May 2020 - Bloem

NEW 

OWNER of 

Bettie Cornelissen 

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GET IT 

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Phone 051-5050-900 

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getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein 

Editor Suanne Engelbrecht 

072-602-5528 

suanne@mahareng.co.za 

Journalist 

Wandile Jama 

Designer and layout artist 

Liezl Magson 

Photographer Pierce van Heerden 

Sales 

Corni Fourie (Sales Manager) 

051-505-0997 

Marelize Dunlop 082-291-4124 

Nettie de Beer 082-822-4538 

Judy Barnard 076-791-0304 

Felecia Wessels 082-370-1270 

Carien Papgis 082-6597741 

GET IT NATIONAL 

National Group Editor Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

National Sales Manager 

Shirley Frattaroli 

shirleyf@caxton.co.za 083-633-6100 

Business Manager 

Christel Basson 051-505-0900 

Distribution 

Get It Bloemfontein is distributed free 

of charge. For a full list of where it is 

available visit getitmagazine.co.za/ 

bloemfontein 

Published by CTP Limited 

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. 

CONTENTS 

WHY DON’T YOU... 

2 You don’t have to go out to have fun 

4 Mothers, murderers and raising men - reads for May 

WISH LIST 

6 We’re wishing for…a magnificent Mother’s Day 

PEOPLE 

8 It takes two to tango with Lilly Geerdts and Mary 

Shuttleworth 

BEAUTY 

12 Treat yourself to a Home Spa 

14 Naturally beautiful, straight out of the pantry 

16 Why choose laser 

FASHION 

20 Staying in has never looked this glam 

22 Fit to Flare with Gerhardt Shebe 

24 Define your personal style 

FOOD 

28 Made with love 

32 Hug on a plate 

34 Five hacks to make your food last longer 

DÉCOR 

36 Indigo autumn 

GARDEN 

39 Mulch away 

40 New lease on life 

TRAVEL 

45 Of Otangs and Apps 

47 Green in the city 

SPOIL 

50 Bubbles to celebrate mum 

May 2020

A hot date! 

You don’t have to go out to have fun 

Get digging 

Get your garden into tip-top shape 

before winter with the help of SA’s best 

known gardening guru. Gardening 

with Keith Kirsten is the latest edition 

of this super-helpful book and this one 

includes more indigenous species, 

locally bred hybrids and water wise 

plants. R350. 

Play the game 

We love a game that’s fun and After Dinner Amusements has a whole 

heap to choose from. In Family Time there are 50 thoughtful and playful 

questions about the past, present, and future, which should inspire great 

family conversations. Other games include Riddle Me This, Name That 

Word and Love Trivia. All under R200 each from Exclusive Books, where 

you’ll also find other fab choices ... how about Dog Bingo (R385), Dungeons 

and Dragons Starter Box (R402), or the old favourite, 30 Seconds Junior 

(R584), which is always hugely enjoyable for the whole family. 

Pop the corn ... a trio of box office thrillers 

The Informer is about an undercover special ops agent whose life takes a 

dramatic turn after he agrees to go to jail to protect his identity and save the lives 

of his wife and daughter. Except that things don’t exactly go to plan once he’s in 

jail… A solid, entertaining action-thriller.• Golden Globe and Emmy winner, Bruce 

Willis, and Chad Michael Murray star in Survive the Night. This film follows a 

disgraced doctor and his family who are held hostage at their home by criminals 

on the run when a robbery gone awry requires them to seek immediate medical 

attention.• Game of Thrones star, Emilia Clarke features in Above Suspicion, a 

crime thriller that’s based on the true story of a newly married FBI agent who 

starts an illicit affair with an impoverished local woman. She sees in him her 

means of escape – instead, it’s a ticket to disaster for both of them. This scandal 

shook the foundations of America’s top law enforcement agency, ending in the 

first-ever conviction of an FBI agent for murder. 

Netflix and chill 

‘On June 18, 2019, the Federal Government announced the creation of a 6th major 

division of the United States Armed Forces. The goal of the new branch is ‘to defend 

satellites from attack’ and ‘perform other space-related tasks’ or something. This is 

the story of the men and women who have to figure it out’. The big Netflix comedy 

series of 2020 is finally here with Steve Carrell returning for his first TV sitcom 

since The Office, in Space Force. Throughout the first 10 episodes, he’ll be 

joining up with Greg Daniels in creating another workplace comedy, this time 

aimed at the US Space Force regiment. This series receives our one-to-watch of 

the month with a huge line-up of stars. 

Get your poker face on 

Poker. Gin rummy. Cheat. Solitaire. We’ve found the 

chirpiest cards ever. These 52 playing cards feature 

illustrations of beautiful birds ... from the cheerful red cardinal 

to the majestic white swan, the flamboyant great blue turaco 

to the imposing California condor, the cards are organised 

by colour. Buy them online for R215 from pezulainteriors. 

co.za. And for ideas, visit playingcarddecks.com, where you’ll 

find a list of more than 40 card games, with links to clear, easy 

instructions. A brilliant way to spend an evening. 

2 Get It Bloemfontein May 2020 getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein

Invite your friends 

over for a wine tasting 

May 21 is International 

Chardonnay Day ... so why not 

have a Chardonnay tasting? Make 

it fun. Have a blind tasting (pour 

the wines into decanters and label 

by number, or wrap the bottles in 

foil or brown paper bags). Make 

sure there are palate cleansers – 

water crackers or some lovely fresh, 

unbuttered white bread is all you 

need. We know you’re meant to sip 

or spit ... these are so lovely we’d 

suggest the sip route. After the 

tasting, make something delicious 

to enjoy with your favourite. Here 

are some to try. 

The Christina Chardonnay is a 

full-bodied, oak matured, serious 

wine to accompany fine food – 

we’re talking good shellfish, rich 

chicken dishes and creamy pastas. 

R139.99 • All lime and nectarine, 

passion fruit and peach, Zandvliet 

Chardonnay is a rich wine that’s 

lovely with fish or pork dishes, 

soufflés and cheese platters. R125. 

• A lighter style of the cultivar can 

be experienced in the unwooded, 

medium-bodied Van Loveren 

Chardonnay. It’s delicate and 

refreshing, bursting with fruit 

flavours. Enjoy with sesame-crusted 

chicken strips served on a bed 

of crisp salad, cucumber, cherry 

tomatoes and a honey balsamic 

dressing. R69.99 • Also light is the 

Tangled Tree Chardonnay. Only 

lightly wooded it’s creamy and 

full and perfect with creamy pasta 

dishes, roast pork, grilled fish or 

chicken. R49.99. 

Bake away 

the afternoon 

We’ve found a pud with 

health benefits. We kid you 

not! You’ll find the recipe for 

this Roodeberg Rosé Guava 

Pavlova on getitmagazine.co.za. 

It’s easy, loaded with healthy 

guavas and seriously delicious. 

Begin ’n nuwe loopbaan 

Persoonlike dekking 

Aftrede 

Spaar en beleggings 

Koop van eiendom 

Testamente en trusts 


Korttermyn-versekering 

Aftrede 

Aftreebeplanning 



Tree in die huwelik 




Begin ’n gesin 



Voorsiening vir opvoeding 

Alledaagse behoeftes 

Korttermyn-versekering 


Aftreebeplanning 

Kontak my vir professionele 

finansiële advies. 

Horace Terry CFP® 

Snr Finansiële Beplanner 

051 430 0302 | 082 903 4582 

horace@nassaux.com 

Sanlam is ‘n Gelisensieerde Verskaffer van Finansiële Dienste.

Book club 

Mothers, murderers, and raising men this May 

Mensa wines are just 

perfect for book clubs. 

This novel range has been 

made to enjoy with a good 

read ... just look at the label 

and you’ll know we’re right. 

This month we’re drinking 

the Sauvignon Blanc 2019 

– all citrus and tropical 

fruit, it’s just lovely. You can 

get it for round R80 from 

mensawines.com 

If you’re a fan of chick lit, you’re obviously a fan of Katie Fforde – so A Springtime 

Affair will be a perfect read for May. Revolving around Helena and Gilly, it’s all about 

a season of new beginnings ... particularly in the love department! Gilly runs her 

own B&B business from her much-loved family home, which she doesn’t want to 

part with – at any price. But then she meets handsome estate agent Leo, who soon 

has her wondering whether it’s finally time to sell up and try something new in life. 

Her daughter, Helena, is also embarking on a budding romance. A talented weaver, 

she’s becoming very close to her new landlord, Jago, who’s offered to help her at an 

upcoming craft fair that could give her dream career a major boost. With spring in full 

bloom, Helena and Gilly begin to ask themselves the same question ... could their new 

loves lead to their happily ever after? Light romance ... just lovely. R290 • As the wife of 

retired ship’s doctor Dr Henry Parker, Evelyn is living out her twilight years aboard the 

Golden Sunset. Every night she dresses for dinner – gown, tiara – and regales her fellow 

passengers with stories of a glamorous life travelling the world in luxury, and shows off 

her superior knowledge of ships’ customs. When Henry goes missing, Evelyn sets off 

to search every part of the grand ocean liner ... from the casino and nightclub to the 

off-limits areas. Misadventures are had, new friends are made, scandalous behaviour 

noted – all news to Evelyn. If only she could remember the events of the night before 

as clearly as she can recall the first time she met Henry on a passage from England 

to Australia in 1953, when she fell in love and abandoned her dreams of become a 

midwife to be a wife instead. Why, she wonders, is it so hard to forget some things and 

so hard to remember others? And where is Henry? Love, memories and a life well lived, 

The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker by Joanna Nell is marvellous. R330. 


A lifetime of love. Six months 

of silence. One last chance. For six 

months, Maggie and her husband, 

Frank, have lived under the same roof, 

slept in the same bed and eaten at 

the same table. All without words. In 

all those months, he hasn’t spoken 

to her. She has plenty of ideas as 

to why her husband’s gone quiet, 

but it will take a heartbreaking turn 

of events before Frank finally starts 

to unravel the secrets that have 

silenced him. With lovable, believable 

characters, The Silent Treatment by 

Abbie Greaves is about the power of 

love and the importance of leaving 

nothing unsaid. A really wonderful 

weekend read. R299. 

As a specialist in palliative 

medicine, Dr Rachel Clarke chooses 

to inhabit a place many people 

would find too tragic to contemplate. 

Every day she tries to bring care and 

comfort to those reaching the end 

of their lives and to help make dying 

more bearable. Rachel’s training was 

put to the test in 2017 when her 

beloved GP father was diagnosed 

with terminal cancer. She learned that 

nothing – even the best palliative 

care – can sugar-coat the pain of 

losing someone you love. And yet, 

she argues, in a hospice there’s more 

of what matters in life – more love, 

more strength, more kindness, more 

joy, more tenderness, more grace, 

more compassion – than you could 

ever imagine. For if there’s a difference 

between people who know they are 

dying and the rest of us, it is simply 

this: the terminally ill know their 

time is running out, while we live as 

though we have all the time in the 

world. Dear Life is an amazing book 

about the vital importance of human 

connection, by the doctor we would 

all want by our sides in a time of crisis. 

It is a love letter – to a father, to a 

profession, to life itself. Around R333. 

For more than a decade, 

international specialist parent 

psychologist Megan de Beyer has 

held Strong Mothers – Strong Sons 

courses ... courses designed to help 

those mums (read all of us!) who 

find parenting a teen boy stressful, 

challenging, confusing – and 

sometimes downright frightening. 

Now Megan has put her knowledge, 

advice and lessons into How to 

Raise a Man – the modern mother’s 

guide to parenting her teenage 

son. It’s crammed with everything 

from how to have better parenting 

conversations to mistakes we may be 

making to respecting the bro rules, 

along with handling anger (his and 

ours), things all boys must learn and 

how to change our parenting style. 

There’s info on all the issues we have 

to face – sex and alcohol, addiction 

and porn, sexting and defiance (and 

for all of those who’re thinking ‘not 

my boy’ … you’re probably wrong!). If 

you’ve a teen, or an about-to-be-teen 

son, we guarantee this will be the one 

book you won’t regret buying. R230. 

Rose Gold Watts believed she was sick for 18 years. She thought she 

needed the feeding tube, the surgeries, the wheelchair. Turns out her mother 

is a really good liar. After five years in prison, Patty Watts is finally free. She’s 

keen to put old grievances behind her, reconcile with her daughter and care 

for her new infant grandson. When Rose Gold agrees to have her mum move 

in, all appears to go well. But in truth, Patty wants her daughter back under 

her thumb. Rose Gold want’s her mum gone. Forever. In Stephanie Wrobel’s 

The Recovery of Rose Gold, it’s mother against daughter. Who’ll win? R290. 


May 2020 Get It Bloemfontein 5

Wish list 

We’re wishing for ... a magnificent Mother’s Day 

Daisy plates and dahlia tart trays ... floral works of art 

Whimsical. Joyful. Works of art. We’re besotted with these handcrafted 

ceramics from Bordallo Pinheiro, each produced using traditional artisanal 

techniques. Established in Portugal in 1884 by Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro, 

an iconoclastic artist and sculptor, the company has long been known for its 

irreverent and bold nature-inspired designs, and what started as a humble, familyowned 

business has since flourished into an internationally renowned cult brand. 

Now the first dedicated Bordallo Pinheiro store outside Europe has just opened 

in Cape Town, but ... yay ... we can order online! And we’re struggling to know 

when to stop! We’re obsessed with this Maria Flor Collection – inspired by the 

beauty of spring flowers it’s all daisy desert plates and dahlia tart trays, hollyhock 

bowls and cosmos cake stands – but there are others that are equally delightful. 

The Cineraria Collection features colourful birds perched on intricately detailed 

leaves, the Countryside Leaves Collection includes sweet little leaf-shaped plates 

adorned with ladybirds, bees and dragonflies. Visit bordallopinheiro.com ... give 

yourself a while to browse ... everything’s simply wonderful. Hint: Start your collection 

this Mother’s Day and add to it each year. 

Compiled by KYM ARGO 


Pink quartz Megan 

Drops earrings, R350 

from della.co.za 

For the mum who shouts ‘I’m counting ... One. Two. Three’ ... a Pastel 

hourglass, R295 from zarahome.com/za • We’re not always fans of faux 

plants, but there are some really realistic ones popping up .... perfect 

for a dark corner where fresh just won’t thrive. This artificial ficus pot 

plant works well. R260 from Woolworths • Sitting pretty ... we fancy 

this blush Tassels linen cushion cover, R479 from zarahome.com/ 

za • Scent your room with this hand-poured frosted pillar candle, 

R75 from Woolies • All in Good Taste is Kate Spade’s completely 

charming entertaining guide ... with tips on how to throw chic, stylish 

get-togethers. From the drinks and the flowers to the music and the 

food, this book throws out stuffy rules and invites in unpretentious 

ideas that are easy and fun, but with deliberate polish. Filled with 

how-to’s, anecdotes, menus, tips, recipes and a massive dash of style, 

the book covers all the essential lost arts, from how to shuck an oyster 

to curating a stellar guest list, from dinner-table topics to food photo 

etiquette (if there’s no IG, was there even a dinner party?). R474 from 

exclusivebooks.co.za • Fresh, whimsical, flirty ... Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau 

So Fresh is a firm favourite. R1300 from woolworths.co.za • When we’re 

housebound and can’t get fresh flowers, this artificial Isabella orchid 

keeps us happy. R 250 from woolworths.co.za 



IT TAKES TWO… 

Text: SUANNE ENGELBRECHT photos MARISKA VENTER FROM COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHY 


When great minds 

think alike they 

can take over 

the world. Lily 

Geerdts and Mary 

Shuttleworth 

make one 

amazing team and 

share the same 

passion: changing 

the lives of our 

next generation. 

Founder of HeadStart Kids School, Lily 

Geerdts, changes the lives of thousands of 

children on a daily basis, endeavouring to 

equip productive and effective citizens of 

our country. The core objective of HeadStart 

is to eradicate malnourishment, activate 

key and critical age-appropriate learning 

and ensure optimal child development 

by curbing stunting and iron deficiency 

through the holistic, collaborative wellbeing 

programme of HeadStart. “The impact 

our programme is making on South Africa 

through our partnership with Nutrilite Little 

Bits products globally, is truly significant as 

it impacts and reverses iron deficiency and 

growth stunting in children in the first five 

years,” says Lily. 

It all started with Lily’s personal journey 

when her adoptive son, at the age of 

six, came into her life in 2006 after his 

biological mother had passed on. “It 

made me look at the reality we are facing 

around malnourishment in the Early 

Childhood Development (ECD) platform. 

Overturning malnourishment in the form 

of iron deficiency and growth stunting can 

improve a child’s ability to function optimally 

in the classroom. As they grow up, they 

can positively impact the growth of the 

economy of our country.” 

While growing up, Mary 

Shuttleworth was like a 

second mother to Lily. “During 

my student years, I also lived 

with her and her family in Los 

Angeles. The two of us are 

super passionate about our 

platforms and on a personal 

level we work hard and play 

hard.” Because of the nature 

of their work, they make sure 

they have downtime with 

their own family and make 

time for travelling and exploring. “I first 

studied Computer Graphics at Platt College 

in Burbank, California, and before I getting 

married, I was busy with my B.Com degree,” 

Lily says. 

Since being a little girl, all Lily wanted to be 

was a mom. Then, being told that she could 

not have children, Lily now has the pleasure 

of being a stepmom, adoptive mom and 

biological mom to her four precious kids. 

“The impact and change I see in the kids 

we work with are truly rewarding. I am 

privileged to be able to do what I love.” 

Growing up during the Apartheid years 

in South Africa, Mary saw the devastating 

effects of discrimination. “At the age of 15, 

when I travelled and studied in Europe, 

I saw further discrimination and realised 

that discrimination is a global issue which 

challenges individuals, communities and 

countries around the world.” Mary learned 

about the 1948 United Nations Universal 

Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 

She then realised that 193 countries are 

members of the United Nations. “So these 30 

universal rights are like a common ground, 

a common point of respect, a common 

responsibility that we all share … universally.” 

YHRI, which stands for Youth for Human 

Rights International, and is a volunteerbased 

organisation, was founded by 

Mary Shuttleworth. “My most memorable 

experiences are of meeting the volunteers 

on the ground, in their own communities 

and learning first-hand from them about 

the challenges they are facing and the 

remarkable work they are doing to teach 

human rights. Especially when I personally 

meet the people who now know their 

human rights and have more confidence in 

themselves and their own abilities.” 

In Mary’s eyes ‘Knowledge is power’. “Hearing 

about the enormous impact learning about 

human rights has. For 

“With this, energy 

and enthusiasm, we 

can truly make this 

a more respectful 

and peaceful world.” 

example, a 9-year-old boy 

was seriously considering 

committing suicide because 

of being bullied. When, 

through YHRI, he learned 

about human rights, he 

realised that those bullies 

had no right to bully him. 

He reported them. That 

changed his life. The school 

wrote a letter commending 

YHRI and I can truly state 

that the Youth for Human 

Rights programme is lifesaving.” 

Mary daily receives many letters 

with stories like this and therefore knows 

that what she is doing, is truly working. “It is 

so heart-warming to see how many youth, 

teachers and government officials support 

YHRI,” she adds. 

Mary is also a teacher. “With this exponential 

expansion, our YHRI material is now available 

in 27 languages and through broad internet 

access, we can teach more people faster 

than ever before.” With the incredible 

support they have received, Human Rights 

Education is growing fast and far. “With this, 

energy and enthusiasm, we can truly make 

this a more respectful and peaceful world.” 




getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein

HOME SPA 

Can’t get to the spa? Take an afternoon for me-time and spoil yourself at home 

The best spoil, we think, is a great 

night’s sleep, which is essential for 

cellular regeneration and restoration. 

Give nature a helping hand with 

Filorga NCEF-Night Mask ... an ultra 

regenerating night mask which will have 

you waking up with a visibly younger 

skin. R899 from Clicks and Edgars. 

Comfy clothes rule. Keep warm and cosy in this v-neck knit and casual 

pants ... perfect for lounging around. Both from zara.co.za 

Peach, orange, gardenia ... fragrance your 

bathroom with this Pure Gardenia reed 

diffuser which, left open, lasts about a month. 

R399 from zarahome.com 


Gypsy Water is a glamorisation of the 

Romany way of life, and the scent of fresh 

soil, deep forests and camp fires 

illustrates the dream of a free, 

colourful lifestyle close to nature. 

Use on warm skin as you get 

out of the bath or shower. 

Massively desirable. R1760 

from skins.co.za 

This Chamomile body soap has 

essential oils – mandarin, lemon 

and chamomile – to help you 

reach a state of deep relaxation. 

The olive and coconut oil are 

deeply nourishing. R229 from 

zarahome.com 

Laura Mercier 

Repair Creme firms 

and rejuvenates – 

and with argan oil to 

intensely moisturise, 

it’s a great option 

for an at-home spoil. 

R2050 from 

skins.co.za 

Gorgeously honey scented NUXE Reve 

de Miel face & body ultra rich cleansing 

gel is perfect for dry and sensitive skin ... an 

everyday pampering cleanser. R390 from 

woolworths.co.za. 

All natural, Skin Creamery 

Facial Cleansing Powder 

is a magic dust you can 

use daily as an exfoliating 

cleanser or weekly as a 

restorative face mask by 

just adding raw honey. 

R341 from skincreamery. 

co.za • Can’t do a spoil 

without a scented candle. 

Luxurious Jo Malone 

London Red Roses 

home candle, R950 from 

woolworths.co.za 

After your bath, slip on a pair of faux 

fur criss-cross strap slippers. R599 

from zarahome.com 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 



Naturally beautiful 

You’re staying safely at home this May. But - horror - you’ve run out 

of beauty essentials. We’ve rounded up some help ... straight out of 

the pantry. Here are 8 home-made recipes that actually work 

Eyes bright 

Mix one tablespoon of turmeric and one 

tablespoon of buttermilk, apply the orangecoloured 

mixture to your dark circles with a 

brush – and expect to look infinitely better-slept 

after just 15 minutes. 

Caffeinated teabags have been shown to reduce 

under-eye puffiness. Steep two bags, squeeze 

out the excess liquid, allow them to cool, and 

you’re good to go. 

Body beautiful 

To soften bathwater, throw a cupful of milk powder beneath the 

running taps. If you like, add your favourite aromatherapy oils, but 

the milk in itself is beautifully skin-softening because of the lipids in 

the milk. 

Olive oil is a fantastic body moisturiser (add a few drops of a 

favourite essential oil if the scent’s a bit grassy for your taste). 

You can create a spa-like experience in your shower. Choose a 

relaxing essential oil (think lavender) or an uplifting oil (neroli’s a 

great choice) and add a few drops to a damp flannel or sponge. 

Place this on the floor in front of you as you shower to allow the 

steam to release the scents. 

To create a free body scrub, mix in leftover coffee grounds with your 

usual shower gel and use in the shower for a free pamper session. 

14 Get It Bloemfontein May 2020 

Playing footsie 

Cracked heels? Warm a cup of honey 

and stir in two tablespoons of milk. 

Add juice from half an orange to 

form a paste. Apply on your heels 

and leave on overnight. Wear socks, 

obviously! 

For soft feet you’ll need a half cup of 

vinegar, pinch of salt, a half cup of 

Listerine mouth wash (yes, really), one 

cup of hot water and a few drops of 

peppermint oil. Soak your feet for 15 

minutes. With a brush or pumice rub 

the dead skin right off. 

Compiled by: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG

Why laser treatment 

has become popular and why you 

should consider it 

One 

of the 

most amazing 

technological innovations 

emerging and sweeping the 

field of dermatology, is that of laser 

treatment. It has been proven significantly 

effective, giving some really amazing results by 

using an intense beam of light which targets specific 

cells. The intensity of laser treatment differs; just about any 

skin-related problem can be treated, including reducing the 

visibility of stretch marks, surgical and acne scars, age spots and 

sun damaged skin, unwanted hair, wrinkles, unwanted facial 

vessels, etc. 


You may be wondering if laser therapy is actually safe to use and whether 

it is truly an effective solution for dealing with unwanted skin and cosmetic 

health issues. Thankfully, laser treatment is extremely safe, highly effective and 

recommended by numerous dermatologists. Below are the reasons why you 

should consider the treatment: 

• Reduces blemishes – laser treatment is the real way to restore your skin’s 

proper functions and rid yourself of stubborn acne scars and blemishes. 

• Reduces wrinkles and fine lines – laser treatment works to restore 

the skin’s ability to heal itself and fill in the fine lines through natural 

processes. By applying laser energy beneath the surface of the skin, the 

skin is able to stimulate collagen and blood vessels to constrict and work 

again as they once did. 

• Laser treatment aids in erasing discoloration of the skin easily and 

naturally, giving you results of even skin tone that will reflect light. 

• Laser treatment reduces the size of enlarged pores – genetics and age 

are the two main contributors to enlarged pores. Large pores make your 

skin uneven and bumpy and cause you to feel self-conscious about 

being up close to others. Laser skin resurfacing treatment can make 

enlarged pores appear much smaller, making your skin appear smooth 

and even. According to dermatologists, the effects are generally long 

lasting. 

Remember 

If you choose to have laser treatment, make sure you select just the right 

practitioner. When performed by an experienced and trained laser surgeon, 

laser surgery is primarily a safe procedure. You can rely on the experience 

and expertise of providers to appropriately evaluate your skin and provide 

the appropriate treatment option for your condition and aesthetic goals. 

Remember to always follow the advice of your practitioner, both before and 

after treatment in order to get the best results. 

Text: WANDILE JAMA 



Homewear 

Staying in has never looked this glam 

So sweet ... fluffy 

pompom beanie, 

R150 from Woolies 

Pretty open-work knit sweater, R699 from zara.com/za 

When you’re staying 

in but feel the need 

for glam ... knitted 

sweater with faux 

pearl bows, R699 

from zara.com/za 

Lazy days with tea, a book and a comfy sofa. Bliss. Shop online at shop.mango.com/za 


Lovely baggy 

cowl neck 

sweater, 

perfect to 

wear with 

leggings. 

R949 from 

shop.mango. 

com/za 

Putting on the home-style glitz ... black-and-gold 

beanie, R410 from elizabethsummer.com 

When Jack Frost arrives, this faux shearling coat is 

as warm as you can get ... perfect wear at home, 

stylish enough to wear out, too. R999 from Zara 

• Checked scarf, R599 from shop.mango.com/za 

If we put this on, we may 

never take it off. Gorgeous 

crochet cardigan, R1399 

from mango.com/za 



Fit to 

Flare 

Text: WANDILE JAMA photos PIERCE VAN HEERDEN 


Fashion is ingrained in Gerhardt Shebe’s DNA, and 

has been the Free State designer’s all-encompassing 

passion since he was a child. 

The single-minded dedication to making women look beautiful all started 

when Gerhardt studied fashion at the Fashion Academy in Bloemfontein 

and students were assigned the task to design a jacket. Staying true to his 

aesthetic, Gerhardt decided to design an haute couture garment instead and 

even won the Fashion Academy’s Designer of the Year title in 2011. Before 

working in the fashion industry, he studied culinary arts at the Food and 

Beverage Institute in Cape Town and worked as a chef in Cape Town for two 

years. “I knew cooking for people was not my passion,” he laughs. 

His passion has seen him rise to the top of his profession in South Africa, 

where he has won a ton of accolades for his designs. The sought-after 

designer has won the following prestigious awards: Fashion Academy 

Designer of the Year 2011; Crystal Award 2012 Best Formal Wear; 2017 Free 

State Fashion Week Designer of the Year; 2017 Tshwane Fashion Week 

Designer of the Year; 2018 Mpumalanga Fashion and Design Designer of the 

Year, and Miss South Africa 2018 Women 360 Cape Town Best Designer. 

The designer sources his inspiration from prayer and from international 

designers such as Ellie Saab and Valentino. “I wake up at 4am every day to 

worship and pray. Once I’ve done that, I know my tank is full and I can start 

my day,” he adds. 

GS-MAN men’s line is a collection the designer’s house feels very passionate 

about and was inspired by male clients who are breaking out of the retail 

trends and who are interested in unique designs of bespoke wear which 

is costume made to create a perfect fit. “The 

modern man doesn’t want to go to an event 

and find four other men in the same suit,” he 

says, and therefore Gerhardt Shebe Creations 

has fulfilled the need to design for men as well, 

taking on the opportunity to “empower our 

fashionable men and boost their confidence 

with a well fitted suit”. 

In addition to the high-glamour, showstopper 

gowns that have made him well known and 

are increasingly seen on stars such as TV and 

radio presenter Jeannie D and former Miss 

South Africa, Tatum Keshwar, to name a few, 

Shebe will also be releasing a men’s wear 

collection this year – a long-time dream of the 

designer house to provide to its loyal, exclusive 

clients unique one-of-a-kind designer pieces. 

“We are extremely excited to introduce this to 

the world of fashion,” he says. 

But Shebe does not stop there. There is a 

collaboration between GSC and Ruby Red 

called BLACK ON BLACK, on the horizon. “It’s 

a collection of black outfits for the plus-size 

woman. The collection will be launched just 

after lockdown. So we will not be going into a 

lot of detail about it just yet, but our plus-size 

ladies will be loving this.” 



Text: WANDILE JAMA 

How to define your 

personal style 

Finding and defining your personal style is not as difficult as it may sound. Your 

personal style is an extension of your personality, your surroundings and your interests. 

Although we are influenced by social media and our surroundings, we 

are ever-evolving individuals and finding your personal style shouldn’t 

be daunting but rather a fun way to get to know yourself even better. My 

mantra to defining your style is: ‘if it feels natural and resonates with your 

personality and confidence, then it’s for you’. Below are a few tips on how 

to define your personal style. P.S. It really doesn’t have to be that deep. 

One of the best things you can do to prep for finding your personal style, 

is to create a visualisation of what you want to look like. My advice is to 

do your research on Pinterest or Instagram and create secret boards or 

archives filled with images of the kind of “look” you want to achieve. I am 

sure you have a strong sense of what your fashion sense is and the styles 

you typically gravitate towards to by now. A vision board will help you 

move away from what doesn’t really work for you and transition into what 

does. This is your cue to get rid of what no longer works and take stock of 

the pieces you need to fill up your wardrobe. Remember that you don’t 

have to limit yourself to one aesthetic, but rather explore more styles and 

aesthetics. 

Identify who your style icons are and try and incorporate their style 

with yours and your personality. Your style needs to be a reflection of 

yourself, so don’t try and be someone you’re not. Add a personal touch 

to your icon’s outfit inspiration. For instance, my style icon is Tracee Ellis 

Ross, and although I source inspiration from her, I still manage to add my 

personal flare to an outfit by making my outfits more minimalistic and 

incorporate more neutral colours as compared to the outfits and tones 

she usually wears. 

Experiment with different outfits by starting with introducing one 

new piece at a time. Start with the smallest detail that you’re comfortable 

altering. Maybe you might like to try a new T-shirt or change the colour 

of your black flats to a different colour. Bear in mind that even the tiniest 

changes can work wonders for your style. There’s no need to switch from 

Tt-shirts and jeans to printed dresses. Hold onto your basics, at least at 

the beginning. Then consider some easy ways to bring in something new 

that’ll show your personality better. 

Lastly, stay true to yourself! To fully immerse yourself in the 

grace and poise that comes with defining your personal style, the most 

important thing to wear is confidence! It sounds obvious (because it 

should be!) but in today’s fast-changing social and fashion landscapes, 

it’s worth echoing. While it’s so easy to be influenced, keeping yourself 

grounded in what actually calls to you stylistically and makes you feel 

good, should be paramount. 


getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein

YOU ARE 

THEIR 

INSPIRATION 

Dinosaurs, flower gardens, 

amazon jungles, pirate ships 

and fairy palaces are just some 

of the amazingly creative and 

inspirational things that you’ll 

find on Creative Park. You can 

download pictures to colour in, 

mazes to figure out, iron-on t-shirt 

print designs, and all kinds of DIY 

crafts that you can imagine. 

Simply download the Canon 

Creative Park App and let your 

imagination inspire you. 

https://creativepark.canon/ 

canon.co.za 

Live for the story_

Treat mum 

Amazing gifts for mum ... and she can 

win them all (hope she shares!) 

When you’ve a mum worth treating (oh, we do!), or if you’re 

a mum who deserves a spoil (yip ... we’re up for that too), 

then you really should make the treat something especially 

worthwhile. And oh boy, have we got the treat to 

beat all others to give away this May. 

• For the glam mum, one of the gorgeous, 

limited edition pieces from Della Jewellery, 

designed by Pippa de Charmoy, is an 

exceptional gift ... one she’ll love, and wear, for years. 

Eye-catching earrings, statement bracelets, loads of 

semi-precious stones ... we adore them all! Details: 

della.co.za • Massively desirable are Heartstring 

beaded necklaces from the The Makery Collection 

... feminine accessories from South African designer team Heidi 

Gresty and Jacquie Myburgh Chemaly. They also have earrings 

and bracelets ... a set of which would make mum very, very 

happy. Trust us! Details: themakerycollection.com • For mums who 

know natural is best and embrace all things organic, a 

bag of Lula Fox cosmetics would be a great 

gift. Certified organic, vegan and 

beautiful. Looking gorgeous 

never felt this good. Details: 

lulafox.life • Home-lovers would 

appreciate one of Volpes’ luxurious 

and cosy Shimmersoft throws ... the 

perfect accessories for the back of a sofa 

or the end of the bed, just within reach 

to wrap round shoulders on a chilly day. 

Details: volpes.co.za • If mum’s up for a party 

(yes, please!), offer her a Copper Head London 

Dry Gin. Juniper + coriander seeds + angelica + 

cardamom + orange peel = the perfect gin for 

sundowners • Prefer the idea of locally forged 

fynbos and honeybush? Then Bloedlemoen 

(pronounced Blue’d Le Moon) is a superb 

choice ... the first blood orange gin in 

the world and the fruit is locally sourced 

from growing partners in the Cape. And 

seriously, what would a gift be without 

bubbles? Not much of a gift at all. So add 

a bottle of premium, exceptionally-made, 

genuine Italian Mionetto Prosecco. to 

your gift. Details: trumanandorange.com. 

We have a fantabulous hamper to give 

away this May ... something special from 

each of these brilliant brands. To stand in 

line to win, simply visit our Get It National 

Magazines page on Facebook, find our 

Treat Mum post, tag a friend and you’ll be 

in the draw. Entries close May 31. 



I believe food has this amazing ability to bond us. It’s also the perfect way to express love. 

The look of delight in someone’s eyes when they tuck into their favourite meal that you’ve 

concocted is, for me, magic. My dear mama is positively obsessed with chicken in any form 

– Southern fried chicken is very high up on her poultry priority list. It’s of utmost 

importance that I make this for her whenever we’re together – a task I happily 

undertake. Who else deserves food made with love more than your mum?’ 

Made with love 

Isla Rechner has been obsessed with cooking 

all her life. Born and raised here in SA, she’s 

the Group Pastry Chef for celebrity chef Bill 

Granger’s Granger & Co restaurants across 

London, but in her heart she still hankers for 

the special breakfast rituals she shared with her 

mum at home in South Africa. She lets us in on 

some of the memories and recipes inspired by 

her mum. 

“I started dabbling in the kitchen when I was 

young, gaining more confidence with each 

passing year. In my teens and throughout my 

20s I hosted many a dinner party, testing out 

recipes on my friends and family.” 

In 2013, with the itch to travel too strong to 

resist, Isla made the big move to London, 

working initially at one of acclaimed chef 

Yotam Ottolenghi’s eateries, before being hired 

as a pastry chef at the King’s Cross branch 

of Granger & Co. She has since become the 

Group Pastry Chef – a role she says she utterly 

relishes. 

“Whenever my mother comes to visit me in 

London, I always try to recreate the morning 

breakfast rituals we had in South Africa. They 

were a magical time, sitting on the stoep and 

sipping tea while overlooking our big acacia 

tree with birds chirping in the background 

and the occasional monkey raiding the herb 

garden. Among my go-to breakfast staples 

were buttermilk pancakes, a dish my mum 

and I tucked into with relish. I’ve tried to bring 

in the warmth of those mornings by pairing 

my pancakes with an orange raspberry syrup 

and crème fraiche. When I have my mum here 

in my little London kitchen and we’re tucking 

into those pancakes, we’re transported back to 

that veranda and those warm African sunrises.” 


Buttermilk pancakes 

Makes 7 pancakes 

You’ll need: 

For the pancakes – 125g plain flour; 15g castor 

sugar; 5g baking powder; 2.5g bicarbonate of soda; 

250ml buttermilk; 1 egg; 25g melted butter 

In a medium bowl place flour, castor sugar, 

baking powder and bicarbonate of soda. Whisk in 

buttermilk, egg and melted butter until you have a 

smooth batter. Place a frying pan on medium heat 

and drop two tablespoons of batter into the pan, 

cooking until little bubbles form on top (around 

3 minutes). Flip over, cooking evenly. Place in 

oven on low heat to keep pancakes warm while 

cooking the rest. 

For the raspberry orange syrup – 150g fresh 

raspberries (1 punnet); zest and juice of 1 orange; 

50g syrup (honey, syrup ... whatever you have on 

hand is perfectly fine, even agave) 

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook 

over medium heat until raspberries begin to break 

up. Leave to cool slightly. Serve stack of pancakes 

drenched with the raspberry syrup and a decent 

dollop of crème fraiche. 


Buttermilk chicken 

Serves 2 


For the chicken – 250ml buttermilk; 300g deboned chicken 

thighs; 120g plain flour; 5g cumin; 5g paprika; 5g oregano; 

pinch of salt; 300ml vegetable oil 

Sour cream mashed potato – 500g potatoes, peeled and 

quartered; ½ cup sour cream; 45g butter, cubed; salt 

Red cabbage slaw – 100g red cabbage, very finely sliced; 

juice of 2 limes; 1 carrot, peeled and grated; 1 Tblsp flat-leaf 

parsley, chopped; 15g olive oil; 5g Dijon mustard; 5g honey 

Method: 

Place chicken thighs in buttermilk and marinate for at least 

two hours. In a small container, mix the red cabbage and 

lime juice for the slaw. Leave it to macerate in the fridge for 

a few hours. The lime juice slightly pickles the red cabbage 

which results in the cabbage becoming a vibrant shade of 

pink. Preheat the oven to 170°C, then get cracking with the 

mash. Boil potatoes in salted water until cooked through, 

strain through a colander and place back into the pot. 

Mash until fluffy, add the sour cream and butter, mixing 

gently until smooth. Heat vegetable oil in a wok until the 

temperature is about 170°C 

Mix the flour with the spices. Dredge buttermilk-soaked 

chicken in the flour. Place in the hot oil, frying for a few 

minutes each side to get a crispy exterior. Pop into a 

roasting tray, place in the oven and bake for 12 minutes or 

until the chicken is cooked through. 

In a small bowl, place olive oil, Dijon mustard and honey, 

whisking slightly to emulsify. Add the cabbage, carrot and 

parsley tossing together. Over a low heat, slightly warm up 

the mashed potato. Spoon a hearty dollop of potato onto 

a plate, then pop fried chicken on top, finishing with a side 

of slaw. 


Springbok, neck 

& shank pie 

This hearty winter warmer will surely stir up the 

conversation at the table, this is a keeper! 

Recipes with compliments of Chef Sune Niemand / The Upper Crust 

Chef Suné shares some inspiring tips and tricks to get the best flavours from your venison. 

Often venison is seen as tough and dry and very time consuming to prepare, however, it could be due to a lack 

of knowledge. 

Come and learn more about preparing inspiring dishes for family and friends. 

You can book your next venison demo on the 20th of May at 083 306 8236. 

The Upper Crust takes every effort to adhere to the protocol involving C-19, alcohol hand sanitizer, gloves 

and masks available upon arrival. 

Method: 

1ea Onion, Finely Chopped 

1. Bring the vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, star anise and 

500ml White Wine Vinegar 

onion to the boil and then simmer (low heat) to a 

500ml Sugar 

honey like syrupy consistency. 

500g Dried Fruit (soaked in 100ml strong Rooibos 

2. Cut the soaked dried fruit into smaller pieces. 

tea) e.g. apricots, apples, peaches, pears 

3. Remove the cinnamon and star anise from the 

1 ea Cinnamon stick 

syrup; add the dried fruit pieces as well as the 

1 ea Star Anise 

Rooibos tea soaking liquid. 

50g Fresh Mint, chopped 

4. Cook until the chutney reaches a jam-like consistency. 

Season with salt and pepper. 

Salt & Pepper 

5. Add the chopped mint to the chutney. 

30 Get It Bloemfontein May 2020 getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein 

RECIPE FOR Dried Fruit Chutney

Ingredients 

Tip 

Spices and herbs that go 

well with venison are cloves, 

nutmeg, peppercorns, bay 

leaves, coriander, rosemary, 

thyme. 

Other flavours that combine 

well with venison are baked 

quince, quince jelly, apple 

jelly, fruit chutney, poached 

plums or figs. 

1 Springbuck leg, cut into cubes 

4 Springbuck shanks cut into five cm pieces 

1 Springbuck neck, cut into rounds 

10ml ground coriander 

2ea bay leaves 

Freshly ground black pepper and salt 

10ml fresh rosemary 

50ml cake flour 

50ml olive oil 

4 chopped onions 

250 ml dry white wine (or red wine) 

500 ml venison stock 

2x400g tins of plum tomatoes 

400g puff pastry 

1ea egg, beaten with little salt added 

Method 

1. Season the meat with salt, pepper, spice and herbs. 

2. Dust the meat with the flour. 

3. Heat a thick bottomed casserole, add the oil, 

heat slightly, add the meat and brown on all sides. 

Remove the meat from the casserole. 

4. Add the wine and stock to the casserole and simmer 

(low) for a few minutes. 

5. Add the tinned tomatoes and the seared meat. 

6. Bring the content of the pot to the boil. Remove 

from the heat, cover the casserole with a lid and 

put into a pre heated oven at 160°C for 90 minutes, 

remove the lid from the casserole and cook for 

another 30 minutes. 

7. Taste for seasoning. Allow the meat to cool. 

Remove from the bones, flake the meat and return 

to the liquid. Season if necessary. Allow the meat 

to cool completely. Pre heat the oven to 180°C. 

Remove the meat into a large pie dish and cover 

with the prepared puff pastry. Brush with beaten egg 

and bake for 35-40 minutes at 180°C 

Serve the dried fruit chutney on the side 

Venison available all year round at Checkers 



HUG ON A PLATE 

A rich tomato lamb bredie. A warm caramel pud. A hug on a plate ... shared with us by 

the lovely Chantel Dartnall of Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient. You’re welcome. 

Tomato Lamb Bredie 

Serves 4-5 

Prep time 30 min / cooking time 2 hours 

You will need: 

1 Tblsp vegetable oil (use more if needed); 1 1/2 kg lamb 

stewing meat cut into cubes or lamb neck; 2 Tblsps 

cake flour; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 kg fresh tomatoes, 

chopped (can be de-seeded if you prefer); 1 tsp salt; 1/2 

tsp freshly ground black pepper; 2 bay leaves; 1 sprig 

fresh rosemary; 1 tsp brown sugar; 1/2 cup Mrs Ball’s hot 

chutney; 1 dash Worcestershire sauce; 1 cube lamb or 

beef stock dissolved in 2 litres water (if you have fresh 

home-made stock you can substitute); baby potatoes, 

washed and cut in half (optional) 

Method: 

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavybottomed 

saucepan. Dredge meat in flour seasoned with 

salt and pepper and cook in hot oil until well browned. 

Stir in onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Mix 

in tomatoes. Season with the salt and black pepper 

then add bay leaves, rosemary, brown sugar, chutney, 

Worcestershire sauce and 1 litre of stock. (add the rest of 

the stock throughout the cooking process as required). 

Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 1/4 hours. Stir 

occasionally to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom 

of the pot. Stir in the potatoes and cook for an additional 

25 minutes, until the potatoes are done and the meat is 

tender. Serving with pomme puree or white rice. 

Caramel pudding 

Serves 6 

Prep time 15 min / baking time 35 min 


For the pudding – 3/4 cup brown sugar; 1 1/2 cups self raising flour; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 cup milk; 75g unsalted butter, 

chopped and melted; 2 tsps vanilla extract; 2 eggs; icing sugar; whipped cream or vanilla custard to serve 

For the caramel – 50g butter, chopped; 1 1/2 each cups brown sugar and water 

Method: 

Preheat oven to 160°C and lightly grease a 1.5-litre capacity ovenproof baking dish. Place the sugar, flour, cinnamon, milk, 

butter, vanilla and eggs in a large bowl and mix to combine. Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish. Set aside. 

To make the caramel, place the butter, sugar and water in a small saucepan over high heat. Bring to the boil, stirring 

constantly to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly. 

Pour the caramel over the back of a spoon to drizzle over the pudding mixture. 

Cook for 35 minutes or until the pudding is cooked through. Dust with the icing sugar and serve with whipped cream, or 

vanilla custard. 

Chef’s note: Pour the caramel gradually over the batter to ensure it sits on top of it. As the pudding cooks, the caramel will 

start to sink, creating the sauce. 




5HACKS to make your 

food LAST LONGER 

As lockdowns continues and the Corona virus is forcing us to stay inside, we are 

doing much more cooking at home than ever before. That means keeping tabs 

on what we have in the fridge as well as thinking strategically about how to shop when we 

do need to leave the house to go to the grocery store. We’ve compiled five hacks to help your 

food last longer and stay fresher. 

1Let leftovers cool to room 

temperature. Regardless of 

whether they're going into the 

fridge or the freezer, you should 

always let leftovers cool to room 

temperature before putting 

them inside your fridge or freezer. It is 

dangerous if leftovers are placed into 

the fridge when still hot as food can 

be spoiled by salmonella bacteria. The 

warmth of your recently cooked food 

might also send the temperature in 

your fridge and freezer skyrocketing. 

Not only will that reduce the freshness 

of other food which needs to be kept 

at a stable temperature in the fridge, 

it will also force your fridge/freezer to 

work harder to cool down, pushing up 

your electricity bills. 

Keep an eye on fridge temperature. If 

you want to get the most out of your 

food, the temperature in your fridge 

needs to be between 0°C and 5°C. 

2 

When you buy herbs or a 

bunch of spinach, wrap a paper 

towel or two around them to 

absorb any moisture from the 

grocery store’s water spray, 

which can cause mould. For plastic 

tubs of green vegetables like salads, 

layer some paper towels throughout 

the tub – three should do the trick. 

When you're ready to eat your greens, 

make sure you rinse them to remove 

any lingering bacteria. You can also 

prewash your greens, like romaine 

lettuce leaves, and let them dry 

completely before storing them in the 

fridge, wrapped in towels. 

3Berries like strawberries and 

raspberries are known to grow 

mould fast. Once this happens, 

you should avoid eating them. 

A simple hack to avoid them 

from growing mould and going bad 

quickly, is to wash them in distilled 

white vinegar and water, rinsing them 

with water and waiting until they're 

completely dry before storing them 

in the fridge. Once the berries are 

dry, place them in 

a new container 

lined with a paper 

towel and keep 

them out of 

the crisper 

drawer, which 

is more humid. 

4 

Store 

potatoes 

away from 

onions, 

which makes 

them spoil faster. Store 

potatoes with apples 

instead, this will keep them 

from sprouting. The apples 

and potatoes storage tip has 

also been proven by America's Test 

Kitchen. In their experiment, potatoes 

stored with an apple stayed firm and 

sprout-free even after eight weeks, 

compared to potatoes stored without 

an apple; they turned out "largely soft, 

shrivelled, and sad looking." So add an 

apple and save your potatoes. 

5When storing a cut avocado, 

leave the pit in the half you’re 

going to store since it contains 

natural oils that will slow 

browning. If chopped or made 

into guacamole, squeeze it with lemon 

or lime juice, or simply drop the pit 

back into the guacamole and cover. 


Wedding Venue 

Luxury Accommodation 

Escape the rush of the city and enjoy 

the peaceful tranquility of our luxury 

game lodge! 

Situated just 80km outside Bloemfontein 

on the N12 towards Kimberley, ideal for 

a quick break-away to kick off your shoes, 

relax and bask in the wonders of nature! 

We offer: 

Game drives, Luxury Accommodation, 

Weddings, Birthday Parties, Conference 

facilities, Team Building, Baby Showers, 

Camping facilities, Restaurant & Bar, 

Driving Range, Swimming Pool, Lions 

Year end functions and so much more! 

Contact us for your weekend break-away 

or just stop over for a braai and enjoy a 

fun day out with the family! 

So give us a call and experience life!! 



Indigo autumn 

Bring shades of blue and touches of metallic into your 

home for spaces that ooze a calm and collected air 

Imagine a table setting with 

out-of-this-world Moon crockery. 

Gorgeous. Individually priced from 

R95, available from weylandts.co.za 

Wall statements 

... beautiful 

imperfection 

wall art ... all 

muted tones 

on linen, with a 

wooden frame. 

R10999 from 

weylandts.co.za 

Cosy blankets 

for when the 

nights turn cool ... 

ribbed navy knit 

blanket, R1799 and 

geometric blanket, 

R799, both from 

zarahome.com/sa 

Contemporary brass 

tray table, originally 

designed for display 

of whisky decanters 

and cut crystal 

glasses. R10 000 from 

anatomydesign.co.za 

Whether you have a sea or land view, 

this restful all white room with touches of peaceful 

blue works beautifully in a bedroom. This space designed by 

the talented Private House team. Details: privatehouse.co.za 


Polka dot tapas bowls are not only 

lovely decor pieces but jolly useful, 

too. R69.95 from Woolies. 

Blue and white geometric zigzag cushion cover, 

R799 from zarahome.com/za 

For a 

bottle 

of wine 

that’s 

extra 

special, we 

love this 

Lapiz bottle 

stopper, R145 from 

weylandts.co.za 

Breakfast, dinner, or an 

afternoon tea in bed. 

Folding tray, R999 from 

zarahome.com/za Glass bud vase, R9.99 

from Mr Price Home 


May 2020 Get It Bloemfontein 37 

Compiled by: KATE ARGO

CAN’T 


Mulch away 

Mulch. Water. Feed. Plant. 

There’s loads to do in the 

garden this month. 

Two pretty plants for May 

May is the month we celebrate mothers – and and we’ve found two rather 

special flowers worth planting for her. 

Dianthus Early Love is perfect for patio pots, as a fragrant border and even 

indoors (which is where we could all still be, this month). It’s neat 

and compact, with short stems that fan out gracefully like a 

bouquet. The large, double magenta-pink flowers, with 

deep purple-black centres, have a spicy sweet 

fragrance. As a garden plant it needs full sun 

and soil that drains very well. On patios 

it does best with morning sun or bright 

dappled light and bright indirect light 

for indoors. Cut off the dead flowers to 

encourage new blooms. 

Details: ballstraathof.co.za 

All Seasons Hydrangea is the first 

single-head, indoor hydrangea that can 

be popped into a gorgeous pot to show 

off its spectacular, extra large pink or 

white bloom. This indoor hydrangea 

is available all year round. It needs 

at least four hours of bright, 

indirect light a day. You’ll find the 

flower lasts longer if the plant is 

kept cool, with moist but not soggy soil. Ask 

at your local nursery. 

Get out the garden tools... 

The garden is slowing down but there’s still a lot to do 

before winter. 

• Rake up fallen leaves and use them as mulch or to make 

compost. 

• Plant winter flowers ... alyssum, snapdragons, calendula, 

Iceland poppies, pansies and violas in sunny beds; fairy 

primula and cineraria for shade. 

• Divide perennials if necessary. 

• Cut down summer flowering bulbs like cannas, dahlias 

and lilies. 

• Water most plants once a week. Spring flowering bulbs 

need deep watering every four days. 

• Feed winter flowering pot plants every two weeks but 

stop feeding the summer pot plants. 

• Sow broad beans, lettuce, kale, peas, radishes, Swiss chard 

and spinach. 


Dianthus Early Love 


New lease on life 

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY 

The Covid-19 coronavirus 

and its subsequent 

isolation regulations have 

meant that the things we 

usually take for granted, 

such as an evening 

meal at our favourite 

restaurant, walking the 

dog, or visits to the game 

reserve, have become 

somewhat limited. Being 

housebound for so long 

has definite drawbacks, 

the least of which is cabin 

fever. Since staying home 

is best, at least for the 

near future, we need a bit 

of greenery in our lives. 

And fresh air. This makes 

now the perfect time to 

start a little veggie or herb 

garden of your own. It 

will get you out into the 

sunshine and give you 

something rewarding 

to do - especially if you 

get the kids involved, 

and even more so if you 

combine this undertaking 

with a little crafty 

upcycling. 

We all have bits and bobs lying around the house, things we don’t use, things we 

would normally throw away. This includes old teacups, jugs, jars and bottles. Instead 

of filling up the landfills, we can all do our bit to turn these articles into seed starters. 

They can all serve another purpose, and that is to help you start an epic little herb 

or vegetable garden, or if you prefer, a flower garden. Starting off with your own 

seedlings gives you a head start and can save you quite a bit of cash. Not to mention 

the warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you see that first tiny bud appear from the soil, 

from a small seed you planted yourself. And we promise, there is nothing quite like 

the feeling of pinching a few fresh basil leaves from your own home-grown plants 

and scattering them over pasta. 


April to June is the ideal time to start planting 

perennials like lettuce, thyme, lavender, baby 

spinach, pak choi and rosemary. Firstly, pests 

are less of a problem and secondly the cooler 

temperatures mean you don’t have to water as 

much. With our balmy Lowveld climate frost won’t 

be a problem either. Make sure you use fertile, 

well-drained soil, and be sure not to overwater. Your 

herb/veggie/flower patch can be as big or small as 

you like. For the upcycling purpose you can use a 

windowsill or an old, repurposed bookshelf. 

What to use 

1. Glass jars and bottles 

Jam jars are so much fun and there are so many things you 

can do with them. The smaller ones are perfect for starting 

out with your seeds, and you can move them to bigger 

jars as they grow. You can either plant them in soil, or, if 

propagating, cut them off in the correct diagonal manner 

and place in water until roots start to grow, after which they 

can go into the ground or a bigger pot. 

And don’t forget the importance of companion 

planting. Some matches really were made in heaven, 

like marigolds and cucumbers, and lettuce and 

aubergines. Plant beetroot and carrots, beans and 

potatoes, or onion chives with dill. Companion plants 

do not steal nutrients, act as “nursemaids” and help to 

deter pests. 


2. Plastic cooldrink bottles 

Take an empty two-litre plastic bottle and cut the bottom 

off, about ¼ of the way up. Turn it upside down and make 

a small hole on either side of the cut edge. Thread a loop of 

string through the holes, and hang it from a bracket or wall 

hook. Fill with potting soil and plant the seeds in the top. To 

make a vertical garden, repeat the process, using three to 

four bottles and attach them to one other. This way you will 

create a sustainable hanging garden, and each bottle will 

feed the water through to the one underneath it. 


3. Empty toilet rolls 

Using empty toilet paper rolls is an excellent way of nurturing plants that don’t 

like their roots disturbed, such as peas and beans. You simply make four short 

cuts at the bottom, fold the pieces in, fill with soil and plant your seed. Then you 

place the whole thing into the ground or a pot. The paper will rot away, keeping 

the seedling safe and sound inside. 

4. Paper cups 

These cups are made 

to withstand hot 

liquids so they are 

fairly robust and will 

keep your plants snug. 

Remember to poke a 

drainage hole at the 

base. If you have any 

coffee grounds left 

after your delicious 

brew, scatter them into 

some soil or over the 

garden. The nitrogen is 

an excellent promoter 

of healthy growth and 

strong stems. 

5. Plastic cups 

Plastic yogurt and juice containers work 

in much the same way as paper cups. 

Simply put a drainage hole or two at the 

bottom, add a few stones, fill with soil and 

plant your seeds. They can be placed into 

a wooden box and trained to hang over 

the side, or simply used as an intermediate 

option. 

6. Tin cans 

One of the prettiest sights in the Italian countryside is the 

geraniums, blooming on windowsills, front porches, balconies 

and verandas in all their glory. Often, they are planted in empty 

tomato tins, in all different sizes, sometimes with the label left 

on, declaring the tin a brightly coloured, cheerful holder for a 

pretty green and growing thing. Remember to rinse thoroughly, 

put stones in the bottom for drainage (or drill a few holes), then 

fill up with your soil and plant your seed. Tins are so versatile - 

you can paint them or wrap a rustic twine around the neck or 

body of the can. 

7. Veggie and mushroom punnets 

Don’t discard the plastic punnets your 

mushrooms, strawberries, grapes and so 

on, come in! They are perfect to use as seed 

trays. Some of them have lids which you 

can use to make a little mini-greenhouse, 

especially if you want to baby something 

along. 


8. Pallets 

Convert those old pallets into an upcycled outdoor 

plant holder. You can really go to town with these - 

you can put wheels on and make it mobile; put it 

up on the wall for creepers and hanging plants, or 

to shelter it from weather and sunlight; or use it as a 

window box, painted and/or mosaicked, or simply 

left plain for a rustic look. All you need are a few basic 

DIY skills and you have the perfect place for leafy 

herbs, salad items (think lettuce) or any other shallow 

rooted crops. 

9. Brown paper bags 

Kraft or brown paper breaks down over time, acting 

in the same way as toilet rolls. This makes them ideal 

holders for plants you grow from seed and want to 

transplant into a bigger pot. They can also be packed 

together in an old tomato box. 

10. Egg cartons and shells 

Just like empty toilet rolls, egg cartons make excellent receptacles for little 

plants and seedlings. Each cup can be filled with soil, the seeds sown in and 

the cup torn off and deposited directly into the soil. They will eventually 

disappear as they break down into harmless nothingness. The eggshells 

themselves are biodegradable and the perfect size for seedlings. They are 

also good fertilisers for the soil and add calcium as they break down. 



Enjoy Responsibly. Liquor not for sale to persons under the age of 18. 


WAARAAN BEHOORT 

VROUE AANDAG TE GEE 

Deur Horace Terry, Senior Finansiële Beplanner 

Die wêreld is besig om te verander, en 

dit verander vinnig, noudat COVID-19 

die manier van dinge doen kom 

herrangskik het. Die dae wat ‘n vrou by 

die huis gebly het, om na die kinders te 

kyk, terwyl die man uitgaan om geld te 

verdien is besig om vinnig tot ‘n einde 

te kom. Daar is reeds huishoudings 

waar die vrou die broodwinner is. Baie 

vroue is egter bang wanneer dit by 

finansiële beplanning of beleggings 

kom, en laat die besluite rondom die 

aspekte oor aan hulle mans. Ongeag 

of jy ‘n werkende vrou, professionele 

vrou, tuisteskepper of pensioenaris 

is, dit is belangrik dat jy deel in jou 

huishouding se finansiële besluite, 

en dit is belangrik dat jy presies moet 

weet hoe jou en 

jou man se 

voorsienings vir verskillende behoeftes 

gestruktureer word. 

Die twee belangrikste aspekte 

waaraan enige vrou, ongeag jou 

ouderdom of status, aandag moet 

gee is die volgende: Eerstens, beplan 

vir die ergste, en hoop vir die beste. 

Byvoorbeeld, aanvaar dat jy gaan 

skei, of voortydig gaan opeindig as 

‘n weduwee. Aanvaar dat jy jou werk 

gaan verloor as gevolg van ‘n aflegging 

of siekte. Gesels dan met ‘n finansiële 

beplanner om jou te help beplan vir 

alle moontlike gebeurtenisse. 

Jy sal dalk meer moet begin spaar, 

sodat jy kapitaal beskikbaar het 

wanneer enige lewensveranderende 

gebeurtenis mag plaasvind. Dit 

mag ook dalk beteken dat jy jou 

eggenoot se lewe moet verseker, om 

sodoende gelde beskikbaar te hê, 

ingeval jou eggenoot te sterwe kom. 

Dan tweedens, bemagtig jouself met 

inligting. Lees meer oor finansies, 

beleggings en finansiële produkte 

op. Die inligting en kennis sal jou 

handig te pas kom, ongeag of jy deur 

‘n lewensveranderende gebeurtenis 

geraak word of nie. Die inligting en 

kennis sal jou met tyd bemagtig, 

om finansieël onafhanklik te kan 

funksioneer. 

Die lewe word meer 

mededingend en met 

dit alles kom egter ook 

meer geleenthede, wat 

wag om benut te word. 

Vroue is uniek, en elkeen 

het sy eie stel talente wat 

wag om ontgin te word. Indien jy dus 

‘n tuisteskepper of pensioenaris is, of 

miskien ‘n werkende vrou is met tyd 

op hande, stel vas wat jou talente is, en 

begin dit te benut sodat dit kan bydrae 

tot jou finansies. 

Miskien het jy ‘n interresante 

stokperdjie, wat jy kan omskep in 

‘n winsgewende besigheid. Selfs ‘n 

groentetuin in jou agterplaas, wat jou 

vriende en familie met vars groente 

voorsien, kan omskep word in ‘n idee 

wat ‘n paar ekstra Rande inbring. 

Saam met die leemtes en risiko’s kom 

natuurlik geleenthede wat wag om 

benut te word. Ek sien al reeds hoe 

kraetiewe persone daarbuite by ons 

huidige omstandighede aangepas 

het, om besigheid op ‘n nuwe manier 

te begin doen. Natuurlik is dit dan 

belangrik dat die ekstra gelde wat 

jy verdien, wys aangewend word. 

Spaar dit op beleggingsprodukte 

wat ‘n goeie langtermyn opbrengs 

kan oplewer, en voorsien vir die 

onvoorsiene. Weereens het die 

COVID-19 pandemie geleenthede op 

finansiële markte geskep, wat benut 

moet word. Gaan gesels met jou 

finansiële beplanner, sodat hy of sy 

jou kan help om blootstelling aan die 

regte geleenthede te kry. Hoe gouer 

jy begin spaar, hoe beter, dit is egter 

nooit te laat om te begin spaar nie. 

Moet ook nie vergeet van die impak 

van ‘n verswakkende Rand, mediese 

kostes, inflasie, koste vir veilige 

akkommodasie en, en, en… Om te 

spaar is dus belangrik, maar hoe jy 

spaar, is net so belangrik. 



Mysterious sightings in Knysna. Exploring Kruger 

National Park. We do live in a marvellous country. 

Of Otangs 

and Apps 

It’s like having a game ranger in your pocket ... 

amazing Kruger Explorer App 

Regular readers know how much we love a bush escape ... and we’ve just 

discovered the ultimate App for visitors to Kruger National Park. Kruger 

Explorer contains a massive amount of info ... it’s like having your own, private, 

very knowledgeable guide (with all the insider secrets guides seem to know) in 

your pocket. 

This field guide has hundreds of details you need ... from animal profiles (did 

you know the civet is semi-dependent on water, so if you want to see one 

you need to look near a reliable water source?) to self-drive routes (more than 

70 of them, so you won’t hit the same dirt road twice), new accurate and upto-date 

maps of the park and so much more. There’s info on mammals and 

birds, reptiles and invertebrates, on the flora and ecozones you’ll experience in 

the park. The routes include those for 

camps which are useful for overnight 

visitors, as well as routes more 

suitable for day visitors. 

With more than 400 high-res 

images, and 300 000 words of 

content, this App is perfect for using 

while in the reserve, as well as for 

planning before you leave home. It’s 

also marvellously educational ... so 

great for kids. 

The App was created by Danny 

Broome and Charlotte Kirke, who 

are from the UK but have a love 

of Africa in general and Kruger in 

particular. ‘We’re very conscious that 

part of the wonderful experience 

of the Kruger is escaping the bustle 

and stresses of life – and for many 

people this means being offline. 

Ensuring the App works completely 

offline once downloaded adds a 21st 

century polish to a Kruger visit, while 

not impacting the bush escape 

experience’, they say. 

The KrugerExplorer App is available 

for mobile and tablet devices and 

can be downloaded from the App 

Store and Google Play. Details: 

krugerexplorer.com 


‘Otangs’ in the 

Knysna forests 

Possibly best known for his work 

on African lions, environmentalist 

and independent wildlife researcher 

Gareth Patterson has spent more 

than quarter of a century working on 

the protection of our wildlife. 

He’s author of more than 10 books 

... including The Secret Elephants, a 

culmination of many years of research 

into the secretive Knysna elephants. 

The recently released Beyond the 

Secret Elephants continues this 

story, but also reveals his startling 

discovery of a much more mysterious 

being than the elephants – a relict 

hominoid known to the indigenous 

forest people as the Otang. 

The possible existence of relict 

hominoids is gaining momentum 

worldwide with ongoing research 

into Bigfoot in North America, the 

Yeti in the Himalayas and the Orang 

Pendek in Sumatra, and eminent 

conservationists and scientists – Dr 

Jane Goodall, Dr George Schaller 

and Professor Jeff Meldrum – have 

said they’re open-minded about 

their possible existence. Gareth has 

heard many accounts, which he’s 

documented in this new book ... most 

of them, he says, were spontaneous 

and unprompted. Fascinating – an 

exceptional natural history book 

(also available as an e-book). Tracey 

McDonald Publishers, R270 

May 2020 Get It Bloemfontein 47 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO


Eco-chic at its finest ... The Peech Hotel’s a gem 

If you’re heading to Jo’burg for business or to visit family and friends, we don’t 

think you’re going to find anywhere quite like The Peech Hotel. It’s slap-bang 

in the middle of cosmopolitan Melrose but, set in an acre of beautiful gardens, 

it really is surprisingly peaceful and quiet … all green lawns and lush shrubs and 

oversized elephant ears. 

And green is a theme that runs through the hotel … from the carbon-neutral 

environment, with water heating generated via solar energy to rain and grey 

water from the baths and showers used in the gardens. We adore the new rooms 

... clean, contemporary, modern … with grids which will become living walls once 

the jasmine that’s been planted grows a little more. It’s eco-chic at its finest ... all 

gleaming oak floors, massive walk-in rain dance showers and spacious, peaceful, 

private patios … perfect for coffee before breakfast, a quiet afternoon tea or a glass 

of red before bed. For families, there’s a two bedroom villa … about as luxurious 

as you could wish for. 

You could, if you fancied (oh, we do), spend a few hours around one of the two 

pools before exploring the area (and owner James’ wife, Vicky, who’s the hotel sales 

and marketing spokesperson, has a list of unusual recommendations she shares 

with visitors … lesser-known tours and interesting hot spots). 

A recent addition to the hotel is the new Basalt Restaurant ... already talked about 

as the place to dine. Head chef Freddie Dias (with kitchen time spent in some of 

the world’s finest Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as at Luke Dale Roberts’ The 

Pot Luck Club) has developed an incredible menu … you haven’t lived until you’ve 

had his Ten-A-Day Risotto. It’s open to the public (top tip … book well in advance), 

while the original hotel Garden Restaurant is reserved for staying guests only (and 

the menu here’s no less impressive … the side of bone marrow and parsley fries is 

worth booking in for the night!). 

There’s a good feel about The Peech. There are hidden nooks and crannies for 

those wanting a little alone time, a central communal table in the dining room 

for single guests wanting company and conversation over a meal, the hotel is Fair 

Trade Tourism Certified, the staff hugely proud ambassadors, and a percentage of 

your room bill is given to charity (the hotel supports Little Eden home for children 

with severe intellectual disabilities). Originally a family home, it’s retained that feel 

… really lovely and hugely recommended. 

Rates are from around R3250 a room, a night, children are welcome. 61 North 

Road, Melrose, Joburg. Details: 011-537-9797 or reservations@thepeech.co.za 

GREEN 

in the city 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 



GET IT DIRECTORY 


BLOEDLEMOEN. 

HANDCRAFTED 

BLOOD ORANGE GIN. 

Pronounced ‘Blue’d Le Moon’ 

for you non Afrikaans speaking 

folk, is a South African gin made 

from the luscious Tarocco Blood 

Orange and is the first of its 

kind in the World. 

@bloedlemoengin 

Enjoy getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein Responsibly. Liquor not for sale to persons under May 2020 the Get It Bloemfontein age of 51 18.

Spoil 

May 

Bubbles to celebrate mum 

We don’t really need an excuse to pop open a bottle of our favourite bubbly. But 

as it’s May, and Mothers’ Day, and autumn ... we have three reasons to celebrate. 

This month we’re sipping Krone Rosé Cuvée Brut 2018 Cap Classique. 

A blend of 87 per cent Pinot Noir and 13 per cent Chardonnay, this salmon 

pink cap classique is all rose water and coastal sour figs, pomegranates and 

cranberries, candied orange and white-fleshed nectarine, with a lingering note 

of toasted hazelnuts. It’s just perfect with a simple picnic (think charcuterie, 

melted ripe Camembert and a crusty sourdough bread), or a more 

refined meal like salmon with crispy skin crackling, or duck with 

cherries. If you prefer something a little sweeter, try 

Krone Night Nectar Demi-Sec Rosé 2018 ... the closest 

in style to the first famous sparkling wines of France a 

century ago. With a touch of sweetness which renders 

the style demi-sec (or semi-sweet) it’s a blend of Pinot 

Noir and Chardonnay, is a lustrous pink-copper, and 

all cranberries, raspberries, strawberries and red 

cherries, maraschino cherries and toffee apples 

... beyond delish! Have it with prawns grilled 

on the hot coals, with a sticky pork belly, 

with a strawberry cream cake or a plate of 

rose water macarons. Swoon! You’ll find 

both these at your local wine store or 

grocer for around R150 a bottle. We’re 

giving away a case of Krone to one Get 

It reader ... simply visit GetItMagazine 

on Facebook, find our post and tag 

a friend in the comments section. The 

competition closes end May. Good luck. 


NEW ! 

At last a low cal 

premium lager for 

those who demand 

healthier options 

LOW 

CARB 

Vegan 

0,9% 

Gluten Free 

Skinny Brands Premium Lager was 

born from an emerging trend by 

consumers who demand healthier 

options. In response we crafted a 

cutting-edge product for mindful, 

informed individuals who refuse 

to compromise. This unique lager 

has only 89 calories, a clean, crisp, 

refreshingly malty taste & is full 

flavour at 4% ABV. It is also Vegan 

Certified, Gluten Free & Kosher. 

Ask for a Skinny Lager at your local 

store, selected Spar Tops, Norman 

Goodfellows, Solly Kramers, Loco 

Liq, Liquor City & Makro. 

NEVER COMPROMISE 

WIN ! 

Stand a chance to win a case of Skinny Brands Premium Lager! 

Simply like our Facebook page or follow us on Instagram, tag 

your favourite watering hole on our ‘TAG YOUR LOCAL’ post and 

we will ensure we get it stocked there for you! 

TAG YOUR LOCAL 

SkinnyLagerSA 

skinnylager_sa

HEARTY, HASSLE-FREE 

WINTER SOUPS 

NCFOCLBLXA 

FIND OUR FULL SOUP RANGE & CONVENIENT SOUP VEG MIXES IN-STORE

May 2020 - Bloem

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