nocturnal bird of prey 65. Central US state 66. Caviar 68. Explore 69. Be the proprietor of 70. Actor, Burt … 71. Isolation 72.…

Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 Solution on page 175 NB In these puzzles, each letter of the alphabet has been replaced with a number. You need to decide which letter is represented by which number. To start you off, we reveal the codes for a few letters. With these letters filled in throughout the puzzle, you’ll have enough clues to work out words and discover other letters.…

One of the best things I have ever overheard on the Morning Walk was something a very sweet-looking woman said to her equally kind-looking friend: ‘Ek’s ’n bietjie nervous, maar ek gaan haar annihilate.’ That just summed up so much about South African gees for me – maybe outgunned, but resolute. It’s why I also love the image of Faf laughing in the face of a giant Welshman – or watching South African athletes anywhere, anytime. There were a couple of other athletes who stood out for me this year, too, starting with 31-year-old South Korean pistol shooter Kim Ye-ji. She won Olympic silver in the end, but that didn’t really have anything to do with it. It was all about the black tracksuit she wore zipped up to her…